Mansfield - a slow burner…

[Andy_C]

This phase of ballasting complete. Some patches after hoovering, but I’ll sort them when I get to fitting the station platforms in place. Only one point gave me a little pain during the class 25/40 test run - that was down to a bit of dry/clear glue I couldn’t see until I squinted. 
 

Next is to tidy the room up. I then plan to construct the inner tunnel walls, then the tunnel/hill, and sort the station platforms out.
 

I can now run trains again for a bit! 

[Andy_C]

Further work on the tunnel frame. This needs to provide support for the internal tunnel walls, so when you look down the line, the train appears/disappears into Hunnisett Tunnel and into darkness. The balsa opening was cut to 115% of the tunnel template, to allow for the brickwork to be glued to the arches. I’ve worked out a way of getting the curves right, using some wood/balsa glued to the baseboard. Easier to show an image or two once that’s been done. The tunnel frame itself will be able to be lifted out, to alleviate the issue of derailments and track cleaning.

 

It’s not lost on me that all this prep will only be known about from those I tell, and who read this thread. Ho hum😉

[gingerangles]

Looks good @Andy_C I particularly like the realistic appearance of the tunnel opening! Very realistic and accurate to what you'd see round us. 👍

[Andy_C]

6 hours ago, gingerangles said:

Looks good @Andy_C I particularly like the realistic appearance of the tunnel opening! Very realistic and accurate to what you'd see round us. 👍

I can’t claim credit for that. @Duncan. Did that for me…😉

[Andy_C]

The 1st and 4th photos show the tunnel, with the inner frame in place. The red brick you can see is Redutex. I don’t have enough to complete it at the moment. More is on the way. 
 

The 2nd photo shows the balsa frame for the arches. I’m really pleased with ow this came out. It’s very solid, and will support the Redutex brick well. I need to decide whether I can trust the adhesive on the back of the Redutex, or just to be safe will apply some pva in suitable places.

 

The third photo shows the tunnel profile but, as in photo 2, the tunnel mouth is now screwed in place. That can now have some ballast etc placed round it to bed it in.

[gingerangles]

On 29/03/2024 at 13:42, Andy_C said:

I can’t claim credit for that. @Duncan. Did that for me…😉

 

A friend indeed! 😀

[gingerangles]

12 hours ago, Andy_C said:

The 1st and 4th photos show the tunnel, with the inner frame in place. The red brick you can see is Redutex. I don’t have enough to complete it at the moment. More is on the way. 
 

The 2nd photo shows the balsa frame for the arches. I’m really pleased with ow this came out. It’s very solid, and will support the Redutex brick well. I need to decide whether I can trust the adhesive on the back of the Redutex, or just to be safe will apply some pva in suitable places.

 

The third photo shows the tunnel profile but, as in photo 2, the tunnel mouth is now screwed in place. That can now have some ballast etc placed round it to bed it in.

 

It's all looking really good @Andy_C and coming together really well!

 

Have you decided about track cleaning through the tunnel - are you going to make it removable in some fashion?

 

[Andy_C]

1 hour ago, gingerangles said:

Have you decided about track cleaning through the tunnel - are you going to make it removable in some fashion?

In a word, yes. The scenic part will remain in place, but the longer stretch after will be removable. Photos to follow. Duncan and me discussed just that during his most recent ‘flying’ visit. I’ve never had a derailment on this curve. It’s one continual piece of code 80 for both tracks, and the ballast has been meticulously cleaned off the track. I’ll do several checks of this before the tunnel frame is set in place. The brick work needs heavily weathering - almost mucky black soot effect. Almost a shame to spoil the lovely Redutex brickwork. 🫣
 

I’ll put the hill foundations in 1st(after weathering the scenics part of the track, of course), and then work out which bit will lift out. 
 

Finishing this phase of ballasting has opened up lots of other schemes of modelling I can now progress.

 

We also discussed stone wall construction, station platform finishing, creating an underpass on P2 to the gents toilets and other ‘next steps’. 

[gingerangles]

2 hours ago, Andy_C said:

In a word, yes. The scenic part will remain in place, but the longer stretch after will be removable. Photos to follow. Duncan and me discussed just that during his most recent ‘flying’ visit. I’ve never had a derailment on this curve. It’s one continual piece of code 80 for both tracks, and the ballast has been meticulously cleaned off the track. I’ll do several checks of this before the tunnel frame is set in place. The brick work needs heavily weathering - almost mucky black soot effect. Almost a shame to spoil the lovely Redutex brickwork. 🫣
 

I’ll put the hill foundations in 1st(after weathering the scenics part of the track, of course), and then work out which bit will lift out. 
 

Finishing this phase of ballasting has opened up lots of other schemes of modelling I can now progress.

 

We also discussed stone wall construction, station platform finishing, creating an underpass on P2 to the gents toilets and other ‘next steps’. 

 

I know what you mean about the heavy weathering but at the end of the day if that's what it was like that's what it was like.  The quality of the finishing and realistic touches are always what elevates layouts to the next level IMO.  Yours seems to be coming along very well indeed.  

 

I'm looking to start making up some platforms myself soon for Edwinstowe, thought it made sense to get those in and the track lined up nicely with them as they will be a significant part of my layout.  I see you have used timber with some form of edging for the stone work - is that Redutex also?

[Andy_C]

4 hours ago, gingerangles said:

I'm looking to start making up some platforms myself soon for Edwinstowe, thought it made sense to get those in and the track lined up nicely with them as they will be a significant part of my layout.  I see you have used timber with some form of edging for the stone work - is that Redutex also?

My platform edges are Peco! I know some look down their noses at such, but the cut stone finish in N of the Peco edge is very similar to what was at Mansfield. Hopefully once weathered, with the platform surfaces(Redutex backed onto 1/2mm plasticard for correct height) it will look ok.

 

The track at the platforms is dead straight. No kinks. I used a tracksetta to get it about right, and then a steel 1 metre ruler to ensure ‘straight’. As you know, being local, when you look down the track at Mansfield it is ‘dead’ straight. 😉

 

A big bonus is once ballasted, I can remove the track screws…
 

 

Edited April 2 by Andy_C

[gingerangles]

Everything's dead straight round our way mate 🤣

[Andy_C]

2nd tunnel constructed, and glued. Waiting for it to dry. This one will be removable. The interior will be painted black acrylic, to banish any light bleed into the scenic tunnel. 
 

Moved onto the station platforms. Glued some stone effect plasticard (from Squires) onto the front of the goods platform. Tomorrow will be further time on the main platforms. I’m going to look at starting the painting of the mortar bits between the stone. Will be a wipe off jobby, me thinks. I can then think about the platforms being permanently screwed in, and the remaining ballasting around them completed.  

[Andy_C]

 

The top two photos show some thoughts around the hill form. A work in progress. Nothing glued etc.

 

The third photo shows platform 3(forefront), with the recently glued goods platform edging in the back ground

Edited April 7 by Andy_C

[gingerangles]

Looking good @Andy_C 👍 

I meant to ask was the tunnel portal and stone work from Redutex as well as the brick work?

[Andy_C]

1 hour ago, gingerangles said:

Looking good @Andy_C 👍 

I meant to ask was the tunnel portal and stone work from Redutex as well as the brick work?

Duncan constructed the tunnel with preformed plasticard from Squires. The Stone on the tunnel is the same as on the photo above of the platform edge for the goods platform - I need to paint that up. The plasticard brick strip around the mouth of the tunnel is from the same place.

 

I'll use Redutex brick inside the tunnel for several reasons; its more bendy that the plastic, it has an adhesive to the back of it and also will accept airbrush/paint.

Edited April 8 by Andy_C
grammar/typo's

[gingerangles]

6 hours ago, Andy_C said:

Duncan constructed the tunnel with preformed plasticard from Squires. The Stone on the tunnel is the same as on the photo above of the platform edge for the goods platform - I need to paint that up. The plasticard brick strip around the mouth of the tunnel is from the same place.

 

I'll use Redutex brick inside the tunnel for several reasons; its more bendy that the plastic, it has an adhesive to the back of it and also will accept airbrush/paint.

 

Thanks, I'll get hold of some and give it a go then 👍

I wondered how folks produced the corners on such structures but it looks like there must be a way!

[Andy_C]

Today was experimenting with painting/weathering the platform edges. I used a mid grey colour from Phoenix Precison, heaving diluted so it would run and wipe off. My 1st attempt wasn’t diluted enough - thankfully it was on an as yet unconnected piece. I painted the diluted mix on, and then wiped it along using kitchen towel. A very happy accident. The photos show a ‘before/after’ paint, the far platform painted with the nearer one not, and then with all painted.

 

The greyer, darker colour is more akin to the colour photos I have of the edges at Mansfield. 

Edited April 10 by Andy_C

[Andy_C]

Not a lot to show for last weekends efforts, due to golf getting in the way. Platform 1 with Redutex glued in place. I’m on it tomorrow, tho. 3/4 of platform 2/3 are measured and fitted, so will be glued in place. Photos to follow. 
 

The Redutex red brick sheets have arrived, so hopefully the tunnel scenic bit will be done.

 

 

[Andy_C]

Photo 1 - tunnel lining attached to the frame. Needed pva’ing as I wasn’t convinced the Redutex would stick long-term to the balsa.

 

Photos 2 & 3 show platform progress. Since these images, I’ve one-striked any gaps, so when the surfaces get weathered, the surfaces will look seamless. I need to introduce some shaping to the surface, and also think about the platform mounted water crane mounting. The Redutex plus plasticard depth will allow a hole to be cut, if needed, to recess the water crane base etc.

[Duncan.]

Looking very, very good. Its better than my first attempt at a layout.

[Andy_C]

Tunnel/hill planning and implementation…

 

…ongoing…

[Andy_C]

Yesterday was painting some bits, and making a mess with polystyrene.

 

The platform edge and ramp have come out a little dark, so I’ll lighten that up midweek. Weathering the track will also add to this, in due course.

 

Played around with hill contours. I think I need to fit the scenic break board to the side of this hill to give it more context. Another job added to the list. 

Edited April 29 by Andy_C

[Andy_C]

Photo dump from today’s activities; 

• Diesel shed door handles painted, 
• Piece of track fitted to properly accommodate the (currently white) buffer,
• Platform ballasted at north end of P2/3,
• Platform 1/2 edges ballasted,
• Platform 2/3 south end ballasted,
• coping plastruct fitted to wall to coaling stage. Will need further alterations to actually look like the coping stones further along this feature. 

 

[gingerangles]

Just looking at your platforms again @Andy_C... what have you used for the surface of those?

[Andy_C]

23 hours ago, gingerangles said:

Just looking at your platforms again @Andy_C... what have you used for the surface of those?

Redutex: https://redutex.com/en/0-1-scale/2919-653-revoco-ii-in-different-colours.html#/13-formatos_fp_fm_fg-300_x_120_mm/48-color_revoco-dark_beige

 

I mounted it on 0.5mm plasticard to get the height right against the platform edging. I had a play with sanding the edges and filling, and reckon that once weathered and some 'joints' added, it will look quite good.

Edited May 18 by Andy_C