scanman

I remember many, many moons ago working on a club '009' 'rabbit warren' layout frantically applying scenery before exhibiting it the next day... The scenic work basically consisted of one member constantly spraying very dilute PVA with added black paint in a fine mist, whilst three or four of us sprinkled various scatters through the mist. Surprisingly, it worked very well!

It's been a while since the last entry & there's a danger of slippage... So on with the wall covering for the viaduct. Nothing new here - 'SEFinecast' plasticard - 'English Bond' suitably painted. I do LIKE this product - the mortar courses are vertical and horizontal (unlike some I can name) and at 20 thou thick - its thick enough for me! The various apertures were suitably embellished with hand-scribed courses and again suitably painted. The 'mortar' was picked out by a VERY dilute scenic plaster mix - applied with a sponge then taken off just before it dried completely. The whole was then 'dirtied using the 'Vallejo' inks that I've mentioned before. The eagle-eyed among you will note that the brickwrk does not stretch the full length of the viaduct. I have (at the moment) a very 'tight' wallet, so I'm only going to cover whats neccessary (a bit like a bikini-bottom ) and of course there are some large buildings to go hard against the viaduct. I've also got to add string courses etc. Okay, I should practice more of what I preach... This is 'The Tanners Arms' in mock-up form only at the mo'. I was going to bring the tannery all the way along the left section of the viaduct - then realised that tanning leather, butchering animals and sorting sewage is thirsty work - so the 'Tanners' was born. It's historic beginning would have been as an Mid- Georgian 'townhouse' - which has been truncated with the coming of the railway (not that the owners minded - the construction of the tannery had knocked the stuffing out of the building's value and they were only too happy to sell to the 'Railway'!). The remnants of the building being obtained by one Josiah Burntash in the 1840's. Mr Burntash was an employee of the tannery who well understood his workmates needs at the end of a hard, smelly shift. His descendants still own the pub, and so far the workers prediliction for good-quality ale have provided three generations with a moderately good income! History lesson over, the building has been designed in 'TurboCAD' mainly to provide wall templates etc. To break the outline up I'll consider extending the height of the dormer roof so it projects somewhat above the viaduct parapet. The actual building will be constructed of the afore-said brick plastikard with suitable embellishments. So thats the status at the moment - anther break fro some paying work follows! TTFN Ian

Why is it we can only hit ONE of the 'like'-type buttons?? I'd have hit every one, and the 'happy' button at least twice! Well done again Mikkel for bringing the everyday to life! Regards Ian

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Hi Mikkel - Thanks for the best wishes - I'm working on a patent for the idea! The SEF brickwork scores over Slaters in that at least the courses are 'true'. Put a straightedge along 'Slaters' and you find they are anything but! I think its just that their moulds are showing their age

Dont get old! I think I might have said that before! Christmas came - and with it a bad stomach bug. This had a disastrous effect on my sugar levels which in turn had an affect on my eyesight (incipient Diabetic Neuropathy...) FORTUNATELY strong doses of medication resolved both the bug and the sugar levels (eventually) but it's taken some time for my eyesight to return (almost) to normal. A new pair of prescription lenses has also helped! Anyway, I decided to do some fairly 'broad-brush' (about 1/2"!) to get back into it - hence I've spent the last few days concentrating on the cladding for the viaduct. At first I was going to use 'Depron Foam' - suitably inscribed to represent stone - but poor concentration and a love of weathered 'London Stock' bricks led to a change of heart. Shades of all those luvley viaducts leading into London! So out with the embossed plastikard - in this case 'SouthEast Finecast's 'English Bond'. . Then I had to scribe the various brick arches anyway! Slowly a 'kit of parts' appeared... The first of the paint layers was then added using 'Vallejo' acrylics - rapidly becoming my favourite finish... Its a bit 'bright' at the mo' - but London stocks quickly oxidise down to overtones of blacks & greys - and that will be the next task! More (not too much) later! Regards Ian

Early Autumn ;-)

Cheers Jez - Knowing the level of polution in the original I doubt they'd have time to quack before they croaked!

Good article and thanks for the link!

I've been waiting for a couple of items to arrive in the post... So rather than just twiddle my thumbs I've got on with the 'mini-scene' so I can finish the tracklaying... First job is to lay down some basic paint - in this case tube acrylic using a very limited palette - 'burnt umber' 'sap green' & 'yellow ochre'. The stream-bed was suitably treated with a mixture of acrylic - 'mars black' and 'Vallejo' black ink... Wouldn't want to swim in THAT! And as I had some mixture left over in the pot - I 'drearied-down' the visible ballast too - Then it was out with the trusty 'Flock-It' for the basic ground cover - and then some 'long grass' The 'eagle-eyed' among you will have noticed that the ditch is now full of milk. Actually it's another 'Vallejo' product - 'water paste'. Whilst it looks like it might be wet, it has hardened off enough to be non-tacky. The next layer of 'water' was used to hold the 'sedges' along the edge - This is straight 'sisal' cut to suitable lengths and 'planted' in the 'water', and before it dried other 'plant material' was added by gently blowing it into the ditch and on to (suitably adhesived) banks.. Last job was to touch the stems of the 'sedges' to represent the lower stems. All in all I'm reasonably happy with the effect - and at least now I can get the bridge in place! 3. How (not) to impress the 'Domestic Authority' - use one of the 'best' teaspoons to scoop it up! DOH!!!

Neat idea - using a cake-dish as a mixer/pourer. Ideal for small quantitie and disposable. Note to self - 'Remember that one'.!

Only the first coat, Gerry!

Ever had one of those days when you get up full of good intentions - and then realise you're actually planning something about three stages too early?? Case in point.... A small 'occupation bridge' is required to cross the 'drain' to access the abbatoir. No problem - a few bits of plastikard, some acrylic paint then lay the track... Easy.. Then I realised that the scenics of the drain would have to be done prior to setting the bridge in... Slap on scenic compound and some acrylic paint when it dries - the basics complete.. MUCH more detail to add.. The bridge starting to look the part... However, whilst in a local model shop I found that 'Vallejo acrylics' have added ink washes to their range. So I thought I'd give them a try... The bridge is an ideal test-piece - if they work here they'll go on the main models. If they don't - the bridge is small enough to re-paint/rebuild! I bought 'black', 'light grey' and a couple of browns intending that they could be used to highlight the brickwork. The bridge was first painted with standard Vellejo acrylics. I'm really impressed by the product - goes on thin but reasonably opaque straight from the brush. Each tube has a 'nozzle' rather than a 'ti-lid' so wastage/hardening doesn't really occur. Once the basic colours had dried I applied the 'black' wash first, then worked to progressively lighter colours. Not finished yet but it's a start! In between those little jobs I also started laying the track. Where ballast is visible, I've used 'budgie grit' in an attempt to represent ash ballast - it will obviously be suitably darkened-down and doubtless vegetation will invade as well. With the droppers already wired in beneath the board I might even get something running shortly. That'll make a change!" TFN Ian

Bit of a 'devils choice' really -the droppers would probably have got in the way. In any case before/after was immaterial as they are soldered to the underside of the rail where there is no paint. Regs Ian

The last 10 days have been a bit of a nightmare, with virtually no modelling done last week, what with a funeral in Devon, some private work coming in (more of that later on the 'workshop blog') and, of course the start of the 'festivities of the season'. Nice but it ain't modelling! So what time could be given over has been tied up with the trackwork. It's now all built - as this shot shows - the PCB sleepering is still 'au naturel', but a few passes with a can of 'sleeper grime' resolved the colour issue (where needed - most of Tannery Lane will be cobbled) and the next task was to attach the dropper wires. The benefits of high-density foam - holes for the droppers were pushed through using a small screwdriver and now hang below the baseboard in my usual 'birds net'! Have no fear - I think even I can make it neater! Whilst the track layout is very simple, each of the main sidings has three isolating sections, and the track will be wired for 'common return'. The track is not yet glued down - for two reasons... 1) What did I do with the decent PVA and 2) I need to build the bridge between the abbatoir & Tannery Lane. Guess that will be the next mini-project! 'Til next time, Regards Ian

You'l be doing origami next! Nice build so far tho - and that gearbox looks impressive!

Sacrilege indeed - but as I'm not allowed to drink it, I get my revenge!!! 3-link couplings because it's such a small layout that I don't want to get bored!

Ahhh - another 'typo' Julie! Should be 'EMGS Challenge'! Celebrating the EMGS 'Diamond Jubilee' next year, create a layout with a maximum board size of 60" x 18.2" (at that size the '0.2" MIGHT be important)! Regs Ian

'Challenge Wednesday' went by the board this week as I was at the REC Monday to Wednesday working on 'Netherley' the 7mm layout. So... spent all day today at the bench instead! First job was to lay in the viaduct track-bed with its 'split-level' The 'running line' is descending on the right whilst there will be a 'track remnant' on the higher level. I got the idea whilst riding the 'Brio Train' (aka the 'Docklands Light Railway'). This is the only section that will have a 'normal' trackbed - but (for Mikkel) I've managed to work beer in here! Our club has a licenced bar and one day we took delivery of some rubber bar mats - which the bar staff didn't need. Hence the track underlay! Its rather like the old 'Exactoscale' underlay - a high-density rubber which cuts beautifully and with it's cloth face, glues down easily.. Plus it was free! There then followed a quite hectic few hours of track-making in various styles - The track for the viaduct - 'C&L' GWR 2-bolt chairs & sleepers 'Tannery Lane' - laid on PCB strip to represent the lighter 'industrial rails' The wider sleeper strips are actually 7mm, but will be buried under the road surface The 'Sewage Works' - again rail soldered direct to PCB sleepers cut to 8' 0" length, except close to the baseboard join where I have a length of 9' -0" sleepers so the 'Big Railway' can deliver a 'workman's train'. So in overview - and from the Sewage works end - All the copper-clad has been double-gapped - and yes an 0-6-0 loco (an '08' diesel) DOES go through that wickedly sharp bend on Tannery lane! A slight hold-up in that I've run out of PCB (hence the unfinished 'Sewage Works' and abbatoir sidings) however I'm going to the South Hants show at Portsmouth this weekend where I will (grudgingly) hand over cash to 'C&L'! So next week will be - finish off the trackwork, paint it & lay it. Electrics will be almost minimal, with the positive feed to the droppers passing through section switches to make several breaks. I'm also going to arrange the electrics so it can be operated from either side - that way I can use 3-link couplings. BFN Ian

Well-deserved congratulations! I've followed your blog since the early days, and it's nice to see all that hard work being appreciated.

After 8 hours the body-work is starting to take shape - I followed Chris's instructions almost to the letter - so valances first, then bend down buffer-beam supports etc. I'm using in the main 'Carrs Solder Cream' - excellent stuff. Only about 15 mins into the build - and I couldn't resist! Next job was the smoke-box. The former folds out of te chassis with the smoke-box front soldered to it. Then the wrapper is applied - with much heat & swearing. It actually has 'reverse bends ' in it and is a little so-n-so to get right (and I'm still not convinced that mine is). Move 15 feet back andfirst the firebox wrapper has to be formed... the firebox is round-topped - no problem for the rolling bars - but the sides drop vertically by secondary bends at the end of the rolled top. I created mine round a file-shank as they are too small for the rollers. The cab takes shape. This has a constructional element - to which the cab sides and front are sweated on. But first you have to add the firebox wrapper - and now the coal bins are in place there's not a lot of room! Sweating on the cab sides etc was no problem - out with a 'Bulldog Clip' the trusty blow-torch and the obligatory piece of asbestos.. Loadsa lovely heat - Which promptly unsoldered part of the firebox wrapper. DOH! Not quite sure how I'm going to get round that - food for thought tonight! Anyway, 8 hours (including an hour scrubbing up) in and she's developing into a pretty little thing. 'Little' is the operative word here - she actually sits inside a 5-plank 'open'.... BFN Ian

It's 'Challenge Wednesday' so' up 'n at 'em'. Sort of! The major job today was to try & get the viaduct in place, but first I transferred all the salient points onto the baseboard surface Next job (now that I knew where the major elements were going) was to add the cross-members to brace the foam board - made from 5.5mm ply with a hole in each for the wiring (little though it will be) Having resolved them I was able to add another scenic item - the 'Quaggy ditch' - memories of my school-years where a stream called (not un-naturally) 'The Quaggy' ran through the (separate) playing fields of both my junior & senior school. An extended game of 'Poo(h) Sticks' you might say - and in common with the prototype you wouldn't want to fall in it! Then it was on to the main job of the day... The viaduct. The 'rear wall' is already in place as part of the baseboard framing, so it was going to be an easy job to fit the front wall. Or was it?? The main track on the viaduct will be on a 1.6m curve and a 1:60 falling gradient from the cassette behind the abbatoir. This entailed detailed individual trackbed/bracing supports - no two alike... Even more complicated because the 'abandoned track' to the left is on the level, so the track-bed will have to split. Unfortunately I didn't get that far. However, by late evening the main elements were in place - just the track bed to add. At least the 'wagon turntable' seems to line up nicely I also think I might have found a prototype for the tannery - a couple of years ago I built a little 'concept model' of a group of buildings in Farnham - 'Weavers Yard'. The bulildings known as 'the hop kilns' - on the right of this group - might well serve (suitably amended to 'lose' the modern windows etc). They're certainly from the right period, and the roof-line of the industrial unit will sit just below the viaduct, whilst the 'admin building' at the back should mask the exit to the cassette. Another building from the group, which is a weird hexagonal shape will just fit between the private siding and the corner of Tannery Lane where it passes under the viaduct. I think I've even got suitable windows for the group in the old 'ClearSolutions' range... Next week - viaduct track-bed and trackmaking (although some of that is already half-finished). BFN Ian

Good 'ole Amazon - 'BKF' should be here early next week.

Rosspop, Buckjumper - cheers folks, I'll look for it!

Ahh - but she scrubs up nicely! Not too happy with 'Cillit Bang' - but I might be using the wrong variety (the 'limescale buster'...) Threre's so many diferent types now. As I indicated, it took several applications - and it didn't appear to shift much! Feel free to keep on swearing! The big difference was the use of a fibreglass pen (just bought some latex gloves although a tad late!) and 'elbow grease!