Powerhaul 70 Pey

Thank you very much for the kind comments. Most of the Metcalfe kits were salvaged from my old layout and they are good quality. I really like them. Some just need toning down yet. . . . Not too sure how to achieve that though just yet.

Today I have hoovered the excess grass from the latest area to have static grass applied. I need to try to buy yet more Metcalfe red brick sheets to crack on with this area. I have left some of the banking bare as it is quite steep and would look better with bushes and brambles. Below are the 2 mesh screens I have for static grass. On the left the 2mm fibres pass through this screen no problem but 6mm and 10mm somewhat more troublesome so the screen on the right was made and 6mm and 10mm are much easier to apply now. I have started the gardens for the other 2 railway cottages. They are not complete so I will photograph them when complete.

Good evening. Not too much progress to report. From the farmyard I have formed some MDF contours of the land to the next major scenic challenge which will be the coastline. Needs glueing and Modrock in the future. On the photo below I have added some clump Bush foliage where the static grass was a little sparse. I think it looks really good. The 6mm and 10mm fibres were really hard to apply here so I made a new mesh with bigger holes from the original fly swat I bought and it is now a lot easier to get the 6mm and 10mm fibres to come out of the hopper. I will upload some photos of the latest area to have static grass when it's dry and been hoovered. It is definitely worth hoovering as a fair bit would be wasted otherwise.

Here is a video to prove that trains do operate although the 2 tracks need to meet up yet! Thanks for watching.

Not too much achieved tonight. Done the gardening for 2 of the railway cottages. Used crushed mud for the mud, bits of Bush foliage and some chopped hedge for flowers and bushes. Dabbed paint for flowers in bloom. I might try to tone down the cardboard by lightly rubbing a dot leaf on the surface to tone it down a bit.

Good evening I have applied static grass 6mm and 10mm fibres to the banking. I have 2 questions as I am new to the static grass world. 1. Do people use different size mesh in their hoppers for different size grasses as the 6mm and 10mm fibres took some effort to get them out of the hopper? 2. Do you do your static grass in layers starting with smallest fibres 1st? The banking is a bit bare in patches but looks ok with the brown paint underneath. I can also apply other coverings to the baldy bits. Farm yard done. Not sure if I have pulled off the grassy patches in between the gravel. I might add more gravel over the grass patches to get an effect of weeds growing in the gravel.

Good evening. Here are some more photos from proper camera of Freightliner 70006 with a rake of HHA coal hoppers. Tonight I've been working on the farm yard, applying gravel and static grass where I think its needed. As the scenery expands I can photograph the trains further from the tunnel portal. Some progress in other areas have come to a halt as I have run out off 6mm static grass, Metcalfe red brick and cobblestone. Further down the line in the direction the 70 is heading I've installed a sharp left curve and then lengths of flexi track which will be a coastal section. Hopefully I can do a beach/sea/sea wall/sandstone hills/few seaside buildings. I hope I can get the transition from farmland to rugged coast to look ok.

Following this layout. That corner with the warehouse is taking shape nicely and those bankings dropping down from the bridge have potential to be stunning and add some nice height. What a collection of 31s. . . . I got given a free TTS sound chip for a 31 so I am looking to get 1 in the future.

Following this one. That Transport For Wales 67 looks good. Pity they have stopped running during this Covid 19 pandemic. I was looking forward to seeing them with the new stock.

Good evening. A little more progress. I've soldered some dropper wires on the curved track and fitted it and cut the board to suit. Also painted the mod rock brown and done a low relief canal bridge. This section of track has been ballasted.

Many many thanks for the comments Jack. I really like the middle photo and I think I will follow your advice of using phone photos for a quick update and proper camera for a scene that is near completion. I like doing scenery and just set about sticking down stuff today and ended up with this! I am glad to have tried out static grass for the 1st time on a layout, the results are really good so far.

This is a great modern image layout with lots of interest. I am following your progress. Keep up the good work.

Good evening followers and guests. After concocting a static grass machine I have been having a play with some scenery. Normally I just take photos with my phone but the quality ain't great so used my proper camera tonight. So far I am pleased with the results. I just need to paint that piece of wood inside the tunnel to hide it as my son pointed out to me when he came to have a look. Note the ragwort I made out of wire, scatter and ends dipped in yellow paint which looks good in the long grass.

That photo of it passing the scrap yard is an absolute beauty. Fantastic modelling there Richard.

Thanks Jack. Yes I will add other products along the edges. I have 6mm fibres and some 2mm straw coloured fibres. If I get chance tonight I will carry on experimenting! The fly swat conversion is pretty easy to do after watching a few YouTube videos. I couldn't resist when I saw a fly swat in the special buys isle at Aldi for a few quid!

Good evening. 1st area to have 2mm static grass applied is the pub beer garden. Looks like a bowling green that lawn! I will add some longer 6mm tufts and chopped lichen against the walls and security fencing next. So far so good with my homemade contraption!

I popped to the shop for some 6mm fibres to try. I'm happy with it. This needs to dry and hoover off the excess.

Good afternoon. After much deliberation I have decided to have a go at making a static grass applicator from a electric fly swat and other bits and pieces. These are very short fibres so will be ideal for the pub beer garden but I will definitely need longer fibres for bankings etc. Happy so far, otherwise it is a £80 payout for a proper one with an assortment of grasses included off Amazon.

Good evening. So following on from my last post here is the track loosely placed as it takes a sharp right after passing over the canal on the girder bridge. As you can see I have begun to modrock the contours. The photo above is the view from the road bridge.

That scenery is amazing.

Last night I went in the garage to crack on with the layout but I just ended up stood pondering wondering how to tackle the canal area. However, tonight I managed to get stuck in. So after the railway passes over the girder bridge the tracks will take a R/H curve. I have cut some contours in the corner of the layout and more red brick mill type buildings/businesses are situated on top of a bank that slopes down to the canal edge. The canal will pass under a low relief bridge to which you can see the arch cut out of some MDF. I have chopped some lichen and glued it along the security fencing. This is still wet with glue in the photo below but once it is dry I will add some buddleia and other foliage.

The area behind one of the mills has been causing me some headache due to the way I cut the boards, shape and space but I have been working on it today and quite happy with the look. I have put a road in by the track, sandwiched in between security fencing. The banking down to the mill has been given a coat of brown paint. There is a set of gates into what I might make into a Network Rail compound. I have tried to disguise the joints in the metcalfe card cobblestone ground with some finely chopped lichen and this area is subject to some urban art which I do not condone but areas on and around railways are particularly prone to the graffiti artists.

Thanks mate, much appreciated.

Durrington Central featuring Colas Rail 70805 on a short rake of JGA Tarmac hoppers and 50040 on a rail tour "Hoovering up around the north west"

Two new coaches arrived today. I think I will have rakes of 6 coaches due to the length of fiddle yard sidings. I will have a rake of 6 maroon and a rake of 6 blue/grey for rail tours, this way I can run what ever I want and claim it's a rail tour. Hopefully I can crack on with some jobs on the layout at the weekend.