Popular Post Dbr1295 Posted January 13, 2015 Popular Post Share Posted January 13, 2015 The beginnings of this layout go back 15 years or so. This was started as a small portable layout as we only had a small house at the time. Three boards were built 1200 x 500, giving a total length of 3600 912 feet) including fiddle yard. Track was laid and point motors installed and that was as far as it got. I then began to seriously model New Zealand Railways in Sn3 1/2 and slowly began to build a collection of stock, and this layout was set aside in the garage. Later on we built a house with a dedicated train room to build an NZR layout in and the little layout was set up against one wall to use as a test track for the stock I was building. Progress on the NZR layout was moving very slowly and I felt the need to complete a layout, so the little layout was resurrected. The idea was to try out scenery methods and to run my nineties vintage R-T-R BR Western region stock. Eighteen months in and here is a few pic's of where we are at. Currently it has no name hence vague topic title. 36 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
artizen Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 What little bit I see in the photos is very nice. Is there a track plan? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 Thank you. This is as much of the layout that has scenery so far, very much a work in progress. No track plan as yet, but I shall draw one up and post it soon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy R Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 Hi from Tauranga, NZ. I am thrilled to see another NZ RM web member displaying their work. It looks really nice from the photos and employing different scenic techniques to me but we are all striving for the same general aims. Great stuff. Andy R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy R Posted January 13, 2015 Share Posted January 13, 2015 sorry -having looked again the trees are very good- I would love to know how you made them? I am finding this part of my modelling work in progress too and challenging. Andy R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 Hi Andy, thanks for the comments. I'm pretty sure from reading you thread that you used to have a small GWR layout on our local exhibition "circuit". Always had been a favourite of mine. Regarding the trees, the smaller ones are just Woodland Scenics fine leaf foliage. The larger ones are the armatures from a Woodland Scenics Realistic Tree Kit. There was I think 7 armatures and some clump foliage in it. I just used the armatures from these, didn't like the look of the foliage. Firstly I formed what looked like a reasonable tree skeleton. Next I cut up a whole lot of garden twine roughly 5mm long. I then spray the armature with spray glue and sprinkled the bits of twine on. Then a first coat of paint using grey undercoat from an aerosol. Then a coat of acrylic paints from an airbrush. I used a random mix of brown earth, light grey & white. I left a couple just grey but I'm not really happy with those. I'm still not totally happy with the browny tinge either but it is better. I have to admit I'm constantly looking at trees to work out how to get the right colours! After painting I spray with glue and sprinkle on Woodland Scenics Coarse Turf of an appropriate shade. Finally a coat of matt varnish from an aerosol. Hopefully this makes sense. I've got some armatures I haven't put foliage on yet so I'll try and get some photo's posted of these and some of the process. I can't claim ownership of the idea, it's just a combination of what other people have done before me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 13, 2015 Author Share Posted January 13, 2015 (edited) Here's a track plan Cheers, Les Edited January 14, 2015 by Dbr1295 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Boco_D1 Posted January 13, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 13, 2015 What a lovely little layout it's good to see it's been given a new lease of life, keep up the good work. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 14, 2015 Author Share Posted January 14, 2015 Here are a couple of before and after pics 15 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy R Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Hi Les- further great photos and nice, straight forward track plan. Yes I am the owner with a friend of the GWR layout called "Dymstock" which we have exhibited mainly in the Hamilton MRC exhibitions over the years. It is rather tired now and probably overexposed in the small modelling circle we frequent in the Waikato in my view. I am also a co-owner of the o gauge layout Lymbridge Harbour that you may have seen around Hamilton exhibition too? I have another exhibition layout in my head that I need to sell to my co-owner John, and if I do I can get on with that idea in due course, after I retire. In the meantime my own home layout Hawkinsfield Junction (see my topic) is taking up sufficient modelling time. See you at a Hamilton exhibition (April in Cambridge or October in Hamilton-please introduce yourself). Regards, Andy R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Unicorn1 Posted January 14, 2015 Share Posted January 14, 2015 Hello Les - from another Les in the UK! A lovely looking layout - and very good photos too. I think the scenery - especially the vegetation - looks superb. I will be following this with interest. Regards Les Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium TrevorP1 Posted January 14, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 14, 2015 Looks a good little project. I keep going back to the very first photo - the view looking over the bridge. We've all stood there haven't we! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Thanks to all for your feedback. Model photography is a new aspect of the hobby I am enjoying, but only recently, so there are no "bare bones" pictures of the layout. For those that are interested, the bench work is 3 1200 x 500 boards made from 65 x 20 dressed pine frame spaced every 300, with 12mm mdf top. Location is by pins and bushes I turned up out of scrap stainless steel and they are held together by 6mm coach bolts. Legs are 45 x 32 pine and the 2 outer boards piggy-back off the middle one. Here a some pictures of the "ugly" side of town, i.e. very much still work in progress. 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 15, 2015 Author Share Posted January 15, 2015 Hi Andy, Ah yes Dymstock, I couldn't remember its name. Lovely layout. I know Lymbridge Harbour as well, also very nice. I most likely will be at the Cambridge show so I will keep an eye out for you. Re the trees here's some pictures showing the glue & varnish I use, the cut up twine and a armature ready for foliage. Hope they are of some use. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Shedman5 Posted January 15, 2015 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 15, 2015 Nice layout and excellent pictures, scenery is excellent. Look forward to seeing more! Alan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 16, 2015 Author Share Posted January 16, 2015 The Goods Shed This is the Wills kit but with a new stone base, made from their dressed stone, and I replaced the moulded downpipes with ones from plastic rod. Not sure what the technical term is, but the lump of wood at the door was made from styrene suitably distressed to look like wood. Still needs final weathering and door handles. Pavers are also by Wills. Colouring is by dark oak wood dye, which comes out a nice grey colour on top of a coat of white primer. It was applied by having a small amount on a rag and gently rubbing on with my finger. I got the idea from an Allan Downes article I once read, where he uses it for walls. The slabs of wood between the tracks in the background are also coloured with this dye, which is probably the colour it should be. Structure in front is the passenger platform, awaiting painting and a top... Cheers, Les 11 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted January 16, 2015 Share Posted January 16, 2015 Great to see another GWR/WR layout on here. It looks really good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy R Posted January 17, 2015 Share Posted January 17, 2015 Les -hope I can get to see you at Cambridge . Unsure which layout I will be helping with at this stage-probably O gauge one from Hamilton MRC (not Lymbridge which we exhibited at Mount last weekend) Thanks for the tree photos- this is an interesting technique using the cut string...like it. will experiment. regards, Andy R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 A couple of pictures from the loco shed gate, (well when I get around to making the wall and gate they will be). Both loco's (45xx & 22xx) by Bachmann. Water tower is Wills. Shed is scratch built. Still needs gutters and down pipes and doors, weathering etc. Been like this for 15 years plus, so no hurry..... Stone work is scribed Das and roof tiles from wall paper. Not entirely happy with colour of roof. Was painted with a Humbrol slate colour I brought cheap many, many years ago, but it came out greenish. Maybe someone can tell me if there are such things as green slates? Cheers, Les 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium figworthy Posted January 18, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 18, 2015 A couple of pictures from the loco shed gate, (well when I get around to making the wall and gate they will be). Both loco's (45xx & 22xx) by Bachmann. Water tower is Wills. Shed is scratch built. Still needs gutters and down pipes and doors, weathering etc. Been like this for 15 years plus, so no hurry..... Stone work is scribed Das and roof tiles from wall paper. Not entirely happy with colour of roof. Was painted with a Humbrol slate colour I brought cheap many, many years ago, but it came out greenish. Maybe someone can tell me if there are such things as green slates? Cheers, Les Green slate does exist, have a look at Honister in the English Lake District. there may be others sources. Adrian Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 19, 2015 Author Share Posted January 19, 2015 Thanks Adrian. Don't know if they ever ended up on GWR loco sheds, but good enough for my train set for now. Cheers,Les Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andy R Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 I am liking the photos Les. Nice, subtle touches. Will you be exhibiting at Cambridge show? Andy R Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 Andy, thanks again for the kind feedback. No, I won't be exhibiting, I will be a mere spectator and shopper. While the layout is designed to be reasonably easy to dismantle and set up, I never really considered it for exhibiting. And, while it is fully working, it is far from finished. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dbr1295 Posted January 20, 2015 Author Share Posted January 20, 2015 2260 arrives with the afternoons pick-up goods, then moves off onto shed. This little effort was supposed to be a quick diversion from my NZR project, but I look at the pictures and see that the loco needs crew, weathering, lamps and decent couplings. The idea was just to have a layout to run my RTR stock on but the more I get into it, the more I feel I need to improve the standards of the stock. Always trying to improve can't be a bad thing as long as we are enjoying ourselves. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
south_tyne Posted January 21, 2015 Share Posted January 21, 2015 Hi Andy, Just read through the topic after discovering it... what a lovely little layout. Really not my usual thing (GWR isn't normally for me!!) but your layout oozes atmosphere and looks so spacious, despite being only 12' long. That definitely is a testament to your skill and vision. The 4th and 5th images in your first post are sublime. David PS I am also jealous of your location in NZ! I had a few months travelling the country a couple of years ago and absolutely loved it! Saying that you might be a lonely GWR modeller in that part of the world! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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