BobM

Hi I have re ballasted the edges of the track abutting the Das Clay areas and will allow to set and dry respectively. I am anticipating that the Das Clay will crack as it dries, which in itself shouldn’t be an issue, any appearing or shrinkage can be refilled hopefully? The intention is, when dry, to provide surface texture by applying pva and sprinkle silver sand to give an ‘ash effect’ then colour appropriately, unless you good guys have advice or suggestions? Take care everyone. Regards Bob

Evening guys, Hope your respective Blank Holidays have gone well? If like myself you’ve worked, hope that too has been good? Having ‘braved’ en masse the bank holiday types at work, I needed a relaxing ‘distraction’ so immediately went into the layout room and applied Das Clay to the ‘ash area’ within the loco yard, this seemingly went down well and after periodically running a wagon through the sidings to check for fouling problems. Nothing seemed obvious and the pannier ran through too without a hitch by all accounts so fingers crossed all is okay? Looks a bit like an overnight snow storm has occurred at the moment but happy with it so as seen. Will post further when attempting the next stage. Regards always Bob

Cheers buddy, I’ve learnt a very messy lesson! I’ll move on and take heed. Regards Bob

Great image, I watched on Solent Cam live stream, have an affinity for all ships! Regards Bob

Evening Guys, Hope all are well and respective weekends are going well, been a very pleasant, sunny spring day here in the west mids. A good visit to the model railway displays on the SVR was had, very busy on both the service trains and at the Engine House. In every way I have always tried in my postings to highlight the progress on Cambrian Street and share the disappointments, well tonight is one of those latter occasions. The ballast area adjacent to where I intend to have the ash had had to be removed, as I must have made an error when applying or mixing the pva setting solution as this has dried but not set hard at all, just a crumbling, unconsolidated layer, so ‘ up the hoover’ it has come! I’ll apply to Das clay to the ash surface and then revisit the ballasting, a bit of a disappointment and I cannot believe I’ve been so stupid in some unknown way that may have caused this to occur? Hey ho, will move on! Have a good long weekend, if you’re off work, if like myself you’re working, have a good one also!! Couldn’t resist a trip to ‘the old station’ and say Hello to my friends after visiting the show! 7714 ‘simmering away’ awaiting ‘the right away’! Regards always Bob

Morning Currently awaiting the 1205 departure of 75069 from Bridgnorth, to drop off at Highley for the Engine House to view the layouts on display at the SVR’s Model Railway Weekend. Hope to pick up some ideas and scenery tips? Have a great weekend guys. Regards always, Bob

Evening guys, The areas between the outside rails has been covered in a silver sand / ash mix along with ballast outside these sections, given the standard 50/ 50 pva/ water setting solution. Have run a wagon and pannier through each road to check for any problems which seems okay thankfully at present, will allow to set them investigate. To bring the 4’ ash covering up to rail height, I’ll proceed with caution as per the coal yard, covering small sections at a time to check for fouling, but covering the sleepers for effect. Will continue to run a wagon over each to ensure free running. The ash area to be weathered and darkened to ash colour, ballast weathered as required. Regards always, Bob

I’m Your Man - Wham

Evening, Just a quick note to say the balsa ‘Ash area’ has been undercoated, so will progress when dry. Regards Bob

Evening guys, Hope all is well? Where it is the intention to have an ash covering to rail height, I have set down pieces of balsa wood to save on scatter and potential spread problems? These sections have been covered with pva to seal and reduce the absorption of any paint undercoat, and then layers of ash/ silver sand and rubbed in Das clay, before being coloured? Further cork has been removed prior to undercoating and subsequent ballasting. Will let you know how this progresses, I have used similar techniques on the coal yard previously. Regards always Bob

Evening Have removed the coal stage, replaced with good/ barrels and repositioning where the intended loading gauge will be sited. Regards Bob

Cheers Roja Bob

A closing thought for tonight, I’m considering constructing (over time) the Metcalf two road engine shed kit that I have spirited away, to replace the existing rather ‘chunky’ resign Hornby one currently in position? Will obviously post if completed? Regards and night all! Bob

Hi All, With regards to the Metcalf kit in the above posting, has any one experience of weathering cardboard kits as I don’t want to ruin it now, with ink running, I’ve heard using dry weather powders then a light spray of varnish works? Cheers Bob

Afternoon, Hope all are well? Have made a couple of tentative tweaks to both the goods/ coal yards and the provision of a signal box at the junction of the mpd spur, which I think look somewhat better and perhaps more in keeping with the style of the layout, more over I feel happy with the alternatives? Comments as always greatly appreciated guys. Firstly have change the goods shed completely to a Metcalf construction, which seems less overpowering than the previous? Requires weathering at a later stage. Have initially rearranged the coal merchant yard too to balance the over all look, but may require further tweaking? A more appropriate signal box has been placed into its intended position to control both the junction and access into the loco yard. The next scenic section of the loco yard I intend to attempt is the hard standing stabling three roads. These are intended to be ash, filled to rail height. The process I have used on previous areas is to fill the track gaps with thin balsa wood stuck to the base boards, this has reduced both weight and ‘spillage’ problems when covering with a mix of silver sand and ‘Arley loco coal yard ash’ which is then weathered down. Will keep you good guys appraised. Regards always, Bob

For reference colours of rail and grass in unused siding

Good example of the depth of a pit, guy cleaning out the ash pan I believe with a hose? Nice view too if 4930 Hagley Hall.

Taking a trip ‘up’ to Kidderminster for a visit to Footplate Model Shop, this morning, but whilst waiting the service train, taking time to view the locos stabled in the yard. Stanier Mogul 13268 recently repainted and returned to service, receiving maintenance over the new pit at Bridgnorth. Looking superb !

Evening, Have applied a preliminary, light, wash of diluted brown across the area and sleepers, will allow this to soak in and dry, revisit and reapply a further wash. Will post when undertaken. Regards always, Bob

Afternoon (or Evening) ! Section of ballasted track has set and dried sufficiently to progress, so will retouch where necessary and weather the ballast next and move on to the next area hopefully soon. Regards always, Bob

Evening guys, Hope all are well and dry! Here in the part of the western midlands were I am it’s been a thoroughly wet and cold spring day, feeling raw and flipping freezing! Any road -up, have eased my way back into ballasting and weathering track by testing on a short siding in the mpd area. Over the last week preliminary weathering was done with the sleepers with a grey undercoat followed by a base brown, the sides of the rails and chairs with a mix of brown and rusty brown ahead of spreading the ballast. This evening have applied the standard 50 water/ 50 pva ratio mix to fix the ballast, allowing this to set before returning to see what has transpired! Will let you know when set, cheers. Regards always Bob

Circle of Life - Elton John

Hi It’s my intention now to do a bit of scenic work, including track painting, ballasting etc across this section. Regards always, Bob

Evening I’m happy to report that the siding were 2217 is shown sitting, has too been included in the ‘planned’ wired and switched track work, the head shunt housing the pannier is not at the moment ‘switched, as I’ve found it’s not necessary to be so as it’s in constant use, the remaining isolated when required? I’m amazed that as yet, I’ve done this, as my personal confidence lately had hit rock bottom and I was hesitant at even continuing to work on the layout. Regards always guys, Bob