Gabions

Tigger · February 10, 2012, 13:00

Bob - just a thought, you might try the WHR Isengard website http://www.isengard.co.uk/ I'm sure you'll find a few photos of their gabions but I'm afraid it might take a bit of searching through the news reports and history...

Hugh Norwood · February 10, 2012, 14:07

Isengard????

This could be hobbit-forming

berryr99 · February 10, 2012, 15:45

David,

Thanks, looking right now - I had forgotten about this site

Hugh,

I fear you may be starting a whole new thread - very much like the Discworld one that has been running for some time !

Bob

Tigger · February 10, 2012, 18:27

the turtle moves...

berryr99 · February 11, 2012, 12:29

An interesting development on the sources of suitable mesh........

I purloined a "splatter guard" from the kitchen (the domestic authorities don't know yet !) and the mesh that it uses is quite fine and quite foldable.

I roughed out the attached just to see how it would work - its a bit bright but can be dulled down with the airbrush

The Scale Link mesh has just arrived so I'll have a go with that as well.

Bob

Hugh Norwood · February 21, 2012, 23:20

Driving home on Sunday up the M5 I noticed gabions that were encased with hexagonal-cell wire (rather like heavy-gauge chicken wire) rather than square-cell. (Note: I wasn't driving at the time!)

berryr99 · February 22, 2012, 10:49

Thanks for the info Hugh - I am still trying to find some pictures of the Welsh Highland gabions but from memory they are of square mesh construction.... and this is also the design that I can find on the Internet

Hexagonal would be interesting to do and could probably use a diagonal mesh to do it.

The domestic authorities have identified that, being newly retired, I have some spare time that would be better put to use (in their opinion) in decorating the hall/stairs/landings so modelling is taking a bit of a back seat just now !

Bob

Tigger · February 22, 2012, 12:22

Oh dear - hard luck Bob! Most blokes who retire spend their first six months as unpaid painters & decorators but just think of the brownie points you're getting so you can go off to the WHR to photograph the gabions in situ and then all the time you'll be allowed at the bench to build the models! Plus, if you're devious enough you might manage to include something useful in the decorating for a future layout section... ;D

berryr99 · February 22, 2012, 17:15

David

Thanks for the commiserations - I think its time for head down and get it finished then back to the bench !

One benefit is that you get time to think about the layout and what to do next on it

Bob

Graeme Dunbar · February 22, 2012, 17:31

Yes. A trip to B&Q for decorating stuff is good cover for bringing back baseboard materials etc. ;)

berryr99 · February 23, 2012, 15:04

Even better, our local Homebase is next to Hobbycraft - so plenty of opportunity to truant !

Bob

berryr99 · March 05, 2012, 16:28

I have now completed the first gabion - photos attached

I used Scale Link brass mesh and the filling is crushed slate pieces.

The mesh is secured at the corners with 28 gauge wire threaded through the mesh ( was going to solder it but the wire is more than adequate to hold the structure)

I didn't make a mesh base as I was concerned about bits of slate dropping through

The paint is Vallejo Natural Steel on an undercoat of Halford's grey primer.

Bob

Tigger · March 05, 2012, 20:10

Lookin' good! Well done!

MickT · March 06, 2012, 10:54

Quote from: Tigger on February 22, 2012, 12:22
Oh dear - hard luck Bob! Most blokes who retire spend their first six months as unpaid painters & decorators ...................

Oh dear, so young, so much to learn.......... ::)
4 and a bit years into my own intended life of luxury, carefree days and playing with trainsets (I did go a bit early I'm not quite totally geriatric yet) I have still not even been started on the unpaid painting and decorating although I have had most of the previous 42 hours gross, where at least there was free access to the stationery cupboard and the colour laser printer, re-allocated to grocery shopping, acting as unpaid chauffeur, riding shotgun on trips to Marks & Spencers mature ladies outfit section, domestic crisis management, admin, bill paying (lots of that) and in the spare time that I am allowed, I do a little bit of photography (unpaid of course). I did see some new paint brushes being looked at in poundland the other week and have detected a heat gun and paint strippers being smuggled into the cellar so I think it is only a matter of time now. Just hoping my secret application to be a cabin boy on the Shetland ferry comes through soon........... :o :'(

Mick

berryr99 · March 06, 2012, 16:19

Mick,

I think the Domestic Authorities have taken advantage of my newly retired status and mugged me with decorating whilst I was getting used to the novelty of not having to work for a living.

I have recently been having guilty thoughts of running away to the Ffestiniog and seeing if I could sign on as an engine driver (or more realistically a cleaner !)

David,

Thank you for the encouragement, at my skill level it is very much needed.

Bob