swisspeat

John,

interesting comments about grass grass falling off. So far that has not happened to me with extra hold hairspray and my projects are stored in a damp garage.

i always just liquid glue for the first layer of fibres then hairspray for any subsequent additional patches or colour variations.

glad to see you reused the fibres that had fallen off. I would do the same!

peter

When I first saw the Woodland Scenics Starter Kit I did not think it would work but after using it a few times it does if you limit yourself to max grass fibres of 4mm.

tea strainer types work ok for the same size of fibres but you do have to be careful that you do not load the bowl too high because as you shake it bundles of grass fibres drop onto the layout.

what scale do you work in? If it up to OO scale these starter kits are ok because once the rule has dried you can add a second and third layer to build up the height.

And is response to the earlier questions about layering sprays I also find that Spray Adhesive is just too sticky for this purpose. It swamps the fibres of the existing layer of scenics and too many static grass fibres will stick to it. It will not look realistic.

But I find that unscented extra hold hairspray works really well indeed for second and subsequent layers of static grass fibres. Go steady on the amount of hairspray released onto the tops of the already laid scenics - a little goes a long way.

Enjoy working with static grass fibres!

Peter

I tried typing in Mini Natur UK Supplier into a search engine. I found a few UK shops came up. 

Occasionally their excellent quality scenics is available at shows.

The manufacturer does I understand post direct to the UK. I looked at doing that once but their P and P was rather too expensive. Probably cheaper to send from a German model shop.

Peter

Thank you Craig.

Firstly I will erect some catenary.

Then buy an 11 carriage SBB Giruno.

Next I will buy the lorries and wagons and if I have any money left I will ask you kindly if I can have running rights on Wolfstatt for these two trains. I hear the track access charges on your Magnum Opus are nearly SBB rates!

:-)

Kindest regards,

Peter

P.S. I see the Piko new releases for 2024 are already announced!

The latest HO loco to arrive here is a Roco Ralpin Traxx unusually has totally different liveries on both sides. Purchased from A and H Models at Brackley.

I just need a full set of wagons to accompany it!  :-)

Superb:

video

train

layout!

Well done. You have shown the benefits of N scale.

Kind regards,

Peter

Maybe a BLS Lotschberger unit?

A BLS NINA is promised this year in 4 liveries by LS Models in HO but not in the livery I would choose!

A BLS MIKA maybe...

I will stop here. Those 3 would just be too much for the credit card bill!

Peter

Thanks for flagging up these HO carriages for sale. Some of those look jolly good.

Must say I was a tad taken back by the prices for second hand. Not a great deal deal different to new discounted prices.

But at least they are available whereas not all the new ones are!

Pete

Any progress on this project please? Keen to see your next steps! :-)

Thanks.

Peter

Nice video.

Footbridge looks first class.

Whether to add wires or not! A dilemma. Many modellers in CH particularly in N scale do do add wires. Masts are enough for them.

I model in HO mainly and generally have added the wires but on my last project I did not. See attached glimpses of my Einigen project based on the real location in BLS territory. No wires here and I could just about live with that...

Wishing you further success with the layout...

Peter

Latest additions to the Swiss HO fleet are various second hand Eaos wagons to work with on detailing projects plus a Mabar Tm 232 and Mehano G1000 in Sersa livery (ideal for sugar beet trains!). I finally managed to paint most of the interior of the cab on the second loco - see the Overseas Modelling part of this useful forum.

Working on detailing projects on the other Eaos wagons now.

Enjoy your modelling!

Pete

Well some sort of success today!

I tried removing the cab by teasing out the tags on the base. Nothing moved!

I removed the body, an easy albeit a bit stressful task, but just needs 4 screws to be removed.

Under the cab floor I noticed a panel about 1.5 x 1 cm in size. I gently pushed it to find it sticking up into the cab at an angle! Decided to remove it all together and at least I could paint that grey or black.

So I then had a large central hole in the cab. I mulled on seeing if I had any angled paintbrushes because the internal cab sides fall away at an angle.

Bent some microbrushes and was able to carefully paint most of the remainder of the cab floor. There were some out of reach locations that were a step too far for me. Reinserted the cab floor which I had painted.

Now I am a lot more pleased with the loco!

Thanks for telling me to push on Craig.

By the way the loco runs very nicely.

Kind regards,

Peter

Hello Craig,

Nice to hear from you!

I had a go at that earlier but I might try again soon! It seems odd one has to spend hundreds of pounds on a loco then start disassembling it!

Thanks.

Peter

Hello,

I posted a question on the Swiss Railways section of the Forum today carrying the title "MEHANO G1000 - cab pluses and minuses".

It has just occurred to me that lots of these models are in SNCB and many other liveries so I wondered if any here had any suggestions please? I posted some photos of the problem today on the Swiss pages.

I tried to remove the cab today without success.

Thanks for reading this and any help you can provide.

Regards,

Peter

I have recently bought a Sersa version of the Mehano G1000 to accompany my growing fleet of SBB locos.

It is a good model let down by its white cab "floor". This will be apparent in the accompanying photos.

Has anyone successfully removed the cab and repainted the white with grey or similar please? There is a fitted driver but I would just like the cab to look more realistic.

Very many thanks.

Regards,

Peter

Backscene looks good. Because we generally only take photos of part of a layout at any time the repetition is not that apparent.

new cameras take some getting used to!

Peter

Nice video and I agree with David's comments though I always seem to be drawn to the Swiss greenery!

Regarding the tunnel portals have you thought about using foam board? Nice and light and can be shaped and honed to personal preference.  There are some useful comments from me and others in this chain maybe?

BLAUSEE MITHOLZ - exploring a possible new project - Swiss Railways 

I passed the Thun Die Post depot yesterday and there were no wagons visible. On Tuesday I was near the Cadenazzo post depot and an SBB Re 4/4 left pulling just one wagon on the afternoon postal service. Maybe there is not that much post being delivered at this time of year?

Keep up the good work with your project....

Peter

Thanks Keith.

My choice would always be the UHU. It dries clear matt in my experience.

Watered down PVA might be ok for static grass fibres but it still carries a risk of leaving a sheen and might not hold the fine foam pieces too well.

Looking forward to seeing your final results....

Peter

On some occasions I have dispensed with the plastic window boxes and simply fixed the vegetation to the chalet balconies.

Foliage is a good material to make a small teased out blob then add a little thick white glue to it and sprinkle on fine foam coloured pieces. 

Most white glues dry matt and clear but be aware that external PVA can dry yellow.

I hope the pictures help my explanation.

Best wishes

Pete

It does look a little chunky compared to the laser cut light tower but some weathering would definitely tone it down and once you hide the base that will help.

I really like your idea of forced perspective of the two lights.

Do the lights on it work ok?

Superb modelling!

For me it was Best in Show - colourful, realistic, not the WCML and a tribute to the building team. 

The best advert for Modelling European Railways for years.

Well done Craig and the team. Your 3 deep line of folks to watch trains passing was well deserved.

Peter

Really enjoyed your video as usual.

DCC? Whilst I have some DCC Sound locos in HO scale, and enjoy those, I would think twice (as you are doing!) for N scale on your layout.

You have lovely long realistic trains. Not many of us have those in any scale! You will likely run your trains at realistic speeds and I find that the noise of the wheels on rails generally dominates in any scale unless the sound is rather too loud anyway.

When I do run my HO scale DCC Sound trains it is generally at a low speed (necessitated by small layout and keenness to watch trains in slow motion) . 

Standing at shows watching larger layouts I find that the rushing noise of the wheels on rails often muffles out any decent sound effects.

I do agree with the earlier comments about lights and arguably when your trains at running at 160 km/h I am sure your lights will look bright on your recent purchases.

Looking forward to seeing more progress on the layout.

Nice tee shirt!  :-)

Peter

Lovely picture Frutigen! Thank you.

You seem to have been there in the spring.

Here is a wider view of the diorama.

On the single track BLS Simmental line from Spiez to Zweisimmen there is a tiny halt named Grubenwald. I came across it by accident when I was walking the line back in 2010 and took a few autumnal photos then.

This month models of the building made by Liliput in HO scale are arriving in European retailers at around £21 I believe. The Liliput building is being made by the same team as those that make the popular Scenecraft buildings for the UK.

I have made a small diorama of Grubenwald and added some additional detailing parts from various small manufacturers supplemented with some scratchbuilt parts.

Hopefully it will remind us all of CH in the summer months...

Best wishes,

Peter