Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Interesting architecture on the cafe in the photo.
Neil's HO workbench - Been back to Belgium
- Thread starter Neil
- Start date
Neil
Western Thunderer
I've managed to complete and fix the first two areas of pavement. Since the last photos The card pavement sections have been painted at the workbench using the same shade of grey as the road. They went even curlier a la BR cheese sandwich circa 1978. However they stuck down well with PVA once weighted with a stck of books and some offcuts of roofing lead.
By and large I'm pleased with the result but the colour will have to be adjusted. The card used for the paving slabs is a more brilliant white than the Das clay used for road surfaces. The pavement will need a slight darkening and a bit of warmth added before I'm properly happy.
By and large I'm pleased with the result but the colour will have to be adjusted. The card used for the paving slabs is a more brilliant white than the Das clay used for road surfaces. The pavement will need a slight darkening and a bit of warmth added before I'm properly happy.
Neil
Western Thunderer
I've done a couple of things since the last post, the first being to fill in the slight gaps between pavement and road and the second to get out the pastels to darken and warm up the grey tones of the paving.
It's not as apparent in the photos as it is with the naked eye but I am a lot happier with the way it's coming together now for relatively little effort.
It's not as apparent in the photos as it is with the naked eye but I am a lot happier with the way it's coming together now for relatively little effort.
Neil
Western Thunderer
Now that the sh!th0le that we called home has become a des res at last and there are no rooms left to decorate I'm have a good deal more time to spend on making models. Spurred on by the progress Al Reynolds is making over at the other place with his lovely French industrial layout I'm knuckling down with further paving and scenery on Vischkaai. Attention is now focussed on the water side. Here's some of the real thing.
Here's what I've done so far.
The dreadful join will be filled and faffed with, fortunately I can also deploy bushes and weeds to disguise any deficiencies (see above). To tackle the paving adjoining the quayside I need to finish this roughed out building as it will sit within the paving.
Attention has also been given to the gaping holes round the point tie bars. Hopefully it's not a too implausible representation of steel cover plates.
Finally I thought it might be an idea to show how I work on the section of layout. Some time ago I bought an old tea trolley which is just the ticket for stuff like this as I can spin relatively large sections about to work at from all angles.
Here's what I've done so far.
The dreadful join will be filled and faffed with, fortunately I can also deploy bushes and weeds to disguise any deficiencies (see above). To tackle the paving adjoining the quayside I need to finish this roughed out building as it will sit within the paving.
Attention has also been given to the gaping holes round the point tie bars. Hopefully it's not a too implausible representation of steel cover plates.
Finally I thought it might be an idea to show how I work on the section of layout. Some time ago I bought an old tea trolley which is just the ticket for stuff like this as I can spin relatively large sections about to work at from all angles.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
The working area on the desk is too big - it should be at least the maximum size of a postage stamp surrounded by tools and clutter 
.
.
Neil
Western Thunderer
As I want to press on with the paving on the right hand section of quayside I need to establish the final and accurate footprint of the building which will sit within it.
While the basic card shape works well to establish the overall look it's not precise enough to use as a marker for establishing the position of the paving slabs. Nothing for it but to make a start on the proper structure. Like most of the other buildings I have a head start in the form of a cast resin facade, this time by Alsa Cast picked up from the wonderful Kuijper's Hobbyhuis whilst on holiday in Utrecht.
The other three walls are fashioned from plasticard, the smaller windows from Auhagen, the big one from scratch to match the facade.
Like the other resin fronted buildings the structure will be completed by a false inner plasticard wall to which the resin outer will be laminated.
While the basic card shape works well to establish the overall look it's not precise enough to use as a marker for establishing the position of the paving slabs. Nothing for it but to make a start on the proper structure. Like most of the other buildings I have a head start in the form of a cast resin facade, this time by Alsa Cast picked up from the wonderful Kuijper's Hobbyhuis whilst on holiday in Utrecht.
The other three walls are fashioned from plasticard, the smaller windows from Auhagen, the big one from scratch to match the facade.
Like the other resin fronted buildings the structure will be completed by a false inner plasticard wall to which the resin outer will be laminated.
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Looks very good Neil.
When it comes to painting the buildings - will it be Vermeer style?
When it comes to painting the buildings - will it be Vermeer style?
Neil
Western Thunderer
For some time I've been thinking about how to rearrange my playroom. Though it's a good size it's built into the roof and has sloping ceilings with full height only in the centre. In itself this isn't too bad as I now instinctively know where and when to duck or stoop. However Vischkaai would only fir on top of the benches under the eaves if shorn of buildings. In the end the best arrangement I could come up with for the benches to project into the room. I spent a good number of hours moving heavy and awkward bits of furniture around before settling on this. In the accompanying photos not all the small stuff has been tidied away, but I'm already enjoying the benefits of being able to have the layout assembled in its entirety and accessible from both front and back.
I've also proved the adage about taking the man out of Yorkshire but not being able to take the Yorkshire out of the man. Another irresistible ebay bargain in the shape of a Trix Henschel DHG 500 arrived from Germany yesterday; well at twenty quid how could I resist.
I've also proved the adage about taking the man out of Yorkshire but not being able to take the Yorkshire out of the man. Another irresistible ebay bargain in the shape of a Trix Henschel DHG 500 arrived from Germany yesterday; well at twenty quid how could I resist.
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Neil
Western Thunderer
Now the electrical connection is sorted it runs pretty well Steve and I've no doubt that with a spot of running in it will get even better. It's rather unusual in that the drive is to one axle only, one wheel of which has a traction tyre. Pick up is from all three axles (five and a bit wheels) and while I have no dead frog points to challenge it with it seems immune to stalling on my less than clean track. The upper limits of haulage capacity have not been explored as yet, it easily handles Vischkaai's modest demands. The gear train intrigues as they're seriously beefy cogs of the sort I'd expect in a town hall clock, not the usual model railway spec.
Finally the flanges, they're no better but no worse than any of my other euro-toys. I guess that they'd be ok on the finer Peco streamline but I couldn't say with absolute certainty as Vischkaai is all bomb proof code 100 stuff.
Finally the flanges, they're no better but no worse than any of my other euro-toys. I guess that they'd be ok on the finer Peco streamline but I couldn't say with absolute certainty as Vischkaai is all bomb proof code 100 stuff.
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allegheny1600
Western Thunderer
Hi Neil,
I agree with Steve - it's an interesting loco and I quite fancy one. I'd say it's typically Trix/Märklin in that it's "Tonka Toy" tough and should definitely last a lifetime. I think there is an orange liveried one available, maybe more than that too, I'm not sure.
Enjoy,
John.
I agree with Steve - it's an interesting loco and I quite fancy one. I'd say it's typically Trix/Märklin in that it's "Tonka Toy" tough and should definitely last a lifetime. I think there is an orange liveried one available, maybe more than that too, I'm not sure.
Enjoy,
John.
Neil
Western Thunderer
I've spent the last three days fabricating a backyard for the waterside building.
Since taking the photo I've added brick capping all round and finished the yard gate. As the building is to become a cafe I need to find my Knightwing sets of bottles in crates to dress the yard once it's painted and planted. Moving round to the front of the building this frankly iffy photo should show one of the views I sought to achieve, that of passing trains through the front and side windows of the cafe.
Who wouldn't want to stop there for a drink.
Since taking the photo I've added brick capping all round and finished the yard gate. As the building is to become a cafe I need to find my Knightwing sets of bottles in crates to dress the yard once it's painted and planted. Moving round to the front of the building this frankly iffy photo should show one of the views I sought to achieve, that of passing trains through the front and side windows of the cafe.
Who wouldn't want to stop there for a drink.
Neil
Western Thunderer
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
And few outdoor tables and chairs twixt cafe and harbour wall. Together with cycles propped up against the cafe walls.
Neil
Western Thunderer
I don't think I've mentioned this before but Vischkaai is due to make an appearance at Larkrail this year. Last week I checked with Simon that he was ok with its incompleteness, he replied with a reassuring 'that's fine it's not that sort of show'. Good job really as it would need what military historians would call a 'big push' to get it anywhere near; at best I can manage a gentle nudge. In that vein I can report that the waterside cafe had had glazing applied, some extra painting undertaken to tone things down and is now firmly attached to the yard.
Whilst the brushes were out some of the rolling stock was also within range and a start made on the weathering. First up the brutish Henschel
I've used a couple of images as inspiration firstly this shot of the real loco taken, I think, in Germany. I've also taken note of this image from the docks at Ghent of a Renault shunter. My log term aim is to be able to operate the layout using specific Belgian prototypes; I have drawings of the Renault but it'll be some time before I have time to make a start so till then the Henschel will have to stand in.
Wagons have started to exhibit signs of age and the elements too. A start has been made on one of my Liliput fish vans.
Again reference has been made to the real thing seen here from the Flickr site of Pim Van Gestel. Still to do are the bits and bobs under the solebar.
Finally a further victim in the shape of a Piko NMBS/SNCB van in green livery.
Again the real thing. Actually the eagle eyed will notice that the Piko van is a bit of an imposter dragged up as a genuine Belgian van where its origins lie elsewhere. However time and money dictate the use of the not too terrible stand in. I realise that this isn't a very Thunderish stance to take but I'm interested in how an impressionist take on the subject of layout building will work so I don't mind stuff being incorrect as long as it doesn't howl out about it. If I was a Belgian building this layout in Belgium for a Belgian audience I might take a different line, ..... but I'm not and I'm not.
Whilst the brushes were out some of the rolling stock was also within range and a start made on the weathering. First up the brutish Henschel
I've used a couple of images as inspiration firstly this shot of the real loco taken, I think, in Germany. I've also taken note of this image from the docks at Ghent of a Renault shunter. My log term aim is to be able to operate the layout using specific Belgian prototypes; I have drawings of the Renault but it'll be some time before I have time to make a start so till then the Henschel will have to stand in.
Wagons have started to exhibit signs of age and the elements too. A start has been made on one of my Liliput fish vans.
Again reference has been made to the real thing seen here from the Flickr site of Pim Van Gestel. Still to do are the bits and bobs under the solebar.
Finally a further victim in the shape of a Piko NMBS/SNCB van in green livery.
Again the real thing. Actually the eagle eyed will notice that the Piko van is a bit of an imposter dragged up as a genuine Belgian van where its origins lie elsewhere. However time and money dictate the use of the not too terrible stand in. I realise that this isn't a very Thunderish stance to take but I'm interested in how an impressionist take on the subject of layout building will work so I don't mind stuff being incorrect as long as it doesn't howl out about it. If I was a Belgian building this layout in Belgium for a Belgian audience I might take a different line, ..... but I'm not and I'm not.
unklian
Western Thunderer
Your green van and the real one in the picture are both of a German type. The one in the picture is a later version with various detail differences, principally the extra bracing at the ends. Many thousands of these vans were built by German industry, for railways both at home and all over Europe and from the 1890's until larger designs came along in the 1910's . Many were then requisitioned after both World Wars by the Allied countries and the East European block . Your van is quite plausible as an SNCB vehicle .