Sedbergh, as a preserved railway

[Firecracker]

For a bit of variety, I’ve been revisiting some earlier work.  First up, the pway yard.  The ballast dump has been added to, gaining another side.  The plasticard apron is to be finished as the concrete floor of the bin and the foam core board will disapear under ballast.

Also, whilst browsing the stock in my local, a pair of bachmanns fuel tanks followed me home.  With a concrete base, handrail and pump cabinet, they’re becoming a mini fuel point for pway kit.  The tellihandler has received a pair of cable drums to play with.  Finally where the ballast wagons are loaded is receiving a kerb/mini retaining wall along the cess made out of styrene strip and sleepers, the back will be infilled with ballast (which has been accidentally discovered to be a perfect match for the spray paint used as a base on the rest of the yard).

Finally, the station building has been gently breathed on, it’s now joined together in one solid and reasonably square lump and some doors (peco) have been fitted.

Owain

[Firecracker]

A bit more progress, first up, a start on weathering the crane runner seen earlier.

The station building has gained the paving around it and the beginnings of a roof.

In the pway yard, the ballast dump has come on a bit more (there’s a lot more work to do to make that ballast look more like a heap).

The edging has been glued down and backfilled.

The fuel point starts to take shape, plasticard base, barrier from evergreen styrene and bullhead rail, cabinets are castings of unknown provenance.

Finally, more of that random junk that preserved railways attract, no one knows who owns it, where it came from, when it arrived, how long it’s been there or notices when it departs...

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

A bit more, the fuel point isn’t quite as clean and tidy any more.  The adjacent containers have been weathered a bit more and glued down as well.  Just needs a little scenicing around the edges and some empty oil drums (once I’ve painted them in Morris oils and Castrol colours) adding.

Also experimenting with a Vallejo dipping wash intended for wargaming figures (found in Boyes when ambling round after finding  cheap work socks).  Quite like the effect on the lighter containers, such as this ex Cosco box (it also smells lovely when using it).

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

And a bit more.  First up, the crane’s got dirty as well.  Not quite there, need a bit more dirt on the jib, random pway bits in the runner and a bit more on the roof, but looking better.  It’s a combination of games workshop typhus corrosion/ ryza rust/leadbelcher, the Vallejo wash mentioned above (on the cables particularly) and humbrol oil stain/rust washes.

I’ve also been in the pway yard, first with some new buildings, I’m not completely happy with the 40’ container (that van body first appeared over 30 years ago on my first layout, so I’m keen for it to make a comeback, if only to show how my painting and weathering’s improved).

 

Then onto playing with some new woodland scenic stuff (fine leaf foliage and briar patch, along with the old favourites of coarse turf and foliage) on the cutting side.  Rather pleased with the effect.

 

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

And following a weekend away, I’ve retreated into my lair and it’s come on a bit more.  First up, one of those bits of the hobby that can have people looking at you sideways, when you expain you’re painting miniature oil drums.  In progress (L-R red diesel, Morris oils, Castrol and Texaco).  Castings are very nice efforts from Skytrex.

And around the fuel point.

In the rest of the yard, the cutting side has been done with woodland scenics static grass, in a blend of  4-8mm length.  Also the start of a hedge has started to appear on the field boundary from fine leaf foliage (along with the strip of grass that the mower can’t reach that was mentioned  above).

The new buildings have been spaced out a bit and started to gain scenics around them.  Also using various paints (mostly games workshop acrylics) a start has been made on creating th impression of tyre tracks from the loadall doing its stuff and ballast deliveries.  On the subject of deliveries, the idea is that Robinson’s curtainsider has just delivered two cable drums, one sits in the ballast pen out of the way, whilst the second is loaded into a container to ensure it doesn’t go walkies.

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

First up, a session with the static grass has lead to the end of the ballast siding becoming a bit more overgrown.

I’ve also started to add a figure or two.  As I’ve said before, I dislike the ‘frozen mid stride’ style, I prefer figures in a pose that could be held for a minute or two.  First up, Robinson’s driver gets directions off a member of the station staff.

A quick confab about these cable drums in the yard (yes, I’ve spotted the gap under the sleeper kerb, it’s being sorted).

Having got his shot of the southbound 4F on its train, a familiar photographer awaits the departure of the northbound DMU.

Owain

[Firecracker]

The results of a few hours sat at the bench tonight with 2kw of oil fillled goodness doing its stuff behind me.  First up, a brace of trees.  Woodland scenic armatures, planted and then treated with Fine leaf foliage.  Any bare spots are dusted with Peco static grass layering spray and fine turf dusted on.  First go and rather pleased.  

 

A few few other projects - the van body out of the pway yard has had its 34 year old paintwork treated to a grey wash and the roof repainted to remove that bizarre orange wash.  Just wants a gentle dry brush with humbrol 121 to suggest bare wood (particularly on the inaccessible rear) and a few dabs of good ol’ Typhus corrosion on the vents, hinges and other metal.  The whitemetal shitehawks (Langley) on the roof want painting too.  Incidentally, this has appeared on a grand total of three of my layouts (Greyridge, Sedburgh (both fictional preserved railways, the names are a tip of a hat to the area I grew up in) and Backbarrow (modern image, based very loosely on the Ulverston-Lakeside line as if it had stayed open into privatisation) (the baseboard frames built for Backbarrow are also recycled under the two centre boards of Sedbergh).  So this is its fourth outing.  It’s not looking too bad.

The warflat that’s eventually appearing with a load of grey fergies has had its deck breathed on (121 and a grey wash, cleaned off with a cotton bud in the direction of the grain).  In the foreground the crane runner can be seen, that’s getting a random selection of rail chairs (rh rear) added as a load.

Finally, the signal box is being breathed on as well.  It’s getting an interior and the paintwork is being touched up, starting with the roof being made to look more like Westmorland green slate.

Owain

[Vecchio]

On 13/11/2019 at 23:50, Firecracker said:

And a bit more.  First up, the crane’s got dirty as well.  Not quite there, need a bit more dirt on the jib, random pway bits in the runner and a bit more on the roof, but looking better.  It’s a combination of games workshop typhus corrosion/ ryza rust/leadbelcher, the Vallejo wash mentioned above (on the cables particularly) and humbrol oil stain/rust washes.

 

I’ve also been in the pway yard, first with some new buildings, I’m not completely happy with the 40’ container (that van body first appeared over 30 years ago on my first layout, so I’m keen for it to make a comeback, if only to show how my painting and weathering’s improved).

 

 

Then onto playing with some new woodland scenic stuff (fine leaf foliage and briar patch, along with the old favourites of coarse turf and foliage) on the cutting side.  Rather pleased with the effect.

 

 

Owain

I think the weathering you did on that grey container is top. Looks absolutely like the real thing. 

Vecchio

[Firecracker]

So yesterday, having made sure I’d got my passport and all my shots were up to date, I ventured off to Warley.  Various goodies followed me home.  First up, the evenings entertainment for the next few weeks, part 1 (in there can be seen various passengers, the staff for the signal box and the occupant of the abandoned mini van).  They’ve since received a quick toot of grey primer.

And part 2.  

Following a very useful chat and an impressive demo on the Noch stand, an upgrade occurred.

Also a pair of cheap mk1’s were picked up, a BFK and a BG (not shown).  The BFK has received a minor mod, to suggest its been altered to carry passengers in wheelchairs in the former luggage compartment.  So the partition has been removed and seats added. 

Finally, a pair of tankers also joined the fleet.  I work with several lads from Middlesbrough, including some ex British Steel, hence the Dorman Long tanker (out of idle curiosity, what were these used to carry?) and the milk tanker reminds me of one in that livery I remember seeing at Carnforth, back when it was Steamtown.

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

And a few more, non Warley bits.  The trees seen earlier have been planted.  In the background the occupation bridge (a moulding from Skytrex) can be seen in the early stages of installation.  Just got to shift the electrical box slightly to get it central.

 

 

And a start has been made on the interior of the signalbox (using the ratio kit picked up in Wales in the summer). 

Owain

[Firecracker]

This has to qualify as one of the more over thought bits of modelling I’ve ever done.  One signal box interior, which is near as damnit invisible when the roof’s fitted.  That box is getting a few bulbs in the roof (I’m damned if I’m hiding this work), getting power to it is easy, because the rear wall is against the back scene.  Signal purists - I’ve probably made mistakes with the lever colours, I’ve assumed the station has fixed distants (hence the absence of distant levers), the junction signals at north and south act as the home signals, the platforms are signalled bi-directionally (plus there’s the doll for movements to shed), ground frame release and barrow crossing gate release are controlled from the frame.  The bobby will be resetting the north point lock, whilst his colleague reclines adjacent to the stove.  But I’m rather pleased with it!

Nuc id vides, nuc ne vides.....

Owain

[Firecracker]

Flushed with the success of a visit to Warley and determined to get some use out of my renewed passport, the lure of the bright city lights got too great and yesterday I ventured to the joys of Manchester.  First time visiting the exhibition there, nice layouts, I was very taken with the Woodhead line in 7mm effort.   It’s a good venue that’s easy to get there by train with catering that’s in my budget, rather than akin to time travel, ie what it’ll cost in 20 years time.  Anyway......

 

The pway dept have acquired a riding/tool/mess van, in the form of a BG.  Now I know that when scrapped the prototype for this van was very heavily modified (gangways removed, doors and windows blanked off).  But remember, this is a preserved railway.  So, it’s going to loose the ADB number and I’m assuming this is a bog standard BG that’s been internally modified.  It’s in the breakdown livery because someone likes it and fancied having a go at replicating it.

Next up, a Bachman Jinty, sold as a poor runner for the princely sum of £25 off the club second hand stall.  Missing the steps, so they’ll need replacing.

And when stripped, the poor running was traced to a gaugemaster decoder that’s sprung a terminal smoke leak.  Now I do have a Lucas electrics (all hail the prince of darkness etc...) smoke refil kit, however I’m not sure that’s OK for a non negative return vehicle, plus I’ll have to make up an adaptor.  So nuts, I’ll just spring for a new decoder!

Some etched plates  off Judith Edge, to finish off the Janus.

And a selection of second hand bits, including some wheel sets, a midland water crane, a buffer stop and  the new station gents (anyone know of the original shop, hobbytime?).  At Sedbergh the  original gents were stone built on the north end of the station building, they were demolished soon after closure, but I’ve always liked the style of these cast iron efforts, so in preservation, they’ve been rebuilt.

Owain

Edited December 8, 2019 by Firecracker

[Firecracker]

A bit more - the first batch of figures from Warley have emerged.  In progress.

Finished (all Monty’s apart from 2nd from right - ModelU).  Playing with washes and pleased with the results.  

And planted.

Also at Warley, I discovered on the Noch stand a set of dogs, including two German Shepherds.  As a result, Shadow and her boss (both friends from GDSF) make an appearance.  I’ve just got to breath on Bachman’s paint a bit, make her hair redder and tweak Shadow’s markings.

Finally, an experiment with skytrex castings and Vallejo dipping washes.  Stay tuned to see how and where it goes...

Owain

 

 

 

Edited December 10, 2019 by Firecracker

[greatcoleswoodhalt]

On 25/11/2019 at 21:39, Firecracker said:

 

Enjoying following the progress!

 

May I ask how you made the signal box nameplate?  Is it laser cut?

[Firecracker]

1 hour ago, jafcreasey said:

 

Enjoying following the progress!

 

May I ask how you made the signal box nameplate?  Is it laser cut?

Glad you like it!  The signal box nameplate is a cooper craft moulding (I understand there’s issues nowadays with coopercraft, so I don’t know if it’s still available) supplied with individual letters to make up your own name.  It had been in stock for over 20 years when I found it in a box of junk in the attic.  I really must do something about the join in it, it looks dreadful in photos.

 

Owain

[greatcoleswoodhalt]

7 minutes ago, Firecracker said:

Glad you like it!  The signal box nameplate is a cooper craft moulding (I understand there’s issues nowadays with coopercraft, so I don’t know if it’s still available) supplied with individual letters to make up your own name.  It had been in stock for over 20 years when I found it in a box of junk in the attic.  I really must do something about the join in it, it looks dreadful in photos.

 

Owain

 

Appreciate it, Owain - thank you - it's still on their website so will investigate further!

[Firecracker]

3 hours ago, jafcreasey said:

 

Appreciate it, Owain - thank you - it's still on their website so will investigate further!

No bother, happy to help.  However, a word of warning - somewhere on here (think it’s in the ‘small suppliers’ forum) there’s a thread about cooper craft.  I don’t know the full details, my understanding is that in ordering off their website they’ve been very good at taking your money and less good at dispatching the goods.  So mind how you go.

 

EDIT - here you go, sadly not the most encouraging situation.

Owain

Edited December 10, 2019 by Firecracker

[greatcoleswoodhalt]

On 10/12/2019 at 17:39, Firecracker said:

No bother, happy to help.  However, a word of warning - somewhere on here (think it’s in the ‘small suppliers’ forum) there’s a thread about cooper craft.  I don’t know the full details, my understanding is that in ordering off their website they’ve been very good at taking your money and less good at dispatching the goods.  So mind how you go.

 

EDIT - here you go, sadly not the most encouraging situation.

Thanks again - grateful for the info.

 

There's a few companies that offer laser cut versions (Scale Model Scenery, for example) so may give them go...  I purchased a Scenecraft Ground Frame Hut recently and am looking at how best to customise!

Edited December 16, 2020 by jafcreasey

[Stan68]

I really like this concept, as not many people have modelled preserved railways and there are so many about! Good luck!

[Firecracker]

3 hours ago, jafcreasey said:

Thanks again - grateful for the info.

 

There's a few companies that offer laser cut versions (scalemodelscenery, for example) so may give them go...  I purchased a Scenecraft Ground Frame Hut recently and am looking at how best to customise!

No worries, happy to help.  I’ll speak up for scale model scenery, I’m using various of their bits and they’re very nice.  Current job (when I get rid of the bug that doing the rounds at work) is some of their very nice modern platform edging to finish off the platforms.

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

2 hours ago, Stan68 said:

I really like this concept, as not many people have modelled preserved railways and there are so many about! Good luck!

Well thanks!  I popped my head above the parapet on another thread on here about this, I have my own views, which I’ve said on this thread.  I think there’s a feeling that a preserved railway is an excuse for ‘anything goes’ which I have to admit ruins it for me (says he with more P.O. wagons in decent condition than’s feasible and a Park Royal railbus).  But as I said earlier, I justified that with a simple tweak of history.  Suppose the Park Royal railbusses were more reliable?   Sure the passenger traffic they were built for disappeared, but maybe Derby RTC found a need for one as an inspection saloon or track recording vehicle?  O; the PO wagons, I haven’t got round to sorting them all anyway and suppose someone bought (or was donated) an internal fleet from somewhere.....he says, desperately trying to justify them.

 

There’s another I’m aware of on here, featuring the Mid Hants that’s got the feel dead right and is in my opinion excellent work.  They’ve gone to town on the locos based there, including some of the more unusual stuff and a lot of what’s under repair.  Because mine hasn’t reopened in reality I’ve got a bit of a blanker canvas, plus I’m modelling the  (hopefully) tidier station rather than the yards and sidings of rust and rot.

 

Owain

[Firecracker]

Despite the bug I’ve caught, it’s come on a little further, with a bit more on the platforms.  These are either Wills sheets (for the original platform around the station building) or mounting board card treated with Plasticote ‘Stone’  textured spray paint for the extension of the Southbound platform and the new Northbound platform on a wood or foam core base.  These new platforms however need edging.  Whilst thinking about how to best tackle this, I saw these Scale Model Scenery offerings in one of the comics, was rather taken, so picked some up at Warley.  

Given a waft of grey primer, they look rather good.

So the card is trimmed back along the outer edge (score with a scalpel and peel the edge back) 

And the  edging is glued down with Mod Podge glue (care of hobby craft, I’m taken with it because any excess dries matt.  Just needs a little touching up and weathering. 

Anti trespass grids (also SMS) have been added for the finishing touch.

Owain 

[Firecracker]

Aaaand a bit more!  The platform edging on the southbound platform is complete and looks rather good!  Just needs a gentle weathering and touching up in odd spots.  The scrap pile is from a pack of woodland scenics castings with a length of guttering that fell off the provedor store and a faded stop board of unknown origin.

Batch 2 of figures have been finished off.  These are Monty’s, Model U and Bachman that have had their paint job breathed on to various degrees.

Some have been planted.

And batch 3 (including two shitehawks, the bobbys and an old English sheepdog) is underway.

On the subject of figures, this photo sums up for me the effect I’m aiming at.  All of those people could easily hold that pose for a minute or two.

Finally the experiment with the dipping washes and skytrex sleepers looks promising, in daylight they’ve acquired a slight greenish cast, so look just like they’re gentling rotting (two dips in burnt sienna and one in black washes, if anyone’s wondering, over grey primer).

 

Owain

[Northmoor]

I've got to say, your scenic work is somewhere between extremely good and outstanding.  Getting people to look realistic is one of the very hardest things to do on a model; that shot of them standing around the JCB shows you've cracked it as well as I've seen anywhere.  Also, your observation and representation of ground surfaces in the same picture; how the ground has worn where the car tyres will run, so there is gravel swept to the sides and small patches of grass where they are never driven over, is perfect.

Hopefully I'll be able to spend some time on my own project over the Christmas break and you've certainly inspired me by what can be achieved.  Well done.

[Firecracker]

4 hours ago, Northmoor said:

I've got to say, your scenic work is somewhere between extremely good and outstanding.  Getting people to look realistic is one of the very hardest things to do on a model; that shot of them standing around the JCB shows you've cracked it as well as I've seen anywhere.  Also, your observation and representation of ground surfaces in the same picture; how the ground has worn where the car tyres will run, so there is gravel swept to the sides and small patches of grass where they are never driven over, is perfect.

Hopefully I'll be able to spend some time on my own project over the Christmas break and you've certainly inspired me by what can be achieved.  Well done.

It’ll do!  It’s not too bad for someone who’s only been back in the hobby for 18 months.  What I would say is it’s the product of being inspired by other people and experimentation.  Don’t be afraid to try something new and also don’t be afraid when it goes wrong or you know how to make it look better to rip it up and start again.  For example....the batten that forms the base of the northbound platform is too close to the running line by about 6mm.  It’s also rather solidly glued down.  So that’s going to be fun.  Idea is to remove anything fragile and then split/pare about 6mm off with a chisel.  There’s no excuse, it’s a simple cockup.

 

But if my mucking about inspires one person, then I’m well capped!

 

More power to your elbow.

 

Owain