Grasslands Posted November 30, 2012 Share Posted November 30, 2012 I thought I would add my diorama to the layout thread (most of the below text is from my blog): Quarry Transfer depicts transfer sidings from a raised narrow gauge system and standard gauge siding at ground level. Building Quarry Transfer fits three purposes: It allows me to take pictures of my fleet of circa 1968 BR Green/Blue transition diesels (so Brewery pit can stay a circa 1948 layout). It gives me justification to build the small fleet of OO9 engine kits that I have purchased in the past few years. It allows me to experiment with some terrain effects that I haven’t had the chance to develop while building Brewery pit. As this diorama is primarily being produced so I can take photos of my locos, it is important that I can get a good perspective on the model with my camera. In a similar manner to how I produced Brewery Pit, I started by placing the main items of scenery and took trial pictures to see how well framed the final pictures would be. Based on the picture above, I felt that although nicely framed, the OO9 locos would be obscured by their larger friends on the lower track. So I decided to raise the level of the narrow gauge track for the final layout. The rocky outcrops are constructed from polystyrene, historically not one of my favourite materials. The use of a small hacksaw on the polystyrene has given a good impression of the blasted rock-face effect I was after. Plaster bandages were used to bed in the rocky outcrops, and also as a front facing surface for the raised narrow gauge sidings. The bandages should provide a good surface to detail with some nice upland vegetation. I haven’t worked on this project in a while (probably because I know I have to get the jigsaw out for the next step), but now the days are getting darker and colder, I will no doubt be pressing on with construction. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasslands Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 So I have started creating the rock-face texture for Quarry Transfer. I used ‘Unibond: Tile on Floor’ grout, which I bought from B&Q a year or two ago. The great thing about using tile grout (instead of polyfiller) is that the stuff usually comes in a variety of colours (in this case a dark grey), so if you pick the right shade, any worn or chipped corners will not be an eye sore. The other benefit of using grout is that the odds of the chipping ever happening are extremely low. Once dry, Quarry Transfer will likely survive a trip out the window and remain unscathed. There was an assortment of tools I could have used to apply the grout, but in the end it was much easier to apply with gloved hands. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CourthsVeil Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 I love these small layouts - will watch with much interest! Armin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasslands Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 Me and me wife (Ruth) have added some landscaping to the front of Quarry Transfer. We started by cutting up some more blocks of polystyrene and sticking them to the lowest section of the diorama. We then attacked them with an assortment of tools. My aim was to continue the profile of the highest rock face (at the back of the diorama), so it looks as if the entire area where the railway is placed has been quarried out of the rock face. I obviously had to make sure that the scenery at the front of the layout was quite low, so I can take photos, but I endeavoured to continue the profile of the rock strata. I also wanted to represent a small quarried area of rock where I can eventually place a little digger. I cut the face of the rock using my propane soldering iron with a cutting head attached. This gave a nice crescent shaped finish to the polystyrene. More grout was then plastered over the polystyrene, which was easily manipulated into what looks like a muddy quarry track. I’m really pleased with the results so far. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
devondynosoar118 Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 I had never thought of grout. I have used polyfiller tinted with powder paint but grout is a new one on me. Will try that out on some wargame scenery as durability is a useful trait. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasslands Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 I had never thought of grout. I have used polyfiller tinted with powder paint but grout is a new one on me. Will try that out on some wargame scenery as durability is a useful trait. This is my second layout using grout. For my first layout I used a smooth grout and sanded it down to make a road and tramway. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasslands Posted December 1, 2012 Author Share Posted December 1, 2012 I previously mentioned that one of the purposes of the diorama was so I could take pictures. Well after having waited patiently for the grout to thoroughly dry, I have placed a couple of different diesels on the diorama along with a little JCB and had a go at some test shots. I am really, really pleased with the look of the photos, as the shots appear very different to the small diorama that currently resides on a book case in the front room. The little JCB is a plastic Dapol kit of some vintage that my wife built and painted. She has done a very good job on the yellow highlighting. This will not be the construction vehicle that lives on the layout when it is finished. I hope to purchase a more elaborate digger, maybe one from the Langley Models range. I am also pleased with what appears to be tillage (well, I’m calling it tillage) at the base of the cliff, which was done by sprinkling bits of drying grout onto the still wet grout surface. So what are the next steps? I think it would make sense to flatten out the colour of the rock face next, so likely an overall paint with black or grey. This can then be gradually highlighted up again. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
ess1uk Posted December 1, 2012 Share Posted December 1, 2012 Like that. I too would never have thought of grout, I've used plaster and filler before. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hippo Posted December 2, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 2, 2012 That looks very good, Can I ask what the 009 loco is ? Thanks Owen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasslands Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 That looks very good, Can I ask what the 009 loco is ? Hi Owen The green one is a little Ruston 100DL, made by Paul Windle. The maroon one is a Chivers kit. Just had a very busy day on quarry transfer, so will post some pictures soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasslands Posted December 2, 2012 Author Share Posted December 2, 2012 Today involved resolving errors in painting-judgement from the day before (with a can of a black spray paint). The error was mixing far too light a shade of grey to paint the rock faces. Not only did I paint it too light, but also over far too much of the diorama. So this morning all of yesterdays work was erased and I started again using a much darker grey, with the aim of gradually bringing the cliff face up to the desired colour. I also decided to have a go at adding some colour to the skyline, while also providing a white base for the vegetation straddling the top of the cliffs. All painting was undertaken with artist’s acrylics, as they tend to be much cheaper than hobby paints for this scale of work. I used ‘Neutral Grey’ (from the graduate acrylics range) to create a base for the cliff faces; and ‘Burnt Umber’ (from the Galeria range) as a base for vegetated areas. This is the very early stages of painting so expect these areas to look very different as I progress. I even managed to construct the wooden narrow-gauge platform today, which I am surprised I managed to fit in. I always planned to have a wooden platform extending over the quarry face for the narrow gauge engines to run tippers over, and I knew that I would have to tackle the super structure for this before I could start fixing down the trackwork. I originally planned to construct the platform out of wood, but soon realised that it was incredibly difficult to cut wooden strips to appear as planks. I then discovered someone selling copper-clad strips (for track making) and realised that this would do the job nicely. I cut up standard(ish) sized strips and soldered the group of planks together using three long support beams. Having test fitted the platform for alignment I have retired for the evening. The next thing to do is find a nice design for the legs on the platform. Any suggestions? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Hippo Posted December 3, 2012 RMweb Premium Share Posted December 3, 2012 Hi thanks for that Owen Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasslands Posted December 29, 2012 Author Share Posted December 29, 2012 For Christmas this year I have received a rather nice Ruston-Bucyrus Crane (made by Corgi). This is exactly what I need for Quarry Transfer. I doubt that it will remain in the Southern Railways Livery (I am currently thinking about painting it red and white) but we will see. I also received a nice bulldozer from Langley Miniatures. The kit is a white metal TD6 Bulldozer. I am looking forward to building this one. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fat Controller Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 For Christmas this year I have received a rather nice Ruston-Bucyrus Crane (made by Corgi). This is exactly what I need for Quarry Transfer. I doubt that it will remain in the Southern Railways Livery (I am currently thinking about painting it red and white) but we will see. I also received a nice bulldozer from Langley Miniatures. The kit is a white metal TD6 Bulldozer. I am looking forward to building this one. The ex-works default colour for Ruston-Bucyrus cranes was cream upperworks, and dark red lower cab:- http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p910284290/h3849d79a#h3849d79a http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p910284290/h3849d79a#h246481a0 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
halfwit Posted December 29, 2012 Share Posted December 29, 2012 The ex-works default colour for Ruston-Bucyrus cranes was cream upperworks, and dark red lower cab:- http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p910284290/h3849d79a#h3849d79a http://ccmv.aecsouthall.co.uk/p910284290/h3849d79a#h246481a0 Whilst this is certainly true of the later Ruston-Bucyrus machines as seen in your links, the earlier machines as modelled by Corgi seem to have been outshopped in all over green, possibly Lincoln Green. I've not seen a contemporary photo of an early machine with a two colour livery. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Grasslands Posted December 29, 2012 Author Share Posted December 29, 2012 Whilst this is certainly true of the later Ruston-Bucyrus machines as seen in your links, the earlier machines as modelled by Corgi seem to have been outshopped in all over green, possibly Lincoln Green. I've not seen a contemporary photo of an early machine with a two colour livery. Lincoln Green appears quite close to the livery of mine. I might just repaint it green then, and remove the 'SR' letters. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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