westerner Posted September 29, 2019 Author Share Posted September 29, 2019 I've started connecting wires, about 40% done. As stated in my previous post I and my wife went to the Bury St. Edmunds show yesterday and it was very busy. The star for me was Paul Clarkes delightful O gauge Orford a . slice of imagined GER country set in the 1950s. Also reasonably impressive was Cobbolds Wharf the host club's S7 layout 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted October 2, 2019 Author Share Posted October 2, 2019 The layout is now electrified with much thanks to Simon D for guiding me in sorting out a silly wiring mistake. Also the postman arrived with this this morning. It's the Daersted 57ft suburban BS I must say that I'm very happy with it, just needs the hinges fitting (I hope there are some spares) and a touch of weathering after the transfer are put on. 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted October 2, 2019 Share Posted October 2, 2019 The layout's coming along nicely Alan, nice photo's of the show as well. Orford does look good. Steve. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted October 6, 2019 Author Share Posted October 6, 2019 Now that thewiring has been sorted and the layout runs well I've started to the ballasting. As I am using Klear for the first time I decided to start on the right hand siding. I'm using Woodland Scenics Grey Blend Medium Ballast. The first thing I did was to raise the ground around the track by gluing down some 3mm cork, I then painted the sleepers with Lifecolor Sleeper Grime. The sides of thetrack were then masked to get a reasonable edge to the ballast. When all the ballasting has been completed it will be given various washes to darken it and look like old ballast. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted October 8, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 8, 2019 On 06/10/2019 at 22:03, westerner said: Now that thewiring has been sorted and the layout runs well I've started to the ballasting. As I am using Klear for the first time I decided to start on the right hand siding. I'm using Woodland Scenics Grey Blend Medium Ballast. The first thing I did was to raise the ground around the track by gluing down some 3mm cork, I then painted the sleepers with Lifecolor Sleeper Grime. The sides of thetrack were then masked to get a reasonable edge to the ballast. When all the ballasting has been completed it will be given various washes to darken it and look like old ballast. Let us know how you go with the Klear, Alan - how well does it stick, does it dry glossy or matt, etc. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gerbil-Fritters Posted October 8, 2019 Share Posted October 8, 2019 (edited) More importantly, how long have you been hoarding that secret bottle of Klear? It's almost mythical now, certainly legendary, for its magical properties - including making plastic steam locomotives look more like metal ones... Don't waste it on ballast! Dilute PVA glue with a bit of washing up liquid's all you need! Edited October 8, 2019 by Dr Gerbil-Fritters 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium St Enodoc Posted October 8, 2019 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 8, 2019 3 hours ago, Dr Gerbil-Fritters said: More importantly, how long have you been hoarding that secret bottle of Klear? It's almost mythical now, certainly legendary, for its magical properties - including making plastic steam locomotives look more like metal ones... Don't waste it on ballast! Dilute PVA glue with a bit of washing up liquid's all you need! We can still get Klear under the name of One Go. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted October 12, 2019 Author Share Posted October 12, 2019 Hi Chaps I've been away for a few days so a bit late responding. John it seems to stick well and dried matt. Dr G F I have to say it as well as the bottle in the pictures I've another as yet unopened bottle. Both bought quite a few years ago now. As it appears to work and for me was much easier to apply the with my attempts with the OF A method I'll use it for the rest of the ballasting, which Hopefully will start again tomorrow. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted October 15, 2019 Author Share Posted October 15, 2019 The ballasting has restarted and indeed is almost finished thought I'd post a few pictures of progress. thin white strip next to the track will end up being the platform. 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted October 19, 2019 Author Share Posted October 19, 2019 I've Started colouring the ballast with Humbrol washes, rust and black. One of the reasons I always use light grey ballast is that it gives me much more control when colouring, I feel I can get a more subtle variation in tone. I couldn't resist putting down some hanging basket liner to give a very vague impression of what I'm aiming for. 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted October 19, 2019 Share Posted October 19, 2019 Very nice Alan, the ballasted track is looking good Steve. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) Track work finally all painted. I decided I'd mock up the platform and the small station building based on the one at Rusbridge. It was a converted small goods shed. Edited October 21, 2019 by westerner 16 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 (edited) Photo taken from Vol 2: Forest of Dean Lines and the Severn Bridge. meant to add this photo of the real Ruspidge station. Copyright NPC please do not copy. You can see how small it is. Edited October 21, 2019 by westerner say where photo was from. 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Happy Hippo Posted October 21, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 21, 2019 Alan, I think you mean Ruspidge. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted October 21, 2019 Share Posted October 21, 2019 Looking very good Alan, and I like the new / ? Avatar, it has been a while since I last looked in, sorry. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted October 21, 2019 Author Share Posted October 21, 2019 Whoops again it is Ruspidge. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted October 21, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted October 21, 2019 3 hours ago, westerner said: Photo taken from Vol 2: Forest of Dean Lines and the Severn Bridge. meant to add this photo of the real Ruspidge station. Copyright NPC please do not copy. You can see how small it is. Mmmmmmm mm. ........that's got the little woolly cells working........ 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 4, 2019 Author Share Posted November 4, 2019 I can't believe it's a fortnight since I last posted. Nothing much done on the layout until today when after much pondering I decided I need the back scene in place or at least the boards that will take the back scene, so today was spent bolting the supports to the layout. As the layout will be operated from the front at home or even if it is ever exhibited I thought a back scene 18 inches high would be tall enough to make sure that no trees or any other bit of hard landscaping will stick up above the top of the back scene, something I always find slightly odd when seen on some exhibition layouts. Some time in the next couple of days the boards will go up and I'll explain then about the actual back scene. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 5, 2019 Author Share Posted November 5, 2019 3 of the back boards are now in place and the glue is drying. The wood you can see under the various clamps is to hold the hardboard against the uprights whilst the glue dries. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted November 5, 2019 Share Posted November 5, 2019 All looking good Alan, when you weathered the track was that the Humbrol enamel washes you used? I looking at ways of colouring ballast without painting the sleepers as well for my next layout. Steve. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 6, 2019 Author Share Posted November 6, 2019 Removed the front support pieces of wood and I'm pleased with the look of the layout. I feel it will give that slightly hemmed (by Trees) look that I'm after. The back boards themselves will not be painted But a back scene will be and clipped onto the back boards so that the right angle corners will disappear as will the backboard join half way along the back of the layout. At the moment the idea is to paint it, as I did with Wencombe, Kingsbridge Regis and Louville Lane, The material I'm hoping to use is that used by printers in their "Pop-Up" vertical display panels. My local friendly printer let me have a piece to play around with. Its shiny grey on one side and a duller white on the other. I'll see which side takes paint best. I think it comes in 42 inch widths which will give me the scope to paint 2 scenes. Obviously the back scene will come down to base board level. 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
woodenhead Posted November 6, 2019 Share Posted November 6, 2019 So much for me thinking you can't get a half decent looking branch terminus in O in a 10 foot space. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ramblin Rich Posted November 6, 2019 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 6, 2019 Does that mean the back scene material can be removed if you have to split the layout? I think it's a great idea to have an unbroken length with no joins. I think Paul Marshall-Potter used the same idea on Albion Yard, but with a photographic image. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 6, 2019 Author Share Posted November 6, 2019 Yes Rich, you are correct, in fact the idea came from looking at the layouts of Gordon Gravett and PMP. I just hope my painting is up to it. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted November 21, 2019 Author Share Posted November 21, 2019 Not too much going at the moment down in the Forest. A fair bit of thinking do I actually do that????? but not a lot of action. Pictures are going round my head but not yet on the layout. The thoughts are mainly about the back scene and how the layout will look scenic wise. Better have a long think now rather than rush ahead and the realise it's not working and then have to rip up the scenery and start again. I always said this would be a slow build. When things begin to happen I will notify you and add relevant photos. Thoughts are beginning to gel so it may be not too long before they become more concrete or at least hanging basket liner and trees etc. 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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