Bakewell - Peak District Line BR - Layout Views

[Alister_G]

A couple of things to report on this evening.

 

Firstly, I received these through the post:

 

 

No, it's not nougat... shame really...

 

Five 10Watt 22Ohm resistors.

 

These are to try and tone down the lighting in the station and goods shed.

 

I connected the resistors in series temporarily, in such a fashion that I could tap off the power between each resistor.

 

Here, power is direct (Red is from the supply, yellow to the positive of the LEDs), and the lights are as bright as you saw them before:

 

 

 

I worked my way along the resistors, trying 1, then 2 etc, but didn't see an appreciable dimming of the lights until all five were in series - a total value of 110Ohms:

 

 

 

 

I don't know if the photos really show the difference, but it is sufficient to stop visitors having to wear sun-block.

 

I will probably buy a single resistor nearer to the correct value - resistors aren't exactly expensive, I can get a pack of 4 10W 120Ohm resistors for £3.00.

 

 

[Alister_G]

Second thing tonight, I started another tree.

 

Using the same basis of 8 core ethernet cables, but i removed the outer core and used just the inners, twisted together as before and then applied DAS over the top.

 

I've deliberately left the individual cores quite long, so that when I strip back to the copper strands for the finer branches, I have a bit more to play with.

 

Here's what it looks like so far:

 

 

 

Is that a better shape, do you think?

 

Cheers,

 

Al.

Edited March 13, 2014 by acg_mr

[aberdare]

Yes Al, that's much better than the last one and it seems as though you have reached this stage more quickly too.

 

The idea of leaving the other wires on the long side is also good as you never know where you are going to bend them, I usually do something similar and solder the odd bits back on later.

 

That feature tree above Bakewell will be a doddle for you soon, you can't beat looking at the real thing for ideas.

 

 

Keep up the good work.

[Alister_G]

Final post this evening.

 

Continuing my occasional theme of "modelling uses for an electric oven" (I should do a thesis) here's a little something I've been cooking:

 

 

That there is the contents of 3 used teabags (Co-Op Fair Trade if you're interested) spread out and dried in the oven for an hour.

 

I was thinking it might make good autumnal foliage, and ground cover...

 

Not my idea, I got it off this forum, somewhere, but I'm blessed if I can remember where I read it, so if it was you, take a bow...

 

(or should that be bough)

 

Anyway,

 

I also attacked my previous tree, skewered it with a round file, and added another couple of branches lower down the trunk. These are currently drying prior to being painted.

 

 

 

 

That's all for now,

 

cheers,

 

Al.

[aberdare]

Tea leaves are great.

 

It pays to run them through a sieve as it gets the woody bits out which are not leaf like, if you need to colour them I have found powder paints work the best, for me anyway.

 

I've currently got some red/orange ones drying.

[Alister_G]

Cheers Jim, think I've got some powder paints somewhere (well my daughter has... shhhhh! don't tell)

Edited March 13, 2014 by acg_mr

[westerhamstation]

Final post this evening.

 

Continuing my occasional theme of "modelling uses for an electric oven" (I should do a thesis) here's a little something I've been cooking:

 

tree-making034.jpg

 

That there is the contents of 3 used teabags (Co-Op Fair Trade if you're interested) spread out and dried in the oven for an hour.

 

I was thinking it might make good autumnal foliage, and ground cover...

 

Not my idea, I got it off this forum, somewhere, but I'm blessed if I can remember where I read it, so if it was you, take a bow...

 

(or should that be bough)

 

Anyway,

 

I also attacked my previous tree, skewered it with a round file, and added another couple of branches lower down the trunk. These are currently drying prior to being painted.

 

tree-making035.jpg

 

tree-making036.jpg

 

tree-making037.jpg

 

That's all for now,

 

cheers,

 

Al.

Hi Al, It's good to see you branching out. trees are looking good, all the best Adrian

[Allegheny1600]

Hi Al,

It's great to have a catch up on here again! You've certainly been busy and I like your videos btw.

Aha! Trees!

Now that's something I can really relate to as my first non-railway models were trees! I started at about 15 years old (a good while ago!), by stripping old electric motors & transformers down for the wire, then used pretty much your system of twisting them all together and splitting them out.

Sadly, back then I didn't have/couldn't afford anything decent to represent bark & foliage so they stayed bare but it gave me the taste for tree modelling, must try & get some more done soon.

Cheers,

John E.

[Alister_G]

Cheers John, thanks for wading through the thread

 

It seems to be a popular theme at the moment, there's a number of threads on here with tree modelling in progress, must be 'cos it's spring!

 

Look forward to seeing you join in...

 

Al.

[georgeT]

Hello Al,    Tree's as well, is there no end to your talents, l will have to get you to make a few dozen for 'Ashcombe'  ??

 

George

[Classsix T]

Hi Al, yeah I'm still here!

 

Great work on the lighting, though I wonder if you can still get grain of wheat bulbs for that authentic old skool feel?

 

Re trees; I have seen a posting espousing the use of budliah(sp) as a base, but believe you need to catch them at a certain period in the life cycle for best results. Search for "butterfly bush".

 

Ahem, I say, I say, I say, using ethernet cable for trees (cough) can you make trunk calls? HAH! I'm already in the taxi, it's 2014...!

 

...and now back to your normal programme.

[Alister_G]

Cheers mate, nice to see your jokes are improving...

 

 

 

[Alister_G]

Did some more tree related work last night, continuing with big-tree MK2 and also creating some saplings like those in the earlier photos.

 

Lots, and lots, and lots of twisting tiny wires together, slowly going cross-eyed...

 

For the big tree I applied PVA glue, and then water soaked DAS, small bits at a time, to try and smooth out the twists on the larger branches:

 

Then, on the ends, I stripped back the insulation to leave the copper cores exposed, as you can see on the left of the picture, and then twisted the cores together in bunches and gradually worked my way to the ends making smaller and smaller branches, as you can see on the right:

 

 

To end up with this:

 

 

Here's a silhouette shot like Jim's (aberdare):

 

 

Not painted yet, that's the next job.

 

As I said, I also did a trio of saplings, of which I will do loads more to act as some scenic backdrop  around the layout:

 

 

which when painted up looks like this:

 

 

More soon,

 

Al.

 

[Guest bri.s]

Those tree s and saplings are amazing ,great work

 

Brian

[Jaz]

Even the saplings benefit form the twisted copper be discussed, lovely colouring silver on grey black looks really nice.

The big one either needs more branches...if your doing winter or spring....or you'll need to go summer so you can bush over it. Pastiche is good....but emptying the hairbrush works too....

[Sasquatch]

Excellent work Al mate!

[Andrew P]

Hi Al, just about to catch up on the last few days posts, I didn't realize that Bakewell was now on a BRANCH LINE.

 

Sorry it had to be said, hhahahha

 

And

[Jamiel]

Those are looking fantastic. I might even consider having trees on my urban layout after seeing how good yours are looking. Inspiring work.

As always, thanks for sharing.

Jamie

[aberdare]

Nice work there Al,

 

I like the silhouette shot as the trees always look good against the sky and give a sense as to how accurate you have got them.

 

The little group of saplings look good as well.

 

Looking forward to the foliage being added.

[Alister_G]

Thanks all for the comments, much appreciated.

 

Today, I've been teaching the younger generation

 

Here's my daughter busy finishing of a tree of her own:

 

 

and here's what it looks like:

 

 

 

A nice little tree, and once the DAS is set we'll paint it.

 

Al.

[Andrew P]

Does she take commissions mate? hhaha

 

Andy

[aberdare]

Sign her up Al.

 

Great little tree, she obviously has inherited some good modelling skills.

[Alister_G]

In addition to tree making, I also taught my daughter how to solder, and together we finished off the station lighting.

 

Following the tests the other day I settled for a resistor value of 470 ohms, which gives a decent level of warm light without being glaring.

 

I bought a resistor of the correct value, and we fitted it today:

 

Here's the resistor in place in the roof of the building, all nicely soldered up by my helpful assistant:

 

 

and an overview of the lighting much as you've seen before:

 

 

The yellow patch lead here is temporarily shorting out the resistor so I can show you the difference in lighting:

 

 

Here's the lights at full 12V (I've found a 2Amp wall-wart) :

 

 

Yep, definite ouch factor!

 

With the patch lead removed, and the resistor in the circuit, here's the lights:

 

 

Much better, a nice gentle light.

 

To route the wiring, I sneakily drilled a hole in the chimney stack above ceiling level (not that there are ceilings, but you get what I mean), and a hole in the floor under the hearth.

 

(the second hole is for if I want to add flicker fire effects)

 

 

 

with the roof back on, here's what the lighting looks like:

 

 

 

 

Ooh, wonky doors...

 

I wonder if I can straighten those...

 

 

I'm happy with that now, and very impressed with how quickly the little-un has picked up soldering.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

 

 

[Alister_G]

Does she take commissions mate? hhaha

 

Andy

 

She wants to know how much??

 

I don't know where she gets that from...

 

[Alister_G]

Forgot to post this last night, my daughter's tree now painted:

 

 

 

I seem to have quite a plantation appearing on my cutting mat, it's getting hard to find room to work...

 

 

Al.