7mm Layouts and Dioramas by Stephen Fay Weymouth coal stage and St Stephen’s bank

[Compton castle]

water cranes secured in place
Slow weathering process is underway. A little at a time and sealed between each coat.

 

[Focalplane]

Steve

May I ask which brand of water cranes you have used? The ground weathering looks superb, by the way! Reminds me of sneaking around Crewe North back when I was 13 years old. Yes, I got in under the railings 'round back and escaped from my chasers to live another day.

Paul

 

[Compton castle]

The smaller cranes are from Duncan’s models, The larger are from Mikes Models’s available from Holt Model Railways

 

[Compton castle]

More track weathering, for really Gungy areas I mix talc with paint, in other areas I’ve mixed powders and applied to the rail sides and plain black powders to the surrounding area

 

[Longbow]

That's the most convincing loco shed ballasting I've seen - congratulations. Perhaps you'd consider a step-by-step tutorial?

 

[Compton castle]

MIG fuel stains brushed along the rail sides along the gungy rails, This will dry with a nice sheen.
The final bridge support has been secured in place with the trusty glue gun.

 

[Compton castle]

Canton track work continues, whilst I await a delivery of MIG washes I’ve been working around other areas. Adding real coal here and there where tenders would be trimmed. Some Canton turns would see a loco usually a Castle or Brit work to London and return to Swansea on one tender full of coal. Some pictures I have show tenders piled very high! Of course this would need to be trimmed to make sure they was with in the loading gauge, some of the coal would inevitably end up on the floor.

 

[LarryG]

Coal, a precious commodity in its day and I wonder how long it would have lain there.

I am enjoying watching this shed yard develop. Such places could be utterly depressing, but I respect good modelling. I liked walking down Lees Shed yard ~ it was kept tidy and was in the middle of a field. In contrast, a large shed like Newton Heath was draconian and far from a pleasure to work in. How about the remains of a crumpled wheelbarrow that some cad had left behind a loco at dusk.

 

[Compton castle]

Engine grime arrived today, this has been brushed / dabbed over. As you can see it’s still wet.

 

[Compton castle]

Now that the last application has dried I’ve added the final colour wash dark streaking grime. Next will be a wash of thinners and humbrol Matt black. I usually do a few of these at varying densities

 

[Compton castle]

Thinned Matt 33 was applied last night and An application of black smoke powders sealed with Liquitex clear Matt spray this morning, I will add more here and there but that’s about it for a blow by blow account of how I do my shed areas.
If it was disposal roads I’d add more piled ash etc like I did on Kemys Fawr and maple road.
I hope some have found this useful.
The sheen is emphasised by the lighting it’s matter in reality.

 

[Allen M]

WHAT A MESS.
Excellent, very realistic and very enlightening, thanks for all your effort in writing it up.
Regards
Allen

 

[Compton castle]

Natural sunlight highlights the colours of many years worth of oil and ash that’s caked to the sides of the track on Canton Shed.
Rail tops need to be cleaned now.

 

[Compton castle]

Canton overload the last few days, it will soon be going back away in the cupboard as I need to get back to commission work and I doubt it’ll come out until after Christmas
The footbridge steps and the shed will be the next big task
Until then enjoy what Canton is all about top link locos

 

[Brocp]

How long until we see Evening Star on there Steve?

 

[Compton castle]

How long until we see Evening Star on there Steve?

I have it on very good authority that an MOK 9F will be under my tree at Christmas and a set of Severn mill plates also

 

[Compton castle]

Canton will now go away for the rest of this year, there’s a few little jobs to do over the festive period

 

[Compton castle]

First two Signals have now arrived for Sonning
I’ll get this project completed next year and offer it for sale

 

[Compton castle]

Track work progressing nicely on Westbourne Bridge over in Bristol in the trusty hands of Rob & Martyn
Ive got the pits to make up and paint the lower half of the backscene wall and everything will be ready to plant when I bring the boards back home soon

 

[Compton castle]

• Another little scratch built diorama underway, built by my dad and in with me for ground cover, Scenics, detailing and weathering