I was pleased when the group build was announced, as I’d already decided to make a photo plank, and, indeed, already started. My motivation is that we have a clear horizon from our patio overlooking the Channel, and I wanted some form of plank on which to place my 0 Gauge models outdoors, for photography, so the pictures do not feature our rather tatty patio table, hence an embankment type of plank seemed the ideal choice. I’ve copied this post over from Steve’s intro to the build. My plank is constructed from an offcut of 4mm ply, (900 x 270mm) left over from my Porth Dinllaen locoshed baseboards, (see RMWeb) and a 3’ length of 4” x 1/2” whitewood - planed up it’s approximately 95 x 12mm which used to be part of the backing board for the curtain rail in our bedroom, until we decorated. These were held apart be three lengths of 2” x 1/2” whitewood, again left overs from the PD baseboards. These were screwed & glued together after chamfering the separators. I deliberately angled to trackbed to the base, to give varying slopes to the embankment. Then I attacked it with my sliced up paketo cornflako, and more Evo-stik woodwork adhesive. During last week, I wove horizontal strips through the slopey ones, and I covered the ensemble with brown paper ex grocery bags (reuse, recycle...) which gets you to the photo below. The track is Peco, with the webs cut off between the sleepers, so they can be more accurately spaced. I also had a go at making an accommodation crossing, which uses foam board, with DAS glued on, and carved whilst not quite set. Painted with acrylics. Never done this before, seems to have worked, but I was pleased to be doing random stone. I think coursed stone would require rather more discipline! Not sure, but rather suspect that I’ve overdone the mortar course gaps. Comments & suggestions most welcome. The road is an offcut of stone setts, I think it was Slaters, probably a bit left over from the Greater Windowledge Railway (RMWeb again). And that’s where I had got to when the build was announced. I’ve left it strictly alone since then, but now we are officially on the build, I will start to do a bit more. Comments, criticisms, suggestions etc most welcome! Best Simon
I would use a mix of dark grey and concrete Ammo by Mig Jimenez or similar weathering powder. Mix it into a paste, brush on then wipe off when dry. This should leave the effect the stonework has been repointed.
Had a play with the plank this evening, whilst waiting for the stain on the sleepers for PD to dry. Some things arrive from Amazon, wrapped in a quite thick, softish brown paper, which I have used to overlay the crisper brown paper that I used previously. I painted the banks with el-cheapo PVA and stuck the soft stuff down. I took Dave’s advice, at least in part. I wet the stonework and rubbed it with lightweight filler, which filled the mortar courses to quite a decent degree, and I then painted over the whole shebang with a thin coat of pale acrylic (Vallejo Iraqi sand and verdigris palido), and once that dried off, I overpainted with a mix of marron matte and basalt grey. I’m more pleased with the one with longer wing walls. Next step will be a spray coat of rust on the rails, and a ground cover coat on the bank. I will probably look for a static grass applicator at Telford, though we have the successor to Euromilitaire in Folkestone in a few weeks, and I might get to that too. Feedback welcome! Best Simon
The stonework looks good Simon - well worth the additional work . Now, if the underpass is in a damp location you could add some mosses and algae to the wing walls and in the 'tunnel' itself. A satin/gloss varnish on will give the algae the 'wet' look .
thanks Dave, that was exactly where my imagination was going... once I have the ground cover on the banks, I'll glue the arches and wings in, and build up the banks between the cobbles and the walls, and then look for some reasons to make it a bit damp & grubby cheers Simon
Isn’t it funny how you come back from a weekend away all full of excitement & enthusiasm? Sort of brown paint applied to embankments, and red rust acrylic applied by airbrush to rails & chairs And a new toy... Standard head and fine nozzle. I suspect it won’t get played with tonight - need the ground cover paint to dry first. It’ll be good to practice on the photo plank, as it’s easily accessible, unlike the rear corners of Porth Dinllaen, and, if I make a pigs ear of it, it’s relatively easy to rip up and repeat. Hopefully that won’t be an issue, but we’ll see... Best Simon
Had a play with the flocker this evening. Still very much in learning mode. It’s a messy process, and there’s a fair amount of flock on the floor. It seems that cheapo PVA works fine, tho’ the nice man did suggest “flock cement” would be better. I have both and will observe and comment further. It also seems that getting the grille really near to the surface works better, my best results seem to be hovering at around a centimetre above the glued ground. I did sprinkle a little dried and sifted soil onto the grass, to try to take it away from the “mown lawn” look. I suspect some cheapo hairspray and a second dose of grass would also have helped, as would some much longer fibres mixed in with the ones I’m using (4 & 6.5 mixed). It certainly looks too well kept at the moment. Still, early days, and the bank does look like it has vegetation rather than poster paint! Sorry that the photo is so dark, I do need to sort out some better lighting. Please ignore the gubbins in the tender, I’m playing (not hugely successfully) with BPRC on the Duchess at the moment. Best Simon
It certainly is.... I lay down newspaper and collect the loose flock for re-use. I use a cheapo PVA like most others and add a few drops of water as I think this aids conductivity. I never bother with 'flock cements' but would be interested in your results. To achieve taller grass just go over certain areas again to get the clumpy effect. Lightly brush the PVA on the existing grass so it just touches and re-grass. ... and of course taller grasses around the edges of the bridge wing walls. I generally have brown and green grasses and try to avoid the 'summer' mixes. Now you've started you'll end up adding other vegetation such as weeds, bushes, brambles and other detritus .
Thanks Dave, I'll try your suggestion for making it a bit longer on the other side. It'll have to have weeds, bushes, brambles, rabbit holes, etc, or it'll be boring... DAS rabbits... mmmm cheers Simon
Thank you Dave. I tried to make that joke with MrsD over dinner and she told me I was being silly. I appreciated it anyway Simon
I remember an article in Railway Modeler where the rabbit was connected to a solenoid and disappeared when a train passed. You’d need a big old solenoid for that rabbit!! Phil
There speaks a man who has never had to keep a rabbit still. Generally only possible with sedation or in a pot with red wine. Nick .
Thanks to Phil’s, Mick’s & Nick’s prompt, herewith the latest state of play. Gorse... Not yet stuck down, but artistically placed for consideration. I think it’s probably ok, and I’ll get the glue out. Still need to add some longer tufts of grass and those Kaninchenen. I’m pondering an autumn feel on the other side. Haven’t a clue how to achieve it, but presumably needs less blossom and some wind-blown leaves. Atb Simon
