Rods_of_Revolution Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Looks very nice! Are you giving the industry a name? All the best, Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Hi Jo, Looking Great, glad you kept the table. Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted September 26, 2015 Author Share Posted September 26, 2015 No ideas on names yet, but there'll be a few industrial units needing names. They should give an effective view blocker once they're all in position along with some greenery Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 The last week or so has seen a few more bits done to the layout. I'm got the roadway to a condition where I can think about fixing it down soon. I used Mig weathering powder to give the lighter edges to the road. I think it was City Dust. I did manage to put a hole through it, but that's hopefully fixed by adding a replacement section that looks like a road repair. Also got the trees I bought at Leamington out as a quick excerise to see if my idea of a tree lined back scene works. There'll be a load of bushes and low level ground cover under them to provide and effective back scene, this is purely "concept art". The area between the access road and the trees will become the depot car park. Some trees were a but bright, so I painted them with Halfords Vauxhall leaf green to tone them down, but trying to let the original shade offer a little variation. Here's how I envisage this side looking, again it's basic concept. There'll be low relief warehouses, with bushes to provide a break between the pavement the buildings. This afternoon I weathered the two buildings I've done so far, using Humbrol washes. An attempt to add yellow kerbs etc to the loading bay scene ended in disaster as paint crept under the tape, so know it's staying like this, but I'll ponder adding them in future Jo 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rods_of_Revolution Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Looking good! You could try stripes of yellow masking tape to add the yellow edges to the loading bay? I wouldn't worry about the road damaged, you'd be hard pushed to find even a short stretch of road these days that hasn't been repaired after being dug up for pipes/cables or after being potholed! All the best, Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted October 4, 2015 Author Share Posted October 4, 2015 That's a good idea! Could use varnish to help make it stick permanently. The replacement patch of road intentionally darker as I knew I'd never match the original, so it'll have to be a water main repair! Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted October 12, 2015 Author Share Posted October 12, 2015 Time for what seems to be the (roughly) weekly update. First up the bridge and road have been mated and attached to the layout...finally! The bridge is secured with contact adhesive and the road is held with strong carpet fitting double sided tape. Seems to doing a good job so far, the glue setting was aided by the application of some weight Once the road bridge were in place some landscaping work could begin. The gravelled area at the rear become the car park, but a lot of the vast gravelly expanse will become greenery covered. I just did the whole area because I'm not sure how big it needs to end up. The embankment at the front is covered in a grass mat from Hedgerow Scenics. It isn't cheap but is exactly the look I wanted. The bushes and poly fibre glued on top are Woodland Scenics. I plan to add more texture and depth as this develops. It's my first attempt at greenery, so is a work in progress. The area next to the depot access road so far has had paint applied to vary the shades of the existing woodland Scenics material that was already down and blend it into my exposed paper mâché. A brown scatter was then sprinkled into the wet paint to break the texture up pre top coat of green stuff I'm quite happy with the results so far. As I said, it's very much a work in progress and will (hopefully) evolve considerably for the better Jo 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted October 14, 2015 Author Share Posted October 14, 2015 A wee update from today's efforts. I've started an experimental section of greenery at the back. This will be a dense layer to provide the scenic block, with a low relief or flat building behind it. All the low level shrubbery is meant to be the kind of stuff that grows low down in woodland. The base is a Green scene Matt that is a bit like a finer softer version of hessian. Remainder is mainly various Woodland Scenics products. Some aggregate dust was blended onto the gravel car park and a sleeper perimeter added from laser cut wooden sleepers from County Rolling Stock, simply primed with a grey spray can. The greenery is constantly evolving, I'm learning as I go and trying to build up depth and texture without overpowering what's underneath. I finish at lunch time Saturday and am planning a trip to the Frome model shop on the way home so may have some new products to add to the layout after that Jo 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonas Posted October 15, 2015 Share Posted October 15, 2015 Looking great, Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted November 6, 2015 Author Share Posted November 6, 2015 Updates have been quiet but it doesn't mean there's been no progress on the layout. First things first, I got round to creating the previously rumoured cup holder. Two sheets of 6mm MDF, softwood frame that slots onto the legs of the layout. Here's the first attempt, my woeful skills with the jigsaw clearly apparent. Attempt 2 came out much better, for which I must thank Jack (Rods_of_revolution) massively! A combination of talking the project through, a trip to B&Q and McDonalds, along with his experience and skills far superior than mine when it comes to woodwork all contributed to a successful version 2. Today whilst working on the layout, proof the cup holder works! I've added a front fascia from 6mm MDF, again the second attempt. The baton across the back is some MDF moulding from the top of an old wardrobe. To this the LED lighting was fitted at the front of the layout. A pet hate of mine is photographing a layout and the front side of the models are all in shadow due to the lights being too far back from the front edge. To attempt to reduce this, the front row of LEDs are as far froward as possible. These rear views illustrate this, as well as the frame work made up from 20mm conduit which provides a lightweight and dismountable structure that becomes flat for travelling. The rear set of LEDs are cable tied on to the cross beam. I'm surprised how well this has worked out to be honest, defintiely an idea I'll peruse again in future. The LEDs are Ledberg packs from ikea, each pack gives approximately 3ft of length and gives a colour I'm really happy with. Finally, here's a few more general shots of the layout with the lights and fascia in place, I've tried to take these from my eye level. I'm 5'10", so hopefully will provide an average view. I've attempted to make it like a picture to peer into and also restrict views over the back scene It's taken a while to get to this stage, especially fitting it in around day shifts this week but it should be back to the scenics soon. I plan to paint the fascia with car paint then cut out vinyl lettering on the silhouette cutter. Jo 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shanks522 Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Hi Jo, Really like the facia/lighting, very professional! Graham. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
shreives Posted November 8, 2015 Share Posted November 8, 2015 Great job there jo really is looking the part now keep up the great work Stuart 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rods_of_Revolution Posted November 10, 2015 Share Posted November 10, 2015 Nice work Jo! I really like the way you've used the pipes to create the supporting rig, in fact you could even use the pipes as conduit for cables. All the best, Jack Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted November 11, 2015 Author Share Posted November 11, 2015 Thanks all for the comments and likes. I'm not sure my bodges could be called professional though! I'd had similar thoughts about routing the cable through the piping, Jack. I'm inclined to extend the low voltage side of the Ikea cabling, giving me a bit more length on them as things are a little bit tight at present. Running them through the tubing would protect them nicely Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted November 17, 2015 Author Share Posted November 17, 2015 A wee update of the work I managed to achieve after work today - 0400-1400 is far more productive than it sounds, even if I did doze off on the sofa with the cat before dinner. Anyway, to the matter in hand. I've designed, produced and applied custom vinyl lettering to the fascia of the layout. It's all drawn up in Inkscape. Time taken to separate the horizontals and verticals pays dividends because you get nice crisp corners because the cutter doesn't try to turn the corner, instead cutting each colour separately. This artwork is then exported to the Silhouette software as a dxf file and run through the cutter. Although the photo shows an early trial with it still on the roll, the cutter works best on shorter lengths as longer pieces can slip. None of mine exceeded half a metre. Weeding done, here's the first test piece still on the backing paper. After much time with drawing pencil lines, masking tape to hold it all in position on those lines, adding transfer carrier paper, removing the backing paper and then finally pressing the vinyl letters down, the finished result. Time spent prepping the alignment definitely helps give a good result. The right hand offset is down to some other vinyl details that will be added later, hopefully tomorrow. These still need to be cut so if anyone would be interested I can do a step by step of the process from design through cutting, alignment, adding carrier paper and the finished result. It's surprisingly time consuming, but prep time put in is rewarded Jo 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted November 18, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 18, 2015 (edited) Hi Jo, If it's not too much trouble I'd definitely be interested in a step-by-step of this work. Very interesting process. cheers Ben A. Edited November 18, 2015 by Ben A Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 No trouble at all Ben, here we go. After some difficulties with the cutter, I eventually got some decent results I could use on the fascia and photograph for here. Lessons on using the cutter...don't cut the material too narrow and make sure the blade is checked regularly for build up of the loose bits of cut vinyl. Whilst my sheet was wider that the two feed wheels on the silhouette, it was only marginally bigger. This was solved by adding a strip of vinyl to the edge to make it wider and as such the wheels gripped better and stopped the vinyl Veering off sharply mid process. Pic 1, the freshly cut vinyl. The excess has been removed, a process called weeding, leaving behind the parts that will be transferred to the panel. Pic 2, add the carrier paper to the front. Pic 3 and 4, line the transfer up and tack in place with masking tape. Pencil lines will come off with a damp cloth I'll add the rest in the following post due to technology issues! Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted November 23, 2015 Author Share Posted November 23, 2015 Pic 5, flip the transfer forward, remove the backing paper. Pic 6, rub the transfer down to stick it to the surface it's being applied to, glossy surfaces work best. Pic 7, carrier paper removed leaving the transfer in place Pic 8, the finished result! Application is no more complex than applying a shop bought vinyl, it's just the self production that adds to the complexity. The materials used are the same as sign writing companies use, just the Silhouette is a craft cutter rather than a heavy duty industrial one Jo 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MikeTrice Posted November 23, 2015 Share Posted November 23, 2015 Transfer carrier paper? Sounds useful. Where did you get it from and did you have to glue the paper to the face of the vinyl? Thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 Both the vinyl and transfer paper were bought on eBay from a store selling sign writing supplies. The transfer paper is like masking tape, but is gripper yet at the same time less sticky, if that makes sense Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Revolution Ben Posted November 24, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 24, 2015 Hi Jo, Thanks for the update - very helpful! cheers Ben A. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted November 24, 2015 Author Share Posted November 24, 2015 No problem Ben. Something I forgot to mention, application is quick and easy. Like most things, time spent on preparation is what gives results and where 95% of the effort goes Jo Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DanielB Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Layout is looking fantastic Jo, nice work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steadfast Posted December 13, 2015 Author Share Posted December 13, 2015 I've posted a few pictures of the work in progress track inspection coach 999508 on my workbench thread here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/83796-jos-n-gauge-test-trains-current-project-track-recording-coach-999508/?p=2127036including some of it posed on the layout. The consist is prototypical, I didn't realise how much of the layout it would fill though! Jo 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wherry Lines Posted December 13, 2015 Share Posted December 13, 2015 I particularly like the presentation of the layout. Many have a black background, which, as Iain Rice says, it too much of a contrast. What shade did you use? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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