Coombe Town

[CoombeTown]

I agree Rob, the WWS stuff is definitely better. Even a relative novice like me can produce some reasonable results.

 

I have found that decanting the layering adhesive into an artist’s atomiser works better than using the spray bottles direct for getting the thinner top layers of longer grass though.

 

Dom

[MrWolf]

I've been doing the same thing, using a small atomiser instead of the supplied type. It's much easier to control. Just make sure you pump lots of water through it every time you use it though! 

I've been using WWS grass throughout and on colour comparison alone I think that they have the edge when modelling our part of the world.

[CoombeTown]

So my Rapido Iron Mink couldn’t stay clean for long, and was attacked with a large helping of humbrol dark rust worked into the panel edges. It took a couple of attempts to get a finish I was happy with, not helped by the varnish running out…

 

 

I’ve also completed the initial yard ground cover on the smaller board.

 

Hopefully tomorrow will get the catch pits in so I can ballast part of the loop. The platform walls will need painting and pointing built/installed before the platform road can be ballasted so that will keep me going for sometime as modelling hours can be currently counted on one hand, without any fingers!

[CoombeTown]

As a side project today, I decided to weather a Hornby Van C. Being Parcels stock it required a bit of a different approach to go from this:

 

To this:

[CoombeTown]

For my own record, the steps were as below.

firstly, the windows were partially protected with Humbrol Maskol to give the impression of being wiped clean. Then Matt varnish was applied over the wagon.

 

A Humbrol dark brown wash was applied to one side at a time, then wiped off with a cotton bud after a minute or so. This not only highlights the plank joints, but also dulls the whole side. To stop the crimson popping so much.

 

The wagon is then sprayed with Humbrol 29 from a distance, mainly aimed at the under frame but not worrying about overspray onto the body. Once dry, onto the powders.

Light Rust around the springs and brake shoes.

 

A mix of smoke & black powders on the roof, worked in a bit along the centreline and round the vents, then brushed with a side to side motion with a wide brush.

[CoombeTown]

Continued. Dark Earth powder worked over the entire underframe, including springs. Then brushed upwards onto the body sides.

 

This all sealed with a light coat of varnish, then the Maskol is removed. Which leaves us with a scruffy bit of NPCCS

[Graham T]

Very nicely done, I’d say.

 

[NHY 581]

Lovely job on the Van C, Dom. 

 

Nice, subdued, working finish. 

 

Top stuff. 

 

Rob

[CoombeTown]

Thanks all, I’m very pleased with how this one turned out. So here’s a slightly more in-focus shot of the train on the return to Coombe Town.

 

 

It does now highlight the cleanliness of the carriage. The next purchase for the layout will either be the lights for this so it can be populated and weathered, or a sound chip for the 64xx.

 

It would be nice to have a fully weathered passenger train, although more progress on the layout is required to adequately showcase it…

[CoombeTown]

So it's been a while, life and another side project has taken out most modelling time on Coombe Town.

Today I have managed to make some significant progress, ballasting a large part of the loop and mainline through the platform. It certainly makes a difference, even with the baking parchment still in place.

Adding ballast also shows off the different levels looking across the station.

 

Next steps will be to finish painting the platform wall and add the point rodding in front of the platform (I deliberately didn't ballast between the track and platform to allow this).

Before that, I will hopefully see some at SWAG tomorrow. Particularly looking forward to seeing Yelverton in the flesh.

 

Dom

[NHY 581]

Top stuff, Dom. 

 

See you later ! 

 

Rob

[CoombeTown]

Well, a busy week. And a fantastic SWAG show to kick it off. It was good to chat to like-minded people around a fantastic collection of layouts.

 

In lieu of much modelling, operational capability has returned to Coombe Town with 4157 giving a hint of what's to come when I make further progress.

 

 

[CoombeTown]

It's been a while, work and life got a bit crazy. But I have made progress on a side project, building a new photo plank.

 

I thought it was about time build some a little larger than the original, more suited to actual photography and to have another practice at getting the country feel.

 

The result is below, although the hedge and fences still need to be added, it is getting closer.

[CoombeTown]

Another day off today, so weathering of the new Siphon G was persued... seen here in all it's glory on the photo Plank 

 

And entering Coombe Town as part of the parcels train behind 5541

 

Notice the other one of today's projects, more hedging made and attached on the top of the embankment. I think it needs a small tree adding to break it up a bit though

[CoombeTown]

Some more progress on the photo plank, fencing starting to go up. Although it's a slow process I'm now getting the wires in a bit faster.

 

 

In front I've tried to replicate a freshly cut straw Fields, with wws 2mm grass.

 

The idea is that this will fill the area in front of the headshunt to provide break up the large yard area.

 

 

There will be a weighbridge and hedge along the angled section and then the slowly rising field and along the headshunt. Hopefully, this will create a nice photographic foreground and motivation as well while the back is developed.

[Andy Keane]

Have you seen Jeff Grainger’s article on making a photo plank in July 22 BRM magazine?

Full of useful tips.

[CoombeTown]

Thanks for the reminder Andy, I had forgotten about that article but it obviously has influenced what I've done.

 

I think when the fence is fully in I'll add some coarse turf to the embankment to suggest other growth as Keith suggests.

 

It also confirms my temptations of needing a second board, but I'll hold off on that until I've made some more progress on the main layout.

[CoombeTown]

Well, following the advice of the article. Some Burnt Grass Coarse Turf was added to complete the scene...

The overall scene

 

And a look under the bridge:

 

And I couldn't resist a 3 quarter shot. I'm really pleased how this has turned and captured the scene that I wanted to create. 

 

Now to try and apply these techniques to the main layout and make some further progress

[Andy Keane]

One thought is on fence wires - not sure if you saw my experiments on doing these for my club - I found using black nylon fishing line and only fixing it the ends of a run until it was in place and slightly tensioned gave a much neater effect. Then when you are happy there are no kinks at all a few drops of cyano at strategic places. This also makes the lines a bit knock resistant as they are springy. I used tensioning posts to do the tensioning.

Andy

[CoombeTown]

On 06/06/2023 at 07:47, Andy Keane said:

One thought is on fence wires - not sure if you saw my experiments on doing these for my club - I found using black nylon fishing line and only fixing it the ends of a run until it was in place and slightly tensioned gave a much neater effect. Then when you are happy there are no kinks at all a few drops of cyano at strategic places. This also makes the lines a bit knock resistant as they are springy. I used tensioning posts to do the tensioning.

Andy

Thanks Andy,

To be honest I quite like having an unperfect, although admit springiness would probably be beneficial if I ever exhibit Coombe Town.

I'll have to look back and see how you did the diagonals for the tensioning posts as I'll be adding them on the layout.

Dom

[CoombeTown]

Yesterday I received a Monks Gate Models weighbridge hut. It's a nice little kit, although lacking in instructions which is a bit of a challenge.

 

The plan is for it to sit at the front of the Goods Yard, adding a bit of interest. However, that requires an interior. Has anyone seen a model of the weighing equipment or got any idea of the dimensions? It looks like a good challenge but will make a nice feature behind that large window.

 

Cheers,

Dom

[NHY 581]

Hi Dom, 

 

Nip over to Rob's @MrWolf Aston thread. He detailed the interior of a weighbridge sometime back. Much discussion, many pictures, top modelling. 

 

Rob

[MrWolf]

A couple of shots lifted from my thread, the weighing machine is basically Pooley from a photograph, built from bits of sprue and wagon kit leftovers.

 

A pity that it has its back to the viewers on the layout!

 

 

[CoombeTown]

On 09/06/2023 at 17:48, MrWolf said:

A couple of shots lifted from my thread, the weighing machine is basically Pooley from a photograph, built from bits of sprue and wagon kit leftovers.

 

A pity that it has its back to the viewers on the layout!

 

 

Thanks Rob, really useful reference images for when I get round to it. And fantastic modelling that I can merely hope to emulate!

[CoombeTown]

In my usual inability to focus on anything, I've made a start on the front corner landforms, to cover up the baseboard and give some more scenics to that end.

 

The aim is to the have the field at around rail height with a little drop down to the yard, almost following the track contours.

 

 

Two views of 1668 shunting its train giving an idea of the view.

 

And a shot of the train to show how this will eventually be framed by the weighbridge and Goods Shed.