February proved to be a busy month a Leith Central as I got the retaining wall foot finished along the rear of platform 5. To build this i layered 4 pieces of card encased is plasticard and fitted brick sheet faces as can be seen in the video. I painted this with the safe effect ive been using on the platform side. Mixing Xtracrylix Desert Sand and Railmatch weathered stone to give a good base, the washing over with more weather stone before apply a patchy weathered effect with a mix of sleeper grime, grey and black. Im really happy with the way this layering works and plan to use it on the whole station building. Yes it takes time with 3 or 4 paint layers but you can do a good sized area with acrylic in a short time and the drying time does mean it is quicker and less high as a kite than enamel.

Also this month i got the platform base cut for platform 4 and 5 and these now need to be primed, painted and edgings fitting before i mark and drill for the platform lamps which i am currently researching. This will eventually have a tarmac effect with a thin layer of scatter indicating it was recently resurfaced as part of the phased improvements to the station that i am modelling. 

Elsewhere more of the card and plastic coating for the platforms has been fitted and the edge for platform 1 glued to full length and i have started facing this with the same plastic sheets as the wall foot. The point motor for the platform 1 side of the cross over is also now in its permanent position 

The next stages over the coming month will be:

Paint and fit Platform 1 Edging.

Ballast the hydroponic buffer (1 & 2) area and platform 5, the aim being to have the area under the roof ballasted by the summer so work can shift to the platform detail and hopefully the roof. 

Test tarmacing on the road surface

Fit other 2 side mounted point motors to 4/5 approach and platform 2

Adjust hole for platform 3 point motor

Fix down styrine of platform 2/3

So there is plenty to be getting on with on Leith Central.

This month i also visited Model Rail Scotland Exhibiting with the ELMRC with Talybont which as fun to operate. There were some fantastic layout with Hills of the North being a favourite. Managed to pick up a new addition to the fleet in the form of 20172 with its Thornaby embellishments and a nice short rake of blue/grey mk2s. Also bumped into Dave from Dean Park at the Scale Model Scenery stand and had a good chat about making monstrous roofs and detailing them