Haxton Lane OO Western region BLT

[ikcdab]

2 hours ago, jamest said:

Hi Ian,

 

I will try to explain it later when I show the result - the photos to date just show the road stone ballast laid in the yard via the PVA flood.

 

I have had varying results with wood burner ash over several layouts - I "lucked in" a bit on Bratton Lane with the yard surface. I first painted with textured paint and then applied neat PVA and rubbed the ash into the rough surface - perhaps fixing with hairspray or varnish later. I never have any luck with laying ash dry and then wetting and applying PVA like ballast. It always seems to behave badly, when applying said diluted PVA, and lack texture when drying as a grey lump.

 

So going forward I like to have a textured surface to apply the ash to - like textured paint or this fine ballast - then apply over neat PVA, perhaps with a sieve - then rub and re-apply as necessary after with hairspray/varnish.

 

Hope that helps - the pictures will follow soon.

 

PS - looking in your signature link I notice I was only looking at your thread with admiration the other day - first for the electrics (not my thing) - then a bit of shed envy - and of course the actual layout and buildings, etc - very nice!

 

Cheers,

James

 

 

Hi James thanks. I am seiving out my log burner later on so I'll save some ash.  I look forward to seeing your photos.  Scenics are not my strong point, I far prefer mechanical stuff electrical things!

Ian

[jamest]

2 hours ago, The Bandit said:

Really enjoying your build James - it’s nice to see a build from the very beginning. I love the scalescenes paper you’ve used by the side of your canal - could you please tell me which one you’ve used as the only one I can find on their website is ‘cobbled setts’ and it doesn’t seem to look like yours.

Many thanks.

Hi,

 

Thanks.

 

I got that surface from the narrowboats and lock set - T018 I believe. I've also done a narrowboat which will appear later!

 

£3.99 but loads of useful stuff in there - I have a lot of scalescenes stuff and I have the advantage that I can print the sheets in work.

 

I also got the edge paving and vertical canal sides from that set - although you can't really see much of the side in these pics.

 

cheers

James

[The Bandit]

Thank you for that James. Very kind of you to get back to me. Looking forward to seeing the rest of your build.

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

It’s been a day or so since my last update, we are at the point where greenery is added and I tweak one of the sidings a little. I’m afraid I seem to have been deficient in taking photos during adding the greenery, but if there are any questions please ask and I can focus on a particular aspect…..not that I would ever claim to be an expert….I’m just standing on the shoulders of others on here.

 

First the left hand front siding. I was going to add another platform here for offloading of goods - perhaps with a crane. You can see below how it would have sat - I was going to have my goods shed on the platform. In the foreground you can see the tapered left hand wall to provide access to the platform level.

 

 

 

But I decided I did not like this and it was a little too much. It did have the effect of leaving a witness after extraction…..making me use wood burner ash to blend and dirty the surface further. I am very happy with the result and I am currently trying to replicate this in 7mm on my other layout.

 

Continuity error alert! The eagle eyed will also notice the platform option above did not include the goods yard gates and end walling you have already seen in a previous post. The platform was going to wrap around the end which you can see in the top picture if you look hard enough. Another thing I did not think worked scenically. It would have been far more difficult to blend into the back scene.

 

So here are some pictures of the new siding complete with wood burner ash surface and patches of grass applied by a grass master. You can also see the water tower which is a resin Bachmann one. The near siding is shortened to accommodate the shed. I think this works much better and you can see the wall and gates reinstalled by magic….and the bushes to blend with the ‘end wall’.

 

 

 

 

Regards,

 James 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 28, 2023 by jamest

[Andrew D]

That looks fantastic James. I agree that removing the goods platform gives the area room to breathe and creates a more pleasing and relaxed look. I’ll be trying your ‘ash rubbing’ technique on my next layout. Top job as always! 

[jamest]

Hi again,

 

Ok, here are some more pics that pretty much bring you all up to date. We will then enter the ice age and the updates will become glacial in their movements!

 

I can still go over the fiddle yard and the cassette design and I still have to add some signalling, people, clutter, signage, etc.

 

Here are the pics of the rest of the layout with basic scenics done. You will see I have also worked on a fascia. This was a bit more challenging than normal as the scenic section is in two pieces. It’s my fault it is an old size as the layout was going to be 6 feet long and ending just beyond the signal box and provender store. I had to add some over engineered supports reaching from behind the back-scene to support the open end of the fascia top at the end of the 6 foot board.

 

Here is the signal box….a Bachmann one based on the one at Blue Anchor. This angle is a bit cruel on the back-scene lumps!  

 

 

 

 

And the platform road and bay background.

 

 

The canal…..the boat needs a bit more detail….and a driver!

 

Some overall shots with the bare fascia.

 

 

The superstructure! The horizontal strip has a double warm white led strip under neath.

 

 

Cheers,

James

 

[NHY 581]

Nicely done, James. 

 

The adding of the fascia, tricky as it may have been, rounds things off very nicely. 

 

Rob. 

[Andrew D]

Outstanding! To think you did all that fine craftsmanship in the time it took me to build a very basic boxfile layout… One quick question please James - Going back to those excellent buildings, what was the thickness of the card and where did you procure it please? 
 

Looking forward to seeing more pictures of this when you have time. 
 

Cheers,

 

Andrew

[jamest]

1 hour ago, Andrew D said:

Outstanding! To think you did all that fine craftsmanship in the time it took me to build a very basic boxfile layout… One quick question please James - Going back to those excellent buildings, what was the thickness of the card and where did you procure it please? 
 

Looking forward to seeing more pictures of this when you have time. 
 

Cheers,

 

Andrew

Hi Andrew,

 

Thanks for the kind comments.

 

The base for the goods shed is 2mm card.

 

In OO with scalescenes stuff you need 2mm and 1mm card with the odd thing thinner which you can use cereal packs for.

 

I used to get my 2mm stuff as grey mount board in A2 size, but I’ve now found a better source of A4 card from Amazon….where I also buy the 1mm stuff.

 

Cheers,

James

[jamest]

2 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

Nicely done, James. 

 

The adding of the fascia, tricky as it may have been, rounds things off very nicely. 

 

Rob. 

Thanks Rob,

 

I’ve used some of your layouts as inspiration……I like the high setup with a framed ‘picture’ approach you take.

 

Regards

James

[Andrew D]

That’s really useful James, thank you 👍

[Captain Kernow]

One of the quickest yet most competent small layout builds I've seen!

 

All very nice indeed and all the best with the remainder of the project.

 

[jamest]

2 hours ago, Andrew D said:

That’s really useful James, thank you 👍

Hi Andrew,

 

I should have added that an essential part of card construction is a good adhesive. I would recommend deluxe materials (brand) Roket card glue.

 

Basically superglue for card!

 

cheers,

James

[jamest]

Here are a few more where I’m happier about the blend with the back-scene. You can only really plan to make it ‘fit’ from the front.

 

It also shows that I have put some of the led strip in the station building and connected it to the lights above.

 

 

 

 

 

Cheers

James

 

 

[jamest]

Hi all, 

Bit of an update.

 

I’ve been busy with the O gauge layout but like to take a break every now and then and find this layout as a nice distraction.

I recently obtained some nice timber from an old bed a neighbour was ditching. I was not happy with the fiddle yard, which was more of a temporary frame for the cassettes. So I thought about rejigging the fiddle yard and also changing the 2 foot extension on the scenic part.

The bridges and canal were ok but I decided to redo it and make it disappear under a bridge instead….building up the terrain around it. I planned to combine the 2 foot scenic and 3 foot fiddle in one 5 foot piece….using my free new timber. I think, to be honest,I like tinkering with the layout so that’s why I changed it!

 

Here is the extension as was….a 2 foot board on it’s own.

 

 

And here is the start of the new second board. 5 and a bit foot of which 2 foot is scenic.

initially the track was going to be straight as before.

 

But I decided to curve it slightly and angle the cassette in the FY.

I have had to compromise a bit on the back scene as I did not have a perfectly matching back scene. I will hide this join with a tree. The sky is a decent match.

The road will rise and cross the track.

 

 

 

I have redone some of the fascia on the top of the first board as it got whacked and bent!

 

I want to incorporate a building representing a telephone exchange, or random utility building to ‘bridge’ the gap from the road to the provender store.

The celotex gives me the height slightly below the road to break things up. It won’t be that big an area and will slope away to the track and main board.

 

 

 

 

I know this might be described as change for changes sake….but I do enjoy building, and the fiddle yard is better integrated.

 

Cheers

James

 

 

Edited November 17, 2023 by jamest

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

A week on and some more progress to report. I imagine a lot of people experience the same thing but I find it good to have different projects on the go as my mojo for each one ebbs and flows. I have been lucky enough to be left to my own devices for a few days which meant extended sessions in the shed.

 

I have added some celotex in and around the road. I will cover it in plaster bandage and I could have possibly used card formers and newspaper underneath….but I like to have the insulation underneath for a solid base for trees and posts.

 

 

 

 

I think I will add road access to the signal box via a gate. This will mean the hut will have to move, or rotate, to allow access between it and the track by foot.

I have also had the benefit of one of mudmagnets prototype ramshackle hut. I must use this instead to indicate a general decline in the facilities.

Not sure yet.

 

 

I’ve also made a start on the bridge structure. I have recycled some of the plate girder from the previous road bridge. I have plenty of scalescenes brick sheet in stock and decided to go with dark red brick for the abutments.

I still need to repaint and weather the metalwork and weather the brickwork. It is sealed with Matt varnish to protect for when I start slinging plaster bandage around!

 

 

 

regards

James

 

 

[jamest]

Hi,

 

Quick update and shout out to a fellow RMwebber.

 

I purchased a signal box sign from Phil, aka Harlequin, to go over the Blue Anchor one. He supplied it but I found it did not completely cover the existing sign. My fault in that I had not told Phil a length or where it was going…., and in the fact I picked a new name that was not long enough!

 

Anyway I got back to Phil and he very kindly adjusted the sign to match my length requirement…..so here it is.

 

The ‘as bought’ version

 

and Phil’s version stuck and covered in Matt cote.

 

You can see the difference in the text and quality even in 4mm.

 

Very pleased and shout out to Phil for his help and patience!

 

Regards,

 James 

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

Bit more progress to report. 
 

I have plaster bandaged the terrain and painted it brown. The track got a lot of plaster residue on it so I will need to go over it dry brushing some more sleeper grime.

 

There will be a gate and parking area on the flat section of the second board.

 

Here is the basic grass laid alongside the hardstanding. The hard standing was Atwood aggregates road stone to get texture. It is then painted with humbrol gloss 40 and sieved wood ash is dusted over it when wet. I am really happy with the initial blend with the existing surface around the signal box.

 

 

 

 

 

The bridge needed a repair to one pillar, so it is getting a new brick surface.

 

regards,

James

 

 

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

Hope you are all set for a great Christmas.

 

I have re fixed a new column on the bridge and weathered the plate girders with powders. I now need to weather the brickwork with a bit of grime too….and add the brick pillars on the backside.

 

 

 

I have also added more layers of grass and some scatter on the roadside. I have added some trees on the back-scene sheet boundary to hide the hill mismatch shown earlier. The basic hedge is added - it is horsehair teased out, sprayed with the camo brown paint I use for the track, and covered in scatter.

 

 

I was going to use brown painted stirring sticks to plant the hedge on but it didn’t work very well so I have usd them to skewer down the hedge with the pva dries.

 

 

Merry Christmas to all,

hope to get some more done in the break from work.

 

James

 

 

[jamest]

Hi all,

 

Happy new year.

 

Got a bit more progress to report. I’ve ballasted the track with some fine grey ballast. I have also started to weather the track with a brown wash. It will need blending with the track on the other board.

 

I have also started to blend the bridge with the rest of the scenery. The back blends to the back scene and is partly obscured by the fascia so you can’t look directly into the fake end of the road. The front looks strange as the brick turns from the column to the road bend but this will be disguised by shrubs.

 

The back hedge is dry and I have added another tree. I pleased with how the back scene blends and how the seam is disguised.

 

 

 

I need to procure a yard gate and then I plan a wire fence on the near side of the road.

 

Regards

James

 

 

[jamest]

Hi,

 

I have now continued to blend in the track with powders and sealed it with Matt varnish from a rattle can. It blends ok with the original board and hints at locos spending time around the signal box running around.

 

 

 

I have also painted the new fascia panels and reinstalled the lighting above. Here are some pictures of this progress with better lighting. I am pleased with how the trees sit at the back and hide the back scene join (not between boards, but the seam on the back scene paper just after it).

 

 

 

I received a package from scale model scenery today with some gates, fencing and a possible different utilitarian building for the hard standing on the new board. No pictures of this yet but I hope to make some bits up this weekend.

 

Cheers for now,

James

Edited January 5 by jamest

[mudmagnet]

Looking good James!

 

[Graham T]

Really like the scenic work James.  Are the trees hand made?

[jamest]

3 hours ago, Graham T said:

Really like the scenic work James.  Are the trees hand made?

Hi Graham,

 

Thanks.

 

I have made some trees on other layouts (see Niwbwrch in my sig), but these are pieces of seamoss sprayed brown and covered in scatter. I think they look good for “full” trees but the actual trunk looks relatively thin and is best hidden.

 

Regards

James

 

Edited January 6 by jamest

[jamest]

Hi again,

 

I’ve made up the Scale Model Scenery gate for the yard/signal box area. I don’t believe it is necessarily a western region example but I like it and have decided to apply rule 1!

 

The hinge bars are temporarily in place to drill the post holes….i need to paint it and add the hinge/plate detail. It’s a really nice kit and goes together very well.

 

 

Regards

James

Edited January 7 by jamest