Interiors

Working in 7mm scale gives great scope for interior modelling and I included such details in some of the buildings. To allow inspection of the detailing most of the buildings were constructed with removable roof sections.

A surprising number of detail components were available for both domestic and industrial applications. S&D in particular produce a wide range of detailing accessories. In general, however, furniture still had to be scratch-built, but I found that the larger items were relatively easy to produce. The only drawback with mixing scratch-built and proprietary items was the stark contrast offered by some of the superb proprietary castings compared to my own efforts.

A view of the garage with both roofs removed to show a bit of the interior detail. The local doctor’s car is not right and he kneels down next to the mechanic as he is worried over how much it might cost to fix. The mechanic needs a certain spanned and two of his employees (his sons) are searching in the workshop. His third son has been sent to make tea in the office and hasn’t noticed that the spanner is next to him.

Many of the available items lend themselves to modification and even some 4mm scale or 1/35 military modelling accessories may be used to good effect. If, like me, you lack the imagination to visualise an interior scene, its worthwhile jotting down a few ideas of what you think should be in a house, office or workshop. It’s surprising how long the list can get without thinking very hard. Actually producing all the listed details is another matter though!

In the domestic area of the blacksmith’s, details included; chest of drawers, wash basin and jug, bed, chamber pot (under bed), chairs, table, range/oven, stone sink, welsh dresser, cupboards, shelves, pots and pans, cutlery and china, teapot, kettle, fruit bowl with apples, bottles and a shopping bag.

The blacksmith’s forge and the garage workshops had a multitude of tools, sundry junk, cupboards, chest of drawers, benches, vices etc. The garage office was complete with desk, writing paper and pens, a variety of tools, telephone, coal scuttle and poker, stove, tea brewing equipment and assorted junk (car horns etc.).

The signal box included parts from a Springside detailing kit and RJH (knee lever frame and token apparatus) while the coal office (the first attempt at interior detailing) included an old fashioned type telephone, chairs, table, pens and paper, items for tea brewing, bottles, coal bucket, poker and shovel for the fire and various items of junk including spare coal sacks. These latter were formed from the old fashioned ‘fabric’ type of electrical insulation tape.

As already described, the main objective was to create a reasonably realistic general scene with a number of detailed ‘cameo’ scenes designed to attract the eye. Whilst the overall scenery had one or two further details added, the majority of detailing was restricted to specific areas. I believe that to make a scene convincing there has to be some sort of plausible reason explaining why things are placed the way they are. In an effort to illustrate what I mean the scenarios are described in the appropriate photo captions.

Click here to return to the main Dyffryn page.