Re6/6

Rod tells me that it's an E1R!

There actually was a slip coach on the first circuit that was slipped as it needed some tweaking with the bogies! (Number of vehicles now amended!)

Many thanks for the complements all.

 

I will do a 'how to' when I feel confident that I've got my methods right!

Please don't apologise Jon! Criticism is what I'm after. You're quite right about the colours. The armature has only had green weathering powders applied but no paint. I've got to get some Tamiya acrylics (as recommended by Gordon in his book) to get the trunk colours right. As for the foliage, it's a bit too 'nuclear green' and needs 'letting down' with maybe a chrome yellow or brake dust blow over. The main object is to get the greens subtly different. These will all be put behind the viaduct!

 

.Oh, and this morning the viaduct was seen to have a wonderful red firey orb hovering over it - first time I've see the sun risen over the horizon as I passed the viewpoint that allows the viaduct to be briefly and majestically seen this year on my way to the office.

 

Oh dear, now you got me thinking....!

The trees around this viaduct had a nice scattering of snow to their branches this morning

 

Now that would be nice to model it in a winter setting. On reflection, I don't think so when I think about the hundred+ trees that would have to be made with convincing bare armatures!

No mystery there! I use the methods described in Gordon Gravett's new book on broadleaf trees 'Modelling Trees' (part 1) published by Wild Swan. I adapt some of his methods that suit me a little better. When I get a bit more proficient, (I'm not totally happy with the latest 'old' tree) I'll do a tutorial on here showing my variations in GG's methods. Basically this one is a load of twisted 22swg old iron wire, the sort that is available for gardening use and covered with a mix of tile grout, PVA glue and brown powder/poster paint, and finally finished with earthy coloured paint and green weathering powders. The 'foliage' is medium green 'Woodland Scenics' foliage mat well teased out and stuck onto the branches and then given a good coat of 'extra firm hold' cheap hairspray.

Those snaps have inspired me to make the pilgrimage. I remember seeing an article in a model mag in the sixties, but ridiculously I have never been!

 

That first pic does it for me.

 

Thanks Ian.

..........And if they've spent a fruitless Sunday morning out with the wife and dog, walking around trying to find the old station, why, so much the better!! ;-))

 

Oh yes, I know all about trying to seek out routes of old railways that 'might have been'!

 

Lovely snap Chris.

Wild Swan will be pleased. I've been umming and arring over whether to get this book, and now I've seen the results, my mind is well and truly made up.Lovely!

 

You won't regret it! Even though I consider it the definive work on the subject (can't wait for Gordon's second one on conifers) I found that slight adaptation of some techniques suited me. The armatures were fashioned from some old soft iron wire which I had.(0.75mm or 22 SWG).It's available widely now as 'zinc plated garden wire' in 50m rolls @ around £5.

Thanks all for the kind comments.

 

 

 

What grade flock are you using? you have caputured the nature of the deciduous leave quite well. I oul be hesitant to fill the tree in any more however. Other wise the poly fiber take over and it looks like you have put green cotton candy around a wire stick.

I have used 'Green Scene' fine flock GS 125 'Parkway green' on some old postiche type material as recommended by GG in the book. On reflection you're quite right about not adding more branches to this one. The next armatures will have slightly closer branch structure.

 

 

Hi,Nice trees! Are you making many of these?Best regards,Jeremy

 

Don't ask! I prefer not to think about how many that we're going to need on Balcombe Viaduct!

Yes. but with one or two slightly different techniques that suited better with the wire used (soft iron in this case.)

Ah, but who's nose is that at 0:59?

Who indeed Andrew?!

Hi Mike,

We're just at the end of an e-mail!

Regards

John

I thought you were referring to a brass who used to work Plymouths Union Street!

 

Oh dear, that's the sort of thing that I first thought about!

 

Looking lovely.

L ovely piece of work there Chris. I do like the engine house where you've put it!

Thanks Rich. Yes AFAIAC this is now the only way to go for scenics and also polyfoam baseboards (where appropriate!)

I've heard of this method but not seen anyone actually using it. I'm just wondering if there's any way of tinting the resin before putting it onto the fibreglass in order to avoid any patches if the paint layer comes off - or does that not happen? Will it float....?

 

Hi Rich, yes, special pigment is available. I'd never thought about it until I was told of it by a modeller on another forum who has sucessfully used it. I shall probably be ordering some shortly to use on future areas. After a night curing I'm very pleased indeed with the end result. It will now withstand knocks and bangs without chipping or breaking.

After further advice I'll probably bond a layer of fibreglass tissue in the areas where earth will be visible to mask the strands in the matting. As for what has been done so far it won't be a problem as it will be heavily overgrown with greenery.

 

Hi Will, No problem with the underside as the chicken wire has very effectively supported the matting and the bonding resin has done its job.

Regarding ingredients the chemicals are pretty foul but I hope that they won't become unstable!

 

Genearally speaking AFAIC this and polyfoam for general baseboarding is the only way to go in the future. However careful we were with Matford, which used the old plaster method, lumps kept coming apart!

Check out Bertiedog's advice.http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/38619-how-to-solder-brass-to-aluminium/page__fromsearch__1 Aluminium to aluminium (or brass, nickel silver, whitemetal etc..etc..) is most definitely possible. A friend when in business used to do the 'vaseline' method on a daily basis.

Interesting to note that despite some components being bought-in from bespoking suppliers, there is still an enormous modelling task involved in assembly to the required standard, and enabling the desired level of finish. 10k views of such a dramatic endeavour seems entirely reasonable - there will be a lot more as construction proceeds, because most of us ain't seen anything like it!

 

 

Thanks for the kind words.

Couldn't be better thanks Jim.

Wot, no lino (on the floor that is)?

 

I think that I've got some in the garage Tim, shall I look it out for you?

It would give you that lovely smell that would enhance the whole thing!

 

You should do a 'Bath Green Park' and make the roof transparent so that the viewer can see all that lovely stuff inside!

1 nearly down, about ?22? still to go...

 

35!

It's HUGE!

 

 

Only 3/5ths of HUGE!

nice, Does it go deeper as well?

 

Cant wait to see it in its finished state.

 

Yes. It will be installed on 500mm wide boards in five sections. The possible plan when we exhibit it on it's own will be adding some wide 'countryside' boards along the front to give a better setting and having it set-up so that the top is maybe at just below eye level.

A brilliant idea, if I may say so!

 

You may indeed!