Lancaster Lane & Dewar’s Street

[LDM34046]

A real life representation of today’s weather. Dark and gloomy skies overhead at Lancaster Lane.

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

Last weekend's project for a rainy day was to finally sort out the yard shed on the layout. A coat of white primer was used and then the bricks were painted with layers of citadel paints and washes. I'm incredibly pleased with how the stone effect has turned out and the tones match the rest of the layout nicely. The roof is a different story. I've had nothing but issues with Humbrol Enamel paints despite the recommendations from an old Railway Modeller magazine. I tried to paint the roof green however the paint is very watery despite mixing it multiple times. An order of Vallejo acrylic paints should fix the issue and complete the shed.

 

 

 

 

A new locomotive is ready to go on the layout however I'm still waiting on the elusive decoder to arrive in the post as well as rather large order from Modelu to add some life to the layout although it's unfortunately on back order for a week or so.

 

So for the time being it's a case of staying in and playing trains! It's not all bad I suppose! 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

A productive start to the weekend. Having had little luck with the Humbrol Enamel paints last week an order was placed for Vallejo paints.

 

A fresh coat of ‘Refractive Green’ and the shed looks excellent. A bit of dry brushing to bring out a few details and add some glazing into the window and the shed will be complete.

 

A very speedy service from Modelu and a box of goodies turned up this morning. Very impressed with the level of detail on 1:72 although I’m baffled how I’m going to paint them! Excited to get stuck in to them and add some life to the layout.

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

All quiet on the western front...

 

Despite not being on here recently I have been enjoying the layout, and uploading my modelling to instagram. I thought I'd share a few photos of the latest addition to the layout, the lovely Hornby B2 Peckett. A cracking locomotive full of detail and a lovely smooth runner although it does highlight the importance of clean track!

 

It's just such a photogenic locomotive...

 

 

 

 

 

And to avoid it stealing the limelight, here's a few other shots of this mornings operations.

 

41726 arrives with a lone 7-plank wagon from the local repair works...

 

...before departing Lancaster Lane and heading back down the line. The Peckett sits alone in the merchant siding.

 

 

5775 arrives at Lancaster Lane with a short coal train from up north. With the Peckett now stationed permanently at the sidings, shunting work is a lot easier freeing up the larger locos.

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[Alister_G]

On 06/02/2021 at 14:27, LDM34046 said:

I’m baffled how I’m going to paint them!

 

There are many different methods and techniques, but one I have used in the past is to spray the figures in matt black as a primer, and then build up colours on top with dry-brushing. These are Dapol, but I have also done this on Modelu figures:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here's a Modelu one using the same technique:

 

 

Al.

Edited February 17, 2021 by Alister_G
spillong

[LDM34046]

On 17/02/2021 at 20:26, Alister_G said:

There are many different methods and techniques, but one I have used in the past is to spray the figures in matt black as a primer, and then build up colours on top with dry-brushing. These are Dapol, but I have also done this on Modelu figures:

 

I made a start on them yesterday, trimmed up the 3D printed supports and primed them. So far all I've completed is the base coat of the faces and a few jackets in dark grey. I think slow and steady is the way forward and not getting frustrated with them.

 

The current state of affairs. I think I may attempt another round of painting tomorrow. My plan of action is to get all the base colours down and then do a light dry brush and wash over each figure to bring out the details.

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[Alister_G]

Nice, much neater than mine...

 

Al.

[LDM34046]

Sunset at Lancaster Lane.

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[sb67]

Just found your thread. Fine layout you're building there the trackplan is right up my street and I like the way the scenics are coming along. 

look forward to seeing some more updates. 

[LDM34046]

17 hours ago, sb67 said:

Just found your thread. Fine layout you're building there the trackplan is right up my street and I like the way the scenics are coming along. 

look forward to seeing some more updates. 

Thank you! I was limited by size however I feel like the track plan I’ve created offers enough modelling and operating potential. The small size appealed to me as I wanted something that I could ‘finish’ and was achievable.

 

 

[sb67]

9 hours ago, LDM34046 said:

Thank you! I was limited by size however I feel like the track plan I’ve created offers enough modelling and operating potential. The small size appealed to me as I wanted something that I could ‘finish’ and was achievable.

 

 

 

As good a reason as any to build a Micro layout and exactly the reason I like building them 

[LDM34046]

This morning’s mission was to move the layout to the other side of the bedroom where there’s room to set up my camera tripod and get some proper photos of the layout. It’ll be interesting to compare how iPhone photos differ from DSLR photos when it comes to miniature!

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[sb67]

As someone who is looking at cameras I'd be interested in the results. A couple of questions, what camera is it and how are you lighting the layout?

I've been looking at a Cannon 2000D which you can get for around 500 quid with an extra 300mm lens.

Many thanks.

[LDM34046]

On 02/03/2021 at 19:31, sb67 said:

As someone who is looking at cameras I'd be interested in the results. A couple of questions, what camera is it and how are you lighting the layout?

I've been looking at a Cannon 2000D which you can get for around 500 quid with an extra 300mm lens.

Many thanks.

The camera I use is a Canon 5D Mk4 which is massively overkill for photographing the layout however as a photographer by trade it’s what I use at work. The lens I’ve used is a 50mm shot on a wide aperture on a tripod.

 

The lighting isn’t anything special, just some warm white LED’s spots which are the bedroom lights. The layout itself doesn’t have its own lighting rig. In this shot the layout is facing the window however in my previous shots the layout sits next to the window. 
 

I find iPhone shots work perfectly fine and that’s what I’ve been using up until today. Sometimes if the sunlight is good, the layout is naturally lit and that’s produced some of my favourite photos.

 

 

The iPhone provide a decent level of clarity and depth of field and then I edit them on my laptop in Adobe Lightroom.

 

I’ll post some of the DSLR shots tomorrow as they came out really well!

 

Hope this answers your questions!

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

Photos from yesterday's shoot with the DSLR came out really well and super happy with them so I thought I'd show a few from an early morning shunting sequence.

 

The yard hut looking rather lonely in black and white. Modelling has stalled slightly at the moment however I'll eventually add more details and foliage around the hut.

 

The B2 Peckett arrives from the main depot up the line, ready for a day's work at Lancaster Lane.

 

One of my favourite shots down the yard as the Peckett driver heads into the headhunt for a cup of tea at the yard shed.

 

An hour or so passes and the first working arrives from the coast. 5775 pulls into Lancaster Lane with a mixed goods serving the local town.

 

 

The Peckett gets to work on the latest arrival and moves the brake van into the headhunt ready for the return journey before moving the cattle van and coal wagon into the adjacent sidings for unloading.

 

With the pannier relieved of it's duties the crew head into the hut for a bacon sarnie before preparing the locomotive for the return trip to the city!

 

With the goods train unloaded 5775 moves out of the way into the siding ready for the Peckett crew to start assembling the return train.

 

With 5775 clear, the B2 moves the brake van out of the headhunt ready for the return trip.

 

With the goods unloaded and ready to be moved, the wagons are shunted back into the main siding with the brake van now at the rear of the train.

 

41726 arrives light engine from the main line and stables in the merchant's siding ready for another movement later that day.

 

With outward bound train assembled and a short blast of the whistle, the crew of 5775 crank open the regulator and send the pannier on its way back up the line.

 

My favourite shot from yesterday as 5775 steams past 41726 sitting in the merchant sidings.

 

I hope everyone enjoyed the DSLR photos! It was nice to be able to shoot with a proper camera instead of iPhone shots. I'll post a few more this afternoon however I thought I'd show the operating sequence for one of the more common movements on the layout.

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

A few more shots which I promised to upload yesterday.

 

The B2 Peckett sits waiting by the yard hut after a busy afternoon. This is turning into one of my favourite little areas of the layout so I'm excited to start adding some details such as cab crew, oil drums and a bit of foliage around the hut. Hornby have produced a cracking model with the Peckett!

 

 

The largest loco of the fleet arrives with a rake of 7-plank coal wagons. A lot of work still needs to be done on this loco to get it running properly but it's nice to have it running on the layout.

 

 

Little & Large.

 

 

Peeking over the hill. A distant shot of the Peckett shunting. The idea of the hill at the front of the layout was to add a bit of scenic interest and provide a visual obstruction for viewing the locos. Hopefully this will be improved with the addition of a few trees at the front of the boards.

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

A productive afternoon with the competition of painting all the Modelu figures and I'm impressed with how they've come out! Far from perfect but they do the job of adding life to the layout.

 

 

 

My only bug bare is although they looked perfectly scaled to the locomotives and track they look strangely small compared to the yard shed? What is meant to be a small hut seems to be almost two storeys tall! The height of the figures standing next to it barely reach the window sill?

 

 

I may look into an alternative hut as a smaller hut make suit the area better and tie into the cameos around it.

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[figworthy]

1 hour ago, LDM34046 said:

A productive afternoon with the competition of painting all the Modelu figures and I'm impressed with how they've come out! Far from perfect but they do the job of adding life to the layout.

 

My only bug bare is although they looked perfectly scaled to the locomotives and track they look strangely small compared to the yard shed? What is meant to be a small hut seems to be almost two storeys tall! The height of the figures standing next to it barely reach the window sill?

 

 

I may look into an alternative hut as a smaller hut make suit the area better and tie into the cameos around it.

 

It is difficult to judge from the picture.  Can you measure the height of the door (from the top of the door step), if it comes in at something like 24-26mm (6' - 6' 6" in real money) then it is probably right.

 

Adrian

[LDM34046]

On 09/03/2021 at 20:00, figworthy said:

 

It is difficult to judge from the picture.  Can you measure the height of the door (from the top of the door step), if it comes in at something like 24-26mm (6' - 6' 6" in real money) then it is probably right.

 

Adrian

 

The door comes in at 26.5mm so slightly towards the larger end of the scale. I'll take a few more photos with figures and locos around it and see if I can live with it, worse case I'll look for another shed with finer measurements. It's bizarre as the hut looks well proportioned to the rolling stock and and the figures look correct in the cabs however the figures and hut don't seem to match.

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

Spending the last few days enjoying operating layout however today was a productive modelling day. The area looking most incomplete was the scenic break however after a bit of research I settled on the Goodwood Scenics sleeper wall kit. Originally I was going to go for a small tunnel mouth however that would have looked a bit cramped so in the end I chose the cutting option instead.

 

 

 

The kit was a bit fiddly but lovely to work with and I'm super impressed with the finished result.

 

 

A vast improvement compared to the empty space and a better way of disguising the scenic break. A shot of the Peckett along side for good measure!

 

 

The permanent way gang admire the finished job over a well deserved tea break. In the coming days I will tidy up the surrounding area with ballast and static grass.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[richard.h]

You have made a very good job of painting those figures, have you tried the ones from Hardys Hobbies, I use both companies and find their products compliment each other well and give you a bigger range.

[LDM34046]

9 hours ago, richard.h said:

You have made a very good job of painting those figures, have you tried the ones from Hardys Hobbies, I use both companies and find their products compliment each other well and give you a bigger range.

Thank you Richard

 

I haven’t looked at Hardy’s Hobbies however I have heard of them. Are they of similar quality and detail? I think they work out about £1.50 cheaper each which is a lot cheaper for 4mm figures. You’re right in saying that it’ll give me a much wider range of people.

 

I’ll definitely have a look tonight at placing an order.

[richard.h]

Personally I can't see any difference between Modelu and Hardys, they are both quality products.

However as you say Hardys are cheaper especially if you buy the bulk packs.

 

Below is a little scene I made using Hardys models as I wanted a man with a red warning flag which I could only find on their site.

 

[LDM34046]

On 22/03/2021 at 09:35, richard.h said:

Personally I can't see any difference between Modelu and Hardys, they are both quality products.

However as you say Hardys are cheaper especially if you buy the bulk packs.

 

Below is a little scene I made using Hardys models as I wanted a man with a red warning flag which I could only find on their site.

 

That little scene looks incredible Richard! Yes you're right, they work out a lot cheaper. Having looked at the Hardy's models I'll definitely be placing an order in the coming days as I thoroughly enjoyed painting the Modelu figures!

[LDM34046]

A few new additions to the layout, 5 to be exact! A lovely rake of Bachmann China Clay wagons. Although probably not very location correct they were an absolute steal on eBay and the weathering is lovely. My excuse is there is a local pottery about 4 miles from here however why they would ever need 5 wagon's worth of clay is beyond me! 

 

Currently undecided on whether to add the hoods or not however I am just tempted to run them as empty stock, hence why they're so far north of Cornwall! 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046