cactustrain

Thanks for the feedback Pete and Mike. Nice to hear from you Chris. The ash is a mix of real ash and artist's charcoal sticks. The real ash is a pain to grind down to size so I beefed up the volume. It seems to have worked okay. Don't even think about using commercial stuff - the particle size is far too large. It is very important that your groundwork is not overscale. The only drawback is that a lot of dust is produced - keep the door to the railway room closed or the wife will start complaining! (I've been there...) It's stuck down using the time-honoured dilute PVA mix. The large piles are formed using air drying clay - in fact the whole board is covered in a coating of the stuff. This way you only need a thin layer of ash. Good luck - PM me if you need more.

Well, only just over two weeks to go before time is up. First, thanks for all the compliments. You're correct, Trent, these models are very labour intensive to build. Second; progress. Here is the backscene painted in watercolour. I have chosen a dramatic sky as befits the drama unfolding below under the cutter's torch. The base is coming along. The track and ash are down. There is still a fair amount to do. I have been hopelessly optimistic with regard to content, so I am not going to be able to finish all the features I wanted. (Cock up on the project management front!). However, I should be able to have something reasonable together by the deadline. Unfortunately, work is about to start next week in a big way and things are going to be very busy. I must get some midnight oil in stock!

Thanks for all the feedback and also the photos, marc and br2975. I can always use more reference material. There were many, many scrapyards to get rid of the 16000 steam locos taken out of service and some of them were very much home spun affairs, so there's no reason why this can't be complete with just a few locos. (See Steam for Scrap by Nigel Travena, Atlantic, 1985). Wolfy, like this you mean? The other side of the loco is even more moth eaten: I thought I could live with the original Dapol wheels on the front bogie, but I think they'll be changed when I get the chance. The 4MT is coming along as well. I don't think I've ever seen a loco modelled with its guts on display before: (If you can't stand the sight of smoketubes, look away now...) I'll be taking a break next week - I need it, this is turning into a full time job!

There's all sorts of things you can use as release agents. I've heard of people using Marmite or even peanut butter. The thing is to experiment and see what works for you.

Hi Neil, Scalescenes has given links to the techniques I use further up the thread. Also, if you want to know how to build models, subscribe to the plastic modelling mags - their stuff puts ours to shame and you'll learn a lot. All the best, Michael

Thanks for the feedback guys. I'm working flat out at the moment while I have a chance. The Bulleid is in the paintshop and the 4MT is being built. (Although with these kits, there's quite a bit of destruction goes on before any construction starts!). Here is a peek at the Bulleid. It isn't weathered yet and the decals are yet to be applied. Some more shots of the 9F. Better ones this time as I got the studio lights out. This still needs weathering and decals as well. After these 3 locos are finished I'm going to start on the baseboard. I'll need quite a lot of scrap around too, so that should take up a good deal of the time remaining,

Well it's all happening here. The baseboard is up, the first loco is, more or less, complete and, for once, I've actually made a plan! First, the baseboard. I decided to make a removable backscene that will give me the option of taking photos with it in place, or removing it when on display. I will experiment with a further backscene that employs mirrors at a later stage - this has a lower priority than other areas. The three lengths of track I will use have been temporarily laid in place. One piece has a claim to fame as it is a bit of James May track from the challenge shown on TV! I believe all the Hornby dealers have some (what are you going to do with yours!) This is my plan and it's a rather crude sketch. Basically, there are two storage sidings over the back holding locos that have been around for a while (just because I want to model some rust!). Towards the front will be a cutting area with a loco being dispatched. I could do with sourcing a crane. It's needs to be mobile and road based, as this is what seems to have been employed at most yards. Do you know of a suitable model? The building is one I was going to use on Byworth, but didn't use in the end. It needs a fair bit of work yet, as only the walls have been stuck together so far. The 9Fs tender is basically finished, except I haven't added any decals yet. I need to experiement here and get a technique that works for peeling paint. Watch this space... (do you know a way?) Here is the 9F itself. It's all either Dapol or scratchbuilt apart from the front wheel (Gibson), and the brakes (Bachmann). It's come out pretty well, but I can improve for the next locos. I'm now working on a Bulleid pacific and a 4MT, both from the Dapol range. I have to admit that I'm not particularly enjoying working to a time limit - for me it's counterproductive. I prefer to model when I feel like it and go at my own pace. So I think I'll just cut down on the content if it all gets too much for me. As it is, I think I will struggle to get everything in I'd like and finish on time. It isn't in my nature to compromise on quality as I would just bin the results. Let's see how it goes.

Thanks for your valued input. Some good ideas coming up! I never thought of using a mirror! I'll check that one out, although, as you say, it's keeping the viewer/camera out of view. Ric: that diorama is lovely. There's no doubt that the millitary modelling guys are the ones to follow. I can always fall back on the option of no backscene if I'm unhappy with my efforts and not be too disappointed.

Cheers Guys. That shot is a bit more of the 'chocolate box' variety than I normally like. The layout is one that never leaves home - I don't think it looks very impressive in the flesh. Here's one of my shots from last years NRM photo contest that didn't come out very well in print, so I think it's time to do it justice on here.

Thanks for the idea David. I hadn't really thought about whether to make the layout taller or wider - I'll have to ponder on that one. Certainly gives me more options to play with. It seems that Wales has become synonymous with scrap and so everyone immediately things of Barry scrapyard - not suprising really. I would agree that recollections of the early days of Barry bring to mind long rows of engines spread over a large area. I don't think I'll have time to model more than 2 or 3 engines though, so I'll probably go for the latter days - really decreprid wrecks surrounded by quite a lot of vegetation. No doubt the idea will evolve as time goes on. You're right about the background though - I might be biting off more than I can chew! Again, I'll just try out ideas and see what works. There's a large element of experiementation involved with watercolour anyway. Part of the fun of the medium is its unpredicatbility - you can do the same scene the same way several times and they'll all come out different and you never know quite what you're getting until its dry.

The locospotters view over the fence.

This is one of my Bachmann 16Ts on Byworth weathered using Gouache. It's come out okay, but I think it's better combined with other techniques.

It's time to throw my hat into the ring and disclose my entry for the 2011 challenge. Basically, I'm going to do a scrapyard. Not too sure exactly what is going to be in it yet, but it will be made using the Dapol plastic kits. The track layout will be very simple, probably just two straight pieces of track. I will be painting the backscene using watercolours. (I'm not a fan of using photos - I like to create everything on my layouts using my own creative abilities. Also definitely out is the idea of using the real world (as in 1:1 scale) as a background - that isn't modelling in my book) Normally scrapyard engines are the poor relations on model railway layouts and are made from old substandard stock. I'm hoping to go one better than that. I'm starting with the 9F and I think I'm right in saying that this is one of the old Kitmaster designs, which means it must be getting on for 50 years old. The basic dimensions seem okay, but there are areas that have been simplified. I've started by cleaning up the pieces (the quality is pretty dire by modern standards - flash and sink marks all over the place- , but that's hardly surprising!) and removing unwanted detail. Now it's a question of adding detail back on where I want it. In this shot you can see that I've taken some of the footplate away and added distressed floorboards to the cab. The main frames have been strengthened and extra holes drilled that are prototypical but not included on the kit moulding. Here are various parts I have scratchbuilt, including motion brackets. They're not completely accurate, but they give the correct impression. I've added the spring detail to the front bogie and reused a metal wheel from another project The cab roof vents have been removed and I cleaned the firebox backplate of detail Revamped cylinders and smokebox door. The wheels have had the correct treads put back on (only the centre wheels are flangeless). More updates as and when. May be sporadic as DIY, gardening, and of course work, keep getting in the way!

I'm quite pleased with the way my handpainted backscene has come out in this shot - it doesn't look so good close up!

Here, here. I take 100s of shots and most go in the bin. Occasionally, you end up with one that looks realistic and they're the ones that should go on here.

Well done, Ryan, that's very nice indeed - I could quite happily use that on Byworth! I like a lot of weathering too and yours looks great. I don't think it's possible to overweather IF you use the correct techniques. Of course, it is a subjective issue. Best wishes, Michael

It's Sunday and some locos are having a day off.

If you haven't voted in the NRM competition, then you may like to do so now here. Many thanks.

Take a deep breath of the sulphurous air of an MPD at night: More on my layout thread here.

ill met by Goonlight.

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I agree with the other comments, Ryan, this is a very interesting thread. I've done two of these Hornby tenders with the Brassmasters kit and you've certainly found some improvements that I never thought of. I don't think I'll be making any retrospective changes though as there's too much detail in place now. A couple of things you may like to add - you can saw through the top of the tender tank lid and glue it back to show it open. The tank hole can be drilled out to make it look a bit more realistic: Also, removing the pastic between the drag box and the fall plate improves the look, as does opening up the tool box door and coal space doors: Looking forward to seeing more of your work. Best wishes, Michael

It certainly is a valid excuse! It's a great experience isn't it? I was once invited onto the footplate of a pannier on the KWVR and fired it for a few miles. I was surprised how rough the ride was. The bearing and suspension gave a ride that felt and sounded like a cement mixer! Best wishes, Michael