HeatonLodge40

Thanks Simon I think I’d rather do damp than sticky film! Looks like the Duchess then for the second steam charter.. Today I’ve been constructing the last wire fences for these boards (slaters posts with .5mm wire) it’s a rotten job. Plus I got a parcel from 10 Commandments yesterday of 10 relay boxes. I like these as they are cast in plaster rather than resin. Used Lifecolor rust to weather with a bit of dirty black and the AK corrosion paste. In all honesty i’ve probably overdone the rust effect - it’s a weakness of mine! But they are going on anyway. I secure them with the hot glue gun.

Hi Ian, thanks for those comments. I’ve said before it’s so much easier modelling a prototype cos it’s just a case of modelling what you see (or saw), and finding ways to do it. As for the Duchess I’ve a couple of steam specials planned which will run from the West-East and vice versa every couple of hours. The first is Evening Star with 12 MK1’s that was running on the main line in ‘84, and the second I haven’t yet decided on. Possibly Union of South Africa which I think was also on the main line in that year. If anyone has any suggestions on locos which were doing charters in the mid 80’s be much appreciated. Big Pacific’s especially. As for live steam I’ve looked at this also and the main issue is lack of control. I and an engineer friend have been working on the idea of constructing a number of small ‘kettles’ of lightly pressurised water tanks which fit under the boiler of a RTR loco into which is fitted a small heating element. The tank would then pressurise about two thirds of a cup of water to about 15psi (think of an almost flat tire on a car) before blowing off through working safety valves. The element could work off a 9v battery. This way you’d get the steam effect and control. It’s now got me thinking about fitting them into diesels or possibly coaches if there is room. Then through narrow copper pipes it could mimic steam heat vapour coming from the coaches. Given HL is set in the winter it would definitely be seen on the real thing. I’ll keep you posted

Got loads done again this week whilst waiting for more etched brass bracken frets to finish the previous board. In fact I’ve painted both the previously nougat coloured scenery, fixed in place (and painted) the stone walls and fences on the top of the cutting, completed the scratchbuilt vandalised relay box and also scratchbuilt a relay box platform. By the way the vandalised relay box uses AK interactive corrosion paste and airbrushed rust colour for the effect. All the 4 lines of concrete troughing are now painted weathered & complete on these latest 3 boards (that’s 48ft of 1cm long channel styrene)

Well since no interruptions this week I got loads done, in fact 3 full boards/cradles have had the polystyrene pebble and plaster treatment. I did deviate from the polystyrene on one board using experimental aluminium net but I don’t like the fact you can’t ‘plant’ anything on those cutting so covered. So this morning I ripped out 5 ft worth of plaster/net and went back to polystyrene. I’ll stick to what works for me I think.. The two tracks climb at this point to clear a road bridge on the next board whereafter they drop sharply at 1:70 towards the dive under tunnels. The four tracks are about to enter a 12ft long crossover also over the next 3 boards. The 2 aerial views show the road bridge the twin tracks are climbing to clear, and the other end where the ‘dive under’ tunnel begins. These aerials were taken a couple of years ago before Network Rail cleared masses of scenery. Of course these days the whole junction is hugely rationalised. 6 tracks then - 4 now. The signal diagram is the BR original which the model follows faithfully. As on the prototype each signal and point on the model is numbered as on the diagram. Amazing what you can find on the internet

You are probably right Simon I guess I did it to catch the eye. The later cables are much thinner decoder wire

Cheers for that Ian. What would you suggest for modelling a wrecked interior, I don’t know what the interior of one of these cabinets would look like.. Thanks again

Finished trunking..

Thanks for the positive comments again.. Spent a couple of hours scratchbuilding a vandalised relay box out of scrap brass. Never see any models of this so thought I’d give it a bash. Also another couple hours snipping evergreen channel styrene strip into small lengths for the lineside trunking for priming and painting. I’ve tried a few shortcuts laying the trunking but as Allan Downes used to say, to get the random effect of tiles they must be laid individually. Same with this I think.. Laborious but the results are excellent

Crisis over and on with the job.. Next couple of boards have prominent tufts of grass on the cutting hence the pebbles pressed into the wet plaster. The plastic styrene between the boards separates the boards but let’s me see the levels are correct. I’m pleased with the little wood copse..this has the stone walls by 10 commandments painted with watercolours. The wire fence uses posts by slaters and the dead leaves and soil (earth powder) by Treemendus

Clean yes..with a lot less paint too!

Another pic..

Well, I’ve been away a couple weeks but done three days finishing the bracken and gorse planting. 40 large frets later and it looks like I’ve done virtually nothing. Trouble is to get any sort of effect the bracken has to be bunched right up. Intended to continue today but arrived at the basement to find a crowd of people inc Yorkshire water trying to stop a burst water main that’s flooded the whole place. Bit late for that. Fortunately it came in through a disused lift shaft and although the whole place is 2cm deep in water most of it didn’t come from above and deluge the model..That said the office/workshop carpets have had it. Guess it could be worse. Least it wasn’t a fire.

Yep Tony it should be a darker shade you are right. Out with the paintbrush

Meant to say Simon I tried the coffee grounds but couldn’t seem to prevent them going mouldy!

Yes Simon luckily I painted the plaster a browny colour so I might just leave it. I like the idea of the pale fronds round the side ta

This was one of Allans last projects, a freelance castle built over a few weeks.. not sure what he based it on but it’s pretty spectacular.

Today I been planting the etched brass bracken leaves on the south bank. To get 2 sq ft of bracken is going to require another load of etches as this took me 5 hours and I’ve used 90% of what I had. To get the right effect you have to bunch up the etches with leaves on really closely together. I can see that bending each leaf is going to take even longer. I’m pleased with the effect though, trying to figure out now how to cover the bracken ‘floor’. Might just sprinkle sieved earth then squirt the whole lot with matt varnish. Used varying shades of matt leather and earth brown to get the dead bracken shade by the way, hot glue gun to stick it all down.

That’s superb thanks for posting that! The background music sounds like Allan on the guitar

Thanks for the encouragement. Very occasionally I do get bit despondent when I realise what I’ve taken on! To break things up I’ve been applying a 2mm thick layer of DAS to one of Allan Downes bridges he built for me. I can almost see him shaking his fist from above! It feels a bit like painting a smiley face on one of those Chinese terracotta warriors in order to ‘improve’ it. Oh well.

Been a busy day today..had Dave from White Rose modelworks (who build the frames) deliver two more boards, and Steve Flint from Railway Modeller drop by. The size of the layout brings with it a whole load of annoying problems that constantly arise so there’s always adjustments to do. The office/workshop I’ve now painted BR blue (!) In one of the pics you can see the first prototype backscene trolley which extends the width from 5ft to 9ft to increase depth and perspective. I’m spending so much time here at the moment I honestly might just sleep on the sofa on the odd night

Thanks another good idea I’ll pick some sheets up tomorrow. Not really dark enough the oak green but I do try and order that colour first. Cheers Simon

Today I’ve been constructing the first prototype scenery trolley extension. Basically I figured this would be a relatively cheap and easy way of doubling the width of the model to between 8-10ft. These trolleys are just to carry the scenery on the top deck (which on the prototype just consists thankfully of more of the same greenery). I’ve used 2cm aluminium square tube with plastic push in connectors. (Aluminium warehouse on line). The tube cuts easily to size to make a rectangle with 4 castors at the bottom. 9mm MDF will cover the bottom deck to carry stock etc (might as well kill two birds etc) and the left side a sheet of thin aluminium onto which the back scene will bolt. That’s the idea anyway. I realised too late this first one is far too long to get through and swing round the main entrance so now going to have to cut it down a couple feet. Anyone any idea on what to use to support the top deck onto which is just polystyrene scenery. I can only think of MDF as it has to be fairly strong and rigid to support the scenery and help strengthen the trolley..

There is so much choice but cos none are the dark green gorse is I end up covering them with scatter. Shame but it works..

I’ll try that flexy superglue thanks. That is a problem with superglue -the way in which it can be very brittle. This stuff looks much better and looks to be about the same price on line.

I will show the results of the planting within the next week or so! Thanks to all