Gresby - N Gauge Great Central (MS&LR 90s-2000s)

[millerhillboy]

Lovely stuff MrSimon, I always think you put a great deal of thought into your buildings and add touches that really bring your buildings to life.

[stivesnick]

3 hours ago, MrSimon said:

Hello everybody! 

 

I didn’t manage a full day modelling yet, but here’s what I’ve managed this afternoon:

 

From pages and pages ago you remember the car lot? I got it out for finishing off today:

 

 

 

I think I’m happy with the front, I’ll probably matt/satin varnish the green wood though. The back has always annoyed me slightly because it’s so plain.  The plan was always to have gutters and a hose out here, and some oil drums on the path (but I’ll have to stick them down in situ)

 

First I added a gutter and a down pipe, then I build a tap and a hose reel:

 

 

I need to paint the hose but it’s not being shaped until I stick it down (so I know where it needs to go).  I’ve already painted the guttering but not the hose reel yet.

 

The security gate is modelled open, I painted it to match the gutters.  Once I’ve finished the painting and touched up and weathered the brickwork I want to add moss to the roof - I saw someone had done it to a 2mm building over in the 2mm section so I’ll have to give it a try.  

 

There’s some other bits of detail I want to put together for this area before I next go up to work on the layout.

 

Lots to do!

Simon

 

 

Sorry Mr Simon, but connecting a foul drain to the rainwater system is not allowed. The model building inspectors will be round shortly! There would normally be a separate drainage connection from sinks and toilets to the foul drainage sewer which would have a ventilation pipe running up to roof level above the gutter.

 

Hope this is helpful

 

Nick

[MrSimon]

Thanks Nick, 

I just copied the pipes in my back yard 

Cheers

Simon

 

[shanks522]

Hi Simon,

 

 Layouts looking good! What do you think of the Dapol Pacer? i haven't bought one yet but I'm tempted.

 

Graham

[MrSimon]

Thanks Graham!

 

On the layout I like the Pacer, it looks more like what it's supposed to in the scenery.  In terms of the model it's OK - I couldn't make a kit to the same standard - it bounces through point work like a Pacer, but it's much lower geared and somehow seems less sure than the 153/156... I'd definitely get another one or two!  I just need Dapol to bring it out in First North Western livery 

 

Cheers

Simon

[BernardTPM]

2 hours ago, stivesnick said:

Sorry Mr Simon, but connecting a foul drain to the rainwater system is not allowed. The model building inspectors will be round shortly! There would normally be a separate drainage connection from sinks and toilets to the foul drainage sewer which would have a ventilation pipe running up to roof level above the gutter.

Hope this is helpful

Nick

The sink and bathwater in out Victorian house went into the rainwater drain, though the ('outside') toilet didn't of course. I suspect it would depend on the age of the building (or when alterations were made) and the regulation in force at that time.

[MrSimon]

On 10/08/2019 at 18:17, millerhillboy said:

Lovely stuff MrSimon, I always think you put a great deal of thought into your buildings and add touches that really bring your buildings to life.

 

Thanks MHB! 

 

The layouts only 30cm wide so I tried to make the bit in front of the track a bit more detailed so there’s something to see when the trains aren’t working 

 

I got slightly less done today, I only painted the hose/hose reel. 

 

I’ve also been looking what I to put in the brown area behind the portacabin, I’m thinking one (maybe 2) tarpaulin’d cars and a scrap one.  It’s really close to the board join so the fence will need to be reenforced with brass section... or I could move the fence 2-3cm into the waste ground, but this would require more to fill the gap.

 

Not sure what to do there - but I won’t be parking up any more ice cream vans 

 

What do you think?

Simon

[MrSimon]

Hello everybody, 

 

I’ve nearly finished the car dealers, first I matt varnished all of the brickwork to get rid of any reflective bits (and where I’d been messy with the glue)

 

Next I tried adding the lichen, damp and rust to the roof.  I’m not sure if I like it.  

 

The first coat was with paint dry brushed on, then I matt varnished it and dabbed on some powders to give it more texture (for the well established lichens...)

 

It all needs toning down with whites/greys when I do the walls to toe the building together; then except for the sign it’s compete.

 

Plenty more to do before the whole car-lot is finished though!

 

Simon

[Duncan.]

Hi Simon,

I like your car lot building, and I like the representation of the corrugated roof. We used small amounts (and used sparingly) of fine scatters to represent moss and general muck and rubbish on the roof, but I think the discolouration (brown/rust? colour) you have used is a good base just work it up a bit.

Cheers

Duncan

[grahame]

Very evocative. The hose reel is a tour de force and the corrugated roof very effective. What did you use for it?

 

G

 

 

[MrSimon]

Thanks both!

 

The yellow's growing on me, it's a bit of a shock after it's been muted grey for so long - I think the intensity definitely needs knocking back slightly (the house oposite my office are quite bright, but not quite this much) - it's going to take a bit of experimentation!

 

I made the corrugated sheets with normal tin foil, I cut it into 8x12mm rectangles and then pushed it into the ribs around the top of the Microsol bottle, which transferred the ridges onto the foil.  It's quite fragile but finer than the plastic sheets for N.

 

Thanks again

Simon

[The_Cuckoo]

Great to see the layout still progressing 

[MrSimon]

Hello everybody!

 

Back from a few days in Amsterdam where no modelling was done - but I got a little done today after having a big nap (very tiring place haha)

 

First up: I toned down the roof and walls of the car showroom:

 

 

 

 

I’m much happier with the roof now; I just need to matt varnish over the superglue I added to the struts supporting the green board and then I’m calling this done.  While away I was thinking about what else can go in the area of the showroom and I think I’ve come up with a plan.

 

Then I got this out.  I bought this a while back as part of a larger Shapeways order (back from the depths of page 35) - somewhere I’ve also got a crashed Renault 5, but I think this might be delivering a classic rather than a wreck. 

 

As always with things printed there it’s really hard to take pictures of, so I’ll post more as it progresses and is painted up.  I’m already toying with adding a middle seat into the front and some orange lights, but we’ll see.

 

I’m going to see if I can finish the tree last seen on page (32 - in 2016) to get a bit more of the smaller details done and get the layout closer to being ready to be exhibited...

 

Lots to do!

Simon

Edited August 24, 2019 by MrSimon
Added page numbers

[MrSimon]

Hello everybody,

 

The car show room is now packed up ready for Christmas works and work has slowed a little while I try and finish a cake topper for my sisters wedding:

 

It’s not what I’m used to making models of and is taking a bit more time than I’d anticipated... but I’m still managing to fit in some other bits:

 

I’ve started to paint this.  I decided against adding an extra seat in the middle.  Here is is after it’s first coat of red - it’s going to need a few more to get the depth of colour that I want. I smoothed down the print marks on the door as much as I could, I might have to rethink where it’s going if it stays really noticeable as it is now... 

 

I need to rust this up/make it look like it’s ever been used on a farm (and then dumped in a field) to go in the top field.

 

This will become another Oxford car I’ve cut up... stay tuned to see how 

 

In other news I think I’ve sourced the perfect replacement backscene...

 

Lots to do!

Simon

[Steadfast]

What paint are you using on the 3D printed Mercedes Simon?

I've found Halfords to be the perfect paint for shapeways FUD items. Repeated prime and sand sessions, then a Halfords top coat to seal. It's thick enough to help give a smoother surface, but so long as you don't go overboard should help reduce the visibility of the ridges. A good coat all over also seems to prevent the dreaded sparkly finish after a few years. It's not scientific evidence, but going through my collection, nothing that has a Halfords top coat has gone sparkly. Stuff that had Railmatch or Tamiya directly over the Halfords primer, or left in bare primer, have had the glittery effect develop. It's significant enough across my models to appear to be a trend

 

Jo

[MrSimon]

Hi Jo,

 

I've been using Humbrol on top of Halfords Primer (2 coats) - is there any way to get rid of the sparkle?

 

I've got one or two printed wagon kits in the queue, they're a bit of a learning curve!

 

Cheers

Simon

[Steadfast]

The sparkle does seem to rub off, but not entirely. I don't know of anything that clears it, but then I've not tried! Sorry to be of no help

 

Jo

[Duncan.]

On 01/09/2019 at 19:26, MrSimon said:

Hello everybody,

 

The car show room is now packed up ready for Christmas works and work has slowed a little while I try and finish a cake topper for my sisters wedding:

 

It’s not what I’m used to making models of and is taking a bit more time than I’d anticipated... but I’m still managing to fit in some other bits:

 

I’ve started to paint this.  I decided against adding an extra seat in the middle.  Here is is after it’s first coat of red - it’s going to need a few more to get the depth of colour that I want. I smoothed down the print marks on the door as much as I could, I might have to rethink where it’s going if it stays really noticeable as it is now... 

 

I need to rust this up/make it look like it’s ever been used on a farm (and then dumped in a field) to go in the top field.

 

This will become another Oxford car I’ve cut up... stay tuned to see how 

 

In other news I think I’ve sourced the perfect replacement backscene...

 

Lots to do!

Simon

Morning Simon,

Deeper Red...

After the white primer/undercoat spray either a bright yellow or amid to dark blur before the red. (Yellow for a bright orangey red and blue for a purple red, try on a piece of card to test for the result you want... Spraying red over white will give a pinky red, useful for faded railfreight wagons! You should be able to get the depth of colour you require from the red at a single session...

Cheers

Duncan

[grahame]

11 hours ago, MrSimon said:

 

I've been using Humbrol on top of Halfords Primer (2 coats) - is there any way to get rid of the sparkle?

 

 

I tend to use aerosol Halfords car paints over Halfords primer (usually grey) for my 3D printed vehicles. Occasionally for the top coat I use Humbrol acrylic from an aerosol.

 

I also thoroughly clean the vehicles with an old toothbrush and cream cleaner rather than washing-up liquid as that usually contains lanolin (to help protect hands) and glycerine (to make the plates shine) which can leave a deposit that makes it more difficult for paint to adhere. And the cream cleaner is slightly abrasive which helps prepare the surface and wear down the ridges. Then rinse well under running lukewarm water.

 

I'm not sure what you mean by 'the sparkle' as I don't seem to have been plagued by that - yet. I suppose it could occur over time. Here's some 3D printed vans I've painted that way:

 

 

[Steadfast]

Grahame's lack of sparkly models backs up my Halfords paint theory. 

Grahame, the sparkle literally makes the models look like they've been painted with metallic paint

 

Jo

[MrSimon]

They do look like amazing models - I wish I had somewhere to spray more than just white and grey primers!

 

So now I'm back modelling modelling again after spending all my modelling time on a cake topper for my sisters wedding:

 

It's been a long time since I used oven-bake clay!  

 

Today I got some more of the bits I want to finish off before I go up for Christmas works, unfortunately, this included the car-lot:

 

I dropped it and the cars came unstuck... who knew brown glue only lasts 10 years!  They're glued back in now... weren't the Farish cars rubbish!!  It's going to be wrapped up much better for the journey north.

 

Next I got the old summer house out:

 

I think I know what I need to do to finish it off.  There's a tree that I need to finish that goes with it.  I want to cover over the wet'n'dry as it's too thick to be felt - but I think it's finish-able in time.

 

Next I finally found this template that I'd been meaning to turn into scenery - not sure why it's taken me so long, it was on my desk (which has turned properly feral again) and it's only 3" square.  

 

I'm not sure what to do with the pub.  I don't think I've been happy with it since I made it - I think I could do better if I made a new version, but at the same time it's tucked behind the viaduct... what do you think?

 

I've got the front window and the door in a film canister somewhere.  I think I'd keep the front but I need to rebuild the skeleton underneath to keep it sturdy.  

 

As much as I like the conservatory it doesn't look right, and it'd be completely hidden... so I might put a lean-to on instead.  Also, I'm not sure about cutting 2" off the back to make the building less weirdly long.

 

I want to put false floors and walls in so it doesn't have that empty massive shell look about it.

 

The roofline is weird.  I think there's too many windows, maybe not enough chimneys, and I'm torn between keeping the moulded plastic tiles and fitting the york model-making tiles - but that would leave one building on the layout without them and I can't decide whether that would look stranger or not...?

 

Lots to do!

Simon

[MrSimon]

Hello everybody 

 

I’ve not done as much as I thought I would, but I think I started with the hardest bit:

 

It’s the bit of wasteland - I’ve finished off all the walls, I just need to add the rubble and small trees, etch. 
 

These sides go alongside the alley and the entrance to the car lot.

 

I also think I’m leaning towards keeping (adapting and finishing) the front of the pub and rebuilding the back.  Also been getting my Warley shopping list together

 

 Lots to do!

Simon

 

[Duncan.]

21 hours ago, MrSimon said:

Hello everybody 

 

I’ve not done as much as I thought I would, but I think I started with the hardest bit:

 

It’s the bit of wasteland - I’ve finished off all the walls, I just need to add the rubble and small trees, etch. 
 

These sides go alongside the alley and the entrance to the car lot.

 

I also think I’m leaning towards keeping (adapting and finishing) the front of the pub and rebuilding the back.  Also been getting my Warley shopping list together

 

 Lots to do!

Simon

 

Hi Simon,

that is some original, detailed and fine work. I am looking forward to seeing the completed scene of the various buildings when 'installed' on the layout

Cheers

Duncan

[MrSimon]

Thanks Duncan!
I’d been mulling over what to put in the little 2” section of baseboard - some sort of wasted space was the answer as it was too small to build a house without the car-lot building looking wrong, but I thought it could be where a house used to be.  Hope it turns out alright as it’s right on the front edge of the baseboard!

 

This afternoon I started work on the pub. I decided to finish the front and keep that, and make a better back.

 

Most of today has been making a better skeleton for the front, the old one wasn’t really doing anything to keep the walls flat:

 

 

There’s probably only 1 peeve I have looking at buildings on layouts, that’s when you can see from one side of a building to another/see between storeys (without it being the sort of building where you should be able to). Aside from everything else I’d always be worried about the buildings being strong enough.

 

Here’s the bracing on the top floor of the pub, now when the roof goes on you won’t see light from the back windows in the front, and it’s graced enough to keep the shape of the front of the plasticard warps.

 

Inside the middle floor, I’m going to make the ground floor as a module which includes the front (it will cut down on the handling the full building needs and be easier to build this way).  The middle floor will get some basic detail and some posh- curtains.

 

I’ve made a start on the new back too - the detail will vary from top to bottom - the bottom will be very basic.  
 

Lots to do!

Simon

[MrSimon]

So considering I was only going to finish off the pub I seem to have done a lot to it...

 

So far this afternoon I’ve made the back wall of the front bit and built the skeleton of the roof.

 

The new front is bigger than the old one, I’m not working from a plan/design this time but here’s the new pub next to the old one. I don’t know if it’s going to be the same length or shorter with a second building... 

 

Also, I’ve lost my list of paints to buy at Warley tomorrow!

 

Cheers

Simon