SteamingWales Posted April 24, 2020 Author Share Posted April 24, 2020 Last night's efforts. The arrival of some additional modelling materials meant I could construct the girder bridge. Made using the Wills Vari-girder kit and styrene H columns from Evergreen for the deck supports. Time to paint and weather 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted April 27, 2020 Author Share Posted April 27, 2020 Just a summary of this weekends activities. With the girder bridge complete I have now been able to judge the height of the walls required either side of the bridge, and the continuation of the wall then at a lower height. With this done I made use of the good weather we have been having to spray all the card buildings with artists picture varnish. This will prevent the ink from running on the buildings when they receive some weathering After this I decided to construct a small building where the shed clerk would be so engines could be signed on shed etc. Quite happy with this so far, though I cannot decide whether to add internal details such as desk and stove or simply plonk a roof on top? Anyone have any thoughts? Finally I also took delivery of an EFE 30' BET Weymann s/deck bus in "Fishwicks & Sons" branding. I fully acknowledge that this bus would have operated nowhere near where the layout is meant to be based and it would be more suited to a layout within the Preston area, however this was my local bus company before it when bust in 2015, mainly due to competition from Stagecoach. Having now moved away from Leyland I wanted to add a bit of home to the layout so it's staying! As always, Stay Home, Stay Safe, Keep Modelling 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold simonmcp Posted April 27, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 27, 2020 29 minutes ago, SteamingWales said: Just a summary of this weekends activities. With the girder bridge complete I have now been able to judge the height of the walls required either side of the bridge, and the continuation of the wall then at a lower height. With this done I made use of the good weather we have been having to spray all the card buildings with artists picture varnish. This will prevent the ink from running on the buildings when they receive some weathering After this I decided to construct a small building where the shed clerk would be so engines could be signed on shed etc. Quite happy with this so far, though I cannot decide whether to add internal details such as desk and stove or simply plonk a roof on top? Anyone have any thoughts? Finally I also took delivery of an EFE 30' BET Weymann s/deck bus in "Fishwicks & Sons" branding. I fully acknowledge that this bus would have operated nowhere near where the layout is meant to be based and it would be more suited to a layout within the Preston area, however this was my local bus company before it when bust in 2015, mainly due to competition from Stagecoach. Having now moved away from Leyland I wanted to add a bit of home to the layout so it's staying! As always, Stay Home, Stay Safe, Keep Modelling Very nice modelling, I am glad your girder is resting on some proper concrete supports. Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 It's been a bit quiet with progress on the layout lately but I have been scouring the internet for a decently priced air brush to paint the concrete hardstanding with one found it was straight to work with masking the necessary areas and then on with the painting Weathering this is going to be interesting as this will be my first ever time weathering a surface! 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Ralf Posted May 30, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 30, 2020 1 hour ago, SteamingWales said: scouring the internet for a decently priced air brush to paint the concrete hardstanding with one found it was straight to work Which one did you plump for and why? - Be as brief as you like I don't want to hijack this into an airbrush thread but I'm persuading myself it won't be a nightmare and actually I could do with one... Ta Ralf Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted May 30, 2020 Author Share Posted May 30, 2020 2 hours ago, Ralf said: Which one did you plump for and why? - Be as brief as you like I don't want to hijack this into an airbrush thread but I'm persuading myself it won't be a nightmare and actually I could do with one... Ta Ralf Hi Ralf Happy to help. I'm on a tight budget so to speak so price was the most important really, wasn't bothered if it had a reservoir or any additional bells and whistles. I just shopped around a bit to find the best deal. Eventually found one on Amazon (added the link) as these were cheaper than model shops. After some research turns out most are all the same model, just with different branding on! https://www.amazon.co.uk/Airbrush-Fengda-FD-18-2K-Compressor-accessories/dp/B01984G2OG/ref=sr_1_8?dchild=1&keywords=airbrush+kit&qid=1590857213&s=kitchen&sr=1-8 Honestly the best purchase I have ever made. So much easier to get an even finish than brushes Hope that helps Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted August 25, 2020 Author Share Posted August 25, 2020 Its been a while since I have worked on the layout due to other commitments,but currently stuck inside thanks to Storm Francis with nothing else to do so thought why not get back into it with autumn on the way. With this in mind I wanted finish off the shed so have got hold of some 1mm MDF for the roof. I chose this over regular card or plasticard as I wanted something substantial for the roof that wouldn't warp or bend easily. This is just the initial cut of the roof which needs so filing and sanding to fit snug onto the main building Happy modelling 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted October 4, 2020 Author Share Posted October 4, 2020 Another mega update. My own fault for not posting on here, basically just forgot Loco shed Following on from the previous post the main parts of the roof have been glued on and Scale Model Scenery slate strips added. Very pleased with myself and my maths. Ended up being left with half a strip of tiling, a lesson in efficiency Next job was to add the roof vents and then paint. I had originally planned to use Humbrol 31 Slate Grey paint but wasn't happy with the colour so went for a slightly darker colour which I'm now happy with. Just to weather it a bit now. Definitely want to add some gulls and poo! Concrete hardstanding Having originally painted this with a tan colour I was unhappy with the look so back to the drawing board. First job before the repaint was to cut out the footprint of the shed to give the look the concrete was cast. Original plan was not to do this but didn't want the "plonked" look Onto the repaint with a base coat of light grey (just bog standard poster paints) and then using sponges to give this a mottled looks with varying lighter and darker shades of grey and definitely much happier with this. Just to weather it a bit Ballast Next on the job list was to ballast the track. This is just the start of it as (again) it will need weathering. I also have the Hattons Oil Spill kit sat in the Hattons trunk (waiting for the Dapol 43XX to arrive before posting) to add to make the shed area really dirty as it's looking rather clean at the moment. Aiming for something similar to Grosmont Station on the NYMR Water cranes and coal stage Up to now the shed has been missing probably the two most important things. Coal and water. I don't know about others experiences but it seems rather hard to find tall water cranes for shed. A lot of the well known manufacturers seem to only produce platform cranes. I eventually stumbled across Skytrex and bought 2 GWR water cranes and also a very nice coal stage from the company. Very pleased with these products and can't wait to get the water cranes full built up but it was too tempting not to get them on the layout. Things are finally coming together, it's finally starting to look like a shed! Until next time (when I remember ). Happy modelling 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted October 7, 2020 Author Share Posted October 7, 2020 Little bit of progress this evening with the shed roof successful weathered. Pretty pleased with it given this is my first ever attempt at weathering! Given I started building this shed in December it's pleasing to see it finally looking like an actual shed! 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted October 9, 2020 Author Share Posted October 9, 2020 Who doesn't love a good production line? Knocking out both of the Skytrex water crane kits this evening Started with glueing the main column and valve into the base as well as the extra wire details onto the crane arm and added the hose bag. For the time being I will be leaving the arm and column separate as the base is going to be glued to the bored to enable weathering in the base. Plus I'm also worried about clobbering the arms whilst working on other bits of the layout 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted November 3, 2020 Author Share Posted November 3, 2020 Bit of track progress Dug out some spare bits of track to experiment weathering ballast and to test out the Hattons "Oil Spill" kit. Pretty happy with the results. I'm happy with the colour of the ballast weathering and the spill kit looks decent. The only minor problem encountered was small air bubbles forming in the spill kit when PVA was applied leaving holes in the surface when dried. Easily sorted though, just pop them with a kebab stick Onto the main layout..... 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted November 7, 2020 Author Share Posted November 7, 2020 A massive step with regards the layout and just general modelling happened today. I've gone DCC . After much research I opted for an NCE PowerCab as recommended for beginners and I have to say set up was very simple. Wire the controller to the track, fit decoder to loco, plonk on the track and select an ID number and off we go! I've probably been having too much fun with just one loco (14xx missing face) just going up and down and playing with different features. Still need to get used to the momentum setting, may have over run the buffers and driven through the back of the shed quite a few times Unfortunately I'm too poor now to afford any other decoders, bar one for the new Dapol 43xx. Will just have to wait until next pay day. With the fun over for now it's back to normal the modelling tomorrow 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted November 8, 2020 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 8, 2020 This looking really good, I like the progress on your engine shed build. The skytrex water cranes are very nice. Like you I don’t have loads of money so paydays are handy to purchase items. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your railway modelling. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted November 14, 2020 Author Share Posted November 14, 2020 A new "allocation" to the shed arrived today with Ex-GWR Mogul 7310.  Very impressed with the model, despite it arrived with the left buffer and dart loose in the box. Nothing a bit of glue won't fix. Full update on progress to follow. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted November 14, 2020 Author Share Posted November 14, 2020 The slow but steady progress continues with the shed. Name change Living in Aberystwyth my interest in the Cambrian and Carmarthen lines has been growing so wanted the shed and locos to reflect the lines (rule 1 exemptions apply obviously) Shed ballasting Adding the ash layer has continued. No proper photos but hopefully previous photos show progress with it. I have found the Hattons solution is too dark, good for an oil spill, not general ash so a weak wash using Railmatch roof dirt sufficed to give the dark colour and more uniformity as the gluing wasn't done in one go resulting in different glue mixes drying different colours Backscene I have finally started to think about the backscene above the retaining walls. Taking inspiration from the Scale Model Scenery Ultra Low relief terrace houses I have created my own built using grey card and Scalescenes brick paper. Each has individual details with different windows and a faded sign courtesy of Scale Model Scenery. Aiming to create a grey cloudy day on the layout but don't know at the moment whether to attempt this myself or buy a ready made one Shed Workshops These have now received chimneys and the corrugated roof. Just need to add pots, window sills and lintels It's taken me a while to figure out how to link the main shed to the workshop from the outside. It will be linked using a bit of concrete hardstanding so now the shed staff will have any easy way to get around Electronics Fitted the NCE PowerCab panel into the board and the point motor Little details Finally to finish some 3D printed wheelbarrows arrived from a site called 3D Printing Corner. Just some nice little details to add to give the shed some character Happy modelling  6 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
TechnicArrow Posted November 14, 2020 Share Posted November 14, 2020 Coming on nicely! I love the very-low-relief terraced houses, and your work on all of the brick structures is very neat and brings a nice level of homegenity to the scene. The ground cover looks good too, and it all looks very good as a background to your loco photographs. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted November 15, 2020 Author Share Posted November 15, 2020 (edited) A little more progress today with ash piles and water crane drains. Ash piles were created using some spare polystyrene glued to some thin card and then covered in masking tape. A rough hole was chiseled out of the already glued ash layer blue blob glued in place and then ash on top. Some areas need going over again due to slip on the steeper bits but pretty happy with the look. Another pile will appear in due course next to the coaling stage Before starting the ash piles I released I hadn't but the drains for the water cranes in and almost plonked the ash pile where the drain should have been. Holes cut in the ash ready to receive drain currently being painted  Edited November 15, 2020 by SteamingWales Duplicated photos 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted November 16, 2020 Share Posted November 16, 2020 Sorry to be so late to "the party" @SteamingWales- I can't believe I've only just found this thread. When reading the first few posts, and looking at the plan - my first thought was to suggest perhaps using a 3 way point, instead of the two in the deisgn But lo and behold.... I was too late. As it happens, with your ballasting & grime, soot and general filth - it looks fine anyway. Nice job on the scalescenes buildings - I never get them looking so neat.... so I always revert to using plastic-card. Watching this one with interest PS. I'm not in Deepest Darkest Wales - but it's pretty damn dark in this bit of Wales today 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteamingWales Posted November 16, 2020 Author Share Posted November 16, 2020 Thanks @marc smith, glad you like the layout I know there was a reason for not choosing a 3-way but can't remember of the top of my head. I surprise myself sometimes with the Scalescene stuff too, luckily if you mess a bit up can always print out another It's pretty grim in Aberystwyth today as well! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
marc smith Posted November 18, 2020 Share Posted November 18, 2020 @SteamingWales- 3 way points can be a bit of a faff to wire up, I know that. But I have been considering doing something similar, in a really really small space (smaller even than my usual efforts) Alas, with "other things" in life getting in the way.... the idea is consigned to some notional point in the future, along with my other ideas and hair-brained schemes It was nice to see this micro though.... and get the old grey matter ticking over once again lol Re the Scalescenes kits - I did have a bash at a couple, but found I somehow got glue onto surfaces where it didn't belong, and my corners were not crisp enough for my liking. Perhaps it's a lot to do with the quality of base card you use... and how careful you are with glue Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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