A table-top train set.

jonte

Western Thunderer
Jonte,
Have you seen the use of old carpet underlay on my MOVING COAL thread on RMweb ?:-

MOVING COAL - A Colliery Layout in 0 Gauge

its about halfway down the page.

The method is fairly laborious but I think it gives fairly reasonable results. Its maybe not as realistic as static grass but its probably more durable - it will stand a good strong vacuuming and if it gets flattened I just "fluff" it up again with the homemade rake illustrated.

I haven’t, Phil, but I’ll take a butcher’s thank you.

I’m probably getting a little obsessive with the fluffy stuff now, but unless my eyes do deceive, I’m sure the colour’s richer than before. Perhaps it’s still setting, or whatever it is dye does. Take a look:

BE3A5C15-6241-4188-97A3-80067C9C8C35.jpeg

Think I’ll pick up some of the lighter green stuff after all and see what that does, then consider what a mixture of all three of the above shades look like before I deicide one way or t’other.

I’ll try and keep it brief and to the point at the risk of boring you all to the back to the back teeth.

Thanks again Phil for your kind input.

Jonte
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Jonte,
Have you seen the use of old carpet underlay on my MOVING COAL thread on RMweb ?:-

MOVING COAL - A Colliery Layout in 0 Gauge

its about halfway down the page.

The method is fairly laborious but I think it gives fairly reasonable results. Its maybe not as realistic as static grass but its probably more durable - it will stand a good strong vacuuming and if it gets flattened I just "fluff" it up again with the homemade rake illustrated.

Hello again, Phil.

Now that really is most interesting as well as innovative, to say nothing about how realistic it all looks.

You’ve also helped answer a question about colours of paint to touch it up with, as I spent some time during the course checking out which colours to use - to say nothing of the type, enamel or acrylic, although I prefer enamel - from the Humbrol and Tamiya range. So, thank you.

Interesting that you also used Dylon dye; I note Amazon Green is no longer available - not at HC anyway - and may have been replaced by Tropical Green which is what I’d intended to purchase originally, and which I fully intend to have a go with just to see what, if any difference it makes (Olive Green is the shade shown in the photos).

Thanks again for posting, Phil.

Bestest,

Jonte
 

matto21

Western Thunderer
I'd always wanted to build a model based on the Red Wharf Bay and Benllech Line, probably due to many wonderful holidays spent in the area as a child, but also because of the agricultural look of the buildings and scant track layout; the type of scene where even the telegraph poles ooze character, like the subject of your photos above. Wonderful stuff.

I wish you would because that's a layout I'd like to see, especially as its where I grew up!

Matt
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Hi Matt

Perhaps one day, although presently my Magnus Opium is Cheapside, which I’m going back to once my train set’s a bit further down the road.

A most recent ‘poignant’ moment for me was early last September when my wife and I enjoyed a short break in the area prior to season’s end. We stayed in a new-build located between the village of Pentraeth and Red Wharf, and situated on the site of the old cutting which took the route briefly towards the coast before continuing inland towards Benllech. In fact the parapet wall of the bridge is still extant at the junction of the entrance to the properties and the main road. Sad to admit that I used to sit and look out of the dormer window towards the bay and over the fields along the route of the former track bed, not quite believing that my old Webb’s and their short trains once trundled along this idyll right below my feet. Sniff!

Jonte
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
I know exactly where you mean - there are another two bridges nearby too.

Matt

Indeed there are Matt. I think the stone abutments of the bridge that carried the line over the Llangefni (?) Road as it left the former station in the direction of Red Wharf are still there too.

In the late eighties, I took a photo of the Station House (still there) but I’ve no idea where it went.

I’ve still got the envelope containing photocopied excerpts from a couple of books about the line, kindly forwarded by local library staff at Llangefni in 1978. Also enclosed were some negatives of b&w photos in their possession which I remember having to pop into my local chemist’s to have developed!

This was of course all pre-internet; most of the photos and info are now readily available to view in an instant on the web, such is the gift of the information highway. A real blessing; well, for we modellers anyway :)

Apart from that, the only progress I made was acquiring a white metal GEM kit (another venerable N.Wales establishment) of a Webb 2-4-2T which I commissioned out. I’ve still got it - in the loft I think, where else? - beautifully lined and painted but runs like a pig. Oh yes, and a length of SMP plain track :rolleyes:

Finally, despite the wind and rain, our brief stay allowed me to follow the line - seen from the main road as I didn’t want to trespass - as it left what’s left of the cutting and continued onto a tree-lined embankment before plunging below ground level again to pass under the main road. Not too far past, there’s another road bridge I looked at ( I think this might be the other bridge you referred to on the east side of the main road; scrambling through a hedge, the path leads onto the bridge, but access to the parapet is prevented by a set of low, iron railings. I think there’s a caravan site below the bridge and along the course of the former line). This was the first time I’d ‘studied’ the line in situ; although having passed the location many times previously by car, I could only ever gain tantalisingly brief glimpses of what’s left, while still trying to drive with due care and attention around those bends!

Great stuff!

Jonte

Edit: If you’re stuck in work, Matt, this photo might lift your spirits ;)

F57777A2-6526-472A-9482-E04F3D91BE8E.jpeg

It’s from this book in my (very modest) collection:

9E66AC21-F318-4EEF-91BB-BEF52A574673.jpeg

Hope nobody minds me sharing.

Enjoy, Matt.

Jonte
 
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matto21

Western Thunderer
Great stuff Jonte!

Many years ago I lived in Pentraeth and one summers day I walked some of the old trackbed with my father. We found an original LNWR cast warning sign, or rather half of it (wonder what happened to the other half?) and I lugged it back home - it weighed a ton. Sadly, I forgot about it and left it in the garage when we moved house a couple of years later.

The Llangefni line is another that fascinates me, especially given that it still exists. I work in Llangefni these days, I keep hoping that one day it'll be reinstated!

Matt
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Maybe you could pop to Llanerchymedd Station to see the stock they have on display the next time you're here.

Now I never knew that, Matt. Thank you. I’ll see if there’s something on the ‘net about it in the meantime.

In fact, the only sign post of interest in the direction of Llanerchymedd that I saw on my last visit was for a Mexican restaurant :)

Jonte
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Good morning fellow Westerners.

Some humble beginnings via some humble methods of my youth.

47BE9BD3-A21A-4E36-BA67-477570FFAE19.jpeg

Bonded to a bass wood backing (leftover offcuts) with PVA, they were a divil to cut. A covering of masking tape helped with marking out and keeping cuts relatively fine and true (a method I’ve used for marking and cutting brass sheet).
Unfortunately, the sanding process took it’s toll on the finer wood pieces when cleaning up the window reveals, but plasticard frames and veneer surrounds will hide a multitude of sins.

Despite initial sanding, the lumps ‘n’ bumps of the matchsticks are probably way out of scale for 4mm, but it’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make for that rustic feel they impart, cheapness of build and of course.....pure nostalgia.

Feels so good to be modelling again.

Must remember to include the ubiquitous coin next time for Jan ;)

Jonte
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Hello again, Westerners.

I’m not sure, to be honest, if I’ll be matchstick-modelling any time soon at the end of this little project. Loving the effect, but it’s wrist breaking work cutting them.

Btw, I forgot to mention what it’s supposed to be: “Can ya till wha-rt it is y.....?”...oops, we can’t say that anymore :oops:.
It’s my take on the waiting shelter/station building at Llandewi-Brevi Road station on the Tanat Valley light, or whatever it’s called Oswestry Borderland Heritage - Tanat Valley Light Railway,
I decided against the corrugated iron version at Blodwell Junction, because as I also intend to make the goods shed from tin, I just thought I might be overloading such a relatively small scene with the stuff. Anyway, I think it’s rather cute!

Just a little more progress to show since my last update, although not a lot due to waiting for glue to go off etc.

B75A16B3-C8E2-47CC-899E-78B58E7D5D13.jpeg

Incidentally, that’s not the roof, just an offcut I was using for fit.

This morning I glued the two halves together so hopefully some tidying up and making good of the walls when the glue dries later. In the meantime, I made a start on a couple of sash windows using the methods gleaned from my Seacombe Signal cabin build last year (Evergreen strip of various thicknesses built over graph paper, proofed with candle wax to ease removal of the paper backing from frame). However, I’m not that fussed on them so might start again later.
Frankly, not in the window building mood at present, and half tempted to make the ‘57 ‘ dash to Hattons to buy some off-the-shelf fittings as I’ve loads to do before catching up on gardening, decorating, car(s) washing.....and not just my own (sigh).

Elsewhere, my chisel-bit arrived from Eileen’s, which means I can make a start on a very pressing layout matter which hopefully I can apprise you of in due course.

Thanks for looking,

Jonte
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Window making :(

696BCD29-9632-4374-B104-AA5264C13FE7.jpeg

Yesterday’s unsuccessful attempt top left.

It’s easier using a ‘jig’. Yesterday I didn’t bother; just ended up wasting time and materials. There’s a moral there.

Jonte
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Elsewhere, the pair of sash windows are almost complete.

A150F40B-FF0E-4EC8-A90F-4BC4B5A07B9E.jpeg

Tomorrow, I’ll trim them to shape, cut around the perimeters of the frames and then soak them in soapy water to remove the paper backing. The candle wax coated surface should aid the process(!). Then they can be primed ready for painting and glazing.

The beginnings of a canopy using the LCut GWR valance.

36E0D7DF-3CF9-42E1-A244-607C8A86C213.jpeg I tried thinning them down, but it’s akin to thinning card: you just end up with fluff.

They’re not an exact match for Llangedwyn, but near enough for this project.

The roof edge will be distressed as per the prototype, with exposed bitumen panels and missing trim. I’m not certain if the original had them, but I’m going to add a gutter replete with down spout at the rear. Incidentally, there’s a scale 6” pitch from front to back.

And that’s it for now.

Jonte
 

Lyndhurstman

Western Thunderer
This morning I glued the two halves together so hopefully some tidying up and making good of the walls when the glue dries later. In the meantime, I made a start on a couple of sash windows using the methods gleaned from my Seacombe Signal cabin build last year (Evergreen strip of various thicknesses built over graph paper, proofed with candle wax to ease removal of the paper backing from frame). However, I’m not that fussed on them so might start again later.
Frankly, not in the window building mood at present, and half tempted to make the ‘57 ‘ dash to Hattons to buy some off-the-shelf fittings as I’ve loads to do before catching up on gardening, decorating, car(s) washing.....and not just my own (sigh).

Elsewhere, my chisel-bit arrived from Eileen’s, which means I can make a start on a very pressing layout matter which hopefully I can apprise you of in due course.

Thanks for looking,

Jonte

Hello,
Interesting stuff. Candle wax? That’s a neat idea. Thanks for sharing, and keep on keeping on.

Oh... I’m NEVER in the mood for windows... Life’s Too Short!

Cheers

Jan
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Hello,
Interesting stuff. Candle wax? That’s a neat idea. Thanks for sharing, and keep on keeping on.

Oh... I’m NEVER in the mood for windows... Life’s Too Short!

Cheers

Jan

Isn’t it just .....and I’ve a signal box to build at some stage :(

There’s no kit to match what I’m doing, so might have to resort to a kit-bash or two. There’s a simpler way with ‘box’ windows: build them over a sheet of glazing material, including layering to get the sliding past each other look of the frames as per prototype using Mek to reduce frosting. But then it makes painting/distressing more difficult to avoid getting the paint on the glass.

Talking of paint on glass, although I won’t be doing it here, I discovered quite by accident when building Seacombe that the waxed paper also has another benefit: mimicking that ‘paint-on-window’ look of some unkempt boxes:

859E0233-CED3-4FE6-9E18-FCBC67368877.jpeg 553556D4-82E1-415F-8425-ECBF0F6E603E.jpeg

However, that was in 7 mil; 4 mil’s just too tiny for this ploy, and I doubt it would be to everybody’s taste.

Thanks for dropping by, Jan, and for your usual kind words of encouragement- as well as providing another lame excuse to dig out yet another ol’ photo or two from the archives ;)

Indeed, there’s much to be ‘keeping-on’ with.

Bestest,

Jonte
 

jonte

Western Thunderer
Well fellow Westerners, just in case one or two of you might have managed to keep up with this meandering thread, I thought I’d post up the result of a further attempt to replicate grass on the cheap, this time with a lighter green dye in the Dylon range: Amazon Green.

2A25627A-D2AB-4F66-89EF-52D5E2C269B2.jpeg

It’s the larger slice of underlay in the lower half of the photo. Hmmm, a bit too vivid for my landing to be frank; even richer under artificial light. However, the first sample I created took a day or two to reach it’s true colour, so perhaps I should give it a little longer (although I’m not holding my breath).

In contrast, the smaller sample above it was created using the watercolour, Sap Green, as advocated by Liverpool Model Railway Society and perhaps Barry Norman. It wasn’t too bad to apply: concentrated colour (i.e little water content) being hardest to spread, diluted colour easier but didn’t cover as well, and a mix somewhere between the two concentrations washed on to an area that had been soaked in water first being the easiest to apply.

If you look closely at the watercolour based sample, you may just make out slight nuances in tone; whether this is due to the different absorption rates of the various fibres making up the underlay, or whether it’s due to the different concentrations of paint, it’s difficult to establish as yet. However, whichever the case may be, the painted underlay looks better than either of the dyes used so far, including the raw bleached underlay which I thought might just pass for dry, summer grass.

I’m sure from what I’ve seen so far, a variety of grass shades can be introduced just by varying the ‘washes’ which is interesting. Just a shame I’m not an artist.

One reservation I have about the paint method is that it’s ‘matted’ when dry and ‘flatter’ than the dyed fibres. However, I’ve not had the opportunity to take the suede brush to it yet, so will be interesting (for me, anyway) to see the outcome. For the one or two still reading, I’ll post a picture hopefully t9morrow.

Regards,

Jonte

PS...a close-up of the painted grass:

562703FE-D8CC-4343-B9D7-57EF6BABFD46.jpeg
 
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