Ever had one of those days when you get up full of good intentions - and then realise you're actually planning something about three stages too early?? Case in point....

A small 'occupation bridge' is required to cross the 'drain' to access the abbatoir. No problem - a few bits of plastikard, some acrylic paint then lay the track...

Easy.. Then I realised that the scenics of the drain would have to be done prior to setting the bridge in...

Slap on scenic compound and some acrylic paint when it dries - the basics complete.. MUCH more detail to add..

The bridge starting to look the part...

However, whilst in a local model shop I found that 'Vallejo acrylics' have added ink washes to their range. So I thought I'd give them a try... The bridge is an ideal test-piece - if they work here they'll go on the main models. If they don't - the bridge is small enough to re-paint/rebuild!

I bought 'black', 'light grey' and a couple of browns intending that they could be used to highlight the brickwork. The bridge was first painted with standard Vellejo acrylics. I'm really impressed by the product - goes on thin but reasonably opaque straight from the brush. Each tube has a 'nozzle' rather than a 'ti-lid' so wastage/hardening doesn't really occur. Once the basic colours had dried I applied the 'black' wash first, then worked to progressively lighter colours. Not finished yet but it's a start!

In between those little jobs I also started laying the track.

Where ballast is visible, I've used 'budgie grit' in an attempt to represent ash ballast - it will obviously be suitably darkened-down and doubtless vegetation will invade as well. With the droppers already wired in beneath the board I might even get something running shortly. That'll make a change!"

TFN

Ian