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Charlie_k

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  2. Charlie_k

    Time to move on.

    By Charlie_k,

    Capping and weathering done, time to begin moving down the backscene, 2 feet complete except for the front area. Already paved but still lacking ideas. Any suggestions?

    Now to move on to the retaining walls, then got to think of the industries. A Metcalfe brewery, warehouses and small factory and entrance in stock along with an engine shed. The engine shed could become a factory to fill up space before the brewery towards the other end.

    Will add the goods crane when I've moved down the back a bit, just noticed the water tower looks very pristine at the moment...just when you think you've finished...
    Thanks for looking.
  3. Charlie_k
    The coach turned out better than I thought, weathering is not something I enjoy and although I'd like to, I can't bring myself to touch the locos. Just some small parts for the windows and then weather the facing side of the bridge. Got to block the exposed end as well. Maybe something for later...should get it done in an hour if I put my mind to it.
     

     
    Thanks for looking.
  4. Charlie_k

    NRM visit

    By Charlie_k,

    Waiting for paint to dry on the water tower and rail for window dressing.
     
    Inspiration from the NRM, always worth a visit.
     




















     
     
     
    Thanks for looking.
  7. Charlie_k

    Bridge progress

    By Charlie_k,

    Moving on slowly, track painted, bridge nearing completion, coach partially finished. Trees only in place for planning. While I was at it realised that I'd not finished painting the track on the main lines, so spent some time finishing that job. Looking to complete later today and hopefully having ballast drying overnight.
     
    Thanks for looking.
  8. Charlie_k
    Spent an hour adapting existing parts to fit the length of the bridge, still a bit of work here, capping stones are ready to go. Sprayed up the grounded coach body, currently drying in the garage. Cut the spare track and cut the tabs between sleepers before removing a few and distressing. Ground cover will need to be a lot finer than everywhere else for grass all over. Just thought, better spray the track so it's ready for ballasting in tomorrow.

    Thanks for looking.
  9. Charlie_k

    Bridge planning

    By Charlie_k,

    Since deciding to move the double width bridge to this end, now got to work on what happens as it hits the back scene. Possible going for an abandoned track, lots of opportunity for trees and ground cover to hide the far end where the corner is. Fiddle yard entry through right hand arch. Going to create a flatter wall behind the factory, retaining wall pushes too far forward.

    Thanks for looking.
  11. Charlie_k
    Another week, another change around. After getting some inspiration at the York show, and a week away which gave me time to make a kit or two, I spent some time shunting and relocated some buildings. This is the far end compared to previous entries, the factory was moved back and the office brought to this end. I built the water tower whilst away and the crane base is a mash up using a block of mdf, metcalfe platform brick work and a plastic edging. I think there will be a wooden fence between it and the main lines. The barrel will probably be relocated towards a grounded coach body further down the line. Plenty still to finish and paint yet, retaining walls may become trees yet...


     
    Thanks for looking.
  13. Charlie_k

    RTFI

    By Charlie_k,

    The window frames are very white out of the packet, so added a dusting of a grey/green weathering powder before spraying with matt varnish. Put in the first pair before reading the instructions and having to pull them out to add the recess.

    Didn't like the corner stones in the kit so did a swap for something I thought was a bit more in scale.

    Continued on a roll and repainted the door frames to match the window frames. Stone door lintels suffer the same alignment issues as the windows, so these were replaced. The folded edge is left uncovered as standard, so will add the same edging to cover it after opening it up to allow fitting.

    Doors, roof, caping stones, drainpipes to follow.
  14. Charlie_k

    Action today

    By Charlie_k,

    Filled in many gaps in the hard standings, increased the bridge length and planned the yard. I'm going to us the remainder of the factory kit as a low relief background. As it's smaller than the warehouse it might give the impression of depth and perspective. Half a goods shed for the corner building and the office opposite it. At the moment it's all held in place by small magnets, I'm using them as clamps when building. Bought a load of neodymium discs from eBay for not a lot. The over bridge will probably become an abandoned line, I can put some vegetation against the backscene then to disguise it going nowhere then.
    The crane might yet be extended over all the lines at this end, or move over the single line, it has to look like it might work.
     
    Looking the other way.

     
    Plan

     
    Through the bridge

     
    The far end

    Thanks for looking
  15. Charlie_k

    Train spotting

    By Charlie_k,

    Toned down the leds on the buffers today with a bit of wash and spent a good half hour watching locos pass over points. Found a few spots of glue on the inside edges of the rails, quite amazing how a small spot of stuff you can hardly see has such an effect. 05 still has some trouble, but after a good clean it wasn't too bad. Overall time over 7.5ft scenery length at low speed is 5 mins for 05 and just under for class 16.
    Under the bench is now clear, bit more clearing to do on the work table and then the building can begin.
     
    Thanks for looking.
  16. Charlie_k

    Finally in place...

    By Charlie_k,

    Got fired up after visiting the Ebor model railway group show at the weekend. Well done to all involved.
     
    Tonight I spent 10 minutes going on 2 hours repairing one of the leds on a buffer and putting terminal blocks on to some veroboard for extra leds if I want them. Just need to drill a hole through the back scene and screw in when needed. What a difference plugging in to switch on the fire barrel rather than twist two wires together. Cleared all the rubbish under the board so there's now rubbish under the bench, and dropped the board onto the bench top, next job to put away all the construction stuff and back to buildings. I tend to be a bit clumsy so enjoy modifying Metcalfe. Quick if I want, nice to improve.
     
    05 struggles at low speed over some sections, when all is finished will have to look into stay alive, whether it will help much I'm not sure, not really sure on modifying locos too much except fitting decoders. Longer wheelbase locos work fine. Another day...
     
    Time to clear the bench and get this finished before Summer.
     
    Thanks for looking.
  17. Charlie_k
    Completed most of the hard standings, gaps to be filled and some edges to complete. Cleared up stray ballast and thought about adding a goods platform...


    Factory at the far end just short of entrance to the fiddle yard (such that it is).

    The control panel linked to a cobalt ads8. Switches are wired to operate pairs if necessary, 2 or 5 will operate both points

    Still not sure about the location of the buildings, warehouse windows and retaining walls interfere. Haven't really thought about the back edge yet. Just going to bite the bullet and get on with it.
     
    Thanks for looking.
  18. Charlie_k

    Factory progress

    By Charlie_k,

    Couple of hours in on this, same modifications as the warehouse so far, new window sills, space made for a potential office if I open the door later, scalescenes concrete platform texture used on roof gutters, new corner edging and windows lightly weathered with powders before a matt spray. Seems a good time to add led lighting, so that will be next.
    This is a well thought out kit.
    Should have this finished by Wednesday all being well in between other jobs around the house.
     
    Thanks for visiting.
  19. Charlie_k
    Still on with this, wasn't happy with how it was going so combined the two and put on a new roof. Looking to use it to disguise entry to the fiddleyard down the left side.
    Baseboards going into the garage tomorrow, may lay some track and begin wiring.
     
    Weathering not complete and some details...

    Looks like a little extra glue may be needed...

  20. Charlie_k
    Work got in the way for a while there.
     
    Began to convert the second half of the warehouse to provide a (possible) entry/exit point. Removed the pitched roof and reorganised the remaining walls, resized the floors and added a couple of loading bays. Roof took some working out, but I knew those Technical Drawing lessons on true length would come in useful one day.Still some capping and details to go to match the rest.
     

     
    The circuit for lights and sound control has been designed, simulated and tested. It appears to work, at least virtually. Push buttons will begin a series of instructions to control a sequence of lights or the sound.
     

     

     

     
     
    The mask isn't too big. Hoping to get this made this week for soldering over half term. Going to build a small amplifier to provide the 2 speakers from the MP3, will probably buy a kit given the low cost, and the time it would take me isn't worth it.
     
     
     
    Thanks for visiting.
     
    Charlie
  21. Charlie_k
    Sorry, no photos yet. Decided to kitbash the twin and spent a while considering what to do to make an entry/exit to the fiddle yard. Windows are in and removed a few for doors. Door frames are in and I'm working on a dock. Windows that were too low have been bricked up.
     
    A major decision to split the front vertically to make a lower-relief facility didn't pay off so well, and I'm worried it simply looks like half the building is missing. I think a change of roof should solve this now though. The bridge has been made, but may end up in the spares pile. Shame as I was happy with the re-made supports.
     
    We're working on a hobbies room at the moment, desks and cupboards arrive at the weekend so it's a little slow at the moment.
     
    Had an idea for lighting using a programmable controller (PIC). Working on a design with 8 possible outputs with selectable sequences for different times of day.
     
    Although I would like DCC sound, it's out of range at the moment. As a get around, I think I could use an MP3 player with a suitable set of sound files and make a stereo amplifier. The speakers of the amp can be connected through relays and operated by the PIC. I can then position one speaker at each end of the layout. By activating the left, then both, then right (or programming any sequence) I should be able to make the sound appear to be moving, or at least coming from different areas. Going to create a circuit board tomorrow.
     
    Thanks for visiting.
     
    Charlie
  22. Charlie_k
    Used some scalescenes sheets for changing the roof details, Added some details based on the previous photos.
    5 minutes with plastic strip.

    Front section looked like it was bowing in so I cut a piece of plastic to fill top and bottom.

    Cross ties added and a bit of weathering. Had to stop for poor light.


     
     
    Drainpipes tomorrow, will experiment with making some signs, weathering then better start thinking about what to do with the rest of the kit.
     
    Thanks for looking.
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