PlaymoFriends
General => Community Events => Topic started by: playmofire on August 12, 2014, 21:51:51
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Despite the best efforts of photobucket to defeat me, I have uploaded a selection of photos of the train layout at Kirkbean this year.
In previous years (2011-2013) I've gone for what is basically an oval style of layout (although in 2011 it had quite a bit of curving around in it and in 2012 it was more of a square with rounded corners). This year I tried something different - a figure-of-eight approach.
I used a figure-of-eight layout (or, more exactly, two ovals joined with a crossover rather than a pure figure-of-eight) because of what I had read in an LGB booklet that the figure-of-eight layout was loved by children of all ages because it has continuous visual movement with the train snaking its way round the track. Certainly, I noticed a number of people spending time watching the trains go round from different angles - children and adults - some even moving their head in a figure-of-eight as they followed the train!
So to start with, some overall views showing the shape of the layout. If you click on the photos, you can see a larger version on photobucket.
First an end on view from above. This actually distorts the layout because both oval sections are the same size.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4518.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4518.jpg.html)
A view now showing the town end of the layout:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4510.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4510.jpg.html)
And the town end again from a different angle:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4542.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4542.jpg.html)
Now two views of the country end:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4529.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4529.jpg.html)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4538.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4538.jpg.html)
It's getting late now (22:50 and I was up at 06:00) so I'll call it a day (or maybe a night!) for the moment. I'll post more photos, general and detailed ones, over the next couple of days.
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Gordon,
Great display and layout!
Love your town, roadway, foot paths and station.
And, of course no Playmofire presentation could be complete with out the fire brigade ... ;)
Looks like you had lots of fun!
All the best,
Richard
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Great looking layout. So you are in agreement that the figure eight form caught people's attention a bit more?
Looking forward to the close ups. Hopefully Fred and Maisie will be making an appearance again this year.
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Great job on putting your train layout together. I can never get enough train time. Thinking about the look of a figure 8 layout makes sense. How the train crosses in the middle certainly would give more visual stimulation. I noticed our layouts gets quite a few people anxious due to running multiple trains at once on the same track.
I would say its time for some more trees on your layout, that is one sad looking camp ground :lol:. Our layouts are lacking enough trees also and they are damn expensive
thanks for sharing your great work, the kids and adults must have loved watching the trains
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Love this layout, Gordon! So much going on in a relatively small area. Of course I zeroed in on the buildings in the town, some very interesting ways that you have customized the houses and shops. Love the double window panel!
Joe
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Excellent diorama. Love all the different themes combined.
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Thank you all for your kind and encouraging words, they are much appreciated.
Love your town, roadway, foot paths and station.
And, of course no Playmofire presentation could be complete with out the fire brigade ... ;)
Looks like you had lots of fun!
All the best,
Richard
The roads, town square (in fact, anything grey on the baseboard), Diane painted and I only did the footpaths in the country park and the access road from the level crossing.
The fire brigade had a difficult job, Richard - it took them four days to put the fire out! :)
Great looking layout. So you are in agreement that the figure eight form caught people's attention a bit more?
Looking forward to the close ups. Hopefully Fred and Maisie will be making an appearance again this year.
Yes, the figure-of-eight layout certainly gets more attention in terms of people watching the trains.
Close-ups will follow shortly, Tim. It's been a busy day and friends round for dinner tonight stayed later than usual as we were playing with Playmobil!
Fred and Maisie were there, but got a bit lost. I took a custom dining car based on the Panorama Express coach and Maisie and Fred were on that. However, I only ran it for a short while as it was a bit sensitive to the temporary baseboards and kept derailing, notably on the crossover where there was a difference in height between two boards. However, Maisie and Fred were also visiting the country show, so they'll probably appear there.
I'll show the custom restaurant car in the Trains section shortly.
I would say its time for some more trees on your layout, that is one sad looking camp ground :lol:. Our layouts are lacking enough trees also and they are damn expensive
thanks for sharing your great work, the kids and adults must have loved watching the trains
I agree about the trees, Ras. I put in a DS order before the show and thought about adding some fir trees, but the price put me off. One thing I did buy on eBay, however, were three of the landscape sets produced to go with the train sets. I had two already and they nicely fill in the area between the end of the track and the edge of the baseboard.
People certainly seems to enjoy it and it was surprising how many of the kids weren't expecting the trains to be running! Quite a number started their visit with "Awesome, the trains are running!" or similar terms.
Love this layout, Gordon! So much going on in a relatively small area. Of course I zeroed in on the buildings in the town, some very interesting ways that you have customized the houses and shops. Love the double window panel!
Joe
The table space was 16 feet by 8 feet, 4 feet longer than last year. I'll be posting detailed photos of the buildings shortly, The double fronted house was a custom I tried last year but didn't finish. I'll post a separate topic on it too.
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Problem with double posting here so I'll use this for tomorrow's post.
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It looks like a nice set up! there's a lot going on there and I'd love to see more close up pictures!
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Much later than intended (decorating interrupted things and will continue to do so for about three days a week for the next four weeks or so) here are some more photos from the train layout at Kirkbean 2014.
On a hot summer's day in the town when the town square gets too noisy from the children playing:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4403.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4403.jpg.html)
what can be better than to go to the cafe:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4215.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4215.jpg.html)
for a refreshing drink or ice cream:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4216.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4216.jpg.html)
and to meet up for romance:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4219.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4219.jpg.html)
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For others, though, it's a working day with bread to deliver to the cafe:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4223.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4223.jpg.html)
shopping to drop off at home:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4222.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4222.jpg.html)
painting to be done outside:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4225.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4225.jpg.html)
and milk to deliver:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4226.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4226.jpg.html)
and grass to cut:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4477.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4477.jpg.html)
More to come later today (it's currently 06:38, so a shower and breakfast call).
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These are wonderful :love: Thank you for posting them!
I really like the brown painted pathway and the station. Oh, and of course that picture in which a girl is taken by surprise when she gets flowers. :D
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Thank you, Birdie. The paths were painted freehand very carefully so as not to make them too wide. I thought, too, that having the tarmac road after the level crossing just petering out into earth and then the station have a tarmac or concrete carpark was probably the sort of thing that would happen in real life!
The picture with the couple and the flowers is a favourite of mine too.
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We'll have a look at the main station now; if you want to see larger versions of the pictures, just click on them. (There will be more on this in the Trains section later on.)
This is a custom building but the idea of using the cargo beams this way is not my own as a member of klickywelt showed the idea first.
It took a lot of planning and experimenting at home on the dining room table to get it to work as the track had to have odd kinks in it to give enough clearance for the goods vans. (That catch on the brown goods van's sliding door is a real nuisance for catching on things!) Having got the design finalised at home, when I set the track out at Kirkbean I found the station was too long(!), so I had to shorten it by one platform's length and then had to run lots of tests again to get it positioned exactly right for trains to clear it properly.
Here's an aerial view of the station. Originally, I intended to glaze the roof area with plastic, but in the end I didn't have time to do this. The nearer side is used for passenger traffic and the far side for goods. For passengers, there is car parking to the left (watch out for the parking warden!) and there is access by steps and ramps.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4547.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4547.jpg.html)
I warned you about the parking warden!
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4394.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4394.jpg.html)
Here's a shot of the platforms with a train obviously expected soon:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4369.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4369.jpg.html)
Before it arrives, however, a non-stopping express goes through on the other line:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4384.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4384.jpg.html)
Here's a close-up of the main entrance showing the glass panelling put in when the station was refurbished in 1977. Previously, the walls had all been sold with just small windows at the top, as on the goods side. Replacing the solid walls with glass has made the station much lighter and more attractive for passengers. The posters opposite the platform are actual railway posters from before the war scanned from this year's National Railway Museum diary.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4374.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4374.jpg.html)
Cyclists are catered for in the parking arrangements, and there are no parking wardens for them to worry about! Here's a commuter arriving for his morning train to work.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4360.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4360.jpg.html)
There are passengers arriving at the end of their train journey too:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4343.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4343.jpg.html)
Later today, I'll post photos of the goods side of the station.
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A lot has been said about this beautiful diorama. I agree it is great to look at for a long time. There's so much happening in so many different scenes. I love the way you used the old town with modern people and a great stations that blends in nicely. Looking forward for more!
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Great set up! Really fun to see all the details. I bet all the people who got to see it in person really enjoyed it.
Kitties getting petted!
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Wow, fantastic diorama! There is so much going on, the various scenes were really well done. Looking forward to more! :)
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Such lovely photos! :)
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Thank you all for your kind comments and apologies for not posting more photos. Last night the computer was very slow on the internet (I discovered the browser cache was full and cleared it this evening) so I couldn't get any posted. I've a bit of time now to post some, so here goes with the goods/freight side of the main station.
To start with a general view of this side of the station. There's been a drop-off by a stopping goods train recently and the goods are being loaded onto a lorry for delivery to their final destination. Meanwhile, there are some empty crates waiting to be picked for return to their starting point, and a couple of packing cases awaiting collection. The goods storage shed is to the left and some, hopefully, empty chemical drums are being put into store. ("Hopefully" because they have no closures on them!) The little orange truck is one of about four I have as they are so useful (pity they only come in orange) because of their small size. Maybe I'd better start thinking about painting one or two of them, or maybe making a canvas cover to vary the shape a bit.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4387.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4387.jpg.html)
Here's another view which shows the goods warehouse better and the engine shed in the background:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4515.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4515.jpg.html)
On the other side of the layout is an area which allows locos to drop off one train and pick up another or carry out shunting. A loco can also bring a train in, uncouple and then run round it to couple up at the back so as to run in reverse. This section of track can be isolated from the main layout so locos not being used can be "parked" there. I did take a spare controller so that I could operate trains on the main layout and do some shunting in this area. Unfortunately, I forgot to take any cables for connecting the controller to the tracks! :-[ :-[ :-[
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4512.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4512.jpg.html)
Time's caught up with me again, but more tomorrow.
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Lots of wonderful detail Gordon, I'm really enjoying the closer views.
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I like it, something new to look at every day ;D
That hangar at the end of the train tracks: great idea!
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I like it, something new to look at every day ;D
That hangar at the end of the train tracks: great idea!
I hope to post more today.
The hangar/engine shed is based on the 6231 vehicle shed.
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Well, time to have a look at the country for a time.
First, things are not going well at the stables where a fire has broken out, although the fire brigade are quickly on the scene:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4537.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4537.jpg.html)
The turntable ladder has been quickly brought into use, together with a hose jet on the ground. A fireman is unloading another length of hose so that a second hose jet can be set up at ground level:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4335.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4335.jpg.html)
Your daring photographer gets in close to show the fireman on the turntable ladder at work:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4331.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4331.jpg.html)
Round the other side of the stables, firefighters are rescuing the horses inside the stables:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4300.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4300.jpg.html)
Another aerial view, with the stable owner saving his tractor and two horses already rescued on the left being led away by a stablehand:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4514.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4514.jpg.html)
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Fantastic diorama and great photos! The fire looks very realistic, what did you use? :)
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Fantastic diorama and great photos! The fire looks very realistic, what did you use? :)
Thank you. I used a "fire lamp" like this:
http://www.robertopiecollection.com/Application/images/lighting/flame-lamp-md.jpg
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A day out in the country is no problem for the townsfolk as there is a regular train service to the local station for the country park:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4459.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4459.jpg.html)
In the country park, there is gentle enjoyment for cyclists:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4327.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4327.jpg.html)
for rock climbers:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4325.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4325.jpg.html)
for those who just want to sit and enjoy an ice cream:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4352.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4352.jpg.html)
and wild animal spotters:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4355.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4355.jpg.html)
But it's not much fun when your boat blows over in the middle of the pond!
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4328.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4328.jpg.html)
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The little boy with the boat isn't the only one not having much fun! There's a problem here:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4402.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4402.jpg.html)
This couple haven't got off to a good start in their married life. HE wanted to set off for the honeymoon in an old car!
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4399.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4399.jpg.html)
And now SHE'S asking, "Now then Mr. 'Must have an old car', how do I fit in this in my wedding dress?"
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4396.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4396.jpg.html)
Here there's a different problem.
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4341.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4341.jpg.html)
Someone wasn't watching their speed!
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4342.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4342.jpg.html)
"Was I really going that fast, Officer?"
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4236.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4236.jpg.html)
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Back to more fun things now.
The country park is famed for its rock climbing:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4326.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4326.jpg.html)
Though you've got to have a good head for heights!
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4318.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4318.jpg.html)
But this family want to keep their feet on the ground and just add a nice photo to the family album:
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4309.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4309.jpg.html)
And for those who concerned about getting lost, the National Search and Rescue Dog Association have a team out today advertising the work of search and rescue dogs. (You can find more about them here: http://www.nsarda.co.uk/)
(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/playmofire/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4304.jpg) (http://s704.photobucket.com/user/playmofire/media/Playmobil/Kirkbean%20Exhibition%202014/DSCF4304.jpg.html)
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Another top-notch batch of photos! :clap:
Thank you. I used a "fire lamp" like this:
http://www.robertopiecollection.com/Application/images/lighting/flame-lamp-md.jpg
They do look very lifelike! :)
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I love all the details, especially the broken-down wedding car, and the blown over toy yacht!