Nick Gough Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 18 hours ago, MrWolf said: At least we have got beyond the old Papier mache methods. Looking back to when I was a kid, although many people had central heating, it wasn't great and was only on for a few hours a day, you tended to play with the trains in winter and spent days wondering when the squashy mess would set. Magazines would talk about using "the usual plaster bandage..." Even if I knew where to get it, or how to find out where to get it, I couldn't afford it anyway! The lattice method may be an old one, but it has survived because it's cheap clean and simple. I have to confess I spent a couple of hours yesterday evening tearing up pieces of newspaper. 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TrevorP1 Posted February 19, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 19, 2021 15 minutes ago, Nick Gough said: I have to confess I spent a couple of hours yesterday evening tearing up pieces of newspaper. I'll bet you're not going to use flour paste though! 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 44 minutes ago, TrevorP1 said: I'll bet you're not going to use flour paste though! Definitely not! Even if I wanted to I'd soon be in trouble for touching baking ingredients! 2 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 (edited) My recollection was wallpaper paste, terrible! PVA works well, thinned about 30% with water, brush onto form, stick on paper / PVA / paper.... you know the drill! Edited February 19, 2021 by MrWolf 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TrevorP1 Posted February 19, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 19, 2021 I've found a solution of PVA helps with plaster bandage as well. It seems to stop odd corners coming loose etc. I found myself brushing it over everything to do with scenery structure. 2 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 (edited) 2 hours ago, MrWolf said: My recollection was wallpaper paste, terrible! PVA works well, thinned about 30% with water, brush onto form, stick on paper / PVA / paper.... you know the drill! Yes. That's how I've been doing it for this layout - thinned PVA. Dries overnight - no problem. Edited February 19, 2021 by Nick Gough Added another sentence. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted February 19, 2021 Share Posted February 19, 2021 19 minutes ago, TrevorP1 said: I've found a solution of PVA helps with plaster bandage as well. It seems to stop odd corners coming loose etc. I found myself brushing it over everything to do with scenery structure. I have managed to find a cheap and cheerful Everbond plaster / filler powder that includes PVA. I still add a drop to the water and I think that a sealing coat is a really good idea, I'll give it a go, thanks. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 22 minutes ago, TrevorP1 said: I've found a solution of PVA helps with plaster bandage as well. It seems to stop odd corners coming loose etc. I found myself brushing it over everything to do with scenery structure. Once the PVA/paper has dried, if I have any odd shapes or depressions, I smooth it off with a little ready mixed filler, then a quick coat of PVA, before painting. 2 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 3 hours ago, TrevorP1 said: I'll bet you're not going to use flour paste though! There was a bag of self-raising in our Sainsbury's click & collect today. It did cross my mind whether that might work better than plain - however I'm not going to try! 1 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 19, 2021 Author Share Posted February 19, 2021 (edited) A bit more progress: Edited March 21, 2023 by Nick Gough 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 (edited) More work on the hill towards merging it into Silly bridge: I wasn't entirely happy with the profile of the cutting sides. It's cut through chalk and, looking back from the bridge, it's difficult to see, on the left, what it looks like due to the dense foliage: It's clear on the other (right) side that the upper part is more steep than the lower. Is it the same on the left? This photo, looking at the bridge, suggests it is: However, following the cutting back towards the station it is less clear: Anyway, I have decided to reprofile at least part of the side so, having tucked in to more cat food: I've started building out the top of the cutting (two pairs of cat's eyes). I'm not sure yet how far to take this along. It may just be a case of 'hiding' the further end with foliage. Edited March 21, 2023 by Nick Gough Missing word 4 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 Incidentally, does anyone know what the square, open-sided structures are at the trackside? They appear to be constructed of wooden sleepers. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold ChrisN Posted February 22, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted February 22, 2021 There may be an answer to your question in the 'Prototype' section of the forum, but are they likely to have been there in the 1930s? 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
caradoc Posted February 22, 2021 Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 hour ago, Nick Gough said: Incidentally, does anyone know what the square, open-sided structures are at the trackside? They appear to be constructed of wooden sleepers. I believe they are refuges for PW staff, constructed when HSTs were introduced on the WR (so around 1976). 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 2 hours ago, ChrisN said: There may be an answer to your question in the 'Prototype' section of the forum, but are they likely to have been there in the 1930s? No. I thought they were too 'modern' for then - and Caradoc has kindly confirmed that. I was really just curious about them. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 22, 2021 Author Share Posted February 22, 2021 1 hour ago, caradoc said: I believe they are refuges for PW staff, constructed when HSTs were introduced on the WR (so around 1976). Thanks. That confirms I can forget about them. I thought they might be that or, my other guess, maybe something to do with monitoring any slippage of the chalk, although I've never heard of any problems here. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 24, 2021 Author Share Posted February 24, 2021 (edited) I have reprofiled the top of the cutting to make it steeper: Brought it up to meet the side of the bridge and almost finished the lattice work: This 'panoramic' shot shows the whole hill in one photo (no the trackwork isn't really that bad!): I ran out of glue sticks, for the hot gun, yesterday. Fortunately a few more arrived this afternoon from Mr Amazon: I should have enough now to finish off! Edited March 21, 2023 by Nick Gough 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 24, 2021 Author Share Posted February 24, 2021 As seen in the 'panoramic' the cutting is just under 5' 6" in length. If it had been to prototype length this should have been approximately 16' long so, together with the sharper curve approaching the bridge, it has to be a bit of a compromise. 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 (edited) I love the 'Metro' newspaper: Not for its content or its journalistic style - but because it is available FREE from railway and underground stations! I always try to pick up a copy when travelling by train or passing a station. Having not bought a normal daily newspaper for more years than I can remember it's particularly useful that I have a small stack of 'Metros' available at the moment: So creating the ground surface for the hill and cutting has started: Edited March 21, 2023 by Nick Gough 9 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 At my old house I used them to light the fires when they stopped sending us the local free paper. It was a listed building, all those double glazing adverts were wasted on us anyway. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted February 28, 2021 Author Share Posted February 28, 2021 3 hours ago, MrWolf said: At my old house I used them to light the fires when they stopped sending us the local free paper. It was a listed building, all those double glazing adverts were wasted on us anyway. That thought has reminded me of, when I was a boy, we used to tightly roll up sheets of newspaper then tie that roll up into a loose, large knot - that my parents called a 'cracker'. We then used half a dozen or so to get the coke fired boiler alight. Nothing special, but I haven't remembered doing that for years. 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 I do that, I was shown it years ago as a way to make the paper burn longer, also handy if you have no proper kindling. Another old trick I used was to split a bunch of kindling to about 6"long and 3/4 square. Bits of old floorboards are perfect. Pack them all upright in an old gallon paint can or something and top up with paraffin, white spirit or diesel. Ignore for a week. You only need to use three or four, so you just keep dropping replacements in the can. WHAT? You mean to tell me that you BUY firelighters? Why? 3 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RJS1977 Posted February 28, 2021 Share Posted February 28, 2021 Seeing Metro reminds me of my commuting trips to Bracknell around the turn of the century. Walking through the morning train usually resulted in my finding a discarded Metro on a seat to read on the way out, and in the evening I could usually find a discarded Standard or a national daily to read. Excursion trips on a Saturday were usually good for a free TV guide for the week ahead! 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 A bit of good news - I have booked my two vaccination dates. I have been keeping an eye on the NHS booking website the last few days and I noticed, just before retiring yesterday evening, that the qualifying age had reduced to 60. First vaccination tomorrow afternoon, second in mid May. Anything that helps to end the restrictions as quickly as possible. 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick Gough Posted March 1, 2021 Author Share Posted March 1, 2021 1 hour ago, Nick Gough said: A bit of good news - I have booked my two vaccination dates. I have been keeping an eye on the NHS booking website the last few days and I noticed, just before retiring yesterday evening, that the qualifying age had reduced to 60. First vaccination tomorrow afternoon, second in mid May. Anything that helps to end the restrictions as quickly as possible. My notification letter has just arrived in the post, so I suspect I have probably beaten the rush for booking! 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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