Marly51

Thanks for the reminder, crompton33! I enjoyed making the Rovers Return and think I will add a back yard to this one as well!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

16 hours ago, Howl03 said:

 

 

Thank you Gentleman.

 

Have managed to do a bit of work on it this weekend. Have started with the warehouse that runs along the back. Kit bashing the Scalescenes kit, my biggest frustration was I have changed printers since doing the cakebox and its printed slightly lighter than the original, hopefully once bedded in and weathered it will match up. I always give Scalescenes kits a light dusting of matt varnish to help seal them before applying any weathering powders, the varnish I use is by Windsor and newton its designed for artwork so doesn't effect the colours. Need to do a bit of tiding up on it and add the windows then I will see how well I can match it up to the original building.

 

 

More to follow. Regards Paul.

 

Great to see your CakeBox expanding into a working Micro, Paul. Printers can be a nuisance sometimes. I have also discovered that the matt photo paper I use affects the ink with a slight pink hue, so I have to adjust the file colour in Photoshop beforehand. When printed on ordinary paper the colours are fine.

Marlyn

On 14/12/2019 at 10:50, MrTea said:

The latest plan I've got to looks like this:

 

I decided that the double track didn't really do it for me and I could live with 6 car trains.

 

I've tweaked the mountain scene side to make the curves more sweeping - as if the track is following the contours into a side valley. I've also incorporated a 4% gradient with a summit on the left and a low point on the right (the station is on the level for simplicity). By changing the radius of the curves on the ends to 2x R249 and 2x R183 at each end I think I've managed to make the curves that will be visible slightly more realistic and the whole thing hopefully less 'train set'. 

 

The tunnels aren't in quite the right place but that was the closest I could get using RailModeller Pro (which I love BTW).

 

I've ordered the baseboards from ScaleModelScenery so the next steps are to get those made up and start laying things out full size!

I am following your progress Mr Tea, as I would like to do something similar with a layout scenic split between the shoreline of Lake Brienz on one side and a mountain view on the other. Look forward to seeing photographs of the different stages?

Marlyn

I love the details in this model, Captain Albino! Lots of interesting backyard activity and the scene is so reminiscent of abandoned railways in our cities, before they were converted to walkways and cycle tracks!
 

Marlyn

Some more great modelling and fascinating research, Dickon! 

I never cease to be inspired by the micro model creativity of railway modellers here on the Forum and elsewhere.

Jim Read’s 0 Gauge micros with locomotives and wagons scratch built from card are two of my favourites:

And this 1/12  scale ‘Mr Chips Potato Farm’ by Diamond Jack Dave is another gem!
 

On 26/11/2019 at 06:28, sb67 said:

I've had a look at ballast, or ground cover. I want the industrial run down look and initially I was going to cover most of the board with DAS but that means that when you paint it you paint the whole track sleepers and all. Whilst a lot of industrial track can look like that I wanted to try getting some subtle differences in colour so I did a trial with some different types of ground cover.

 

Real ash and Woodland scenics dark brown ballast

 

Earth and beach sand

 

Woodland scenics Dark Brown and earth mixed.

 

I'll use DAS clay in places but I like the look of the earth from my garden so I'll probably go with that on most of the layout mixing in a bit of dark brown ballast here and there using the ash in places as well, finished off with some murky washes.

I've been looking at Juniper Hill to get some ideas and there was a fantastic web blog about weathering track but I cant find it anywhere now! If anybody else knows of some track weathering ideas it'll be good to know them.

Nearly finished the track laying and I'm waiting for some wire from e bay so I can get on with making things work, then paint the track, I haven't got any spray so I'll probably use emulsion test pots as a base, just got to get the right colour.

Tiny layout I know but I got to say I'm enjoying this

 

Steve.

I have the same challenge with my current ‘industrial’ cakebox, Steve. Ballasted the track with the rest of the ground, including a pavement and cobbled street, modelled in DAS. Been looking at lots of old steam locomotive yard photos and a few ballasting videos. My sifted garden soil has worked well as a texture on old single track roads and yards in my larger layouts. I also have some ash, ground coal, etc and hope to achieve the right effect with paints, washes and pastel powder.

Marlyn

13 hours ago, Dufus said:

That clay pavement is brilliant.  A tip, if you are short of corrugated fencing - Starbucks coffee cup holders are a slightly finer scale corrugation than other well known coffee shops.  Not that keen on their coffee but it makes a fine roof for the workshop I am building on my layout.  Regards, Chris

Thanks, Dufus! Always on the lookout for bits and pieces we would normally throw away. There are so many cylindrical plastic tops and tubes, which I think “Would that be about the right size for the boiler in a scratchbuilt locomotive?” 

Pavement and street detail cut out of ‘DAS’ clay surface, track ballasted - I decided to use the Javis ‘extra fine’. Will spray paint the whole model, grey or black, tomorrow, then focus on the scrap pile detail before hand painting the ground surfaces. I have found a ridged paper which might just be in scale for the corrugated fence panels.

On 17/11/2019 at 13:10, Jack Benson said:

A bit more waffle whilst waiting for the baseboard to arrive (the Really Useful plastic storage box pitched up within 24hrs!)

 

Yesterday, we  drove around St.Mary's, not a great idea on a Saturday but it was good to see the old district again. Gentrification seems to have bypassed the area in favour of industry but it always was a hinterland of the wharves and whatever the blitz had not destroyed, Southampton City planners have tried to obliterate.

 

> Click here for some ideas

 

Delving back into the early 50s has not been too easy, thankfully Dave Marden has come to the rescue. This is a scan of my copy of his book and it is a cracking read.

 

Plus

 

Railway Bylines:

The Chapel Tramway:1 - Vol 18.11 Oct 2013, 505

The Chapel Tramway:2 - Vol 18.12 November 2013, 590

 

 

 

 

 

 

Finally, a couple of banana vans, once synonymous with Southampton.

 

JB

 

 

 

The detail in these  laser kits is great! Although I enjoy scratchbuilding with paper and card, I am tempted to get some for a future model!

Marlyn

16 hours ago, Ben B said:

I also wanted to create an atmospheric model with smoke effects and lighting, modelled at night.  So after lots of doodling, I've come up with the plan to do a tiny slice of an industrial tramway somewhere in the West Midlands, inset into cobbles (but inspired loosely by a street-running tramway which ran to the Huddersfield Gas Works- bits of it are still extant and visible in the road, and also from the remains of the Barrow-in-Furness industrial tramways), with a canal at the lowest level for the Midlands bit.

 

I'd thought initially about setting it in the 1920's-30's for the Peaky Blinders atmosphere, but following more research in the books, I really wanted to model the last gasp of the 'traditional' industrial railways with rusty diesel shunters and battered BR 16t wagons, so it would be vaguely 60's to maybe the early 80's at the latest.

 

Finally?  I've decided to make everything using Dapol/Airfix building parts, just because I really like the kits.  It will have steam/smoke effects built in from the start, and fingers crossed, I'll have the basic woodwork done this week...

Fascinating back story to your model, Ben! If it’s like your last cakebox model, it will be packed full of detail!
 

Marlyn

17 hours ago, jbmccarthy said:

I would have been happy with just the cardboard mockup! Can't wait to see this progress. Looks to be a great thread to follow.

Thanks jbmccarthy & Bo-Bo! Every CakeBox is a new challenge 
 

Marlyn

Almost no modelling time since my last post!  Baseboard constructed from a scrap of hardboard, with plywood edges to create a space for yard lamp wiring underneath. Decided to have three tracks quite closely spaced for at least two scrapped locomotives plus the engine being ‘saved from the scrapyard’. The battery compartment will be disguised with the the pile of scrap to the rear of the model. Next stage is to coat the street and pavement with a layer of DAS clay, then sculpt the stone setts, paving and gutter. The remainder of the ground will be covered in two grades of ballast. Better get my skates on!!
 

Very well planned base, JRB! This is something I would like to do for the grandchildren (and everyone else in the family), but not this year. It is fun to produce and there are also lots of possibilities, using some of the many basic, and cheap, children’s’ toy trains available.

If I’ve not commented already, Rob, I have to say I do love these little touches and extra attention to detail! Great modelling!
 

Marlyn

Hi Joe, I like the double cabin! Think it balances well with the Sentinel and gives that extra break between low relief and backscene. 
 

Marlyn

On 28/10/2019 at 20:57, Captainalbino said:

Whilst shopping online for Mod-Roc, I decided I didn’t like the cliff at the front, so out came the razor saw and some more polystyrene was sent flying!

 

Yes, I found the polystyrene worked quite well for my first cake box model, Captain Albino. It cut quite well with the long blade from one of those snap-off knives, then I coated it in a thin layer of DAS clay! Good progress!

I prefer to use real examples of buildings as reference for scratchbuilding or kitbashing. These old photos have some great details.

Marlyn

One inexpensive purchase for the model is the yard lamps and battery holder, which has now arrived. This weekend, I will construct the baseboard and get cracking with the ‘ground’ detail. After considering scratchbuilding  the track, I decided to stick with a couple of lengths of Peco set track from my spares. My modelling pace tends to be a bit slower than many here on the Forum! 
 

Good luck with the new venture, Jerry!

Hi Jerry - how is your layout coming along?
 

Marlyn

The static locomotives, which I am going to distress, have arrived! I now need to consider fitting three tracks into the model, which will mean reducing the street front a little. The baseboard will be constructed once I have the battery unit for the yard lights. I made the mistake in my first cake box of making the compartment for the unit a fraction too small 

While checking out old photographs and videos of rusting British locos, I came across this on YouTube about Woodhams Scrapyard in Barry.

Just been re-reading your posts, Paul. Lovely attention to detail, as always, on your micro layouts!

Marlyn

Well here I go again with a cardboard mock-up! I quite enjoy starting this way to get a feel for the model, but got carried away with detailing the track! This time I want to focus on textures and weathering. The scrapyard wall will be rusting corrugated iron panels, topped with barbed wire. There will be a double gate, suitably battered and rusted, which I may have to scratch build with fine wire. I might have a couple of flat-capped men in the street. In the yard there will be the two tracks, one with rusting locomotives, awaiting the breakers, and the other with the loco, destined for restoration, departing in the opposite direction. At the back is a suggestion of the huge pile of scrap parts. The backscene will be relatively dull, with the silhouette of a crane. Planning to have the baseboard raised with space underneath to house a battery pack for a couple of yard lamps. 
I try to make my models as cheaply as possible from recycled materials and second hand items. At the Dundee Model Railway Exhibition a week ago I picked up quite a few pieces, some for this model and some for the future! Static locomotives will be used - not 4mm scale exactly, so I may scratch build the track.

https://hiveminer.com/Tags/cashmores%2Cscrapyard

The old photos of Barry Scrapyard, in this link,  illustrates what I am aiming for.