A Cartoon of Helston(ish)

[St Enodoc]

I've got a full set so I just need to find time to browse through (which in theory should only take 10 minutes but one I start I keep finding things worth reading...).

Tony, there were nine separate articles, one each in all the issues from January - October 1967 except April. I'll send you a PM with more information.

[Mulgabill]

Thanks John, have pm'd you as equested.

[Mulgabill]

Today has  brought a bunch of e-mail attachments from Australia, of 9 months of articles from 1967 Model Railway News, re the Helston Branch. Including full plans and photos of the station building. Many thanks  to John (St Enodoc). So helpful, so prompt and all the way around the world. Isn't RM Web great!

 

That was the good news, but I have been beset by computer niggles today, so haven't so far been able to actually read any of the  above yet. Nor will it yet allow me to load photos, so todays promised post on scenery will have to wait.

 

Will do something tomorrow if I can, but visiting my daughter, via DFR prairie event.  So may not appear until Monday.

 

Apologies to all.

 

 

[KeithHC]

There I am idly going through Rmweb this morning and thought I would have a look at this layout. The layout is looking good by the way. But even better to think it is in my home town as well.

 

Keith HC 

[Mulgabill]

There I am idly going through Rmweb this morning and thought I would have a look at this layout. The layout is looking good by the way. But even better to think it is in my home town as well.

 

Keith HC 

Hi Keith

 

Thanks for looking in. It's good to know that somebody local is keeping an eye on me. Let mecatch the story up to date, and then perhaps we could meet up if you like.

[Mulgabill]

 

By way of appeasement, above takens today, hence my lack of posts.

 

But this also proves I can get around the computers lack of cooperation over the last couple of days.

 

I will put together another update tomorrow afternoon after work.

 

 

[Andrew P]

Cracking Photo Tony, where is that?

[Mulgabill]

Cracking Photo Tony, where is that?

Parkend on the Dean Forest Railway.

 

I remember now it used to really irritate me when people didn't say when / where.

 

What goes around etc

[KeithHC]

Hi Tony,

Would be great to get together. I am soon to do a house move but here in Dursley..... My excuse a 23ft long garage just ripe for my proposed layout.

 

Keith HC

[Mulgabill]

I'll make no claims to be the first to use this method for scenery, but I've not come across any similar reference, so will describe it here.

 

I have already refered to my past experience being chicken wire etc, also that I wanted the layout to be lightweight.

 

Most of the recent scenic descriptions I've seen have involved mod-roc and or plaster, e.g. KL2. Even Andy P involved some ply and mod-roc (I think). Apart from weight this conflicted with another of my imitations i.e. expense.

 

I have therefore experimented with some alternatives / derivations of the above.

 

Firstly I form a framework for the contours. Carved polystyrene, if available, or a card or polystyrene strip framework. These photos were only taken last week, but represent what I have come to over the earlier parts of the layout.

 

 

This shows the initial scenic framework - farthest away.

 

Nearside the framework is covered with strips of gardening "fleece", painted with buiders PVA (diluted with about 20% water). The dilution helps the PVA to permeate the weave, and I try to get 2 or 3 layers.

 

When dry this forms an almost plastic surface, depending on how much PVA you get into the build.

Initially I then covered with a harder finishing coat, which was painted.

 

But at this stage I started to try static grass, with moderate sucess. Clearly better with large areas in which a good ground connection could be made. It seemed to work less well with any subsequent additional layers / patches.

 

So the answer - Incorporate a layer of baking foil!

 

 

Add another layer of "fleece" / PVA

 

 

Preferably when dry, but possible with care when wet, cover with the top mix.

Exterior filler made with a mix od PVA and water. This drys to a hard, flexible, slightly rough finish. Ideal for painting and scenics.

 

 

 

 

Another bonus is that the finishing mix, if made a little thicker can be used to iron out blemishes in the surface, as indeed does the foil smoothe out the contours.

 

I use fleece which I picked up by accident, at I think Wickes, years ago. But similar was in local garden centre last week for £3.50ish. I've not yet come to the end of the first pack.

 

PVA - toostation do 4 or 5ltr pack for about £8, half the price of B&Q etc

 

Exterior filler - I used Wilko own brand, because I happened to see it at the time, and it worked.

 

Being able to connect the ground wire of the applicator for any tweeks you want to make, seems to me to be far more reliable. Perhaps especially as I put my applicator together for £1.50

 

I hope this helps somebody else along the way.

 

 

[PjKing1]

Some nice work Tony

 

Cheers

[Andrew P]

Some very clever work there Tony, and yes I did use Ply and Mod-Roc, plus some Jay Cloths and PVA, Masking Tape and PVA, basically almost anything that works will do the job mate, well done so far.

[Mulgabill]

p.s. I should have said the foil cost nothing!

 

I nicked it out of the kitchen drawer.

[Stubby47]

Using foil is an interesting idea, especially as it's just for the static grass.

[Mulgabill]

Having laid track and started on some scenery, I had to turn my attention to properly testing that it all worked.

 

This was a bit of a problem since most of my "stuff" was packed away in my daughters loft.

 

The solution was to invite my brother to visit, bringing some of his stock, for a first running session.

Now I'll whisper this - He's blue diesels period, so we had Helston in the 70's.

 

The session was most enjoyable, and everything worked far better than I was expecting.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

There are some more photos' and I'll try to add them later.

 

 

[Mulgabill]

As promised part 2 of Helston in the 70's

 

 

 

 

 

 

This session pointed to some frailties in the wiring of the control box, which were later rectified with

a new multicore lead.

 

Otherwise ok to go ahead with ballasting.

 

Better start thinking about what to show/discuss next.  Any suggestions?

 

 

[St Enodoc]

Having laid track and started on some scenery, I had to turn my attention to properly testing that it all worked.

 

This was a bit of a problem since most of my "stuff" was packed away in my daughters loft.

 

The solution was to invite my brother to visit, bringing some of his stock, for a first running session.

Now I'll whisper this - He's blue diesels period, so we had Helston in the 70's.

 

The session was most enjoyable, and everything worked far better than I was expecting.

 

IMG_1909Rob.jpg

 

IMG_1910Rob.jpg

 

IMG_1911Rob.jpg

 

IMG_1912Rob.jpg

 

IMG_1913.jpg

 

 

IMG_1914Rob.jpg

 

There are some more photos' and I'll try to add them later.

Didn't realise you were using stud contact Tony   

[Mulgabill]

Didn't realise you were using stud contact Tony   

Nor did I but I soon learn't that the pins needed to at least be below rail level. Shows how much the standars have come on since my motley collection was packed away. Mind you the old triang locos didn't suffer from striking the pins, they just needed to bounce through the points!

 

Actually you have got a little ahead of the story, all the pins were removed once the track was balasted.

 

All the best

[Mulgabill]

To continue the story I need to take some more photos. But to do this wilI need a tidy up, so for tonight I offer a few pics taken at the RM Web away-day to Didcot. Well worth attending.

 

Any of you want to own up to being there?

 

 

 

 

 

It was how big?

 

 

Hopefully back with some modelling tomorrow.

[Stubby47]

Tony,

That 1st picture needs to be in the 'How the prototype looks like a model' thread.

[Mulgabill]

Have taken a few pics today, but they were a bit rushed and late in the day. So not the best quality - apolgies to all.

 

First couple feature a GW railcar in the cutting leaving the station. With the problems with the original fiddle yard a grand solution was made. This entailed taking the line through 180 deg, of which 90 are in this cutting.

 

 

I resisted the temptation to have a tunnel, as I feared being able to see both ends of the train.

 

 

These also feature the first area where the static grass had the benefit of the foil layer. Fencing is in progress; drilled matchsticks and fishing line. (The fishing line was bought about 35 years ago, with a view to use operating signals).

 

There are a couple of views showing the engine shed

 

 

This was made in the same manner as the goods shed, but I built the lean to at the front rather than the rear. This made it sit better in the layout, allowing the embankment next to the bridge. L Cut Creative provided the arched windows, to my dimensions. And I think it captures the original well.

 

 

My Birthday present (prairie) departs with an up train.

 

The replacement fiddle yard is an 8' traverser which is mounted on a substatial ply box at one end, and suspended over the bed, on 2 hoops clamped to the bed. The photos should give the general idea.

 

 

 

And finally to give an overall context, a view through the doorway of the tip room.

 

[5BarVT]

Any of you want to own up to being there?

 

5BarVT (bits of) . . . .

 

and I'm half hiding behind Castle in the last photo of post #44.

 

Paul.

[The Stationmaster]

Tony,

That 1st picture needs to be in the 'How the prototype looks like a model' thread.

 

And the 4th one needs editing to make me look slimmer  

[Mulgabill]

It's taken me a year to work out how to get the photos onto a thead.

 

If I try manipulating pictures I may never get any further with the model.

[DLT]

Lovely layout Tony, many thanks for sharing.

All the best,

Dave.