Hills and Meadows - N-gauge

[Revolution Ben]

 

Hi Maurits,

 

I think you've made the right decision there. It looked good before, but the new contour blends far better with the gentle rolling hills of the backscene.

 

Cheers

 

Ben A.

[Maurits71]

Evening all. thanks for all the feed back really appreciated.

 

Quit a few times people always tell me that they are surprised that the train room is always so tidy   :no: not while I am working on the scenery. 

 

 

The grass hill is getting more and more shape. the first initial layer is all done now, so once this is dry I can start with the lighter colours to match it a bit more with the back ground.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Really like the new grass hill, blend perfectly in with the back ground and really look forward to the point where the road and the terrassed houses are finished.

 

best regards

 

Maurits

[Transition]

Si see what you mean about it being complicated!

[Maurits71]

Change of plan today, cleaning up and play time

 

 

Scenery is something for later in de week

g

 

Br.

M.

Edited July 3, 2016 by Maurits71

[Maurits71]

Happy Sunday.

 

I get something questions about the software I use. I used a free to use program called Koploper developed bu a Dutch designer Paul Haagsme. This program is available for almost 20 years now. In the beginning only on a licensed base only but since a couple of years freely to use for everybody. I am using this program since day 1 almost and it's one of the most complete programs I know and probably better developed and more complete then any you have to pay for program. Only down side for you guys it's in Dutch and the designer has no intensions to translate it.

 

What you see is firstly a diagram of my lay out. funny enough I only finished this diagram earlier this week. before it was al sorts of parts of the layout everywhere pointing towards eacht other. it's now more understandable.

 

 

As I have 2 screens on my computer I have a dedicated screen for loc control and performance. Right bottom part is an overview of the performance and right top is the daily statistics part.

 

 

As you can see I have done averages of close to 900 kilometres per hour, I am now stream lining the program as my target is to get the 1k mark as average.

[Maurits71]

Evening all.

 

 

Did quit a big chunk nearer the back ground today, happy with my Flock it, well worth the money, long stretches like this takes only a couple of minutes.

 

 

because of the back is sort of done now it becomes a nice spot for photo's. this time without rolling stock.

 

 

and some other blends on the main hill, still pleased that I have re done this bit, especially from this angle it's blends really well in with the back ground

 

 

and especially for those not on facebook. I did a running session a couple of days with the intention to make another video but a lack of time prevents me from finishing it, but during the session I noticed a kind of a cool moment with 2 loco's on the upline and 2 on the downline near the tunnel, click and enjoy

 

[Maurits71]

Evening all.

 

Long time on my things to do list was to re livrei a class 91 rack into the new Virgin livrei with the Battle of Britain memorial DVT. Vinyls are all courtesy @Adam Warr from Electra trains

 

My Buddy Paul Churchill has done the DCC conversion for me including the lights

 

I have the full rack already some time and noticed that the GF wagons are a bit light weighted which means that they can de rail quite easily. Solution is to fit MK4 interiors from BR lines.

 

As I wasn't sure which colours they are I decided to go for dark gray underground with red chairs.Have also added straight away passengers as empty trains are lolking silly

 

 

 

Roofs are re painted dark grey

 

 

Just to make sure I have stripped the paint of all wagons as it gives just a smoother finish.

 

 

As mentioned both DVT and motor DVT have got working lights now, here the finished DVT

 

 

It's a bit difficult to find images from roof of the motor DVT. If I have seen it correctly it's fading from dark grey to white so that's what I have done

 

 

And as it's already running around in this livrei and quit dirty I have done the same lots of weathering

 

 

The original DVT looks horrible so have cut off the outer coupler and fixed the air dam to the body

 

 

And with vinyls

 

 

 

proud of my weathering

 

 

 

And a few coaches done now, will do the others later

 

 

[Maurits71]

Evening

 

Had a really good day today running wise, as everything worked as it should be enough time for some video shoots. Hope you enjoy my latest video

 

 

 

best regards

 

Maurits

[Maurits71]

Evening all, I really hope that everybody is enjoying the summer at least here in Cambridgeshire we have already quit a few good weeks. So had planned in my holidy to get some work done on the layout but not a lot has happened too lovely outside. But as we had 2 rainy nights I have finished one of the silhouette printed houses. all hand painted, with light , curtains and interiour.

 

 

 

The next batch with the terrassed houses is also getting there, it's not a big job, in fact I think it can be finished in one of two nights but the mojo isn't there. but getting there, most of the painting is done, most houses have got lights and interiors so will start glueing everything together over the next couple of days

 

 

also started buying some static grass to finish a few hills, hope it's enough

 

 

best regards

 

Maurits

[grob1234]

Very Dutch looking houses there - nice!

 

Green scene static grass? I use their products and am very happy with them.

 

What's in the black box?

[Maurits71]

Thanks Grob, the black box is contains a mixture of static grass, regarding the houses they are copied from pictures I have taken in Lincoln

[Revolution Ben]

Hi Maurits,

 

Yes, it's really coming along now.  I have always found that adding greenery and scenics makes a huge difference in a short space of time!

 

What brand is the product in the black tub?  That has piqued my interest too!

 

As you probably know, there is a very strong Dutch influence in much of East Anglia and north of The Wash; in Norwich, Boston, Lincoln, Kings Lynn etc there are lots of houses with Dutch gables.  And of course the draining of the fens was largely achieved with Dutch know-how, though I understand traditional windmills were an English invention exported to Holland....

 

cheers

 

Ben A.

[Maurits71]

Hi Ben

 

the mystery black tube contains normally an algae killer for pond, don't think this is in your interest , I use them for storage. The green scene bags with static grass are quit small so I normally empty them first in the tube, mixed with different colours.

 

Thanks for the additional info regarding the Dutch influence, didn't know this has always wondered why they look so similar to what I have seen in Holland but now I remember history lessons that once a long time ago we dominated the world ghe ghe

[Maurits71]

Evening all,

 

Have managed to steal a good couple of hours. the first 3 are 90 % finished so I thought lets see how it looks.

 

 

 

 

already really pleased, will crack on with the other 5, in fact whilst writing the lights are done, just waiting for the glue to dry. once all 8 area sort of done I will finish them all in one go, guttering, weathering etc etc,

[Maurits71]

afternoon, have finally managed to finished the terraced houses 9 with a few details to go 

 

 

working now on a construction so that I can remove houses and road all in one go if I need to access the helix,  

[Maurits71]

Happy Saturday

 

Finally after a few good weeks with lots of work for the boss, helping my buddy Paul out with Tormouth some time for myself. So decided to start with one of those jobs you need to do before the real fun scenery work can start, ballasting, the good news the main line together is only 15 metres so it's ins't too bad :-[

 

during last week I already prepared a few things, the orange cables underneath the track. cable trunks and relay boxes, correct spots for the signals so today it was just ballasting.

 

 

To give the maintenance crew a sort of access to the mainline a wooden level crossing, sign with look listen etc are on the ttd list

 

 

also spend quite some time to check if there was enough space for trains to pass the signals, the one one the left will be replaced with a correct 3 bit signal.

 

 

think it's going to cost me a few good nights before this is done but hey, it's a 30 year project anyway

[Maurits71]

Hi all

 

I have been able to spend some time in the train room between watching football, the whole mainline is done now, need a good clear up and a few spots which needs some extra ballast. will do a good run in the weekend before I will start with the signals, relays boxes, the green stuff amd the air brush.

 

this is the right hand side towards rhe corner with the terrassed houses

 

 

and the left hand side, the blue foam is a mock up for the retaining walls, just to check and see how it looks

 

[Maurits71]

Evening,

 

steady progress with the build of one of the retaining walls.

 

 

if I am able to get some time > tomorrow I will start painting the whole lot as this needs to be finished first before I can start with making some hills

[Maurits71]

evening all,

 

managed to get the retaining wall finished last night, really pleased with the end result.

 

 

think onces it's covered with weed and bushes it really stands out

[Maurits71]

Evening all

 

Just recovered from the weekend and a few hours for myself. I have left my terraced houses project for a while as I was struggling to see/ find how to finish them. and finish in a way that a fitted in the surroundings. Till I was driving from wendover to Bourne end last week and I passed a set of terraced houses with were separated from the road underneath with a big retaining wall, so an idea was borne.

 

So time to get the tools out, making walls, foot paths, front gardens etc etc. now everything needs to dry before I can finish the front gardens. so another update soon  

 

 

 

[Maurits71]

special couple of days, so a special photo

 

[Maurits71]

so this is the outcome of my idea weeks ago, really pleased with the outcome

 

[Maurits71]

Happy Sunday.

 

Had 2 good days in my train room, did a 5 our run yesterday without any major issues with a top of 28 trains simultaneous, so I was quite impressed with this achievement.

 

Today was planned to get some scenery done. Have made the first part of the scenery for Helix number 3. similar construction as the other ones, so a removable middle part. Haven't decided yet what I am going to do here but it's likeley that it's going to be some woods and a radio tower like the Sandy radio tower.

 

 

also started with another building, this time an old , badly maintained office block, partly rented out and decorated with some big sales banners. lots of work to do off course but happy with the first achievement.

 

[Maurits71]

evening.

 

I can't agree with myself what to do next to the terraced houses, the office building doesn't look right so need to come up with another ideas. same for the helix, I know what I want, but need to create something which looks right and is removable in case of a derailment, it hasn't happened since I have build it but  for sure it's going to happen once it's no longer accessible..

 

to keep a bit busy I have started as well with one of the platforms, a bit of a challenge as the track isn't straight. so a mock up first to see how it looks

 

 

My lux cleaner set are the widest wagons I have, so if they fit everything else will fit.

 

 

and a first glance from board to top 12 mm, seems alright to me.

 

 

 

I have tried to find the correct height for platforms, seems to be various options so likely my 12 mm isn't to far out

[Maurits71]

Happy Monday.

 

finished the mock up of platform number 2 last night, 3 to go before we are going to do some serious testing between x-mas and new-year.

 

 

 

as mentioned I wasn't overly happy with the office block next to the terraced houses, so after a bit of playing with the computer and the silhouette printer I came up with some own design retaining walls, few tweaks to do but think it looks much better, need 8 of these on both sides of the viaduct.

 

 

 

best regards, Maurits

Edited December 19, 2016 by Maurits71