Splitters at RMCQ Show 2011

It has been a great weekend over at Bald Hills. Darren, Brendan and I headed over for the RMCQ Show. We had a ball, great location, food, and the company was great. Here'a a little bit of for you to watch,

have a great week, Oorroo, Geoff.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0sxHUyw3fY

Evans Gap Station

The small stature of this line meant that the station building should reflect the same. In an earlier post I was going to in stall awning posts to make the construction easier. The posts were never cemented in, it was just too busy. Evans Gap station now has a simplified awning, much better.

I used 'cambells' HO corrigated iron for the first time on this model, and I just love it. It's really fine both in corrigations and thin in material thickness as well. The model seen in these photos has had some slight weathering on the walls to tone down the colour and 'fade' it a bit. I tend to favour the games workshop paints for this as they dry brush without going clumpy or powdery, an issue I've had a few times with the tamiya acrylics.

The roof itself has not been weathered yet, still plan to using some paints, washes and chalks I think.

The awning and roof I built separately to aid in painting and also so that it would be easier to build. If there are too many parts attached you can be sure that I'll break something off before it's finished.

The spot on the layout where the station is going has had some work done as well, gravel platform, and a few weeds. The water tank has not been 'delivered' to the locals yet, so they wait patiently for its arrival. As for station naming boards, well I just don't think I've got enough time to get them up before the RMCQ Show this weekend. If you happen to get there, come on over and have a chat, Oorroo!

Geoff.

Station building and some detail bits

Here's a couple of shots of Black Mountain Station to show you the verandah, and station light that I plan to model.

In this shot you can see the platform in place and the cutout plan of the station building showing how it will all fit in.

Another week has disappeared, where did all the modelling time go? I've only had limited time outside, but some progress has been made. The station building has had a spray of undercoat, and the decision about how to construct the awning has been resolved.

I had a look at some photos of timber station buildings that I had on hand, and one that stood out for me is the station building of Black Mountain. The awning has posts to support it, and more importantly not a curvy bit in sight! As this location is right where the branch stems from then it would be easy to imagine that similar building styles would be at both locations. In the photo there is a great light on the external of the building end, definitely have to put one in I'm just not sure where to get the shade from.

I bought some paint for the station, and it is a spray can of tamiya paint. I try not to use these only as I don't feel like I have enough control over just how the paint is delivered. The colour is just a little dark to follow in the stone colour that was commonly used in NSW. I will be weathering it so that should make a difference as well.

The stumps and the slope behind the station platform have been put in, as can be seen in the next couple of photos.

I've filled in behind the station building with scultamould and coloured it as well.
You can see the building in place, however not so obvious in this shot is the slope behind it. I wouldn't bother doing the detail behind and under the building, however because of the layout design you are able to see behind the station from the end of the layout. When it's all together I'll post another shot.

Oorroo! Geoff.

Ballast and Static and Video

Hey All, I've just come from the shed after doing some ballasting and wanted to share this with you. The brush I didn't mention in the clip, it's just a cheapy from bunnings. I really don't know if it makes any difference what type of brush you use.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9YSUycjvHo

OK my camera work is crap and the commentary not much better, have a look and let me know what you think!

Oorroo! Geoff.

Station building progress.

The station at Evans Gap has been on the drawing board for a while now. The building is an A1 Station which is one of the most basic NSWGR designs. As the whole area is of the pioneer standard, and quite a minor line as branchlines go the A1 is perfect for the town ship of Evans Gap.

I cut out the walls whilst at the May show with Craig, but they've been put aside since then with scenic work holding most of my attention. It wasn't till one of the last Toosdy Niters when Brendan handed over some very small surface mount LED's and some just as small resisters that the idea of lighting the station became a real possibility. Then it became necessary to have a building to add the lighting to, hence the current building project.

I used clapboard siding for the interior at .060" spacing and 1mm thick. The inside because it is so visible required some lining also, so out with the novelty siding in the .060" spacing, but I installed it upside down so it would appear like the inside of the exterior boards.

The number of buildings I've constructed totals two, this one being the second. To that end if I'm stating the obvious, sorry, but its the beginner in me showing through yet again. I wanted to be able to easily paint and detail the interior so I built the building in three parts.

Here you can see the two parts of the Station, along with the LED and its magnet wire attached.

1. The first being the stumps mounted on the layout so that the ground could be formed around the stumps. I hear you, yep, how will it be seen? I just know Mr Mackie will look to see what I did underneath. What does that mean exactly? Well the goal in modelling is not trying to maximise realism but to decrease the amount of rubbishing you cop when they notice what you've missed doing something! ;-)

2. The second is the floor and two inside side walls, and what ever interior detail I want to add.

3. The third is the exterior four walls, and ceiling and roof and verandah. There is also the back wall that has the second layer of styrene attached for inside of the exterior cladding.

The pieces fit together, hiding the wiring against the inside of the wall, and still allowing me to paint and detail each part separately.
Now together with out power...
And with, of course the blinds are closed for this shot also. I don't mind the colour of the led, they are warm white ones.

I've taken a few photos of where I'm at and they tell the story fairly well. Next is the fitting of the verandah and brackets. I'm not sure just how to tackle those however as they were quite ornate, read that as curvy, as in NOT able to be cut with a straight edge.

So there you go,next it's paint then onto the layout!

Oorroo! Geoff.