7mm , Blackney, A Glimpse of the Forest

Alan

Western Thunderer
Some more work over the weekend, as I didn't go to Kettering. Firstly the bottom fascia has been cut. As you can see it is not fixed permanently in place yet. It needs painting and the finger holes need a little work.







The other piece of work done was the old coal/goods yard the last bit of bare cork. It still needs a little work but almost there. I must get on and build the Dodge flat bed.











 

Brian T

Western Thunderer
The overall view is looking good,all helped along with the subdued colour palate.

Nice...

Brian.
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Lovely backscene; I particularly like the tunnel mouth glimpsed through the bridge. Forgive me if you've already mentioned this but how are you planning to hide the holes at the left hand end?
 

Alan

Western Thunderer
There will be reasonably sized trees on the left hand side of the layout extending for at least a foot down the layout which will certainly hide the smaller hole and will restrict the view of the larger hole. At the moment I'm experimenting with a backscene board attached to the back of the fiddle yard and possibly extending the ballasting on to first few inches of the sector plate. There will be some shrubs on the slight mound between the two holes.
We will have to see how it all works out. Obviously at home it's not a problem. but if it was exhibited then!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
It's unfortunate that the wall of the model railway room is a lightish blue and therefor is very obvious.

A quick photo or two

holes 1.jpg

holes 2.jpg
 
Last edited:

Yorkshire Dave

Western Thunderer
Hi Alan

If you're prepared to experiment your idea would work. It means building up a bit of the retaining wall and foliage on the fiddle yard board which when glimpsed would give the impression the sidings end behind the retaining wall.

Edit - I've just had a look at some of your earlier 'under construction' photos and the idea will work. I thought the fiddle yard was on a stand alone board...:confused:.

I've taken the liberty of tinkering with one of your photos to give the idea how it would work at home or out on show.

Alans.jpg

And without narrative.

Alans 2.jpg
 
Last edited:

Alan

Western Thunderer
Thanks Dave, I was already thinking about continuing the scenery onto the fiddleyard board up to where the sector plate begins.
 

Alan

Western Thunderer
I've started making the taller trees for the front left part of the layout which should help cover the two holes to the fiddleyard.



Being a cheapskate I'm using Sedum flower head. We have plenty of sedums in the garden. They were harvested in the autumn and have been drying in the garage until today.



the first two sedum heads are selected







They are then buddle together with masking tape.







others are added until a decent canopy has been made and length of OO rail glued up one of the stems to plant the tree. here are 3 that have reached that stage







Tomorrow I shall coat the trunks with Green Scenes Flexibark before painting and then adding the foliage.
 

Alan

Western Thunderer
Dave, I've used this method before on Wencombe and I've never treated them. I think the important thing is to let them fully dry out. These were hanging in the garage for about 4 or 5 months drying out. The other thing is if they still have the little seed pods on is to trim them off with small scissors like nail scissors. On Wencombe I didn't and the seeds were forever dropping off. This time I harvested them later and most if not all the seeds had gone.
 

Alan

Western Thunderer
I've had the old static grass applicator out. I decided it was late summer that had been pretty dry so yellowish grasses predominate.















Future scenic work to be done, finish hedges, built the lineside fence (I found the dimensions in GWRJ 56), then paint the bark on the trees I've made and add the foliage to them. I'm working slowly so that I can take many days over it as the government has said for my own well being I should not go out too much so I'm taking my time on the layout, so I have things to do for some time . I also have a couple more Parkside wagons to build
 

Alan

Western Thunderer
Today I have been fencing, that is building them rather than trying to kill some one with a sword.

First was to cut and the paint the posts for the post and line fence. As it is towards the front of the layout I thought the best way to represent bare wood was to use ----------wood, balsa wood in fact. Looking at GWRJ No.56 I discovered that the posts are 5inches by 5 inches, roughly 3mm square in 7mm scale. Luckily I had a sheet of 3mm think balsa so 3mm strips were cut (approximately) and the cut to 7ft lengths (49mm) so that there was some of the post to eventually stick in the ground. The posts are about 4ft 6 inches above the ground with the top wire being a fraction under 4ft from the ground. The posts were then painted with Humbrol No 26 Khaki and when dry ,dry brushed with Tamiya XF-53 neutral Grey followed by Tamiya XF-57 Buff, which seems to give a nice weather beaten finish. I'll describe the stringing when I get to do it.







The other fence was the one on the railway side of the path down from the lane to the platform. This was done in Evergreen strips. the uprights being 2.5 mm square and the horizontals being 1mm x 2.5mm. It was built in situ. at the moment it has been left white. Whether I paint it or just weather it I haven't made my mind up yet It will also have bushes and Ivy growing around and through it. As you can see in the second photo it ends at the steps onto the platform next to the station building.







 
Last edited:

Alan

Western Thunderer
More fence work today, this time erecting the post and wire fence.

First was to mark out a jig. this was done on a piece of ply. Basically the fence was drawn out on it and at the end of the wires a notch was cut in the ply.





next was to place the wires (EZ line) on the jig.





Then finally place the posts in position and superglue.







After allowing a decent time to make sure everything was glued the fence was planted on the layout. The only problem with EZ line as it is so stretchy is to keep all the wires at the same tension. When planted you may notice some of the lower wires are not as tight as the top ones. You may also notice that some of the posts need a wee bit of straightening. More obvious in the photos than in real life. Like the fence down to the platform I'll give thought as to whether the wires need painting (weathering).





 

Allen M

Western Thunderer
Hi Alan
That looks alright to me. The wire is quite stiff and can get bent a bit by farm machinery and animals, as well as by the installer.
Regards
Allen Morgan
 

Alan

Western Thunderer
I'm also modelling the line at the end of its days. in a few months the line will close so not much spent on keeping everything ship shape and Bristol fashion.
 
Top