grahame Posted May 6 Author Share Posted May 6 Yesterday, before going to the pub and then on to the village club, I glued the completed parapet wall master to a rectangle of plasticard and added sides to form an open box. This morning I've mixed up the silicon rubber compound (two part) and poured it in to the box up to the brim. I spent a while tapping the top edges to make any air bubbles rise and burst in the open - hopefully I've spent sufficient time on that. And then it has been placed in a safe location to cure and firm. I seem to recall it takes 24 hours. 11 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 6 Author Share Posted May 6 For information should anyone be interested, but I'll be 'demonstrating' N/2mm building construction at the forthcoming premier D&E exhibition 'DEMU Showcase 2024' which will be held at Sutton Coldfield Town Hall on June 15/16th. Pop along if you want a chat about my methodology and techniques, and to see some of the examples featured in this thread. 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 7 Author Share Posted May 7 (edited) This morning I removed the silicon mould from the shuttering and master. And was pleased with the result - no air bubble pockets visible. Later this morning, after a decent cup of tea (currently brewing), I'll undertake a test casting. Edited May 7 by grahame 12 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post grahame Posted May 7 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 7 The test one out (I also cast one of the three arch lower sections as I also need more of those) seems to have come out well. They do need a little tidying and filing but the viaduct is old and the brickwork was crumbling, damaged and patched in places. Anyway I've started a production line: 13 1 7 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post grahame Posted May 7 Author Popular Post Share Posted May 7 (edited) I'm contemplating using the cast parapet walls sections for the entire length of the viaduct from the end of the train shed and obviously excluding where the signal box overhangs. Edited May 7 by grahame 18 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium acg5324 Posted May 7 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 7 Looking really good Grahame. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium John Besley Posted May 7 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 7 Reminds me of the Franklin and South Manchester Cityscape, not something you see that often, makes a change from rolling hills and trees - neat 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
branchie Posted May 7 Share Posted May 7 Looks amazing Grahame. Very evocative of the location (even in this unfinished form). 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 9 Author Share Posted May 9 And a start has now been made on the bridge/tunnel entrance for Bermondsey Street: 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 9 Author Share Posted May 9 (edited) A little progress on the bridge/tunnel entrance. I'm quite pleased with how it matches up with the cast sections, but next to decide how the top section/parapet wall and underside of the signal/power box fit. However, that's it for today as I'll shortly be off for a stroll down to the local for the afternoon sesh stopping off at the PO. Edited May 9 by grahame 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 9 Author Share Posted May 9 (edited) A couple of snaps on the layout thread. Edited May 9 by grahame 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 14 Author Share Posted May 14 I've finally got to the end of the arched viaduct frontage with sections of resin cast panels and scratch-built sections (although it needs detailing, painting and fixing in place) to the final under bridge. This bridge is at the right hand edge of the scenic section and roughly represents a mix of less prototypical and more freelance area although the bridge will be based on the real one where Crucifix Lane passes under the viaduct and becomes Druid Street; 17 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 16 Author Share Posted May 16 (edited) The bridge at the end has a bowstring truss side. I've cut a basic template to size, and I guess it's going to be fiddly and time consuming to cut the gaps to form the vertical and angled cross struts. But hey, that's what modelling is all about - making things even if they are tricky rather than just purchasing and making do with RTP. I've also managed to bash and jiggle the section where the signal box sits and overhangs so that the underbridge pier fits snuggly and the cast concrete base now looks less chunky. I'll probably add a thin fillet along the underside of the box and where it sits on the three arch sections so that the eye is drawn along and it appears even less chunky and over tall. Edited May 16 by grahame 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 17 Author Share Posted May 17 This morning I knocked up the east side abutment. This is the right hand edge of the layout where trains will enter/exit the scenic area, basically from behind the biscuit factory building on the right below. Next to crack on with the bridge side: 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 17 Author Share Posted May 17 I've scraped together this from plasticard. It's not brilliant but, with some more details and a paint job, should be okay as a placeholder until I can produce something better: 7 7 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted May 17 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 17 That looks pretty good to me, bearing in mind it's 2mm scale. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted May 20 Author Share Posted May 20 I recently took a couple of snaps and, although they don't illustrate any particular progress or point, rather than waste them here they are. They might be of some interest; 15 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Siberian Snooper Posted May 20 RMweb Premium Share Posted May 20 They give us a taster of things to come. Looking forward to seeing EMUs on the move. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NScaleNotes Posted May 22 Share Posted May 22 On 20/05/2024 at 16:23, grahame said: I recently took a couple of snaps and, although they don't illustrate any particular progress or point, rather than waste them here they are. They might be of some interest; This shot captures my favourite way to view layouts at exhibitions; I try and get down to as close as what would be eye-level if I was 1/148. Makes it feel even more realistic when the modelling is good and yours certainly is. Love it, keep up the good work, I've been really enjoying watching your progress. 2 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted June 7 Author Share Posted June 7 I'm back from holiday and cracking on with modelling (well, at least for today). I've filled the worst gaps in the viaduct sections (with acrylic resin plastic putty), given them a coat of base brick colour (Humbrol matt desert yellow aerosol that I went out this morning to purchase), painted the main features and sealed with matt varnish. Next I will be undertaking the weathering and dirtying down (hopefully to match the taller sections with train shed walls on top of the three arch sections that I'd previously weathered). 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post grahame Posted June 7 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 7 And here's how it looks with all the sections just plonked in place. It's much compressed (shorter than it would be to scale) but being a distinctive part of the station I hope I've done it justice and that it is representative and looks the part. Making one three arch master and resin casting the sections so they were consistent seems to have paid-off. I need to fill the arches with various businesses entrances. 15 1 10 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted June 8 Author Share Posted June 8 The arches, in the period I am modelling, were very much more scruffy and run down than they are today. That's something I need to replicate: Before: Now: 8 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post grahame Posted June 9 Author Popular Post Share Posted June 9 I've started on the weathering. All the sections have had a coat of 'deep brown' PL wash, which knocks back the brightness of the base colour, and allowed to dry. The next stage was to apply 'industrial city dirt' weathering power and seal that with sprayed on matt varnish. Next, and yet to do, is another run over with a lighter weathering powder, probably 'Russian earth' (as that's what I've got) to try and homogenise the finish and tone down the piebald look. But now to have a bath, take the cat for a walk, and get ready to stroll down to the local for the lunchtime/afternoon sesh. 19 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted Tuesday at 08:07 Author Share Posted Tuesday at 08:07 Finally I've got the last planned stage of dirtying down on the viaduct wall, although I'm not entirely happy with it. Perhaps I'll have another bash at it at a later date - but it'll have to wait for now. Here's one helicopter view and one low level shot (that doesn't show much of the viaduct); And a quick reminder, should anyone be interested, that I'll be at the DEMU ShowCase exhibition in Sutton Coldfield townhall this weekend (June 15/16th) demonstrating how I go about N/2mm building construction (see appropriate posts in Exhibitions thread section for further details). Pop along if you want a chat about my building methodology and techniques, and to see some of the examples featured here. The show also features the superb and not to be missed N gauge layout 'Blueball Summit'. 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
grahame Posted Thursday at 19:50 Author Share Posted Thursday at 19:50 I've gathered up a few tools and some materials, and thrown a few building examples in a large box ready to take up to Sutton Coldfield tomorrow for the DEMU ShowCase exhibition to go on my demonstration/display stand. The drive involves sections of the M25, M40, M42 and M6. There's bound to be a hold up somewhere along the way. Fingers crossed. See those who can make it for the show. 1 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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