Victoran Winter Scene
Ian Cavill, 009.
'Toby' arrives with a goods train.
Winter comes to an as yet unnamed station. A few pictures of the layout before it gets a major rebuild. The layout never worked the way I would have liked, so a rethink is now in hand with new track work and a few new buildings. Updates on the progress will be added as the work continues, although this will be a longer term project.
'Bernadette' waits it's departure from the station.
Wagons wait to be loaded outside the warehouse.
Street scene showing the horse drawn milk cart.
A few pictures of the layout before it gets a major rebuild. The layout never worked the way I would have liked ,so a rethink is now in hand with new track work and a few new buildings. Updates will be posted on the progress, but it may not be as quick as the last project.
Another view of the village street.
A close up of the forge.
The road over bridge and loading dock.
The station building with some nice details, such as fire buckets and a milk churn.
Passengers waiting for the next train in the winter sun.
In the pictures below, we take a first look at the new rebuild layout showing the new tunnels of the main line and the branch. In true narrow gauge style the track was reused from another layout. The main ground formation is polystyrene sheets carved to shape and stuck down with PVA glue. When dry (leaving it for 24 hours is best) it's covered with juke, this is hanging basket liner from garden centres and is CHEAP! I have used the woodland scenic’s rock mouldings but not with their resin, I prefer to use DAS air dry clay instead, by using this you can shape your rocks to the location. The next stage will be the buildings and surrounding area.
A view into the tunnels showing the construction of the scenery.
Aview at track level showing the mainline and the branch.
Some of the materials used so far.
Another update on the layout, showing the station building ready for planting into the platform. The building is made with card covered with thin wood, the roof is Slaters Plasticard. Interior lighting has been fitted using grain of wheat bulbs. These are 12v but I run them at 5-6volts, this prolongs the bulbs life and keeps them cool. Next to the station I have put a small pond. This is great for the finger pointing brigade at exhibitions! A hole was cut out then lined with DAS clay, then while still wet, I pressed Perspex into it. Remove and let clay dry, than give the Perspex a coat of varnish and leave to dry. Repeat this about seven or eight times using Ronseal yacht varnish as this will yellow when dry. Weathering powder is used for the pond and station platform. I found the 21st centenary ganger in a box ,thought he might help!
The lights are temporarily connected up for testing.
All looking good, the fire looking very attractive in the cold.
Another test before the build is planted into the scenery.
The pond takes shape.
Looking a little out of place in his Hi-Vis, the 21st century gives us a wave.
Some of the materials used in the latest works.
The next job is to put the ground cover on. For a winter scene I used darker colours of green with a little yellow and brown, brighter colours are not required. I put diluted PVA over the juke at a ratio of 75% glue/25% water as this will hold the scatter material well. The pond base was given a light dusting of weathering power, then a small amount of static grass. I covered the station platform with PVA and then a dusting of wood ash, this gives a fine textured finish. The road was given a coating of glue then a fine coating of DAS clay. I made a small rolling pin to help get a smooth finish. New buildings are being conducted to fill a corner, again made with card and using etched brass windows to give a better finish. More buildings next time along with some finer detail.
The scenery around the tunnels takes shape.
The pond is is viewed by a curious snowman.
The station building now in its permanent position.
a very cold looking woman is watched by another snowman!
New buildings start to appear in one corner of the layout.
Another update on the layout new buildings. Once again buildings are made of card with etched brass windows, this time I used Langley windows because I had them! Modelling is all about trying something new, so I put some Das clay into a container with a small amount of water and mixed together until it got a consistency of mixed filler. When all mixed to a smooth paste I used a small artist's pallet knife and spread it over the card very thinly, less than 1/2mm thick. This gives a good texture finish to the building and when dry I used a decorators sanding block to round the corners off. The next stage is to fit all the windows and doors along with the roof slates, also the interior of the buildings not forgetting the lights. Grain of wheat bulbs are used not clear but amber to give a softer colour. Next update will be on the finishing touches to the layout.
A close up of the DAS clay facing on the buildings. The Langley window unit can be seen awaiting installation.
Another view from the same point, but looking the other way. The window unit has been fitted to this building, the doors come next.
