I thought I'd put a thread about this on here before now, but obviously not...
I'm in the process of building a layout based on documents found in the National Archives for a proposed line on the Isle of Skye. The line was to have covered in excess of 70 miles and gone through lots of nowhere via Broadford and Portree.
I was lucky enough to be able to reproduce all the documents with a digital camera and was given permission by the NA to use them online (please don't reproduce them elsewhere without permission).
Here are some of the documents I found at Kew:
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Here's an overview map of the whole system drawn onto an OS map sheet. Railway 1 runs from Isle Ornsay to Uig (52 miles in total), whilst Railway 2 branches off Railway 1 approximately 3 miles North of Portree and runs a further 24 miles to Dunvegan.
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I've chosen to model Isle Ornsay station as it closely fits the plan for the freelance layout I drew up a while ago, conveniently ChrisM also found a perfect site for a layout for him to build too, but I'll let him tell that side of things when he's ready.
The sheet that shows the section of line I'm going to model is shown below:
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More specifically the area immediately around Isle Ornsay station and pier:
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As can be seen from the long section, the line was planned to pass through a headland in an 80 yard long tunnel - an ideal break for a fiddle yard! :)
Below is a general description of Railway 1 for it's entire length.
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Notice to build the line under an order from the 1896 Light Railways Act in the form of an advert placed in the Northern Weekly on Thursday the 21st April 1898.
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The line was proposed by "a group of wealthy businessmen from London", namely the directors of Dick Kerr! I've found lots of documents in local libraries, Parish Council records etc in Scotland, all of which are helping me piece together the history of the proposal - it's all been VERY interesting.
I've been describing the route of the proposed line with the aid of Google StreetView on my blog;
Part 1: Isle Ornsay to Broadford (http://hlrco.wordpress.com/2010/12/15/hlr-route-part-1-isle-ornsay-to-broadford/)
Part 2: Broadford to Sligachan (http://hlrco.wordpress.com/2011/05/30/hlr-route-part-2-broadford-to-sligachan/)
Part 3: Slicaghan to Skeabost (http://hlrco.wordpress.com/2011/06/02/hlr-route-part-3-sligachan-to-skeabost/)
Part 4: Skeabost to Uig (http://hlrco.wordpress.com/2011/09/13/hlr-route-part-4-skeabost-to-uig/)
I have yet to do the description for the Dunvegan branch, but will add it in the new year.
Here are some photos of how the layout is turning out:
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A dry run of the baseboard components.
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All the track is Peco 'mainline' (bar an N gauge crossing and two 12" rad. points) glued to laminate floor underlay foam to aid with expansion and contraction issues as the layout is to be stored in my loft. As it happens I think I could have pinned it, as the layout has been up there and experienced as much temperature variation as it will, and all seems to be ok.
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An overview of the entire layout.
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The goods yard.
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The harbour office.
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The headland beginning to appear.
I've got a lot of work to do still, it's first exhibition appearance is at Narrow Gauge South next April. Even though it's booked to appear as a 'work in progress' I'd like it to be a little more complete. I still need to build the fiddle yard board and legs for exhibition use - it rests on Ikea trestles at home to avoid disturbing the stuff we have stored underneath it.
I'm lucky that my wife likes papier mache, she's been helping me with some stages of building it, and is looking forward to when we can do the scenery on it... ;D
There's much more detail in my layout thread on NGRM (http://ngrm-online.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=2449), or on my website (http://hlrco.wordpress.com). It's also featured in the 009 News in April 2011, and Mark currently has another article waiting to be published.
I finally get what is being modelled here as previously I've only seen the Harbour Building end of the layout. Fantastic pictures, Invercloy, and I'm really looking forward to seeing this at Sparsholt in April next year.
Looks very good... Nice "workshop" you have there, Tom! ;)
Quote from: Rhobat Bryn on December 04, 2011, 09:39
I finally get what is being modelled here as previously I've only seen the Harbour Building end of the layout. Fantastic pictures, Invercloy, and I'm really looking forward to seeing this at Sparsholt in April next year.
The joys of having a massive layout thread on NGRM, Rhobat... It's the southernmost terminus of the line. I neglected to mention in the OP that part of the proposal was for the line to be built by the chaps from Dick Kerr (with financial assistance, of course), but the stock would have been supplied, and the line operated, by the North British Railway. Therefore it's safe to assume that Isle Ornsay would have become the main point for steamers crossing from Mallaig to connect with the West Highland line to Fort William.
Between now and April I've got a LOT of work to do, hopefully it will be presentable... :o
Quote from: Hobby on December 04, 2011, 11:33
Looks very good... Nice "workshop" you have there, Tom! ;)
Thanks Blair, I was lucky that my wife was rather tolerant of lots of "testing" in the lounge before it all went into the loft. :D
Here's the layout in it's home - apologies for the slightly dodgy photo stitching in the images, I didn't have a wide enough lens so these were done with a phone app:
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I've also got space for my first permanent work bench :)
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So, the list of preparations for Sparsholt stands at:
Build fiddle yard
Build legs
Lay remaining piece of track to fiddle yard
Mock up turntable (will concentrate on that after the exhibition, along with the lighting)
Talk nicely to people to let me have some larger stock to run on it :)
For a bit of fun a while back myself, Ted Polet and Mick Thornton were having an email discussion about a 'Grand Tour' of Scottish NG lines. I produced this as a bit of fun.
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Apologies to Ted, though, I've just realised that I misspelt Dunalistair... :-[ Of course, there's also the Gairloch & Wester Ross to be added too!
Quote from: invercloy on December 04, 2011, 12:34
I've also got space for my first permanent work bench :)
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Ah yes, the Computer Desk... I always thought they had a more useful purpose than dumping a computer on them... I put a set of drawers in the space on the left, Tom, store "projects" and plasticard, etc in them!
That's exactly what is in the drawers to the right. I was planning on using the space to the left for 'in progress' projects... as you can see there wasn't much going on at the time I took the photo!
What you have to watch is the amount of rubbish you end up storing where your feet should go... I see the magazines have already started to invade... ;D
It's worse than that now :D But at least there are bits of loco, stock and boat scattered across the top.
It's looking good, Tom. A basis in a good history is an excellent foundation. Well done!
It's looking good!
Speaking as one who has to booktime on the kitchen table, I'm envious of your loft space!
Quote from: Tigger on December 04, 2011, 19:00
It's looking good, Tom. A basis in a good history is an excellent foundation. Well done!
Thanks, since finding the documents at Kew I've uncovered others indicating how the proposal developed and faltered. All very interesting. I've developed a history for the line here: http://hlrco.wordpress.com/history/ Note, though, that this isn't the most up to date version, and i've made a few changes to it following some suggestions from a renowned Scottish history blogger to help make it difficult for non railway-ists to tell fact from fiction.
Quote from: hughn on December 07, 2011, 21:06
It's looking good!
Speaking as one who has to booktime on the kitchen table, I'm envious of your loft space!
Thanks Hugh, it's helped me greatly having a dedicated space to work on the layout.
I've been working on some of the passenger stock tonight - all based on Ratio sides. Here's the first one off the production line:
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Still need to sand some areas where I got fingerprints in the glue ( >:( ) and add the acetylene generator for the lighting before assembling the roof.
Only another 8 to go after that!
Very Nice!!
I'm drooling...
Thanks Hugh :)
A very nice observation car indeed; well done! Please let us see the finished article. Makes me wish one thing - that my own layout had something more useful than the paltry Talyllyn loading gauge it's got! It does, however, inspire me to have a go at the observation car which I've promising for the line for the last 20 years or so!
Quote from: hughn on December 07, 2011, 21:06
Speaking as one who has to book time on the kitchen table, I'm envious of your loft space!
A very good point Hugh. those of us lucky enough to have a dedicated space sometimes don't appreciate how lucky we are to be able simply to 'drop everything' at the end of the day and just walk out and leave it. Time-share of the kitchen/dining room table is certainly not conducive to continuity and those who turn out their masterpieces under such circumstances should really be congratulated.
Quote from: Tigger on December 12, 2011, 12:49
A very nice observation car indeed; well done! Please let us see the finished article. Makes me wish one thing - that my own layout had something more useful than the paltry Talyllyn loading gauge it's got! It does, however, inspire me to have a go at the observation car which I've promising for the line for the last 20 years or so!
Thanks very much, it's been fun to make, and is the most complex ratio bash I've done to date. I'd like to do another some day, but have the other 8 from the initial batch waiting semi-assembled.
Quote from: Tigger on December 12, 2011, 12:55
A very good point Hugh. those of us lucky enough to have a dedicated space sometimes don't appreciate how lucky we are to be able simply to 'drop everything' at the end of the day and just walk out and leave it. Time-share of the kitchen/dining room table is certainly not conducive to continuity and those who turn out their masterpieces under such circumstances should really be congratulated.
I'm certainly liking having a dedicated space, it's fairly new to me as I was building things on a small fold up table in the lounge until about a year ago. There is such a benefit to being able to leave things and return to them in the same condition. I admire people that also have massively messy workbenches and such a tiny clear space to work in!
Just to prove that John's not the only one building the RT Models Peckett kit...
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Nowhere near as neat as John's, and the chimney IS straight, it's just the angle which accentuates the appearance of it being wonky I think - it's square against the footplate and cab sides anyway.
Doing OK Tom. I understand that the front of the pannier tank was a cast weight which is why the holes are there. I did not like it and modified..... but then again, I always change things!
I shall crack out the filler then! They look a little odd to me. I do like the curved handrail you've done on yours though John, so I can see that featuring on mine too.
Agreed, the straight handrail looks wrong. Neither you nor I are modelling 'Harrowgate' so what the hell.
Finished and prepared for primer. I'll add the handrails after painting.
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Just realised that I need to drill out the holes for the handrail on the front of the tank...
looking good. Gosh, Tom, your lens is either on the huck or your chimney is!
Would suggest that you fit handrails first and treat with Maskol as it is hard to fix them later without getting any glue problems.
It's a cameraphone, John, so the lens distortion is fairly impressively bad! It's square relative to the footplate and cab sides.
It now has a coat of primer on, will see about handrails soon.
That's pretty darned good for a phone camera!
And the loco and observation coach are nicely matched. Looking very smart.
Nice going, Tom. Will you bring it to Tonbridge next month?
Quote from: hughn on January 04, 2012, 11:00
That's pretty darned good for a phone camera!
I've been very impressed with it, it's the latest iPhone (4S) and has an 8,000,000 pixel backlit sensor and f2.4 lens.
Quote from: Tigger on January 04, 2012, 12:40
And the loco and observation coach are nicely matched. Looking very smart.
Thanks, not intentional as they will be operating in different rakes, but it's nice to know.
Quote from: tedp on January 05, 2012, 10:21
Nice going, Tom. Will you bring it to Tonbridge next month?
Certainly, Ted, I've not chipped it yet, so will hold off until after Tonbridge.
If it's not chipped, it can run on DC! ;D
In addition to the Peckett I've also been working on some new carriages for Isle Ornsay, based on MickT's principals of ratiobashing which he has outlined in the News on a couple of occasions.
This is how the collection stands at present:
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I should really break this stuff out into a workbench thread separate from the layout...
I'm off to Barton le Clay this coming weekend to help man the Narrow Planet stand - is anyone else going?
Tom, this collection looks excellent - well done! It does make me wish that I'd got a larger loading gauge for the L&TR though! Mick's work on Ratio coaches is truly excellent and along with the articles in the News is splendidly inspirational. Will you be using a two-colour livery?
I must finish that rake of new coaches which has been half-built for far too long...
On the other matter, yes - it might be an idea if you transferred this thread to the Rolling Stock section!
Sadly it's unlikely that I'll get to Barton on Sunday.
Right returning this thread well and truly to the layout as opposed to stock...
I've got this entire week booked off work for the sole purpose of doing modelling, mainly to try and make a dent in the list of things I need to get through to prepare Isle Ornsay for Sparsholt in April. The first of which is the build the fiddle yard, the final remaining board.
The fiddle yard will only be used at exhibitions, as at home I will have a much smaller fiddle yard, or potentially a small layout mounted on the top of my workbench.
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Here it is connected to the end of the yard where it enters the tunnel.
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The other end of the tunnel. The Minitrains Plymouth diesel gives an idea of the size, it's 1.2m long x 500mm. Around the edge of the board strip wood (should) help avoid cassettes emptying themselves onto the floor! I used MDF for the surface of the fiddle yard to help with the ability to slide cassettes around.
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The fascia board is held up at the rear by a slide in removable end panel (left hand side), and a magnetic catch (right hand side, top).
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When the end panel is removed the fascia can be folded down, this will help protect cassettes for transport to/from exhibitions, and also will help protect the programming track from damage in transit.
I've begun using hand wheels which are designed for attaching bed headboards to bases for joining baseboards together.
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I've got to use a few different lengths for baseboards joints, holding legs to baseboards, and braces between legs, so had to order a few different sorts. Also in the image (bottom right) is an adjustable foot, I'll begin working on the legs tomorrow. All being well I should be able to run the first train the entire length of the layout on Friday :)
I've now fitted all the legs to the layout, they work well and take up very little space. They are a scissor arrangement that sit across the depth of the boards, as shown below. Between some legs there are ply braces. This all makes a pretty stable base, especially considering they're the first baseboards I've built.
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And with the layout all set up what else was there to do but play trains?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xthDHBmtvzM
There's some work to do on some of the track around baseboard joints which has lifted from the foam slightly, this will be pinned down more firmly at these locations. It was nice to have an operating session, and has highlighted a few very minor things to address before Sparsholt.
Looking good. Looks like real carpentry rather than my hacking and sticking.
Running trains too. Very flash! ;D
John W
Quote from: Isle of Stoner on January 28, 2012, 11:05
Looking good. Looks like real carpentry rather than my hacking and sticking.
Running trains too. Very flash! ;D
John W
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'real carperntry' ? Thanks, John, but this is definitely 'hacking and sticking'. It's not my forte, and I've learnt a lot of things not to do again when building these boards! Still, as long as they don't fall over and what sits on top of them looks pretty I'll be happy.
I thought "wot Plymouth?" - then I saw it! :)
Tom, this is all looking very good indeed and as John has already said, it looks to me to all be very well thought out and neatly and carefully executed. I rather like your method of joining baseboards - we need something better than 6mm roofing bolts on Buccabury so I might suggest this approach. When I get a chance I'll post a view of the trestle legs I built for Buccabury to replace the old Ikea standard trestles (which were good but weren't designed for exhibitions and were very bulky!) You don't look as though you need to see them but others might be interested.
Well done Tom - If I'm able to get to NGS I'll look forward to seeing progress.
One last thing, I found on the MRC layout 'Happisburgh' that even once it was operational we spent all our time and energy building for it and it only ever got used at exhibitions. This is certainly not healthy for a project so I'd advise anyone that as soon as a layout can be used, for goodness' sake spend some time running trains. It keeps you focussed on why you're building it, helps to find problems while they can still be dealt with and the layout modified if necessary and also means that you don't get bogged down into a drudgery of nothing but layout building without having the fun of operating.
As folks might have gathered, I enjoy operating the L&TR as a proper working railway. I'm not content with just watching the trains go round and round and luckily the design of the L&TR and the length of run I have allows plenty of time to view the trains on the move in the countryside. The station-to-station run takes 50 secs to a minute.
Yes, very well planned and executed Tom! Where did you get the screws with hand wheel ends?
On my last four boards (not NG, not really a layout even, just some demonstration/test tracks) I used T-nuts too, but used hex-socket cap screws and an Allen key.
Thanks David & Graeme. I took a long time planning this, in fact I was planning it before I started building Dunbracken, but it was meant to be a purely freelance layout 'somewhere in the Lochaber region'. After Dunbracken was built I found the documents in the National Archives, and it all kind of planned itself from there really.
The handwheels are from BP Fittings here: http://www.bpfittings.co.uk/pc/Male-Threaded-Handwheels-Knobs-c10676.htm
There are various thread diameters and lengths and handle designs. Out of the 26 I ordered only one had the handle come loose from the thread. I've used them to attach the baseboards to one another, the legs to the baseboards, and the braces to the legs. It all makes for a very quick assembly and take down time.
I ought to write up the use of the hand wheels for the News really as several people have asked me about them.
Graeme, what is there in the way of narrow gauge centric exhibitions in Scotland? I'd love to be able to take Isle Ornsay north of the border at some point.
And finally, David, don't worry, now that I've got my new controller (Gaugemaster Prodigy Advance 2) I'll be playing trains a lot more often :)
Well done Tom - you do that! ;D
Meanwhile, as promised, a photo of the trestles I built for Buccabury. Standard A-frame design, 2"x1" wood, hinged at the top and with standard location dowels to fit into the inner corners of the baseboard frame. The bottom strut of the A is a hinged half-metre length of 6mm studding with a nut which keeps the A-frame legs at the correct distance. It is hinged up for transport and in use it passes through a section of aluminium angle on the opposite cross-member; it is this angle which bears against the nut. The legs are secured for transport with two discarded post office rubber bands around them. These then hook around small cup hooks on the legs and their tension keeps the legs tight against the nut on the studding. That's also a convenient way to store the bands during the exhibition where they can be found during the breakdown! Also, in transport mode, the diagonals on the legs keep the studding from flapping about. The two trestles you can see supporting the rest have additional brackets incorporated into them, which fold out and support the shelf (which you can also see) for the controller and coffee cups. (This was only a mock-up; the bracket pivots were not finished and lengths of rodding were being used.) These brackets are within the existing envelope so these trestles take up no more storage space than the others. The studding enables the leg height to be adjusted for the best fit on the exhibition floor! Simple, light, robust and pretty easy to store and transport; the overall depth of each support is slightly over 4". I built one more than needed so if any were to be damaged there is an instant replacement. Also, construction is screwed but not glued; again, if there is any damage it will be easy to replace the appropriate piece.
Oh yes - one word of advice - when buying timber for layouts NEVER, EVER buy the ready-wrapped packs - you know the sort, eight pieces to a pack and wrapped in plastic. When you take off the wrapping there is an explosion and you realise you've actually got four corkscrews, two aircraft propellers one banana and a dog-leg. :o I always select from the individual lengths and invariably reject three or four times as many as I keep, what with all the rotten twisted and bent stuff, plus I try to find timber that's as shake and knot free as possible. ;)
Tom,
I'm not sure there are many specialist model railway exhibitions in Scotland, but I may be mistaken - Gauge O Guild is lurking as a thought in the back of my mind.
Most exhibitions are of general railway modelling, even to the extent of including wargaming, model boats, aeroplanes, dolls houses or whatever other clubs the host MRC has links with. Also, many or most MRCs are part of the Association of Scottish MRCs and there is a lot of quid pro quo. Attracting clubs from further afield is quite difficult I understand, though Dundee is twinned with Orleans and the respective clubs visit each other I believe (the French club comes to Dundee most certainly).
Of course I am duty bound to say you should come to Aberdeen (November) but personally I think I'd try Perth (June) as it is an excellent hall, a good central location, has a good range of layouts and attendance, yet is quite intimate. I know a number of other modellers who regard Perth highly too. Glasgow (February) is the "big one" ("big yin" ;D) and you will get crowds but I find it can be a bit soul-less. Dundee is a fair sized show, Aberdeen has been through a thin patch but is trying build up again. I know nothing of the shows in central belt (except Glasgow), the south and on the west coast, but Inverness, Elgin, Cupar and St Andrews are all small shows. Malcolm will be able to tell you about the shows further south.
Anyway, all exhibition organizers round abouts would be glad of an NG layout, I'm sure. A few well known layouts and exhibitors have found their way North.
Those trestles look very neat, David. I had wondered about doing something similar until I saw the design I've gone for which a friend of mine has employed on his O-16.5 layout.
Graeme, I'd happily do any to be honest, but thanks for the notes on the characters of the various events. I'll see if I can get an invite to a show up there once the layout is finished.
"Nice legs..." (In the words of a (punk?) song)
I agree about the wood selection. One mourns the demise of the local hardware shop (the sort that would sell screws individually if required and had wellies and paraffin stoves hanging from the ceiling). B&WickesBase don't offer the same sort of service...
Is now a good time to admit that I must have found the only entirely straight (yes, I checked) two packs of stripwood in Homebase?
That many? ;D
I have to admit that I was surprised! Wouldn't have bought them if they weren't straight.
A brief update tonight.
I had to make some minor alterations to the mineral quay as there wasn't enough space under it after changing from coach bolts to handwheels for joining the baseboards. By extending it at the rear slightly I've created just enough room to accommodate one.
Here are some photos of the alterations to the quay:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7020%2F6819085905_43be9e5aed_z.jpg&hash=0e7c0bdaf51404f20f570e726a44ba29279fe8c4) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6819085905/)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7002%2F6819084687_59328f4c0e_z.jpg&hash=b632654b12f07f4df26ba5f661cae10c423cc1e0) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6819084687/)
Please ignore the unsightly join in the plaster castings, that will be almost invisible when I've filled and carved it with the same plaster.
I've also (finally) laid the remaining two sections of flexi track one to the turntable, and one to the fiddle yard/tunnel.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7161%2F6819071951_d3e1f8f3b8_z.jpg&hash=630607b3449d1b6b91b59b09e0c6d5ca6a966f03) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6819071951/)
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(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7018%2F6819066961_cf560331c8_z.jpg&hash=5aa2eddf83e4c4f4caf36d21e32cfb44c9864d6e) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6819066961/)
This is my first bit of 3D printing, the two beams of the turntable were printed by Shapeways. Whilst they do show some surface texture it's not too bad and when painted should look ok. It will also be partially hidden beneath a timber deck. I managed to find an Airfix turntable kit for
Tom - that is looking fantastic! Keep up the good work!
I think your row of buildings on the quay will look like the setting for 'Local Hero' so you will need to make a drift wood house on the beach and a lady in a scuba suit. Not to mention a phone box on the quay side.
John W
Quote from: Isle of Stoner on February 05, 2012, 08:40
I think your row of buildings on the quay will look like the setting for 'Local Hero' so you will need to make a drift wood house on the beach and a lady in a scuba suit. Not to mention a phone box on the quay side.
John W
Yes, the wonderful Pennan:
www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/pennan/pennan/ (http://www.undiscoveredscotland.co.uk/pennan/pennan/)
Good to see another MERG member here, Tom. The layout is looking great!
Quote from: Tigger on February 05, 2012, 06:59
Tom - that is looking fantastic! Keep up the good work!
Thanks David :)
Quote from: Isle of Stoner on February 05, 2012, 08:40
I think your row of buildings on the quay will look like the setting for 'Local Hero' so you will need to make a drift wood house on the beach and a lady in a scuba suit. Not to mention a phone box on the quay side.
John W
I've never seen Local Hero, but having seen the link Graeme has posted it's going to look quite similar :) There will be a driftwood-ish fisherman's store - does that count? ;)
Quote from: GraemeD on February 05, 2012, 10:06
Good to see another MERG member here, Tom. The layout is looking great!
Graeme, I have to confess that a friend who is a MERG member is buying it for me as it's the only stepper motor driver that I could find which is suitable for a turntable and not hundreds of pounds. When it arrives, though, I may be tempted to join - I've been considering it for a while.
Tom,
I've been following the development of this layout and its really starting to have a character now I think.
Please can I ask about the method/materials that you used on the plaster casting because its something I would like to try on my own layout.
Thanks
Bob
Not seen Local Hero... ???
Go out and buy it, now!!
www.amazon.co.uk/Local-Hero-DVD/dp/B0010LB00W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328448822&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Local-Hero-DVD/dp/B0010LB00W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328448822&sr=8-1)
It will give you endless inspiration for local atmosphere. Add a couple of Peatbog Faeries CDs to the order.
Quote from: GraemeD on February 05, 2012, 13:43
Not seen Local Hero... ???
Go out and buy it, now!!
www.amazon.co.uk/Local-Hero-DVD/dp/B0010LB00W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328448822&sr=8-1 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Local-Hero-DVD/dp/B0010LB00W/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1328448822&sr=8-1)
It will give you endless inspiration for local atmosphere. Add a couple of Peatbog Faeries CDs to the order.
I've been told I need to buy Highlander for the same reason ;) Will take a look, thanks Graeme.
Quote from: berryr99 on February 05, 2012, 12:46
Tom,
I've been following the development of this layout and its really starting to have a character now I think.
Please can I ask about the method/materials that you used on the plaster casting because its something I would like to try on my own layout.
Thanks
Bob
Thanks Bob. The castings are produced from one mould that I bought from America.
It is made by Bragdon Enterprise: www.bragdonent.com and is no. 24 on this page (http://bragdonent.com/smpic/item2.htm). It retails for $20, so not too expensive, and Joel Bragdon was very helpful when discussing postage from the USA. It arrived quickly and made it through Customs with no additional charges.
I'm actually going to be placing another order for some larger rock moulds after pay day to finish off the remaining castings for Sparsholt. Some that they produce are amazingly detailed. I'm not going to use this particular one, but look at the detail in the example below:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fmedia.photobucket.com%2Fimage%2Fbragdon%2520rock%2520mold%2Fdkzimm%2FGeneral%2520pictures%2F06_20_08008_edited.jpg&hash=a112f65b9b9fc5d8a219d4a50b1e9bd18dead322)
The moulds are very flexible, being latex rubber, so can be curved around almost any curve in more than one direction. For my castings I carried out the following list of activities:
1. make sure mould is clean and free of plaster from previous castings
2. coat mould with isopropyl alcohol to eliminate the chance of bubbles in the casting
3. mix plaster and tap on hard surface to raise any bubbles to the surface so they disappear
4. pour gently into mould
5. allow to set
6. when semi-hard place a sheet of thin, flexible plastiard (approx. 20 thou) against the face of the plaster
7. push the plasticard and the mould up against the curve you wish to have the casting in front of
8. hold the mould in place with heavy objects and allow to set
When the new moulds arrive (will order them at the end of the month) I'll post some more photos.
You have to see Local Hero. I can't believe you haven't seen it. Highlander and Local hero will be left in the cottage for your viewing pleasure!
John W
Firstly, let me add my vote for Local Hero.
Secondly, and I don't want to create any extra pressure here but, in the spirit of curiosity, how much progress do you hope to have made by the time you exhibit at Sparsholt?
Quote from: Isle of Stoner on February 05, 2012, 18:29
You have to see Local Hero. I can't believe you haven't seen it. Highlander and Local hero will be left in the cottage for your viewing pleasure!
John W
Hopefully I get some time to watch them whilst I'm there then. Thanks John :)
Quote from: Rhobat Bryn on February 05, 2012, 18:47
Firstly, let me add my vote for Local Hero.
Secondly, and I don't want to create any extra pressure here but, in the spirit of curiosity, how much progress do you hope to have made by the time you exhibit at Sparsholt?
In terms of what I'd like finished I did compile a list on my blog a while back, but to be honest I just want it to look presentable.
I exhibited Dunbracken as a 'work in progress' once, it's difficult to tell what people will find interesting to look as given the many different aspects of building a layout. I hope to have the basic following tasks done:
- Around 5 or 6 cassettes for the fiddle yard completed.
- All the remaining sections of seawall cast and fitted.
- Rock faces cast and fitted.
- The remaining 7 building shells completed and in place to the same standard as those built so far. I may add mock card roofs if time allows.
- Finish the rake of Ratiobash coaches.
- Get my mum to make the curtain to hide the legs and other bits of very dodgy woodwork ;D
- Fit a socket to allow a second controller handset to be used.
To be honest I don't see that as too long a list given the amount of time I have until mid April, but we'll see :-\
If I get through that lot you may see the landscape with some colour applied.
It's becoming more atmospheric by the day. The Pennan link shows exactly what you have in mind.
Once the basic scenic cover is in place you'll be heading for the work which I find the most fun. I'm looking forward to seeing it for real.
Thanks Ted, I'm sure we can arrange for you to have a visit to play with the layout around ExpoNG if time allows.
The scenery is what I like most, the point from now on is what I've been waiting for for quite a while! ;D
Expong? Will Sparsholt do??
Some progress to report...
All my buildings are based around foamboard shells which then get clad with either das, carved filler, or plasticard sheet. Tonight I've finally finished the row of buildings along the rear of the layout. The following photos and captions are lifted from my NGRM thread.
The street is based on the curved series of properties at Plockton, but is made up of a more eclectic mix of buildings from prototypes all over Western Scotland.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7067%2F6988263861_320791d1c8_z.jpg&hash=6f42b1e8799b344799ff2646346854f3bfc3af8a) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6988263861/)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7063%2F6988263405_96c4a0bd1c_z.jpg&hash=3846e19b4fe802df07f938f889cd37c028cd9225) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6988263405/)
Left to right you have:
The hotel (still needs a name) + lodge (Dundonnel Hotel), croft (modified from the Dunvegan Hotel), small croft (freelance), Pioneer Stores (Kyle of Lochalsh), croft (Plockton), post office (Plockton), chandler (Plockton), Customs House (Ullapool). At the front on the left is the harbour office, and on the extreme right is the loco shed.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7036%2F6988263273_93d5a0aed5_z.jpg&hash=c132159b1b368d3b56446c15322c73a9e624cc64) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6988263273/)
Excuse the wonky bit of wall, it's just a spare off cut of a casting I've dropped in place temporarily.
As you'll see I've tried to bring the roof line away from the backscene by at least 10mm, thereby giving a better impression of depth by showing the roof sloping down at the rear. There are some points where buildings head straight into the backscene, such as the track leading off next to the Customs House, but I have plans for how to camouflage those.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7178%2F6842140020_0ef15f1384_z.jpg&hash=5fda4d937f68a728925ea18bd9195282a5c867d1) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6842140020/)
Only the station building, ferry office, water tower and signal box (I'll be replacing the one bashed from the Wills kit I'm using at present) to do then they're all done. I may leave some of those until after Sparsholt, but I'll see how the next month pans out on that front... Next job is to get cracking with building cassettes. Then hopefully my rock moulds will have (finally) found their way through customs and I can crack on with getting them added too.
This just looks SO good Tom! Very evocative and reminds me of Tobermory last Easter. Looking forward to seeing it. However unless I'm mistaken, you haven't mentioned the distillery yet. I think the Isle Ornsay 12 year expression with a fresh, peaty and yet slightly floral nose, a phenolic, smoky and slightly salty taste with a seaweedy but dry finish would go down very nicely after a helping of game pie following a day's shooting on the hills. The 18 year, although a similarly fresh nose reminiscent of the cool wind through the heather is more sherried and far better for the end of an evening by the fireplace recounting stories of ancestral ghosts and derring-do where it is accompanied with a couple of shortbreads...
(Eat & drink your hearts out Oz Clarke and Jilly Goolden!! ;D)
Thanks Tigger :)
I don't need to make up a distillery as there's quite a well known one just off the route of the HLR which I will be providing P.O. wagons for ;)
http://www.discovering-distilleries.com/talisker/
I've also just received the rock moulds I'll be using. They come from America from a company named Bragdon Enterprise and are FANTASTIC!
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7185%2F6989693369_4cda43d980_z.jpg&hash=54277b7a43a3f5b2216b5eb3c07b86016b22b714) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6989693369/)
A4 sheet of paper included for scale :o
intrigued by the check rails - the curve doesn't look that severe in the photos. or is there another reason for them?
It's probably sharp enough when you think that we always model curves tighter than we should do. Plus I like them.
Check rails? Oh, I thought you had gone Southern Electric and was expecting a 2BIL to appear on the jetty............ ;D
It's looking very good with the buildings now giving more "shape" to the overall scene - reminiscent of my last visit to Portree and very much an impression of Skye.
Looking forward to seeing the layout in the flesh at Sparsholt - less than a month to go!
Mick
Quote from: MickT on March 17, 2012, 22:42
Check rails? Oh, I thought you had gone Southern Electric and was expecting a 2BIL to appear on the jetty............ ;D
It's looking very good with the buildings now giving more "shape" to the overall scene - reminiscent of my last visit to Portree and very much an impression of Skye.
Looking forward to seeing the layout in the flesh at Sparsholt - less than a month to go!
Mick
Thanks Mick
A 2BIL!? :o Will a steam railmotor do instead?
Here are some pictures of the castings from the rock moulds I've bought recently. The headland is taking shape. All the castings are thin and then cracked to shape to fit the scenery. The gaps between are the filled and carved. There's still some work to do around the baseboard joint, and to fill in gaps around the rocks with more paper mache.
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm7.staticflickr.com%2F6226%2F6849832820_cae18d7ac5_z.jpg&hash=e1e9af0dc3f713377eef318e29e30a1056cd375e) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6849832820/)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7218%2F6849832656_082009e4ba_z.jpg&hash=4aed47ec4151840646382a79d7cf67b410f357f4) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6849832656/)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7118%2F6995956797_55c0a70a81_z.jpg&hash=ad461423a438506349b10655d8e006ca4464ea5a) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6995956797/)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7245%2F6849832680_2f94cb00d6_z.jpg&hash=b7775a3d8c53a0d5604699ef591e89244828c2d6) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6849832680/)
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm8.staticflickr.com%2F7048%2F6849832684_375bba0b28_z.jpg&hash=d244a5a980a2d7483bf4ccc6e1cf77b25a84f12c) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/6849832684/)
Good morning Tom.
I must congratulate you on the looks of the coastline using the new rock moulds, especially the last pictue you posted, it looks superb.
The harbour wall is also very real, was this hand carved or is it done with a mould. The way the stones are not only randomly shaped, but also protrude at different depths makes it so realistic.
Regards,
BrianT.
Thank you Brian, much appreciated.
The harbour wall is produced from a mould made by the same company: www.bragdonent.com The appeal of that mould was that it had the added relief you mention, and isn't entirely flat. Joel Bragdon has been very helpful, I'd thoroughly recommend his moulds to anyone.
It is looking satisfyingly rugged!
There is some magnificent stonework in the old harbour at Portsoy (East Coast). Von Daniken would probably claim it was made by aliens.
An arty monochrome photo:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww1.clikpic.com%2Flightstory%2Fimages%2FNK1_3454.jpg&hash=7d73c3569d12ec32c97e3aed88563c45110e41ee)
Ref: http://www.lightstory.co.uk/photo_6962624.html (http://www.lightstory.co.uk/photo_6962624.html)
More touristy:
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.moraycameraclub.co.uk%2Fmembers_images%2Fjohn_macgregors_images%2FPortsoy_Harbour_J_McGregor.jpg&hash=b666cbae72e4c07e77d97ce614faec40813c9636)
Ref: http://www.moraycameraclub.co.uk/members_picture_gallery/john_macgregors_pictures.htm (http://www.moraycameraclub.co.uk/members_picture_gallery/john_macgregors_pictures.htm)
The stonework for lighthouse bases is even more impressive - the pieces interlock as if jigsaw pieces - as told by retired lighthouse keeper and current museum guide, who I'm sure is Neil Oliver's father (he of the flowing locks and presenter of BBC history/geography TV programmes.) The one interviewed the other and the likeness is uncanny (except for the hair that is).
Your moulded stonework is a good representation of the type shown on the left of the second photo. Just the other side out of shot where the burn enters the harbour the wall grows out of the rock just as you show.
Another edit: this is just along from the harbour office and public toilets that grow out of the rock too, just like your layout! (This is where Mark Ellington onetime member of Fairport Convention and Master of Ceremonies for the Portsoy small boat festival makes his announcements - the harbour office, not the public loos!)
Looking excellent, Tom
Excellent Tom! It's now taking on a bit of a Burtonport feel with all those rocks Just train a garden hose on it (as long as the water police in your barren and parched part of the world don't notice) and you'll have a photo scene of a typically "soft" northwest Donegal day!
Mick
Oh EXCELLENT Tom. Well done!
Quote from: GraemeD on March 19, 2012, 16:26
It is looking satisfyingly rugged!
There is some magnificent stonework in the old harbour at Portsoy (East Coast). Von Daniken would probably claim it was made by aliens.
Thanks Graeme. Portsoy looks very modellable! I don't recall ever seeing a 009 layout set on the East Coast, thinking about it...
Quote from: pilotfriend on March 19, 2012, 17:38
Looking excellent, Tom
Thanks, John.
Quote from: MickT on March 19, 2012, 19:38
Excellent Tom! It's now taking on a bit of a Burtonport feel with all those rocks Just train a garden hose on it (as long as the water police in your barren and parched part of the world don't notice) and you'll have a photo scene of a typically "soft" northwest Donegal day!
Mick
Thanks, Mick. I fear that if I were to try and emulate Donegal weather the countryside may start dissolving before my very eyes :(
Quote from: Tigger on March 19, 2012, 20:15
Oh EXCELLENT Tom. Well done!
Thanks ;D
Yes, your layout has a definite look of familiarity about it. It is coming together very well indeed. I'm sure you will get people wanting to know where they can go to see the real version!
What with you and Ted I'm beginning to wish that (a) I'd got a harbour section on the L&TR and (b) that I'd located it in Scotland! Just think - if I'd seen the Craig & Mertonford before I started out in 009 I might well have! What a pity I can't have a distillery in 1952 Wales...
The rocks are looking most impressive - that last photo is very atmospheric, all comes together now. I wish I had used rock moulds instead of cork bark.
Quote from: GraemeD on March 20, 2012, 09:19
Yes, your layout has a definite look of familiarity about it. It is coming together very well indeed. I'm sure you will get people wanting to know where they can go to see the real version!
Thanks Graeme. One of my goals with this project is to hear someone say "my grandad used to be a driver on this railway"... ;)
Quote from: Tigger on March 20, 2012, 12:09
What with you and Ted I'm beginning to wish that (a) I'd got a harbour section on the L&TR and (b) that I'd located it in Scotland! Just think - if I'd seen the Craig & Mertonford before I started out in 009 I might well have! What a pity I can't have a distillery in 1952 Wales...
I'm sure you could fairly easily convert the L&TR to Scotland, just borrow Victoria from Julien - that will sort out the loading gauge issues :) As for distilleries, as I'm not a whisky drinker I much prefer the North Wales product of Purple Moose! Nothing better than a pint of that in Spooners!
Quote from: tedp on March 20, 2012, 16:55
The rocks are looking most impressive - that last photo is very atmospheric, all comes together now. I wish I had used rock moulds instead of cork bark.
Thanks Ted, if you ever want any castings let me know.
Whilst I'm home alone for a week I've devoted some more time to the layout. Tonight saw some grimy ballast added to the engine shed siding.
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This is essentially a technique I first read about when Chris Nevard used it on Catcott Burtle. It uses air drying clay (like Das) placed around, and between, the tracks to represent that combination of ballast, years of grime, oil and coal dust that accumulate in goods yards and around engine sheds. I applied it between the rails, ensuring I left no trace of the clay on the rails themselves, then stippled the clay with an old toothbrush to give it the desired texture.
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I think the texture may be a bit OTT at the moment, but it will probably loose a bit of detail when the paint is applied. I can always smooth it off a bit it by wetting it.
I've used this technique to cover the copper clad sleepers at the baseboard joint. The clay will be expanded around other areas of the yard so that it's not so obviously focussed around the joint. It's also helped mask the N gauge sleepers on the diamond crossing.
There are some deliberate low spots where I'll be able to add oily puddles, pockets of ash etc. at a later date.
This is all looking excellent Tom. We've had quite a number of visitors looking at Buccabury who've said they remember the line and the same thing happened with the MRC's 'O' Gauge layout 'Happisburgh'! Isn't Victoria still the subject of an 'asbo'? ;D I could get my rotary OM going, adapt it and use it as a sort of tunnelling 'Greathead' shield to increase the loading gauge! I've never tried the Purple Moose but I seem to remember a good micro-brewery in Llan Festiniog some years ago. The establishment I use when I stay in Perthshire serves a very quaffable brew called 'Earthquake' (because the village itself sits on a major fault line and is home to the world's first seismic recording station[last Easter the trace from the Japanese rumble was on display in the Post Office]). Oops! I digress onto another few favourite subjects of mine...
"then stippled the clay with an old toothbrush to give it the desired texture."
Quite the wrong technique. You should always use your wife's toothbrush
Looking very good indeed Tom.
This going to be a real treat when it is finnished, if ever they do get "finnished". :)
Regards,
BrianT.
Quote from: invercloy on March 21, 2012, 23:22I think the texture may be a bit OTT at the moment, but it will probably loose a bit of detail when the paint is applied. I can always smooth it off a bit it by wetting it.
My memories of loco sheds/sidings/stabling points is that the surface, after years and years of oil and peoples boots, is simply flat, with almost no detail or texture. Without wishing to be critical, I see too many layouts where the loco shed is ballasted with the same stuff that is used on the mainline - I've never seen a real loco shed with large bits of ballast. Imagine the wear and tear on the workers' feet!
Quote from: pilotfriend on March 22, 2012, 08:21
"then stippled the clay with an old toothbrush to give it the desired texture."
Quite the wrong technique. You should always use your wife's toothbrush
Looking very good indeed Tom.
When describing the ground texture at one of my stations I seem to remember I suggested the wife's nailbrush would always make a better job of same effect. ;D
Quote from: duttonbay on March 22, 2012, 10:51
My memories of loco sheds/sidings/stabling points is that the surface, after years and years of oil and peoples boots, is simply flat, with almost no detail or texture. Without wishing to be critical, I see too many layouts where the loco shed is ballasted with the same stuff that is used on the mainline - I've never seen a real loco shed with large bits of ballast. Imagine the wear and tear on the workers' feet!
When I was working on the Loco Shed area of 'Happisburgh' http://themodelrailwayclub.org/Happisburgh.aspx (http://themodelrailwayclub.org/Happisburgh.aspx) at the MRC :o the area was given a layer of 4mm scale ballast, just for filling, which was then covered with
REAL ash, from a real coal fire, which was passed through a very fine sieve. This was then tamped down (very laborious) with a finger. Then the area was sprayed with a mist of water & washing up liquid before the watered down PVA was dripped onto the resultant
mud. The colour variation across the yard came from using just ash (almost white) to just coal (black) around the coal stage. The path across the yard from the top of the steps to the shed was smoothed with a
wet finger whilst it was setting.
As it was a large area I use a, former, liquid/gel toothpaste container, rather than a small eyedropper.
Quote from: Tigger on March 22, 2012, 08:07
This is all looking excellent Tom. We've had quite a number of visitors looking at Buccabury who've said they remember the line and the same thing happened with the MRC's 'O' Gauge layout 'Happisburgh'!
That sounds promising then :)
Quote from: Tigger on March 22, 2012, 08:07Isn't Victoria still the subject of an 'asbo'? ;D
I think you're recalling another 009 layout which has a smaller loading gauge ;)
Quote from: Tigger on March 22, 2012, 08:07I've never tried the Purple Moose
You must! :)
Quote from: pilotfriend on March 22, 2012, 08:21
"then stippled the clay with an old toothbrush to give it the desired texture."
Quite the wrong technique. You should always use your wife's toothbrush
Looking very good indeed Tom.
She's away on a course this week - what a 'welcome home' present!
Quote from: gtmspyder on March 22, 2012, 09:24
This going to be a real treat when it is finnished, if ever they do get "finnished". :)
Regards,
BrianT.
Thanks Brian, I hope I get it as close to as finished as I can, but I do have plans to extend it at some point in the future, so chances are it'll grow and grow.
Quote from: duttonbay on March 22, 2012, 10:51
Quote from: invercloy on March 21, 2012, 23:22I think the texture may be a bit OTT at the moment, but it will probably loose a bit of detail when the paint is applied. I can always smooth it off a bit it by wetting it.
My memories of loco sheds/sidings/stabling points is that the surface, after years and years of oil and peoples boots, is simply flat, with almost no detail or texture. Without wishing to be critical, I see too many layouts where the loco shed is ballasted with the same stuff that is used on the mainline - I've never seen a real loco shed with large bits of ballast. Imagine the wear and tear on the workers' feet!
I think you may be right, John. I'll go and see what I think looking at it with a fresh pair of eyes. I may smooth it down a little if it still looks to coarse, but I do want to retain some texture as the line wouldn't be
that old in the period I'm modelling it. It will definitely be different material to the main running lines, though.
Quote from: Tigger on March 22, 2012, 12:03
When describing the ground texture at one of my stations I seem to remember I suggested the wife's nailbrush would always make a better job of same effect. ;D
Are you lot trying to get me in trouble?! ;)
Quote from: Isaac W on March 22, 2012, 13:59
When I was working on the Loco Shed area of 'Happisburgh' http://themodelrailwayclub.org/Happisburgh.aspx (http://themodelrailwayclub.org/Happisburgh.aspx) at the MRC :o the area was given a layer of 4mm scale ballast, just for filling, which was then covered with
There are various techniques to represent loco yard ballast. Yours looks OK to me. Basically any existing ballast will be clogged by fine debris. I used fine Woodlands ballast mixed with something gravelly which I flooded with thin grey coloured plaster mix. In places the ballast grain shows through, but most is just grey goo.
This is all great stuff lads. I,ve realised i'm addicted to 009socs so, now I know I,ll be back in Blighty next wednesday forr the foseeable, I will renew soonest annd then look to Griffendon 2 (the improved version). up and on. Mike
Quote from: Isaac W on March 22, 2012, 13:59
When I was working on the Loco Shed area of 'Happisburgh' http://themodelrailwayclub.org/Happisburgh.aspx (http://themodelrailwayclub.org/Happisburgh.aspx) at the MRC :o the area was given a layer of 4mm scale ballast, just for filling, which was then covered with
Quote from: tedp on March 22, 2012, 17:53
There are various techniques to represent loco yard ballast. Yours looks OK to me. Basically any existing ballast will be clogged by fine debris. I used fine Woodlands ballast mixed with something gravelly which I flooded with thin grey coloured plaster mix. In places the ballast grain shows through, but most is just grey goo.
Thanks Ted, I did consider a slurry type mix to do it, but thought I'd create less mess this way.
Quote from: Mike Griff on March 23, 2012, 10:47
This is all great stuff lads. I,ve realised i'm addicted to 009socs so, now I know I,ll be back in Blighty next wednesday forr the foseeable, I will renew soonest annd then look to Griffendon 2 (the improved version). up and on. Mike
You've let it lapse!? Rejoin this instant! ;) :D
Thanks Mike, glad it's of interest.
Quote from: Tigger on March 23, 2012, 12:22
It;s a bit of a digression but for those of you who've seen 'Happisburgh' I really should record the fact that Isaac did all of the ash ballast on the layout - a very painstaking job which took weeks to complete and if you've ever seen the layout you'll realise just how much area there was to cover!
I've never seen the layout, but if I do I'll make sure to look at it.
Quote from: invercloy on March 23, 2012, 19:22
Quote from: Tigger on March 23, 2012, 12:22
It;s a bit of a digression but for those of you who've seen 'Happisburgh' I really should record the fact that Isaac did all of the ash ballast on the layout - a very painstaking job which took weeks to complete and if you've ever seen the layout you'll realise just how much area there was to cover!
I've never seen the layout, but if I do I'll make sure to look at it.
Sadly 'Happisburgh' ran its last exhibition this time last year at the Ally Pally show (where, as the founding project leader, I was given the great privilege of driving the very last passenger train and then closing the box for the last time); it's now in retirement in private ownership.
I've only lapsed during my "homeless" Phase.
It was a real tough job destroying Greffendon, but what has to be is only the start of the future. I rescued some buildings and the points, so onwarsd to the "burough round the castle" Tutbury. Cheers catch you later.
Quote from: Tigger on March 23, 2012, 20:53Sadly 'Happisburgh' ran its last exhibition this time last year at the Ally Pally show...
Then I'll stick to the photos ;)
After watching Sergio Perez get robbed of a win i the Malaysian grand prix earlier today I, headed into the man cave to do some more work on the clay ballasting. It has now expanded around other areas of the yard.
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The expansion of the rockery has also continued...
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These are all just resting in place at present until I decide if I'm happy with their arrangement or not. All these castings came out of one mould on one pour!! :-O
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Tweaking of the foam base needed to make sure there's sufficient clearance for stock, and to move it back from the turntable a bit.
As I remarked on the other forum I think there is too much rock on the hillside. A hillside is quite different from the shore which is just as rocky as it should be. The cutting next to the tunnel entrance itself can be rocky all right, but it's the area around it that doesn't look quite right (to me at least). I'll see if I can find a photo to show you what I mean.
As I said on the other forum ;)
The intention is to thin then out a bit around the tunnel, what's there at the moment is just lumps in the sizes they snapped into easily.
The sort of effect I'm aiming for is like the area by the patch of light in this photo:
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I have been fishing for photos to illustrate what I meant about the rocks on your hillside and it proved quite difficult. I sent you some photos in the email. I
It is hard to tell with the rocks still being white, but if the effect you are after in the photo is what I think you mean then perhaps there could perhaps be more diffentiation in the slope of the rocks compared to the slope of the grassy bits. Remembering similar landscapes in fishing villages round hear, some of the rock faces are quite shear, even overhanging, and the earth builds up in the "step" like a fillet, the rock almost looking like retaining walls.
The warehouse (I presume) could well be built into a hole left by quarrying stone for building. Indeed, it is quite common for buildings to built into the side of a hill with the bedrock forming the foundations. People were generally less bothered about things like damp-proof courses and ground at window sill level was quite common.
I still think it better to carve one's own!
Quote from: GraemeD on March 26, 2012, 11:06
It is hard to tell with the rocks still being white, but if the effect you are after in the photo is what I think you mean then perhaps there could perhaps be more diffentiation in the slope of the rocks compared to the slope of the grassy bits. Remembering similar landscapes in fishing villages round hear, some of the rock faces are quite shear, even overhanging, and the earth builds up in the "step" like a fillet, the rock almost looking like retaining walls.
That's kind of what I'm after, Graeme. I'm heading off into the loft in a minute with some photos Ted has emailed me, along with some of my own which will help me adjust the castings to suit.
Quote from: GraemeD on March 26, 2012, 11:06The warehouse (I presume) could well be built into a hole left by quarrying stone for building. Indeed, it is quite common for buildings to built into the side of a hill with the bedrock forming the foundations. People were generally less bothered about things like damp-proof courses and ground at window sill level was quite common.
It's an ice house, based on this one at Portree which was also cut into the hill to ensure it was as well insulated as possible.
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Quote from: pilotfriend on March 26, 2012, 11:27
I still think it better to carve one's own!
Hopefully you'll see how detailed the castings are once the colour is applied, I don't think the photos do them justice at all.
I do have a good selection of their moulds and they are excellent.
Mindful of being away in the Lake District next week I thought it best to crack on with the layout today.
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Tissue paper added around the thinned out rock moulds around the tunnel mouth.
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The sheet of plastic is to stop the paper mache from sticking to the baseboard or the backscene, so that this section of scenery remains removable for when I want to apply the backscene.
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The ballasting has been done using the latest sand based chinchilla dust I've found. It's fixed with a 50/50 mix of matte medium and water which subsequently has some isopropyl alcohol added to break the surface tension of the water. I've done from the end of the pier around to the start of the loop in the goods yard.
I also added the final section of seawall which was the tightest curve of the lot, around the end of the quay, and several attempts using plaster didn't work out well. This time I've pressed das into the mould and used that. To ensure an even base to apply colour to I'll coat all the castings and the das with a layer of gesso.
This is looking excellent Tom! Keep it up!
It's a sort of punk scenery look at the moment! ;D
Ballast looks very tidy, I'm jealous.
Good work that man.
John W
The track and ballast is looking excellent, but the scenery, frankly, is a mess.... :o
.... like all layouts at this stage ;D
Admiring your progress, Tom. I haven't been able to tear myself away from other things to complete even a small 80x55 layout!
Quote from: Tigger on April 01, 2012, 07:40
This is looking excellent Tom! Keep it up!
Thanks David :)
Quote from: Isle of Stoner on April 01, 2012, 07:48
It's a sort of punk scenery look at the moment! ;D
Ballast looks very tidy, I'm jealous.
Good work that man.
John W
Punk scenery? Maybe some pink mohican grass to set off what I've done so far? ;) Thanks John.
Quote from: tedp on April 01, 2012, 11:17
The track and ballast is looking excellent, but the scenery, frankly, is a mess.... :o
.... like all layouts at this stage ;D
Admiring your progress, Tom. I haven't been able to tear myself away from other things to complete even a small 80x55 layout!
Thanks, Ted, it's only happening this quickly because of the deadline of Sparsholt!
This morning I've finished the ballasting and track painting on the goods yard board.
My remaining aims before Sparsholt are:
Build the cassettes for the fiddle yard
Paint the recently added bits of paper mache
Add a couple more castings to the cliffs behind the station
Fill the gaps between the castings on the cliffs and along the rear of the goods yard
Finish painting the ratio bashes and fit couplings
Not much then :o
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." - Douglas Adams. ;D ;D
Quote from: Tigger on April 01, 2012, 14:57
"I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by." - Douglas Adams. ;D ;D
I will have to remember that quote for future use! :)
More progress on the layout today, the final rock castings have been added. I will fill the gaps with plaster tomorrow once the glue fixing them has completely gone off.
This evening I'm going to get on with building some cassettes for the fiddle yard.
After that it's only very minor things to do to the layout, and painting a few bits of stock.
I just hope it looks presentable ???
Quote from: invercloy on April 06, 2012, 19:54
...I just hope it looks presentable ???
Do you want to talk about it? ;D ;D ;D
Don't worry, it will be all right! See you next week.
It's just me being pedantic about a few things on the layout and making sure they are as complete as possible before the show :-[
See you next weekend.
Looking forward to seeing what you have done, Tom.
Today I've been building a West Highland Line style station building, inspired by, not not an accurate copy of, Glenfinnan.
All the cassettes for the fiddle yard are now built.
I've painted the Parkside Dundas T&D vans that I built a while back.
The Ratiobashes have had a few more detailed bits of paint added, and are only left with passengers and glazing to be fitted before the roofs can be permanently attached.
Just lots of Greenwich couplings to make up now to finish off the stock, then it's on to fettling the layout to make sure it's still running ok.
You aren't burning midnight oil, are you???? ;D
I've run out of midnight oil! :D
Making the most of an extra few days off work by cracking on with the modelling. Day off needed tomorrow, though.
I've now applied some colour to certain parts of the layout, and it's looking decidedly more complete than it was. Amazing what a difference such comparatively small changes can make!
Going to set it all up in the lounge tonight for it's final test run before Sparsholt. I've got a couple more things to do, then it's on to coupling construction.... zzzzzzzz
How many times have you cloned yourself to get all of this done? ;D
Some colour on the scenery makes a huge change. I remember having grey coloured plaster on Rae Bridge gave me a feeling of finally geting there!
Just me, I wish I had a clone so that I could have been doing other things over the last week as well ;) :D
Emma has helped here and there and will be at Sparsholt on Saturday too.
More colour has now been added, though not the rocks (sorry Ted).
I've also done the final preparations of the baseboards too, fitting the controller socket to the station board and a shelf to house the main control base unit beneath the goods yard. I was hoping to have fitted the curved corner to the backscene behind the tunnel, but have just run out of time to get something like that done - just pretend there isn't a right angled corner there if you come to see it on Saturday ;)
Tom, it all looked excellent yesterday at Sparsholt. John Gilby and I agreed the rocks are just right. The buildings on the quayside are coming on very nicely and look very good - and I just love those coaches of yours. You're inspiring me to get around to building that observation coach of mine! Well done with everything!
I'll second that. I thought that the overall image looked just right and it will certainly be a very impressive scene when it is finished.
Mick
Similar to the David and Mick, I was very impressed by the rocks despite the fact they were WHITE !!! The sharp edges are just right. The layout itself is very spaciously set up and I like the wide sweep of the tracks around the shore. Obviously running trains on a very new layout still takes getting used to - I admire your courage showing it in an almost untried state.
Anyway it was good to see you and Emma again - hope you got home all right after what must have been a very tiring day.
Quote from: Tigger on April 15, 2012, 19:36
Tom, it all looked excellent yesterday at Sparsholt. John Gilby and I agreed the rocks are just right. The buildings on the quayside are coming on very nicely and look very good - and I just love those coaches of yours. You're inspiring me to get around to building that observation coach of mine! Well done with everything!
Thanks David, it was nice to see you. You're very kind.
It was a little chaotic as it was the first time the layout had been operated in anger by more than one person, at times a little fraught, but nothing that developing an operating sequence wouldn't solve I think.
Look forward to seeing your observation coach. Shame I didn't get to see T.I.M. maybe next time.
Quote from: MickT on April 15, 2012, 20:59
I'll second that. I thought that the overall image looked just right and it will certainly be a very impressive scene when it is finished.
Mick
Thanks Mick :) Thank you for the loan of your stock also, it was well used, as was Ted's throughout the day.
Quote from: tedp on April 16, 2012, 17:34
Similar to the David and Mick, I was very impressed by the rocks despite the fact they were WHITE !!! The sharp edges are just right. The layout itself is very spaciously set up and I like the wide sweep of the tracks around the shore. Obviously running trains on a very new layout still takes getting used to - I admire your courage showing it in an almost untried state.
Anyway it was good to see you and Emma again - hope you got home all right after what must have been a very tiring day.
Thanks Ted, it was nice to see you and fellow Dutch group members again. Thanks to you too for the loan of stock. It helped a lot to fill up the layout, I need to get building before it's next outing!
Quote from: invercloy on April 16, 2012, 22:01
Look forward to seeing your observation coach. Shame I didn't get to see T.I.M. maybe next time.
It'll be a while before the coach is built! I need to line the Windle tram loco which has been in service for some time and finish the Port class Hunslet first! Sorry you didn't see T.I.M. it was all a bit rushed, especially as due to the atricious signage in Winchester I waited (and wasted) an hour and a quarter waiting for the service bus.
The observation coach, like all the rest on the L&TR, will be based on the Mikes Models body shell for the six-compartment bogie coach (when Charlie visited he commented that he'd never seen so many variations on the Mike's Models coaches in service on one layout!) I must check to see how many body shells I have left! I know I've at least three untouched and complete kits ready for using as Festiniog-style coaches and there's another three half-built as a replacement rake for the existing ones! I guess I'll run out one day but I still keep my eyes out for them on Brian's stand.
Well I don't do much modelling over the summer, but I'm now beginning to become interested again. I've got a few days off coming up so I'm hoping to do some modelling then. In preparation I've done some work on the buildings on the layout.
All the buildings use a foamboard shell which will either be clad in a very thin skim of filler to represent whitewash (or stone if it's carved), or plasticard sheet. The roofs will be built up using strips of card, but they obviously need a strong base with a few cross members to support them to avoid any sag. What I've been doing this evening is adding those cross members from foamboard. Because a few of the buildings are to have curved corrugated roofs I added a few cross members for them to help keep a smooth curve.
Those that sit against the backscene are designed for the apex of the roof to sit about 10mm away from the backscene. This means that the roof will drop away right before the backscene, and thereby hide the join which can often look clumsy, and also hopefully help create a slight illusion of greater depth.
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Loco Shed
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Customs House
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Croft and Post Office
(https://forum.009society.com/proxy.php?request=http%3A%2F%2Ffarm9.staticflickr.com%2F8320%2F7977546046_f5fbf24b04_z.jpg&hash=a5b79896f6af8c16993d910c600450191065686b) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/16967289@N02/7977546046/)
Goods Shed
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Fishery
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Harbour Street
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Ice House
The station building already has the cross members added.
As you'll notice I've crudely chamfered a few of them where the square edges of the foamboard projected beyond the walls of the building. Hoping to get some basic roofs on them in the next few days. A few have complex dormer windows (especially the Customs House - see below) which could take a while to add.
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Source: http://www.scotlandsplaces.gov.uk/search_item/image.php?service=RCAHMS&id=267710&image_id=SC401773
Not much of an update, but it's the first thing I've done for a while.
All looks great, already. This is one of the most exciting layouts being build at the moment!
Thanks Sven, that is very kind. I will post another update after the weekend.
It's about time that I updated this thread really as things have moved on significantly since I last posted...
I got tired of waiting to sort the lighting before adding much colour, so I've been adding some acrylic paint washes to the rocks and pier on the first board. These were then enhanced using some pastel pencils to vary the colour subtly from stone to stone, and enable me to create fine detail in the rock strata.
I've also added some Polak static grass using my Green Scene Flock It! applicator.
After this I added the basis for some waves, they are only made to the desired shape at present. I still have to add colour and a gloss coating at a later date.
Finally, I've been bashing a station building from the Wills country station and halt kits. This afternoon I've been doing the first round of painting.
Here are some photos of recent(ish) progress.
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Hello Tom, that really is beautiful modelling, when completed, this is going to be a real cracker, very well done, I can't wait to see it in the flesh sometime.
Kind regards,
BrianT.
Thank you Brian, that's very kind.
Agree with everyone.. Looking great.. Some very skillful modelling going on!
Thank you Scott
Looks amazing, another one I hope to see at a show sometime.
Paul
Thank you, Paul. If you are coming to the convention later this month I will have one (maybe two) boards on show to demonstrate scenic techniques.
Exhibitions the layout is booked to appear at are shown here: http://hlrco.wordpress.com/exhibitions/
Some more progress on wave painting tonight...
I've now done some dry brushing of white gesso onto the waves and areas of foam. Hopefully this completes the painting of this area of the sea, but we'll see how it's dried in the morning.
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Morning Tom, as ever that really looks superb.
The waves in the first photo, taken from the left showing the back of the waves, look very real, the second photo showing the front edge of the waves, not so real, that is I hope, constructive criticism from someone who could never in a million years, produce anything like that.
I have nothing to offer in the way of a remedy, just an observation from real life, after a week in Saundersfoot recently, standing in the sea holding a 20ft rope with a dinghy on the end, while my Grandson paddles about in it. :)
Highest regards,
BrianT.
Thanks Brian.
I know what you mean about the front of the waves. I think there's only a problem on the middle one really, it was dry by the time I'd noticed it wasn't quite concave enough on the front face and I was reluctant to hack it about too much. Live and learn :) Hopefully it won't be too noticeable, I'm hoping most people look over the waves on to the headland as per the first photo.
Tom
I would not worry too much about the middle wave, after all waves are not uniform even on a calm day. Says he who would never attempt what you have done.
Ted should be able to tell you all about waves with his deep sea experience. My everlasting memory of waves was catching the 5.15pm Birkenhead ferry home to Liverpool on a stormy evening. As the ferry made it's turn from Birkenhead toward Liverpool it went broadside in a tide race where the Mersey narrows. A guy on the open upper deck realised too late what was going to happen and was sent sprawling as he tried to run for the deck shelter. At Liverpool landing stage the passengers were told to jump off the ferry at the right time by the crew. All sailings after that were cancelled until the following day.
Your scenery is coming along nicely.
Roger
I hadn't noticed anything about the second wave myself. If it's flatter than the first one, that would be only natural since the first breaker line would break more heavily. If some of the energy has been spent already, the second time it breaks in the shallowing water it would be more subdued. As I said on the other forum, it's way better than any water I ever modelled. I particularly like the final white patch between the rocks.
Roger, thanks for the feedback. I'm a coastal engineer for a profession, so I'm enjoying this phase of the build as I can be a bit nerdy about it.
Ted, that was my exact reasoning for the waves being the shapes they are, so I'm pleased you've picked up on that in the model.
I've done a little more tonight. The paper mache that Emma did the other day has now dried, so it's received the first coat of brown paint. When this is dry I'll need to add a little more plaster around the edges of the rear plaster castings to blend them into the surrounding ground/coast/baseboard edge.
More interestingly, I've been adding some 'wavelets'. This is done using some clear artist's gel. I like using artist's materials, they seem to suit my way of doing things on the layout.
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A thin coating of this was applied to the entire sea surface that I've painted so far. I stippled it on to gives a gloss coating with a little texture. I then piped on some thin sections of the gel and shaped them into a few small waves to add some additional texture to the surface between the main waves.
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We'll see how it dries...At the moment it's a bit of a fight to keep them in the right shape as it dries...
Inspired by a visit from my mate Chris to discuss a micro layout project, I decided to fish two of the boards out of the loft to continue the rock painting. To do this I also needed to add a couple of small patches of plaster to the base of the rock casting at the rear of the layout. Once this had largely dried I cracked out the acrylic paints.
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I've added the first coat of dark acrylic paint to the next sections of rock and stone walling. The paints used are acrylics by Windsor & Newton, and the colour used is a mix of roughly 60% Payne's Gray and 40% Raw Umber in quite a thick mix. This is applied over the entire surface, stippled into all the recesses, to give a dark colour to act as shadows. This will then be matched into the section I've already completed dry brushing and adding washes with the acrylics, and finally using pastel pencils as before.
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As you may have spotted, the sea has gotten a bit whiter in front of the pier. This is just some Woodland Scenics 'Water Effects' that's been added to give a bit more texture.
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I applied small blobs of the product across the flatter areas of sea. I then stippled the surface with my finger to pull small peaks up across the entire surface. If i need to repeat this process to get the desired finish that should be ok. It will dry clear, so the paint effects should show through well.
More soon...
The black was completely dried this morning so I moved on to the dry brushing.
Here's the colour palette I have used:
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Its a mix of pale umber, burnt umber and raw sienna in varying amounts.
This was then dry brushed sparingly onto the blackened rocks to give the base colour to work from.
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When this has dried well I'll add some washes of varying colours and perhaps a little more dry brushing after that before cracking out the pastel pencils to detail.
Here are the results of the Woodland Scenics 'Realistic Water' being applied to the areas between the waves...
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I'm quite happy with them. The varying surface is quite reflective and catches the light at different angles, so it actually sparkles a little now, just like the real sea which is a very pleasing result :)
Tom
Excellent!
Roger
Thanks Roger!
More progress on the rocks. In between night shifts and sleeping during the day due to the tidal surge work I've added some washes to the rocks.
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A mix of thin washes of the same acrylic paints used for the base colour, plus a couple of extras: burnt umber, raw umber, pale umber, burnt sienna, payne's grey.
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As you'll see I'm not bothered about getting the rocks wet, plenty of water involved as the washes are quite thin. The paints can flow around a bit in the water too which I've found helps give a random finish. If there's too much at a certain point it's easy to remove by dabbing some kitchen roll.
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I am now going to leave this to dry completely. It'll then (hopefully) give me a good base to work from with the pastel pencils to blend it in with the other section of rock that's already completed.
More soon...
Quote from: invercloy on December 06, 2013, 17:48
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...
This rather looks like the remains of a boisterous party!
I think the wet rocks look very natural for the area modelled. The dry ones in comparison look a little flat although the colour is correct. Perhaps it is an idea to use a little gloss varnish on the surface of the rocks that are exposed to the surf.
I'll experiment, Ted...
EDIT - On second thoughts, the tide I have modelled is probably not powerful enough to generate much spray to wet the rocks that far. Given scale colour issues I may go for satin varnish if I do anything rather than gloss...
Now the castings have dried I've applied the first stab at detailing with the pastel pencils.
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It now blends into the colouring of the front section of the rocks more effectively.
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I've also added the below-tide-level black staining to the rocks along the coast on the next board.
With the colour of rocks behind the platform sorted, I decided to make a start on the grass atop the headland. As this is more of a moorland area I've decided to apply some tufts separated out from a Silflor grass mat prior to using the static grass applicator.
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The tufts are teased out set into neat PVA glue, then left to dry.
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The effect will improve when the tufts are blended into the surrounding grass by the application of the static fibres.
Message for anyone going to the Tonbridge Exhibition next weekend...
Regretfully I've had to withdraw Isle Ornsay from appearing at the show. Due to the continued bad weather I'm likely to be staying on shift patterns for the foreseeable future.
Apologies to anyone who was expecting to see it there. The layout will be appearing next at Narrow Gauge South at Sparsholt in April (if the b****y rain stops!).
I seem to remember you saying a while back that you were involved in coastal defences - do you work for the UK Border Agency? Maybe not ;)
For added realism you could always remove part of the harbour wall and just leave a length of track swinging in the breeze - I hear it's quite the fashion these days...
More seriously, the sea is looking great and all those lovely rocks, too. Sadly rocks are not really an option on the B&W as it's all sand and gravel thereabouts.
David.
David, sorry, missed your post... Yes I am, it's been a rather busy time recently :)
Thanks for your compliments, I'm really pleased with how the rocks are coming along.
Due to work commitments things have really stopped me from doing any modelling, but with around a month to go before Sparsholt I best make some improvements to the layout before it's next outing.
Up to now the fiddle yard has used cassettes. This is cumbersome for trains the length of the ones I can run on IO, so I've been thinking of redesigning it for a while now. My friend Chris came over tonight to help plan an operating sequence and an appropriate track arrangement. Dry run shown below. This should mean there's no longer any handling of stock once it's on the layout.
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As you can see from the first photo, I've printed some of the Scalescenes papers for stone, whitewash, lime washed stone and slates to see what they're like from normal viewing distances. I'm quite impressed with the results for use on buildings at the rear of the baseboards.
Good to note you've seen the light! I always doubted cassettes since I wouldn't know how to keep the stock on them safely. Long trains may be even more difficult. A proper fiddle yard is cumbersome but it works so much better!
Good to see you're back to some modelling - with high pressure now forecast you may get a decent chance to catch up. Hopefully I will make it to Sparsholt to see the results.
David.
It's not often I get to post a photo of the layout in it's entirety, so here we are with one from Narrow Gauge South last weekend...
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/13720741124_9d6d524756_c.jpg)
This is my friend Andy being left to deal with the hideously long 25+ wagon goods train at the end of the day whilst we went to have a quick peruse of the Parkside stand next door during a quiet 5 mins.
Feedback on the layout seemed positive and people actually recognised some progress since it last attended, so that's something!
Narrow Gauge South crept up very quickly what with me being away for our wedding anniversary and various other commitments, so there wasn't much preparation time available other than rebuilding the fiddle yard (which proved very beneficial compared to previous exhibitions). That being said, the layout generally ran well, most of the issues experienced were from a mix of stock being used with different couplings and me still not having got enough of my own stock to develop an operating sequence - I'm hoping to put that right before it's next outing to a narrow gauge show which is for NGS in 2 years time.
It was great to get the layout back out for an exhibition and to see so many society and NGRM members.
Thanks to Andy, Chris, James and Jon for operating at various points during the day, and Julien for the loan of his Windle loco.
A little more progress to repot..
I've been busying myself in the evenings of late by progressing the Harbour Office.
Here's what it looked like before, foamboard shell and mounting board card roof.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7363/14091725935_f2b6719dca_c.jpg)
To this I added some strip wood for the window sills. On the base I cut the foamboard down to roughly half thickness and then replaced this with a thin layer of Das clay. This was to represent the stone layers beneath the mortar so I could apply the Das on top of the foamboard elsewhere, leaving a few patches of the exposed stonework where the render had been chipped away after being battered by the sea.
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2910/14178092556_68a5f35aab_c.jpg)
The 'top' layer of Das to represent the render was then applied and sanded with wet and dry paper to achieve a smoother finish, though not perfectly flat as that would look wrong to my eye... After this I added slates to the roof following the advice in Dave Rowe's architectural modelling book. The slates are made from paper from a cuttings book, so they have a slight texture to them, but only enough to represent a surface that isn't quite perfectly smooth.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5501/14014604100_dc65ed336d_c.jpg)
And here it is within it's surroundings in the bay...
(https://farm3.staticflickr.com/2912/14014563029_a4b3efd792_c.jpg)
More soon!
Time to dig out this thread and update it...
I'm currently working on painting the quay. The technique I use is that of a base colour to represent shadows between rocks or stones. The colour applied is a 50/50 mix of Payne's Grey and Raw Umber.
Before:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/15549214708_8121d8119d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pG2MNL)
After:
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5607/15549214328_b876d081c0_c.jpg)
This is then left to thoroughly dry for 24 hours before a further layer is added to start to apply colour. The first stage is a dry brush of pale umber, with raw umber mixed in here and there. The intention of this stage is just to give some colour to the surface of the stones, further detailed colouring will be done with pastels.
A cruel closeup of the finish:
[url=https://flic.kr/p/p3cjF3](https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7514/15121047704_235e91a995_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pG2MGd)
You don't have to be neat to get to this stage - i drybrushed with a fairly wide flat brush (1/2in across).
Here's the effect from a distance to show what it looks like:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/15556174360_d1d7945489_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pGDsEL)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3955/15717277166_40e72a18b7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/pWT9Vm)
It's not great finish wise, but it gives a good, fairly random, base to work from for the detailed colouring.
When i've applied the pastels to complete the effect I'll post some more photos.
As ever Tom, very evocative, keep up the good work.
Mine seems to have stalled at the moment.
Kind regards,
BrianT.
That's a helluva lot of hard work Tom - well done, it looks excellent!
Thanks both, some more progress now the pastels have been delivered...
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/15767179835_27d1ba58a7_c.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/15581753608_c94e3407c8_c.jpg)
The pastels being used - make sure you buy 'soft' ones. These represented a good range of greys and browns for a reasonable sum.
(https://flic.kr/p/pJSpHK%5D%5Bimg=https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/15581333889_5e43d4a132_c.jpg)
Another cruel closeup showing the first steps of randomly applying a variety of colours to the stones.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7533/15743469746_92b4100e10_c.jpg)
The effect from a slightly more reasonable distance, but still well below the 3' rule!
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7489/15582006387_5184251e80_c.jpg)
Colours blended together slightly, smudged digitally.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5603/15765297091_1282d0a97c_c.jpg)
Couldn't resist placing some items to see how it looked.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7518/15765293721_5eb7cd7cc5_c.jpg)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7507/15743454766_8986dd4be0_c.jpg)
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3945/15767152675_4a59702b8f_c.jpg)
I wasn't happy with the dark areas between the rails, so i've added some more colour to get rid of the light areas showing through. I think I now need to add some raw umber to tone down the black slightly.
(https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5606/15767149425_8afbe4acb3_c.jpg)
From above to give an idea of colour variation.
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3948/15767145325_918aa29564_c.jpg)
3' rule applied. I'm happy with the tone of the colours used, i may apply a little more variation, but not much. I still want to tone down the black areas around the rails slightly, but i'm very happy with the way it's going.
Stop that. You will go blind! ::)
Tom - that looks absolutely superb!! Well done.
Quick question - do you ever find that the pastels leave a shiny or slightly shiny surface?
Nope, they give a nice matt finish. The only slightly gloss finish is where they have had a lot of smudging to blend colours, ie the area of black between the tracks, and even that isn't that pronounced. The greys and browns on all the stone setts have a nice matte finish to them.
Shiny black between the rails? You can always say it is the oil and water from the locos. Very realistic!
Roger
I was thinking that, Roger, but want to get it to more of a satin finish.
After an enjoyable extended weekend with my family in Devon I returned home to a note telling me to go to the sorting office to collect a parcel...
It turned out to be a Townstreet Post Office Cottage kit I recently bought. On opening the extremely well packed box I found a few free castings to try painting, they were cracked/seconds which will serve the purpose very well. The quality of them was really encouraging, so i delved in to the packaging to fish out the cottage kit...
As a reminder, here's what the end result looks like from the Townstreet website:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7552/15775234235_4851074ec7_z.jpg)
The kit is very simple it consists of only 6 pieces; two ends, two sections of roof, a front with post office footage, and a rear with only a cottage frontage - this means there's also a second version of the kit for
I've pretty much finished the digital photo editing for the backscene for the layout. At 5.5m x 345mm it's pretty large!
The photos used are a composite of many images I took from the actual location where Isle Ornsay station would have been built.
I've deliberately gone for an overcast sky, or 'dreich' sky as I feel it's a little different from the norm of blue sky, and i had some positive comments whilst exhibiting Dunbracken which had a similarly coloured backscene.
Here's an overview of the whole thing in Photoshop:
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8579/15927370926_4cbb89152c_c.jpg)
The black area is there to remind me not to put anything on it - it's the area which is above sea level on the end board, but below track level for the rest of the layout, so its pointless adding photos to it. The white and grey hatches areas are hidden behind the hills, so same thing there too.
Now a few more closeups with the location where the respective section of the image will fit...
Here's an overview of the layout as a reminder of the context:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7042/13720741124_9d6d524756_c.jpg)
So...
[img=https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7566/15927380696_93e71537f7_c.jpg[/img]http://
This goes behind the pier at the far left hand end of the layout. The harbour that's visible in the middle distance is actually Isle Ornsay itself, approximately 1/4mile south of the station site.
It will sit here with the paddle steamer in the sea at the far left hand end:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7317/9743062254_ebdceb4f20_c.jpg)
Next, the backscene disappears behind the headland at the rear of the platform, and reappears behind the beach and quay section looking like this:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7550/15952503662_e59514986b_c.jpg)
Which will go here:
(https://farm4.staticflickr.com/3937/15575490970_66d6e5aea2_c.jpg)
and finally the right hand end of the backscene:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7509/15953165845_4de3ae3068_c.jpg)
Which will go across the end of the layout and around the back of the goods yard (i need to add something to give a curve rather than a right angle in the sky), here:
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8320/7973706064_e520465a9c_c.jpg)
There are some awful gaps in the timber for the backscene in the images of the layout Ive shown so far, most of them don't have the baseboards screwed together, but i will need to add a small amount of bracing to the rear to get the alignment slightly better before I apply the image for a final fix.
Not long now, i'm hoping that once the backscene has been applied it will make a serious improvement in the appearance of the layout...
I probably said it before, but I say it again: this is going to be one of the most exiting layouts in years when it's (as good as) finished.
Err... Not sure what to say to that really, thanks Sven!
All being well it will be exhibited at ExpoNG and the WHR superpower events next year, so if you can make either of them you'll get to see it in a hopefully completed state.
Recently I've been adding the backscene to the layout after completing some basic woodwork.
Here are some shots during it's fitting. I applied neat PVA glue with a roller which created some bubbles under the photo whilst it was wet. However with time I learnt that the best way to treat this was to do absolutely nothing. Once dried overnight the paper had gone taught again and there were no wrinkles or bubbles at all.
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7535/15960521988_702b25c184_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qjnR8A)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8638/16233765900_66e4ab2374_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qJwi2w)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7385/16243589449_02ba4aaca7_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/qKoDe4)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7361/15809780243_619697d5f5_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/q64fRZ)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8624/15807221484_973ac07059_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/q5Q9es)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8564/15831673343_60e3fdd0db_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/q7ZsVe)
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7344/16451746215_788d0aaf56_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r4MuYP)
(https://farm9.staticflickr.com/8604/16474953501_7b9da1632d_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r6QrGr)
and finally the one I'm most pleased with:
(https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7439/16484131045_a5760c9ba4_c.jpg) (https://flic.kr/p/r7DtRX)
So the backscene is now in place, time to move on to scenic tasks to get the rest of the layout up to the standard of the area around the pier.
Fantastic!
Thanks Harry
This looks stunning and absolutely superb, Tom. Well done indeed; just the right atmosphere.
(But that bit on the right hand end looks a bit like Severn Sisters on the south coast at the moment! ;D )
Very nice Tom, keep up the good work.
Regards,
BrianT.
Thanks chaps.
David, don't worry, it will get coloured ;) I just need to apply some filler first.
Tom, are you coming up in September with the layout ??
If so, we will have plenty of time to pull it apart. !!!
Looking forward to seeing it in the flesh.
Stan.
Up to Super Power? Yes, I'll be at Dinas with it all weekend.
Don't pull it apart too much, you'll uncover the awful woodwork beneath... still, at least i've got a few months to cover that up as much as possible between now and then.
That backscene is looking very good, Tom.
You may have noticed my own interest in photographic back scenes and I'd be interested in the answers to a few questions about what you've done. While I appreciate that it's easy enough these days to stitch multiple shots into one long panorama I see that you have appeared then to print out individual sheets - how did you chop up the long photo into multiple separate ones again? What paper and ink did you use for printing (and how durable is the result - have you sealed the prints with something)? Did you do the printing yourself or get it done professionally?
Keep up the good work.
David.
One thing that happened on Saturday several times at the Beccles open day on Saturday was that a number of locals recognised Shipmeadow Workhouse in the back scene on Richard
Thanks David :)
In answer to your questions:
I broke it up into separate images to fit the sizes of the individual baseboards. The 'canvas' in Photoshop was set to the same size as the combined area of the backscene ply sheets on the baseboards. I added a grey bar along the bottom of the prints, showing the exact baseboard length to enable easier cutting before applying them.
I exported the images into different files for each board and PDF'd them on a new canvas of an A0 sheet, enabling me to 'fit to size' on an A0 print on our plotter at work. This was important as it made sure I got them the exact size them were intended.
So, I just used whatever paper and ink we have at work, it probably won't last for years, but then I doubt my woodwork that underpins it wil, either :)
I haven't sealed it (yet), however I am contemplating it.
Just found this thread - and I have to say a real work of art. Hats off! Congratulations!
Gerhard
I now own this layout i would have like to have got it 1st time but did not have the cash or space at the time
I will have to re-wire the layout as i do not do Witchcraft (DCC)
& to Keep with my L&B lettered layouts this will be renamed still to come up with one & a name for the L the B will be Brecon (which is just up the road from were I am moving to in July