mudmagnet

A couple of photos showing a class 25 bringing in a short ballast train - the Mermaids have been finished today and needed a run out on Orchard Road!

Well, I have finally managed to get the decals onto my two Mermaids and now weathered. The only other thing to do now is make the removable ballast loads! The photos below show loose ballast poured into the wagons for effect. I am planning to get a couple of Dogfish and then maybe a couple more Mermaids. I have a couple of Shark brake vans (one Hornby and the other Cambrian kit) which both need weathering. The wagons have been weathered using Citadel paints, plus a little weathering powder.

Hi Neil, Great idea. Does look like the photo that you pm'd me! You will be able to go to town with the weathering on this one! Oil stains, fuel spills, rusting patches and peeling paint!

Well, the yard offices are now finished and have attached a couple of photos.

I know 'I' do, but what about everyone else!!!! Will make a change from the various Southern 00 engines! Will be interesting to see how the K1 looks at Charmouth??

I know that Charmouth is a very quite backwater, but a few trains would be good! I do like the level crossing! I've forgotten some of the details - it has been a long time since I've seen Charmouth.

Hi Scott, Many thanks for your comments! Much appreciated! The square mesh containers / crates are etch brass kits from PH Designs. Very nice etches, if a little tricky to fold and solder, but well worth the effort! Peter can also be found on RMWeb - here

Well Bill, you have been busy! Looking great though! Looking forward to seeing this develop.

Well Dave - about time you posted some photos here! I'm looking forward to operating again next year and Darren will certainly enjoy himself! I would expect quite a crowd around Charmouth!

Latest Dream Theater - a dramatic turn of events still sound very much like DT even with a new drummer.

Hi Stu About time that you commented - only kidding! Thanks for your suggestion - should be fairly easy to achieve and certainly worth thinking about. Something else to add to the list then! I had also thought about making scenic extensions to run along the front of the layout, as per Marc Smith, which in themselves could have removable backscene to allow photos to be taken from the rear of the layout. Plenty to think about!

Hi Neil, you're right about the colour. If I add any lights these will only be dim and even only used for photos! Probably a bit wasted under normal operation / exhibitions as it is not easy to control the lighting levels in the exhibition venue unless the layout is designed from the beginning to be enclosed - in a similar way to Marc Smith's Hendre Lane.

Hi Neil, Thanks for suggestions - something else to look at then! No wonder 'we' always say that a layout is never finished!

Thanks Elagage56 I'm pleased with this photo. The garage door does not look too out of place actually, now that you mention it! I would like to take some photos from the rear of the layout, but always the problem of loosing the un-wanted background!

Thanks Neil. I've tried a few 'night-time' shots and thought that this one might look ok - came out quite well. Might now need to try a few more at some stage. Eventually will get sme night-time shots inside the depot bulding - once I make the lights themselves! I don't think that I will add any external lights though!

After spending most of the weekend sorting stuff in the garden (new fence, grass cutting etc) - not had much chance to do much modelling, but did manage to wash a darker colour into the buffer stops, which has improved that overall effect a little - will leave as they are now though. Not sure how well they show up in the photos. I did take the opportunity to have a run with the class 37 and class 08 and take some photos. I also tweaked a couple of the CV's on the 37, but not entirely happy just yet, so may need to have another go! I've been trying a few different angles for the photos, with the class 37 as the main subject! I'm particularily pleased with how this one has turned out, except for the background (the garage door can be just seen behind the fuel tanks) - a bit of trial and error by gently placing the camera on the track - not easy with a digital SLR! This reminds me that the pipe work needs to be finished and coupling wire adding. The obligatory view across the buffer stops - not sure how well the revised buffer stop colours have come out. A late evening shot, showing uo the cab lights in the 08 quite well. Will now have to detail the interior a bit more - using the recent Model Rail article for assistance.

Hi Neil, looks like you are really getting the hang of the weathering on your rolling stock. The 'grease' on the buffer heads looks very effective, yet subtle enough. Cheers

Excellent work there Dave! I have only just picked up this thread and as others have already mentioned, very good and interesting to see the construction of the layout. The details on the trestles and scenic extensions along the front of the boards are very usefull. Will follow with interest.

Yes, I agree. Your standard or modelling is very inspirational. I will follow your build of the 33 closely. There are certainly plenty of castings there!

hi Bill, Many thanks for posting the pictures. It does go to prove that there is not 'one' rust colour and varies considerably due to age / environment etc. I will still however wash a darker colour onto the buffer stops at some stage. Cheers Richard

And I thought I was a bit mad with some of the details on Orchard Road! But, I admire your work!

Thanks Bill for your comments. Since doing the buffer stops on Tawbridge, those on Orchard Road did not look quite right. I think that you are correct though - I need to wash some darker tones into the buffers on OR. A task for later in the week I think. However, it is difficult to compare the photos from Tawbridge to Orchard Road as they were taken under completely different light conditions - but those on Tawbridge are generally a better colour. Not forgetting that those on OR were originally painted 18 months ago and Tawbridge 3 or 4 weeks ago and between that time bought some different colour paints and approached the method of painting differently. Ah, it's all a learning process and this is one of the beauties of our hobby - always something new to learn!

One thing that I noticed today whilst looking back through the recent posted photos - was that the colouring on the buffer stops was not quite right. Plus along with the recent painting of the buffer stops that I did on Tawbridge (see thread), I thought that mine on Orchard Road could be improved. So, with a little bit of time today, I drybrushed a little more colour and took some more photos. What do you think? A view of the buffer stops at the end of the re-fueling road. The class 37 parked at the end of the siding through the bridge.

Hi Bill, Glad to help. As Pete has suggested - try International Models. I can't remember the exact mix, but something like 70/30 PVA / H2O seems about right.

Hi Lewis, That is a possibility, but to be honest not one of my favourite locos and there a few others on my 'I-would-like' list!