mudmagnet

That's a great photo. Plenty of interest there just crying out to be modelled!

Hi Ray, I think that the three way point would be a good thing, along with your single slip! Ah, the joys of hand-built track - at least you can make all the track to suit.

Sounds like you had a great day Darren! There are a few parts of the line that you can get to fairly easily and others are on private land, so obviously not possible. Also, part of the track bed is submerged under Wistlanpound Reservoir! I have walked on parts of the line in the past. One part that I walk on frequently is the section in the Scout Camp Site! The access road runs along some of the old track bed and there is some minor evidence of ground works at the far end of the camp site. Quite a bit of work has recently been carried out at Snapper Halt, clearing the overgrown foliage!

Hi Neil, Looking good with the details there - really brings everything to life! Keep up the good work!

Hi Ray, Good to see that you are progressing with the layout. I would agree with some of the comments above. I would certainly look at incorporating the headshunt into the scenic side of the layout, although does make it more awkward to operate from the front as you need to reach over to get to the cassette. However, with a small(ish) layout sometimes maximising the viewing area is a good thing, providing this does not comprimise the scenic break too much. One idea with this would be to have a very skew bridge (yes would need to be scratchbuilt unless using Wills girders), or you could have building along the headshunt, the hidden sidings disappearing behind. Looks good though and will make an interesting model and will be fun to operate - glad to see that Orchard Road has inspired you!

Looks even better now Dave! (don't suppose the 'polished' engine will ever get painted like this!)

Hi Guy, Thanks for your comments. All the painting has been done with Warhammer Citadel paints, which are mixed and thinned as required. The final finishing by dry-brushing. I will check the names of the paints used later and will post here. Richard

Hi, Not sure if I have posted these views before, but spend a little bit of time 'playing' this afternoon, sat on a low stool and thought that these views may work. What do you think?

33045 pulling out of Orchard Road

Thanks Dave. I'm quite pleased with the end result, but looking at a few refinements for the next one! Just collecting a few bits and pieces at the moment!

Hi Neil, Thanks - I thought that you would appreciate the photos. I have created a new thread Mudmagnet Workbench with a bit more detail on the wagons.

Hi As a change from building Orchard Road, attention has turned to a few other projects. To start, below are photos showing two wagon loads, both to fit Bachmann OCA wagons, although I have also made a second permanent way load for the Bachmann OBA, but not shown. The permanent way load is removable and built onto a pre-scribed plasticard false floor, cut to be a snug fit into the wagon. This is painted before adding the details. To fix the ballast, the inside of the wagon is lined with a piece of cling film, then the false floor is pushed into the wagon. Next the ballast is added dry, with the pre-painted rail and sleepers where these sit in the ballast are added. Then everything is glued using diluted PVA with a drop of washing up liquid (to break the water tension). Leave at least for 24 hours before trying to lift out of the wagon, even then the glue may still be a bit wet so be careful when easing away the cling film. The other details can then be glued on place. The pallet and cable drum are scratchbuilt from plasticard and painted with acrylics. The scrap load is made from bits of plasticard / plastic rod / plastic tube / etch brass etc. A 40 thou base is first cut to fit wagon, onto which a 5mm thick piece of foam is glued using PVA. Once this is dry, a further layer of PVA is added to the top of the foam and then the bits are added as randomly as possible to cover the foam. Then diluted PVA is then added on top to ensure that everything is glued, then leave to dry. When dry, the whole load is sprayed black (Warhammer Chaos Black can), then when dry the 'rust' is added by washing in colour, followed by dry-brushing. Note, the etch brass came from A1 Models, sold in a pack of mixed etches.

Hi, I have added a couple of photos - one showing the interior of the shed, with a few additional details, but still plenty to add! I will be adding some details of how made some of the details shortly. I have also made a scrap load for the Bachmann OCA, literary from scraps of plasticard / plastic rods and pipes / etch brass. I was thinking of creating a workbench thread rather than keep adding to this thread.

Hi Neil, Most of the details inside the shed are scratchbuilt, using plasticard. The purchased items being the mesh depot baskets (painted red) by PH Designs, oil drums (Bachmann) and one or two items from Knightwing. I will post more details of the steps etc later as I can't photograph these at the moment.

Looking good there Neil! The effect of the trees is similar to when I added trees to Orchard Road - helps to bring everything to life and helps to blend the scene. Thanks for the comment re Orchard Road - good to read that this has inspired you and given you ideas!

Hi Darren Do you mean 'NCE'? - i.e. the NCE Powercab

Hi, thanks guys! I'm surprised how well the layout has come out and that there are plenty of angles to take photos - although I do have a few favourites! When I get the layout back up (just packed away in the garage at the moment), I will take a couple of photos showing the new load (scrap) in the OCA that can be seen in Chris' photo. Also, I want to glue down some more the details inside the depot and will also add some photos.

Hi Andy, Thanks for your comments and pleased that you like the layout. Also, was interesting talking to you about the depot detail and that I have got the details looking right. Most of what is there is based on photos that I have been able to find in books and the rest from what I have seen elsewhere. It's a shame that there aren't many photos taken inside sheds during the period modelled! Hi Matt, Was good to meet you and put a face to a name. Let me know if you need anything else. Cheers Mudmagnet ps - now reached 13 pages and 300 posts!

Hi Thanks to everyone who came over for a chat and special thanks to Ray (for being my second operator over the weekend), DLT, the 'mob' from Barnstaple MRC. Everything worked well and pleased to hear the comments from visitors.

I've been busy painting a few more details to add to the inside of the shed, so will add these once the layout has been set up. I've also had a go at a couple of new wagon loads and will make their debut tomorrow! Looking forward to the weekend in Exeter - come over and say hello. May also have a very unusual visitor as well!

Looks great Dave. Are you going to bring it along to the show at the weekend?

No problem at all. Good to see something different on Orchard Road.

Yeah, you're correct! They are bit fragile and on the list of the things to replace (need to order from PH Designs). Incidentally, this got broken off (still in one piece though) when reversing out of the siding on the fuel pipe work. This loco should not have been driven into this siding - was put there by my son! Thanks Stu for posting the photo. I like the low-level shot. Mudmagnet

We had a couple of visiting locos to Orchard Road today (thanks Will from Deviot Dock). Unfortunately I couldn't get the correct colour balance so have tweeked the colours a little to get closer to how they should be, but not quite right! Didn't look too out of place to be honest!