sb67 Posted August 23, 2022 Share Posted August 23, 2022 6 hours ago, MrWolf said: That's very interesting and very simple. I managed to achieve something similar but by a convoluted route. The video has given me some ideas for further improvements though particularly in the finishing stages. Thanks for posting the link. You're welcome, I think it's a clip from a DVD, this is how it ended up for me. 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted August 23, 2022 Author Share Posted August 23, 2022 Making a start on the larger picture this evening. The layout took a trip into the garden today for the first coat of paint. Railmatch Sleeper Grime. Before… After… Suitably grimy! Does what it says on the tin. A nice dusty shade of brown. Next job, once dry, is to dry brush the sleeper with a light grey to pick out a few of the details and wooden texture. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted August 24, 2022 Share Posted August 24, 2022 I like that, for me it's when the layout starts looking like a model and not just some track on a board 👍 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted August 26, 2022 Author Share Posted August 26, 2022 A new arrival on the layout in the form of Bachmann’s new release, Class 08 ‘D3881’ in BR Green. Initial impressions are good, a weighty model with plenty of fine detailing. The paint is good with crisp lines on the wasp stripes. Weathering is subtle, a welcome change to some of the factory weathered attempts. Yet to comment on the running quality as a suitable decoder is still to be fitted however I look forward to seeing this lovely model creep around the layout! 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted August 26, 2022 Author Share Posted August 26, 2022 As well as the new arrival last night, more work was done on the scenics themselves. A rough base coat of Tamiya paint across the layout. Light grey was also used to help create the paved area, which will be covered in a very fine ash ballast. With the track coated in Sleeper Grime the sleepers were dry brushed with a grey to highlight the wood grain and also the rail chairs. These will be toned down with a dark wash. On the original basecoat, the point blades were masked so the electrical continuity was maintained. ( I learnt this the hard way last time). The sides of the rails will be painted in by hand. A crude close up. 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted August 26, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2022 Looking good Luke. Re decoder, I've pretty much standardised on Bachmann's 6 pin 36-568A installed into 8 pin locos using their 8 pin to 6 pin converter harness. Decoder is produced for Bachmann by Zimo. Rob. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted August 28, 2022 Author Share Posted August 28, 2022 On 26/08/2022 at 20:10, NHY 581 said: Looking good Luke. Re decoder, I've pretty much standardised on Bachmann's 6 pin 36-568A installed into 8 pin locos using their 8 pin to 6 pin converter harness. Decoder is produced for Bachmann by Zimo. Rob. Thanks Rob. I’ve had great experience with the Bachmann decoders, great value for money. Since using Stay-Alives in all my locos, I’ve been using the Zimo system, both for decoders and stay-alive chips. They seem to work great and the built in surge protection has saved me on more than one occasion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted August 30, 2022 Author Share Posted August 30, 2022 Working on the ballasting tonight… Not the most enjoyable jobs but an hour a night should see the job completed by the end of the week. Much more time and care is being taken this time to ensure the points don’t seize up. It pays in the long run. I’m also thinking of a name for the new layout. Brewer’s Street? There’s a street. With a brewery at one end. How original! Need to get the creative juices flowing. Open to any and every suggestion! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted August 30, 2022 Share Posted August 30, 2022 If I remember right, there was a Maltings Lane on the way up to Great Gonerby, Lincs. Not too imaginative, I know! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted August 30, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 30, 2022 Something with "Firkin" in it 🥸 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted August 30, 2022 Author Share Posted August 30, 2022 28 minutes ago, MrWolf said: If I remember right, there was a Maltings Lane on the way up to Great Gonerby, Lincs. Not too imaginative, I know! Very fitting! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted August 31, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2022 7 hours ago, LDM34046 said: Working on the ballasting tonight… Not the most enjoyable jobs but an hour a night should see the job completed by the end of the week. Much more time and care is being taken this time to ensure the points don’t seize up. It pays in the long run. I’m also thinking of a name for the new layout. Brewer’s Street? There’s a street. With a brewery at one end. How original! Need to get the creative juices flowing. Open to any and every suggestion! Morning Luke, How about incorporating the pub into the layout name ? Isn't the pub called The Gate Inn ? North* Gate Yard.... West*Gate Sidings Tollgate Street. Or even......wait for it........Gate Inn. * Other points of the compass are of course available. Rob. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted August 31, 2022 Author Share Posted August 31, 2022 2 hours ago, NHY 581 said: Morning Luke, How about incorporating the pub into the layout name ? Isn't the pub called The Gate Inn ? North* Gate Yard.... West*Gate Sidings Tollgate Street. Or even......wait for it........Gate Inn. * Other points of the compass are of course available. Rob. Oooo I like your thinking Rob. I was originally thinking of changing the Pub name from the generic Bachmann name however ‘North Gate Sidings’ does have a nice ring to it. Time to have a think why I ponder over more ballasting… 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Dragonboy Posted August 31, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 31, 2022 Brewery Road as a further option Brian Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted September 7, 2022 Author Share Posted September 7, 2022 Well…it’s been a while… But all for good reason, I’ve been extremely productive and glad to say the track work is now complete. Following the ballast test piece I set to work over the last week on the layout. The first siding was completed and left to dry overnight before tackling the rest of the layout. A time consuming process of brushing the N gauge ballast into place, soaking with alcohol and then setting with Ballast Bond. Overall the ballasting was done over the course of three nights allowing each section to dry in between. With the ballast dry, the sleepers had become stained with ballast dust, alcohol and glue which left them looking white and dusty. An evening was spent painting each individual sleeper and rail edge with a dark wash which not only returned it to it’s original brown colour but helped bring out of the sleeper details. A nice illustration of the before and after. A noticeable improvement! And just like that a week has past. But with it, some suitably grimes track and sleepers and some nice neat scale ballast. One Happy Modeller! 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted September 7, 2022 Share Posted September 7, 2022 You certainly should be pleased with your efforts, neat ballasting like that really does bring the track to life. 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted September 8, 2022 Author Share Posted September 8, 2022 Time to get some trains running again! With the railheads cleaned it wasn’t long before the wheels were turning and to my surprise, everything ran smoothly without a hitch. Particularly pleased with how neat the sidings now look. The buffer stops are yet to be detailed with a bit of rust. As for the street end of the layout I’m undecided. I was originally going to use some extremely fine ballast and ash to form the texture however after few test pieces I felt it was a bit overkill. For the time being I’ve just painted and weathered the DAS clay. I’m still undecided on whether I’m happy with the result but I’m going to work on a few other areas of the layout and come back to it. 7 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 I had started to do some more work on the layout last week however, like many, found myself glued to the TV following the sad news of HRH Queen Elizabeth’s passing. It’s incredible how one single figure, who most of us have never met, impacted our lives, seemingly more than we originally thought. When a major historical event like that happens, suddenly everything gets put into perspective. It didn’t seem like the right time to be posting about scenic layout changes… 1 2 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 (edited) Although the traditions are still very much continuing, I felt that since a few days had past, it was appropriate to continue with the modelling process… I settled on a painted backscene in one form of another. Being a remote area, 90% of the backscene would consist of woodland. To begin with, I tried my hand at painting some trees on a section of backscene that would be hidden. Each tree had a varying degree of success however I found it wasn’t the painting I found tricky, more so the angle in which I would have to paint. I think it maybe a neater idea, instead of painting individual trees, rather paint a continuous mixed green border on the backscene with the hope once the layers of seafoam trees are added, it creates the illusion of a dense forest. Edited September 12, 2022 by LDM34046 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sb67 Posted September 12, 2022 Share Posted September 12, 2022 I've been following all the stuff on TV as well, unfortunately it brings back all memories of my Mums passing a few years ago now. The pageantry, however, is amazing and it has all been planned and some of it practiced many years ago! I think our new King is finding it tough going, I've noticed his facial expressions at time have been so strained, I can imagine what it's like to be the centre of attention and at the same time you have to deal with your own grief. I think those trees look fine for the backscene, but I'd agree that painting a continuous green border would blend in with the foreground trees better probably a lot easier to paint too. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted September 12, 2022 Author Share Posted September 12, 2022 A start tonight on Backscene Mk.3. I marked out with a pencil a rough hillside running the length of the layout. Inspired by my trips to Scotland I didn’t want anything too aggressive but a few little peaks to give it that remote feel. The paint was made up using the original backscene blue with a few drops of dark grey. I made sure I didn’t mix the two colours fully so as I painting there would be a nice blend of colours on the hillside, not just one block of colour. Already a huge improvement over the plain blue. Can you tell I’m making it up as I go along? 😅 With the trees and foliage added I think the hillside will blend in nicely. 6 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted September 20, 2022 Author Share Posted September 20, 2022 I’ve been a quiet the last week. Took a much needed holiday with my partner for her birthday down in Cornwall. Great to make the most of the last of the summer weather. St Michael’s Mount, Marazion Eden Project, Par Kynance Cove, Lizard Mevagissey Habour Don’t worry! Railway content will resume… Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 It's nice to see that Mevagissey hasn't changed in the last thirty years. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LDM34046 Posted September 20, 2022 Author Share Posted September 20, 2022 54 minutes ago, MrWolf said: It's nice to see that Mevagissey hasn't changed in the last thirty years. One of the things I love about the Cornish coast is how timeless it is. Always so peaceful, even in the tourist seasons Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted September 20, 2022 Share Posted September 20, 2022 Apart from Newquay perhaps. Is it still full of surfers who never get their hair wet? 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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