RandyWales Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 Hi again... After many (more) months of inactivity due to loss of interest, the enthusiasm has returned. I've had to make a big decision with regard to the trackbed, which was laid and coloured way before I had decided on a Colliery theme. I've always felt that it looked decent enough, but too tidy for colliery environs. Hence, I took a deep breath and jumped in.... The images show the before and after, and I'm hoping that the track now looks more appropriate. I say 'hoping' because I'm 'hoping' I haven't overdone it. I'll always be grateful to the forum members who helped me develop ideas for Maenol Mine. New members can find the "Microlayout in O Gauge" project from it's inception on the old site via this link: http://www.rmweb.co....php?f=9&t=25704 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jenny Emily Posted April 27, 2010 Share Posted April 27, 2010 It looks very good with the weathered track - certainly not overdone. It looks great, and more like the track at the collieries that I've seen than the first picture! What did you use to weather it all? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted April 27, 2010 Author Share Posted April 27, 2010 Phew! Thanks Jenny.... It's coarse sharp sand, mixed with charcoal black acrylic paint. I squirted a large blob of paint onto a mixing board and cut in the sand with a spatula. This was repeated until I had half a sandwich-bag full. I left it for 24 hours and (after the said big breath) laid it while it was still damp. It was generally spread over the track with a piece of plastikard and worked in with a 1" paintbrush. The paint dried rapidly and the sand is solidly in place, but I'm wondering whether I should use dilute PVA just in case. I'll see what it's like tomorrow. Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sapper_k Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 wow, very impressive layout here. i think the only thing that gives the first picture away as not being a real railway is the big red thing on the left, other than that little thing very, very, impressive Kye Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 I'm gonna have to experiment with that technique - I have a rather run-down engineers yard planned on my layout that I'm just about to start tracklaying on; I reckon a slightly less deep ballasting (up to the sleepers, rather than above it, as yours correctly is) and the colouring would look a treat. I'll pin down some flexitrack directly to the board, rather than on cork, and try both options to see what looks right. Excellent work. Going to the beach next week - will take a couple of bags and 'liberate' some sand. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted April 28, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 28, 2010 Randall, That track work looks superb, just the right level of shine for dropped bits of coal, and you definitely get the sense you'd be filthy if you walked on it. Not over done at all. Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kenton Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 A BIG improvement! - without wishing to imply the original was rubbish ... just nowhere near as good. I'd caution the use of a coat of PVA it may have unwanted visual effects such as giving it a shiny appearance or whitening the charcoal neither would be good. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium eldavo Posted April 28, 2010 RMweb Premium Share Posted April 28, 2010 Spot on. Cheers Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted April 28, 2010 Author Share Posted April 28, 2010 Thanks all, for the very kind words. It's a big change, and hard to get used to after such a long time with the original colouring. Some of the walls will need to be toned down a bit too, as they now look too clean. Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 Just out of interest, was the track laid on cork or something to give a 'shoulder' at the edges, or was it directly to the baseboard? I can't decide whether I should use something to raise the track - when it's likely to be filled in between tracks rather than with a shoulder along the edge of each line. I've marked out the position of the 'key' point that everything else has to fit around to join up with the rest of the layout - so I'm ready to start tracklaying soon! All my other trackwork, by the way, doesn't matter if it's slightly out or not square - but this particular one does need to be. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pointstaken Posted April 28, 2010 Share Posted April 28, 2010 It does look realistic. Not just the colour of the ballast, but the way it has been distributed, with random heaps on the sleepers and the shoulders. One of those details which makes all the difference to realism. Makes me feel as if I'd get filthy as well if I walked along it. Nicely done, sir ! Dennis Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 Just out of interest, was the track laid on cork or something to give a 'shoulder' at the edges, or was it directly to the baseboard? Hi CromptonNut For no particular reason other than it's what I've always done, the track is laid on 1/8" cork floortile glued to the ply trackbase. The track is laid (stuck with PVA glue) directly onto the cork, with no chamfers between tracks. For Maenol Mine, the ballast was always going to be up to (and over in places) sleeper level between the tracks. On well-maintained running lines, again I have always chamfered the cork to give the raised appearance. The image shows the unconventional baseboard frame. It's made by joining (PVA again) three (very) lightweight oil painting frames stripped of their canvas. They were very cheap, square and well jointed. With all the additional work that's gone into the layout, the weight saving is probably negligible, but I'd use them again if I needed to save weight. Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 It does look realistic. Not just the colour of the ballast, but the way it has been distributed, with random heaps on the sleepers and the shoulders. One of those details which makes all the difference to realism. Makes me feel as if I'd get filthy as well if I walked along it. Nicely done, sir ! Hi Dennis... Thank you kindly... I pinched the idea of using coloured sharp sand from the Stafford Railway Circle layout "New Haden Colliery" (MR Feb 2004), except I got impatient and laid it while the acrylic paint/sand mix was still damp. I did try it out on a small area first, though. Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 Come to think of it, I knew I'd have to bite the bullet and revisit the trackbed one day, and I think that being stumped for ideas on how the make the change was the reason why I lost interest (again). Stubby47 will be used to me going walkabout...he's been following Maenol Mine since Day1 and has provided loads of brilliant ideas that have been incorporated onto this microlayout. After all - he is a microlayout King. His mind is full of amazing schemes and suggestions....Thanks Stu. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted April 29, 2010 Share Posted April 29, 2010 As much as I like the idea of laying track directly on the board (especially as you can't see the difference with your method), I think I'm probably going to have to end up using either the 5mm cork or foam strips that I have to raise the track up, and possibly "fill in" between tracks where necessary. Thanks for sharing your method - off to the beach at the weekend with some freezer bags to bring back some sand! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted April 29, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 29, 2010 Randall, Many thanks for those very kind comments - I'm almost lost for words! This layout has been a major influence in both Porth Byhan ( for the idea of a small layout) and Wheal Tiny ( for the idea of a mechanical device). Most of my ideas are recycled from other peoples layouts or prototypes I've seen - I'm just happy to pass them on. Regards, Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 Thanks for sharing your method - off to the beach at the weekend with some freezer bags to bring back some sand! It might be cheaper to buy a large bag of sharp sand from B&Q as I did (other DIY shops are available) - £1.52 is probably much cheaper than taking the family to the beach.... . Be careful to wash beach sand to get rid of the salt, otherwise your ballast may turn white. Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted April 29, 2010 Author Share Posted April 29, 2010 Many thanks for those very kind comments - I'm almost lost for words! Most of my ideas are recycled from other peoples layouts or prototypes I've seen - I'm just happy to pass them on. You're too modest Stu... the mobile phone vibrator-motor for the coal chute was a stroke of genius and the Chapel is your idea, too! Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cromptonnut Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 It might be cheaper to buy a large bag of sharp sand from B&Q as I did (other DIY shops are available) - £1.52 is probably much cheaper than taking the family to the beach.... . Be careful to wash beach sand to get rid of the salt, otherwise your ballast may turn white. Randall We're planning on going to the beach anyway - and just the two of us, so no cries of "we want another ice cream" (apart from ours, of course) - however I undersatnd what you mean! Thanks for the tip of washing the sand - hadn't crossed my mind. Trips to B&Q are generally not cheap as I usually end up buying all sorts of goodies for the layout, wood, tools etc - not to mention whatever SWMBO decides needs decorating or whatever! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stubby47 Posted April 30, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted April 30, 2010 Another source of sand is that sold for childrens play sandpits, ready washed and bagged, and only a couple of quid. Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted April 30, 2010 Author Share Posted April 30, 2010 Hi all... I've uploaded a few of my favorite images of the still unfinished Maenol Mine, if only to give myself a kick up the backside as I'm ashamed it's taking so long to complete. Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sandshifter Posted April 30, 2010 Share Posted April 30, 2010 Great to see this again, I hope you get closer completion soon. The new "ballast" certainly looks the part for the setting, I don't think you could get too mucky there! Colin Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold mudmagnet Posted May 1, 2010 RMweb Gold Share Posted May 1, 2010 Impressive. I particularily like the way the buildings (industrial and domestic) appear to dominate the scene, yet the railway has the atmosphere. Do you have a track plan or overall shots? The ballast looks spot on to me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted May 1, 2010 Author Share Posted May 1, 2010 Great to see this again.... Thanks Colin.... It was your 'Layout in a Boxfile" that inspired this project - the trackplans are identical. I'd put money on it that your's didn't take nearly two years to complete! Randall Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RandyWales Posted May 1, 2010 Author Share Posted May 1, 2010 Impressive. I particularily like the way the buildings (industrial and domestic) appear to dominate the scene, yet the railway has the atmosphere. Do you have a track plan or overall shots? The ballast looks spot on to me. Thanks Mudmagnet... The domination of the railway by buildings (unusual in 7mm scale) was the intent from the outset. The complete track layout is visible in one of the earlier images at the top of the page. The layout is only 4ft by 16" excluding the yet-to-be-built fiddleyard. Here's another image showing the buildings towering over the stock... The picture was taken on a research visit. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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