LDM34046

Thank you! I agree, the whole less is more approach seems to be working across the board when it comes to the different areas of modelling.

More progress on the weathering with the Hornby ex-LSWR brake van being the latest result. Particularly happy with the results of the streaky rust on the duckets and wood grain scribed into the panel with fibreglass brushes.

Another topic of conversation this evening while I was doing a spot of weathering and taking a few photos. Layout Lighting. Both Lancaster Lane and Brewers Street are lit by the bedroom LED spot lights. The bulbs are warm LED which gives a yellow hue. Although I try and adjust the white balance in photoshop it is still noticeable in the photos. Some photos and angles conceal it better than others. When I can I try and shoot the layout during the day when I can rely on natural light but most of my modelling takes place during the evenings when it's dark. Last weekend I did shoot a comparison and the difference is night and day (pun intended!). I've been starting to look at the different lighting options. In hindsight I could have designed the layout with a built in lighting pelmet however I was concerned with the layout being too tall as it sits on the bedroom desk. My second idea is to get an LED Desk Lamp that sits over the layout. I've found a few online that are 80cm in length which would just about cover the length of the scenic area. Most of them also have options to change the warmth and brightness. The third idea is to get some small portable diffused lights to illuminate the layout from the side when shooting it. Only issue is they'd have to be put away and brought out when shooting. Working with natural light is the ideal situation and when filtered through the window shutters I can get some brilliant effects. The only downside is there isn't a constant supply of natural light when modelling after work, especially in the winter.

It’s a bit like ballasting. Everyone dreads doing it but actually once you find a process that works, little and often gets the job done. I’ve decided ‘quick’ Seafoam trees will make up the bulk of the background and then make some more detailed armatures that’ll sit in the foreground.

Another tree has been planted on Brewers Street, this one taking pride of place behind the station halt. I can’t take credit for this mighty oak(?) as it was actually my dad who built it. Having seen my previous attempts he wanted to give it a go. My earlier attempt was knocked together in a matter of a morning. Dad however spent a couple of hours each day over the course of three days and the result show. The branches were trimmed of sprue and hand painted instead of spray and the seafoam was glued to each branch with tacky PVA before a further coat to blend the gaps. The results are impressive and looks rather natural, something I struggled with using the woodland scenics armatures. The tree is yet to be covered in scatter and foliage but that’ll be done once the holes have been drilled definitively for the final placement. I know dad reads this blog from time to time so thank you for your modelling contribution! Your help is always appreciated.

More weathering on the workbench this week. Decided to try my skills on the new mineral wagon. This time I used just the weathering powders instead of the dark wash. A subtle approach working into the edges and around the doors, working down in a streaky motion. I also wanted to experiment with the new AK Interactive weathering rust pencils. Another technique of trial and error but happy with the streaky rust effect on one of the wagon's panels.

I can’t take the credit for the varnish. @NHY 581kindly offered a few tips over on his Sheep Chronicles. My early attempts at varnishing resulted in a dusty white look on the models. This was a result of over spraying the model. I use Humbrol Matt Varnish. With no research it was the second cheapest in my local model shop and I’ve settled with it ever since. Following @NHY 581 advice I found that the can needs well shaking prior to use, a minimum of 30 seconds to a minute. Having the can at room temperature also aids coverage. Spraying the wagon from about half arms length I’ve done one, maybe two passes of each side of the wagon. I’ve found less is definitely more. In the past I’ve over-cooked it and the wagons have looked wet with a thick coat which then dries cloudy. One or two light passes with the spray is enough to seal in the weathering powders leaving a matt finish. I am by no means an expert. My journey of weathering and painting is very much trial and error!

Decided to start on the weathering with a wagon I’ve had sitting in the box for the best part of a year. The bright red needed toning down. It was part of a bundle I won from Hornby as a runner up for their ‘Photo of the Year Competition’. A few of the panels were painted brown as replacements. A watered down dark grey acrylic paint was painted over the top before being wiped off with cotton buds leaving the grime in the cracks and around the edges. Black and light brown weathering powders were then lightly applied over a few of the brighter flat surfaces in a streaky downwards motion. Matte varnish sealed it all together. Finally found the nack with varnish, avoiding the white dusty look I’ve had in the past. Happy with the final result. Definitely a less is more approach with weathering. It’s been well over a year since I’ve weathered so happy with the progress.

They’re lovely models and I’m sure they’ll fit in well on your layout. Glad to see his brilliant work his getting about!

I also stumbled across this new business. Primo Models, specialising in pre-made finescale trees and scenics. Beautifully modelled and relatively good value for money, especially the smaller trees. From the same business I picked up these pre-made static tuffs of long grass and wild flowers. Small packs are ideal for ‘micro’ modellers like me. Not a paid advert, just a great small business emerging and a really happy customer. Plenty of new products on their website should anyone want to have a browse.

A flurry of purchases at the show yesterday. Some lovely new rolling stock additions for the layout. Three new mineral wagons. A really soft spot for these Bachmann models. A good base to test out some new weathering skills. Another private merchant wagon, this 7-plank with coke rails makes a nice change to the rake of regular 7-plank. A great find, one of Bachmann’s limited edition colliery wagons. A nice mix of variety and some added colour to the stock list. Looking forward to trying some new techniques to make them look suitably grubby. I understand the gripe some people have towards the cost of our hobby, especially with the latest release of all singing and all dancing locomotives but exhibitions really are a great place for bargains. Four mint condition Bachmann wagons, all with modern couplings and metal wheels, all under £10 each.

A busy week at work. Visited Hornby’s Great Electric Electric Train Show. Interesting to say the least… However, a few purchases and plenty to be getting on with!

“When’s the last train?”

A few modifications with the overall shape since the last photo but I'd thought I'd grab a few photos in situ on the layout. It's only temporarily placed as I've still got a few bits I want to add to it. It was sprayed brown and Burnt Grass Coarse Turf was applied with Layering Spray. A few more tuffs need to be added in places. I also made a Seafoam tree using left overs from Lancaster Lane with the new Coarse Turf applied. Happy with the results and I think the Seafoam trees will make up the forest along the backscene. Still not sold on using on the Woodland Scenics armatures for the bulk of the trees. The profile doesn't look natural. The one I've made fits in well hidden behind the garages with a few branches hanging over the roofs.

Interesting… The technique is working well. I’m not entirely convinced on the shape of the armature.

Another project I wanted to try was making my trees a bit more substantial. The previous layout used solely seafoam however, although they looked good, I felt they looked a bit too delicate. Following a Luke Towan tutorial I picked up a pack of Woodland Scenic armatures yesterday. The idea being, once bent into a suitable shape, seafoam branches are added before being painted and flocked with Coarse Turf.

I used hairspray on the the trees for Lancaster Lane which worked really well. I had heard rumours that the Peco Layering Spray was produced by WWS. When I placed the order with them the aerosol was sold out so I settled with the basing glue and liquid layering spray. I found both products very odd and difficult to work with. I always thought the thickness of PVA was the key to helping the static grass stay upright. Different modellers have different products they find work best. Considering how good WWS products are, I was surprised by my homemade comparisons. I guess it's all down to technqiue?

If it hadn't had worked I would have been a bit annoyed to say the least however considering the difference and how massively improved the results are I'd be inclined to say it's worth the money? (He says with gritted teeth).

I thought the same thing Andy! Had a quick google to price check before I bought it! Seems to be the going rate! I use cheap hairspray for my tree foliage, works a treat! I felt that I needed something a bit stickier and substantial for the grass

Afternoon. It’s been a productive weekend. Firstly, a trip to Folkestone Model Railway Exhibition this morning. Not the biggest show in the UK but always well put together and well attended. Resisting all the urges to expand the Peckett fleet however I did make a few sensible purchases to progress with the scenics. (More on that later.) I’ve been pondering over the layout the last few days, not entirely sold on the results of last weekend. I tried to take a few photos here and there however not 100% pleased with the result. My conclusion was that the static grass was a) too bright a shade of green and b) not static in the slightest. I was left with a flat finish with the odd patch standing tall. Now without meaning to offend brands or names, I wanted to do a little test with the different products I had used over the past to see which yielded the best results. I found that the new WWS applicator was the most effective (although this time fitted with a Duracell rather than a whimsy supermarket own brand one). Surprisingly I found that PVA worked better over the ‘Basing Glue’. I put this down to more a consistency issue rather than the glue itself. I have nothing against WWS, their applicator works brilliantly. I’m sure as a novice I’m probably not using their products as intended! Today at the show I picked up a can of the often talked about Peco layering spray along with some darker 4mm grass. Armed with the applicator, layering spray and darker 4mm grass the before and after results are night and day…

If only! Nearly ended in a very toasty layout!

Definitely satisfying to see it develop. Long way off being finished but happy with the progress.

Things are looking nice and green. A busy day with the (new) static grass applicator. (The last one caught fire, long story). Starting with a blend of light and medium 2mm grass before adding in some layers of 4mm and 6mm in the over grown areas. Different scatters and colours from ‘Footpath Scenes’ were used to add a bit of texture and variety to the different areas and to great those low level brambles and bushes, something Lancaster Lane lacked. The most notable area is behind the garages between the building and railway, somewhere I thought would see neglect. Layers of coarse scatter and 6mm grass were built up to give an overgrown look. More foliage was built up around the sidings at the other end of the layout and to help blend in the tunnel. Some smaller details still need to be added around the buffers. There’s still plenty more to do and a few areas I’m still not happy with. I’ll pick up some darker shades of 4mm at the weekend to help break up the green expanse in some places. The static grass is also patchy in places which needs some work. It’s still looking very neat and uniform with clear crisp lines along the trackside and with paths. As more scrub gets added everything will slowly blend together. Plenty more to do and improve but happy with the developments. Luke

Progress.

This should keep me busy for a while!