Bakewell - Peak District Line BR - Layout Views

[Alister_G]

Most of the work today has been on the platforms on the up side of the bridge. Firstly, tidying up the walls of the platforms, and doing a bit more ballasting, and then turning my attention to the Up platform retaining wall.

 

So here's a view of work in progress... Lollipop sticks are an essential part of the proceedings, as you can see:

 

 

 

This was the only way I could keep the platforms a set distance apart, and make the damn side walls of the platform stay in the right place whilst they stuck. Such a simple thing, but could I get them to stay put whilst I glued them!

 

Whilst they set, I whipped up a quick retaining wall, from 80thou plasticard base faced with Slaters' 7mm Stone Courses, and painted in my usual manner:

 

 

 

and built another embankment out of a polystyrene base covered with newspaper and PVA glue:

 

 

Here's the embankment and wall together;

 

 

 

I then tried the two back in position on the layout:

 

 

 

 

Tomorrow, I'll paint it and static-grass it.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

 

[Classsix T]

You know, I actually had a feeling of warm fuzziness seeing the bus on the bridge!

Your modeller's licence is safe Al, no further action required by the Special Branch Copse (arf!).

 

The comparison photo with Stans from the 'box steps is superb, you've created a definitely recognisable prototype, which I guess is the whole point. Mission accomplished.

 

C6T.

[Andrew P]

Thank you all for your great comments.

 

Today, I've been working mostly on the Up platform beyond the bridge, but first, I did a bit of weathering on the vehicles I'd bought.

 

The tractor, and the land rover, looked far too clean and new, so they were attacked with matt varnish, and various colours of paint to make them look more used.

 

The Land Rover had a coat of matt varnish, and then a spray of Humbrol Dark Earth (No.29) along the bottom, to suggest mud and dirt:

 

vehicles001.jpg

 

vehicles002.jpg

 

vehicles003.jpg

 

The tractor was a bright shiny green.

 

Not any more...

 

vehicles004.jpg

 

vehicles005.jpg

 

vehicles006.jpg

 

For the others, I just gave them a blast of matt varnish:

 

vehicles007.jpg

 

vehicles008.jpg

 

vehicles009.jpg

 

More in a moment,

 

Al.

Hi Al, Great work, but, I tried doing a Loco in Humbrol Mat Varnish after a weathering job and the windows went MILKY the same as your Cars, such a shame really, I think you need to think about masking them a bit next time mate. I tried every trick in my book to restore them but to no avail.

 

On the Plus side the weathering on the Tractor and Landie is excellent.

[Alister_G]

Hi Al, Great work, but, I tried doing a Loco in Humbrol Mat Varnish after a weathering job and the windows went MILKY the same as your Cars, such a shame really, I think you need to think about masking them a bit next time mate. I tried every trick in my book to restore them but to no avail.

 

On the Plus side the weathering on the Tractor and Landie is excellent.

 

Hi Andy,

 

Yes, I was really annoyed about that. When I first did them they looked fine - it just dulled down the paintwork, which was what I was after. But about 4 hours later, the windows all went milky as you say.

 

In hindsight I should have dismantled the vehicles and taken the glazing out before spraying the varnish, another lesson learnt, but an expensive one to remedy.

 

I really must learn not to rush at things.

 

Al.

[Classsix T]

I have heard of rescuing fogged "glass" using Cleer varnish. With little to lose, must be worth a try?

 

C6T.

[MikeHemmings]

That farmer is not looking after his tractor very well it could do with a good wash.

 

Mike

[ben pez]

When i sprayed a couple of cars with matt varnish,after they had dried i just lightly scratched off the varnish that was on the windows with a blunt cocktail stick which gave the impression that the windows were dirty and had been cleaned on the main part of them.

 

Hope this helps?

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[Sweven]

Fantastic job on the bridge Al, I thought the previous photograph through the bridge was excellent but the new stonework and paint makes a it even better and I love the way you painted the tractor and cars - great photographs too.

Cheers

John

[Alister_G]

Thanks to all of you who suggested methods of remedying my issue with cloudy windows on the cars I'd sprayed.

 

I tried all the suggested methods - except the Kleer, which I can't find locally at the moment, not even a substitute.

 

Ben, I tried the cocktail stick, thank you for the suggestion, but it seemed to have little effect, maybe I'd left the varnish to dry too long, as I didn't get chance to try it until last night.

 

Here's the other things I tried:

 

 

I chose the smallest victim, and dismantled it:

 

 

You can see the damage:

 

 

Of the solutions above, I tried Humbrol thinners first, Absolutely no effect. Then the IPA with the same result, (maybe India Pale Ale would be better?)

 

Out of desperation, I brushed on some MEK, and immediately washed it off. This did seem to soften the varnish, but left the window surface in a mess.

 

Finally I tried T-Cut, on the end of a cotton-bud. After some vigorous rubbing, there did seem to be an improvement:

 

 

I picked another victim, and tried the T-Cut again:

 

Before:

 

 

and After:

 

 

There was a definite improvement, so I took the bus, which was worst of them all, and tried that:

 

 

 

 

 

After much work, it did look slightly better. I don't think I'll ever get it back how it was, but it's bearable now:

 

 

 

Whilst it was dismantled, I took the opportunity of painting the interior, from the horrible red plastic, to something more realistic:

 

 

and finally put it all back together:

 

 

 

Ah well, I've learnt my lesson - mask off or remove the glazing in future, but they don't look quite so bad now.

 

I'll do the rest today.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

[westerhamstation]

Thanks to all of you who suggested methods of remedying my issue with cloudy windows on the cars I'd sprayed.

 

I tried all the suggested methods - except the Kleer, which I can't find locally at the moment, not even a substitute.

 

Ben, I tried the cocktail stick, thank you for the suggestion, but it seemed to have little effect, maybe I'd left the varnish to dry too long, as I didn't get chance to try it until last night.

 

Here's the other things I tried:

 

vehicles010.jpg

 

I chose the smallest victim, and dismantled it:

 

vehicles011.jpg

 

You can see the damage:

 

vehicles012.jpg

 

Of the solutions above, I tried Humbrol thinners first, Absolutely no effect. Then the IPA with the same result, (maybe India Pale Ale would be better?)

 

Out of desperation, I brushed on some MEK, and immediately washed it off. This did seem to soften the varnish, but left the window surface in a mess.

 

Finally I tried T-Cut, on the end of a cotton-bud. After some vigorous rubbing, there did seem to be an improvement:

 

vehicles013.jpg

 

I picked another victim, and tried the T-Cut again:

 

Before:

 

vehicles014.jpg

 

and After:

 

vehicles015.jpg

 

There was a definite improvement, so I took the bus, which was worst of them all, and tried that:

 

vehicles016.jpg

 

vehicles017.jpg

 

vehicles018.jpg

 

vehicles019.jpg

 

After much work, it did look slightly better. I don't think I'll ever get it back how it was, but it's bearable now:

 

vehicles021.jpg

 

vehicles022.jpg

 

Whilst it was dismantled, I took the opportunity of painting the interior, from the horrible red plastic, to something more realistic:

 

vehicles023.jpg

 

and finally put it all back together:

 

vehicles024.jpg

 

vehicles025.jpg

 

Ah well, I've learnt my lesson - mask off or remove the glazing in future, but they don't look quite so bad now.

 

I'll do the rest today.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

Hi Al, sorry to here that it's foggy at Bakewell. One other suggestion you might like to have a go at, if you have a dremmel or similar tool put the mop/buffing attachment in and with a tiny amount of T cut on the mop polish it out, be careful as you do it a light touch is all it takes. All the best Adrian.

[RBE]

You need to be very careful with dremel polishing. Because of the speed it spins it gets very hot and can easily melt the plastic. I would suggest a coat of gloss varnish slightly thinned if you have some.

[Jason T]

Give Microsol a try Al, it might lift it off. This is another reason why I hate acrylics; too permanent.

[Classsix T]

Reckon you might've actually saved yourself a job Al.

Say it's condensation on a cold Autumn/Spring day and you can leave the trees bare too.

Surprised you didn't add people to the 'bus while you were at it mind...

 

Seriously, don't beat yourself up about it mate, we've all been there. I've personally absolutely trashed one side of both a Hornby 56 and 60 by using a too volatile solvent to either remove or thin paint. But as you now know, you have to be especially careful with the transparent stuff.

 

Live, learn move on, C6T.

[Alister_G]

I've done some more on the scenery before the bridge.

 

You saw last time that I'd built a retaining wall and embankment, but had not yet applied any static grass.

 

Here's a few shots of the grassy knoll.

 

 

 

 

I left it with a "skirt" of grass, as I wasn't sure of the exact orientation, so this was cut to the right shape with it in place on the layout.

 

I then realised I'd miscalculated where the platform ramp lay in conjunction with the retaining wall, so I had to add an extension to both the wall and the grass section:

 

 

 

An extension for the bridge was also built, and attached. The lollipop sticks being pressed into service as support for the new section:

 

 

 

 

This will be more closely colour-matched to the rest of the bridge when it's set.

 

Back with the retaining wall, I couldn't work out how to get a consistent fit between the wall, the platform and the bridge, but eventually I settled on adding a section of platform surface which will tie them all together. This needs spraying up Grey when the glue has all set.

 

 

 

I'm now waiting for all the various bits to set, before doing anything else, so I can't show you it all together yet, something for later.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

[Snofi]

Grassy knoll looking excellent - book repository next?

 

 

[Andrew P]

Looking very good Al, nice use of McD's coffee stirrers etc.

[Jock67B]

Looking very good Al, nice use of McD's coffee stirrers etc.

As long as you can get them without drinking their version of coffee HaHaHa!!

Kind regards,

Jock.

PS, seriously Al, a masterclass in modelling as ever, J.

[C&WR]

Makes one wonder if there are amorous couples in those cars, Al!  I had exactly the same problem with one DMBSO of my 117 DMU and ended up ordering that laser-cut flush glaing to go in it.  Now need to pluck up the courage to put it in...

[Alister_G]

It's amazing how long this apparently simple piece of landscaping has taken.

 

Probably, it's because where this particular area is on the layout means that access is quite difficult, and most of the modelling has had to be done off the layout, and then taken back to it to check it fits.

 

So I've spent some time painting what bits I can in preparation, and trying to line up the embankment and wall with the bridge:

 

 

 

 

 

Once all that was done, I could finally put it all back together:

 

 

 

 

 

Some final fettling was needed as the bridge was apparently floating in mid-air in those photos, but I've got it to settle down into place since.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

 

 

 

 

[Alister_G]

A bit of real-time modelling here, I made the last post on this thread at 15:49, and immediately went down into the cellar, and did this:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Including taking the photos, it's taken just over an hour.

 

Here's the view from the up platform of the station:

 

 

And hopefully this is the view as you run into Bakewell from Haddon and Rowsley...

 

 

Only without my fat hand in the way...

 

 

More shrubbery to come, when it's all dried.

 

Thanks for looking,

 

Al.

[Andrew P]

I do hope that's NOT your knee on the bridge,

 

  :no:    

[Alister_G]

I do hope that's NOT your knee on the bridge,

 

  :no:    

 

No mate, it's worse, it's my fat belly

 

Al.

[ben pez]

Looking really good and the bridge is very nicely blended in.

 

Cheers

 

Ben

[westerhamstation]

No mate, it's worse, it's my fat belly

 

Al.

Hi Al, will you be covering it with newspaper and static grass. All the best Adrian

[Alister_G]

Not had chance to do a lot, until this evening, when I have had to clear away the fiddle yard to be able to gain access to the cutting at the back of the station.

 

In an ideal world I'd have done all the scenery at that end first, but circumstances dictated that I needed the station and bridge to be completed and aligned before I could do it.

 

Up until now I've had to kneel on the station car park - still not ideal, since I've only just surfaced it!

 

So here's the cleared area, which I can now climb on to, to get to the back:

 

 

First I added some ballast to the area, which I've now got to wait for to dry:

 

 

I got bored, so I set up a freight train to photograph:

 

 

 

 

 

Al.

Edited August 6, 2015 by acg_mr