Dock Green

[chaz]

Hi Chaz

 

The NEC is not that daunting, just make sure you've got plenty of provisions behind the layout and you know all the possible routes to the loo and you should be alright. Once they open the doors getting anywhere in a hurry becomes nigh on impossible.

 

SS

 

I know what you mean SS, having been several times as a spectator I'm well aware of how crowded it can get. Let's hope you can't move for the jostling mob in front of Dock Green....

Edited November 19, 2013 by chaz

[alant]

I know what you mean SS, having been several times as a spectator I'm well aware of how crowded it can get. Let's hope you can't move for the jostling mob in front of Dock Green....

I am visiting Sunday this year so hopefully will be a tad quieter.

 

Alan.

[chaz]

I am visiting Sunday this year so hopefully will be a tad quieter.

 

Alan.

 

Do please say hello....

[alant]

Do please say hello....

Will do.

[chaz]

It's a while since I've had a good rant....

 

Dashed out to the local model shop yesterday to get a couple of pots of acrylic paint. I don't usually use acrylic paint (although I did paint all the ballast with artist's acrylics) but went for it for its quick drying properties. One colour, Humbrol "natural wood", went on beautifully smooth and covered nicely in one coat over Halford's grey primer. The other, Humbrol's satin finish dark green, was horrid - even when well stirred it was thick and sticky - like painting with treacle. It went straight in the bin and I reverted to a tin of green enamel which flowed beautifully. Yes I know I should have persisted with it, thinned it out etc, but I expect a new pot of paint, once stirred well, to be right. Is quality control a thing of the past?   Rant over.

[PatB]

It's a while since I've had a good rant....

 

Dashed out to the local model shop yesterday to get a couple of pots of acrylic paint. I don't usually use acrylic paint (although I did paint all the ballast with artist's acrylics) but went for it for its quick drying properties. One colour, Humbrol "natural wood", went on beautifully smooth and covered nicely in one coat over Halford's grey primer. The other, Humbrol's satin finish dark green, was horrid - even when well stirred it was thick and sticky - like painting with treacle. It went straight in the bin and I reverted to a tin of green enamel which flowed beautifully. Yes I know I should have persisted with it, thinned it out etc, but I expect a new pot of paint, once stirred well, to be right. Is quality control a thing of the past?   Rant over.

 

I sympathise. I've had a couple of pots of Humbrol acrylic that have contained lumps of gelatinous goo rather than liquid paint and, however thoroughly stirred (more like mashed really) have refused to yield anything useable. I've tended to assume that they've spent a long time travelling or on the shelf under poor storage conditions. Maybe I've been wrong.

[81A Oldoak]

I sympathise. I've had a couple of pots of Humbrol acrylic that have contained lumps of gelatinous goo rather than liquid paint and, however thoroughly stirred (more like mashed really) have refused to yield anything useable. I've tended to assume that they've spent a long time travelling or on the shelf under poor storage conditions. Maybe I've been wrong.

 

I've yet to be convinced by acrylic paints. Perhaps I am too used to enamels, but when properly stirred the matt enamels are matt and flat. Earlier this year I bought some acrylic paints manufactured specifically for use with air brushes. After vigorous mixing and stirring, I added a dash of Gunmetal to a weathering brew and the loco ended up looking like a sequined outfit out of "Strictly Come Dancing". I was straight back to the enamels after that unfortunate and annoying episode. Fortunately the loco was only a Bachmann RTR 00 Jinty.

[chaz]

I've yet to be convinced by acrylic paints. Perhaps I am too used to enamels, but when properly stirred the matt enamels are matt and flat. Earlier this year I bought some acrylic paints manufactured specifically for use with air brushes. After vigorous mixing and stirring, I added a dash of Gunmetal to a weathering brew and the loco ended up looking like a sequined outfit out of "Strictly Come Dancing". I was straight back to the enamels after that unfortunate and annoying episode. Fortunately the loco was only a Bachmann RTR 00 Jinty.

 

I agree with that 100%, Chris, especially after this latest debacle. I know that there are people who swear by acrylics (wouldn't use anything else), me, I swear at them!   The only exception for me are the artist's acrylics that I use for scenic work. These come in a tube and their consistency is entirely controllable by mixing on a palette. They go a lot further than enamels which "feel wrong" to me when painting ballast, beaten ash surfaces etc.

 

Chaz

[chaz]

I sympathise. I've had a couple of pots of Humbrol acrylic that have contained lumps of gelatinous goo rather than liquid paint and, however thoroughly stirred (more like mashed really) have refused to yield anything useable. I've tended to assume that they've spent a long time travelling or on the shelf under poor storage conditions. Maybe I've been wrong.

 

"gelatinous goo"? My dark green wasn't quite that bad, but after the first few brush strokes I had lobbed it into the bin.

 

Incidentally I recently made the mistake of buying some superglue from Poundland. Eight little 3cc bottles for a pound, bargain? Not really, each one contained a solid lump of crud.

Edited November 20, 2013 by chaz

[ScottY80]

I agree with that 100%, Chris, especially after this latest debacle. I know that there are people who swear by acrylics (wouldn't use anything else), me, I swear at them!   The only exception for me are the artist's acrylics that I use for scenic work. These come in a tube and their consistency is entirely controllable by mixing on a palette. They go a lot further than enamels which "feel wrong" to me when painting ballast, beaten ash surfaces etc.

 

Chaz

To be fair to acrylic (and I use both enamels and acrylics depending on the circumstances) I have found Tamyia very good. They tend to be more runny than the humbrol offering. I also use the tamyia thinners which work very well with their paints. Railmatch isn't bad either but like you I have had bad experiences with humbrol. I find acrylics do clog up air brushes quicker too. However, I find I can create weathering effects more easily with acrylics than I can with enamels.

 

Swings and roundabouts, for me it depends on the side of the bed I got out of that morning!

[alant]

I personally cannot get on with acrylics so tend to stick with enamels for most things. I do use the cheap tubes of acrylics from the likes of The Works though for scenic work just to provide base level of colour to things.

[chaz]

To be fair to acrylic (and I use both enamels and acrylics depending on the circumstances) I have found Tamyia very good. They tend to be more runny than the humbrol offering. I also use the tamyia thinners which work very well with their paints. Railmatch isn't bad either but like you I have had bad experiences with humbrol. I find acrylics do clog up air brushes quicker too. However, I find I can create weathering effects more easily with acrylics than I can with enamels.

 

Swings and roundabouts, for me it depends on the side of the bed I got out of that morning!

 

I take your point Scotty - different brands may be more reliable. Personally I wouldn't let acrylics anywhere near an airbrush! Weathering? I always use enamels but as you say "swings and roundabouts".

Edited November 20, 2013 by chaz

[chaz]

I personally cannot get on with acrylics so tend to stick with enamels for most things. I do use the cheap tubes of acrylics from the likes of The Works though for scenic work just to provide base level of colour to things.

 

SNAP!

 

I like the water base of acrylic which goes well with DAS, Modroc, plaster and all the other scenic stuff.

[chaz]

Oh dear. I'm just having one of those days where things keep going wrong, the worst moment being tipping up a tin of grey enamel. all over my chair. At one point I seemed to be so accident prone (stuck a dressmaker's pin in the end of my thumb, stuck something down with double sided tape and then realised it was upside down, picked up a platform barrow that I thought I'd painted last night - the wet paint told me I'd painted it this morning etc etc) that I just slammed the door on my model room and went off in a huff.

 

Went back to it after lunch and the gremlins seem to have gone. Phew! Now can I get on without too mistakes.....?  

[Adams442T]

Unfortunately Chaz I won't be able to make Warley this year as SWMBO gently said, "Oh dear I was hoping we would go shopping.....( together!)  "

 

This I can now interpret as, "Well you went to Spalding MRC, and you've bought yourself two locos, some coach kits and tools from Squires........"

 

Anyway, best of luck with the show and I dare say we'll meet up at Mornington Crescent at some stage!

[ScottY80]

I take your point Scotty - different brands may be more reliable. Personally I wouldn't let acrylics anywhere near an airbrush! Weathering? I always use enamels but as you say "swings and roundabouts".

I use enamels for base coats on stock then acrylic weathering shades on top. I use a fibreglass pen to the remove a lot of the acrylic to give the effects I want. The enamels are much hardier than the acrylics and therefore it's a nice combo. I tend to only use enamels on locos and drag the paints using brushes, I want to preserve the finishing on the livery something that isn't required on a wagon.

 

Really does depend on the effects I want to produce.

 

Looking forward to seeing Dock Green on Sunday!

[81A Oldoak]

Oh dear. I'm just having one of those days where things keep going wrong, the worst moment being tipping up a tin of grey enamel. all over my chair. At one point I seemed to be so accident prone (stuck a dressmaker's pin in the end of my thumb, stuck something down with double sided tape and then realised it was upside down, picked up a platform barrow that I thought I'd painted last night - the wet paint told me I'd painted it this morning etc etc) that I just slammed the door on my model room and went off in a huff.

 

Went back to it after lunch and the gremlins seem to have gone. Phew! Now can I get on without too mistakes.....?  

 

Such are the joys of a gentle, relaxing recreational pursuit free from the deadlines, targets and performance standards that spoil working life. Meanwhile, I have the joy  on Saturday of trying to get to the NEC from Hampshire with a total closure of the northbound carriageway of the A34 between the M4 and Abingdon.

[ScottY80]

Such are the joys of a gentle, relaxing recreational pursuit free from the deadlines, targets and performance standards that spoil working life. Meanwhile, I have the joy  on Saturday of trying to get to the NEC from Hampshire with a total closure of the northbound carriageway of the A34 between the M4 and Abingdon.

Argggggghhhhh, I'm coming from Newbury so that's me stuffed, plus I am picking someone up in Chieveley. Fun!

[81A Oldoak]

Argggggghhhhh, I'm coming from Newbury so that's me stuffed, plus I am picking someone up in Chieveley. Fun!

I'm debating whether to go cross country via Wantage to join the A420 and rejoin the A34 at Oxford. HGVs etc have to go via the M4 to Maidenhead and then cross to the M40.

[ScottY80]

I think that's what we will be doing, although we are going Sunday and early so traffic will be very light

[chaz]

Unfortunately Chaz I won't be able to make Warley this year as SWMBO gently said, "Oh dear I was hoping we would go shopping.....( together!)  "

 

This I can now interpret as, "Well you went to Spalding MRC, and you've bought yourself two locos, some coach kits and tools from Squires........"

 

Anyway, best of luck with the show and I dare say we'll meet up at Mornington Crescent at some stage!

 

Sorry to hear you can't make it - we are all under the sway of a higher power. My SWMBO has actually agreed to do a bit of gentle operating on Saturday - I like the trend that a few more women can be seen taking part in what used to be very much a man's world. I was hoping that Sue would get involved in the making of Dock Green. She did spend an afternoon painting the mortar courses into the retaining walls.....however if it wasn't for her the project would have been abandoned when my erstwhile friend ceased his involvement. Sue encouraged me to keep it going, even though it often meant disruption to various rooms in our ex-LSWR terraced house.

 

Chaz

[chaz]

Well, today finished better than it started. I calmed down and got the last of the nine platform barrows painted just after tea, so I've got something to park on that goods platform. I wonder if I will be able to find a 7mm reclining porter, smoking perhaps, at the show?. I will post some details on the barrows but this will have to wait until after the weekend.

 

I plan to weather the N7 (see above) tomorrow morning and it can then go to the Warley Show as the spare engine (although it's so nice I think it might be promoted - might even get a stint as yard pilot). After lunch Sue and I will go through all the stuff and check it off against the loading list - the only way to make sure something vital doesn't get left behind....EEEK!

 

Chaz

[Barnaby]

Yeah I definitely agree ref the ladies Chaz, I always bring my lady to the shows and she often sees things from a different view point which I find interesting.  

Not sure if I ever brought a layout to dem at a show whether she would want to operate it though.

 

It does take me back to my work days when we would have some away days to brainstorm a business problem. Out of a mixture of UK managers, service eng., technical specialists, secretaries, HR, canteen lady and design eng. it was often the secretary or the canteen lady who asked the most mind probing question, sometimes even suggesting solutions. 

Not trying to be chauvinistic here just explaining that unexpected others can have an input that us regulars had not thought of.

 

 

Regards

[chaz]

Yeah I definitely agree ref the ladies Chaz, I always bring my lady to the shows and she often sees things from a different view point which I find interesting.  

.......unexpected others can have an input that us regulars had not thought of.

 

 

Oh, quite so Barnaby. If I am totally stumped with a problem I will often ask Sue about it. She has, on occasion, suggested a solution which her detached viewpoint made possible. It doesn't always work of course, but then just the act of explaining the problem to someone else can sometimes sew the seeds of a solution.

 

Sue has been hugely supportive of my sometimes almost obsessive involvement with railway modelling, and so is commemorated by the name plates on my Peckett 0-4-0ST!

 

[chaz]

The nine platform barrows, "Scotch Barrows" as the LNER designated them, fresh from the paint shop and (almost) ready for the NEC. I ought to weather them (!) or at least treat them to a dark wash to highlight the planks that are etched into the top surface and will do so, although whether many people will even notice them remains to be seen.

 

 

Yet again the camera has been quite merciless in showing up any defects. The barrows are only 41mm long which is bang-on to scale - thank you Peter Harvey!

 

They have been very expensive, not in money but in time, and are a very small detail but I like 'em. They did push me to the limit of my skills - there are five parts to each wheel, for instance - and were a bit beyond my capablilities at times.

 

Chaz