Isle Ornsay

[Tigger]

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.

[Mike Griff]

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.

[invercloy]

Sadly '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.



The expansion of the rockery has also continued...



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





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.

[tedp]

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.

[invercloy]

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:

[tedp]

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

[Graeme Dunbar]

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.

[pilotfriend]

I still think it better to carve one's own!

[invercloy]

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.

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.

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.

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.

[pilotfriend]

I do have a good selection of their moulds and they are excellent.

[invercloy]

Mindful of being away in the Lake District next week I thought it best to crack on with the layout today.




Tissue paper added around the thinned out rock moulds around the tunnel mouth.


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.


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.

[Tigger]

This is looking excellent Tom!  Keep it up!

[Isle of Stoner]

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

[tedp]

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!

[invercloy]

This is looking excellent Tom!  Keep it up!

Thanks David :)

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.

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