Great Chesterford Junction Part Two

Thanks lads,

Good to be back......not!!!

Ian I would imagine the folks on Stradbroke would prefer to have a goat free island and preserve the native flora and fauna. Mind you I did see a few goats / idiots driving along the Pacific Highway on our way up to Qld.

Anyway a few little pics we took.

This is a little fishing village called Iluka on the coast of far north NSW. The seagull has a deformed leg. I nicknamed him " Hoppity".



A close up of the little fella.



This one is a pic of Main Beach Stradbroke Island. Approx 37 kms long. People use 4WD vehicles and drive along this beach to reach the southern tip of the island.



A bleached stand of trees behind Frenchmans Beach.



One of our walks around the rocks......looking for that atmospheric pic.



Mrs. Gormo using more traditional methods to capture the scene in water colours.



And finally .....sunset at Amity on the north west corner of the island. I took about forty pictures of this sunset trying to capture the elusive special moment of perfect light.



There you go fellas..........and not one pic of a goat.????

http://www.clickGormo

 

Thanks Folks,

Glad you like the pictures.

Cheers

Gormo

 

G`day Folks,

Well I`ve been having considerable difficulty raising the enthusiasm to get back into the railway build, however today I feel I`ve turned the corner once more. These episodes come and go, and always will I fear, best not to dwell on it and try and understand it, but rather just take on some task and get back into it through the back door as it were........a diversionary tactic like bait on a hook ,which draws you back into our little make believe railway empires.

So here we are.........my diversionary tactic was to take on the task of building a static grass applicator. I`ve been waiting so long to start greening GCJ so now I`m going to do it. My bridge build has had some small amounts of time given to it since my hols, but no significant progress to report on. So this is my round about way of getting back to it.

The static grass applicator is simply the bug zapper method. It`s a wonder these devices haven`t turned into a sport????......although if you`re trying to lob a bug over a net, the bloomin` bug will disintegrate once it hits the mesh. A rewriting of the rules may be needed.????

So here it is.........nothing new here......many have done this conversion and there are plenty of how to videos on the Tube.



And here is the converted bug zapper.......now a grassinator



So today I purchased some static grass and started testing. Testing proved successful so why not keep going.???

First I just did a couple of little patches and then I thought....."in for a penny in for a pound" and away we go



I have been using my home made flock but I need some more colour variation to chuck over the top of the little bits and pieces I`ve laid down so far. This is the drop down bridge end of the cutting.





And this is the other side near where the branch comes in through the tunnel.







Well there is still lots to add and touch up, but the results are promising.

So there you go folks.....the mojo is returning.

http://www.clickGormo

 

Thanks Guys,

For the encouragement.

Yes I am pleased with the results on the grass. I have used three different colours and three different lengths and mixed and matched and blended to get the results you have seen.

The bug zapper was cheap enough. I bought two for AUS $ 15.00. The one I ordered was supposed to run off D sized batteries, however the ones that showed up run off AA`s. That said, the AA`s seem to supply plenty of grunt.......I pinged myself once so I know the power it puts out.

This is a device that should be disarmed and kept away from children when not in use.

The second zapper was intended for a bigger strainer on the front, however after using the one you`ve seen in the previous post, I may try and source a smaller strainer or even modify one. The smaller strainer would be better to get into those awkward corners. You find out these things once you actually use the device.

So my total outlay for two static grass applicators will be around AUS $ 22.00......not bad when you look at the cost of the commercial models.

I will also consider connecting up a suitable transformer for the device and thus not rely on battery power. Not sure about that yet.???

The landscape also needs some more undergrowth to be made and fitted to further enhance the look of things.

All in all though....it`s a lot of fun and not hard to do and you can achieve some reasonable looking results.

http://www.clickGormo

 

G`day Gary & Marty,

The zapper I have has an LED indicator fitted to show when the unit is power ON. I will have to check the circuit again to work out whether it will take an increase in voltage. Fortunately, I have a spare although I would rather not cook one of them.

The batteries seem to be doing the job at the moment and as Marty says, it does give you a bit more flexibility with movement.

I suppose what I would focus on first would be a smaller, box shaped grass container for No. 2.

Sorry Marty I haven`t caught up yet with your thread and many others as well.

http://www.clickGormo

 

G`day Marty,

Mate!!!.....that is very neat !!!!.......it`s as good as, if not better than, the stuff they`re selling on the Bay for AUS $ 40.00 and I know it must have cost you a fraction of that.

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Static-Grass-Applicator-design-registered-/230725764431?hash=item35b853c54f:g:LCkAAOSw~gRVuk37

I`m sure in my own mind now that I want to build a small version in a plastic box......a cube in effect....and I want to manipulate the mesh to sit flat in the bottom of the box. This is all about getting into hard to reach corners or up against a flat surface like a wall. I just need to find the right box and I think the box should be on a length of lead rather than connected to the zapper body.??

Your thoughts anyone.??????

Also.......what are you blokes using as glue?????........I am using PVA watered down to about 50/50.
Seems to work OK but is there a better way.????

http://www.clickGormo