Lancaster Lane & Dewar’s Street

[sb67]

Had the pleasure of seeing your layout on Sunday, it looks every bit as good in the flesh as it does in the photo's. I was really impressed with the running and the diesel exhaust on the class 25. I'd like to know about the cv settings you're using as I need to improve the running of my stock and use the same NCE system you have, the pecketts were very nice and smooth too! 

All great stuff 👍

 

[LDM34046]

10 hours ago, sb67 said:

Had the pleasure of seeing your layout on Sunday, it looks every bit as good in the flesh as it does in the photo's. I was really impressed with the running and the diesel exhaust on the class 25. I'd like to know about the cv settings you're using as I need to improve the running of my stock and use the same NCE system you have, the pecketts were very nice and smooth too! 

All great stuff 👍

 

Thank you!

 

I’m glad it lived up to expectations! The 25 always seems to be a crowd pleaser at shows and is something a bit different from the norm.

 

As for CV settings and for getting smooth running it’s a number of factors. All the locos feature stay-alive capacitors to help with any dirt on the track. That also aids slow running over pointwork.

 

As for the CV’s themselves, I use DecoderPro on my laptop, wired to the layout via an Arduino. The softwares gives visual speed step graph and is much easier to work.

 

The Class 25’s speed steps…

 

 

The W4 Peckett…

 

 

If I get a minute tonight I’ll find out what the Start, Mid & Max voltage CV’s are along with the acceleration and de-acceleration. That might be able to help you!

Edited January 31, 2023 by LDM34046

[sb67]

Thanks @LDM34046 I'll have to try something similar on my Peckett. Here's a few pics of the layout taken on Sunday, you're Dad mentioned you might be doing the Billericay show? 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 1, 2023 by sb67

[sb67]

@LDM34046 Can I ask which decoders have you put in the Pecketts, I noticed they are 4 pin and only Hornby make that type of decoder, unless you adapt another make? 

[LDM34046]

Well I’ve been rather quiet and inactive! Well over a month! Personal life has been rather eventful and work life has been rather busy!

 

That being said, a few updates of what I’ve been up to!

 

At the end of February, Lancaster Lane attended the one-day show at Tonbridge, the last show till September. An incredibly busy show and more lovely comments and conversations regarding the size of the layout.

 

 

Great to see a few RMwebbers and some well know layouts there.

 

 

Back home and updates on Dewar’s Street. Work has continued on the trees and everything is starting to look a lot greener! 

 

The first set of trees have now been flocked and planted. It has made a huge difference already although more trees still need to be made to build up the layers and density. The initial height of the forest has been achieved and I’m happy with the results.

 

[LDM34046]

With my involvement in the Chatham Railway Club, my interest in mainline running has grown and I’ve started to accumulate rolling stock that I wouldn’t run on my two smaller layouts.

 

The first is a nice rake of Mk1 Crimson & Cream coaches, something I’ve wanted for a while. It’s been proving quite tricky to get hold of these desirable coaches at a reasonable price however two have been sourced already.

 

 

 

The weathering from the previous owner still needs to be addressed but it’s been an enjoyable process learning about to the different rakes, formations and coach types!

 

The Class 24 ‘D5094’ also returns from Coastal DCC having been chipped and fitted with DCC sound. Although it’s spent most of its time thrashing around the club layout, it’s been nice to have it trundling about Dewar’s Street ticking away.

 

 

Right at home amongst the trees!

 

 

‘614’ also returns, the latest addition to the Peckett fleet. Again, DCC fitted and with a juicy stay-alive capacitor!

 

 

As much as it looks rather dapper and shiny, I’m looking forward to seeing this one weathered.

 

[LDM34046]

Rolling stock has been the source of motivation over the last few days! Working through weathering each wagon, learning a few different techniques.

 

Really happy with how these two have turned out. A mix of acrylics and weathering powders to achieve the finished results.

 

 

 

 

Also picked up some more mineral wagons from a fellow modeller on Instagram, stevejonesweathering, who has done a brilliant job of weathering them. The 3-link couplings are also a nice addition, with tension locks on either end of the rake.

 

 

[LDM34046]

What with the recent centennial celebrations for ‘Flying Scotsman’ I thought I’d take a bite at Hornby’s latest offering of the model.

 

 

It’s a stunning model, which one would expect for the prices. Excellent details and faultless finish on the lining and lettering. The model suffers from that ‘plastic shine’ however a subtle weathering job should relieve that.

 

The model performed well on the club layout, pulling the rake of Mk1’s around the tight radius and steep inclines.

 

 

 

A touch of photoshop magic…

 

[Dragonboy]

Very nice weathering indeed. I have to say I think I enjoy making wagon kits and weathering them, and it  is possibly the area of the hobby that I enjoy the most, and is my go to when the mojo gets a bit low.

 

I’ve modelled in N now for 50 years so have amassed far more rolling stock than have layout space for but perversely I take delight in opening a draw, tray, or box and  find things I know I can do better now so into the paint stripper they go. 
 

Brian

[greatcoleswoodhalt]

14 hours ago, LDM34046 said:

A touch of photoshop magic…

 

 

Some lovely weathering up the thread (specifically the rust application), but special mention for the editing of this picture - the smoke-effect is perfect and utterly believable.  One of the best edits seen on RMweb, in my opinion 👏 

[LDM34046]

12 hours ago, Dragonboy said:

Very nice weathering indeed. I have to say I think I enjoy making wagon kits and weathering them, and it  is possibly the area of the hobby that I enjoy the most, and is my go to when the mojo gets a bit low.

 

I’ve modelled in N now for 50 years so have amassed far more rolling stock than have layout space for but perversely I take delight in opening a draw, tray, or box and  find things I know I can do better now so into the paint stripper they go. 
 

Brian

I’m really enjoying the weathering processes at the moment. Doing one wagon a night is a great little project and it’s actually very hard to mess it up! If you’ve over done it, then it’s quite easy to remove and start again.

 

I agree, rolling stock is rather addictive, I’ve amassed way more than my layout can use! Luckily I’ve got the excuse of the club layout to run it.

[LDM34046]

12 hours ago, jafcreasey said:

 

Some lovely weathering up the thread (specifically the rust application), but special mention for the editing of this picture - the smoke-effect is perfect and utterly believable.  One of the best edits seen on RMweb, in my opinion 👏 

Thank you!

 

I know photoshop is sometimes frowned up in modelling as it’s not a physical thing and a lot of can be faked. However, photos like this really are a testament to the quality and up close detail of current RTR models.

[LDM34046]

Slowly working on trees. Having been distracted with weathering wagons scenic work has slowed.

 

 

I’ve ordered some more products and materials, this time from MBR on the recommendation of @NHY 581 of which he’s used to great success. 
 

I’m not sure on postage times but very much looking forward to adding some more trees and depth, especially towards the front of the layout.

 

[Graham T]

Another thumbs up for MBR from me 🙂

 

[LDM34046]

8 minutes ago, Graham T said:

Another thumbs up for MBR from me 🙂

 

Thank you Graham! Fills me with more confidence. How long was the postage?

 

I’m very much enjoying your progress on Chuffnell Regis!

[Graham T]

You're welcome - I'm also enjoying watching this build.  The weathering and the development of the scenery are very instructive.

 

I live in Austria, and if I remember correctly MBR are in Poland, so I can't really give you an idea on postage times, sorry.  But MBR were very good when I bought from them and turned things around pretty quickly.  You will have to cross your fingers with regard to the UK postal "service" though!

 

[LDM34046]

2 minutes ago, Graham T said:

You're welcome - I'm also enjoying watching this build.  The weathering and the development of the scenery are very instructive.

 

I live in Austria, and if I remember correctly MBR are in Poland, so I can't really give you an idea on postage times, sorry.  But MBR were very good when I bought from them and turned things around pretty quickly.  You will have to cross your fingers with regard to the UK postal "service" though!

 

‘Service’ is a strong term for it! 😂

 

It’s stressful at times! Post depends on what way the wind blows!

 

As with most things in Europe, I imagine it’s a much for efficient service!

[Graham T]

The problem is, of course, that most of the railway bits and bobs I need come from the UK, so have to navigate the Brit "service" before they get here.  And then they have to get through the Austrian customs, who love nothing better than to dip their fingers into an "Auslander"'s pocket 🙁

 

[LDM34046]

Another project completed! ✅

 

Originally in BR Blue, the Class 25 has been resprayed in BR Green and so the domino headcode is incorrect. It’s been on my list for a while to change and I finally got round to it.

 

 

Using a scalpel I was able to carefully remove the glazing. The glazing was then soaked in strong thinners to loosen and remove the ‘domino’ paint behind the glazing.

 

The new headcodes are off a sheet from Pacific Models, cut to size and glued to the plastic. I settled on a generic code for mixed freight, the most common working I tend to run.

 

 

The edges of the headcode were painted with black acrylic to minimise light leak.

They were then carefully glued back in place and the frame tidied up with some grey acrylic paint

 

A vast improvement and now comfortably in the correct era!

[LDM34046]

Sunrise over the dales…

 

[LDM34046]

A few shots of the main street to the east of the layout. 
 

 

 

After much deliberation I decided I wasn’t overly happy with the look of the area, in particular the street surface. 
 

I want to experiment with some cobble stones, along with shrubs, rough grass and maybe some puddles to improve the whole area.

 

 

I’m hoping to go for a more rustic, uneven, country look. Similar to streets I’ve seen on my travels in Scotland, Cotswolds and Devon.

[LDM34046]

Productive start with the new and improved street. Started with a thin layer of DAS clay and laid into place.

 

The cobbles were scribed into the clay with textured rolling pins. A great little tool and a great finish. Quite like the inconsistency in the pattern along with the different depths and heights of the bricks.

 

 

 

A thin layer of PVA to seal it all and then to start on the painting.

[LDM34046]

Painting started with a layer of grey, followed by a dark brown wash. Various dry brushing layers of light grey, cream and white were then used to build highlight the cracks and edges.

 

 

 

 

Particularly fond of the results in the garage. Streaky dry brushing on the smooth surface resulted in an oily concrete finish.

 

Next job is to add some foliage around the edges of the buildings to blend them in along with a few bits of moss on the cobbles. Also looking to experiment with adding some puddles.

[LDM34046]

Apologies for the absence.

 

Life has been rather cruel recently throwing a few horrible unexpected events and changes.

 

The layout has been untouched from a running standpoint however I’ve been working  on a few projects on the workbench to keep me busy.

[sb67]

Welcome back @LDM34046 I hope you're ok. I'll look forward to seeing the projects you mentioned, our hobby can be a great distraction from the outside world sometimes, glad you've been doing a bit of modelling.