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Re6/6

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  1. Re6/6
    Some medium sized silver birches.
     
    A few more smaller ones will be made and then some other more predominent species will be next, oaks, chestnuts, sycamores and probably some elms would be nice.
     
    There was quite a prominent stand of pines (Scots or Maritime) at the Brighton end embankment. They stood on the road side of this embankment during the main time period that we are modelling. Totally different techniques will have to be mastered to make them!
     

     

  3. Re6/6
    Here is the first attempt at a tree armature, following Gordon Gravett's methods (with a few variations in method) shown in his new book.
     
    I can't recommend this book highly enough as the definitive 'how-to' work on tree making. I couldn't have achieved anything without it's guidance.
     
    This is an attempt at a 'grisly' old oak. The small lumps need removing from the thinner wire bits. The 'greenification' is still being worked on for the right formula.
     
    We'll need a large quantity of various trees for Balcombe Viaduct, including some old large oaks, elms and some smaller silver birches. The GG method ones will be at the front and then blending into lesser ones, probably using quite a lot of sea-moss built ones.
     

     

     

  4. Re6/6

    Some tree surgery!

    By Re6/6,

    After the first attempt at tree making using Gordon Gravett's methods I wasn't happy at all with the efforts. Some had the 'broccoli tree' look whilst others looked too dense or with too much 'space' and with the wrong colour foliage! Using the Woodlands 'foliage' just doesn't cut it, at least until I can master a better technique in using it. The Monterey pine has been sidelined with it's dark Woodlands foliage, as it all looks too flat.
     
    The ones illustrated here have all had their original foliage stripped off and replaced with teased out postiche (theatrical hair) with Green Scene scatters added.
    When I was at a Netherlands show recently, I was advised by Mr 'Anita Decor' that when using postiche and you think that it's finely teased out, do it some more until it's almost falling apart and then you've got it right.
     
    The same armature with adjustments and the foliage re-done using Anita Decor brown postiche and Green Scene 102 scatter. Still not quite light enough!
     

     
    The pine needs a different style of foliage. The left hand one has had the Woodlands 'foliage' changed for Green Scene postiche and their scatter.(below)
     

     
    Before and after. The postiche still needs to be more teased out.
     

  7. Re6/6

    Some more trees

    By Re6/6,

    Some more trees and an armature for Balcombe. These are all experimental ATM and will be placed at the rear of the layout. I've still got to improve on tree recognition and produce better models of particular types.
     
    Some of these will probably be removable for use on other projects. The smaller ones will be used on the Matford rebuild on the new extension board.
     

  11. Re6/6

    64 wagon test train.

    By Re6/6,

    Still more fun and games last night. We still have one or two electrical snags to sort out but generally speaking that's it. We're in business . A paint touch up will come eventually. We were pleased to welcome a member of one of our neighbouring groups from the Mid Devon Area . David B brought along a lovely part finished Mallard GW steam Railmotor and a couple of etched brass GW engineers wagons (Haye Developments). I'll ask him for some snaps.
     
    Apologies for all the chattering row. It's impossible to get them to shut up whilst filming!
     
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0-crSKMijM&context=C3d60727ADOEgsToPDskKi7V_5QecRQ8Uy_-pvoSJC
  12. Re6/6
    The first area to be 'terra-formed' has now been done.
     
    Two of the main reasons for doing it this way is for lightness and durability. Using traditional plaster bandages, they're too easily damaged as I found out on Matford. The whole area is only supported along the edges with the chicken wire doing all work keeping all in place. It may need an second coating with resin as I've missed a few bits here and there. I'll see when it's all cured nice and hard, and of course it adds virtually no extra weight.
     
    The materials that I've employed are used in the marine repair business and are freely available from any good chandlery.
     
    The chopped strand fibreglass matting is impregnated with polymer resin & catalyst and forms a very hard and durable surface. The job ideally should be done in the open air as the smell is very persistent. At the moment the section is in the garage while it cures but with all the doors shut I can still smell it! Hopefully by tomorrow that should've disappeared.
     
    Next to come will be brown earth paint prior to gluing down hanging basket line similar to the old hairy carpet underlay.
    Then it will be selectively pulled off and treated with various scenic methods. I intend to experiment with the 'Grasmaster' used on top of the pulled off liner.
     
    There still a lot more to do with the main structure before any scenics are done.
     




  13. Re6/6
    Centre section cladding completed. Some more work still needed here and there, but I think that we're gradually getting it how we want it.
     
    Some expermintation has been done with the primary undercoating as it's important to get the base colour just right when finishing with light airbrush misting. The real thing is like a 'patchwork quilt' of colours. Light browns, oranges, greens, limescale staining, even with engineers blue brick in repaired areas and even individual differently coloured bricks.



     
    In the 'real thing/model' argument one has to be careful not to overdo the colouration and contrasts. Still we'll see when we get to that stage!
     




     
    Classic view!

    Approximate ground contour.

  14. Re6/6
    Thanks to Andy for sorting access to our blog problem. I have already posted this by way of the 'edit' feature, but anyone who might be interested will not have been notified and it will have slipped out of sight. Apologies to those who may have seen this already.
     
    Here are some more snaps of progress. A few more clad with brickwork along with the first couple of the 'longer hole' piers where the hole goes into the supporting plinths.
    It's been very difficult to clad the piers properly when using Staters embossed Plasticard. As discussed on a previous thread the brick course alignment is absolutely appalling. discussed here If it wasn't for the fact that we'd already purchased a large quantity of it I'd bin it all. Never again! Surely Slaters should be looking into it and getting new 'moulds'. We (the hobby) has long patronised them and I feel that they should at least supply us with accurate materials! Rant over!
     



     
     

  15. Re6/6
    First snap of near finished first pier. Red oxide undercoat applied prior to finding the correct brick colour.
     
    Still some work to do with gap filling and the edge face brickwork will have to be refitted.
     


     
    Here are some more snaps of progress. A few more clad with brickwork along with the first couple of the 'longer hole' piers where the hole goes into the supporting plinths.
    It's been very difficult to clad the piers properly when using Staters embossed Plasticard. As discussed on a previous thread the brick course alignment is absolutely appalling. discussed here If it wasn't for the fact that we'd already purchased a large quantity of it I'd bin it all. Never again! Surely Slaters should be looking into it and getting new 'moulds'. We (the hobby) has long patronised them and I feel that they should at least supply us with accurate materials! Rant over!
     





  17. Re6/6
    A dry run to check fit of the pier assemblies. The screwed rods are to allow accurate adjustment between the piers and arch sections. All the holes through which they pass are oversize to allow for this prior gluing together and for final bolting to the 'undercarriage'. They will also serve as 'droppers' for track power so no need for wiring through the piers.
     
    The next (big) job will be cladding the piers with plasticard and the curved brick etches.
     
    Also the same with the arches.
     
    Much happier with this one, than the first. Mind you it's always the same in that you finally get it right when building the last one!
     
    Only three more to go!
     

  19. Re6/6

    Matford 'New'

    By Re6/6,

    We've taken the decision to take Matford off the exhibition circuit for the time being and to 'do an Eridge' and rebuild it. It has been suffering from several problems in the baseboard department. Firstly we used the dreaded MDF which has swollen to at least +1mm and in some places more. This is due to our proximity to a salt water atmosphere. In hindsight, perhaps these problems could've been avoided with the MDF had we sealed it all, after cutting, with varnish at least.
     
    When this problem was discovered we had already half built our replacement DRAG test track for which we were using MDF. So all the boards were thoroughly treated with GRP resin and painted with marine quality paint. These are problem free with good track alignment and work perfectly well considering that they are erected and dismantled twice a month. The original suffered from poor quality deal softwood framework, which ended up looking like the waves of the ocean. So the lesson was learnt that always use the best materiel that can be afforded.
     
    The second serious problem was that the side/box frames were made from a synthetic materiel (flooring laminate) which not only warped, it took on a banana shape. It was assumed that such a materiel would be stable, but no so. Avoid it like the plague! We rebuilt the board 'undercariages' with marine ply framework. This improved matters somewhat but the constant expansion on the MDF baseboard top still caused alignment problems. Each board top has subsequently taken on a saucer shape.
     
    We are rebuilding the baseboards with the 'new' polyfoam principle, as used by Gordon Gravett on Pempoul. It consists of 1200mm x 500mm x 50mm thick pink polyfoam insulation.(I gather that it's also available in blue, but I've never seen it!). The framework is made from 4mm thick x 100mm deep quality ply glued on with solvent-free grab adhesive. (No More Nails type) To avoid having to hold it altogether whilst the glue goes off with clamps, we have used 3-4 inch long wood screws No 14/16 size which have a large coarse thread, screwed in along the ply sides at 100mm spaces directly into the foam. It's dense enough to allow a very strong grip and bite for the screws to allow the go off. After this has happened the screws are removed for re-use.

    These show the style of construction. They are to be used on the Balcombe Viaduct project. The ply top strip is for the 2 track plain line. They have been made now for over a year and kept in a relatively damp garage without any sign of movement. In fact it is almost impossible to put in any torsional twist.

    Another problem that has come to light is that not all code 82 flat bottom rail is exactly the same. We found that we had used Exactoscale track bases and used C&L rail which is 0.2mm thicker at the rail head, thus making the track 0.4mm tight to gauge. Not acceptable when working in P4! So this also made it easier to decide that a complete track rebuild was also neccessary.
     
    All the buildings and as much of the scenery as possible will be salvaged and re-used. We want to preserve the essential 'look' of the layout.
     
    That having been decided we sought advice from CK of this parish for his expertise in assessing what 'might have happened' had BR remodelled it all in the early 90s. This was bearing in mind the cost cutting and removal of expensive to maintain S & C work that 'would have happened'! To this end the complex pointwork at the fiddle yard end of the layout will be removed (three-way point and other under used pointwork) and will be replaced with a simple crossover on a new extension board between the FY and the current first scenic board and a new pointwork to the up and down sidings in flat bottom leading to 'older' bullhead trackwork.

    This is the pointwork that is being replaced. You can see the track alignment problems from this snap. (ctsy David Brandreth)
     
    This is the first bit of new pointwork (new crossover) made in copperclad FB. It is a BV 10 (1 in 10 angle). Next all the cosmetic bits and pieces will be added. Colin Craig cast 'Pandrol' fittings with clamplocks, and backdrives using Brassmasters cranks all non working! Once all this is done the whole thing will be mounted on 4mm ply and the Tortoise (or the new Cobalt) motors added and fully tested before fitting and gluing to the polyfoam baseboards. Thanks to my old friend Brian Harrap (ZOB and Quai87) for his invaluable advice in F/B point construction.



     
    Exactoscale instruction sheet

  20. Re6/6
    First test bolt up to try out assembly procedure. Still several things to check before the final assembly method is approved.
     
    This is the first time that we've got a 'feeling' for the project. When we add some ballustrading and refuges it really will seem like we're on our way!
     

  21. Re6/6
    The first few plinth/pier combinations are assembled. The M4 rodding is used to adjust the positioning whilst the assembly is glued up.
     
    These will make up into the middle 9 arch section.
     

     
    The classic view. The holes will have to be tidied up prior to being clad with English bond plasticard/SE Finecast vacuum formed plastic.
     

  22. Re6/6
    With very many thanks to Jim S-W of this parish for his designing the artwork and commissioning this first test etch which arrived yesterday. Lovely they are too.
     
    Here are a few snaps of the etches.
     

    Each brick arch is etched in two parts and tacked together to give the level change in the brickwork.
     
     

    Arches for the characteristic 'holes' in the piers
     
     

    Beginning to look like the effect that we're after.
     
     

     
     
     
     
     
  23. Re6/6

    A 'visitor'!

    By Re6/6,

    A 'visitor' arrived yesterday. A hotch-potch plonked on the viaduct just to get the feel of what's to come!
    Hopefully the next 'visitor' will be the much loved blue and grey set!
     


  24. Re6/6

    Matford

    By Re6/6,

    Today we had a reunion some of the team after our outing to this year's Scaleforum. It is the first time that it has been put up since the last outing. It has proved a valuable exercise, totally justifiying the decision to retire it from the circuit and rebuild. Every single board joint has moved, with all the associated alignment problems.
     
    We have one outstanding show commitment that we will be fulfilling in August this year, but then that's it for this particular incarnation.
    As noted on this blog in 'Matford 'New'' we are looking forward very much to the rebuilding with all the new trackwork and track layout and the improved method of baseboard construction. The challenge for us is to keep the 'essence' of Matford but improving on the quality and size.
     
    We had some fun with a time warp using CK's visiting 'vintage/preserved' stock!

    A Callow Lane visitor


    Another Callow Lane escapee

    This little critter appeared from somewhere.


    This is a DJH kit and a Kemilway chassis.

    This one must have come from the Dart Valley. They've got one of them!
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