mudmagnet

Just a few more photos, inlcuding a visit from 33017 (a much modified and detailed Lima 33, which yet needs a decoder fitted and to change the wheels to finescale).

Hi, not very much time spend modelling for Orchard Road and have only made a few ballast bins (one to be added here) and painted a couple of figures (again yet to be added). I need to get some more figures suitable for the period being modelled, but can mostly only find those suitable for steam era or modern image. There does not seem to be many suitable for late 70's / early 80's, long before the H&S brigade starting dictating hi-viz jackets and the like! Still the search goes on and will start added a few later. I have, however, added a few more oil spills, but not sure how well these show up in the photos. I have been 'playing', which makes a change and have added a few photos, this time with the lights on, I think that all of my previous photos do not have any lights on!

A class 25 and class 50 at the buffer stops awaiting refueling at Orchard Road.

I have found that taking photos of new parts added (sometimes temporarily) is a good way to see how things look and if they look right and blend in. Also useful for finding errors or things that need to be sorted! You are not alone there! Good mix of modern and old. Richard

Hi Just a minor update to report. There is not that much to add to Orchard Road - except for two 'major' tasks on the scenic side - one being the pipe work for the fuel offloading to tanks and two the interior of the main shed. However, I have finished making 4 skips from 20thou plasticard and a few strips, which have now been painted - see photos. I will only use two on the layout and the other two will be used on a future project. I find that it is just as well to make more parts than needed just in case one or two do not turn out too well (or up to standard). I made 5 in total, but one was destined for the bin! Two have therefore been placed on the layout - yet to be glued down and contents added. The skips have been painted with acrylic, hand lettered (as you can tell) using a fine nibbed marker pen (the type for writing on plastics / glass / CDs etc) and then weathered by drybrushing a little rust (two colours) and highlighting the edges with grey. A little black was washed in to create some dirt and shadows. Finally, a little rust weathering powder was added. Richard

These things are sent to test us Dave, I'm sure as well that you will find a good solution. The buildings do look good though, very utilitarian like to write, but an important part to set the scene. Do you have any more photos for the station building? Richard

Hi Marc, Thanks for comments. I think a lot of what you see is down to observation of the real thing - there are plenty of places where inspiration can be seen. Also, I try and model what I see and not what 'I think I see'. It's easy to overdo things, so restraint at all times. I also place items long before glueing in position and have a look from various angles. I have also placed items, left them there for a few days and come back and have another look - sometimes deciding to move! Also, taking photos is a good way (even easy with digital photography) and having a look on the computer screen (sometimes getting SWMBO to have a look for her comments!) - the camera never lies and certainly can highlight any problems! Richard

Hi Dave, Thanks for your comments. I still plan to add a few bits and pieces, as noted elsewhere in the thread, but will not overdo anything. I've wanted to keep the 'open' and 'unclutered' feel to the layout. Unfortunately, at the moment I can't remember which grasses were used. I took the layout down to Darren01 (see 'Torrington') and used his Grassmaster and some of the grass that he had, which were all from Miniflor supplied by International Models. I think that the first application was 4mm spring grass (or something similar) and then a lighter application of 6mm summer grass (which is the lighter green, almost light brown), this being applied lightly over the top of the previously applied green. I will speak to Darren and find out what was used - I know that he has ordered some more for Torrington so hopefully should be able to let you know. Richard

Hi, not much progress to report on the lyaout, but have been doing some modelling and will post photos when finished. I have started making some skips and will use a couple on the layout, with suitable contents (no beds or Citroen 2CV). I have looked at the commercially avaliable offerings but to be honest do seem to be quite expensive (or am not willing to spend any money on something that I can make?) Also, made a few more pallets, and may add a couple more to the layout and will then also make another wagon load. Finally, I have started on a small shelf layout - this will have a single section of track, full scenary and will be used for testing / setting-up DCC fitted locomotives and will also be used as a photo diorama. This is something that will live in my office at home and can be worked on comfortably indoors. However, I will create a new thread when I have made some more progress - not much to show at the moment.

Hi Marc, At last something to show! So you have been busy working quietly in the background! The wagons and their loads are very good - I imagine that there should be quite a variety of wagons / loads which by changing over will ring the changes. Have you wound the coils yourself? If so what did you use? I would like to pinch your ideas as I would like to make a load or two for my own wagons on Orchard Road to stand in the siding. I will be using removable loads on all of my wagons so that can change over as the mood takes me. I like you idea for the renewed track with the mixture of sleepers - should look good. Also, the disused track will be a great scenic feature - you will need to borrow someones 'Grassmaster' for that one!! Will follow this closely! Richard

Many thanks Jam for your feedback! The bridge was painted using acrylics and the colour built up gradually, rather than trying to paint it all in one go. By building up the colour I have better control over the finished effect. No further updates to report at the moment, but have been working on a small shunting layout with my son, using an Ikea shelf. We have pinned the track and now wired up for DCC. A quick test was completed today and hopefully will get started on painting the rails tomorrow. When we have made some more progress, we will start a new thread. Richard

Thanks Rob, Yes its the details that help to bring it all to life. Still a few more bits to add over time, but I've seem to get further than I thought possible in the time since the layout was started (Dec 2009, well Christmas holiday to be precise) and when I agreed to take OR to its first showing in July this year, I did not expect to get as far as I did. Still very pleased that OR is recieving lots of positive comments. Richard

Thanks for suggestion. I still have some work to do around the shed - and will be adding some weeds as they seem to grow almost everywhere!!

I've attached a picture showing the pump house that I have been working on. Its not yet fixed down, but roughly where it will be when finished. I need to add the pipe work from the fuel off-loading and then into the front of the bunded tank storage. I was considering adding all the pumps and valves, but thinking that I may 'cheat' and hide most of the bits under a walk way and in some trunking! Might be worth going the whole way though, especially that this is at the front of the layout. The pump house is made from plasticard, the bolts being represented with small slivers of plastic rod being floated into position using Mek-pak loaded on a small brush. The louvred doors also from plasticard, with individual strips added. Then the corrugated has been painted 'rust', when dry dabs of maskol have been added and then painted grey, being a being streaky in places. When throughly dry, the maskol is picked off, leaving peeling paint edges. Some of the patches were a little too big, so a tiny amount of grey was added. Then, the various rust colours were added using Citadel Gamesworkshop paint (can't recall the moment) and then a little weathering powders added. Richard

hi Dave, The trees on 'Brayford' (you have a good memory!) were made the 'old-fashioned' way using twisted wire, covered in Green Scenes flexi-bark and the foliage added. Looking at the Sea Foam trees, I would think that you could graft two or more trees together and then building the bark up with something like flexi-bark. Richard

hi Dave, The trees on 'Brayford' (you have a good memory!) were made the 'old-fashioned' way using twisted wire, covered in Green Scenes flexi-bark and the foliage added. Looking at the Sea Foam trees, I would think that you could graft two or more trees together and then building the bark up with something like flexi-bark. Richard

Hi Chris, No problem, will sort some bits out to show you. That does raise a good point - I will sort out a photo tutorial to post here, but need to get some more sea foam to show properly. Most of the sea foam that I have left is mostly squashed and not a great deal of use, particularily for reasonable looking trees! Richard

hi I've added a few photos taken today showing the additional trees along the rear, plus the quickly painted 'clouds' on the backscene. Still some work to finish on the backscene and looking to add a couple of low-relief or printed factories behind the main depot. I keep looking at the backscene and will add some more detail at a later date. I have seen the photo backscenes used to great effect on other peoples layouts, but not sure whether to look at these on Orchard Road. I have also been working on the pump house for the fuel lines and then need to add the pipework and will update when some progress has been made and worth showing. After that, I can start to look at the interior of the depot building. There are still a few more detail parts to add, plus a little more work on the scenery. Please post any comments, particularily any comments on the backscene.

No much progress to show on the layout at the moment. I have painted some 'clouds' to the backscenes, but not sure how these look at the moment and may add some photos tomorrow. I have also added a few trees along the back, again need to take some photos when they have dried, currently being 'propped' up whilst the glue dries. Had a slight diversion last week, I have assembled a C&L point kit for a future project. I visited the show at Wells last weekend and bought the kit while there. Generally pleased with the way that it has turned out, but need to add the wiring and tie bars.

Leon, The second photo looks great - I can just imagine this being early evening as the sun is going down! Very atmospheric!

Thanks for your comments. There is usually something that we can learn or be inspired by when looking at other peoples layouts - regardless of scale. No further updates at the moment, not had much time to get any modelling done, but hopefully will get a bit of time at the weekend.

Looking great Dave, the river and scenery have 'pulled-together' well.

Hi, I have added the telegraph poles along the rear of the layout - and no, I'm not going to add the wires!! The pole next to the signal has a telephone box added and I have also added a relay / junction box, plus a couple of small bushes behind. I'm not sure if the poles are correct height, but look ok to me, although these may be replaced in the future. The photos show the progress so far! (must do something about the colour on the backscene!)

Hi, A little update - I've been making some telegraph poles, but not had chance to get these glued in place. Hopefully should get these in place tomorrow so will post some photos. These may be temporary and may be replaced with Masokits versions at a later date.

Hi Dave, After all of your problems with the river, I think that this looks ok - I suspect that this will look even better when you get some greenery around the river banks. Keep up the good work. Following your thread with great interest and a credit to your modelling skills. I wouldn't consider 'N' gauge myself, but you have create something special here - well done.