BOATS AND CANALS

The tunnel mouth is now complete with its wing walls and basic landscaping. I'm thinking of having a go with static grass when I come to do the texture side of things.



I've been busy on the reverse loop for the narrow gauge. I've had to build a wide bridge to cross the main line to cope with the curve on the track so I though I'd better put a siding on it. Access could be just a long siding but a small crossing loop seemed a good idea. I've put the track down to see how it would work.



I've had to build walls again. I've been producing a standard panel - it has some 3D effects but not as much as the ones in the station.



The walls and the tunnel mouth under the narrow gauge bridge are simpler as mostly you can't see them. This is a drivers eye view.



Cheers Graham

It's coming along great, (but those posters etc. on the left bank seem to be out of scale a little. )

I also see some of your G scale stock on the shelf.

_________________
Maurice

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To make up for the lack of new trains today I did some modelling.

The great wall is now complete. You can just see I've been ballasting too. The felt tip lines on the board are the contour lines of the original landscape this helps me plan the cuttings and embankments.



The point for the narrow gauge reverse loop is too near the bridge to have a point motor underneath it or next to it so I made a Heath Robinson mechanism to move the surface mount point motor. The motor will be in a small building at some point.



This is an overall view of the narrow gauge loop. the surface will rise towards the left hand corner.



Cheers Graham

I like to see the progression, it's coming along just fine. I know that there is still plenty to do, but I find that there is much more fun working on the layout than actually running the locos.

_________________
Maurice

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I agree, I live in fear of finishing. I guess that is why I am on my 8th railway!

I am thinking of coming up with a sequence to encourage interesting operation. This has identified that I don't have enough closed wagons. So I need to do some shopping!

Cheers Graham

I am the same with my N layout, I don't think that I will be starting any more new layouts, so I will continue to tinker with my existing ones. Maybe I will be able to sort out my garden track this year.

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Maurice

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I've had enough of cereal packets and tiny bits of paper so bought a kit for my engine shed!

It is a laser cut wooden kit. They even cut the brickwork.



I have to paint it so my plan is brick colour first wait for it to dry then mortar colour and wipe off.

I need some paint!

Cheers Graham

The laser cut kits in wood do have fine details and as you say better than cereal packets.

I have just been to check that my table cloth and napkins are still on the drawer where they are supposed to be and they are, so the one in the photograph must be yours.

_________________
Maurice

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I have a mouse problem, it dates from when our cat died! My standard centenary technique involves paper mache. Something, a mouse I think, is eating the hills from the inside out. When I get back I'll put out a humane mouse trap and see what happens. Time to build the scenery from something inedible I think.

Cheers Graham

I stopped using Paper a long time ago in favour of waste polystyrene, covered with muslin type cloth (usually dish clothes) soaked in cheap patching plaster (from Wilkos) and then finished with the plaster. It is easy to mould and also gives more realistic hills and is easily finished with what ever scatter/trees etc you want.

An example on my N layout:

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Maurice

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Sounds like a good plan. I happen to have a lot of waste polystyrene from my utility room rebuild. The older hill seem to be surviving but the new fresh tasting ones not so. The trouble with a garage layout is that it is difficult to seal completely.

Cheers Graham

My first mouse proof, plaster based scenery is in place. I have painted it and applied some base texture then started on the static grass.

This is painted with some texture, dark green is where original light green showed through too much. It will all vanish anyway.



In this shot some static grass (4mm) has been applied.



I have also taken the opportunity to demolish the hill behind the canal dock. It was too high for this version of the railway anyway. I have laid some operational track and started sketching out contour lines. The modern circuit with the dual gauge track is also being behind the dock. The narrow gauge will spiral up to meet this track in the middle of the Triang circuit reverse loop.



Cheers Graham

Yes, I like it, it's coming along great. I also approve with the incorporation of working narrowboats

Just hope that you can keep those dreaded mice away.

_________________
Maurice

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The mice are having a holiday in the flood meadows beneath our estate.

There is another working narrow boat in the scene sitting on the mainline! That is the one built from the kit you sent me. It normally lives in or around the canal tunnel but is up out of the way whilst work progresses.

Cheers Graham

I am starting to develop the corner by the canal dock. The base for the high level circuit is in place and behind it I intend to develop a scene around the little chapel/grotto that previously existed above the narrow gauge tunnel. There will be plenty of fir trees in this are courtesy of Maurice who was kind enough to send me loads he didn't need.



Cheers Graham