A coal stage for Splitters

Hi Everyone,

A little bit of progress on the facilities for Splitters. I've wanted to start this for a while. As I've said many times I enjoy working with timber and this project was a simple one to do on the workbench.

The Data Sheet available from Greg Edwards has two different types of stage and the 1900 one is the perfect one for my layout. There are a few different timber sizes, but basically the structure is the same for each design. 

I began with prestaining all the timber so that I didn't have to worry about trying to stain after gluing it up. I also prefer doing it first so that when it is built there are different colours to the timber that doing it after construction would be difficult to achieve.

I cut up all the decking timber first and had a pile to use. By laying all the decking down first I built this part from the deck down. So the bearers were glued on top of the decking timber and set aside to dry.

 Next up were the sides of the coal stage, one whole side and the other with a gap wide enough for a D wagon. This is one of the main differences between the two designs on the sheet was that the later design had a gap fitting much longer wagons, whereas the early ones were specifically for the shorter four wheeled D wagon.

I then simply glued the sides on and allowed it to dry. Then cut up the timber for the ends and installed them.

To help with holding the sides in place the universal jig, bluetac was put in place.

Once this had all dried out I did some light weathering on top of the deck to show some change in colour of the timber.

This photo shows up the variation in the deck before the addition of coal.

I've pre drilled holes in the timber uprights to hold the bolt detail, and they are being weathered as I write this.

Next up the base of the stage and there is a bit of cutting and sanding involved. So I'll leave it there for this post.

Have a great week!

Oorroo!

Geoff.

Constructing a new scene on Splitters, part 3

Hi Everyone,
I know, I know, three posts in less than three days! Let's just say I've a little ground to catch up on. Facebook and the few modelling groups I'm involved with do make it a bit easier to post quickly, but mostly it is about seeing what others have been doing for inspiration. So now a refocus on Splitters is more than passed time to happen.

Here's a photo of progress on installing the corro' iron on the roof of the shed. I tried to make it look like it had been added onto at a later stage, by laying the sheets differently and with different weathering pattern. The Woodstock is all basswood, I love this stuff! It stains so well. I've found a light sand between coatings enables a different result. It certainly removes any fuzz. There is another benefit in a light sand that being a big reduction in the shine that can be left when the stain dries. I also do it between paint colours to show some variation in patterns on peeling paint.

A shot from the rear before the paint goes on. I've used 'simply glues' wood glue as it dries quickly, even holding the metal iron in place.

I've posted this photo before but I've just realised its the only one I have at this aspect. Hopefully you can see the effect I was trying to achieve with the different weathering of the roof sheets.

I still want to have another go at the level of rust, with a dry brush of the grey of the sheets across the top of the rust, as the least rusted sheets rust in the low parts first. Does that make sense? Ok that's it for this project for a bit. Time to share how the other items are coming along.

Have a great week,

Oorroo!

Geoff.

Constructing a new scene for Splitters, part 2

Hello All,
Continuing on from my last post. The office building is a simple build, however as I'm always up for trying something new I had a go using some different weathering ideas on this one. I started with a basic off white colour then added some washes that I'd purchased along with a quick drying purple mask made by Humbrol, that I wanted to try.

Here you can see the end of the building that has had a layer of the humbrol applied over some base colours. The idea now being to apply some more paint over the top, to then peel off the purple mask to reveal some weathered 'wood' or peeling paint beneath.

The same building with the top layer of paint applied, ready to peel away the purple.

Now here it is with the extra coating. The best part is that the purple coat comes off easily and I'm 

sure will work well over timber which is how I plan to use it next. The roofing I've had a go at, but honestly I think the rusting of the roofing material has gone too far. So down the line it will be replaced. 

This next photo shows the office a little further on with a simple awning over the door and a storage rack on the back of the building also. The area this goes in will be clearer in the next photo, with a couple of other simple structures that go with the office.

If you're wondering about the plastic bag it's acting as a separator between wet sculptamould (the white you can see) and the track behind it. Because I've used a separate ply board to mount this all on I had to be able to work on the scenery behind the buildings. As when it is located there will be no way to reach in there.

This shot shows the progress of the other buildings, and the re roof of the office also. The ground has had its first coat of colour to begin that part of the scenery.

The taller of the three buildings is a mishmash of styles, due to it being added onto and altered over time. I'm using the humbrol mask on the wood as I was really happy with how it worked on the styrene.

Here is the first wall with the extra paint applied. I'm really happy with how it's come together. Now for the other sides.

A bit more progress on this building. The other walls are simple enough, and I'm also putting a loading dock on there as well. The simple shed beside will eventually house some storage for odds and ends and vehicle or two. That's probably enough for this photo update.

Have a great week!

Oorroo!

Geoff.

Constructing a new scene for Splitters, part 1

Hi Everyone,
I've been beavering away on this project for a while now. There is a corner of the layout that has just had basic scenery on it for far too long. My plan has always been to create a busy corner of the layout with a few opportunities for some buildings.

There will be some facilities for locomotives in the area, a loco shed and coal stage for starters. Along with  some non railway related structures for added interest. It is these structures I plan to construct first.

 This first photo shows the part of the layout that I plan to change. There isn't a lot of room to play with but it will be enough for my plan. The area closest to the front of the layout is where the coal stage and locomotive shed will be located. The area between the siding and where the line disappears into the backdrop will be for non NSWGR buildings, freelance style.

 The first structure is a small office styled building. It is styrene with a corrugated iron roof. A quick build after cutting up a kit of parts, as you can see here. I use the citrolene glue, as I prefer smelling of oranges than superglue, and a t gives a little more time with a similar result.

The main building took just an hour or so, so it works in well to a mid week hour session in the shed. I've had a few one hour sessions, and working with a plan in mind it is surprising just what you can get through. I always try and pre plan a little bit, for example if I'm going to build using wood I try to have a 'kit' of wood already stained up ready to go.

Since I'm loading this on an iPad, that's all I can load for now. Any more photos and I can't scroll down to look at them or add text.

So keep an eye out for part 2!
Have a great week!
Oorroo!
Geoff.