Hi Fraser and thanks for the comment, I don’t have the Mary Queen of Scots but I have made up the King Class as King Charles III so that will do for me. 👍🏻. Cheers. …………Graham
Hi Mark and thank you for the comment, I’ve got a few domestic jobs to do around the house first but as soon as I’ve done those then I will be able to get back up into the train room and carry on with the landscaping around the castle/canal area which hopefully won’t be too long. Cheers. ……….Graham
Interesting times Graham. No input from me as your commentary says quite clearly you know what you want lol. My goodness though, how Lakeside has progressed over the years has been a very enjoyable journey. Cheers, Bob
Hi Bob and many thanks for the comment and as you know, there are many ways of skinning a cat, so it’s plausible for someone to mention that something might look better turned through 90 degrees or painted black instead of white - but these are just opinions, not necessarily my opinion I might add ! 😉😉. I’ve started the surrounding area for the Scenics so hopefully I can show that in a couple of weeks time. Cheers. …………Graham
Hi Des and yes, a lot of things going on at the moment at that end of the layout, exiting times for me to see that all taking shape at long last. Cheers. ………..Graham
Hi Allan and thank you so much my friend for the kind comment, I had always wanted the castle on the layout somewhere and extending the layout a little gave me the room thankfully and now that it’s on, I’m pleased with the result. I think I enjoyed creating the courtyard scene as much as building the castle! 😂. Cheers. …………Graham
Thank you again Greg and yes, the castle and pub do fit together nicely. There should be enough room to fit the church next to the castle too - it has its own burial site plus along with the canal then that should create quite a bit of interest in that part of the layout. If the church makes it look to crowded then I won’t put it in, we shall see. Cheers. ………..Graham
Thanks Clive and absolutely, I needed a focal point for that corner and with the castle and operating lock gate then that should do the trick. 👍🏻. Cheers. …………Graham
I've been eyeing that Metcalfe castle (in N). Who doesn't love a castle? Lovely greenery etc. within too Graham. What did I do with my toy knights from the 70s? Memories.
Hi mate and thanks for the comment and yes, I was thinking the same thing when I was building the castle, I had loads of plastic knights as a kid playing with them and the castle my dad made me - a long time ago now and here I am, building my own castle!! 😂. Cheers. …………Graham
Hi Simon and thanks for the kind comment and to be honest, doing the castle grounds was for me the most satisfying part of the build. I’m now looking forward to doing the Scenics around the castle to incorporate the pub, church and of course the canal - interesting times ahead! 👍🏻. Cheers. ………….Graham
Give a man an extra foot of space and he'll build something to fill it!!! Ask me how I know?! That's a cracking model Graham. I'm glad you've built and showed it to us as I certainly don't have space for one. Cheers
Hi Davie and thanks for the comment, that’s it as regards to the extension, I have no more room! 😂. But it’s served it’s purpose in allowing me to have more room for the canal lock and obviously the castle etc so I’m glad I did that. The road coming down from the high street to the castle and pub will also help finish it off too. 👍🏻. Cheers. ………..Graham
Hi Martin and thanks for the comment mate, really appreciate that. The castle has come out really well, better than I thought it would to be honest. The corner should be a nice focal point once completed as long as I don’t screw it up! 😂😂. Cheers. ……….Graham
What great progress Graham, that castle sits perfectly on your layout, stunning. It’s all coming together very nicely, you must be very pleased, excellent as always my freind, cheers Martin
Hi Martin and thanks for those kind words mate - much appreciated. I’m very pleased with the way that corner of the layout is progressing, it’s taken me some time to get there but I knew what I want there months ago but getting it all together was a bit time consuming - got there in the end though. I just need to complete the Scenics around it now and place all the components in their rightful place - although once done I’m sure there will be folk saying “I think the pub would look better if . . .” or “if it were me then I would have . . .” 😂😂 RU-vid never changes! 😂 Cheers. ……….Graham
@@traitorsgatemodelrailway1428 Absolutely mate, couldn’t agree more. Still doesn’t stop those people trying to inflict their opinions on you though even though they probably do the rule number 1 scenario themselves. 😂😂. You’re right though, you will never stop them! 😂😂
Hi Robert and thank you, yes the castle makes a lovely focal point for that corner of the layout and proves my point of not rushing the canal scene too quickly. I can now work with that. Cheers. ………..Graham
Looks good especially the castle, its a pity they don't have the same kit as a ruin. The last time i was in the UK I spent most of my time searching for ruins. I guess I have a fetish..hahaha cheers BJ
Hi Bruce and thank you for the comment. I guess with a bit of work then you could adapt this kit to become a ruin, as it’s only a card kit then it shouldn’t be that difficult to achieve. Maybe Metcalfe might think of doing one in the future! Cheers. ………..Graham
Great progress, Graham and I love the castle. As you say, there are few castles with a water filled moat, so the grass filled moat is appropriate. The tunnel scenic break is a good idea. Creating an illusion of something going off into the distance can be difficult to achieve from all viewing angles unless you have the space to achieve it. Looking forwards to seeing it all develop. Best, Jason.
Hi Jason and I’m pleased that you like the castle, the tunnel just seems the right thing to do as it replicates the other end plus it serves as a scenic break too. Hopefully it won’t be too long before I can develop that whole area. Cheers. ………..Graham
Evening Graham BRILLIANT JOB my friend loving the castle. Still awaiting for your canal but with the work you have done I think I can wait a bit longer
Hi Stephen and thank you for the comment. The canal is not a thing I can rush mate, it’s a big project and needs to be approached carefully so that it looks believable if not realistic. But I’m getting there slowly and with the castle, pub and lock gate, I can finally set those out so that I know they all work together. Cheers. ……….Graham
It’s a brilliant kit to build and just leaves the imagination open to add the finer details, it’s still not quite complete but hopefully in a couple of weeks then that area should look quite different. Cheers. …………Graham
Hi mate and it’s great to have you on here and commenting - welcome to Lakeside and thank you for subscribing too, it’s greatly appreciated ! 👍🏻👍🏻. Cheers. …………Graham
Graham, Castle 🏰 looks fabulous, so detailed, block of flats, pub and lock gate all makes for a more realistic model railway layout. Lakeside has certainly come on in leaps and bounds too.
Many thanks for those kind words Matthew, it’s greatly appreciated. The hard work so far on this layout is gradually coming to fruition. Cheers. ………..Graham
Thank you my friend for the very kind comment, as always, it’s greatly appreciated and I hope that in a couple of weeks I can show you further updates of that corner of the layout. 👍🏻. Cheers. …………Graham
Graham you have been very busy what I love the castles been thinking about getting that my N gauge layout. I had an idea that you could do the drawbridge how about adding a motor to bring the drawbridge up and down? It's all looking great.
Hi Robin and thanks for the comment, my initial thought before even buying the kit was to have a working drawer bridge but I changed my mind for various reasons as I was building it so the drawer bridge is now fixed, that’ll do for me, at least I have a drawer bridge which many don’t as far as I know. Cheers. ……….Graham
Thank you John and hopefully by the time I do my next update then the scenery - or most of it - will be complete around the castle area, that should make a big difference to that end of the layout. Cheers. …………Graham
Thank you my friend for the kind comment and I’m pleased that you enjoyed the update, hopefully in a couple of weeks then I will be able to show you more progress of the placement of the buildings and the Scenics around them. Cheers. ………..Graham
Well, Graham, you do come up with surprises. Would the castle owners be any close relatives of the Manor House? Pity you couldn't link it the Manor House in some way. (OOOPPPPSSS I think I may have given you ideas. 😃😃😄😄😇😇 ). Keep up the good work. ... Ian ...
Hi Ian and thank you once again for your comment. There is no connection familywise between the owners of the Castle (which is owned by the National Trust now) and the Manor House although they do have a close relationship socially. 😉. Cheers. ………..Graham
Love the castle! What an incredible model, and will look absolutely beautiful and provide yet another point of interest on the layout. The block of flats looks great as well, and love the fact you have used a mix of bright white & yellow white lights - really adds to the realism, which, hats off to you, you do so well Graham. You do have quite a job to get everything positioned, but I'm sure you will figure it out, as you always manage to do! Cheers, Derek.
Thank you Derek for those kind words, they’re greatly appreciated. I’ve got a fairly good idea of where things will be going, give or take, so hopefully in a couple of weeks time it should look a little more finished. Cheers. ………..Graham
This is why I've watched your videos for years, there is always a decent level of progress. I'm not into how-to videos so much, I like to see the progress. The castle looks brilliant and typical Graham, makes the Metcalfe buildings look so much better. I'm really looking forward to seeing this area come together. Really good work as always Graham. Best regards, Lee
Hi Lee and many thanks for your kind comment. I’m now itching to get this corner of the layout underway with the Scenics, I’ve got so many ideas in my head on how to create this area, I just want to do it!! Hopefully the next video update will show the progression. 👍🏻. Cheers. ………..Graham
Amazing! As I wrote on FB, I love castles and this model is brilliant! The block of apartments (flats) and the re-done stretch are also first class! Now, as the thoughts turn to the canal, more things get brought into question. Still eager to see how that turns out! Excellent show for my morning! Thanks for all the work and then sharing it!
Hi Anthony and thank you for the comment and pleased that you like the castle, I certainly do and I’m pleased with the it has turned out so far. So yes, a lot of changes going on at this end of the layout but hopefully it will be for the better by the time I’m finished. 👍🏻. Cheers. ………..Graham
The castle looks great Graham. Any plans to have the drawbridge raising and lowering? I like going to Castle Rising. That has a very deep dry moat around it.
Hi and thank you for the comment my friend, I had initially thought of motorising the drawbridge but in the process of the build I decided against it for one, it is very restrictive in that area and two, with the operating lock gate so close by I didn’t want it looking like a fair ground with a whole lot of things going up and down - had it been located by itself then I may have looked at it a bit harder to motorise it. I will leave that for someone else to do! 😉. Cheers. ……….Graham
Many thanks Joan, yes, I’m really pleased with the castle too, it makes a nice focal point. Looking forward to doing the construction around that area now. Cheers. ………..Graham
I like the way you have thought about the 'back story' so you can justify why the Castle is high compared to the rail line, and it links with the raised ground where the camping coach is, the railway is now in a cutting, great, it adds more scenic features.
Thank you Peter for those kind words, I tend to do this (for myself really) so that everything has a place and a meaning for being there, I don’t like to just plonk things down without any thought process, it can look totally wrong if not done without any thought. Anyway, glad you like it, I started work on the Scenics today so it’s underway! 👍🏻. Cheers. ……………Graham
Hi Graham. Excellent video and as always some amazing work. The castle certainly doesn't look shoehorned in there. As I have no doubt mentioned before, your channel was the virst one I ever subscribed to on youtube and yet over all that time you have never failed to find something new to do, new to show us. I'm still loving it as much a I did all those years ago! 😃 Thank you. (Mav)
Hi Mav and I’m so glad that you are still enjoying the channel after all this time and to be honest, I’m still enjoying it too. I’ve had my moments when I thought is it all worth it but have always come back to it which I think a lot of people do too. My problem is finding the time even though I’m retired, there just doesn’t seem enough hours in the day what with all the other things in my life. 😂. Cheers. …………Graham
Nice to see you’re on a roll and all going well especially lakeside castle. Always knew you were royalty Graham. Ps don’t forget the sign get orf my land no visitors 😂
Thank you very much Fred and yes, Lakeside seems to be on a roll at the moment with all these newer developments going on - and more to come too. Cheers. ………..Graham
Two nice additions Graham, wouldn't mind a top flat there to watch the trains go by. The Castle looks great and seems to be in the perfect spot. Very nice update...All the best.
Many thanks for the comment Tim and I’m pleased that you like both the block of flats and the castle, the castle came out looking much better than I thought it would so I just need to do the Scenics around it now. Cheers. ………..Graham
Great update on the layout here graham, nice job on the castle, that’s looking really good, I have had a few things added to my collection recently but it’s mainly locomotives and coaches but I did pick up one building which is the bachmann art deco station building, the locomotives that I have added are a bachmann A2, heljan falcon and a hornby class 50, the coaches that I have added are some swallow mk3s which go with my buffered HST power cars, great update overall Graham, keep up the great work.
Many thanks David for the comment, I only buy the occasion loco now and again as I have pretty much all that I need now and some of those are hardly run these days, spoilt for choice I guess but it’s always nice to have the choice! Glad you liked the update, I’m very happy with the castle, that came out better than I thought it would and once it’s in its own setting then I’m sure it will be a good focal point on the layout. Cheers. ………..Graham
Hi ya Graham. The castle is wonderful. And very timely with King Charles’ Coronation coming up soon. He can have some new digs. The block of flats is a nice addition. A community always needs new housing. You have been busy. I look forward to the terrain and scenery going in around the castle. The topography will be very interesting. Thanks for the update. Take care. See ya next time.
Hi Norman and thank you and you’re right, very timely with the coronation coming up, maybe King Charles will arrive by train with the King Charles III halting just outside the castle for him to stay in! You never know! 👍🏻👍🏻. Cheers. ……….Graham
Hi Metcalf Make such Nice Kits now they are a Joy to Build and look at and they are so strong to last a long time once made Can I be So Bold Just to Suggest Maybe you could lower castle a little and use the Moat and Canal as one Like that's how come there's a canal and castle Moat Of Course that's up to You its your Layout What ever you do it will look Awesome Thanks
Hi Anthony and thanks for the comment. I want to keep the castle and moat separate from the canal, I don’t really want to mix the two together. I think by the time I have finished that area then it will all work out ok in the end. Cheers. ………..Graham
Hi Andy and hopefully now that the castle is built then I can now finalise the position of everything and start the canal lock. It all takes time though. Cheers. ……….Graham
That is going to be a really nice scenic area and as you have explained it fits in and makes sense . The castle has come out really well and looks a very nice kit. Can i ask who you use for lights ? Cheers Kev
Hi Kev and many thanks for the kind comment. The lights would have come from either Layouts4U or Kytes Lights, I just used ones which I had bought and kept from left over projects. Just about to start the Scenics now. Cheers. ………..Graham
Hello Graham, Been missing you and Rob on Facebook😥... I have just seen this latest video what a lovely castle up to now, I know it will be LOVELY when totally finished. Is that castle going to charge entrance fees?? Aren't you glad you didn't spend all the time needed to have the parking garage having cars going in and out???
Hi Warren and thank you for the comment, that was a welcome surprise and I’m pleased that you like the castle, I’m certainly pleased with the way it’s come out now even though it was a large kit to build - well worth it. Cheers. ………..Graham
Hi Graham great looking castle, what about fixing the church to the left of the castle (on the hill) with a small grave yard to make it all part of the castle. Can't wait to see lock in place and working take care and enjoy the weekend regards Barry..
Hi Barry and yes, the church could go on the left which I have tried, there is enough room there but we shall see, hopefully a can sort all that out over the weekend. Cheers. ………..Graham
@@keithdenner9441 Many thanks Keith, the lock should now be too long now I’ve extended the baseboard and pretty much sorted out what goes where - roughly. Cheers. ………..Graham
I’m a subscriber of Charlie’s channel and I’ve seen his helix videos, trouble is I haven’t the room (or the money) for two helix, especially the size of his. Cheers. ……….Graham
Sadly I don't have space on my layout for a castle - and its a big layout! But as Im modelling a London scene castles don't really fit. I am building two of the blocks of flats for a small estate in one corner. Added interiors and people into the flats. Metcalfe are great kits for sure. Use them all the time. Really enjoy your videos and your calm laid back style!
Graham, Where the castle is will you be putting uplights to bounce lights back onto the walls of the castle?. Similar to security lights which can be put on when you run your trains in the dark. Just a thought lioking foward to next update Alan.
Hi Alan and yes, I will put LED floodlights in the grass embankment, very similar to what I had with the suspension bridge on my previous layout. The beam is more focused than ordinary LED’s Cheers. ……….Graham
That castle is a great bit of kit! (Pun intended), the only thing that doesn’t sit right with me is the cool white light in the drawbridge area. In my opinion it’s crying out for a couple of those LEDs that simulate a fire, you could even make some holders that looked like flame torch’s! Keep up the good work Graham & I look forward to the building of the scene.
Funny you should say that Colin because I’ve already made them but haven’t fitted them yet, in fact there are several things that aren’t on it yet but hopefully you will see those on the next update. Cheers. ……….Graham
Nice work Graham. Castle looks really cool. I am looking forward to seeing how it fits in once other parts are progressed. Me and my wife have built 3 of those apartment blocks, they're a nice little kit to build. Please the track work is sorted and everything went smoothly. What is your Facebook channel link? I'd like to follow that. I couldn't find it on your About Me section of your You Tube channel.
Hi Tim and thanks for the comment. Yes, the castle has come out looking better than I thought it would, I’m pleased with that and the block of flats is also ok, I still need to finish that off but I got sidetracked building the castle! 😂. As regards my FB channel, I don’t actually keep that up to date to be honest, I set it up wrong and is a pain but it’s under Lakeside Model Railway if you want to have a look. Cheers. ……….Graham
The castle looks good. It doesn't necessarily need a moat though - if its already on a bit of a hill that would probably have been enough IRL. If you are going to add one in I'd suggest trimming it's base board to more closely match the castle foundations and have the hill running right up to the walls, with a moat or ditch around the base of the hill. That would make it much harder for attackers - having to go through a moat first and then climb a steep hill in dripping wet clothes in order to reach the castle walls. Also makes it harder to use things like siege ladders and towers. Not that you'll be making those... unless there's a LARP group running around 😂
Hi Edward and thanks for the comment, I know it doesn’t need a moat but I want one, that was one of the deciding factors. I understand what you’re saying but I’m not trying to emulate a real thing, just something that I like. I was considering of the moat being right up close to the castle but decided to have a small ledge, especially as the moat has now been filled in. Cheers. ………..Graham
I had no intention of making the metcalfe castle but having seen them on Donegal dad and now your sight will at least make the stand alone tower because you have made a great model perfect , now where I situate it that’s a question , ps made the flats not that long ago , holiday brochures good for bed room scenes, angle of photos main reason need a lot of brochures to get enough , some potted plants and ready for lights
Hi Nigel and thanks for the comment, you can buy just the tower by itself if you so wish and that’s a breeze to build too. You might even think about making it look abandoned and looking a bit sorry for itself. I like the idea of the holiday brochures for the insides of the flats - a great idea! 👍🏻. Cheers. ………..Graham
Excellent mate, it’s all taking shape and looks like you’ve been really busy. Looking forward to more development in that corner. I assume you haven’t had the time to do anything on the helix yet?
Hi mate and thanks for the comment. I haven’t done anything as yet on the helix but I will be discussing that probably in my next video. Cheers. ………..Graham
You've been BUSY! 😲Beautiful Castle, looks amazing - but brand new.🤔 200 years of weathering = water staining and other signs of aging. The pub looks older.😄 To MY eye, if the Castle sat an inch lower, and your road in front was about an inch above the tracks, it would "sit' better. Replacement of the car park 👍 the High Street seems more village than "shopping mall". Still strongly encourage NO tunnel on that end of canal. A tall group of trees on the side of the castle would easily hide that end. "Too many layouts have too many tunnels."😏Looking forward to your progress. Cheers!😎
Hi just looking at your posts where did you get the pub in the castle video I have a Metcalfe model pub on my layout but yours looks far better nice layout you have Mark
Hi Alec and thank you. I would allow about 18” square as a minimum for the castle but it depends what configuration you make it - it could be less if you didn’t have as much walling as on mine - maybe even a low relief version! Cheers. ……….Graham
Hi Graham good videos thank you , but do you think you could remove your cigarettes and lighter from our view? Not a good look when kids are probably watching. Don’t take offence. Cheers
Hi Paul and thanks for the comment but I have no intention of removing my cigarettes and lighter, all my videos are marked as not made for kids so they shouldn’t be watching anyway and if they are watching with their parents then that’s also wrong. No offence taken and I hope likewise with yourself. Cheers. ……….Graham
