BLACKNEY, a Glimpse of the Forest

[westerner]

Being born in Gloucester of Welsh speaking parents, it did not help me understand the Foresters when I played football for Minsterworth when the majority of our away games where in the Forest. I remember talking to an opponent after a game and not understanding much of what he said. It took me ages to work out that he was saying we were playing them again the following week.

[Dr Gerbil-Fritters]

My dad's view was that Foresters were the last 'true' English, as the Normans had invaded and spoiled the rest of the country but never managed to conquer the Forest.  Them Normans didn't like the woods, see.  So the 'English' were basically nancy French, and the woodentop Welsh were some eastern branch of Ireland.

 

All utter nonsense, but a strongly held view by my father's side of the family.  Grandad's job, after coming home wounded from WW1, was leading teams of horses pulling the deadfall timber out of the forest.  He was also a freeminer. 

 

Don't get me started on mum's side, who were coal miners from the Kingdom of Fife...  

 

[westerner]

I've started making the taller trees for the front left part of the layout which should  help cover the two holes to the fiddleyard.

 

Being a cheapskate I'm using Sedum flower head. We have plenty of sedums in the garden. They were harvested in the autumn and have been drying in the garage until today. 

 

the first two sedum heads are selected

 

 

They are then buddle together with masking tape.

 

 

others are added until a decent canopy has been made and length of OO rail glued up one of the stems to plant the tree. here are 3 that have reached that stage

 

 

Tomorrow I shall coat the trunks with Green Scenes Flexibark before painting and then adding the foliage.

[sb67]

I like the use of Sedums, I've got a few of them in my garden. Have you treated them at all or just let them dry?

[Andrew P]

I've never seen that before Alan, superb job, well done.

[Clive Mortimore]

Hi Alan and all

 

One of my fellow club members from when I was in the Maldon club use to use a similar dried plant method to make trees. Normally he was a very laid back type of guy, but at one show he was demonstrating his skills this bloke must have wound him up. He told the bloke the best place to harvest them was from the central reservation on the A12.

[westerner]

Steve, I've used this method before on Wencombe and I've never treated them. I think the important thing is to let them fully dry out. These were hanging in the garage for about 4 or 5 months drying out. The other thing is if they still have the little seed pods on is to trim them off with small scissors like nail scissors. On Wencombe I didn't an the seeds were forever dropping off. This time I harvested them later and most if not all the seeds had gone.

[St Enodoc]

49 minutes ago, westerner said:

Steve, I've used this method before on Wencombe and I've never treated them. I think the important thing is to let them fully dry out. These were hanging in the garage for about 4 or 5 months drying out. The other thing is if they still have the little seed pods on is to trim them off with small scissors like nail scissors. On Wencombe I didn't an the seeds were forever dropping off. This time I harvested them later and most if not all the seeds had gone.

If you plant the seeds on the layout the next batch of trees might come up ready built...

[westerner]

More work on the trees. some lower branches have been added, (One of the advantages of sedum is that the stems are hollow. so that wire can be easily inserted to add extra branches), and the bark applied.

 

[Baggies1961]

Superb Alan, inspirational Iv got to say. They look excellent, look forward to seeing them when they are planted. 

[westerner]

So am I.

[sb67]

Despite it being like a swamp, my other half wondered why I was so keen to do a bit of gardening at the weekend

 

 

 

[westerner]

Go for it Steve.

[sb67]

Thanks Alan, they're currently lying on the bench in my garage drying out 

[westerner]

I've had the old static grass applicator out. I decided it was late summer that had been pretty dry so yellowish grasses predominate.

 

 

 

 

Future scenic work to be done, finish hedges, built the lineside fence (I found the dimensions in GWRJ  56), then paint the bark on the trees I've made and add the foliage to them. I'm working slowly so that I can take many days over it as the government has said for my own well being I should not go out too much so I'm taking my time on the layout, so I have things to do for some time . I also have a couple more  Parkside wagons to build.

 

 

[westerner]

Today I have been fencing, that is building them rather than trying to kill some one with a sword. 

First was to cut and the paint the posts for the post and line fence. As it is towards the front of the layout I thought the best way to represent bare wood was to use ----------wood, balsa wood in fact. Looking at GWRJ No.56 I discovered that the posts are 5inches by 5 inches, roughly 3mm square in 7mm scale. Luckily I had a sheet of 3mm think balsa so 3mm strips were cut (approximately) and the cut to 7ft lengths (49mm) so that there was some of the post to eventually stick in the ground. The posts are about 4ft 6 inches above the ground with the top wire being a fraction under 4ft from the ground. The posts were then painted with Humbrol  No 26 Khaki and when dry ,dry brushed with Tamiya XF-53 neutral Grey followed by Tamiya XF-57 Buff, which seems to give a nice weather beaten finish. I'll describe the stringing when I get to do it.

 

 

The other fence was the one on the railway side of the path down from the lane to the platform. This was done in Evergreen strips. the uprights being 2.5 mm square and the horizontals being 1mm x 2.5mm. It was built in situ. at the moment it has been left white. Whether I paint it or just weather it I haven't made my mind up yet It will also have bushes and Ivy growing around and through it. As you can see in the second photo it ends at the steps onto the platform next to the station building.

 

 

[westerner]

More fence work today, this time erecting the post and wire fence.

First was to mark out a jig. this was done on a piece of ply. Basically the fence was drawn out on it and at the end of the wires a notch was cut in the ply.

 

next was to place the wires (EZ line) on the jig.

 

Then finally place the posts in position and superglue.

 

 

After allowing a decent time to make sure everything was glued the fence was  planted on the layout. The only problem with EZ line as it is so stretchy is to keep all the wires at the same tension. When planted you may notice some of the lower wires are not as tight as the top ones. You may also notice that some of the posts need a wee bit of straightening. More obvious in the photos than in real life. Like the fence down to the platform I'll give thought as to whether the wires need painting (weathering).

 

[westerner]

What I failed to mention the branch is being modelled within a few months of closure so little or no money is being spent on repairs.

[Brinkly]

I've really enjoyed catching up with Blakeney  this morning Alan; some excellent modelling.

 

Best wishes,

 

Nick

[westerner]

I've put leaves on the first of the sedum trees. The planting my be temporary. I've put it next to one awaiting leaves.

 

 

[Dr Gerbil-Fritters]

On 23/03/2020 at 21:26, westerner said:

What I failed to mention the branch is being modelled within a few months of closure so little or no money is being spent on repairs.

 

And I'd always heard that a new coat of paint and a spruce up was sign of imminent closure....

[westerner]

Couldn't resist posting these 2 Ben Ashworth type shots taken by my good friend Frank Drake.

 

 

[Happy Hippo]

19 hours ago, Dr Gerbil-Fritters said:

 

And I'd always heard that a new coat of paint and a spruce up was sign of imminent closure....

Don't forget fresh ballast!

 

Alan,  Looking through the trees to catch a glimpse of the train lifts the visual aspect of the scene to a much higher level.

[westerner]

A little more done over the last couple of days. A bit more post and wire fencing, a new tree has grown, and a lamp hut has appeared on the platform. 

 

 

[Andrew P]

Hippo said;

Alan,  Looking through the trees to catch a glimpse of the train lifts the visual aspect of the scene to a much higher level.

 

Alan, The Hippo was spot on about the Trees in the foreground, they are adding an extra dimension to the Layout.

Edited March 29, 2020 by Andrew P