I got back from holiday three weeks ago, but it was to be the launch of the 2010 challenge which was the catalyst for further work. It's not that I could realistically win (there are far too many very talented people on here), it's more that the artificial creation of a deadline might serve to focus me.

I set about the obvious tasks. Painting the backscene was a quick and easy job, a couple of coats of poster paint, ably assisted by Anita. I didn't worry about getting the paint mixed perfectly, as I thought a few fainter streaks would suggest clouds. It worked.

Number two was finishing the platform surface. It didn't look quite right, so a liberally coated it with diluted burnt sienna poster paint. Once this was dry, or near enough, I mixed up some grey for the platform edge, and got that painted as well. Using the leftover and lots of water, I used this grey to improve the look of the gravel, adding depth to its appearance (or at least I think so).

Unfortunately, although poster paint always dries a lighter shade than it appears wet, I had miscalculated and found myself with a very dark edging. Waiting a day for the paint to dry thoroughly, I drybrushed white onto it, which not only lightened the colour but added texture. I did think about doing some further work with browns, but for now I'll leave it as is. Maybe some work with powders later, or a bit when I come to weather the track.

The station building is now structurally complete with all glazing, and I painted it to suggest a mix of yellow and blue bricks using artists' acrylics. I still need to add a lot of details and an interior though, some details as basic as guttering! More on the building in another post.

I also found a Kibri pack, 8108 "Rund um den Bahnhof" at Mack's Track, while looking for a gantry crane for the hardstanding. It includes details such as a waiting shelter, bike shelter, ticket machines, benches as well as various signs and posters. Unfortunately the sheet of posters etc has the printing out of register, so I'll have to find some images to play around with in Photoshop or GIMP.

On the subject of the hardstanding, this is made from parts contained within a Piko kit, 61149 "Brauerei Schultheiss". It's purpose made sheets for inlaid track, and there was masses in the box- probably enough to do over a metre! I cut a diagonal across one sheet to fit in with the track plan. It's easy to use, although the flangeways are a bit on the generous side, even for NEM wheelsets. I like winding up my M????rklin using friends by driving a loco on and saying "Hey! Look what I can do!".

As Bad Horn hasn't got a permanent home (hence the boxing shown in my first post), I've put it up for now on a track-free part of my larger layout, Steinr??cken. Some of Steinr??cken's stock got posed on as well. It looks rather good as ex-DDR...