devondynosoar118

Looks really promising- lots of potential for scenic splendour and very original to boot! Thanks for showing us the archive material.

Am going autumn, so the really tall bits are unlikely off the embankments. Will look for the removable bit on the flyswat.

Thank you- That was one of my worries too. 4mm fibres represent 2ft high grass in N so must be used with care. A lot of the ground cover was done with ground foam mixes to give a more scale length, particularly in grazed areas. I wish my applicator had just a bit more oomph for the thicker fibres, otherwise I have been pleasantly surprised by the results.

I had time for some photography, but ended up with a mixed bag of subjects, so I split this into two posts, one from the layout and another from the real railway. The “Noch off†static grass applicator. Total cost less than £10. Made from an electric fly swat, an icing sugar shaker, with removable screen. Also shown is the fine nozzle made from a cut down plastic kitchen funnel and some mesh. Some of the effects produced using a mix of 2mm and 4mm fibres.

Thank you for identifiying it! I was amazed the wooden blocks were still there.

Managed a walk along another section of line when it wasn’t raining. As I have been trying to push my compact camera a bit more lately I thought I’d do a few shots in B&W. Here are just a few pictures of the remaining bits of infrastructure lurking in the undergrowth. Crossing gate hinges Crossing lamp (red glass removed) Sleepers next to the track bed. Line side fencing Unknown post/sign Remains of the bridges Kris’s “Avonwick†bridge from the reverse angle. The beautiful brick arches

Looks like a good solution so far.

Well done!

I stand corrected. Maybe my tendency to scrounge everything is getting a bit out of control! PM me when you want to make a start on fencing.

What about more Japanese signage and furniture? These must also be available somewhere.

With or without the massisive speaker?

That stuff is horrible when hit with all powertools. Respirator a definite must. Looking dforward to seeing the river go in.

I can see how that would annoy you. I think you have showed incredible perserverance- I would have chucked it across the workshop by about part IV......

Wow- That went together fast! Looks great. How about some collaboration on fencing. I have a pillar drill and a vertical drill stand that might speed up the process. We could do all the ones for both our layouts in a single (Tedious!) day.

Thanks. I thought that might be the case!

Hmm- I have a feeling I will just wrap the wire round the post and fix it with a dab of superglue. Are the ratio ones any good?

I was thinking of copying Missy's brass box section and superfine wire idea. What did you use on Avonwick?

Good timing on the coaches- I am looking at my b set now! Whilst not having to re-wheel them I was looking at the couplings too. I understand that B sets were usually left close coupled in the middle as a pair when in opperation. If this is your plan, why not simply use some model chain for the middle coupling and whatever type you like on the ends where your loco will go? This is cheap and easy and means you can just leave them together in a cassette when not in use.

Fresh from holidays I didn't feel like wiring so I did some scenery on the single line board instead. I have used a mix of fine scatters for the grazing land as even 2mm static grass is a bit long. So far only 1/2 the planned texturing has been completed as trees, hedges and fencing etc is still to go on. I have more clump bits and static fibres to apply to the embankments too. whole board Branch passenger train in the entrance to the cutting. Little line of bushes is the start of the hedge. Close up of the nearly finished bit of the embankment. View from just left of the bridge. Contrast this with the shot of the real location underneath.

Ballast looks fine to me- I have learned its better to try for the best standards and accept that you won't always meet them rather than to be so self critical that all modelling becomes a disappointment. Love the dirty Deltic!

I would do the roofs by inking some grime into the low spots at the end, then using a good drybrush (usually square shaped, fine brisles about 5mm wide) to stipple sooty deposits along the top. You could use this same method to do the underframes. I would also run a bit more ink into the joins on the planking. Most pictures also show more dirt on the flat ends of the wagon, often brown mud/brakedust, sometimes wiped off around warning signs or load indicators. I am no expert but I like the look of the work so far.

Nice shape- get templotting. What prototype were you thinking of for these?

I would ignore the sprayer altogether and use a pippette/dropper. If there is enough detergent in the PVA mix it doesn't bead up at all, I had about 3 bubbles when I did mine- See Track Ballasting for the result. I would also recommend sand as a ballasting material- Medium filtration sand from aquarium shops is good for 4mm. This can then be dyed whatever color you like by adding ink to your glue mix. I agree about little helpers- Not the best for this kind of job! Did mine in the shed out the way.

Lots of N and 2mm finescale fans on here. Whats the pictured layout?

Yep, your distance issues are certainly bigger than ours! You are in the right place for finescale inspiration though. Get hold of the Templot or similiar rail cad computer programme and start drawing your layout- its cheaper on paper! You have the baseboards so you can set up your mock up then get building- post pics here as you go and I'm sure if you hit any problems someone here will have the answer.