The effects in the bottom pic look encouraging- did you build the clay up in layers or do it all in 'one hit' so to speak. I used both DAS and other 'air-drying clay' in previous layouts the cheaper stuff is better I found, the texture is easier to work with.

Layout looking very impressive! B)

Thanks Russ - All one hit as it seemed to be easier to just push it into place and keep working it with the water/wet finger routine. The clay cost me only €3 so if it's all dried up next time I open it, it won't break the bank to buy another...

if you did it all in one hit you might find you can see where the sleepers are as it all dries and settles- certainly does in 4mm - the smaller scale might make things kinder on the eye! another selectively applied layer can sort it- interested to see how it goes in the smaller scale - as I've joined in with it myself due to a lack of space, but its taking some adjustment!

Hi Pete, many thanks for sharing these experiments. Very interesting to see the differences between the wet and dry approach. I can see the advantages of both, but the texture you are getting with the clay looks really good.

Was the "other" air-dried clay a particular Spanish brand or something that might be available elsewhere too?

Russ - this morning, a few sleepers were more evident so I guess its a two hit process...first layer as deep base and then a top layer for cosmetic tidying up. Welcome to the small scale...I am shadowing your progress with interest.

Mikkel - thanks - I will check the brand tonight and drop you a PM...For €3, I thought it was worth a crack rather than wait to import Das via eBay.

Could it be the thickness (or lack of) that has caused the cracking? As a thought to save your wheels would it be worth putting a sliver of card next to the rails to form the flangeway?

Jon - Thanks...I don't mind the odd crack as the prototype is concrete which always has the pour joints...its the crazing effect I am not mad for! Hopefully the second skim will tidy it up...

Kris - Thanks also - maybe...Perhaps the second layer will help the depth - I nearly did a check rail soldered to pcb inserted occaisional sleepers but realised that the check rail effect is not that evident in the dries...there is only a partial checkrail which I decided to omit - I am not to worried about the wheels as a quick run under the tap and they are back to normal...

Watch the wheel don't rust then Pete, I've found that they are a right pain for doing that.

Good point Kris - Thanks.

Nick - Thanks as well - I agree that the two stage approach is the way forward.I was adding a little water to help smooth off when it started to set but I wonder if making a weak mix of water and PVA might help bond it all together? Worth a shot next time I think...

Thanks dd118! Yep...am having a week in August in Looe in which I will be hoping to sneak off one of the days to coombe and moorswater and meet the manager of the dries. Its 20 years since I last visited so am a bit concerned that I will come back and trash the layout and want to start again!

Agreed on Mr N's CQ layout. I will only have a touch of 'overgrowness' near the turnout / road as in the 80's the line was maintained pretty well, but if I can capture the atmos as he has done with CQ, I will be OTM

I thought the felt tip on the rails was a neat idea shame it didn't work out. Perhaps a thin layer of card washing with knotting then a thin layer of clay migh be an answer.

Been doing abit of palstering. Now that is a possibility. Observing good plasterers I notice they keep going over it as it sets.Perhaps you need to do that with clay.

Don

Hi Pete

Looks great, in spite of the cracks and another thin layer of clay should sort them out. I also used some fairly course wet & dry paper and gave the whole thing a light rub down to minimize any sinkage between the sleepers too.

Really looking forward to seeing how this turns out, it's excellent modeling!

Tom

TomJ - Thankyou - if it was straight I would have definately used card, my preferred medium as am OOMD with wet materials! The trees next?....maybe...kind of itching to get that viaduct going the first...

Don - Thanks also - Yes the build up of layers is probably key...of all the site trades I am always mighty impressed to see the plaster guys at work...how they get it so smooth and perfect is a real art.

TomE - Many thanks also for your kind comments - It was your excellent thread on that very subject that got it going. I will finish the base coat for the rest of the hardstand and then go back to do a second overall topping...

Pete,

The cracks look good, honestly.

I've been trying to work out a way to get cracks like on Chapel Wharf for ages!

David

Kevin - am always happy to draw a response from the Rebel force in oz

David - Thanks - really? And there was me looking at CW only recently wondering how you had got it so perfect!

Nick - OK, thanks...I will do that on the next app...

Hey Andy - Thanks for this - I remember reading Andy Y's write up on this and thinking that will come in use for CJ one day....and then completely forgot about it

I will crack on as before as the consenses seems to be a second layer should sort the cracks.

In terms of test mock ups I am a bit of an impatient modeller...I guess it comes from making mock ups of options for my work so when I come to my modelling sometimes I like to just get stuck in...and pick up the pieces afterwards

Noted - Thanks - sounds like you are speaking from experience of that...