Construction commenced by cutting a shell from 3mm hard sheet plastic, with window and door apertures cut out by transferring shapes from scaled photos. This took several weeks using a draw-knife, saws, and files, since the material was too hard to cut with modelling knives. The lower walls were assembled using masking tape then the nave clerestory was added.

Using the hard plastic cut-outs to determine outline shapes, and with reference to the photographs of each individual windows (all different), these were drawn out on 1.5mm sheet plastic, then cut using draw knife and scalpels. The mullions were backed with Plastrut strips to stiffen, each main window taking about 8 hours to make. The bell chamber louvers were constructed using a variety of flat and square sections. Off-cuts of hard plastic were cut to produce the prominent buttresses. Doors were scored into sheet Plasticard to represent planks.

The whole unclad building shell was temporarily assembled with masking tape, a paper roof mock-up fitted, then checked by scaling to photos and by a site visit.

The clock face is a miniature carriage-clock replacement mechanism, obtained after a long search. This was mounted into a length of 32mm copper water pipe. A hole was cut in the west side of the tower using a tank-cutter, with an access hole to its rear so the clock is fitted from the rear and can be withdrawn when necessary to replace the battery and correct the time.

The west and south sides of the tower were assembled first, buttresses were fitted to the visible sides using twin-pack adhesive, then Wills SSMP200 Coarse stone was used for cladding, glued to the visible flat faces of the tower and the visible sides of the buttresses after cutting apertures for doors and windows, guided by the apertures pierced in the shell.

Filler was made up by melting offcuts of plastic in Mek, to produce a liquid plastic which was run into gaps and joins (don't try this without adequate ventilation!). Once the solvent had evaporated, stone courses were scored and filed in, together with additional scoring to represent the areas of knapped flint and other stone repairs so visible on the actual tower. The same method was used to build up lintels, cills and pillars.

Doors and windows were glued in, then the other two sides were added,with 12mm angle-strips and ‘floors’ to brace the construction. Once rigid, a removable roof was constructed, with a hen-coop chamber with shiplap cladding and tiled roof. This part has been a guess as it is many years since I last went up the tower. A brass post has been fitted for the flagpole, with a second for the weather vane, to which the cockerel and letters will be fitted once painting has been completed. Further posts have been fitted to represent the long waterspouts which drain the roof. There is approximately 4ft batter on the actual 80ft tower.

The body of the church has been constructed using similar methods. Buttresses were glued to the south aisle, followed by installation of stone cladding and windows. This was repeated on the west end of the nave and aisle. The south porch was constructed from 1.5mm sheet, with stone courses scored in. Once the lower walls were assembled, the upper clerestory was cut and fitted, supported by a representation of the stone pillars within the nave, which have been shaped as these will be visible once the inside of the building is illuminated. Small windows were cut and fitted. Stone cladding and roof surfaces were added to the rigid item.

Some 450 to 500 hours having been spent on making the model between December 2005 and June 2006, this was passed to my colleague John Earnshaw for over 100 hours of painting – this is still ongoing. Other work to complete includes installation of lighting by Roy Holt, and a sound system playing a peal from church bells.

The model is displayed on a diorama of a fictitious churchyard. This was constructed on a 6mm ply base, cut and shaped to fit the site. 2mm cardboard was glued down to represent the grass, leaving a socket on the ply to accept the model. This was then scattered with Javis products in a variety of hues and various foliage products. Tombs, headstones and memorials were cut from sheet plastic, painted in a variety of shades, and glued into cut-outs in the cardboard. Paths were produced using scatter. The stone walls to the west and south boundaries are made from strips of 3mm hard plastic, bonded to a suitable base, and then faced with fish-tank gravel glued on. These walls were subsequently painted to complement the church stonework.

To the northern boundary there is a Georgian manor house. The walls and metal railings forming the Northern boundary of the churchyard are a part of the diorama for that.

There is a war memorial on the model, on the village green opposite the church gate. This commercial product by Messers Dapol Ltd, and is similar to the war memorial in Eaton Socon.

My thanks to all my modelling colleagues at Nene Valley Model Railway Association, particularly John Earnshaw for encouragement, painting, and ‘sense-checking’ my ideas.

Kay Earnshaw for regular tea & coffee, foliage & vegetation, and obtaining the clock, also photos.

Roy Holt for encouragement and ‘sense-checking’, the field trip, and photos.

Phil Arbeiters for supplies of rigid plastic sheet, brass, and introducing me to using a draw-knife.