Jump to content
 
  • entries
    70
  • comments
    943
  • views
    101,593

rip it up and start again...again...


bcnPete

1,473 views

Those not wishing to see something downbeat...please avert your eyes now... :this:

 

I guess it was only a matter of time before the mojo would suffer a dent again...after managing to stoke it high through the summer, thanks to the diorama competition and then straight onto Kyle for a 3 month 'make-over'...it was on the cards at some time...and I guess a few set backs have fuelled it.

 

First up, the water (again) Having re stripped the PVA layers off, repaired and redone the quayside wall, repainted the water again, I started the slow process of building up the layers of glue....applying thinly after reading a few stories. Three coats on, it was going fine and although not resembling water yet I was prepared to hang in for the long haul as I believe Mickey had said he had applied 30 coats to get his water effect on another thread.

 

Then...disaster struck :O ...I awoke one morning last week to find a patch which had gone white. On closer inspection I now realise that it must have been one of the verticals on the quayside came loose and its movement was enough to affect the glue at the base surrounding it, lifting it to create a very shallow bubble... :angry:

 

The defence calls evidence No.1...

 

blogentry-3290-0-34002400-1323195163.jpg

 

Big time unimpressed :fie:

 

So, I think I will scrape it all off and I may even go back to applying some gloss varnish layers instead. I think the PVA method probably works very well but if it is in a situation where it can be knocked or there is some movement adjacent, then perhaps its not the right approach for me.

 

Secondly, after applying a few more coats of paint to the station building, I decided it looks c**p. You will note I have been careful in my previous close ups of it until now as the plasticard was not going the way I had hoped and I was caught between shall I go on and try and make the best of it....or scrap it? Andy (of the St Ruth blog) made some nice comments of recent on my last post but I have now reached the stage that my build method/approach is wrong and I am not sure I have the enthusiasm to carry on with the building as it is presently.

 

I did manage to paint the chairs rust colour the other night, when I gave up on the station building but you will see the soft focus comes in to play with the station building again :lol:

 

The defence calls evidence No.2...

 

blogentry-3290-0-94820400-1323195745.jpg

 

Track weathering has begun...but it really needs an airbrushing of black all over now to depict late 70's early 80's...

 

I think I will reconsider redoing the station building but using card...my preferred modelling medium...

 

So....as usual for me...step back...grab a lemon, a handful of ice and perfume a tonic water with a few drops from the bottle of Bombay Sapphire...

 

Pete :rolleyes:

12 Comments


Recommended Comments

I had the same prob with pva...........before you rip it up, a syringe or ear dropper with boiling water dripped on carefully may do the trick.

 

It worked for me, then heated with a hair dryer.

 

I did use Woodlands eazywater (anything but!) talk about boiling hot liquids! Went off to quickly so used a hairdryer to try and soften it but gave up and used a hot air paint stripper instead and was very careful indeed, so careful infact the only thing that melted was the water, and of course the Wills random stone harbour walls!

 

Try the syringe or eye dropper, it might just work!

Link to comment

I had something similar happen when I was doing Machen, the ballast was all done and the glue was just drying, then during a moment of idiocy I dragged the arm of my fleece over it and dredged half the ballast up. You know what damp ballast is like, there's no way you can try and put it back in place as it just clumps together. So had to strip it and start again!

 

I'm sure if you have another go at it Pete you'll get it right and it'll look cracking! Actually, perhaps cracking isn't an appropriate adjective after what just happened, but you get my point!

 

Kindest Regards,

 

Jack

Link to comment

Oh eck Pete... I see what you mean. Sorry that you're having these problems, it does seem a tricky process, is it (not) helped by there being no front edge to allow the PVA to sit in against? Some useful advice provided above, which I can't add to I'm afraid.., although to be honest, I think your solution, which is one that I find temporarily relieves the tension and problem is often a good one to turn to. Cheers ... and good luck once you attempt it again !

the track does look good... the buiding looks ok too... but it's your decision as it's you that has to live with it... so good luck and enjoy the tension relaxer in the meantime.

Jon

Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold
I had the same prob with pva...........before you rip it up, a syringe or ear dropper with boiling water dripped on carefully may do the trick. It worked for me, then heated with a hair dryer. I did use Woodlands eazywater (anything but!) talk about boiling hot liquids! Went off to quickly so used a hairdryer to try and soften it but gave up and used a hot air paint stripper instead and was very careful indeed, so careful infact the only thing that melted was the water, and of course the Wills random stone harbour walls! Try the syringe or eye dropper, it might just work!

 

Thanks Neil

 

I thought your water on the 2011 diorama comp was excellent so I will certainly 'put the kettle on' and try that before I resort to scraping it... :)

 

these things are sent to try you keep it up

 

Thanks Nick...

 

I'm sure if you have another go at it Pete you'll get it right and it'll look cracking! Actually, perhaps cracking isn't an appropriate adjective after what just happened, but you get my point!

 

Thanks also Jack - Yep...we have all been there...unfortunately, I have been on more than one occaison though...that's consistency... ;)

 

Oh eck Pete... I see what you mean. Sorry that you're having these problems, it does seem a tricky process, is it (not) helped by there being no front edge to allow the PVA to sit in against? Some useful advice provided above, which I can't add to I'm afraid.., although to be honest, I think your solution, which is one that I find temporarily relieves the tension and problem is often a good one to turn to. Cheers ... and good luck once you attempt it again !the track does look good... the buiding looks ok too... but it's your decision as it's you that has to live with it... so good luck and enjoy the tension relaxer in the meantime.Jon

 

Jon, hi and thanks also,

 

There will be a way back...there always is...after my cladding crisis with Moorswater shed I finally found a solution...its just sometimes we have to complete the circle and come back again to get a better solution...

 

The water will happen even if I reuse the same poured material I had used before so I am not so worried by that...but the station building troubles me...I guess we are always trying to improve our modelling standards and if I accept something I don't feel wholly comfortable with, then I will have started to make compromises...and that will lead to a complete loss of interest...I know what I am like so its better I bite the bullet and start over :)

Link to comment

Pete, I tried a completely new technique (for me) for the 2011 jobby.

 

Paint the base a 'suitable' colour, then I used clear bathroom sealant over a layer of pva and used a lolly stick to form the ripples and waves etc. You can even pull it into little peaks!

 

You can also 'pipe' on ripples, bit like icing, then go over the top.

 

Looks ok to me and needs exploring!

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Hmm... so how did you manage to paint all those chairs (and neatly too) without any mojo? I think that job drives most people up the wall.

 

I'm in two minds on the card vs plastic question for buildings... I think I'm happier working in card and I definitely get more convincing (to me anyway) painted finishes with less angst, but with plastic I can do more fiddly shapes and take advantage of moulded planking, bricks and so on.

 

There's always Modelstrip if the paint job is really that bad... I have several models where a complete painting disaster has been removed and somehow I usually do much better second time around.

Link to comment

Pete

Can't help with the water; I'm relying on you for advice on how to do mine!!! The white patch does however look a little like the dropping of a rather large seagull.........

New to this stuff, but the concept of starting over when you're not satisfied with something is something I'm very familiar with, and I reckon it's what makes most of us good at the things we do.

Ian L

Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold

I had the same problem with PVA no disturbance so far as I was aware just started to lift and show white underneath. I wonder if the top layers are pulling on the layers underneath and lifting them. I remember expressing my doubts when you started. Perhaps its the thickness of the coats. I would beware of water based varnish too. That looks cloudy in the tin sometimes. Inumerable coats of ronseal hardglaze or yacht varnish I think. Although the perspex over black paper looks effective too - Usefull article by Phillip Harvey (hope I've remember the name right) in MRJ some time ago.

The painted chairs look just like C+L mouldings which are that colour - very precise painting.

So far as I could see the Station building looked pretty square and neatly cut out was the problem with the texture of the finish?

Keep the faith

Don

Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold

Hi Pete,

 

Oh B*gger!

 

Not much to add that has already been said and the PVA not setting looks like the proverbial pain in the @rse. However, all is not lost. That much I do know with your modelling skills and high standards. There' s a solution in there some where and I'm sure you'll rectify the problem after having had a brain storming session aided and abetted with a few Bombay's!

 

Some of the best water with real depth I've seen modelled is on 'wiggoforgold's' (Alex) Diddington layout. Have a look on his blog at the pictures. Superb stuff. May be worth contacting Alex for some advice?

 

Cheers,

 

Mark

Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold

Was going to insert some sage quote about mistakes being the foundations of success. But you already know that, so instead I'll just compliment you on your crisis-management strategy (grabbing a lemon etc) :lol:

 

That track looks really neat btw!

  • Like 1
Link to comment
  • RMweb Gold
You can even pull it into little peaks!

 

Thanks Neil...sounded like you were making a meringue in your methods there :lol: Useful to know though...

 

Hmm... so how did you manage to paint all those chairs (and neatly too) without any mojo?

 

Good question...Rather than dispatch the toys from the cot...I put on some whale music and proceeded to calmly paint the chairs...again, trick photography is disguising neatness!

 

I think I am with you on the card v plasticard debate...without plasticard I wouldn't have been able to build my viaduct though...so I guess we alter to suit. I think this station building is past modelstrip though...its not just the paint job I am unhappy with...its the finish of the plasticard too...

 

I'm relying on you for advice on how to do mine!!!

 

Thanks Ian...am really feeling that pressure now!! Would hate to see the size of the seagull that left that though...

 

I remember expressing my doubts when you started.

 

Thanks Don...you were right!...I think I will try some varnish if the remedial method suggested by Neil doesn't work out...

 

after having had a brain storming session aided and abetted with a few Bombay's!

 

Mark, hi - absolutely...things always look a little clearer after a GinTonic...maybe not so after a fair few though!...

 

  I'll just compliment you on your crisis-management strategy (grabbing a lemon etc)

 

Thanks Mikkel...grab yourself a glass...and we can start some team building crisis management in realtime!...

 

 

Many thanks all for your comments in support, advice and suggestions - I hope to be back soon with something more upbeat before crimble.... ;)

  • Like 1
Link to comment

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...