This blows me away Michael. As someone else said possibly one of your best yet which is something considering how amazing your street buildings are. It looks like a modified out of the box ready made model and I mean that as a 100% compliment. Absolutely stunning.
As usual and as already said, a splendid model, perhaps the best you've made so far with the Grand Hotel. Can't wait to see the corner hotel coming to life! 🤩
And if you paid a model maker to make this? A total education in building perfection on a minimum budget. Simply magnificent and a joy to watch. Thank you.
Those of us who have followed every twist and turn of your journey through Chandwell appreciate just what an erudite performance this build is. You have developed skills over the years and you have honed them to perfection. Michael, you are a legend in scratch building - or as they say in Chandwell - a leg end who is scratching an itch. Joking apart Michael, this really is an N scale scratch build masterclass. Thanks. P
Hi Michael - perfect in every way. The box looks just right for the station throat. Amazing skill you have in designing structures and then bringing them to life . Cheers Euan
That is a lovely signal box Michael and so well engineered. It uses the space so well. Looking forward to seeing the next hotel build which should keep you gainfully employe with the curves. Stephen
As always, I am stunned with the results you achieve with very cheap materials. Although I admire your courage for scratchbuilding stairs using paper and cardboard, the result is just uneven enough to detract from your model. You can buy laser cut stair stringers and steps in N scale: Rail Scale Models and Builders in Scale are two US suppliers; perhaps there are suppliers in the UK. Depending on shipping costs, this will add about a pound to your total cost (one set of stringers and treads will have about four times as much material as you'd need for this build.)
Thank you! I always ponder whether or not to use commercial components, but it's not the cost that puts me off. It's the "look what I did" factor. I get **so** much more satisfaction from making something that looks a bit wobbly than I do from sucking together bits of commercial components. Sometimes there is no alternative, but for me, I love my wobbly stairs. And at a normal viewing angle, even if you put your head quite close to the layout, the wonkiness is hardly noticeable. Each to our own though... we all make what we make for our own enjoyment and we each do what pleases us.
@@Chandwell That's the great thing about this hobby: WE get to decide what's important and what's not. Every time I show my wife your videos, she is amazed at the incredible realism, and even more amazed when she learns how you built it. Can't wait to see your curved hotel!
I have missed your usual weekly videos but this one was worth waiting for. Yet another excellent build. I am envious of your skill with a cereal packet and a sharp knife.
Your sequences are inspirational and help me in using similar techniques for my diorama of Matlock Station in 4mm scale! The Signal Box at Matlock is on a girder platform which straddles the track into the Goods Shed, and I know you contemplated a similar idea originally. One thing I would mention is the roof pitch is too shallow on yours, Midland designed their Signal Boxes in 10ft panels, and the ridge is also 10ft (20mm in N gauge). I suspect your ridge is too short!
Thanks for the info. If only I had known that before I started. I read as much as I could get my hands on and I knew the panels were 10ft but didn’t read anything about the roof pitch. You are right, my ridge is 17mm, so too short. So it was a best guess unfortunately. I still think it looks brilliant though! 😍😂
Bit late commenting but what I like about Chandwell is the subconscious realism: if that’s a thing. A lot of people would have chosen to model a late built panel box, which wouldn’t be wrong per se. But electing to have a typical Misland box controlling the station, with HSTs running past it, is so typical of the secondary main line which is on the decline, that it’s way more appropriate and without even thinking about it, a lot of people would just “ know “ where this is. As they have been somewhere very similar. There’d also probably be colour light signals but mechanical ground signals. Excellent work. Edit. It’s been given a panel and the frame has been scrapped. Colour light ground position signals then.
I have only ever used it on Windows, so I have nothing to compare it with. There is definitely a steep learning curve, but it is worth persevering with!
I'm far too skint and lacking in any space whatsoever to have a model railway- but I am tempted maybe to make a diorama or two. Your videos are incredibly inspiring, especially as you work in such a tiny scale, and do virtually everything by hand with basic materials. What is more, your layout is incredible- many layouts- even some very good ones- look like they could be based anywhere. But it only takes a glance to see that yours is specifically North East England, (and I've lived in the West Country my entire life), and more specifically, West Yorkshire. I love the way you depict both the beauty and the more run down aspects of Chandwell (Northern cities tend to have the best and the worst side-by-side, whereas in the more prosperous South, the more deprived areas tend to be 'ghettoised' and less readily evident- but they are most certainly there if you look). I do love the way you itemise the cost of building to the penny- on the face of it, that's very Northern (!), but it also goes to show what can be achieved for pocket money (not that I can afford to eat Weetabix, no matter how good the cardboard). But I can think of one or two famous layouts on RU-vid that have had vastly more money spent on them that are not even remotely as immersive as Chandwell. And to me, that is one of the most important aspects of any layout, and one that many modellers don't get right, despite striving for realism in other ways. If I feel like I could shrink myself down and walk about the streets of a layout, and have a sense of a 'real place' with cohesion, identity, and of being in a natural landscape with the buildings that work with the topography, then it is a job done very well indeed. Too many layouts look like a flat baseboard with barely enough buildings on them to give a sense of being in a town or city- whereas Chandwell has buildings aplenty, many of which their purpose isn't readily apparent- just like a real town or city. And in case I do decide to do a diarama, any chance you could test-drive some Lidl cereals for me to see if the cardboard is worthy?
Thank you so much for your kind words. These have really made me smile. You seem to appreciate exactly what it is I am trying to achieve with Chandwell, and it means a lot that you have seen it. I have not tried Lidl cereal yet, but I will add it to my list! :)
Michael, a quick note that your playlist is in the wrong order, so it starts with the signal box and then you have the terminus videos playing part 3, then part 2, then part 1. I just checked your commercial street playlist and that is back to front as well. They need a bit of digital housework to reverse the order and make them play in the proper sequence.
Thank you. I’ll take a look. I made it so the latest video is at the top as this made sense when making the videos first time. It makes sense to swap it round again now.
You creative skills are so impressive but the fact that these are 2mm scale makes it astonishing. We are so lucky that you are also a very good presenter and programme maker enabing us all to enjoy the wonderful miniature world you are creating. I bow my head to you sir.
Great form in this video! Sounds and looks like an enjoyable build… did I hear LIDAR? Can’t believe the tech on hand these days, however I think the hand measurement method for now until the next iPhone upgrade!
I loved this build. I had been apprehensive as I thought it would be really challenging. It was, but not in an impossible-to-overcome kind of way. It ended up being one of the most enjoyable builds I have done. It was nice working on something smaller.
Michael, I just had an idea for stairs that might save you a bit of effort positioning all those individual steps. As there are gaps between the stair slats, why not have the step pieces attached to one of the stringers, cut this out as a single piece, and then you could simply fold over each step to join the other stringer using the jig. It would mean they are positioned already on one side and you'd only need to do half the gluing. Also, Chandwell needs at least three adverts for Weetabix!
I loved the shot of the signal box from the station throat - looking back towards the station building. It just looked like a photo of the real thing - a stunning piece of modelling.
Long time coming but most definatey worth the wait. You never cease to impress and inspire. So excited to see the future development of Station Rd Thanks you again for producing not only great videos but ever the best card and paper model making and content.
Once again epic build i have watched all your video's and builds and im amazed how you do it i model in n gauge but nothing to the extent and skill you have the signal box i think is your best build yet and all the others are epic too so looking forward to the next instalment bring it on take care
Hi great video that is a neat little signal box it looks so good it dont look scrach built it looks like you built it from a kit your entire layout looks really awsome your ideas inspire me i do hope you do more awsome videos
Hi, I've not come across your channel before, I model in oo gauge and seeing your model really thought it was oo gauge too. Guess I got that wrong, but it just goes to show how wonderful your scratch building is. Very great work and such detail for something so small. Your build process reminded me of the "Scalescenes" download kits, of which I have built a number. All the best Dave. Going to watch some more of your projects now!
Wow excellent video buddy. Super realistic! If you get time please check out my channel. I've just started it and it's no where near the quality of yours but I myself like originality so there might be something of interest to you. Once again, amazing layout!
A lovely model. I had not realised that the box is now on the Embsay railway. I have been in it when it was still in use. I knew Mill Lane as well and it is good to see you chose that box to base the interior of yours on. I took video in there and a little of it is on here right at the beginning is the table on the right end of the panel which had the train describer and block instrument on also the train register, behind it another table with the train describer monitor on. the table at the left end had the telephone concentrator on a similar looking silver box to the train describer one. Details you could add to your model. ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-UQm2T1TjsEQ.html
@@Chandwell Always the same when we make our models, we always find a photo or video we wish we had seen before starting LOL. I know I have some more taken in there in my VHS archive. I need to get it on DVD so I can upload it. My VHS/DVD broke and I got another but not set it up yet. It was made for a video 'On Line to Bradford' which is on here and showed the box at Halifax and Mill Lane with the last 3 car class 110 Calder valley unit in service and one of the first class 150 units, by now with yellow ends but look on the link again at 1:20 and you see a rare bit of video showing a brand new one with silver grey ends, they only ran a few days like that before being taken out of service for safety concerns. Now Yellow ends are again being dispensed with but I still think they show up more clearly from a distance in bright sunlight than a white light and should be retained
Your work is absolutely stunning. The detail and the planning that must go in to it is mind blowing. I don’t think I’ve ever seen such brilliant work. You are an inspiration to fellow modellers. You must have the patience of a saint to produce some all of your work. Keep up the good work and thanks for sharing.
Wow!….. your attention to detail and patience is an example to all of us. I’ll be delighted if my build is half as good as yours…. and that’s a signal box added to my growing list of ‘things to build’…. and you’re responsible for most of that list already as it is…. 😂
This is an amazing bit of work and thanks so much for posting. I’m a newbie to modelling and this video is such an eye opener. Shows how to make card really strong and how layers enhance the durability and looks of the model too. It also demonstrates excellently how you can use ordinary materials you can find around the home. I’m itching to get my cereal boxes and start making some test builds after seeing this! A really excellent bit of work and your layout is incredible. Great stuff indeed
@@Chandwell Nice one, thanks for the reply and it’s really appreciated. Would you recommend a layer coat for the outside of the buildings? I’ve read that an artists lacquer or waterproofing spray is a great way to keep card models preserved. On the other hand though, I’ve heard that in their raw form card buildings hold their own for a very long time - I’ve heard stories of Superquick type buildings still being solid after 20 years or so. Thanks again for the reply and your channel is amazing, such an inspiration for so many out there : )
Can you try to do this scratch build but with templates and in tt scale 1/120, since I want a signal box since I have an area on the layout with lots of sidings and I need some guidance to make one in that scale.
Hello! Thank you for watching. I'm making a layout in N scale, and still have many years left before it's finished. I have no plans to move to 1/120, but I am sure that the techniques I used in this video would work in the larger scale. Have fun with your project!
That signalbox looks fantastic but I am disappointed you haven’t given the poor signalman a traditional battered winged armchair to sit in. Lovely work 👍
@@Chandwell update, not up to your standards, but largely finished,just needs a few details, and I enjoyed building it and it's the perfect fit, thanks for giving me the confidence to just do it. Update 2 also built a station roof out of the clear plastic from a curtain pole clear plastic packaging and some cereal boxes, PVA glue and kid's paint from the supermarket. Just to add the platforms are from card kits so manufacturers please don't cry too much!! I'm going for a more hybrid system of construction now
That was absolutely brilliant Michael. Loved it when you panned around the signal box so you could see the background, extremely realistic. Regards Chris
Your costs are not fully represented: 1.50 in parts, 15 hours labour (say 50/hr) and the patience of a saint (priceless). So really 751 pounds and some divine intervention is all it took. 🤐🤐
Michael, simply stunning work. Just when I think I found a favorite, you force me to replace it with your very next video. Thanks for sharing. Cheers Rob
Astounding. The detail (and fine-ness) you get in such small structures is breathtaking. You need to speed up a bit though, as your eyesight won't be this good forever! 🤣🤣🤣
Hi Michael excellent build, it almost comes to life all that's missing is a small LED to light that splendid interior. Well done and for the amount it cost it looks like a shop brought item, looking forward to next build, many thanks for sharing this remember to stay safe..
Can't be done better - even chocolat package was used. Such a wonderful signal box, files perfectly the space in front of the platforms. As always, it was hge fun to watch you building, Michael. All the best Valentin
Thank you Michael for the nice comments. I’m pleased that the photos taken in the 1990’s have helped with this wonderful model. I’m pleased that you have been able to used one of the painted figures, this is from Peco Modelscenes N Gauge Unpainted Figure Set. I really like how Chandwell is developing. Ian
Michael, Superb artistry. I am definitely following your lead and build a U.S. signal box. Adopting your technique. The only alteration I can perceive is to add a small flicker seed light to the interior. Thank you for your numerous idea contributions to the NVR/WAS Rail Line. Jim in the U.S.A.
Nice presentation! Nailed it again Michael! Looks so great the way it is positioned and adds to the whole scene. The whole landscape is coming to life. More buildings and stories to tell, I'm sure.
