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Interesting perspective with the arches and train behind. With the roof on it does mean a much better perspective view through the station. Not a tree in sight.

Finished a couple of trees today but I cannot decide which one best suits. I’m thinking the first one.

Decided to plant a tree to frame the entrance to the yard.

It’s been a few weeks now since I last touched anything on the layout. This evening did some work on a small horse and cart for the roadway. It is a modified Shire Scenes delivery van kit. After painting I will add the reins. I may need to add a basket next to the driver to conceal the fact I’ve cut his feet off so he sits properly on the seat.

Bit more work on the motive power, this time an ancient Wills metro kit with a perseverance chassis. Bit of a struggle to get the rods to clear the valance on the body but it’s ok now, just. Not exactly as the prototype but should be a nice little loco for the branch.

It’s been a few weeks since the last post so a quick update to show the water tower painted and lightly weathered.

Ian, Thanks for the advice, looks like the way to go and pretty cheap. Paul

Dear all, I am looking for some advice and recommendations for a small cctv camera system I can use on a layout so I can use it for the fiddle yard and to show a difficult to see uncoupling magnet. I am looking for the camera and a monitor without the need to connect to the internet to see the results. Any advice would be appreciated Thanks Paul

A bit of testing this evening in a break from the model making. All running just fine.

Added the barrow crossing this evening. It is made from strips of bass wood, painted and glued in place. The ground either side is made up with DAS modelling clay, painted and texture added. When it is all dry I shall blend and weather in.

Nick, Thanks for the comments. Backscene is painted with acrylics mainly. The sky is white emulsion with a light blue test pot. Clouds are white acrylic with a very little bit of grey. The fields are a mix of green, browns, beige, grey and white. It took ages to paint but I’m happy wit( the result. Paul

Right away driver. Finished the starter signal and the ground signal and weathered them in. Still got to blend in the base and make it operational with a small servo.

Cold and wet outside so a little bit more model making time, this time finishing a signal. This was part finished from many moons ago so I’ve finished the last few bits and painted it today. It is built fro MSE parts with a brass post and fittings. Soldering it all up was good fun and the resistance soldering unit came in handy here. Just need to put the lens in, backblinder and opening rods, oh and a bit of weathering. Not sorted the control method yet. Also finished one of the two ground signals protecting the trap points.

Little bit more detail work today, this time on the water column and fire devil. It is based on that which stood at Pontrilas, very much a standard GWR design but without the conical top. This is a ratio kit with a few small modifications. Painting and fitting still to be done.

Couldn’t really get to the backscene to paint in some more trees so decided to thicken up the group of trees with some more low relief ones made in the same manner as before, but using folio net and fine scatter.

Thanks for the comments. There is enough room to add some very low relief trees in the background to fill out the scene a little. I might even consider adding a couple of trees in front of the group but that may put them the railway side of the fence. Watch this space.

Decided to go with both hedge and trees in the end.

Undecided whether to add trees in the corner and if so how many. Can I canvas the thoughts of the group please.

A bit more grass laying today next to the bridge. I shall let this dry before adding the fencing wire, hedge, bushes, trees etc. The base is polystyrene covered in plaster bandage and painted brown. Once dry pva is used to add a mix of course and fine scatter, larger lumps of foliage and some hanging basket liner teased out. Again once fully dry the static grass mix is added with a mix of long and short fibres. Happy so far.

Just for info I shall be demonstrating some of the scenic techniques used on this layout at Expo EM on the 19th and 20th May 2018 in Bracknell. I will also have my small GWR Stanton diorama on display. Please come along and say hello. Paul

Some time ago after the textured surface was added to the platform it took on a distinct bow. Today it was glued in place and weighted down with whatever was to hand.

Finished the corner.

Geraint, Yard texture from the top. The yard base is 3mm foam from C&L the same as underneath the trackwork. This is then painted brown. Next up is a mix of brown, grey and pva. Whilst this is wet Chinchilla dust (available from your local pet store) is added sieved through a pair of ladies tights (bought just for this task I hasten to add). It dries quickly so work a small area at a time keeping a wet edge free of the dust. When fully dry vacuum off and then a good brush where you want the worn areas to be. Next up another dilute coat of the brown, grey and pva mix. Finally another wash of tthe grey brown mix and then some weathering powder, mainly around the edges. In all of this only 4 products were used and I have attached a photo of the paints and weathering powder. I hope this helps. Paul

Added the wire to the posts. I have used 0.12mm fishing line, coloured with a black marker pen and glued to the posts. I used only 5 strands instead of 7 in real life, and weathered them in a bit. The hedge behind is Woodland Scenics light green foliage mat.

A little more work today adding a hedge and blending into the backscene. It’s amazing how much difference the curved backscene corners make.