col_kilgore

As its been a while since I posted any updates here is where I am with this layout . I have been experimenting with hanging basket liner as groundcover for the embankments , the first ones I tried were from the Poundshop but some of the woolen fibres were a bit too nuclear green and just didn't look right , I then got some from a local garden center and they were a much more natural looking colour , I also used some Wodland Scenics turf to add a bit more texture . As can be seen I have also ballasted the track although it took a few attempts to get a colour I liked . I first used Woodland Scenics fine grey on its own , when dry it just looked too monotone so I decided to mix a few colours together to get some variation , the final mix is the Woodland Scenics grey and Javis fine granite chippings ( these I sieved as I thought they were a bit too big ) with a bit of Javis brown ballast . The seafoam foliage isnt final yet and was more to get an idea of the foliage needed todisguise the end of the pipe. As usual question , comments etc are more than welcome , Cheers .

Finished painting up the base and been experimenting with adding some jungle foliage . The palms are from an old aquarium decoration and the vines / creepers are from an old plastic plant that we had sat on a dusty shelf . All in all a fun project , and she looks a lot happier now that she has some exploring to do !

Fantastic build and finish , and the sea grey scheme really suits the Phantom although I must admit a liking for the Vietnam era camo of the U.S ones .

Just a little project I have been working on the last few days . I picked Lara up at a car boot sale many moons ago and she has been stuck ever since on her plain black plastic base on our windowsill amongst my partners resin dragons ! The figure is a "Player Select Lara Croft " from NECA ( the H&K MP5 is didnt come with the figure , that was from a poundshop action figure and fits her perfectly ) anyway after watching some excellent terrain building videos on Youtube it inspired me to make a diorama base for her. So after a trip to the DIY store for a can of expanding foam and a tub of filler and a bit of chopping and carving and a bit of MDF for the base I have ended up with this. Just needs painting up and a few more details adding . Cheers for looking , feel free to ask questions , comment , etc .

I know what you mean , stanley knife and plenty of passes seems to be the best option ! Anyway , been working on the pipe bridge this morning ; Used a few different Plastruct profiles to add to the structure and had a go at making a gusset bend for the pipework ( really could have done with an adjustable mitre saw to get the angles right first time ) I also added visual interest to the pipe by using trimmed Tamiya tape to represent joints in the pipe . Just needs painting fully and weathering to finish , all in all I'm pretty happy with it .

This evening I have started planning the pipe bridge to hide the fiddle yard exit . Started with a girder framework made from the Airfix/Dapol signal gantry , just got to find something suitable to make the pipework from. I have also started to prepare the embankments for foliage by coating the polystyrene formers with flexible filler and giving them a brown basecoat ready for my faithful puffer bottle !

I'm just imaging the language I would end up using if I tried this method !

Nice simple plan , can I ask where the barge model is from ? Regarding the modern building , as you are using a steam loco it does look out of place , with more modern stock the old and new buildings would really compliment each other and reflect the natural progression of the companies fortunes .

Fantatstic little scene . If I can be allowed a tiny criticism , the right angles in the skybox ruin the illusion slightly . Maybe if the trees were a bit fuller they might hide the corners a bit better. Other than that I think its great , especially like the concrete hardstandings.

Hi Ian , Nothing major to report at the moment , I have just been working on the embankments at the fiddleyard exit . Hopefully as I have the next two weeks off work , I should be able to work on it a bit more . As for Jam Sponge Works , it was a lot of fun to work on and I even got to see it in print in BRM magazine ! ( which was a first for me )

I think the second shed looks better , can I ask what colours you used to weather the ballast ?

Thanks everyone for the comments . To answer a few questions , the scenic section is exactly two feet long and the fiddle stick is fourteen inches. As to the colour used for the track it was Humbrol 29 Dark Earth from a rattle can over poundland grey primer , I will finish weathering the track after ballasting. As for alignment of the fiddlestick I have used some plastic nuts and bolts to keep it aligned , which I think will be fine for dining table use. Regarding the brake fluid , yes just bog standard DOT 4 from Asda . As for stripping the paint as well , as it was the black Wabtec liveried one I'm not sure it was painted in the first place it might have been just black plastic , I'm not sure about other liveries as to whether they are coloured plastic or painted.

Slowly making some progress on this since I last posted , I have managed to get the track layed at last . This is the first time I have used code 75 rail and is SMP flexi track and a Peco Y-point. I hate to say it as I was quite happy on previous layouts with code 100 but the code 75 just looks so much better ! I have also started work on the fiddle yard exit , the retaining walls are made from Wills sheets and you may recognise parts from the Airfix / Dapol signal gantry which will eventually become part of a pipe bridge. I have also decided on the name for the layout ; Two Trees , as I plan to have two prominent trees framing this end of the layout. As for the other end there will be some form of industry , at the moment I am using bits of recycled buildings from previous layouts to get an idea . Thanks for looking and feel free to add comments , questions etc .

Hi mate Yes this is something I have tried previously , although now I use Army Painter Quick Shade mostly for washing figures . Saying that ,I find washing is a skill that needs lots of practicing whatever medium you use as I sometimes end up with figures that just look dirty !

Thanks mate , as regards the Sentinel , yes I first gave the body shell a bath in brake fluid to get rid of all the logos , then primed first and used a Tamiya rattlecan for the main colour. I must admit to not liking the finish I got using the rattlecan at the first go and ended up stripping it again . I then decanted some of the can into a bottle and used it through my airbrush and found the finish was much better. I also removed the glazing first as well , if your careful prising it out it should come out as one piece as it just has a small bit of glue holding the glazing onto the cab ceiling.

Hi everyone , So like a lot of people a new year means a new project . Having finished a respray on my Hornby Sentinel over Christmas , I decided I needed somewhere for it to pootle about . I wanted something small , industrial and portable so knocked together a small baseboard and fiddlestick out of stripwood and mdf . At only two feet long it will be more of a working diorama but seems to suit the Sentinel well . Heres a few pics of the respray , it has also had a driver and a drivers mate/shunter added both repainted from Bachmann railway workers . ( I just wish they were a bit better moulded as the faces are a bit featureless ) . Although the pictures are a bit blurry and you cant see it very well I have been experimenting with using artists oils to give a nice subtle level of weathering . I also filled in the infamous join lines on the skirts which really improves the look of the model .

Can I tentatively reserve a spot for the Saturday ? I can make a confirmation Wednesday or Thursday when I've looked at train fair prices if that's ok ?

Out of interest , were the actual 3d "meshes" something you had drawn yourself ? Perhaps you could give us a rundown on the printer setup you have and programs used etc . 3d printing is one of those things that I'm always thinking about , I have dreams of being able to print my own half naked elven warrior queens and foot high space marines but I think it's still out of my budget at the moment plus I wouldn't know where to start as regards the actual 3d modelling !

Hi Alex , Fantastic little scene , something so simple but it just looks " right " ( I must admit was surprised to read all those scenic components were 3d printed , I thought they were commercial items ! )

I was just wondering if I could get confirmation that my entry " jam sponge works " had been received last week and due to be uploaded , or is it still in the to-do pile ? Cheers

A bit late to the party but although its been finished for months I only just got round to submitting my entry yesterday .

Hi everyone , Does anybody have a Lima class 37 bodyshell going spare ( and cheap ! ) ? Not too bothered about the condition or livery as a refurb / respray is part of my plans . Thanks for looking .

I thought it was about time I actually made some progress on this one ! So MDF was cut for the base and cardboard and household filler was used to build up the ground level ; This was my first idea for the structure to be included , simply made from Wills sheets and plastic rod for the drainpipe . While I liked the way it looked in the scene , after painting it just didn't look right so I decided to try something else ; This is the second version made from Wills sheets and the brick sections from a Dapol platform kit . I like it although I'm not sure about the height of it . I think the taller first structure looked a little better in the scene ; Anyway thanks for looking , as usual comments and questions are welcome .

I like the sound of that ! maybe if Jerry doesnt mind us borrowing his grocery box idea its something we could sort out between us , we could start a thread and all post to it . Any takers ?

Thanks for that I might have a look in there today