Sturminster Newton - Landscaping - part 7

So, it’s only two weeks until Sturminster is exhibited for the first time.  So much to do and so little time.  As usual work has again interrupted my modelling time! With a majority of the big ticket items done, it’s now down to all the fiddly bits. 

- Getting there, slowly

The surface within the yards area was always a concern.  All reference photos indicated that the surface was at rail level.  My initial plan was to use clay, but after my experiments with the roads, I was concerned that the large area to be covered will be susceptible to damage during transit.  Some further thought and discussions led to me using some 2mm thick card, cut to fit and ballasted along the edges.  Once in place I gave it a couple of coats Tamiya surface paint. 

- Yards road surface

Fencing has continued, on the down platform, around the creamery, and the station road.  Further trees have been added, with still more required.  Some signals have been added (non-working – sorry to disappoint) and I’m awaiting a visit from a signalling expert to give me some corrections.

 

Construction of the main goods shed and feed store are still underway, so a temporary fix of a ready-to-plonk Lyddle End goods shed and a Ratio timber merchants will be gap filers for the time being.

 

- Night and day

With the weather permitting, I got around to painting the PVC pipe holding the LED lights and also the front fascia.  While I’m happy with the LEDs, I did jump in to  them pretty quickly.  Further research would of told me that a variety of brightness and colours are available.  I tend think that mine are a bit too white.  Now that I’ve painted the tubing, I can see a blue tinge.  A future upgrade may see me replace them with a more “yellowish” shade.

 -  View from Butts Pond

- Stationside

 

 

Sturminster Newton - Landscaping - part 6

Well, one week of work down (admittedly it was only 4 days), and output has certainly dropped off!  I was expecting this, but after the massive progress of the past several months, it is a bit deflating!  This week I’ve managed UFO night, hold the monthly meeting (at short notice) and get in some fencing and gardening.

I decided to use UFO night to work on the layout, in particular fencing.  I initially started the fencing all way back in 2010, using Peco post and rail, mainly due to its accessibility here down under.  I have a limited quantity of etched fencing, but not enough, and the cost of getting it from the UK is a bit prohibitive at present.  Postage is getting out of control.  I was recently going to be charged £12 to send out a 35mm slide!  But let’s not get me started on that ………..

- fencing now on both sides of the mainline

As reported on Sithlords blog, I hosted the April meeting of the SEQ area group meeting for the NGS and 2mm scale association.  While Mrs Noswal tried to outdo herself with the catering, it was a good turnout.  It was great to receive some rewarding observations about Sturminster.  Several of the attendees had not seen the layout for several years so their comments were both pleasing and poignant.  While most of us build layouts for our self-enjoyment, well I know I do at least, it’s great to receive feedback from fellow modellers that is encouraging.

For what remaining time I had left of the weekend, excluding household chores, playing lego and watching my aussie rules team get smashed, I made an attempt on the greenery growing on/in/around the fencing on the down platform.  I had one good colour photo to work from.

- not long before closing, Sturminster in the summer of 65

- my attempt

From there it was the matter of teasing out small clumps to make up the flowers/hedge/ivy/weeds.  I used a variety of products; Mininatur, Noch and some cheap stuff I got from China, via eBay (pink and yellow flowers).  They have been glued with a variety of superglue and diluted PVA.  I just need to let them set and then get the vacuum cleaning in to clean-up.

- from the other end

Plans for this week are unknown, but I think the signal box needs to be finished.  The stairs have been built, the building undercoated and the signal levers painted.

Sturminster NEwton - Landscaping - part 5

Work has been progressing, the updates have just been poor due to my laziness!  My long service leave is just about at an end, so my modelling time will now be reduced to after work, 1900 - 2200H and weekends, but this will also vary due to family and work commitments (away all of May) and level of enthusiasm.

- overall layout, 4m in length

As mentioned previously, the new LED lights have been installed.  I've now tidied up the wiring and now just need to remove them again, number for assembly, and paint.  It turns out they are not the brightest available, but also now the dimmest.  But at the same time, I should never be running the layout using these lights alone.

 - view from Butts pond

- view into the yards

A tip for those young players at home.  When conducting the scenic-ing of your layout, start at the back and work forwards!  It’s a mistake I’ve made, but remember in time to pause on the front, remove all the fragile items and commence on the rear.  It also doesn’t help to have a 3-4 year pause between applications of scenic grass, ballast etc.  The older stuff has sufficient time to “weather” and fad, and whereas and the new applications still appear a bit “shiny”!

So what has been done:

·         All 21 electromagnet uncouplers have been made (300 turn each), installed, wired and are now operating within the Sturminster yards,

·         Ballast all remaining track within the yards.

·         As result of the ballasting, the cattle platform needed some alteration in width (valve gear clearances.  Fortunately I had not secured this yet, so both sides got hit with the sander, removing about 2mm and then reapplying some brickpaper,

·         Installed retaining wall leading off the bridge.  This then lead to working on the main road heading out of town towards the creamery and Butts Pond,

·         Finalise dairy/creamery complex, install and adding fencing,

 



·         Adding managers/foreman’s and workers cottages for the creamery, pub and garage on the road heading north out of town,

·         Fencing off the allotments,

·         Applying more scenic material,

·         Applying static grass on new areas and conducting maintenance on old areas,

·         Fiddling with pointwork within the yards to ensure the work after all the ballasting etc.  (This did have a gremlin last Saturday, when I couldn’t get one of the double slips to work for 2hrs.  I cleaned, rubbed, wiped, scratched, vacuumed, jiggled etc etc all to no avail.  I walked away for 2 min to gripe to Mrs Noswal and then returned and it’s all working again),

·         Running in new 4F locos (so when does running in cease and running out begin?),

·         Repaint the shop,

·         Build Wickham trolley shed,

·         Add some water to Butts ponds,

What’s left to be done?

- Station rose's need some work

·         Layouts are never finished!  But seriously,

·         More trees

·         More fences

·         Telegraph poles

·         Road top

·         Weathering

·         And the list goes on, and on and …………………………………..

- Signal box, yet to be completed.

Mail call

After much delay, they are finally here!  The Farish 4F 0-6-0 all purpose do anything loco.  I've been a bit selfish and have four, including one spilt form a box set.  You can read the numerous reviews in the mags and blogs, and I agree it is the best so far in RTR steam locos, even better than the recently released Farish Duchess (and I've got two of them)!

- Team Fowler shunt team

Why so many, so ask?  Because there was so many, 574 built between 1924-41!  The S&DJR had more than few and were often seen double heading with another 4F, a 2P, a BoB, or a black/Std 5 to name a few.  I've only run one of them so far, only because I got it back in January from the box split.  Haulage wise, it can manage 20 or so wagons or 4-6 coaches, which is more than enough for my requirements. The other three, which arrived today will have to wait as my 5yo son is have a sleep over tonite and we are making pizza and watching Star Wars and sleeping in the tent in the backyard this evening!

 

- lots of included detail 

Sturminster Newton - Landscaping - part 4

Just a quick update.  Got lights, comprising:



• 25mm PVC pipe with T-pieces and 90° angle elbows,
• 4m of LED strip and associated powerpack, and
• Trial and error.

All need to do now is tidy it up, add some connectors, paint and make it ease of use for transport.

- view from Butts pond.



Sturminster Newton - Landscaping - part 3

A bit late with this post, but work is continuing, and it is occurring both above and below the baseboards!  The work on the village scene moved ahead with the siting of the buildings (finally), and laying down of the road and the associated boxing and applying of the cobblestone roller.

 - Buildings and roads in place

- Road into station forecourt.

On the building side, I’ve use some old SD mouldings plaster cast buildings I had lying around.  They fit the scene and resemble the building that were found in the area.  I’ve use 1 ready to plonk Hornby Lyddle End building, which will serve as the post office, a scratch built card shop building and also a Severn models etch-brass shop kit. 

 - shop in progress

 - finished and ready for painting

- 50% good, but blue acrylic didn't quite work, so strip and start again.

This was a Kickstarter project from last year which got-up.  They are quite simple to build and the detail is great.  I’ve also built the stables which I intend to use within the station yard complex. 

- completed stable

I’m still pondering as to what the shops will be, but research has indicated a bike shop, butcher, drapery and general merchandise stores where at that end of town.

The paving was painstaking!  After laying the timber boxing and getting it level, I picked a nice 33°C day to lay the clay.  I did it in small sections, on a diluted PVA base to give it some adhesion.  I’m still a bit concerned how it will withstand movement. 

 - 1st section

 - drying and cracking commence

 - a village appears.

Time will tell, and the guys have tentatively booked me into the Toowoomba show at the end of May; that is a round trip journey of 145km.  As the clay dried I kept spraying with a small mist bottle and using a damp finger or paint brush filled in some of the minor cracks.  I learnt early on that to properly use the cobblestone roller that use must let the clay being to dry.  Rolling it too early, while still damp, cause the roller to slip and spin and the area turning into off-road adventure park.  Once finally dry, I applied some grey paint, in this case Tamiya grey texture paint, which gives the rougher surface.  The roads are not perfect, but what road would be in Dorset during the 1930-50’s?

On a past Turs UFO night the question of lighting was discussed.  This lead to the use of LED strips.  A quick visit to eBay and 5m of lights were purchased with associated electrical connections, all for a very reasonable price.  They arrived with a week and we had a play with them on the Thurs just past.  I now need to assemble some 25mm PVC pipe to mount them in.

- 5m roll of LEDs.

And then we went under the baseboard!  Uncouplers!  Homemade electromagnets, using Peco uncoupler arms.  So far I’ve made 12, and installed 6, and will most likely require at least another dozen.  With current deadline in mind, Peco will have to suffice, but it does limit what I can and can’ shunt.  Our group meeting on sat we were discussing DG’s, so will need to follow that up some more.

- 10 down, how many to go?

Sturminster Newton - Landscaping - part 2

It’s been a fairly productive this week, I think.  The signal box development continued, but came to a standstill when I couldn’t find some steps I had tucked away.  I’ve since ordered some more and they are winging their way from Ol’Blighty as you read this.  No doubt the original will appear about 5mins before the postie arrives with the new ones!

I commenced playing with the cobblestone roller I acquired from Shapeways.  It has been a series of trial and error. Development was as follows:

1.       Roll DAS clay onto MDF base with a thin strip of PVA.  This was rolled fairly thin, 2-3mm thick.  This was then allowed to dry.  The results were not good, cracking.

After having spent some time concreting, for the next two efforts I used some boxing. 

2.       This was rolled clay, which was set between to wooden formers (Star Bucks coffee stirrers, approx. 5-7mm high).  No glue this time, which resulted in the bowing once the clay dried.

3.       Again using formers, but some 2mm craft strips (model ship building).  Again no glue, but less bowing.  Both attempts had some shrinkage.

Some talking with the Thursday night UFO mob suggested that the surface be sealed to prevent the moisture from the clay being absorbed.

4.       Sealed surface (undercoat and gloss finish), 2mm formers and PVA to hold the clay.  This is the best result so far, I even painted it.  Just need to measure the spacing of the formers to prevent the roller slipping and varying the height.

 - Test results, L-R, 1-4

 

- close-up of tests 3 and 4 and the roller itself.

 

While this was going on the landscaping continued.  The plastering continued and then the static grass application began.  I’ve only got a home-made one, but it does the job.  I’ve only zapped myself once, so far!

- looking towards the station .

- looking from Stur.

I also managed to finally secure the station platform to the base board, after only 4 years.  This required some test adjustment, as the new Farish Duchess would not clear it.  I had to go digging around my many boxes of stuff, the horde, to find all my supplies of flock, static grass, and other scenic material.  It’s amazing what you have acquire and forget about.  The only thing I’ve had to buy this week was some bolts to secure the village baseboard.  Was most pleased with the rose hedges I picked up somewhere.

- Roses will need some pruning.