Adventures in code 55

[Gloucester Road]

Bit more work on the station. Roads have been added, some kerbing, parking bays and greenery planted temporarily. Having put the parking bays in and some greenery it appears to be not enough parking for the station size. So there might be some parking area added to the right of the road between it and the station platform.

 

Entrance road

 

Small parking lot

 

the overallshot, possible parking expansion in the lower right between road and platforms.

 

Some more fencing has been ordered to finish off the staion and the Mrs has gone out to get some spray paint so the fening can be made black. Now to start work on the platform subway

 

Stephen

[devondynosoar118]

Looking good. Glad to see immobility has had some pay off, hope you are off hobbling soon.

[Gloucester Road]

So it's been an interesting time since my last update. We had a snow storm that dumped 22inches of snow and knocked out power for 5 days, not fun as im still in a cast and walking around on crutches. Was a bit of a challenge to keep our woodstove going whilst without power. However power has returned and so has some modeling.

 

More fencing has arrived so that has been spray painted black and ready to be installed. As im still in a cast it is hard to stand, so i've not been able to practice with the static grass applicator, on the layout, that arrived weeks ago. Today the weather was fantastic, in the mid 60s, so headed outside to do some modeling and practice with the applicator. Pictures to follow.

 

Bit of a teaser:

Edited November 8, 2011 by Gloucester Road

[Gloucester Road]

OK so as i said yesterday I was able to get a chair, my grass applicator, glue, hairspray, loco, bits and pieces from the larger layout and New Street outside to do some modelling and practice using the applicator. I'm really pleased with how its come out and cant wait to use it on the layout proper.

 

Some of you who have been following Rmewb for some time might remember that there was a period when everybody seemed to be buliding layouts in boxfiles. Those are hard to find here in the US so I settled for a deep picture frame, and soon New Street was born. There are some images in my Gallery section aswell as on my blog. There was a triangular space in the front that was waiting for grass to be planted.

 

Well its been planted and am happy with it

 

Now if youll indulge me a liitle bit of a story and some outdoors photography.

 

It was a quite morning in New Street with welders going about their business while workers were going aboutcleaning up waiting for the morning delivery of a van by 08921

 

08921 arrived and was readied for morning shunting duties it was seen from the hedgrow and from the entrance road

 

Once the crew heard that the van and wagon had been dropped off they set away to get the delivery. A short time later the morning peace was broken as 08921 arrived with a grimey lookkng VGA, it was set to be unloaded. As that was happening 08921 brought in the wagon that was just put on a side track

 

08921 was then given a rest as the crew broke for tea. After tea 08921 brought the VGA and coupled it to the wagon and the short train was ready to be taken away.

 

Ok story over here are some overall shots for those that want to see.

 

And my set up outside

 

Right back inside and do some modelling on the larger layout.

Stephen

[Tricky-CRS]

Looking good, has the snow completely gone then?

[Gloucester Road]

Yea, it 's crazy the temps the past few days have been in the mid 60s. So snow is only in the shady places.

[Kris]

I like the use of the space that you have, rather inventive. You were lucky to have the wood burner with the electric out for that length of time.

[Gloucester Road]

I'm starting to go a bit crazy. I"m now approaching 2 months since I broke my ankle last week the Dr said it is starting to mend and has put me in this large ski boot contraption that i can take off at night to sleep and put about 50lbs of pressure on the foot. So things are moving in the right direction, I guess.

 

Lost my mojo for the trains for a bit as not being able to work or walk had me down in the dumps for a bit after my last update, but then I found some you tube stuff. Have been watching Video by Ngaugeuk (who i believe is an rmwebber) and Everard Junction; the first is n guage stuff being reviewed and tested (very helpful) and the latter is following progress on a OO guage loft layout as its being built. Thanks to both for their youtube channels.

 

Right so with that what have i been up to? Decided that since standing still takes some effort that I would crack on with some more scalscenes builds. This build is going to take awhile I think. In the past i have built the T023 small corner shops and T022 small terraced house, they are both pretty involved builds but aparently im going to have more time on my hands. So yesterday I glued all of the baselayers to heavy card and let the glue set:

 

 

Then today once the kids were at school started the long process of cutting out the pieces. Not looking forward to this as the windows can be a bit of pain to cut out. Here is the growing collection of pieces:

 

 

Still got more to cut out and then i need to see if SWMBO will nip out to craft store and get me some more card and blades for the knife. So these buildings will be asembled into four groups:

 

 

This photo shows the low relief bulding from my last layout as place holders. This area will have curbs built up and then there will two groups of four houses and then two store fronts that will join the small corner shops. This will move from left to right in the above photo.

 

 

This low relief building will be replaced by full shops and a corner shop on the left.

 

So lots of building to do!

 

Having looked at the new Modern Industrial building T009 by scalscenes I think i can squeese it in; here is a paper mockup that is to the same dimensions:

 

 

Thats it for now back to cutting.

Edited December 1, 2011 by Gloucester Road

[Gloucester Road]

Quick update. I have been able to stand up a bit at the train layout so i did some work with the static grass. First a 60/40 mix of pva and water was spread down then some scatter added, a pin was attached to the layout. The grass applicator was then attched to the pin and off we went.

 

 

 

Then some of the painted fence from BLMA was added to the grass, I'm pleased with how its turned out.

 

 

 

The static grass is really something and have been doing some more elsewhere on the layout, pics soon. Right I have two other big projects going and am still cutting out the base layers for the small terrace and corner shops.

 

Stephen

Edited December 3, 2011 by Gloucester Road

[Tricky-CRS]

Looking good.

[millerhillboy]

static grass is really the business, you've choosen a very realistic selection of colours to mix. That was my trouble, getting the right coloured product.

 

Can I ask what you used there?, it really is a nice colour you've achieved.

[Gloucester Road]

In response to the above question, first layer is a scattering of fine turf (green grass) followed by a cover of static grass (light green) this then had a dusting of fine turf (dirt) sprinkled over it and built up along the ballast. By the fence are course turf (light green) and the larger pieces are bushes (green) and larger clumps of course turf (light green). All the scenic treatments are from Woodland Scenic.

[Gloucester Road]

So here is one of the two large projects that I've been working on over the past few days; it is fairly picture heavy so be warned if your on a slow connection. The country station area on the right hand side of the layout will be focus for this update; several updates ago the station platforms were built and fitted with some greanery fitted to see how it would look. With my foot getting stronger I'm able to stand for longer periods of time so planting grass has been fun, love the static grass.

 

The station area looked like this at the start, note the station fencing that has been added to the platforms.

 

This station is removable as the track still needs to be ballasted in this area, so it simply pops out.

 

OK, so i lifted out the station having marked on boards where the staion sits and applied a base layer of paint, nutmeg colour I believe. This paint once dry was covered in a 60/40 mix of glue and water then fine turf from woodland scenics was added (burnt grass)

 

Static grass was then added over the area while the glue water turf mix was still wet as was some course turf.

 

Looking up where the road will go, like the way the tuffts of grass look on the left of the road

 

This area was left to dry. Once it had dried, and this is important due to the paper/card nature of the station, it was placed back in its place. Some more bushes, trees, cars and course turf was added to the area and presto it starts to come together.

Looking up the access road also looks good, love the way the grass stands proud of the rest of the scatter matterial.

 

 

Then looking towards the small parking area

 

I'm well impressed with the difference that static grass makes; even in n gauge it makes an amazing difference. These fibers are 2mm in length so not long but it still stands proud and certainly looks like grass, much more so than plain turf. Next up I've been working on the town area on the left side so stay tuned.

 

Stephen

[Removed a/c]

You are making a great job of this, looks just like and English lane way. Thanks for sharing your progress with us.

 

Regards

Scott

[Gloucester Road]

The left hand side of the layout has been attacked recently. Decided that if i'm going to build the small terrace houses and corner shops that iIshould start at the bottom and work my way up; so roads and foundations first.

 

Here is what we looked like back on 30 November:

 

This whole area was lifted off and placed on the workbench, roads and a parking lot from scalscenes were tested and then fitted:

 

Cars were then added to see how it looked:

 

Liking how it looked I pressed on. I took great care to hide the joins of paper and most of the cuts were made and hidden by lining up patches in the paving. Other areas were hidden by cutting close up by the painted lines, then the area was given some light weathering. There are seven diffferent pieces of paper in the following photo.

 

Once I was happy with the road another piece of curb was added and some yellow lines added.

 

Slowly pieces have been cut out of card for the buildings, here is a test fitting:

 

With the test all looked good so walls were added as were the rest of the yellow lines and it was done. Three days of on again off again work and we ended up with this. The photo has been stiched together so there is some fuzzyness to it. Now to get this on the layout

 

Then a bit of a teaser of what's next:

 

That's it for now.

 

Stephen

[Kris]

The road with the shops on is detailing up very nicely. The only comment that I would make (and I suspect that it is to late / not possible to change it) relates to the writing of "STOP" on the road. Looking at the junction this seems that it would more likely be a giveway junction probably with no writing on the road.

[Notanotherhobby]

Excellent work Stephen. Kris, I think I can see why the STOP was used instead of a Give Way. Because immediately opposite this junction is a turning circle / bus stop which would necessitate an approaching motorist to ensure it was truly safe to continue rather than a quick visual check. A definate STOP would ensure time was given to the driver. My 5p worth, apologies if I'm mistaken.

[Kris]

It would provide a reason for the STOP. I went by my gut instinct given that STOP signs are really quite uncommon and are normally only seen where visibility is very limited or you are joining a fast road (again normally with limited visibility).

[Gloucester Road]

Hmm, I hadnt realised that a stop line was so complicated; they are at 85% of the intersection here in New Hampshire. Anyway it is to late to change so maybe a strategicaly placed vehicle will hide it.

 

So the buildings and roads have made it over to the layout now there was another little problem to solve. As anyone who has used static grass knows there is a lot of glue and hairspray that can be used to apply and build up depth of the grass. However the area i needed to fill was surrounded by Scalscenes paper, not a good mix with glue and hairspray. So what to do.

 

I have a vague recollection of reading about makeing grass that could be pealed off paper and stuck into place so i decided to experiment.

 

Step one was to measure the area I needed to cover. Step two was to was find all that i needed and hobble my way to kitchen table. Acetate paper (the same i use to print off the clear scalscenes windows), straight white glue, ruler, static grass, applicator and hairspray.

 

Then I took the measurements from the layout and traced it onto the shiny side(and thats important) of the acetate paper. White glue was thickly spread out on the traced area and allowed to set for about 10 mins, just enough to go slightly tacky. The static grass was then applied.

 

This was allowed to dry and the excess was then shaken off. A spray of hairspay and a second layer of grass was applied, This step really makes the grass thick

 

As you may notice from the last picture there are some spots that grass didnt adhere. This can be done later but I did it now; I added some clumps of course turf to the bare areas. The whole area was then given a couple coats of hairspary and left to dry for several hours.

 

Drumroll please. After two hours it was all dry and the pealing could begin. A sharp blade was used to lift up one corner and then as I pealed the knife was used to help seperate glue and paper.

 

It came off nice and cleanlly. Some things to note: a fairly thick layer of glue seems to work better than thinner, it seems to peel off more evenly. When doing the process above the only thing I would change is the order, Having pealed off the grass I thought the paper was going to be used again, however the hairpray had rendered the paper bumpy so the next lot of grass didnt peal aswell. So the next batch I have done the grass was pealed off then hairsprayed and it allows the paper to be used again. Another nice thing is you can cut the grass patches to shape any area. Once the piece was placed and clued into place some "dirt" was scattered over the area to tone down the green. Trees and other scatter was then added to blend in the wall and thin grass areas

 

Now some gratuitous shots of grass:

 

 

 

This has been a lot of fun to do and seems to work very well when you have an area where you can't spray hairspray and spread glue around due to paper. I have done another piece and did the hairpary post pealing and am able to use the paper again. More detailing and blending of the grass/pavement has been done and i am very pleased with how it has come out. More pics shorlty, hope this helps any one looking at doing static grass.

 

Stephen

[devondynosoar118]

Very clever. Scenic work looks great. The most common signs at junctions in UK are "give way," stop was more common in the past with give way being used more widely since the early 80's.

Thank you for the how to on the glue based grass mat, very helpful.

[Kris]

That peeling technique looks very effective.

[jcmjcm]

That peeling technique looks very effective.

I have done something similar (also due to proximity to paper Scalescenes retaining walls) but I used tin foil. Worked nicely

[Lee m22]

Hey,

 

Brilliant 'how-to' on the grass there! As i'm getting to that point, I'll certainly be re-reading your techniques for the perfect turfing!

 

The progress is great to see on the layout, but it's the 'boxfile-type' yard that really caught my eye! I didn't believe it was so small until the pic of it on the wall! You get a great feel of depth when looking through the various shots. Again the grass area looks stonking! Brilliant modelling

 

Regards

 

Lee

[Gloucester Road]

This update will get the thread up to date with where the layout is currently. Spent some time bedding in the the mat that I talked about last entry with some dirt around where it meets the tarmac and some details added. A delivery van has been placed that when viewed from the front will hide the STOP.

 

 

We then moved to the other side of the depot entrance and made another grassmat following the revised process described (removing the grass before applying hairspray), It came out nicley. To cover the areas' length I needed two strips; the advantage of the grass is the join can be hidden by teasing the fibres over the join. I can't see it and I put them together.

 

 

I had some left over fence that included a slidding gate and decided to put it across the entrance of the depot. Not sure if its entirly correct but... In the photo you can see on the right where the mat is blended into the pavement area with some fine turf and the van hiding the STOP.

 

 

Here is a shot that shows the grass standing proud and blending in with the wall. The PD marsh car is looking a little dated when compared to some others! (ie the mini)

 

Lee, the small layouts dimension are 14"x10"x5". It was lots of fun to put together and I learned alot whilst doing it. There is a small sector plate that attachs to the right so that trains can run off the layout and come back on on the other line.

 

Thanks for looking.

Stephen

Edited December 12, 2011 by Gloucester Road

[robrailltd]

If you put a security hut by the gate then a barrier arm leaving the gate in situ then the stop markings could well be correct.