Lancaster Lane & Dewar’s Street

[LDM34046]

Today was a test run on the scenics. A small piece of cardboard was used to test out the puffer bottle method of static grass and to my surprise it worked rather well. In the loft I found an old Gaugemaster scenic starter set however the grass included was a bit too unnaturally green and I wasn’t a fan of the reddish and yellow blend. 

 

Shopping around online I found Woodland Scenics do a much more realistic blend of colours. I’m thinking FS619 Light Green would look much better however I’m not sure whether 2mm or 4mm is best.

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

A few things ordered so a couple of day's wait for bits to arrived. A couple of different realistic shades of woodland scenes grass has been ordered as I wasn't a fan of the colour I had plus the Wills Kits coal yard to use as a little yard hut at the far end of the layout.

 

Another job that can be ticked off the list this evening was painting the backscene. I didn't want anything too punchy or vibrant and was looking for something a bit neutral. In the end I settled for an duck egg blue which in hindsight is more a 50:50 grey and blue however I was happy with the results and it forms a suitable 'sky' colour.

 

 

A few more coats this evening will help bring the colour out but overall I'm happy. The addition of the sky is starting to make this layout feel like a scene.

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[Alister_G]

10 hours ago, LDM34046 said:

I’m thinking FS619 Light Green would look much better however I’m not sure whether 2mm or 4mm is best.

 

I know it's a bit late, as you've ordered some already, but I would suggest you need a mix of at least 4mm and 2mm fibres, and I would also suggest a blend of light and medium green colours. If you haven't already I would urge you to get some FS614 2mm Medium Green fibres to add to your collection.

 

However, all that said, I know that colour choice is very much a personal thing, my preference is for darker colours than you would perhaps go for, based on the prototypes I model.

 

Also, as well as Woodland Scenics, there is a company called WWScenics who do a very good range of static fibres:

 

https://www.wwscenics.com/product-category/static-grass/

 

This example uses 1mm WWScenics Patchy Grass, 2mm WWScenics Autumn Grass, 4mm Woodland Scenics Medium Green, and 10mm WWScenics Winter Grass.

 

 

Al.

 

 

[LDM34046]

1 hour ago, Alister_G said:

I know it's a bit late, as you've ordered some already, but I would suggest you need a mix of at least 4mm and 2mm fibres, and I would also suggest a blend of light and medium green colours. If you haven't already I would urge you to get some FS614 2mm Medium Green fibres to add to your collection.

Thank you Al.

 

I’ve purchased a light green in 4mm and a medium green in 6mm with the aim of some of my sidings looking slightly overrun. Having looked on a few other layouts I’ve seen 4mm and 6mm used quite effectively.

 

Thank you for the advice though!

[LDM34046]

A few goodies to keep me busy this weekend! Time to start painting some of the scenics and hopefully start laying down the grass tomorrow.

 

 

 

A second test patch of grass was done this morning to see if the colours were better. On the right is the old ‘artificial’ looking blend, on the left is the newer more realistic blend with an over lap in the middle. Although the new blend in the middle looks good it maybe a tad too fair however the overlap in the middle of both blends looks ideal for what I had in mind. 

 

 

A few humbrol paints have been ordered on click and collect and my local model shop so work can start on the yard hut I’ve purchased as well as painting the rails.

 

Plenty to be getting stuck into!

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

Areas were marked out for hard standing and painted. I’ve gone with a sandy/chalky colour for the yard, something I’ve seen a lot in my local area. I’ve also used poly filler to smooth over the wire-in-tube method and add a bit of texture to the ground. A few small gaps in the hillside were also filled in as they kept bugging me.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

With the filler drying on the layout I decided to tackle the Wills kit. A lovely kit and goes together well. Not a bad result considering how long ago I did my last plastic kit.

 

 

 

A coat of primer and then painted with Humbrol paints.

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

The coal bunkers will be positioned in the coal siding (no surprise there!) and will face inwards. 

 

 

As for the yard hut I’m stuck for the final location. I think the first option is the best idea however I don’t know how prototypical it is in terms of yard staff accessing the hut.

 

 

 

 

Welcome to suggestions!

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

Messing around with camera ideas this location of the hut seems more natural and seems more prototypical of yard staff accessing the hut however I’m not too sure on the tolerances behind it. A wagon can fit behind the hut with no issues and doesn’t look to tight to the eye however I don’t know how prototypical it is!

 

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

And just like that we have green!

 

I ended up using a mixed blend of 2mm green, 4mm light and 7mm dark green and it’s worked a treat. A darker blend was used towards the back of the hill.
 

 

 

 

 

A few touch ups left to do on the hillside and I’m tempted to repaint the hill face as it’s still patchy. 
 

Tempted to clean up the rails and get some trains running tonight!

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

With the basic scenics complete I couldn’t resist the temptation to run a few trains however I’ve run into a few issues with my 3-way point. All the rails have had the paint removed off the top surface with a fine sandpaper and thoroughly cleaned with a track rubber and track cleaning fluid however I’m still have locos cutting out on the point. Although the tops of the rails are clean do the sides of the blades need to be paint free as well?

 

 

 

 

A bit of head scratching I think as the rail tops are spotless!

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

With the dodgy 3-way point still bugging me I decided to move onto another job that needed doing. When I first bought the locos I never had the opportunity to run them in properly however with the addition of the DCC Concepts Rolling Road the locos were able to stretch their legs for a change.

 

 

Having just run the Pannier for 30 minutes in each direction I’m surprised how much of a difference running in makes. Much smoother movements and a much quieter motor. 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[Alister_G]

1 hour ago, LDM34046 said:

Although the tops of the rails are clean do the sides of the blades need to be paint free as well?

 

It depends how you've powered it, if you are relying on the point blades transferring power to the running line then you need the sides of the point blades and stock rails to be clean too, (at the contact point).

 

Al.

Edited January 17, 2021 by Alister_G
clarity

[LDM34046]

Just now, Alister_G said:

 

It depends how you've powered it, if you are relying on the point blades transferring power to the running line then you need the sides of the point blades and stock rails to be clean too.

 

Al.

Thanks Al. 
 

I think that maybe the case. There’s droppers to the outside rails and also to the electro frog but I think the blades still draw power which is something I didn’t think about when painting. I might break out the dremel and sand off the paint on the blades, I think the wet and dry paper I used for the rail tops maybe a bit fiddly to sand the sides.

[Alister_G]

2 minutes ago, LDM34046 said:

Thanks Al. 
 

I think that maybe the case. There’s droppers to the outside rails and also to the electro frog but I think the blades still draw power which is something I didn’t think about when painting. I might break out the dremel and sand off the paint on the blades, I think the wet and dry paper I used for the rail tops maybe a bit fiddly to sand the sides.

 

The dremel might be a bit harsh, it would be too easy to damage the blades or rails. I would use a scalpel or craft-knife blade to scrape off the paint.

 

A common modification to turnouts is to tie the stock rails and converging rails together electrically - so long as you have removed the strapping under the point which connects the converging rails to the common crossing (frog). As you've already stuck your point down, it may not be practical if you haven't done that.

 

Al.

[LDM34046]

9 minutes ago, Alister_G said:

 

The dremel might be a bit harsh, it would be too easy to damage the blades or rails. I would use a scalpel or craft-knife blade to scrape off the paint.

 

A common modification to turnouts is to tie the stock rails and converging rails together electrically - so long as you have removed the strapping under the point which connects the converging rails to the common crossing (frog). As you've already stuck your point down, it may not be practical if you haven't done that.

 

Al.

Yeah I know the strapping you mean. I may try removing some of the paint away from the blades. The other points don’t have any issues interestingly considering they’ve got painted blades.

 

Lesson learnt to mask the blades next time!

[LDM34046]

With the pointwork niggles sorted and a thorough clean of the track it was time to finally get a train running.

 

5775 arrives light engine on a picturesque day at Lancaster Lane. 

 

 

Finishing this productive weekend on a high. More work to be done during the week.

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[Alister_G]

It's all looking really good, the static grass has made a dramatic change.

 

Al.

[LDM34046]

With last evening spent tiding up the track work so there was more consistent running tonight I decided to enjoy a bit of operating and photography!

 

 

5775 arrives at Lancaster Lane shunting a GWR Brake Van. It was pushed into the head shunt where it would await it's next job.

 

 

 

With the brake van in the foreground, 41726 arrives with a couple of surplus wagons from the yard up the line. Once relieved of its rake it'll depart back up the line for further use. 

 

 

Enjoy! Plenty more to follow

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

A few moody monochrome photos to set the scene this morning.

 

 

 

So pleased with how the grass and ballast has turned out. My next top is to turn my attention to the join between the board and backscene and add a few more scenic details.

 

Tonight’s job is to dismantle another steam loco of mine and work out why the DCC Decoder is not being recognised by the system. Part of me thinks that it may not even have a decoder in it. It was DCC fitted 7 years ago on my old layout but a lot has happened since then! We shall see.

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

A productive evening complete. I've had this lovely Bachmann BR Standard 3MT since my first layout and since then it's been sitting in the loft gathering dust. Having worked my way around a troublesome decoder it was a case of sorting out the speed steps and running it for a good hour or so.

 

 

 

It's far from perfect, the motor is quite noisy and although it's smooth running, it crabs at certain speeds and the speed isn't consistent. It's still coated in a nice layer of loft dust and could benefit from a few exterior details and crew but overall it's another solid addition the fleet.

 

 

 

 

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

A few more photos from today's running session.

 

4126 arrives with a short engineers train. The train will be split here and the brake van will head back up the line.

 

 

A busy yard this afternoon with the newly arrived 82030 stabled in the head shunt, 5775 in the background and 41726 having recently arrived with the engineers train. Now if only there was a yard hut for the drivers....

 

 

82030 departs Lancaster Lane and heads up the line for its next assignment. A good splash of BR Green to the layout however lamps and buffer details still need to be added.

 

5775 takes the brake van off 41726 and shunts it into the headhunt for future use.

 

 

The yard hut is still yet to be painted and detailed and a few more touch ups need to be sorted. A slight break from new develops due to funds however if I can sell some old stock some new changes can take place. In the meantime I'm enjoying shunting trains back and forth!

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

Another attempt this evening with the setting sun and trying to crack the settings for my DSLR camera. Although the iPhone takes some above average photos, there is something about a proper camera that adds a new level of realism to a layout, more perhaps the lighting. 
 

Another struggled attempt but here’s the best three from a bad bunch.

 

My favourite out of the three. Shot from one end of the layout to the other. It’s this quality of lighting that I seek to achieve however I struggled with noise and grain on this photo. The aggressiveness of the depth of field is apparent. Shot on a 50mm at 4.2 f/stop I believe. 

 

A slightly closer shot and with a wider aperture. Still grainy but compensated in Adobe Lightroom. 

 

 

The third and final shot. Good depth of field but a tad on the blurry side, caused by the slow shutter speed.
 

I think my downfall is the lack of a tripod. In using a tripod I should be able to do longer, steadier exposures and multiple exposures at different focal lengths however unfortunately where the layout is located doesn’t have the space for a tripod. Maybe at the weekend there might be an opportunity to relocate!

 

It would be interesting to hear everyone else’s tips and tricks for modelling photography!

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046

[LDM34046]

Nothing new to report other than the occasional operating session. Work has been surprisingly busy which I can’t complain about.

 

February’s edition of Model Rail arrived and featured a rather interesting compact track plan which prompted many evenings of contemplation however that’s a project for another day (or year!)

 

I’m hoping to progress a bit more this weekend with the painting of the yard shed, hopefully the arrival a new locomotive tomorrow I’ll prompt a bit more motivation and modelling!

 

I’ll post some of my recent photos tomorrow.

[LDM34046]

An unexpected day off today meant I could spend the morning on the layout. Having not been run in a few days the track needed cleaning however in no time at all trains were being run and photos were being taken!

 

5775 shunts an GWR Brake Van and 7-Plank wagon into the headshunt Lancaster Lane

 

5775 shunts a stray cattle wagon while 41726 arrives on a light engine movement from the local goods yard

 

One of my favourite shots from this morning. 3MT '82030' arrives light engine into Lancaster Lane. Later today it'll collect a brake van and head coast bound where a freight allocation awaits.

 

Later that day, 5775 departs Lancaster Lane under full steam with a short rake of LMS Fruit Vans.

 

While operating the layout this morning I was trying to work out why Lancaster Lane still felt limited as a layout and I came to the verdict that the fiddle yard is the issue. It's too short which makes it awkward trying to run interesting lengths of trains as well as shunting wagons in and out. At best the fiddle yard can only hold 1 locomotive and 2 wagons at a stretch while the layout is long enough to hold rakes 3-4 wagons long. Also the fiddle yard offers no space for rolling stock to be stored easily and safely out of harms way to changing locos and wagons in the fiddle yard is a chore at the best of times.

 

So with that said tonights plan is to redesign and plan a new fiddle yard. Longer to accommodate better rakes and wider to offer a safe place to store trains. I'm hoping with a new fiddle yard that's easier to use the layout will be more enjoyable to run.

Edited April 1, 2022 by LDM34046