Sandhills

Oops should have proof read my own words there as I meant to say "I hope you are not planning on using..."

 

I have seen the EM rabbit in the hole as an exhibition a while back, most entertaining - well of sorts. But then I am sure with a clever camera angle you could get real ones on your layout some how during one of your field trips

 

Just curious, have you photoshopped the distant telegraph poles on to the second image or is that how many you have on the layout? They look spot on fading out to a blur, really good perspective.

 

Paul

Hi Paul,

Just looked at that second image, hadnt noticed the effect the depth of field had on the poles. There are 8 in total, the missing one being past the camera at my end, so yes, the ones pictured are all on the board. Looks a lot further than 6ft doesnt it !!??

Real rabbits, could get messy !!

The spring grass mat from Silflor definitely needs toning down for UK use - I've used it - I'd go for autumn next time but I'm stuck so with a static grass puffer bottle I applied some autumn short fibres and winter long fibres over using hairspray to attach them and it's worked quite well on Paxton Road.

 

The scenics of this board are fantastic and the low angles with the blue sky look fabulous. One thing that kills the realism for me is the stone embankment and sidings at the front but I do appreciate that it's supposed to be viewed in micro sections through the lens of a camera rather than overall.

 

Fantastic work - and if you do Eastfield I'll buy a Railfreight grey 26 as a visiting loco!

Hi James,

Commented about the 37 horns and stone wall in the gallery section, but yes, I agree. We learn from our mistakes though !

Get that 26, although I am torn betwee the Railfreight Grey and Coal Sector liveries ?!

Reading your last comment about the next one being Eastfield Depot, I hope you are planning on using the very rare word in the world of model railways that of - "It's finished" !!? As I will repeat one of my comments I posted on your gallery, I think you are missing some further elements of scenic work – in the first shot you could perhaps have some bare patches of soil and some bunny holes? Only joking Jon, what you create in such a short space of time is truly inspirational, so I really look forward to seeing how you tackle a more urban layout.

 

Paul

Now, now Paul, lets not use that dirty 'F' word on the forum !!

Will get the remaining trees and fencing up then look into this fascination with bunnies you seem to have !!!!

I have always liked the look of the Express Models, 'bunny in a hole' thing that you fit to the trackside and it pops in and out as trains pass !!!! Not so sure the bunny would stack up in the realistic stakes but Im sure my lad would love it !!

Hi Jon Wahay we have moved in to the moving world of Sandhills, great video clips I love the fact that the wind was catching the leaves in the trees and ivy in the 2nd clip with 47535 on high-level. The lighting was very effective too.

 

Now we know that you are a very creative modeller and that your realism skills are second to non, but how on earth did you create your back scene? I mean, I have never seen moving clouds on a backboard before, very subtle and extremely effective - if only you could market that as a product....

 

You may have written it previously but who's sound chip is in 47535?

 

Paul

Morning Paul,

Cheers mate, was keen to get outside this morning and do a few more clips but I dont think the very realistic rain and gale force wind will do my scenics or stock much good !!

The sound on 535 is Howes. Had the Bachmann factory sound in 402 before and I didnt like that but this is something else ! Very handy functions on F9 & F10 with shunting mode & acc/dec limit. Perfect for plenty of play in a small space. Saves a lot of bother having to mess around with the CV's.

Nice scenic work Jon and great weathering. Telephone wires. Considering the period you are modelling I expect you wouldn't want to overlook the fact that by this time nearly all the old open single wire installations have been replaced by multi-core aerial cable, one thickish wire and easier to put up in real life and to model. Leave the old ceramic insulators on the crossarms, we did.

Regards Brian.

Superb Brian,

Thanks for the tip, that will save me a lot of work !

Just one question. Does this single cable run to & from any particular insulator or does it not matter ?

Great stuff, works a treat. Might have to take a trip to B&Q for some of that foam I think.

 

Cheers

Dave

Thanks Dave,

Your nudge to put track down there was inspired ! Probably getting better shots on the lower level now with the board unfinished than I will from the top level when its done !!

Hi Jon, just fantastic, I really love what you create!! The split level is a really nice idea and I like the overgrown feel to the buffer ends.

 

On the question of the telegraph poles and wires, I have seen black elastic thread used on an exhibition layout to great affect. It was apparently model aircraft makers thread used to create the rigging on model bi-plane wings. I have also heard that black magician thread is very good as it is very fine too.

 

The only issue with these two is that you do not get the sag in the wires as they are elastic and you have to stretch them to get them looking right. However the layout owner did say that as they are elastic they are very forgiving if you accidentally touch them rather than pulling the telegraph pole out of the layout!

 

 

Paul

Cheers Paul

I have rigged two poles up on a block of foam at the correct distance apart and as soon as I can get in town and purchase some different types of wire & thread I will set them up then post some pics and put the different choices to the vote !

Hi Jon

 

What gauge is this going to be? If it were me I would provide visual interest and a reason for the wall by simply mounting the line on a slope. add a few large trees to the foreground to help you frame the pictures and jobs a good un.

 

Bu thats just me.

 

Cheers

 

Jim

Hi Jim

Bad news is this is OO, however, good news is with one 4x1 block of polystyrene left, some wood and a couple of quid in the birthday pot I am looking into a few ideas connected with P4 !!

Its taken me over a year to go from code 100 to code 75 so the process of getting into P4 may be a slow one so dont hold your breath but I agree, some of my weathered wagon pics are let down by the wheels & trackwork so I am definetly interested in doing something in a more detailed and realistic scale.

Regards

Jon

Looking very interesting already. I could imagine those arches being moved back just a smidgeon and another section track being slipped in in front. Maybe on a slightly raised bank with a culvert running under it....

 

 

Cheers

Dave

Thanks Dave, after your post I decided to install track on the lower level.

As you may have noticed from the weekends photos, it gives the board several new views & more uses........

thats helped no end mate, maybe i can get my vda's looking something like now????

 

still trying to sort out getting over mate and i still got your stands????

 

great great work mate, where did the coupling hooks come from by the way??

 

cheers

 

neil

 

No probs mate, keep the stand as long as you like & we can sort out coming over in March when hopefully the weather will have improved.

The coupling was in the bottom of the spares box. I'm guessing its either a Hornby cl60 spare or it came out of the Hornby 08 detailing bag ??

fantastic jon, love the how to guide, definatly helps me out, just 1 thing, how did you get the roof looking that way

 

neil

 

Hello Mate !

Its got quite a good base colour to start with as shown in pic 1.

By pic 7 you can see I completly covered it with Railmatch Frame Dirt spray. Quite a thick coat as well.

To get to where it is in the finished pics involved taking most of it off with strokes from side to side with a lot of thinner on a cotton bud. I just left patches. Bit hit and miss what you do & dont take off but whilst still soaked in the thinner I also rubbed over it wth a sponge. This may be the key to the pattern/texture thats left. The thicker the coat of paint, when taken off it can go a little bitty & sticky, like the gluey residue left by a label or sticker. I leave some of this on and flatten it with my finger or a sponge so its not too rough. The last thing was to add a dusting of the mid rust powder (the middle packet of the 3 shown). Put quite a lot on and only lightly blow the dust off before sealing with matt varnish. When you spray the varnish on it looks like you have lost all the colour, texture & work but when dry it all comes back and looks ok as above.

Hope this helps

Jon.

I agree James.

The backing seems to have become more prominent as they dried out.

Only applied 4 & 1 has no backing showing at all so a quick wash over the other 3 like you suggest should do the trick.

Proper looking boozer is that James !! Loads of little detail to get stuck into. Dont forget the 2 satellite dishes on the chimney stack mate !!

Like the drawing more & more everytime I look at it. So simple but if the modelling is executed as well as Paxton it should be a smasher.

Are you going to convert anything else locowise to rumble down to that stop block ?

Jon looks good - I'm wondering if the stain below the grill (above but between the two windows on the side at the top of the yellow band) needs adjusting/removing. It just doesn't work for me - the rest I can understand (oil stain, gravity, rain exhaust etc etc) but that one doesn't sit well.

 

Lovely looking model though! Hope you got a good deal on those 37s!

Hi James,

Can see what you mean but sealed with varnish now so could get messy if I try and rectify !

Not on the other side so maybe I will just have to be choosy with the side I use under certain angles and light. Cab doors are open on the other side with a tail lamp wedged in the opening at one end. Liking your track plan pics by the way. Is that your Thomas annual under the table I can spot ??!! Happy New Year mate.

well it looks good Jon you need to fit some of Brian's name plates to it.

 

Happy New Year too.

 

Pete

Quite right Pete, next time I see him at a show I will pick them up. Question is Red or Black ??

Shaping up nicely there Jon- I find particuarly amusing the Leicester City tag. Will you be looking at adapting the over scale Hornby couplings to fit another type of coupling. ?

Hi Chris,

Kadee conversion will follow in due course hopefully. May even look into 3 link. A subject I need to do a bit of research on, they cant stay like they are, thats for sure !

Just a small comment - and I realise it is a personal thing - but the grass looks too green to me especially between tracks ... or is it going to be toned down?

Hi Kenton,

Totally agree.

Trying to show as much work in progress as I can and there is still lots of work to do on the grass including a trim in places and toning down with some weathering.

Plan to get it all down first then judge the colour tones with a few photos in different lighting conditions.

The stuff in the four foot will be toned down with browns & blacks for sure.

It is the 'summer' blend so I expected it to be quite lush & bright and I think in natural light it will look a little more, well, natural !

Looking good Jon. At this rate you'll be finished by Feb. Shaping up very well. I've often thought about using balsa, ever had any problems with warping at all?

Thanks Dave. No probs with warping. Most of the stuff I use is 10mm thick and the pieces are all relatively short so it isnt a problem. Doesnt like getting wet and can be a little awkward to cut unless your using a really really sharp blade but it does provide a really sturdy basis to work on and add too.

You might want to consider some edge protection or anchor points for any body accessing that roof Jon!

Going to pick up some 4mm railings on the next visit to 'ye olde model shoppe' next week ! Until then I will make sure no Preiser men fall to their little 4mm deaths !!

Looking good Jon - you'll have to build two challenge layouts at this rate!! this rate of progress is incredible. I'm easily distracted - and have been working on my 58 again!

The wallet couldnt stand the pressure of two mate !

Progress will slow a bit after this session as any further work = expenditure !

Thanks for the comments Jim, Dave, Paul & James !

Good to get some feedback and motivation at the start.

James - You got me ! Next click after finishing this comment will be to research some decent track. Seeing as it will feature in all the pics it seems worth the upgrade from code 75 !

Paul - Dont get me started ! My lad said exactly the same thing and now wants all 4 layouts linked together before tmow night !!

Nice idea James and the first blog entry already reads well with researched development, interest and hopefully photos....soon !

Going to follow this one with interest and the 'blog favourites bookmark' will be clicked very shortly !

Well, hopefully, you log off and dont bother logging back on again.

Afternoon Pete, fancy seeing you here !!

Great to see your working on something new, will enjoy following the progress. Looking forward to LYDCC and catching up soon. Cant wait to get my fixed 'Shed' back !! Thanks for that by the way.