The Ripper Connection Berner Street, Dutfield Yard

The Jack the Ripper Connection, Dutfield Yard Berner Street Whitechapel London, .
Where they found the Rippers third victim Elizabeth Stride.
Theories and possibilities abound but still no one has dicovered the identity of Jack the Ripper, . Was he, or perhaps a she? connected to nobility or was it the American Doctor. Who knows, but one thing for sure is that it will remain perhaps the greatest crime mystery in British History.
This model in O gauge depicts Berner Street in 1909. I changed the empty shop into a end of terrace pub, the other terraced buildings are as they wedre in that period.
Dutfield Yard which was to be found directly after the end terrace will be the subject of another model.

The absolute joy of model making is that History can always be a part of the creators lives. I looked at this model in the half light and imagined Victorian London and the terraced streets of flat roofed dwellings in yellow brick. How it must have felt to  walk through those dark terraces of Whitechapel knowing that the knife was but a foot fall away.

National Health Breakthrough

It wasnt a very good idea, slicing through my thumb with a craft knife, but for the nail it would have been history. Waited a while for the bleeding to stop, it didnt so I headed to the hospital. This new national health system they have adopted is wonderful. One waits for so long in that morbid waiting room that it heals itself Amazing.

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Cleveland Street Workhouse

Cleveland Street Work House

At last I finished it. I never did get the measurements so I counted the bricks and multiplied by 3.5.  The old fashioned way when one only has a photograph to work from.The other problem was getting it out of the work room door it only just made it.

Fun with Foam Board

I recently purchased a very good book  Model making Materials and Methods  by David Neat. It is an absolute must for the model maker and deals with techniques, many of which I have never come across or tried. Much of it is for set and diorama design and construction so it is ideal for the scenic modeller. It  introduces foam board of different types and textures and explains the use of the same in construction. This incredible material which I found in 4D Models has so much potential. The picture /diorama below of a Cornish sea scape and Tin Mine is layered foam board, carved and sanded , and painted in Windsor and Newton tube acrylics. As a first off I found it most pleasing to work with and has much potential for broader usage. The picture is 10" x 8" on 6mm ply.

Cleveland Street Work House

Cleveland Street Workhouse Project.
The Cleveland Street Project is progressing nicely, but I desperately need an image of the main entrance, either as it was, (preferably) or as it is now. So if anyone would like to hang over the front wall with their digi camera, and email me some images. I will be forever grateful. Cleveland Street, Fitzrovia, Londinium! It was the old Middlesex Hospital. Ask Mr Bumble he knows all about it.

London Cockney Museum

It was a long day when I mentioned the Cleveland Street "Wharehouse" it should have been WORK HOUSE! which is where I should be if I make any more daft mistakes...

London Cockney Museum

Recently I was approached by The London Cockney Museum with regard to constructing a  scale model of a street in  the old East End of London. Also to build a scale model of the Cleveland Street work house which is linked with Charles Dickens and his novel Oliver Twist. The Work House has attracted much attention recently as it is the subject of a preservation initiative. I am pleased to say that I am able and happy  to be involved in this exciting project, which starts in their mobile exhibition in a large Bendy bus, presently being fitted out in Kent.
The top image is a  model of Red Lion Street Wapping, the bottom is the actual location in the early 1900s.

Theatrical Scenic Flats for 1/32 figure collectors

Many of my modelling friends are always finding problems with space, especially when working in 1/32nd or 54mm Toy Soldiers and collectable figures. My recent Islamic scene was large to say the least, and I was asked to come up with something to enhance this but not to take up more than around 3 inches in depth. I have allways been interested in the Theatre and all things scenic , so I mugged Amazon for three brilliant books on set design and model dioramas to illustrate forthcoming productions. These have opened up a whole new dimension in materials and techniques, and working to the dimensions and subject matter given to me I came up with these.

The Hill Fort and Mountain Diorama was inspired by Afghanistan and the Khyber Pass region. The castle walls were Ancient stone work and flaking plaster  while the town scape was a typical desert village.

Scale Model Islamic Diorama

Just finished this diorama of an Islamic Scene . very difficult finding details of

size etc there are so many variations of the scene in the world today. I was looking for something simple and rustic. With old walls cracked and patched up over the ages, So this is what I came up with. Quite pleased but the next one will be better.

jans model buildings: 54mm Chinese Gate Boxer Rebellion

jans model buildings: 54mm Chinese Gate Boxer Rebellion: This is my new revised Chinese Walls and gate for the Boxer rebellion Period. This was originally made for Wilson Edward Toy Soldiers. I hav...

Memories from Old Pillgwenlly

The Kings Arms Commercial Road Pill

Jim Dyer asked me if I had any pictures of the Kings Arms in Commercial Road. Here we go Jim, was this where you once played. I think I can remember your band playing their, The Kings was a great place for a Saturday night in Pill. Did you ever do the famous Pill pub crawl? How far did you get, before the wobbly legs set in.

My Favourite Pill Picture

This is my favourite Picture of Pill. I took this on Christmas Eve morning in 1990, when I was in the Kings Parade Area. It was slightly foggy, the roofs were white with frost and it reminded me of  Christmas in Pill in the late 1950s. I shot straight into the sun with my Pentax SLR throwing the forground into a shadowy relief.

Each time I see this image I think of  Christmas past here in Pillgwenlly ,without the madness and the hype of our greedy  want everything generation. It was a beautiful thing to remember.

54mm Chinese Gate Boxer Rebellion

This is my new revised Chinese Walls and gate for the Boxer rebellion Period. This was originally made for Wilson Edward Toy Soldiers. I have used again plaster on wood and hard card with some plastics. I purchased a set of tools for working plaster and wax. Using these I was able to really bring the sone profiles out in a strong relief, giving it a lovely chunky feel and look. If anyone would like one of these please contact me. This could also be used in a later period possible for a War in the East setting Burma Perhaps.

Jan

An interesting one for followers of Wynn's Heavy Haulage (See Image) Taken in Wolverhapton in the late 1960s. More can be found on www.quietwomansrow.moonfruit.com

I have just finished a short terraced row with a Post Office as the end property. This model is copied from a Photograph I found of Old Manchester. I believe it was around the Ancoats area. The lovely feature about this is the post box which is built into the lower window pane. All f the buildings have steps which suggests that bthere might have been basements at one time, This is in O Gauge 7mm to foot.

jans model buildings: The 1/32nd Page

jans model buildings: The 1/32nd Page: My 1/32nd Vietnamese jungle hut. The figure is an Australian del Prado 54mm figure. Not really suitable but all I could lay my hands on at...