col_kilgore Posted April 19, 2019 Author Share Posted April 19, 2019 As its been a while since I posted any updates here is where I am with this layout . I have been experimenting with hanging basket liner as groundcover for the embankments , the first ones I tried were from the Poundshop but some of the woolen fibres were a bit too nuclear green and just didn't look right , I then got some from a local garden center and they were a much more natural looking colour , I also used some Wodland Scenics turf to add a bit more texture . As can be seen I have also ballasted the track although it took a few attempts to get a colour I liked . I first used Woodland Scenics fine grey on its own , when dry it just looked too monotone so I decided to mix a few colours together to get some variation , the final mix is the Woodland Scenics grey and Javis fine granite chippings ( these I sieved as I thought they were a bit too big ) with a bit of Javis brown ballast . The seafoam foliage isnt final yet and was more to get an idea of the foliage needed todisguise the end of the pipe. As usual question , comments etc are more than welcome , Cheers . 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1722 Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 Great update. What have you used as ground cover at the back of the layout - where the figure is standing on pic 3 please? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
col_kilgore Posted April 19, 2019 Author Share Posted April 19, 2019 18 minutes ago, ModellerChris said: Great update. What have you used as ground cover at the back of the layout - where the figure is standing on pic 3 please? Hi , the groundcover at the back is just builders sand , my next door neighbours had one of those big Hippo type bags delivered last year to lay slabs in their garden so I mangaed to wrangle a few tubs of it. The sand itself is a good mix of sand and grit so you get the contrast of larger stones within the sand to add that realistic look of rough groundcover . Its just layed onto neat PVA and once dry it was coloured with a mix of weathering powders to blend in with the ballast . 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mogtrains Posted April 19, 2019 Share Posted April 19, 2019 looks great! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
col_kilgore Posted April 20, 2019 Author Share Posted April 20, 2019 This evening I have been working on this building for the layout , bashed from a Wills weighbridge kit with brass tube drainpipes and MDF for the slab roof , just needs paintand glazing to finish ; 9 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kevin Johnson Posted April 21, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 21, 2019 Hi your layout is looking great. I like the idea of using builders sand as ground cover very realistic. Nice job on the layout building. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
col_kilgore Posted April 22, 2019 Author Share Posted April 22, 2019 All painted up , just needs glazing adding ( will be opaque to hide the lack of a back wall ! ) 11 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Kevin Johnson Posted April 22, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 22, 2019 Nice paint job on your building. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
col_kilgore Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 Been working on the end of the siding today , I thought it needed an excuse for loco's to stop at this point , so I decided to gate the siding to protect the main works line beyond the scene ( so to speak ) the conceit being all drivers must stop and ask permission and go and wake up the gateman in the crew room ! The gate is a slightly modified Peco crossing gate ( although from what I gather from a thread on here any sort of gate would do , even a basic farm type gate , just depends on what the owners had available ). As usual comments and questions more than welcome . 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
luke the train spotter Posted April 27, 2019 Share Posted April 27, 2019 Looking good! What did you use to weather the gate? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
col_kilgore Posted April 27, 2019 Author Share Posted April 27, 2019 5 minutes ago, luke the train spotter said: Looking good! What did you use to weather the gate? Cheers , just a bit of weathering powder after priming and repainting it back to white to get rid of the "plasticy " look . 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
col_kilgore Posted April 28, 2019 Author Share Posted April 28, 2019 (edited) On 19/04/2019 at 20:34, ModellerChris said: Great update. What have you used as ground cover at the back of the layout - where the figure is standing on pic 3 please? Thought I would take a few pics just to show the stuff I'm using for this , obviously some of the gravel is far too big but the sand and some if the smaller stones give a great effect . As can be seen just laid onto neat PVA and will be coloured when dry with a mix of weathering powders . Edited April 28, 2019 by col_kilgore 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
1722 Posted April 28, 2019 Share Posted April 28, 2019 Looks excellent. I'd been toying with a fork ending in a gate too. Great space saver not using buffers. Ground cover is super too. 1 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
col_kilgore Posted April 29, 2019 Author Share Posted April 29, 2019 (edited) End result after colouring with a mix of dark earth and white weathering powders , just need to trim some of the longer bits of basket liner " grass " ; Edited April 29, 2019 by col_kilgore 16 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoker Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 This is looking really good. I like the blending you did on the sand ground cover, really ties in the colour with the ballast. The ballast is a really nice mix too, is that a mix you made yourself or one you bought? Props on the cement wagons too, those are nicely weathered. I'm thinking of doing a similar layout as a way to testbed some embedded track and scenery techniques. I'm leaning toward an esso oil terminal, using the sentinel painted in a faded red. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 Nice photo's, the layout's looking great. It all blends together really well I like the use of the sand as ground cover, great stuff. Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jerry1975 Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 Very nice, coming along nicely. Jerry. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 This is progressing nicely I agree that the ground cover, ballasting and subdued earthy colours are looking superb 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisis Rail Posted April 30, 2019 Share Posted April 30, 2019 4 hours ago, marc smith said: This is progressing nicely I agree that the ground cover, ballasting and subdued earthy colours are looking superb Yes - looks realistic because its the real stuff - blends in so well. Excellent Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisis Rail Posted May 1, 2019 Share Posted May 1, 2019 I use real crushed slate and brick dust from abrading house bricks together for natural scatter - A good thread this for learning from someone who has obviously experimented in different techniques - that's what this forum is at its best. Ian 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
col_kilgore Posted May 2, 2019 Author Share Posted May 2, 2019 On 30/04/2019 at 04:23, Stoker said: The ballast is a really nice mix too, is that a mix you made yourself or one you bought? Hi , yes the ballast is a mix I did myself as I started out with just Woodland Scenics plain grey ballast , to me it just didnt look right so ended up with a mix of a darker fine granite chippings from Javis scenics , the Woodland Scenics stuff and some buff coloured ballast also from Javis scenics. 10 hours ago, Crisis Rail said: I use real crushed slate and brick dust from abrading house bricks together for natural scatter - A good thread this for learning from someone who has obviously experimented in different techniques - that's what this forum is at its best. Ian Thanks for that , high praise indeed ! I think thats the key , experimentation , although I must admit not everything works , heres a pic of my first ever layout which I ballasted with bird grit from Wilko ! ( although the flash makes it look worse than it really was ) . I must admit I surprise myself ( and my partner ) with some of the things I pick up or see lying about and think " ah , I could use that " . 4 1 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crisis Rail Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 5 hours ago, col_kilgore said: Hi , yes the ballast is a mix I did myself as I started out with just Woodland Scenics plain grey ballast , to me it just didnt look right so ended up with a mix of a darker fine granite chippings from Javis scenics , the Woodland Scenics stuff and some buff coloured ballast also from Javis scenics. Thanks for that , high praise indeed ! I think thats the key , experimentation , although I must admit not everything works , heres a pic of my first ever layout which I ballasted with bird grit from Wilko ! ( although the flash makes it look worse than it really was ) . I must admit I surprise myself ( and my partner ) with some of the things I pick up or see lying about and think " ah , I could use that " . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stoker Posted May 2, 2019 Share Posted May 2, 2019 (edited) 9 hours ago, col_kilgore said: Hi , yes the ballast is a mix I did myself as I started out with just Woodland Scenics plain grey ballast , to me it just didnt look right so ended up with a mix of a darker fine granite chippings from Javis scenics , the Woodland Scenics stuff and some buff coloured ballast also from Javis scenics. Very good to know, many thanks. Javis is a name I haven't heard in a while, good to know they're still around. Edited May 2, 2019 by Stoker corrected a word Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
eastworld Posted May 9, 2019 Share Posted May 9, 2019 That is some of the best looking ballast I've seen for a while! The colours and texture are spot on. Stu 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
col_kilgore Posted June 5, 2019 Author Share Posted June 5, 2019 I have finally got round to bedding in the shunters cabin , I have also added a shed from the Wills garden shed kit to add a bit more interest to this area . As you can see I have also started filling in the foreground section using card fro a concrete hardstanding , this still needs a bit of weathering to tie it in with the rest of the scenery and I need to fill in the gap with a bit more of the sand based ground cover. As usual comments , questions more than welcome . 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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