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westporton
เข้าร่วมเมื่อ 25 ส.ค. 2009
The Flatterer (La Lisonjera), by Cécile Chaminade.
The Flatterer. In French, La Lisonjera. Piano piece by Cécile Chaminade in G-flat major. Published around 1890. She wrote a large output for piano and also orchestra. Being a woman (and , I expect, a member of the LGBT set - except it wasn't invented then) she was patronised by her male counterparts on the Paris 'Belle Epoch' scene and her work trivialised. In 1913 however, she was recognised by the French Government and awarded the Légion d'Honneur - the first female composer to receive it.
I've never heard her work performed publicly but hope you enjoy this rendition and that her name and work can live on.
I've never heard her work performed publicly but hope you enjoy this rendition and that her name and work can live on.
มุมมอง: 24
วีดีโอ
Porton Leyland National fleet - February 2021
มุมมอง 5593 ปีที่แล้ว
With an aging fleet of trolleybuses and a backlog of overhead/electrics maintenance jobs from years of dragging the layout around model railway exhibitions, there was an alarming but fleeting idea to scrap the trolleybuses in West Porton altogether. Instead I replaced the running fleet with 5 new Leyland Nationals - having been really impressed with the prototype - and due to Covid19 lockdown w...
Essen Bus Project Part 7
มุมมอง 2554 ปีที่แล้ว
Having tried various electronic automatic stopping devices over the last 2 years without success, the Covid-19 lockdown has given me the opportuinity to develop an analog device to operate trams and buses stopping at the Porscheplatz station.
Old Porton 2020 - Leyland Nation trolleybus
มุมมอง 5034 ปีที่แล้ว
Micro engineering of model Leyland Nation into a trolleybus. If trolleybuses in the UK had made it into the 70s this is undoubtedly what they would have looked like. Model kit by PECO. Liverpool Goddesses scratch built.
Essen project part 6
มุมมอง 8297 ปีที่แล้ว
Part 6 of the model Essen KGB (kerb guided busway) project. In a new experiment, controlled by 2 flip-flop relays: there is no power draw from the relays after they have been 'switched' by strategically placed reed relays. New experimental single-decker trolleybus for running on the KGB, with head/tail lamps and interior lights especially for running underground! Older single-decker trams reviv...
La Source
มุมมอง 2177 ปีที่แล้ว
For John Hobson - who's heard me play snippets of this on various pianos at various times and deserves to hear all of it! This is my new Shonbrunn full-size upright piano (....says 'Grande' on the receipt!). Lovely tone and touch! 'La Source' (Alphonse Hasselmans) is a tone poem which through its rippling motif describes the rising of a stream (La Source = The Spring) as an echo deep in the woo...
station street 1
มุมมอง 4778 ปีที่แล้ว
Station Street is not the oldest tram route in Porton, but it was one of the first to be switched over from 'conduit' operation (pickup from a centre rail) due to contact problems at its several tram junctions. The instalation of an overhead wire was beset with issues - Station Road has double tram track which drops to single for traverse through a tunnel (necessitating overhead wire directiona...
London Quartet
มุมมอง 4.7K9 ปีที่แล้ว
Quartet of 4mm models for 2015 model tramway show in Croydon, 18/7/15, representative of London's modern electric road vehicles of the 1930s. The Feltham tram, in service from 1931, is the Tower kit. 150 of the 1000 older M and E-class tramcars were upgraded in the late 30s as 'rehab' cars, after a decision not to buy any more new trams (too costly), with brighter interiors and more modern look...
Essen bus project
มุมมอง 2.9K10 ปีที่แล้ว
I became fascinated by KGB (Kerb Guided Busway) after seeing Simon's footage of a trolleybus sharing an underground station with trams. The virtue of KGB is that it is cheap to build and maintain, compared with tramway, and because it uses regurlar buses the buses can leave the guideway and use ordinary streets at any time. I wanted to model this system to completment my fictitious town of Port...
Porton Tram rolling stock history
มุมมอง 87210 ปีที่แล้ว
Development of Porton Trams. The automatated model tramway layout called 'Victoria Park' needs 5 trams and 1 trolleybus to work at full capacity. I needed 5 new trams as quickly as possible. These current trams are running on recyled motor units from older 'scrapped' car so cost only the plasticard and paint - £1 each. Whole fleet of 4 new trams = £5. To make a home built working tram from scra...
West Porton with Corporation vehicles only
มุมมอง 73811 ปีที่แล้ว
Although the West Porton layout acts like a portable tram and trolleybus museum at model shows it can in fact be run entirely with Porton's own fleet of trams and buses. This year electrical work has been done to run the buses more slowly, upgrades have been carried out to the tramline overhead wiring, some of the older trolleybus overhead wires have been restrung and the 'bendi-bus' has been r...
Porton Dingle
มุมมอง 87211 ปีที่แล้ว
This is the much smaller (about 1/2 size) layout for running model trams and trolleybuses for shows at Pontypridd, Utoxeter (possiby), London and Rhondda. It fits on the back seat of the car and only takes a few minutes to set up! It is a Metro station and interchange at the edge of fictitious Porton, where there is a small park, or 'dingle'. Note there is a really good passenger service since ...
Porton trolleybus line up 2012 for Manchester, Cardiff, Rhondda and Pontypridd.wmv
มุมมอง 22K12 ปีที่แล้ว
This year's line up for the West Porton display is 'trolleybuses of the North West', first show in Manchester, but accidentally includes a Roe body bus (Leeds). Oops. The line-up proudly includes a scratch-built model of one of the 52 Manchester Burlingham bodied BUT trolleybuses built in 1950 and the last trolleybuses for Manchester. They were withdrawn in 1966 when the Manchester system close...
Bach prelude.mp4
มุมมอง 16312 ปีที่แล้ว
I made this video about 15 years ago. This English Erhard 'Grecian' harp was made in about 1820 and the action was a bit iffy due to its age - but it made a lovely plummy sound. It was on hire and I was retuning it the next day so I recorded this for posteria's sake. (Bit of a rush hence the slurs and fudged bits) This is a 'pedal' harp and you use the pedals to make sharps or flats. This peice...
Fleet line-up for Stafford, Cardiff and Pontypridd 2011
มุมมอง 1K13 ปีที่แล้ว
This is the line-up for 2011 exhibitions including Stafford, Cardiff and Pontypridd. Especially made for this year is Pontypridd Urban District Council's Weymann Utility bodied bus number 11 introduced in 1944 and leaving Pontypridd in 1952 when that system closed. It was later sold to Doncaster. The Cardiff single decker is also a scratch build but of the unique buses used on the Pier Head rou...
West Porton - overhead wires finished!
มุมมอง 2.4K13 ปีที่แล้ว
West Porton - overhead wires finished!
a visit to Brunell's SS Great Britain in Bristol
มุมมอง 66713 ปีที่แล้ว
a visit to Brunell's SS Great Britain in Bristol
West Porton automatic trolleybus turnout
มุมมอง 6K15 ปีที่แล้ว
West Porton automatic trolleybus turnout
Another green and cream coloured tram. 🇦🇺👍🍺
Very good model. I like it. It rides very stable and smooth. Did you have problems with the contact of the rod and wire? My models don't ride as smoothly and sometimes go missing with wire contact. How did you achieve such stability? Thanks in advance
Hello Michael, I hope you are well. Yes, it took me a while to figure out how to achieve good magnetic contact with the road too! My oldest system, 'VIctoria Park', used plaster to make the roadway and I dug a channel 1mm deep for the steel guide wire. The road surface is very rough, and this causes the magnet and steering rod to jump off the wire. For the West Porton layout I laid the wire down first, then built up cardboard either side of it to a height of 2mm and then covered this with sticky-back plastic to create a smooth road surface. This too sometimes failed, especially on sharp corners. I found that by relaxing (undoing) the screw which holds the guide rod to the axle slightly there is enough 'up and down' movement to allow the guide rod to cope with uneven road surfaces. Make sure the guide rod is completely flat to the road surface. (Sided to side and front to back) If the bus/lorry is not moving smoothly, maybe the guide wire is too close to the surface of the road - - put some selotape down to raise the road surface. If the bus is OK everywhere else, but crashes at the same point all the time, maybe the guide wire is too deep below the road, or there's a break in it. you'll have to dig up the road my fiend!! Good luck with your model making! Здравствуйте, Михаил, надеюсь, у вас все хорошо. Да, мне потребовалось некоторое время, чтобы понять, как добиться хорошего магнитного контакта с дорогой! В моей самой старой системе, «Виктория Парк», для создания проезжей части использовалась гипсовая штукатурка, и я вырыл канал глубиной 1 мм для стальной направляющей проволоки. Поверхность дороги очень неровная, из-за чего магнит и рулевая тяга соскальзывают с провода. Для макета West Porton я сначала уложил провод, затем наклеил картон с обеих сторон на высоту 2 мм, а затем покрыл его липким пластиком, чтобы создать гладкую поверхность дороги. Это тоже иногда подводило, особенно на острых углах. Я обнаружил, что если немного ослабить (отвинтить) винт, который удерживает направляющий стержень на оси, движения «вверх-вниз» достаточно, чтобы направляющий стержень справлялся с неровностями дорожного покрытия. Убедитесь, что направляющий стержень полностью прилегает к поверхности дороги. (Из стороны в сторону и спереди назад) Если автобус/грузовик движется неравномерно, возможно, направляющий трос находится слишком близко к поверхности дороги - - приклейте скотч, чтобы поднять поверхность дороги. Если с автобусом везде все в порядке, но все время глохнет в одном и том же месте, возможно, направляющий провод находится слишком глубоко под дорогой или в нем есть обрыв. тебе придется перекопать дорогу, мой изверг!! Удачи в создании моделей!
@@westporton с магнитным управлением проблем почти нет. Есть проблемы с передачей электричества от контактных проводов в троллейбус. Ваши троллейбусы работают от контактного провода или внутри установлены аккумуляторы/батарея? В мои модели электричество передаётся с контакного провода и передаётся очень плохо.
@@diesel-mk Yes - I too use live contact wires to give power to the motors. This is how real trolleybuses work! I use brass-rod for the overhead lines, copper or brass shoes to collect the electricity from the overhead wires and the trolley poles are brass too. Everything must be clean for good electrical contact : file out your pick up shoes and check the overhead wire for paint or other stuff which will prevent the current from flowing. I also use a 'dust buster' device which sends a 16v ac boost if there is something on the line such as dust or grease. Real trolleybuses use very high voltages, which destroys anything on the wires which prevent electrical flow --- - in a big flash! www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/gaugemaster-gmc-hf1.html Use white spirit to clean the overhead wires and pick up shoes. WD40 or other electrical points cleaner helps too. Да, я тоже использую контактные провода под напряжением для питания двигателей. Так работают настоящие троллейбусы! Я использую латунный стержень для воздушных линий, медные или латунные башмаки для сбора электричества с воздушных проводов, опоры троллейбусов тоже латунные. Все должно быть чистым для обеспечения хорошего электрического контакта: снимите обувь и проверьте контактную проводку на наличие краски или других материалов, препятствующих прохождению тока. Я также использую устройство «пылесборник», которое подает напряжение переменного тока 16 В, если на линии есть что-то, например, пыль или жир. Настоящие троллейбусы используют очень высокое напряжение, которое разрушает все на проводах, которые препятствуют электрическому току --- - в большой вспышке! www.gaugemasterretail.com/magento/gaugemaster-gmc-hf1.html Используйте уайт-спирит, чтобы очистить воздушные провода и подобрать обувь. Также помогает WD40 или другой очиститель электрических точек.
Very impressive, and much enhanced by Jack Hylton's band with The Swingtette.
Excellent! Well done! I am impressed. 😊
Excellent! Well done! I am impressed. 😊
Thanks. It's a hobby that got totally out of control! It looks intricate but both the overhead system and the buses (which have all been dropped on the floor at some point...) are robust. It's not too difficult to scratch build the buses and once I'd figured out how to make the overhead, including frogs and crossings, I was away!
Good heavens I've only just spotted the tram trolley pole reverser at 3.43. I didn't think you could get one to work in that scale!
Hi, thanks for your comments. There are two auto reversers on the layout: one at each end. I seldom get dewirement in them during all day exhibutions, which I am reliably told is a much better performance than the full scale article at the Critch Tramway Museum!
Excellent the best, l have trolly buses on my railway just love them, well done 👍
Hi Ken, thanks! I went for a trip to Creeksea on the wonderful (scratchbuilt?) clerestory petrol/diesel railcoach set - - and only later, too late, saw the trolleybus bound for Creeksea. Ah well, next time I'm down there..... Beautiful modelling of grasses and dry-stone walling. I never realised Perth was so diverse in ecology! Love the steam coming from the loco's chimney too. Very original, and very evocative. Used to have a little 009 layout as a teen. Quite fancied trying to make a meter-gauge tramway with it! Have a great weekend.
@@westporton Thanks for the comments it’s set in South England Devon way , l live in Perth Western Australia most of my railway immigrated with me. I started model railways when l was seven with A Hornby Torbay Express that l still have along with rolling stock, And yes l do like to do a bit of scratchbuilding
Hello, I am assuming that the overhead is live, but you are using reed switches to control the vehicles not unlike the Faller system? I do like the idea of what if, British Trolleys lasted into the late 20th Century or even too now, great fun. Thank's for posting. Trolleybase
Thank you Trollybase! It's been fun to work on this little Essen style kerb guided bus project and I'm hoping to have it finished before the end of March and will then post the final video. I'm also going to include photos of the Leigh guided busway (near Manchester) and point out that we have several KGB systems in the UK too now. Ironically, Essen is planning to pull up the last remaining busway near Kray and put the trams back! I'll also include pictures of some of the key locations which I took on my visit to Essen a few years ago. (Porscheplatz station is now renamed 'Essen Town Hall' - not as iconic, or glamorous!) Yes, that's right - the buses draw their power from live overhead wires - all in 4mm scale! (HO/OO). I understand what you mean by the Faller control system using reed switches, but I also use the overhead wires to cause the buses to stop - there is an isolation at the desired stopping place where one of the overhead wires is dead/energised per the status of a 5v toggle relay. I use reed switches in this video, as you see, but not quite in the same way as the Faller system:- In my original control systems, such as at Porton Victoria Park (where in this video you see the two trolleybuses 'in the street') and also the exhibition layout 'West Porton' (per hyperlink below), the arrival of buses at a particular bus-stop is detected by the overhead wiring, which energises a relay, which in turn sets off the next vehicle in the sequence - thus pausing the bus to load passengers. However, this method of control creates quite a power draw and is also hard wearing on the relays. When I built this 'Essen' loop I thought I'd try a different way: the bus has a magnet glued underneath which activates the reed when it passes over it (although later I realised that the reed is also activated by the tiny steering magnet on the front axle and the magnets in the motor.....Duh!). The reed switch is connected to one set of the coils of a toggle relay which when shifted (toggled/latched) reverses the polarity of the tram line. The next bus stop is not supplied with power so the bus comes to a halt - meantime, due to a diode activated by the power reversal, the tram moves forward through the station and to the end of the track. The tram is also fitted with a magnet, and as it passes over the reed switch at the end of the tram line it activates the toggle relay controlling the trolleybus: The tram comes to a halt due to an 'end of line' diode and power is now passed to the stationary bus via this toggle relay, plus power is disconnected from the next bus stop at the same time. The bus moves forward. Before reaching the next bus-stop it passes over a relay which reverses the polarity of the tram track again: the bus stops at the next stop as there is no power, and the tram moves back along the track in the opposite direction. Simples! The advantage is that the toggle relay is powered only briefly as the bus/tram passes over the reed switch - the rest of the time no power is supplied to the toggle relay. In contrast, the other Porton systems relays are held under power as long as a bus or tram is at a bus-stop, pretty similar to the way the Faller system has a magnetic coil below the road which is powered while holding the reed switch in the vehicle above it open, ie stopped.) I have also used reed relays to activate the accumulator, which is the mechanism holding vehicles at the station: these are activated by the magnets under both the tram and trolley bus so, as at Essen, the station doesn't care whether the next vehicle is a tram or a trolleybus, it holds it at the station for 10 seconds (power disconnected) and sets it free when the accumulator wheel completes its turn (ie restores power). There are a few disadvantages with this reed/toggle method, but it's fairly reliable and for the sake of the power save - going green - I think future automatic control layouts will use this system. This link takes you to my latest model trolleybuses - the Leyland National beni-trolleybus, which I think you may have already seen. These better represent the buses used in Essen during the 1980s experiments - but I was so impressed with the prototype that I build a whole fleet of them! It also shows you that the West Porton layout does not use reed relays for control - non of these buses have magnets fitted. th-cam.com/video/nkt68zhnlaA/w-d-xo.html (Or follow my channel to Porton Leyland National Fleet.)
Fantastic! It's easy for me to imagine myself as a typical tourist walking around this charming old-time urban scene, or using its streetcars.
well done david your new piano sounds great keep up the good work
I got inspired too!
Absolutely amazing. Thank you for making your dreams true and also for sharing them with the world.
Very nice project. Lots of work and patience. One like only?!
Thank you for a lovely performance.
Interesting project. Two thumbs up. With this hobby you never get older.
nice . and a certain blue public police box to boot.
Well spotted. You have to be a 'certain' age to recognise it too, I think. I needed to incorporate various light signals to tell me what's happening while 'operating' from the back (It's actually fully automated) - the blue light comes on when the metro track polarity is reversed, sending trains back to the station. I incorporated it into the Hornby police box for the kids - - but it's usually spotted by adults and then pointed out to the kids!!!!
Wow!!! Beautiful work! Outstanding! (From across the "Pond")
Thank you very much. Happy new year from this side of the pond!
One of my earliest memories was boarding a trolley/bus with my mom in Brooklyn, New York... (1960?)... trolley/trams gone for some years. Trolley/buses gone from NYC that year! ... Got my revenge later in life by becoming a NYCTA Conductor (Guard) and later NYCTA Motorman/"Train Operator" (Tube Driver)...
I was never so gallant. spent all my life in offices!! :-( Some great videos of the NYC subway in times past on TH-cam. bet that makes you feel nostalgic!
Sure does!!! My folks afforded me a good education here in the states and told me to "go somewhere" with it... Took me me 15 years to realize that they DIDN'T mean from the "Bronx" to "Coney Island" (NYC) and back twice a day!!! ;-))! Seriously, the "job" of my "heart" before I had to move on! Your representation of the transport of your youth is OUTSTANDING and world-class! Thank YOU!!!
The length of Manhattan? China, (Lil) Italy ..... you used to travel the world every day!! Your folks should have been really proud. (Coney Island isn't even of this world...)
Reminds me of albert steptoe when he got the cart wheels stuck in the track and had to follow the track all the way to the depot before he could turn round😁
Hmmm, interesting
Absolutely brilliant models. As a Brightonian I hope to one day see a working model of my home town transport which sadly stopped running in 1961. Do you use the Faller steering system or make your own?
Hello Tuckaway! Thanks - it's a hobby that ran out of control..... Ever since I was little I used to make trams and trolleybuses out of mecano and lego. These buses are really reliable, and as you see run all day at model shows with little trouble. Maybe the odd dewirement: but that's just modelling accuracy, like the real thing! My passion started with the Manchester trolleys, as that's my home town, and that's why I made the model Burlingham especially for the Manchester show. It has taken 2 or 3 years to build up the skill to scratch build the buses (but it's not as hard as it looks) and I prefer the road handling of these lighter plastic models - especially for automation. However you can buy model trolleybuses. Lucky you! Brighton is one of the towns represented by the OCO models! (I bought mine at a flea market for £2.50!) and I have motorised some of the Corgies - even the 6 wheelers. You can see them here on youtube working at a show in London in 2009. In the search box above put 'model trolleybus porton' and you should hit it. So yes, I build a chassis to fit the body, I use a BEC motor on the back axle (but you can use whatever is your choice - something strong for the metal models) and the Faller steering axle on the front. Luckily Faller do sell just the front axle! The good point with the Faller axle is that it comes apart easily - this is really important because dust and fluff tends to accumulate (especially after long working) which if not cleaned off regularly can cause the steering to fail, and your beautiful bus to crash!Good luck with your project - - and let us know how you're getting on!
Hello Tuckaway! Thanks - it's a hobby that ran out of control..... Ever since I was little I used to make trams and trolleybuses out of mecano and lego. These buses are really reliable, and as you see run all day at model shows with little trouble. Maybe the odd dewirement: but that's just modelling accuracy, like the real thing! My passion started with the Manchester trolleys, as that's my home town, and that's why I made the model Burlingham especially for the Manchester show. It has taken 2 or 3 years to build up the skill to scratch build the buses (but it's not as hard as it looks) and I prefer the road handling of these lighter plastic models - especially for automation. However you can buy model trolleybuses. Lucky you! Brighton is one of the towns represented by the OCO models! (I bought mine at a flea market for £2.50!) and I have motorised some of the Corgies - even the 6 wheelers. You can see them here on youtube working at a show in London in 2009. In the search box above put 'model trolleybus porton' and you should hit it. So yes, I build a chassis to fit the body, I use a BEC motor on the back axle (but you can use whatever is your choice - something strong for the metal models) and the Faller steering axle on the front. Luckily Faller do sell just the front axle! The good point with the Faller axle is that it comes apart easily - this is really important because dust and fluff tends to accumulate (especially after long working) which if not cleaned off regularly can cause the steering to fail, and your beautiful bus to crash!Good luck with your project - - and let us know how you're getting on!
I knew the Brighton trolleybus system very well too. A couple of years ago I built a 1:24 model of Brighton Trolleybus No.52 (can be seen at East Anglia Transport Museum disguised as Maidstone 52). It is hoped to construct a small road system for it to run on.
They let you touch the hull!
I remember the Southend trolleybuses. I was 7 when the system closed.
Vcfg FC bjbhvj
Lovely playing. There's a clarity in the base of the 3rd couplet that I rarely hear. Kudos for sure.
Thanks! The bass strings are brass and the upper register is steel (brass keeps breaking for some reason..) I know what you mean about the third couplet - in some interpretations the bass ground seems to wander about a bit and then finally get lost! I just play as Couperein wrote: nice and steady, just as his other Rounds (eg the little hammers)
Just to confirm, we've been discussing this project for some time by email and my footage has been used with my permission. This is a very exiting project and it is also leading to me publishing the rest of my Essen kerb guided bus footage here on TH-cam. Simon
amazing! absolutely amazing
Hi Simon, thanks. I was going to show the small Porton layout at Croydon in July but the day before I got stuck on the Bracknell/M25 road for 4 hours and ended up with heat-stroke! I was too ill to do the show so had to pull out and go home. Really bad luck. See you again some time
simply superb! Simon
.... i mean the model was refurbished. Someone else built the body to start off but I finished it and motorised it. Later, I added the Cardiff crest transfers, etc, including a blind for Pier Head. No excuse for dates on the Manchester fleet, sorry!
Genius!
I LOVE YOU TOO.
Yes it is Faller. Very reliable - even when crossing over the tram tracks (or railway track! Luckily for me Faller sell just the front axle part - so I make most of the buses myself (see other videos of 2012) or motorise other models. It;s not a big step to go from cosmetic to real overhead - if you can modify a model you CAN do it! Enjoy - and post your results for us all to see!
What guidance system do you use for the vehicles? I've had thoughts of using the Faller Car System and having the trolleys run on cosmetic overhead.
Delightful, well done, envy your skill ! Two points, the Manchester Burlinghams were built 1955/56 and there were 62 of them, 1301 to 1362. Cardiff had East Lancs singles 238 to 42 built 1949 with 2 doors, front later panelled over, and 243 built 1955 with one rear door, none were refurbished all being withdrawn 1964. 243 is preserved. 205 was a NCME AEC from 1941. Hope you had a great visit.
Fantastic models,the Cardiff one is excellent.
Love it! Brilliant!
excellent- admire your skill. Manchester BUTs were introduced 1955-56 I think.
This was the very first time I tried to model a bus. A bit crude, but paved the way for an entire fleet. I'm getting better at it the more I make - have a look at some of my other videos Hope it inspires you too. Many thanks!
REAL NICE JOB.
Brunel is spelled wrong
this is by Couperin, not Clementi ;-)) nevertheless, all kindest regards. S.
Thank you!
Yes the main batch of bogie cars and 4-wheel trucks certainly did but I understood the first pre-war trial streamliner ran with a trolleypole during its test.. Do you know when the change over happened? I did not use bow collectors in Porton (these are not the only trams running) because of parallel running with trolleybuses - a problem Aberdeen never had.
They ran on a bow collector
Great vid and the music was lively and sepia toned. The slightly washed out colours of the vid evoke the the forties period well. Thanks for posting.
Brilliant! It has certainly come along in the last couple of years. All that overhead looks great and seems to work very well. I particularly like the tram reverser! Bruce
THanks Jmejor, your lego town is woderful!
@JBofBrisbane - thanks JB, I guessed the question came from a US citizen, not used to the metric system (mm=millimeter) so was stuck for how to explain. Hope you don't have any more serious trouble with rain this season in Oz.
@rhbeadlejr - I think he means 4mm to 1 foot scale. Ratio would be 1:76.2 - this is the scale referred to in model railways as OO. BTW HO is 3.5mm to 1 foot, or 1:87.1.
about 4 months. But the original design was about 6 feet long. A few years later I cut 18 inches off the tail to that instrument&player can fit into a 6-foot splace. Still sounds good! Also restrung it 2 years ago with brass, rather than steel. Conversion kit to do this was from Bolton Harpsichord Kits.