4mm & 7mm Llanfair

[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]

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...

 

[LarryG]

Just a few lines to let folk know I haven't emigrated. The return curve outside the shed was brought back inside a few weeks ago and the backscene patched up. The overbridge was turned back to front to fit the location...



This side was never finished off and so its been finished now with extra stonework, respraying and weathering. Soot mark to follow...


The other end has received a bit of attention, but its all basics as yet. It's mainly about putting things back where they were a couple of years ago!!! The village is beyond the terminus now and is far less hilly...

 

[simond]

Excellent! Wondered where you'd been.

Nadolig Llawen
Simon

 

[Muddysblues]

View attachment 253763

Needless to say, now't is happening in the railway shed. Indeed it is a storeroom for rubbish at the moment. But as A. Schwarzenegger once said, I'll be back!

Nadolig Llawen Larry o Craig, Pwllheli
Merry Christmas Larry from Craig, Pwllheli

 

[paulc]

As Larry hasn't posted on here since October 25 I wondered if anybody had heard from him and if he's okay ?

 

[Dave Holt]

Had a Christmas card, so OK then. Suspect he's just hibernating.
Dave.

 

[paulc]

Had a Christmas card, so OK then. Suspect he's just hibernating.
Dave.

Thanks Dave , as long as he's not been flooded .
I've been looking on YouTube and you guys ( UK ) are copping it pretty bad at the moment what with the snow then the storms .

 

[Pencarrow]

Larry's railway is in a shed. Snow, rain and cold tend to make working in a shed less attractive, and historically he's posted less in winter.

The forum says last seen on 19th Jan.

 

[LarryG]

As Pencarrow says, I always post less in Winter. When the roofing felt blew off the shed, the baseboard wasn't affected by rain and so it's probably waterproof with all the track that's been glued down and lifted! Loco-wise, I've been looking at getting an Austerity 2-8-0 so I must be getting nostalgic about the old days oop north. I've still need to sell an as-new 0 gauge 14xx then that's the 7mm temptation out of the way.

 

[Dave Holt]

Can't have too many WDs, Larry.
Dave.

 

[Gismorail]

Wow cracking modelling Larry keep at it mate

 

[cmax]

Good to see back doing some modelling Larry.
Gary

 

[Gismorail]

Hiya Larry yes thought it was time you came out of hibernation You remind me of a tortoise I had as a lad, we used to put him in a cardboard box at the begining of the winter wrapped up in straw and put him behind the hot water during the cold weather then about this time of year I'd slowly wake him up ready for the new spring arrival

 

[Phil O]

Hi Larry,

Good to see you out and about again, now!

 

[Dave Holt]

Larry,
The new track layout is looking good. Perhaps the last itteration?
That static grass in the background looks far too bright to be realistic.
Dave.

 

[LarryG]

I've used fine Dark Brown ballast. It looked a bit dull and so I took some photos to see how it looked against scenery and with a weathered locos in view...



This gives a general impression although the rail sides have not yet been painted...

 

[jonte]

I was in a model shop earlier and those Peco Code 100s in their blue-backed bubble packs hanging on the clipped displays still had presence. I sincerely hope the rumours floating about aren’t true.

I like the way, Larry, that the track turns towards the buffers. I’ve seen this so many times on the prototype and wondered why the track didn’t just continue in a straight line. Most realistic.

Jon