Angst Lesspork

[Graeme Dunbar]

Bravo. Looking good! Can you say please what the 'wizzard' figure in photo 2 is? It has the proportions of a Games Workshop dwarf.

[Hugh Norwood]

The wizard was bought from a small producer at the Leeds Wargaming Society's "Fiasco" at the Armouries last October. The figure came minus a hat and with a raven on the top of his staff!
The dwarf on the platform is also a wargaming figure - I can't remember the name of the producers off the top of my head, but I have the box somewhere.

I have put a stop to buildings at the moment, as it is due to be seen at the weekend; thought I'd better get the rest of it ready. So I've hemmed 3 metres of fire-retardant poly cotton for the "skirt", and I need to get the track super-cleam and think about the rolling-stock.

[Hugh Norwood]

(Oh dear, long time no post...)

Had a great outing at Narrow Gauge North; Angst behaved well and I got a lot of interest from the public. And a couple of invitations for 2012.

A number of people commented that it was a) not dirty enough and b) not smelly (You have to have read some of the Discworld books to understand that one...)

I had a week or so off from modelleing and am now completing the final large building for the layout. I made a shopping list for York to get some more figures and a couple of horse-drawn vehicles, among other items.

Next outing is at Middleton Railway on 2&3 July.

[Graeme Dunbar]

Good to hear it! Any photos from the show?

A number of people commented that it was a) not dirty enough and b) not smelly (You have to have read some of the Discworld books to understand that one...)

At least the little people can protypically walk on the surface of the river  ;)

[Hugh Norwood]

If you visit the NGN site www.narrowgaugenorth.org.uk you might be able to see a couple of photos... (Shame it didn't get onto the pages of NEWS) (2011 gallery; page 5; 8th pic)

[Hugh Norwood]

Latest Update
I went and bought one of those "keyfob" video cameras, stuck it to a flat wagon and propelled it round Angst.
The two test videos can be seen on my web site (see above)

What I need to do now - when I next set the layout up - is have the camera pointed at an angle so as to get some or the view "from the carriage window" rather than straight ahead. But I'm impressed with what the camera can do

BTW the original resolution is 720x480 - the YouTube videos are lower than this

[Whitworth]

What a (light) fantastic idea!! I've been a big fan of T.P. for many years. Love the layout. Any chance of a working clacks tower?

[Hugh Norwood]

It has crossed my mind to make a clacks tower. It would have to be a working one, of course. Trouble was the early references in the books made me think of mechanical semaphore - so two arms waggling about - could be done with a couple of miniature stepping motors from floppydisk drives; and of course the semaphore could actually transmit real semaphore!

But that's about as far as I got. Later books revealed that the (main) towers transmitted black/white light/dark signals - which would be easier to do (white LEDs) but I'd have to do some research into the codes. (I must admit I prefer the waving arms idea...)

[Graeme Dunbar]

I think you're right. The TV adaptation showed shuttered lights but the earlier semaphore version would look much better as a model. Have you considered using radio control servos?

If it is a relay station I guess there should be two sets for "up" and "down". I've forgotten the details in the book, but I'm sure anyone who makes his own sword because he received a knighthood almost certianly has something to say about coding. (I liked the bit about choosing a book with lots of diagrams in it to slow down coding and transmission!) I take it you will also have representations of the postal service? :D

[JulienW]

You could work on the principle that the the semaphore arm system was superseeded with the shutter system (the latter could work at night where as the earlier system would be limited to daylight hours), so build a disused semaphore (no need to worry about maing it work) station alongside the new working tower...

Just an observation - you'll probably need 'warm white' LEDs to stimulate candle / oil lamp light as opposed to the blue-white that most white LEDs produce (unless the Disc has arc lamps...)

[Graeme Dunbar]

White LEDs might do for octarine light or at least the way muggles perceive it (oops sorry wrong stories).

[Hugh Norwood]

I've completed a horse-drawn wagon for the horse-muck collector!
Also finished a few Airfix Roman soldiers for the Watch.

Agnst is currently on the back burner as I've got to finish my M*rr*s dance costume...
Angst! I can't spell my own layout's name!

[Hugh Norwood]

As far as I am aware, Angst will still be going to NGSW 2012 in Shepton Mallet.
(It appears to have dropped off the official list of layouts attending...)

[tedp]

Just had my first look at Angst - can't imagine how I missed a layout with such a name! Where did it come from?

A great combination of imagination, nice modelling (I especially like your structures) and a good sense of fun. The harbour/river has some nice views. Who said all modelling must be serious?

[Graeme Dunbar]

It is a place with a virtual twinning with Wincanton: 


;D