Docklands Sidings - Restoring photo's!

[sb67]

While trying to decide what to do about the point rodding and knowing it could be hard to retro fit I ballasted the layout.

It hasn't quite worked out though, I used Woodland Scenics Fine brown ballast as I wanted to replicate the well used ballast I've seen in photo's. It seems to have dried a bit too dark and as I used acrylic paint to paint sleepers although that was a few weeks ago the paint has lifted off the sleepers.

Hoping a few washes of track colour and maybe weathering powders will sort everything out.

 

 

[sb67]

I've mocked up the other end of the layout. I wanted to suggest that there used to be a double track crossing but now it's been truncated with one line that see's infrequent traffic  going to an industrial yard/complex. 

The level crossing gates are Peco LK50, are they too small for a double track, to me they need to be a tad wider ?

 

[Flying Pig]

They look distinctly too small for double track.  Surely the posts would foul the structure gauge?

 

I had a look for level crossing gates online and the selection seems very small these days.  I'm sure I recall company-specific designs being available, but I'm probably thinking of a range that disappeared years ago.

 

[sb67]

3 hours ago, Flying Pig said:

They look distinctly too small for double track.  Surely the posts would foul the structure gauge?

 

I had a look for level crossing gates online and the selection seems very small these days.  I'm sure I recall company-specific designs being available, but I'm probably thinking of a range that disappeared years ago.

 

 

That has confirmed what I thought. I've looked for double track ones and they do seem to be a bit scarce, which I find strange. 

Might have to have a re-think.

[Flying Pig]

1 hour ago, sb67 said:

 

That has confirmed what I thought. I've looked for double track ones and they do seem to be a bit scarce, which I find strange. 

Might have to have a re-think.

 

It shouldn't be too difficult to scratchbuild, particularly as they don't need to work and are up against the backscene.  I found a couple of pictures of gates on former GER lines crossing double track here and here - in both cases a single gate braced from a tall post, which would make an interesting model.

Edited January 19, 2021 by Flying Pig
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[sb67]

1 hour ago, Flying Pig said:

 

It shouldn't be too difficult to scratchbuild, particularly as they don't need to work and are up against the backscene.  I found a couple of pictures of gates on former GER lines crossing double track here and here - in both cases a single gate braced from a tall post, which would make an interesting model.

 

I did think of covering the gates with corrugated iron sheets and widening them a bit of trying to bash the original kit. I wouldn't know where to start scratch building, might have a look though, I like those pics of the gates. 

[Flying Pig]

24 minutes ago, sb67 said:

 

I did think of covering the gates with corrugated iron sheets and widening them a bit of trying to bash the original kit. I wouldn't know where to start scratch building, might have a look though, I like those pics of the gates. 

 

Ok Wills SS56 looks like a good starting point: two gates with the right basic pattern that could be bashed into one longer gate.  Also includes the tall post and bracing.

[sb67]

21 hours ago, Flying Pig said:

 

Ok Wills SS56 looks like a good starting point: two gates with the right basic pattern that could be bashed into one longer gate.  Also includes the tall post and bracing.

 

I like the look of that kit, looks a lot better than the Peco one I have.

[sb67]

In between deciding what to do about the crossing gates I gave the track a wash of a grey colour that dried really patchy so I tried a wash Railmatch track colour, feel like it's way too dark now, I'm not sure how to get out of this one! 

I know now why I've shied away from building layouts with traditional ballasting! 

Any suggestions welcomed,

 

 

 

 

[37114]

53 minutes ago, sb67 said:

In between deciding what to do about the crossing gates I gave the track a wash of a grey colour that dried really patchy so I tried a wash Railmatch track colour, feel like it's way too dark now, I'm not sure how to get out of this one! 

I know now why I've shied away from building layouts with traditional ballasting! 

Any suggestions welcomed,

 

 

 

 

Hi Steve, I had a similar problem on a previous layout and ended up getting a Railmatch track dirt aerosol can and giving it a dusting over from about 40 cm above the layout. It worked a treat as the patchy-ness was toned down and yet the track didn't look too uniform. 

[sb67]

1 hour ago, 37114 said:

Hi Steve, I had a similar problem on a previous layout and ended up getting a Railmatch track dirt aerosol can and giving it a dusting over from about 40 cm above the layout. It worked a treat as the patchy-ness was toned down and yet the track didn't look too uniform. 

 

Thanks Rob, I wondered about something like that using my airbrush, at least that would give me a base to carry on from. 

[sb67]

I gave the track a coat of track colour  followed by some washes of matt black and weathering powders. I based that on a couple of pics of really greasy and dirty track which wasn't the look I really wanted but I couldn't think of a way to lighten everything up. 

 

 

 

 

 

[sb67]

Having a break from the track for a bit> I've started to adapt the Peco level crossing gates that I have to something more suitable. 

 

Edited January 25, 2021 by sb67

[sb67]

Also finally named the layout Docklands Yard after the part of London the layout is VERY loosely based! 

 

Edited to Docklands Sidings as I've not modelled much of a yard at all!

Edited January 26, 2021 by sb67

[Mick Bonwick]

On 21/01/2021 at 20:17, sb67 said:

 I couldn't think of a way to lighten everything up. 

 

 

Start with some of the track colour you've already used and add some cream colour to it (not white - too harsh). Make it a very thin mixture for the airbrush (far more thinners than you would normally use) and spray from about a foot (that's 30cm to you ) away. You'll find that the very fine mist will gradually change the appearance of your track overall.

 

Test it out on some paper - airbrush the paper until it resembles your track's current colour, then put the new colour on and see how it changes. It's much easier to do than to describe.

 

The effect can be seen on this underframe, where the layer of paint applied is lighter than that on the rim of the hopper. In this case the paint was enamel and sprayed at 25 psi so a very fine mist was produced, hence the thin covering.

 

 

[sb67]

Thanks Mick, I might give that a go. 

[sb67]

Finished the crossing gates, next up adding the suggestion of a road underneath them and a fence running along the back. 

 

[sb67]

Started a bit of scenic work around the gates. I'd like to know what people think, I've seen plenty of photo's looking like that with dark coloured scrub growing through the tracks but there's something that doesn't look right to me. The colour difference doesn't seem to work? 

The darker green bits are not stuck down yet.

 

[Mick Bonwick]

I'd say that the green is far too bright. My choice would be a much paler green, something at least half way between the two colours currently shown.

 

What time of year are you portraying? The paler grass suggests late Summer or early Autumn.

[Gilbert]

I always think a light colour such as Woodland Scenics olive or burnt grass works or the paler static grasses better on ballast or cess.

I've made a habit of doing test pieces and I often find "less is more" where colours are concerned

 

Chris

[westerhamstation]

Hi Steve,I agree with Mick and Gilbert that the green is quite bright and a bit clumpy the gates look very good.

some pics of the buffer stops at Brasted and Westerham which may or may not help. All the best Adrian

[Flying Pig]

The dead grass effect is excellent and the ground-hugging patches of darker green work quite well, but I'd remove the taller pieces (circled yellow below) as they don't look right to me.  I think the gate and fence are really effective too.

 

Perusal of photographs showing lines in similar condition and period would give you an idea of what was allowed to grow where and how much and picking a season would ensure consistency.

 

[sb67]

Thanks guys, the photo's are a great help. The paler green grass it will be. I think I'll think some of the straw coloured stuff out too as in the photo it looks a bit thick. 

I didn't think much about the season's but I will aim for a late summer/early autumn as you said Mick.

 

 

 

 

Edited February 5, 2021 by sb67

[sb67]

I've added a bit more grass and weeds, I used woodlands scenics burnt grass which is paler.

I'd like to add a bit more junk and some rubbish but don't want to overdo it.

I like messing around with stuff like this, better start thinking about that backscene though! 

 

 

 

 

[westerhamstation]

Hi Steve, that looks just right. All the best Adrian.