Desk-Sitting - Again!

I have been spending a lot of time recently considering what the next project might be. I've been weighing up various ideas but nothing that has grabbed me as feasible at the present time. Space is still the major factor, along with it being less attractive to be in the workshop in the recent weather conditions. So I've revisited the desk-siting test track concept again, last publicly considered three years ago...

I thought that I had shared the origins of this board here before but cannot find it - it was last years attempt at a desk-sitter using corkboard technology and a bolt-on fiddle stick, but not learning the length lesson from Up-cycle - too much needed to be cleared out of the way to use it! Here it is in original form...

The track has been lifted some time and the board used for the recent tight curve research and Greenwich coupling tests. As rebuilt I have retained a very short extension piece, only 1 1/4" but that is enough to bring the usable length to 25". The extension is fixed in place and could either be boxed in within the backscene and fascia boards or just left hanging out! The extra length allows clearance for a 3-3-2 inglenook with loco+2 behind the first point or loco+4 behind the second.

Alternatively, there is a one point option with 4-4 in the sidings and loco+3 behind the point and perhaps a bit of allowance for an odd longer wagon.

I'm torn between the schemes, the first could be made to work as a shed scene but as a wagon-shuffling scene the sidings look short compared to the simpler plan. The alternative might be a boxfile project but the appeal of a single board is strong. Hmm...

Colin

The Beck Bridge - Supersize Me

With the cat food box sliced horizontally in Tectonic Shift, measurements were taken to allow the construction of a sturdy base for a larger diorama. As outlined in The Saga Continues, this takes the form of a plywood and timber structure very similar to that on 'The Headshunt'.

And underneath:

The length of the diorama is 14 inches, the same as 'The Headshunt', as that has proved to be a workable size for photography and storage. All materials are recycled, the plywood used as the edging coming from an old wardrobe, I've hidden the veneer on the inside as it is the only downside to using the material as it splinters when cut. the other side, used outwards, cleans up very nicely for painting. With the existing diorama and bridge in place an impression of how it will develop can be gained.

The remains of the cat food box are a very tight fit, having foreseen this two pencil-sized holes have been provided to allow it to be pushed out!

In due course the cat food box will be glued in place, but not before the outer frame has been painted.

Colin

The Beck Bridge - Tectonic Shift

A month or so ago I officially put the 'Beck Bridge' project on hold as I was not satisfied with the way the second version was developing. I was also struggling with getting a satisfactory water effect in the beck itself using a combination of PVA and Kleer floor polish. 

In reality despite being "on hold" the project has actually progressed through experimentation. After some thought I decided to return to the original cat food box version, which at the time looked like this:  

I gradually re-worked various areas, such as refining the alignment of the abutments and cladding them in 'concrete' - as with the mk2 version this is fab foam, sprayed with a Plasticote "Suede" aerosol and then misted with grey primer to get a satisfactory concrete effect. With ground cover in place under the bridge I then tackled the water. This time I covered the carefully painted base with a single layer of PVA, followed by a change in tactic, going to the time honoured method of multiple coats of oil-based gloss varnish. These were patiently applied one a day over the course of a week where not a lot of other modelling time was available. It looks a lot glossier in reality than the photo below shows.

Of course this doesn't resolve any of the original issues with the cat food box in terms of size and usability, so some further thinking was required. The obvious idea was to extend the scene and it soon became apparent that the best way to achieve this was to build a new, bigger, base and incorporate the existing scene into it. The depth of the box would need to be reduced and I was able to take advantage of the bottom fill being layers of corrugated card taped (rather than glued) together. Having measured carefully I cut through the outer box and separated it between two of the layers. To my amazement it didn't fall apart!

You've had a sneak preview of the new base unit in my last post, but we'll look at it in more detail next time.

Colin

The (Upcycle) Saga Continues...

Long ago in a galaxy far away...

The rescued timber has been cut into triangles to add strength to the corners of this new structure. I've even managed to incorporate some of the plywood that formed the board surface of the original 'Upcycle' so its pedigree is impeccable!

More soon...

Colin

Rambling Thoughts of a Desk-Sitter

I've spent some time over the last week or so looking at some of the half completed odds and sods about the place and trying to create some sort of order from them. Having disposed of at least one offending item my thoughts drifted towards the possibility of a 'desk-sitter' shunting plank approx 25 x 6"...

Of course we have been here before, most recently with 'Upcycle', which was a little longer at 29" long, which was one of the issues that actually made it difficult to use as it was too tight a fit on the desk (i.e. too much needed clearing out of the way!)

If a new project does come into being, the lessons of Upcycle will be taken on board, notably having a decent height of backscene and not having a kick-back siding making life difficult. One option is to take the "less is more" single point approach that worked well on another desk-sitting project, my Gn15 'Ambassador Works', seen here in full form... on a desk...

Whilst delving through photos of past projects, it is worth pointing out that the balsa framed, foamcore topped baseboard being considered for this project is the much altered remains of the 'Misterton Fen Tramway' board from a few years ago. Subsequently used as a test track it was ironically replaced by 'Upcycle' and it's descendants. I have recently extended it at the right-hand end and for this project the left-hand end would also be extended.

We shall see...

Colin

It just came to pieces in my hands...

A cautionary tale…

I spent a little time a month or two ago wondering “So what does come next?” I’d been tinkering with the first ‘Upcycle’ board, ostensibly widening it by 1 ½” along the front edge as an expanded diorama base. However continued thinking reached the conclusion that it would be a diorama that cannot be displayed as it has no cover, and would (perhaps) be a little oversize just for photography. The thought had then occurred that with a suitable ‘fiddle stick’ it could become a boxfile-esque  micro layout up to a maximum of 3 feet in length including the fiddle stick. This would be a return to the original concept but with the advantage of both a little more length and width. So I then went on to increase the scenic depth by another half inch at the rear and include a higher backscene, the result of which has been illustrated before.

Then of course came the question of scale and gauge. Having looked at the obvious alternatives (OO, O-9, O-16.5 and Gn15) and carried out some experimentation, I found that unless I acquired and used a small radius ‘Y’ point the 16.5mm gauge ideas could produce something quite cramped, surprisingly more so than a boxfile layout due to the lesser depth. O-9 actually offered the best prospects to use such a small space, either as an ‘inglenook’ configuration or the ‘Z’ plan of the original ‘Upcycle’, but with a slightly longer run off and more depth.

“But is it actually too small to make it work?” I asked myself. Eventually I concluded that it was, that whilst a micro layout was desirable, this was not a format that would work. So I hacked off all those extra parts (it certainly didn’t just come to pieces in my hands!), reduced the board to its minimum feasible dimensions, and plotted another diorama of ‘Headshunt’ dimensions. I’m still plotting and doodling, so who knows...?

Colin

What a load of rubbish!

As a diversion from the ongoing build of the Exmoor 0-6-2T I recently raided the bits boxes and produced a range of lineside clutter that could grace the yard of a future O9 shed or workshop scene. I suppose they complement the recently completed coach under repair.

There's a fair bit of history here. The cab contains parts from numerous half-started projects, the wooden planking is rejected parts from one of my O-16.5 wagon builds; the lattice girders were once intended as a water tower base for 'Shifting Sands'; the door is a left-over from carriage building at the time the Avalon Line masters were made; the wheels are the left-overs from my Del-Prado based Bassett-Lowke Class 30 project and the saddle tank from Badger. The litter bin is a resin casting I acquired some time ago, painted up with a forthcoming project in mind.

The bits box also contained what was due to be part of the kitchen equipment for the kiosk on 'Shifting Sands'. I decided to challenge myself to make it a workbench with a few items of equipment on it, all from the bits boxes. This is the result...

Apart from a piece of 1/16th" brass tube, the drill press is made entirely from re-purposed Dapol Railbus kit underframe parts, as is the tool box, and the majority of the vice (some Knightwing loco kit parts ended up in there too). The file and piece in the vice are Duncan Models castings. It will need a little more junk adding in due course once it has a home to go to. I may now have a go at making some more workshop equipment from the bits boxes, watch this space...

You may think that all this points to a workshop diorama being planned, and you might be right. However, what emerges in due course may be another scene completely involving that litter bin, we shall see. I have been working on a potential diorama base using something that may look rather familiar.

I'm just having to resist making it into a micro layout....

Colin

The Path To... (Part 2)

When we last looked at this micro-diorama the basic scenery had been completed using ground foam and hanging basket liner. The next stage was to add some texture and colour variation to the grassed areas using some Silfor 'tufts' and Gaugemaster/Noch laser cut plants.

With the glue dry I carefully dry-brushed the tufts with a light grey/green mix of acrylic paint to reduce the sheen, and applied matt varnish to the laser cut plants to tone them down a little.

I also set about many areas of the scene with weathering powders, applying greys to the ballast and pathway areas, some earth tones around the edges of the grass beside the ballast and path, and finally some blown sand around the path edges and steps.

As you may have already guessed, the idea is to show that this is the path to the beach and hint at a seaside location. Perhaps the path to... Shifting Sands?

I do plan to add some signs warning of the crossing, but until then it has gone into the display cabinet. My usual light-wood surround and lettering completes the scene - or does it? As an experiment I have added a small backscene in the display cabinet to add to the illusion of depth. The beach hut scene is my own photo taken at Chapel St Leonards, given a watercolour filter in 'Photoshop' and printed on canvas photo paper.

Whether it is an experiment to be repeated, we shall see, I'm always looking at how items can be displayed and there are pros and cons to the micro-diorama approach, not least that it shows up that the cabinet shelves are not totally flat!

Colin

The Path To... (Part 1)

'Son of Up-cycle'

Started as an experiment made from MDF offcuts mitre-fixed end-on this is intended as one of my slimline dioramas that fit in my wall-mounted display case. As it uses track from the original 'Up-cycle' and more recycled material it really is the next step in the Up-cycle saga! In original form it was too narrow and I had put it to one side awaiting inspiration. Doodling saw me first add a building along the rear to add depth, followed by the thought of adding a strip of timber and building up the ground level in a bank, inspired by the cafe area and steps on 'Shifting Sands'.

A balsa strip was added along the rear to add 5mm to the depth, and as a basis of the banking and steps. Being carveable balsa is idea for this task as a hard edge to the top of the bank has been avoided. Steps are built up from foamcore and mount board. Button polish has been used on exposed timber and card surfaces to toughen it up and help avoid warping.

Slow progress was then made, partly to check that the MDF base wasn't warping under the stresses of scenic applications. The banked area has been filled with kitchen roll and covered with strips of newspaper held in place with diluted PVA.  Ballasting has taken place, Woodland Scenics materials secured with 'Kleer'.

Basic textures were added to the concrete steps, tarmac path and ground areas. Both made use of Green Scene textured paints, concrete for the steps, general muck for the tarmac. The latter had some plaster added to lighten it a little. The ground used my mix of paint/PVA and plaster left over from 'The Headshunt'. Think plywood planking makes up the crossing timbers.

Both the steps and path had some adjustments to both texture and colour, with a little weathering added. More colour variation will be built up in due course using weathering powders. At the far end some of my pre-made paving slabs form a short section of retaining wall. The ground areas have been covered with what is described as 'Shifting Sands earth mix' - Woodland Scenics fine earth and fine sand for the coastal sandy look.

Once the turf was dry and excess vacuumed off, PVA was applied again and hanging basket liner applied. Even the hanging basket liner was recycled, the other side of the pieces used on 'The Headshunt'! Once left for 3-4 hours this was carefully teased away to leave plentiful grass coverage. This was trimmed back with a disposable razor and nail scissors to give the effect below.

In part 2 I'll show the extras added to the grassland and the final weathering of the trackwork and pathway.

Colin

Twenty16

A "Happy New Year" from O9 Modeller...

A new year and one destined to be full of change. Life is set to change again in a way that will put even more pressure on time and space in the Peake family 'cottage' for the foreseeable future. I think that this time it may be the catalyst for major changes in the way hobby time is conducted (if indeed much remains in the future) and the nature of what is produced. I've hinted at this previously with my 'nagging doubts' about the railway cupboard workbench (see 'Ten') but it seems to be the time to seriously consider the options, not least as I feel that the square footage occupied by the bench and legroom underneath may be required domestically. 

So where could the workbench wander? Whilst the dark, wet evenings of the past week are enough to put anyone off wanting to move lock, stock and barrel to the workshop, it is an option, despite being uninsulated and rather anti-social! To be honest, I have grabbed a few moments in there of late for an ongoing diorama project, as seen here (more another time):

Also under consideration is some sort of portable workbench, maybe a  return of the “kitchen table workshop”. I'm working through the potential issues so hopefully something will be feasible. As for what is produced, we shall see, the more eagle eyed will have spotted some excessive wagon tinkering again, including a potential diversion to O-16.5.... 

Colin

Confessions of a rubber gauger

Following on from the last 'Up-cycle' post I realised that I hadn't uploaded a photo of the completed test track board with track in place...

The varnish on the cork did not work out so one Sunday morning I took the power sander to it and removed the varnish and evened out the surface finish. Its still a little messy around the edges but that just adds to the charm, so I tell myself... 

Trackwork is Peco code 100 for the 16.5mm gauge section and Roco HOe for the 9mm. Both lengths are made up from oddments.  The selection switch to power one line at a time sits in one of the original point switch locations, it was a lot easier that way as there was already a hole in the plywood underneath. The 9mm gauge line features a Micro Trains magnet for coupler testing.

The 16.5mm gauge track may be needed at some point if I ever get around to building a O-16.5 loco to pull the latest occupant of the workbench. This is the first of the five secondhand Chivers open wagons purchased via the NGRM Online forum classifieds to be refurbished.  I felt that this 4-plank wagon was the most in need of attention as it had a solid mass of ballast in it and no wheels or brake gear.  Having soaked out the load and stripped the paint in Phoenix Paints 'Superstrip' I gave it some careful attention, including careful removal of one end and both sides, adding brake gear from a new Chivers kit in my stash and reconstructing the mounts for Kadee couplers. The plan was that this would be a prototype for my own future builds from new, plus refurbishment of others in this batch.

I have made two enhancements to the basic kit. The first, unseen here, was to texture the floor planking with wood grain, the second was to alter the shape of the brake lever where it goes past the guide, angling it inwards.  This can be seen in the underside view below, along with the strip connecting the guide to the W-iron:

The wheels have been pinched from a 2-plank wagon in the batch.  This isn't a design that really features in my plans and having now stripped the paint off a cunning plan is being developed that may be 'on topic' for this blog...

Colin

Up-cycle - The saga continues?

Regular readers of this blog will have seen the trials and tribulations of the 'Up-cycle' saga, from desktop micro-layout, via combined test track/diorama to 'The Headshunt' diorama and consequent left-over baseboard.

Recently I realised during preparation for the Sheffield exhibition (on 10th October) that the test track I had subsequently set up at the side of, and at right angles to the workbench was not only a little precariously high, but also didn't give much 'run' if you needed something beyond rolling road testing. This has led me to drag the original Up-cycle board from the corner of the shed for revitalisation. Having removed what was (still) left of the original trackwork, I shortened the board at the left-hand end by approx. 8 inches back to the next timber support underneath. A new plywood end was added and the timberwork tidied up and given a fresh coat of paint. 

On the baseboard surface the holes in the cork from point switches and operating rods were filled with offcuts of cork sheet.  Some flexible filler was wiped into any cracks creating the white patches in the picture above and a coat of varnish applied. The cork surface is quite rustic in comparison with the neat paintwork! The next task will be to add some track and wiring.

Some brief consideration was given to using the offcut 8 inches to make another diorama in the same style as 'The Headshunt', however despite a little work towards this aim, and the creation of the mock-up below using various items to depict a footpath crossing the line, this recipe for left-over soup was abandoned and the offcut dismantled. However, it has set thoughts of another diorama in mind, so watch this space...

Colin

Watching 'The Headshunt' / A1 Models Hunslet Update

I don't plan to add much more to the diorama 'The Headshunt', but a couple of additions that I've made this week can be found in this update. The figure is a Phoenix example from S&D, I've had him from very early in my 7mm modelling days and was one of a couple on which I used the black undercoat painting technique. He isn't permanently attached so in theory there could be an array of alternative figures to stand here! The other addition is rubbish... a black bag full, up against the wall, this was sculpted (badly) from left over Milliput from a filling job.

But just what is that chap looking at? This maybe....

As a taster of how the diorama can be used for photography, my almost complete, second version, A1 Models 'Hunslet' poses for the camera. I was in the process of getting her prepared for a trip to Peter Leadley's Clee Valley Railway at the Cleethorpes exhibition, although there are still a few details to add and weathering to tone down the livery.  

The boffins in the Shifting Sands workshop had rigged up a suitable coupling for use on the CVR allowing the loco to run solo, its performance impressing the CVR operators.

Colin

Completing 'The Headshunt'

I've been adding a few more details and finishing touches to 'The Headshunt' photographic diorama.

As the scene represents the end of a station area I have included appropriate signage on the barrier at the end of the platform.  This is from an old Lithoplan 4mm scale set of signs but seems large enough in 7mm scale!

Another small detail that was required was a linkage between the RC Link point lever and the point, this is a piece of brass strip bent to shape with a Grandt Line bolt at one end.

As hinted at last time, I have tweaked the ballast in places to build up the levels, and also added some more Silfor grass tufts along the edges of the ballast at the far end, adding some more detail but really just to hide some awkward patches in the ballast cover!

I have tidied up around the edges of the scene, using a black surround, a contrast to recent efforts in natural wood, I have used matt black paint. In typical fashion I have added the diorama name in dry-print lettering to the front edge and protected it with matt varnish.

There are a few extra items to add in due course, not least a removable figure to stand by watching proceedings, however the diorama is now largely complete.

Colin

Cluttering up 'The Headshunt'

Time for a catch-up on 'The Headshunt' diorama.  I managed to build up and prime the concrete fence to add to the front right-hand corner of the diorama.  This is from the Ratio/Peco mouldings, with added horizontal divisions scribed on.  Whilst the primer was out the RCL Hudson point lever also had a waft of paint ready to paint up to add to the scene.

Once painted and weathered the fence was set in place, complete with a few slabs piled up alongside it (left-overs from the Skegness inspired diorama last year), and a spare bogie frame (modified Avalon Line).  The plant life is starting to grow too, courtesy of Noch/Gaugemaster laser-cut products.

Along the back wall one of my piles of redundant track has been formed, made up from modified Peco parts.    

Further details have been added towards the left hand end of the scene.  The fence at the platform end is a modified Slaters product, the oil drums and pallet are Knightwing and the bag of stone is a Skytrex product.  Invasive plantlife is a further Gaugemaster laser-cut item.

Both the view above convinced me that I needed to put a little more attention into the ballast, which was duly added to and weathered to blend in to match.

Colin

Grass grows along 'The Headshunt'

Progress is being made on the 'The Headshunt', this may seem like a vast leap, but honestly, it isn't really...

The track was ballasted a week or two ago, using Woodland Scenics material laid dry, misted with water (with the obligatory drop of detergent) and fixed with Johnson's 'Kleer' polish. The last week has seen the ground turfed with Woodlands Scenic turf, the walls fixed into position and the grass applied using hanging basket liner.

Getting an idea of how it works photographically (if you ignore the shed interior background!)...

Once I was satisfied with the grass coverage - I had a few failed areas that refused to stick down when I tried to remove the backing - I trimmed it down with nail scissors, brushed it with a toothbrush, mowed it with a razor and did some more trimming. The grounded van body was then glued in place.

From the other direction, the roadway in the foreground will be clutter-free to avoid any focus issues...

This afternoon I have dry-brushed the sleepers and then gone over the hard surfacing and ballast with various weathering powders to add some colour variations and tone everything together.  I also subtly added some weathering powder into parts of the soft surfacing.  The final act was to add some 'Silfor' tufts into the grass in odd spots that had missed the hanging basket liner, this adds some variety to the texture and colour of the grass.

I really must make up the fence for the front right hand corner next...

Colin