RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 23, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 23, 2019 Hello everybody! Ho Ho Ho it’s the 1000th reply!! First thing this morning we went over to the clubroom and collected the Gresby. It all fits into the back of a Citroen Picasso (quite a sad picture of a layout in the back of a car) It fit in the space and I got cracking straight away. Over the next 4 days I’ve got to do this lot: Fit a new sky Rebuild the platform Plant a small wood Build a fence Build some access steps Finish and fit the pub Touch up the car lot and fit it Finish that bit of waste land Play trains (obviously I mean test run new trains) This came to be run in, it’s not going to be Welsh for long, this is nominally the last picture against the old sky that I hate (but it won’t be because of continuity and me not fitting all four sections on the same day) I started with the hardest section, cutting the sky around the the shopping centre and then sliding the sky in behind everything. I need to read up on what glue to use and then I’ll cut it to shape. It’s so much better - what was I thinking with the other sky?!? The new sky in place. Lots to do! Simon 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 23, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 23, 2019 (edited) Hello everybody The first thing I did once I’d cleaned the track and plugged everything in was get an engine going round to check it was working, and while it was doing laps I started on the hill: I’m still not sure what I was thinking with the fur but it’s in the bin now. The 37 was the first loco ever to run through the tunnel (many pages ago). I tried to get a fence in the model shop, but they only had a a Ratio one that looked too big, so I bought plasticard instead. I have to get cracking with the sky round this corner if I’m going to get anything finished this week. Here is the hill with the post holes drilled out. (No handily posed train passing) The first wagon I tested - as suspected it’s a little wide to fit through the platforms, but it was fine on the rest of the layout. I didn’t buy it for Gresby though. I tried gluing the backscene down and I used far too much glue, I’ve got a rescue plan in mind if it doesn’t turn out fine Lots to do! Simon Edited December 23, 2019 by MrSimon 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan. Posted December 24, 2019 Share Posted December 24, 2019 Steady on Simon you won't have chance to eat your turkey! However at least you will have a new layout! I am looking forward to see the pub etc when 'planted'. Merry Christmas Duncan 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 24, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 24, 2019 There’s always time for Turkey Duncan! Today has been about the sky. It took ages. The bit I thought might fix itself overnight looked worse than when I went to bed so I pulled it off and started again, but the whole layout now has a new sky coloured sky: It’s still only blu-tacked on while my test pieces of PVA and impact glue set. The main job today has been the platform. This was a temporary surface thrown on just before Gresby’s first exhibition in 2012. It wasn’t load bearing, and it didn’t stay flat. But now it’s all change A new skeleton 2mm lower than the original so a mountboard top can go on, and then the wet n dry will be re-laid and painted. It’ll look something like this. As the platform’s been up the booking office has been revealed for the first time in years. I really did have too much time on my hands! More to come Simon 3 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 24, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 24, 2019 The 10MB rule strikes again (I should just take smaller pictures) Throughout the platform works this has done many gauging runs, the PFAs being the train that fouled the platform and the one that really can’t foul the platform! Also, the first run of this class 37. Somehow I turned up here with 6 class 66s. Here’s one of the three green ones being run in. So this happened. I’m not sure what’s going on there, it came out of this hole! Another mm cut off the front, before I stick the backscene down I’ll strip off the old one too for some more width. I e got a horrible feeling this part of the pub might come back with me for a diet. Tonights main job is to build that fence before Santa comes Lots to do! Simon 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 24, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 24, 2019 Hello everybody! More construction and some demolition this evening... The fence! I’ve made this part but I need to stick the backscene on before I can do the top and the bottom - it’s not staying white! I’ve finished the platform on the main board, it’s setting before I do the last bit and stick the wet n dry back. The widest train stopped for a photo, it fits! Bouncing off towards Sheffield (not Wales) The demolition. It looks worse that it is... I just hope the polyfiller I saw yesterday is still soft enough to use! I have a set of steps to fit here and a security gate. Merry Christmas everyone Simon 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted December 25, 2019 Share Posted December 25, 2019 Hi Simon. I am always following along in the background without posting so often, but I am blown away at how much you are getting through and the quality at which you are doing it. The pub is impressive enough when it was just on your work bench, but it looks even better in the context of the layout, even if it does look like it needs a slight trim. The sky is also a huge improvement in the background. Brilliant modeling as always. Happy Christmas. Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 25, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 25, 2019 Thank you Dave, Happy Christmas! I’m loving what you’re doing on Maids Morton too Hope everyone got some presents they can run! I got these, with another to open on Saturday: I had a bit of a play this morning, and cracked on with the platform: Here’s a ‘gauging run’ after fixing new wet n dry down. The traditional Christmas rail tour. Merry Christmas everyone! Simon 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les1952 Posted December 25, 2019 Share Posted December 25, 2019 12 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said: Hi Simon. I am always following along in the background without posting so often, but I am blown away at how much you are getting through and the quality at which you are doing it. The pub is impressive enough when it was just on your work bench, but it looks even better in the context of the layout, even if it does look like it needs a slight trim. The sky is also a huge improvement in the background. Brilliant modeling as always. Happy Christmas. Dave Mr Simon IS currently spending about 10 hours a day working on the layout. The rest of the gang arrive on Friday afternoon so "Christmas" with the whole family present is on Saturday- the layout returns to store on Sunday after which I can get on finishing preparing Hawthorn Dene (the stacked layout at the far end that can just be seen in some of the pics) for Worksop show in January. Meanwhile I'm just keeping out of his way and letting him get on with it. Les (Dad) Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 25, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 25, 2019 Hello everybody, Today I made a ditch... First I had to fill the bottom of the ditch, this is my first try with a ready made static tuft of grass. I’m not sure I like it. The fence took forever to paint, and it needs a second coat The ditch with the rest of the fence built. Once the second coat of paint is dry I can start the ground cover and finish the top of the verge. I thought I’d bought too many trees when I was in 4D the other week, but I should have bought 3 more I think. I’m not sure if I want a fence, or a hedge over the back of the woods. The trees are just placed in position at the moment, they need bedding in and more low level bushes, but I think the woods works better than the field. The new verge through the bridge. I’ve run out of space! 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 26, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 26, 2019 Today brought progress on two other bits of work that weren’t the fence: The tunnel board has a backscene fully fitted and cut to size, it’s the smallest one but it’s a massive improvement. This is the first time the megaboxes have ever been run, the layout went into store before I bought them in 2012 and they’ve been sat in my stock box ever since. (Like everything else I brought up with me they only like the outer track) The nuclear train also came up purely because it shares a stock tray with the megaboxes. I should have done clearance checks with the dummy class 20 as it doesn’t like going through the platform road on the outer track... oh well. Speaking if the platform road on the outer track, here is the final clearance run through, no snagging (but I bet that won’t be the case with the full train on). Today I built the last piece of the platform, cut down and stuck the cover layer, and it had its first coat of grey. After all these years it looks weird not being the colour of wet n dry... Class 150 calls at Gresby. The new sky is so much better for photography! Can you guess what it’s going to be? I’ve got the NR modules waiting for me at home as a project for the new year. Revolution weren’t wrong when they say they don’t like set track radius 1! There’s another board of backscene drying overnight and the other two to cut to shape and stick down tomorrow. And some other stuff. Lots to do... Simon 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les1952 Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 (edited) Meanwhile Dad borrowed a few minutes to pose some of the stock for his new layout. Makes a change from posing them on Hawthorn Dene or Croft Spa. Perhaps these give the game away- the new layout is provisionally called Bregenbach. Can I persuade Mr Simon to install OHLE on Gresby? Not a chance.... Les Edited December 26, 2019 by Les1952 typos as ever..... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 26, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 26, 2019 Well funnily enough I had thought of electrifying it at one stage, I just didn’t fancy doing the viaduct. Today I had my first go at static grass. It’s really messy! First I added a second coat of paint to the fence, it’s meant to be weathered wood (and left some bits in the original coat to show where bits had been replaced). The cocktail sticks are so I don’t loose the holes for the trees. Then I drilled holes for all the other undergrowth. After this I stuck half a cocktail stick in each hole and couldn’t remember which were tree holes... I smeared glue over the earth, then puffed static grass over it (I chose dirty woodland floor colours) and then stuck the bits of undergrowth back into their holes. There’s a lot of static grass everywhere. How does everyone else stop it from going everywhere? I gave it a quick go over with the hoover, patched any bald spots and planted the first two rows of trees. Not bad for a few hours work. This morning I also got the second board of backscene finished and the second coat of grey paint onto the platform. And it’s not stopped raining all day Lots to do! Simon 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les1952 Posted December 26, 2019 Share Posted December 26, 2019 (edited) Basically you don't stop static grass going everywhere. the trick is to keep the vacuum cleaner clean and empty or put a cloth over the end of a mains one, then tip the cleanings onto paper and put it back in the mix for re-use. It isn't that much less messy with expensive kit and the grass doesn't stand up that much better - Gaugemaster "el cheapo" puffer bottle rules..... Les Edited December 26, 2019 by Les1952 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 27, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 27, 2019 Hello everybody, Static grass done for this trip I just need to vacuum the rest of the grass up and plant the last two trees. I’ve got more grass to do but not this time. While my first batch of grass was drying I built another fence: This was quicker and much easier than the last fence I built. Hopefully it’s also the last fence I build from scratch! While the second batch of grass was drying I painted the fence. Only one coat on this one. Once dry I drilled out where the extra bits of bush were going and added bigger clumps of ‘not grass’ and then puffed on the grass - I added a lot more grassy green onto the top of the hill to blend more with the field on top. Finished (except for the larger trees which will go where the cocktail sticks are). I want to add some more ground cover to the area in front of the fence, I’m going to experiment a bit to make a decent representation of brambles. A project I’ve had in my mind for quite a while is a banner repeater to fit in that square of K&S by the tunnel mouth - maybe this is the year it gets done? Lots to do! Simon 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 27, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 27, 2019 Morning everybody! Looking back I really should have built this last time when I built the house and garden: It’s been a bit of a pain to build it over the house... I bought steps with me but building them defeated me, so I’ll have a stare at them at home and bring finished ones up. Last night I fitted the gate etc at the bottom, now I have to bed it in with scenery. That’s going to be a pain. So I think I’ve worked out what happened with the pub. I made a template of the available space, which I copied, and the template was about 2 inches too small! It was also a bit thin too. I think I know what I need to do to it... but here’s what you see of the pub looking over with the track at/above eye level. An MOD train using a revolution KFA and some vans. I’m not sure if I should get a PFA or two or make some empty warflats. These are the containers I built this year. I think this is the wagon I’m going to use (they’re not stuck down yet) Last day in the shed today! 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 27, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 27, 2019 Hello everybody! It’s been 8 years but I fixed the station building down. Typical me I spent all that time rebuilding the platform and it’s not flat! Also, after all these years I found I hadn’t glazed it. I reckon when I go out on the road I’m going to have to take pare monitors with me Glued in place for the first time. The greener round the bottom will brush off leaving just a little... even though I really like the bushy look There’ll be plenty of pictures and videos coming over the next few days, but the layout gets packed up in the morning! Simon 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
millerhillboy Posted December 27, 2019 Share Posted December 27, 2019 Great work Simon, and nice to see you record the progress. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 28, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 28, 2019 Thanks MHB - it’s always handy to write everything in here (and the rollingstock thread) so I can remember what I did! There’s been a bit of a binge of updates over the last few weeks but I’m going to try and work a bit more steadily over the next few months. Santa came again before I packed the layout up: I need to have a look at the couplings on the hopper as they catch in the points. More to come over the next few days! Simon 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 29, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 29, 2019 Hello everybody, The layout’s back in store at the clubroom and the bits that are coming back with me are all packed. I got everything on the list done except for the fitting the pub - that’s coming back with me to be thinned down. The last thing I worked on was the car lot. Here are the spaces left for two bits of scenery I brought down, the wasteland on the left and showroom building on the right. I was having issues with the portacabin being knocked so I put a container down next to it to take the blows. Then I added some more clutter. The wasteland, I added some bits that had been dumped and some greenery. It still needs more work, I need to find some sort of aggregate to add onto the piles, and I need to build a fence. The site with the buildings and some cars in situ, I need some more cars and some signage, but it’s looking how I’d imagined. Lots to do Simon 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BernardTPM Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 I wonder if the car lot owners might want to put up a wood/plywood fence/hoarding to hide the demolished building. Just a thought, Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 30, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 30, 2019 Hello everybody, I got my act together and edited together most of the bits of video I took last week. They were taken throughout the week so the continuity is all over the place when it comes to the scenery: There’s a few more pictures to come, and there’s plenty of stuff to keep me busy - lots to do! Simon 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted December 31, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted December 31, 2019 34 minutes ago, BernardTPM said: I wonder if the car lot owners might want to put up a wood/plywood fence/hoarding to hide the demolished building. Just a thought, Simon Great minds think alike there Bernard! I drilled out the holes for a fence but I didn’t have time to build it - I’ve got the measurements for it and two more fences to build before the next building session on the layout. There should be room for two more cars on the car lots side of the fence! Cheers Simon 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted January 1, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 1, 2020 Happy New Year Everybody! Here are some more pictures from last weeks works: The steps and embankment side. I need a shrub or two to go on the actual embankment, and I’d thought a tree between where the metal gate and the wall meet - the one I took up with me was the wrong shape. I also took measurements for a small fence between the end of the fence and the house. As above but with a train. I turfed under where the steps will go, making them might be a job for this weekend (to get them out the way) This ran in well (it ran well straight out the box) it’s going to be partially repainted into Arriva Trains Northern (the original north east and Yorkshire version, not the new white and spotty version) - the pictures I’ve found seem to show a different shade of green/turquoise - does anyone know if Arriva uses a different shade for Wales? Lots of Leyland National action above and below the bridge! I’d meant to build walls at each end of the platform, I just didn’t get round to it. I also need higher sides to the bridge to stop people falling off. The K&S square is for the signal. New bus stop, 9 years in the making and already I’m wondering if it’s too white. Once the pub is fitted I just need to make the stone cap for the bridge and that’s this view complete. (Although at some stage a builder’s lorry is planned and the house needs chimney pots fitting, and there’s scenic work to do at trackbed level) I was relieved this ran well, the couplings don’t behave on my coffee-table oval of Unitrack. I can finish it off and give it a weather. The only issue I’ve found it the pantograph coach will only run a certain way round and I want it to run the other way round... it’s not a show stopper, just a pain. Lots to do! Simon 7 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan. Posted January 3, 2020 Share Posted January 3, 2020 Great work Simon. a very productive holiday period. As I said before a a layout that uses scratchbuilt buildings is so much more interesting than one where you can comment Peco Goods Shed, Faller viaduct etc, surely this is what proper modelling is about, Cheers Duncan 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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