R e n o v a t i o n J o u r n a l 15
"Wolves around Stift Cochem... and some more!"
Q 4/ 2 0 2 1
2018: Prelude (Part 1) - Prelude (Part 2)
2020: Part 3 ~ Part 4 ~ Part 5 ~ Part 6 ~ Part 7
2021: Part 8a ~ Part 8b ~ Part 8c ~ Part 9 ~ Part 10 ~ Part 11 ~ Part 12 ~ Part 13 ~ Part 14 ~ Part 15
2022: Part 16 ~ Part 17 ~ Part 18 ~ Part 19 ~ Part 20 ~ Part 21 ~ Part 22 ~ Part 23 ~ Part 24 ~ Part 25 ~ Part 26 ~ Part 27 ~ Part 28
2023: Part 29
Chapter 15.1 ~ Wolves around
December 3rd 2021
Some weeks ago I was intrigued by wolves in scale H0, imported from Canada and hand painted by Geke van Petegem.
Alas, the price per wolf was primarily € 12,50, some weeks later even € 20 per wolf. A six pack took no less than 75 euros.
I think this price is quite exorbitant
A wolf by Geke van Petegem
Then I discovered that Bush has a pack of ten wolves for less than € 18,00 euros.
They were already painted.
Nevertheless, I gave them a 'nose' (gloss black) and a lasur coating as well.
They did not form a pack of wolves until 22.2.2022.
~~~
Chapter 15.2 ~ On the reins
December 3rd 2021
As beautiful as Artitec's beet cart may be, it really does need reins to finish it off.
Thin steel yarn was the best option because of its strength.
With some painting of several Preiserlein, Friday's work is finished again...
~~~
Chapter 15.3 ~ Linden Trees
December 8thd 2021
This weekend I finally found the solution for the continuation of the monastery garden: lime trees.
Five poles (toothpicks) were used at a distance of 4 cm.
Mother's sewing thread for the threads along which the linden is guided, next to four linden trunks.
Because the light from the stage lamps should not be obstructed, I put the lime trees tightly against the wall.
For the same reason, a monastery garden with beanstalks precisely in this place is out of the question.
When the glue is dry I can cut off the tips at the top of the posts.
It cannot be denied that the appearance of the monastery thus changes considerably, if not improves.
~~~
December 8-11, 2021
In four days I did a lot of work on the Monastery Grounds.
In effect, I want this module to be installed into the Cochemer Bahn before the year is gone.
Typically Dutch, especially at Dutch Reformed village and city Churches, are lime trees in front of the facade.
From Wet tot Glue to White Gravel.
If only one can imagine how it looked 4 months ago...
~~~
December 13th-14th... approaching the finish!
Colouring the tombstones with Lasur (at the right)
The paths and avenues along the church and monastery get their final coating with an extra Lasur layer, then topped off with dry off white.
Finally, I have chosen not only to move the statue from the cemetery to the monastery grounds.
I actually thought the pedestal underneath was too high (which made the church seem smaller!), and the statue was skewed.
~~~
Chapter 15.4 ~ Beer Wagon
Artitec 60.005
December 20 - 22, 2021
While staying at my place last weekend, a friend brought me among other things this Artitec Beer Wagon Set from the shop.
It must have been there for over a decade, since Artitec - as I soon was going to find out - didn't produce this set for over 10 years.
What is remarkable about this product is that it is not cast from plastic but from resin. I thought it was a challenge.
The more so because I already saw where I would put it: back stage at the monastery.
I was surprised that with a fragile product like this, the parts rattled loosely through the box,
and weren't neatly wrapped in cellophane, to avoid damage in transit.
This may explain why when opening the package, the horse came out with three legs instead of four. The broken leg was not found.
Initially I decided to make the cart without a horse. In addition, I still have some spare horses 'in the stable'.
This is how it has to look like (like ten years ago).
While Artitec currently has a ready-made beer cart in its range, with a Belgian draft horse in front of it.
In the afternoon of Monday December 20, I started to loosen all parts of the resin plate.
It is advisable to let the parts soften a bit in the coming water.
~~~
Late in the evening I already applied a primer, imitating wood with a mix of black, dark brown, orange brown and cork brown.
In the mean time, Faller's nuns were given a thin layer of lasur.
~~~
The next day, Tuesday, I treated all parts with dry white. I also looked for a figure that can serve as a carter.
~~~
Wednesday, December 22nd
For some reason I got the urge to call Artitec in Amsterdam and report the broken horse and missing leg.
A very friendly young man spoke to me by phone and after explaining my story
- on closer inspection it turned out that this set 60.005 had not been produced for 10 years -
he asked for my details, so that he could send a loose horse. He couldn't help sending me a 'horse that was already painted'.
I had no objection to that.
This morning, I found a
package in the letterbox.
In an accompanying letter, Jeroen from Artitec said that unfortunately he could not find a suitable horse with rigging for my beer cart,
because these are already assembled in Vietnam.
This horse which he sent is absolutely beautiful, with a white blaze on the head, but in my opinion a bit too delicate for a beer wagon.
He will certainly get a place of honor on the Cochemer Bahn.
From my own stock - containing a set of four-in-hand horses, which has been in
the drawer for decades - I took a Preiser horse.
With some aging technique,
it fits perfectly in front of the cart. When everything is well cured and dried,
reins will be added.
Then I proceeded to assemble the car quickly.
Since I work with resin, I didn't use hobby glue this time, but seconds glue.
Now it's waiting for the beer wagon to arrive, bringing new beer to the Monastery.
"Tschüss und komm' bald wieder!"
~~~
With the nuns it's not beer that demands their attention...
~~~
Chapter 15.5 ~ Heading for Christmas with several days of 'small talk'...
From December 23 and on...
I made a cosy workspot on the kitchen table and started to just do what was at hand.
Searching parts, weathering, painting, 'lasuring' my Preiserlein, a stork changing nest...
Although these 'people form the vineyard' are most beautifully painted from the factory,
I want to apply my 'artistic character' or 'Chef's recipe' to all my Preiserlein:
a light coating of Heki Dur Lasur.
Which brings out facial expression and the folds of the clothing better.
At the same time, the very fresh white is somewhat tempered by it.
For my D VI Atropos I found fitting personel.
~~~
When I saw this fellow, I knew he deserved a special scenic spot on the model
railroad.
However, I didn't want him out in the open or in a shed like that
other guy behind the castle.
No, someone who just got out of bed and looked out the window. But which window is suitable?
The Klingetorturm was no option.
After some searching, the solution came naturally: the extension of the former Alsfeld town hall.
And here we go again... from one thing comes another!
26.12.2021
~~~
These two sets I bought in the "Dutch guilders time" (2x ƒ 39,90, today some 40 USD).
I always had in mind to put them somewhere around Cochemer Burg.
But no, the Castle is in a quiet area. A parade like this simply does not fit in with that.
However, since I (almost) finished the Vineyard on the west side of Town, and a festival is at hand indeed,
I finally found the right spot and situation for them.
Coming up soon...
"A good wine matures in a dark cellar for years, but is drunk in the light on one day ."
And so this is waiting for me on Christmas Day. More work to be done. What else?!
~~~
Around Christmas I gave full attention to the expansion of the town hall.
But first the D VI Atropos got personnel...
(See more pictures at Einsatz bay. D VI)
26.12.2021
~~~
Since the Artitec beer wagon set had two vessels (I picked the best one for the cart), some days later I saw this picture on the FB page of Bruce Metcalf:
It inspired me to use the second barrel and make it into either another beer barrel on a rack or a water barrel.
My first idea was to put it behind the Monastery as well, but that's too much.
It will have a nice spot against the 'Victorian Wall' where more 'Artitec-tonian' stuff is tucked away.
~~~
By the way, the horse of the beer wagon had no reins yet.
As with the beet cart, sewing thread from poas comes here too, although I do it now in three parts, and let the reins loosen.
27.12.2021
~~~
Last Update:
Frits Osterthun © 23.2.2022