Time to build a railway...but where?

[Peter Butler]

looking good peter how did you get the platic card to look like wood ???.how's the castle going ???

Many thanks for the response.....
The plastic card/wood effect is simple, just take a razor saw and scrape it on the surface and edges of the card in the direction of grain, then smooth off the shavings with fine sandpaper. Also, remember to show end grain on exposed edges. I have used this method on previous models and find it gives a very convincing result. I think it looks more convincing than wood itself, particularly in this scale.
As for the castle.... it has come to a temporary halt while I try to work out how to construct connecting walls between the towers. It will be completed eventually but now the weather is becoming more unpredictable I am prepared to wait until I can be sure of the correct conditions to work.

[Peter Butler]

Hello,

what dimensions did you use for the plastic profiles?

Markus

Interesting question....... I usually don't use much in the way of measurements as I tend to construct by eye....... if it looks right, it is right!
In this case though I did have a drawing to work from so I looked at the size of my model sheep and calculated the dimensions and the number of slats which made up each side of the wagon and came up with the result. The card is 1.5mm thick and each slat is a scale five inches, which I use a 16mm/ft. scale rule to measure. That should show my complete disregard for measuring instruments!!!

[Peter Butler]

Much more progress to report on the sheep wagon. As you will recall, my order for bolt heads was confirmed on Thursday and despite the advice that orders can take up to 21 days, those good people at Cambrian managed to deliver this morning! All are now fitted to the wagon....


As the weather has been so nice today, I also managed to spray a coat of grey primer...




Then a wash of brown acrylic paint to cover the floor boards which are also made to look like wood grain using the same method of scraping and sanding.


I have fitted a chain across the centre of the wagon as I'm sure I have seen this done somewhere in the past, although not shown on the drawing I copied from. I think this was used to stop the sides flexing too much as they are only held in metal sockets on the sides of the flat truck? Anyway, it adds to the detail!

[Peter Butler]

Weathered, lightly rusted around the metal fittings, lettered and matt varnished and 'passengers' installed. I think another sheep is required to fill in the gap so that will be bought tomorrow. Other than that, job done!

[Big Al]

That looks great I do like the bolt heads and wood effect.

[Dr. Bond of the DVLR]

Looking good - will you be modeling the sheep leavings with more miliput?

[Peter Butler]

I am tempted, Mr Bond!
If you are familiar with the things sheep leave behind, you will know they are very small, dark and round. If they can be seen inside the wagon I might try but the effort might not be appreciated?

[Big Jim]

Tempted as I am to make some comment about travelling knocking shops, I will refrain.

What was the prototype you based it on. Trallee and Dingle by any chance?

[Peter Butler]

Big Jim, in answer to your question, this is the picture I printed off the 'net which formed the basis of my sheep wagon. I have no idea where it came from or what it is based on!

The third sheep has now been installed and the job is complete.

Next project...... I was just bored yesterday so looked in my bits box and came up with slate wagon axle boxes and curly spoked wheels. This is the result...


Today I added lettering and weathering which I will show tomorrow.

[paullad1984]

Accucraft "Welshpool & Llanfair" sheep wagon.

[Peter Butler]

Accucraft "Welshpool & Llanfair" sheep wagon.

I have the Welshpool and Llanfair book in which there is only one photograph of their sheep wagon and no drawing. The illustration I used is a very loose interpretation of that but I can see the influence.

[Peter Butler]

Final touches to the equipment truck...


Now on to the next project.
I received a gift on Monday from a fellow Forum member. This is a road vehicle to add to my visitors car park in keeping with the rest.


It is the yellow 'Beetle'
All of my other cars have now been converted to RHD and this will be no exception. To do this I first have to dismantle the vehicle..






Having got this far I thought I might change the colour as my memories of the earlier 'Beetles' was them being.......

Orange!

The inside has been altered to suit too... upholstery is now cream, not grey, and carpets are brown, not grey!

Dash has been rebuilt to move instruments and steering wheel over but not yet installed as the Milliput takes a while to set.

[Dr. Bond of the DVLR]

Tool wagon looks the buisness, does the number 41 reflect how many wagons you have built?

[Peter Butler]

Tool wagon looks the buisness, does the number 41 reflect how many wagons you have built?

Not quite!
I haven't made a list of my stock and don't number them in sequence.
There are probably 20-30 items of goods stock, several of them in purpose made boxes, so I tend to forget they are there.
Prototype vehicles on preserved railways might have random numbers as some could be brought in from elsewhere and others from the original line scrapped. Perhaps one day I will make a stock list?

[jim@NAL]

love the colour of the beetle peter

[Peter Butler]

My new gas lever, as offered by 'Gremlin' on this Forum, arrived this morning. I couldn't wait to fit and test it so here are some pictures of it in situ.....







Of the two types available I chose the round handle which looks just right. The setting is so much easier when you can see the position of the lever. I managed to reduce the gas flow gradually and now have an idea where the lever should be positioned for maximum running time. Although this has been my first running session using the lever I got just under 35 minutes from my 'Billy' which is better than before but still room for improvement with practice.
Many thanks to you Gremlin for a brilliant addition to an outstanding product from Roundhouse.

[Dannypenguin]

Next project......  I was just bored yesterday so looked in my bits box and came up with slate wagon axle boxes and curly spoked wheels.  This is the result...


 Today I added lettering and weathering which I will show tomorrow.

Would you like to come to my railway and get bored?

[Gremlin]

glad it arrived quickly and you are happy, hope you fine tune for a longer run, I've managed 50 mins out of my Katie with a gas lever fitted.

[Peter Butler]

As winter is rapidly approaching and outdoor work is becoming less appealing I have decided to begin some structures to place on my railway.
The line is built in such a way I can run both 16mm stock and my 'Emetts' but with different scale (and appearance) to suit the occasion. None of my structures are intended to be left outdoors, with the exception of the castle, so I can use a variety of materials and give more detail to their build.
The first is taken from a sketch by Emett which I saw on display at the recent exhibition in Birmingham.


This is the only drawing so I have to use a certain amount of imagination..

It is made from foam board which is light weight but quite rigid, especially when it is glued and braced.
The drawing shows an upmarket frontage built onto a very humble house, clearly past its best with render falling away from the stonework beneath. I have created this effect with a stencil and paste mix which I mentioned on this thread about a year ago but never got time to use until now.

The stones are then picked out individually with acrylic paint..

More soon showing the windows installed and columns fitted.

[philipy]

I like that Peter. Thanks for showing us, I think I might have to try the stencil system myself.