Who said retirement is an easy life??? Somehow I seem to spend less time on my own modelling now than I did when I was at work!

Efforts have concentrated on finishing the tracklaying in the stonewharf, ballasting & weathering it so that the wharf itself could be installed.

The ballasting needs to give the impression of a run-down siding just about 'fit for purpose' & bearing in mind this is a stonewharf should also have evidence of the industrial activity going on.

The initial ballast was laid with 'C&L', mixed 4:1 with 'Cascamite' powder. In certain areas this was then overlaid with various grades of sieved budgie grit, culminating with the larger pieces. Everything was then sprayed with water & left to harden-off. Washes of dilute colour in various shades of 'gunge' were then applied, lightening toward the yard entry point.

The wharf itself came next - the 'wall' as previously mewntioned had been made from 'Depron' urethan foam, hand-scribed to represent stone blocks. This was washed over with a very dilute black acrylic paint - sufficent to pick out the mortar joints. The actual stones were then individually painted using a limited palette of Humbrol 'Matt Leather' and Tamiya 'Yellow Green' mixed in varying proportions as the mood took me. the aim was to develop a wall in a 'Cotswold Stone' colour, with sybtle shading. Once try, the wall was again washed-over with very dilute black acrylic which picked out the natural irregularity in the foam & the mortar courses.

The wharf was then attached to the baseboard with 'Copydex' adhesive used as a 'contact' cement. I'ts just got to be surfaced now & the whole area 'toned down' with weathering chalks. Hopefully it will then be ready for working-on for the 2012 comp! Oh yes - one more thing....... (To be continued).

Regs

Ian