Isle Ornsay

[invercloy]

I have to admit that I was surprised!  Wouldn't have bought them if they weren't straight.

[invercloy]

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:





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.







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

[Tigger]

Tom - that is looking fantastic!  Keep up the good work!

[Isle of Stoner]

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

[Graeme Dunbar]

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/

Good to see another MERG member here, Tom. The layout is looking great!

[invercloy]

Tom - that is looking fantastic!  Keep up the good work!

Thanks David :)

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? ;)

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.

[berryr99]

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

[Graeme Dunbar]

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

It will give you endless inspiration for local atmosphere. Add a couple of Peatbog Faeries CDs to the order.

[invercloy]

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

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.

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.  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:



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.

[Isle of Stoner]

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

[rhobat bryn]

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?

[invercloy]

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 :)

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.

[tedp]

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.

[invercloy]

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

[tedp]

Expong? Will Sparsholt do??