Gateside and Northbridge - It begins at last!

[luckymucklebackit]

Looks like your first job Jim ..... build a pylon

Cracking drawing to go off.

Jim.

...or https://www.hornby.com/uk-en/pylons.html If I was prepared to use something that is about 1/3 the size they should be!

[luckymucklebackit]

Todays job was fettling up the bridge then painting, I used a stiff plaster as I needed to make up a mix for the embankments to the front so two birds were killed with the one stone, The plaster worked out well and when dry I started to paint, For this process I split the boards up as the first coat was a spray all over of the Halfords khaki which I thought would work quite well as the base colour for the mortar. Once that was touch dry I roughly mixed up acrylic white and black to give a variable grey colour, this was dry brushed on to the plastic trying not to get it into the grooves as much as possible, this was then followed by a couple of brown colours to give a variable finish. The photographs with the flash show up all the flaws in gory detail so another couple of washes and perhaps some weathering powder would finish it nicely.







The next part of the project is the backscene, and I have to admit that although I have several ideas how this is going to come together I think I will need to mock up some card templates to see what works, one problem is the position of the actuators for the points, particularly the "king point" next to the bridge, this was configured to work with the Inglenook installed on the main layout, but it is going to be tricky to keep it accessible with any structures around it.

More news soon

Jim

[Ex-Pat]

The photographs with the flash show up all the flaws in gory detail so another couple of washes and perhaps some weathering powder would finish it nicely.

Jim

What flaws? - if you're referring to the odd "bald" patch on the embankments then I wouldn't call them flaws - just totally realistic discarded litter!

Looks great to me.

[TimberSurf]

The problem with dry brushing is that is that you always end up with some in the mortar! Painting the brick colour first then using a mortar wash sounds a better principle, but every time I try, I end up with mortar coloured bricks! I guess it is something that takes years of practice before mastering and we only get to do it just a few times! Lets hope your further washes remedies your critical eye, I think without the flash they probably look great!
Who's plasticard is that?

[luckymucklebackit]

The problem with dry brushing is that is that you always end up with some in the mortar! Painting the brick colour first then using a mortar wash sounds a better principle, but every time I try, I end up with mortar coloured bricks! I guess it is something that takes years of practice before mastering and we only get to do it just a few times! Lets hope your further washes remedies your critical eye, I think without the flash they probably look great!
Who's plasticard is that?

Hi Timbersurf - the Plastikard is Slaters 7mm Cotswold Stone ref Number SLT041, it was suggested to me by a guy on RMweb who had done a Scottish layout and used it for his abutments, as railwayim can attest, using 7mm plasticard is sometimes better than using 4mm, I find that the embossing is a little deeper so dry brushing is more effective. Either way I still find it is a bit of trial and error, I will tinker away at it until I feel that it is right. I am using a photo of the wall opposite from Google Streetviewas a template but this wall had been shotblasted and should really be darker for the era I am modelling

Cheers everyone

Jim

[joshv8]

Flaws? You're way to particular haha. Its looks great! I think we all niggle at what we create than really looks brilliant to everyone else.

[luckymucklebackit]

Thanks Josh, I had another look at it tonight and I am quite happy about it, have started to formulate the plan for the backscene and the low relief buildings, watch this space!

Jim

[End2end]

The problem with dry brushing is that is that you always end up with some in the mortar!

I don't. I've found the secret is almost no paint on the brush. I wipe most off on a tissue / kitchen roll so it soaks it off the brush.
I do the morter first with a wash or 2 then do the dry brushing with how ever many coats it takes to be satisfied.
Hope it helps.
Thanks
End2end

[luckymucklebackit]

The problem with dry brushing is that is that you always end up with some in the mortar!

I don't. I've found the secret is almost no paint on the brush. I wipe most off on a tissue / kitchen roll so it soaks it off the brush.
I do the morter first with a wash or 2 then do the dry brushing with how ever many coats it takes to be satisfied.
Hope it helps.
Thanks
End2end

That is where the chalk sticks come in handy as well, even the loose chalk powder doesn't tend to go into the grooves.

Jim

[luckymucklebackit]

Continuing to set the bits and pieces up for the backscene and the diorama that goes under the bridge, tonight I laid the track, which is just old Hornby set track salvaged from that display layout that I dismantled a while back, as nothing will actually run on it there are no wires or anything to worry about this was then given a general spray of Halfords matt brown to remove the plastic look





After a trawl through the Canmore database I have found a couple of distinctive buildings to sit at the back of the layout, both were part of the Beardmore complex at Partkead and should be fun to build

This building has a unique slatted wall which might be a challenge to build but not impossible, also managed to get the sign!

beardmore sign red (2).jpg (50.53 KiB) Viewed 987 times

The other is a simple but distinctive warehouse which will go along the back

Going to need a lot of brick plasticard so I can wait for the show to get that, will carry on with as much other stuff before then

Cheers

Jim

[Ex-Pat]

The other is a simple but distinctive warehouse which will go along the back

warehouse.jpg

Going to need a lot of brick plasticard so I can wait for the show to get that, will carry on with as much other stuff before then

Now what part of "simple" do I not understand?!

Are you going to incorporate the sloping pavement?

[luckymucklebackit]

The other is a simple but distinctive warehouse which will go along the back

warehouse.jpg

Going to need a lot of brick plasticard so I can wait for the show to get that, will carry on with as much other stuff before then

Now what part of "simple" do I not understand?!

Are you going to incorporate the sloping pavement?

Hi Ex-Pat - it will be built on a nice level surface (thankfully) so that feature of the building will be "simplified"

Jim

[railwayjim]

Just been catching up on the inglenook build Jim and have to say it looks
impressive, I would be more than pleased with the resulting painting of the
walling section. I like the look of the background buildings you plan to incorporate
into it, they will definitely keep you busy for some time.

7mm is definitely easier on the eye in my opinion, more detail can be seen
and it's surprising, if you don't tell anyone it's 7mm, they'd never guess.

Looking forwrd to more.

Jim.

ps. The tracks below the bridge certainly bring it to life. Ballasting and weeds
are next I presume

[luckymucklebackit]

Correct Jim - Ballasting comes next, the two tracks (2nd and 3rd from left) will be ballasted to main line standard, the others in various degrees of neglect, just as I remember the area around Parkhead when I went into Glasgow in the Train when I was young. Beardmores was still a going concern and there was a limited amount of rail traffic in and out of the works. The little siding will go into a small loco shed, there was one visible from the main line and it always intrigued me, this little shed nest to these massive foundry buildings!
Pass that way today and you would never think that there had ever been industry in that area.

This is the present day shot to compare with the view of the foundry

canmore_image_SC00601666.jpg (32.93 KiB) Viewed 949 times

Jim

[railwayjim]

Should be interesting, detailing it as you remember Jim.

Sad sight seeing it all nowadays (advancement?). I think not.

Similar problems in Blackpool, first pic approaching bridge, entering Blackpool Central past the old loco depot to the right.

Second pic taken from bridge, same area looking other way, also showing single siding which is now Blackpool South Station. It's tragic really.

Jim.