4mm & 7mm Llanfair

[LarryG]

The fine grey ballast (Woodland Scenics) was filed down to dust this morning. It all looked a bit bland for the moment....



Then I rigged up the compressor and spraygun. A Rusty rails colour was sprayed close to the tracks. Aerosol matt black and white primer were decanted into an old aerosol lid to make a dirty black and very much diluted with cellulose thinners. This was then sprayed around the coal bunker and where road vehicles would run...


It's all a bit fresh but the UV will tone things down eventually. Grass has yet to be added, but I tend to do that in one go over the length of the 14' layout so that it kind of matches....

 

[sjp23480]

Hi Larry,

Looks great, but a quick question.

When you say "file down the fine grey ballast to dust" - can you explain why and how you do this?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I was curious.

Thanks
Steve

 

[LarryG]

Hi Larry,

Looks great, but a quick question.

When you say "file down the fine grey ballast to dust" - can you explain why and how you do this?

Sorry if this is a stupid question, but I was curious.

It's okay Steve. I sometimes presume everyone knows how I do things and so it is far from a stupid question.

I glue the fine grey ballast down after brushing on neat PVA. The ballast is vacuum'd off after a few minutes to that only a fine layer is actually glued down. Next day, I file the ballast down using an old 10" long file so that the ground is less course, then vac off the surplus. The texture is markedly different to the cork I spray grey to represent a tarred surface. I'm working in 4mm scale.

 

[paulc]

It's okay Steve. I sometimes presume everyone knows how I do things and so it is far from a stupid question.

I glue the fine grey ballast down after brushing on neat PVA. The ballast is vacuum'd off after a few minutes to that only a fine layer is actually glued down. Next day, I file the ballast down using an old 10" long file so that the ground is less course, then vac off the surplus. The texture is markedly different to the cork I spray grey to represent a tarred surface. I'm working in 4mm scale.

Does it wreck the file in the process Larry ?

 

[LarryG]

Does it wreck the file in the process Larry ?

Yup. But it can be used for the job of filing down ballast for many years to come.

 

[LarryG]

Looks 'orrible dunnit! After removing the old vinyl backscene and cutting 8 centimetres off the base of the new backscenes, I had to sand down the backing boards and give them a coat of ultra white undercoat. Having destroyed the lid during removal, i went to the local store to buy an empty tin. They only sold tins with paint in them, but eventually one was found...



The real Llanfair showing the backing of trees. It's a lovely area...

 

[LarryG]

The new backscene was put up yesterday in the warm-ish weather. The previous one was too high and this one definitely looks better with 80mm lopped off the base. Drystone walls or embankments will go hide where the backscene doesn't touch the baseboard. The village is now beyond the terminus...



Finicky bits like weathering and fitting stone walls and edging slabs were added today, but progress is very slow...