A freight only shunting layout

I'm back working on the layout after an extended break as so often happens with my modelling.

I was surfing the internet recently, looking for nothing in particular when I stumbled across a photo of a building that just called out to be modelled!

My version is built around walls cut from card ( the strange shape is to allow it fit around various bits of the baseboard).





The real building has an interesting mix of stone and brick on the end walls which I was keen to try and replicate. The stone is scribed DAS clay while the brick is embossed plastic sheet. All painting so far has been done with acrylic paints.

Long way still to go...

Matt

 

Many thanks Chris, and kind of you to say!

Long way to go yet - I find scribing stonework one of the most tedious tasks and can only manage a few courses at a time before getting bored so this may take a while!

Matt

 

Hi all,

Bit more progress to share with you!

Scribing of the front has now been completed. As mentioned, this is DAS clay applied to the card. Given this is meant to be a stone building, the courses should probably be less "straight", however I tried doing them freehand and didn't like it. So, they're straight, but I think it's more convincing at this scale to use a ruler.



Painting of the front has also been nearly completed (note that the section under the lower window has not been finished yet).

The roof is temporary at this stage. I'm undecided whether to have a corrugated or slate roof. This temporary arrangement is another bit left over from the garage.



The door is obviously a mock up too. There's no lower window and the upper frame is still under construction. But, hopefully it's starting to come together.



Does it need a chimney? What do you think?

Matt

 

Thank you for the comments and roof opinions, much appreciated!

Interesting that you all think slate would be most suitable - the prototype building has a corrugated roof!

More progress soon...

Matt

 

Hi all,

Bit more progress today and it's starting to come together!

Door and door runner assembled, fitted and painted:



The real building is pretty "green" around the lower sides and the door is pretty battered too. Naturally I tried to suggest something similar - you can decide if it looks convincing or not!

I also rebuilt the windows. My first attempt were copied from the real thing, but just looked too chunky and thick. These are not accurate, but look more refined. Made from clear plastic sheet and plastic strip.



I need to scribe another two courses on the end wall which you can just make out the beginnings of here.

Matt

 

Another U-turn today with two old projects back on the bench.

First up is this Parkside 21t mineral wagon. Built a few years ago and now ready for a repaint. I actually did a pretty good job of the rusting first time around, but then spoilt it with too-heavy a wash, which gave the whole thing a strange brown tint. Yes it looks awful, but this is about getting the base colour back to a more suitable grey because I don't want to strip it down to the plastic.


What's this??? A loco??? Not been too many of them in my threads!



Anyone who remembers my clay layout idea, which is long forgotten, may remember I started this 4 - 5 years ago.

The base model is an old-ish Bachmann 08 that I bought second hand. It's been lying forgotten about since then. I dug it out today, I don't know why, and fitted steps to one side (plus scratchbuilding some handrails to go on them). The other side will be done tomorrow hopefully.

I don't want to make promises to myself that I can't keep, but I would like to finally finish this so I can have one finished loco in my fleet!

Matt

 

08 progress:



I'm still debating whether to replace the rods - everyone tells me I should, but to be completely honest, the Bachmann ones don't offend me. And do I want the hassle, plus expense, of having to buy new crank pins etc just to be able to use Brassmasters rods?

Pretty basic detailing done to this - the main, and biggest, job was replacing the hand and grab rails. It's had new steps because they were missing when I bought it, and I'll be replacing the glazing. The only other job has been to tweak the tanks under the front bufferbeam to improve the appearance.

I've not decided which loco it'll be yet, but it will be BR Blue. My initial thoughts were 08945 as I originally bought this for my, now forgotten, clay project.

Matt

 

Hello all,

The 08 has progressed! I added some "speculative" details under the footplate using various bits of wire and offcuts of plastic - won't hold up to close inspection or expert analysis, but I just wanted to make things look a bit busier.



The model was given a quick coat of Rail Blue focussing only on the bits that had been scuffed or marked in the previous detailing steps/sanding.

I used Lifecolor paint for this. If you've never used these paints before, they are very heavily pigmented and work well for brush painting. I rarely, if ever, paint using a brush, but I was given a few "rail colours" a while ago and this is the only pre-mixed Rail Blue I have. Spraying them is a different matter - they are not easy to airbrush, or at least I can't get along with them. But, as it was just a quick blending, I figured I'd persevere.

To fade the paint, I'd intended to mix my own shade. That, however, didn't go to plan either. My mixes were just wrong and left the loco looking odd. I reverted back to using the Lifecolor Rail Blue mixed with white and got a decent shade, but spraying a more focussed coat (unlike the previous blending) was a miserable experience!

Regardless, it's looking reasonable for a first round of fading.



Matt

 

Just wanted to share the latest 08 progress:







I've also (finally) started some scenic work!

Matt

 

Hello all,

I don't post much here anymore, but here's a quick roundup of some small projects I've been working on amongst everything else.

I've rebuilt the ex-Airfix Class B tank wagon kit I built around 4 years ago. Just needs new walkways and painting.



I need some crossing gates. Decided to make my own because existing RTR/kitbuilt are either too big or too expensive!



Low relief building - painting underway.



And finally one of the two bufferstops for the layout. Will be fitted as a complete unit as painting and ballasting would be impossible if I fitted it first.



Happy Christmas to you all!

Matt

 

Thanks @Andy_Sollis

Thanks to the generosity of a fellow modeller, my Class 08 now has new rods. I finally got around to fitting them last night (but it was a hideous experience!).

These are the (non-finescale) Brassmasters ones that I've filed down to reduce the width slightly. I was initially skeptical about replacing them, but the difference is clear to see.



Matt