Tree modelling again!

Ok I can't promise this will be the last post on trees, but I had a little time in the train room  (garage) today and managed to finish this tree. There is a little bit of trimming to go, but basically I'm there.

 This first one is just to show how I've covered the trunk so that it to doesn't get a layer of green over it.

 This next one is with the foliage attached. It is a product I've previously mentioned from a company in the UK called Treemendus. It is fixed to the branches with a matt adhesive or fixative spray.

 Here I've added the flocks. I really do prefer the fine ground turf that adheres to the fibres making it look like much finer branches. It is interesting to compare the colours in the foliage in the photo above and below. The difference is the colour of the light. My layout light in the second shot is a much more yellow light compared to the almost blue/white light in the first photo.

 There is still some trimming to be done, but you get the idea. Not bad for an hours work I thought.

That'll do for now, enjoy your week, Happy New Year!
Oorroo!
Geoff.

Tree modelling

It has been some time since I did some work on the landscaping of Splitters. So I thought some time spent on creating some trees would be worthwhile. I've taken to using florist wire for the core of the larger trees. I used whatever wire i had, and if you look closely in the first photo you'll see some uncoated wire as well in a different gauge. I have found that the coated wire works better when adding the acrylic paste over the top. The uncoated wire does tend to rust through the paste as it dries. Not really an issue I suppose as I paint right over the lot anyway. I used a solid base of pine that makes the tree easier to handle as you work on it.                                                                                        

The second photo has a little more paste than the first and is ready for the undercoat to be applied. I like the tamiya undercoat, and remember it doesn't have to be thick to be effective, just enough for the top layer of paint to adhere to.               

This next photo is after applying a base amount of brown paints then an airbrush over the top to tone it down as I really felt it was a little overdone. I added a few highlights, a little dry brushing on the trunk. Then that gets us to the last photo.

I do tend to get a little carried away, less is more is my mantra. The base will have some flocks added between the roots when it is added to the layout. Next up is the foliage, the messy but quick part. That will have to do for today.      

Have a great week, 
Oorroo!
Geoff.

Armidale Convention 2014

Last weekend I headed down to Armidale and met up with some other modellers from Qld for the Armidale convention. Darren, Brendan, Craig and I shared a unit for the weekend, and Peter was smart enough to to get some peace in a room by himself. I headed down a day earlier hoping to spend some time at Dorrigo and a bit of bush walking at the NP near Ebor.

Friday afternoon we headed over to the bowls club to sign in and catch up with those that we knew. Every time I go to this convention I always end up meeting new people that have some real value to add to the hobby, and to life in general. as happened this year, along with chatting to some familiar faces as well.

The programme followed the same as others. I won't bore you with all the details. Let's say that the speaker and the food on the Saturday evening were outstanding. So what do I want to share with you?
The inspiration comes from many perspectives. Steve McElroy has a method for layout construction that was truly miles apart from anything that I would attempt. The tables were not 100% correct, but you know that encouraged those present to put into use the formulas that he uses. This for me was worth so much more, don't sweat it Steve, we got what you were doing, absolutely! Thanks for doing all the hard stuff to get us to this point.

Ian Dunn didn't disappoint with his session on four wheelers, the research he does is extensive. I think Ian's gift is that he offers a huge amount of knowledge and information that he gets you started with. Then the rest is up to you, I was intrigued.

I can't go passed talking about the convention with out mentioning the Cat on the hot tin roof that was Ian Faingies, now this guy can talk! The amount of info and technique that he brings to a session is almost overwhelming, but very doable. Thank you for your passion and enthusiasm Ian.

Linton, was great to catch up again, great having a chat with Ian and the guys as well. What you've done with sound files, wow!

Is this getting wordy yet? It was meant to be short and to the point. I must mention that without the efforts of the organising committee this wouldn't have been quite so enjoyable, so thanks to Warren, Geoff, Jim, Dave, Kerry, and Gary for their efforts and abilities.

 The weekend simply put is inspiring, giving a new method or perspective to your modelling, and most of all encouraging to do more. So with that thought in mind here are some of the many photos I took on the trip. Not at the convention, but isn't that the idea of going, learning something new and making it your own?

So that will do, except to thank everyone involved with the weekend. To Allan your layout 'Bullenbung Creek' is amazing, a real credit to you. To Ian, and Len, thanks for letting us get 'inside' the layout.
Gary, thank you for the invite I just love what you're doing, and where you live is just fantastic!

The boys over at Kerry's layout, a pleasure as always!
All the boys I caught up with, thanks it was great! For those I didn't meet, there's always the next one!
Oorroo!
Geoff.

Carriage shed progress

 I've been working away on this project for a while now. I can say that is starting to take shape finally. The timber really is enjoyable to work with. If you haven't read before it is bass wood that I've purchased from Gwydir Valley models, cut up in scale sizes ready to use, great stuff. In my last post I'd built up the uprights on a jig. There is another jig I made up that held the uprights on their sides so that I could add the top plate that links the side together, then the diagonal bracing to each side. Once all that had dried it was to the roof with the battens being fixed in place. I should mention that a couple of mates came over for a modelling night a few weeks back, and I actually managed to get most of the battens glued down, between drinks! Quite the challenge.

The corro' iron was next, but I did need to trim it up to the right sized sheet. All of them for this project were a scale 6ft long. The paint on the sheet is the grey primer made by Tamiya. I like this one as it is very fine and can be put on very lightly allowing some of the shine to show through. 

Here it is with some of the sheeting attached. I use the white glue made by simply glues called rapi-bond, it is fast drying and holds really well. I think the differing shades of grey are worth making up a couple of batches of iron with slightly different amounts of paint on them.

Whilst the glue dried I used the time to put on the first layer of weathering. A very thinned down rust coloured wash has been used, acrylic. Acrylic? I hear you say? Love'em, thin down easily with isocol, and you can even take some off if you've been too heavy handed if you are careful. There is a bit more done on this but I will save that for the finished product post. Not long now I hope.

That's it for now,
have a great week,
Oorroo!
Geoff.

Carriage shed pt1

The workbench has been calling me of late, hence the new project. The Carriage shed is about 80 scale feet long. The overall size of Splitters has meant that the shed is about half the size of the scale drawings I have. The Data Sheets from Greg Edwards show two different designs and I've chosen the skillion roof one to model. I made a simple jig to make up the uprights for this new project. I've used basswood that has been prestained with india ink to give it an aged look. I have made up the frames with a gap at the top of each upright column so that the top plate can be added later to tie all of them together. 

This next photo shows the uprights in the second jig. The jig will allow me to add the bracing to each 'bay', of course it will be lying down to do this.

This last photo gives you an idea of what is next to come. I will be putting the third jig on the back of this, just to hold the 'flimsy' frames in the correct spacing so that the roof batons can be added as well. So there you go, just a short post today. 

Have a great week, Oorroo!
Geoff.

TMTEX 2014

Well everyone, it's here again, the Toowoomba model Train Exhibition is on next weekend. The show has a generous number of layouts all in the one huge shed. Yes it is located in the Toowoomba Show grounds and is well worth the visit. Have a look at the plan, whoa! So many things to check out!

If you have the time, I'm sure you will not be disappointed. there are many reasons from a modellers perspective to head up the range, the new ideas you find, the friendships that are rekindled, the purchases from the many varied stores that come, the weather (just beaut!) or even the enthusiasm of the general public that come along.

In the words of Mollie 'do yourselves a favour!'
See you there! Oorroo!
Geoff.

too Shay!

So here's the shay with a bit of green thrown on it. I've decided to put it where I originally planned at the end of the 'other' side of the layout. It will be at the end of a disused siding, below the mill. There abouts is the plan, but it's not glued down yet! 

 Excuse the photography, it looks a little better up close in front of you. Anyway a quick post tonight, off to the train club. Been a while I might need to wear my name badge so people know who I am. 

Have a great week! Oorroo!
Geoff.

A rusty shay

Hi All, 

I thought I'd post some progress shots of the weathering of the Shay for the end of the layout. The main reason for the post is to share of the products that I used to get it done. There is along way to go, the most obvious is the cab and running boards. They are timber and are only in the base colour. I have been wanting to try one of the chipping products that are on the market so that is the focus.

 The first shot shows the side of the loco. I applied the base rust colour and let it dry. Then once cured applied the chipping coat and let it air dry for about half an hour. Then straight on with the grey top coat.

 As soon as it is dry looking it was out with a wet paint brush. You basically apply the water and the top layer of paint breaks up. I have found out a couple of things worth sharing. The first is that you need to be sparing with water as it all happens pretty quickly. The second is that you can use alcohol instead of water. It does dissolve the paint rather than flake it off. You do need to wipe the brush though as you don't want a milky wash over the top of your rust.

The third is that you can let that top coat cure completely before taking it off with the isocol. The side of the boiler has been done in the final way, and I think it looks ok. It does slow down the chipping process which I like.

 

 This last shot is a group of the products I'm using. The model air is the base colour, then the chipping, then a top coat of acrylic (not shown) The vallejo wash on the right has been used in the above photos after the chipping stage. It is easy to use and there are a couple of colours available in their range. The Rustall will be used along with the pulverised clay that is in their pack, great stuff.

There is along way to go, but I thought it worth sharing these products with you. The next steps will be to further weather the metal, then the wood, then work on the base it is buried in. It feels good to post again,

Oorroo!

Geoff.