24hr challenge

[tat2drod]

So the other half's off visiting this weekend which means I've got the entire time to myself! Given that I'm fed up of sitting in front of the computer waiting for the e-mail with the conditions of the new job to arrive, I've decided to see just how far I can get in 24 hrs of modelling time over Thu, Fri, Sat and Sun.

The rules of the game are:

1 nothing complicated (this is not going to be a Rae Bridge, Cliffhanger of Isle Ornsay (doubly so as I'm still a beginner))
2 use the basic techniques that I already know but I'm allowed one new thing (which'll be the pool & waterfall)
3 trips to the hobby/model shop are allocated not more than 0.5 hrs modelling time (which is no problem if I potter off to the hobby shop just over the border in Belgium, but will be a problem if I have to go to Aachen which is 45 mins drive + 15 mins walk one way, plus shopping time)
4 timetable: 4hrs Thu, 8 Fri, 8 Sat and 4 Sun (which is when the other half comes back)
5 if this comes off, it'll be given away to someone (if it does come off, more later)

The basic materials are:



And so to it...

[tat2drod]

I was playing around a while ago with various ideas which would be neat (for a defined value of neat) but decided in this case to go with something really, really simple. Now, I knew I had a point with a nice handle on it and so I dragged that out of the box, broke the expanded polystyrene into lumps and organized it into this:



Even I should be able to handle this!

[tat2drod]

I understand papiermache... I've tried other things but I don't understand them (think Dr. Sheldon Cooper and sarcasm and you'll get the idea). So I papiermacheed.. papiermach... smothered everything in paper and copious amounts of bookbinders glue and then painted it. Alas it came out looking more royal blue than emerald green but that can easily be rectified (cough).

[tat2drod]

Second pass after having been to the hobby shop in Belgium to get some green paint! You'll notice that the area for the pool and stream have been hacked out (literally, using a blunt knife that came in a 3-for-a-gulden pack!)

[tat2drod]

This time a bit more pool definition.

[tat2drod]

Having sprinkled a load of flock stuff over the main area, I departed into a new area of tree building. On the OO layout it's sort of autumn and so the sea moss is used raw with some olive twigs inbetween to give it a bit of relief. Here I've branched out (groan) into adding stuff on top of the sea moss. Methinks I'll have to go and get some hairspray tomorrow (which should be interesting as I'm a 52 year old bald guy!)



And now I think I have to let everything dry out...

[Sven]

Interesting, I've been toying with the same idea for a weekend, but then 12 hours each day with no shopping trips but to use everything that you've got. It is going to be interesting how much you get done, I will be following this thread this weekend. Good luck!

[Graeme Dunbar]

It's a great idea Sven.... getting on to do some modelling with no procrastinating and see what the result is at the end. It would certainly be the antidote to the many unfinished projects that I (and I'm sure others) have lying around!

[tat2drod]

Some extra trees sprouted overnight. I'd like to do many more trees but I don't have the material to hand and seeing as how it's chucking hailstones down around here at the moment, I'm not going out the door to buy anything!

You'll also notice I bottled out of doing anything with the stream to make it look like a stream! I settled for turning it into a reed/weed bed instead. Will still need a colour wash putting over the base at some point.

[tat2drod]

Whilst I was out buying the green paint the other day, inspiration hit in the form of a packet of rubberised ground cover. Still not sure what to do about the pond. And sorry about the photo not showing up the details better, it's an old camera and the lighting conditions in the attic are variable at best.

[tedp]

And here I am, taking months before any progress is made on my own 'demo' layout!   ::)  Any ideas of ballasting the track, and adding a few buildings? This is an ideal layout to run some Egger or Minitrains on, straight out of the box. Keep going, Rod!

[tat2drod]

Any ideas of ballasting the track, and adding a few buildings?

I got the track set up for ballasting before dinner and realised I'd missed the gaps for the electrical connections (d'oh!) So I'll have to have another go at that.

In the meantime, I've been slicing up pieces of cardboard for the chapel that should go on top of the hill. Apart from that, I'm not sure...

[Sven]

Hope your marathon is going fine!

Are the colours that bright or is that just on the photo?

[tat2drod]

Are the colours that bright or is that just on the photo?

The yellow is bright and needs a going over with a wash to darken it down. The rest is an artifact of the camera and the lighting conditions I'm afraid.

[tat2drod]

The track bed has been "ballasted". I take a holistic approach to ballasting and am of the opinion that on a rustic setup like this, the ballast should not be neat (which makes it easier for me :-)