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Saturday 30 September 2017

Spotlight Saturday - Hugh's hobby!

So, Alexa left this comment on my post last week:
"I was intrigued to read about 'our' crafting - what does Hugh do?" and I it made me think that I don't think I have ever shared wtih you what Hugh's hobby actually is. You probably know that he is mad on trains - after all, every holiday we go on in the UK has to include a steam railway! And for his special birthday 2 years ago he got to drive a steam train!

But the steam trains he likes the best are Great Western Railway trains. And to be able to carry on that love, he has a model railway! Well, he has a model railway in the making! For as long as we have been married he has been collecting trucks, coaches and engines for his GWR model railway and before that, as a child, he had a train set. Now that 'train set' has its own, rather large, shed!

The track was completely laid about 10 years ago, but in a different shed. We then needed that shed for more mundane uses, so we bought Hugh this much larger shed and he started again! There is quite a bit of track laid, and he is working on the scenery now too.
This shows some of the track and scenery, atlhough the backscene needs to be redone
Hugh loves to build and paint the models to go onto the layout, the houses, church, school, station, gas works and so on.
This modelling he actually does indoors, at his craft table and then when it is finished it is taken up to the shed to be put into place.
He even paints the figures - painting their clothes and features - such tiny details!
 
As you can see, there is still quite a lot of work to be done on the shed and it is a large shed! But Hugh is quite happy pottering about up there and if it is ever finished he can then run the trains around the tracks!
He also builds engines, coaches and trucks and then repaints them to GWR colours. His craft trolley is actually a second hand tea trolley with fold out leaves. That means that we can roll it out of the lounge when we have guests! And he is NOT a tidy crafter - which makes me feel better lol!
This is his latest project - a snow plough coach which he basically created from scratch. Scratch building is one of his favourite hobbies, whether buildings or rolling stock - he has quite a few 'projects' on the go! 

So when I say 'our crafting' that is what Hugh is doing.Thank you Alexa for asking! Hope you all have a relaxing weekend - Hugh and I will be crafting :)








4 comments:

Caroline Harrison said...

As his older sister I can well remember Hughs excitement as he sat in his pushchair watching the steam trains cross the level crossing at Stalbridge in Dorset (where we lived at the time) when we were out for a walk down the lane.
Carrie

Melissa said...

Oh, how wonderful! Robbie would love to see that!

Ruth said...

How fantastic! I particularly love that there is even a mini cenotaph.

alexa said...

Oh, I am so thrilled to read all of this and to see so many photos of his amazing work! I just LOVE miniature worlds, and would be happy mentally resizing myself Alice-In-Wonderland style to explore them :). What incredibly detailed work, and the hours which Hugh must have put into these beautifully crafted things is mind-boggling. Cheering him on from here and hoping you will keep us posted from time to time!