TheRockingRoadie

Thats exactly the roller I was thinking of. It's really cool, nice to see something different.

I was parked next to one at a rally once, very interesting machines! Aveling & Porter did make a similar design. There’s a photo floating around here somewhere of various A&P engines all on a train. I wonder if I can find it..l

Living Vans / Roller Boxes (dog boxes as we call them) are a bit rudimentary, but they’re also really cosey and homely. They’re also great for parties after the beer tent closes 😆 it’s nice to switch off from the world inside one of those, got some brilliant memories over the years. Also, just to confirm that the engine in the picture is a Garrett tractor. Fred had similar engine, which was an Aveling & Porter tractor, and more famously his A&P Roller, Betsey. They’re all green, I’m more of a maroon man myself 😅 #ABurrellForMe

Really nice layout, enjoying watching it unfold!

Had a quick trip to Trains4U today to grab some lighter coloured flock, as well as some earth colour for the cross! I’ve tried using the puffer bottle - I don’t think my technique is very good, but we’ll see when it dries. May have accidentally acquired a pair of Bachmann MK1’s in Maroon (ex set) whilst I was there, hehe. I’ve also now painted the landscape green. I’m off to a steam rally tomorrow so may not be much more progress this week, but I’ll check in again soon!

Today saw a little more progress; The retaining wall has now had its first coat of paint. It was then test fitted, where I identified that there wasn’t enough “landscape”. So today, I have added another layer of paper, and left in the sun to dry. I’ve also painted a bit of card with the paint I was intending to use as the undercoat. I’ve then covered this in scatter material. Tomorrow I will try to plant some static grasses using a puffer bottle. I have a feeling the scatter and paint will be too dark compared to the grasses. I also spent some time converting a few more items of stock to Kadees. This included a non-NEM Bachmann shock van I had laying around. I cut the old tension lock mounting (bits?!) off, filed them down, and then glued a Kadee #5 at either end. It’s not the best job but it’s not a bad first go! I also changed the plastic wheels for some metal ones I had. Lastly, I’ve found a few minutes to play with the main layout. Ideally I need to start getting the track painted and plan where I want the buildings! Cheers, L

Hi All, Slow progress of late as I’ve been busy with music projects! Whilst the weather was unusually warm I took the time to sit in the garden and do some Blue Peter style arts and crafts. The card formers on the diorama have been stuffed with newspaper. I’ve then been building up layers of newspaper and junk mail strips/squares. The mix is just 50:50 water and PVA wood glue. I haven’t bought any new stock recently, but have continued to convert existing stock to Kadees. I also created a catalogue for all of my stock, whilst trying to combine many boxes into one bigger box. Cheers!

Afternoon all! Work on the diorama continues but has been slow! I am still altering the card formers, and have been bulking up the ends. The (currently bendy) retaining wall has slowly taken shape over the last few evenings. The Flemish bond sheets have been cut into strips, and glued to a piece of thick car the required length. Once all had been attached, I then cut smaller pillars/supports, which are strategically placed to hide the joins. I’ve cut small groves in the ends of the brick courses to represent the cement/motar. I’ve been playing around with the brick colouring, and will paint the wall fully before attaching to the formers. I’m also inclined to build up the embankment with paper mache before the wall is planted permanently. Cheers L

It’s not perfect but it’ll do the job! The dividers in the rows are removable so I can move things around to suit the stock.

Cheers! It’s not my finest handiwork but it does the job. I’m in the process of filling it with stock and will take another photo later!

Thank you, my thoughts exactly! The layout also has a new home during these winter months. It’s resting on a keyboard stand in the spare room! I’ve also turned an old microphone flight case into a stock box.

I’ve had a sudden burst of enthusiasm... The card formers have been reshaped to allow for the retaining wall. This was a bit of a job, as I couldn’t get the scissors or knife in at the right angle! I think the decreased land mass will give an improved sense of space, especially as there’s now a bigger gap between the track and the wall. I’ve also started assembling the retaining wall itself using the wills sheets. It’s a bit annoying trying to the get brickwork to match up, so I’ve done them as best as I can, and will find something to mask the joins. I’ve used an off cut as a tester for the paint. I have given it an all over coat with a masonry coloured matt emulsion, which has then been wiped off with a dry rag. It will then be further weathered with black and a hint of green once dry.

Hi - thanks for you feedback, always very appreciated! The trouble I have is that there isn’t much room between the track, and the width of the roadway. In hindsight, I wish I had moved the track closer to the edge of the board! The retaining wall is a very tempting idea, but I’m worried it’ll leave very little room between the wall and the track. I also kind of like the idea of having a fence running along the top of the embankment. I’ve bought some wills Flemish bond sheets to play around with. Even if I don’t use them for the retaining wall, I can use them for the “low relief factory” along the Backscene. Cheers L

I continued working on the card formers on Sunday, which is now ready for the plaster cloth. I might dig out the glue gun to strengthen some of the joints first. I also attached the buffer stop, which has been slightly discoloured in places by the glue! Eventually I’ll go over the whole lot again, and add overgrown grass and weeds. No new stock this update!! Just converting existing stock to Kadees!

I hope everyone had an awesome Christmas! Santa left a few locos and an awful lot of Kadees under my tree, so I’ve spent my afternoon off converting some more stock! I’ve had to abandon the idea of the cut out and lamp hut for the diorama, as the landscape isn’t deep enough to accommodate the cut out. I wish I’d put the track another inch in the foreground, but hindsight is a wonderful thing! I have however finished glueing the formers. There’s a couple I need to make for each end, then I’ll cut some strips to lay across the top. I’ve also had a go at painting the buffer stop - I used a coat of Humbrol 29 aerosol as a base coat, then dry brushed on Revell 84 (same as the track sides) and Humbrol 113, which is a similar colour to the baseboard. Overall, I’m really happy with the result! Just need to wait for it to try before I afix it to the diorama.