Lead Adventure Forum
Miniatures Adventure => Gothic Horror => Topic started by: War In 15MM on March 23, 2015, 01:03:36 AM
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With the intention of one day putting together an English country village for my 28mm Victorians, a few years ago I picked up the Fast Lane Western Express on sale at Toys R Us. It comes with two passenger coaches, and I was fortunate to find two more of the coaches at the swap meet. I modified the coaches to give them a more English look… removed the end walkways and awnings and added three side doors to each side of each coach. For an engine I used a Thomas Train whistle toy I found at the swap meet for $1. I removed the mouthpiece at the rear and the face at the front. I then gave the coaches and engine a new paint job. The station is also a swap meet find. I picked it up for $2. One corner of the roof was missing, but easily replaced with some plastic and Milliput. The station sign was also missing, but I made a new one with Evergreen plastic and wire rod for posts. Once that was done I gave it a new paint job as well. Over several years of swap meet visits I found about 15 feet of the track you see just a few pieces at a time. (I don’t know who made/makes it.) I haven’t gotten around to painting the track yet, but it doesn’t look like a difficult project. The figures are added for scale. The woman is Foundry, and I think the man is Eureka.
(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j366/rgarretson/IMG_1013_zpsmhye1us2.jpg) (http://s1082.photobucket.com/user/rgarretson/media/IMG_1013_zpsmhye1us2.jpg.html)(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j366/rgarretson/IMG_1014_zpsp4ux09at.jpg) (http://s1082.photobucket.com/user/rgarretson/media/IMG_1014_zpsp4ux09at.jpg.html)(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j366/rgarretson/IMG_1015_zpsd6rsl22q.jpg) (http://s1082.photobucket.com/user/rgarretson/media/IMG_1015_zpsd6rsl22q.jpg.html)(http://i1082.photobucket.com/albums/j366/rgarretson/IMG_1016_zpssicggihu.jpg) (http://s1082.photobucket.com/user/rgarretson/media/IMG_1016_zpssicggihu.jpg.html)
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Years of the swap meet has really paid off here Richard. With your modifications the coaches look pretty English. You would never know the station was damaged.
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Lovely :-*
Great work in sourcing and modding the items.
15 feet of tracks will give you nice coverage for gaming table. Will it be single or double track?
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Looks great!
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Wonderful!
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What a great piece of work! Only little critique is the sign blares out a little too white?
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Thanks to all of you for taking the time to write and for the kind words. To tell you the truth (and of course I will), I'd forgotten about this project until I saw Saucy Jack's station posting. When I located where the station and train had been stored for the last few years, I was really pleased with what I saw and decided it was worth sharing. Rob, you are absolutely right about about the swap meet... it has been generous to me in the extreme over the years. pocoloco, there really isn't a plan in terms of track as yet. I tend to buy every straight section I find at the swap meet without much thought as long as the piece(s) is $1 or less in price and that's pretty much the norm. Dozing Dragon, I probably should have painted the background for the sign in beige rather than pale sand. Fortunately, when I made the sign, I made two of them so I'll use beige for the background on the second when I get around to giving it a place name. Once again, thank you all for writing and the generous comments. Richard
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Lovely work
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Chairface, thank you. Much appreciated. Richard
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Lovely!
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Great looking train station.
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Thanks for the kind words. After many years of weekly swap meet attendance I've really gotten to appreciate that some children's toys are beautifully made. It is obvious that the designers of some toys want to invest their time in making something they think was special. This train station is an example of that... a really beautifully designed piece of work. I was lucky to find it, and it proved to be a pleasure to paint for my 28mm Victorians. Hopefully one of these days I'll get around to putting together the English country village it is supposed to be part of... that of course would be Woodleigh Common. Richard
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Nice addition to the collection matey. A Victorian village is on my radar too so I'll be taking notes.
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Thunderchicken, I always appreciate hearing from you. Over the last few years the notes I have taken on your work guided me through the work I did on my Victorian city. Your work has been a great inspiration. Thanks so much for writing, and I will be looking forward to seeing your Victorian village creations. Richard
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I'm humbled. Very kind words indeed and much thanks. That gets you on the Christmas card list lol
The great thing about this forum is the wealth of inspiration. My builds are the result of watching great work developed on this forum over the years, so I'm more than happy to pass the knowledge on (although I'm still standing on the shoulders of giants).
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Very well done that! The tank engine conversion is excellent. It really looks British (and it did before with the face too, I guess), but the converion of the carriages by adding compartment doors is the idea of a genius. Very clever! The train station sports that Victorian look too. All in all a very beautiful work, subltly toned and perfectly executed. Great project, I love it!
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Thunderchicken, when you post projects on LAF, I am always one of those viewing and viewing and viewing.
Michi, I am at a loss for words of thanks for your generous comments. It is a wonderful thing when a very talented individual takes the time to review my work and that review reflects that in the reviewer's eyes I have accomplished what I hoped I would accomplish. I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to write and for the wonderful things you said. Deeply appreciated! Richard