well filled baps The Sheep Chronicles. The adventures of a Sheep, the Works Forecat and the Works Apprentice, George.

[NHY 581]

1 hour ago, Winslow Boy said:

Rob I know your happy with the trees and they do look splendid but can I recommend looking at Physicsman thread Gill Head. He has produced some really good specimens.

 

 

Hi Winnie, 

 

Yes, I'm aware of his trees. They are excellent but these trees provide a good balance re quality V time...........something I am rapidly running out of. 

 

With the arrival of these, I can get on with the rest. 

 

Rob. 

[NHY 581]

Already there are some interesting views emerging....

 

 

 

 

 

Rob. 

Edited April 4, 2022 by NHY 581

[NHY 581]

I've also tinkered with the roof on one of the sheds......

 

 

 

 

 

Just have to tinker with the rest of it now..........

 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by NHY 581

[MrWolf]

You have the approval of The Wriggly Tin Appreciation Society there.

 

I've bought a couple of Larch trees via Primo Models ( www.primomodels.co.uk ) again, not bargain basement, but the quality is good and I have plenty of other jobs to occupy my modelling time.

[St Enodoc]

11 hours ago, MrWolf said:

I've bought a couple of Larch trees via Primo Models

Obviously!

[Nick C]

14 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

Evening all, 

 

I can make no claim regarding these trees. I have been meaning to look into them for a while. 

 

They are from here.....

 

https://mbrmodel.eu/en/about-us/

 

 

Not cheap but the quality is worth it. 

 

They were first recommended some time ago by John Farmer ( Re 6/6) of the parish. 

 

More recently an exchange of messages with NickC who is also using them  convinced me to try them. Nick's advice was spot on. 

 

I ordered them on 9th Feb and they have arrived today. 

P&P was very reasonable and I've not been stung for anything extra by HMRC. 

 

Very straightforward to order and paid by bank transfer which again was quite straight forward. 

 

I shall certainly be returning to them. 

 

Recommended. 

 

Rob.  

Glad to be of assistance! 

[Asterix2012]

17 hours ago, NHY 581 said:

Evening all, 

 

I can make no claim regarding these trees. I have been meaning to look into them for a while. 

 

They are from here.....

 

https://mbrmodel.eu/en/about-us/

 

 

Not cheap but the quality is worth it. 

 

They were first recommended some time ago by John Farmer ( Re 6/6) of the parish. 

 

More recently an exchange of messages with NickC who is also using them  convinced me to try them. Nick's advice was spot on. 

 

I ordered them on 9th Feb and they have arrived today. 

P&P was very reasonable and I've not been stung for anything extra by HMRC. 

 

Very straightforward to order and paid by bank transfer which again was quite straight forward. 

 

I shall certainly be returning to them. 

 

Recommended. 

 

Rob.  

Thanks Rob these look amazing.

 

 I did go into the shop part and was thinking I need to learn some German

 

Having browsed through these for about 20 minutes I just noticed the British flag at the bottom.

 

Doh

[NHY 581]

Evening all, 

 

Well, i've managed a bit more today..........

 

 

 

 

Mostly a bit of static grass. 

 

 

 

 

Here are a few photos of the progress.

 

 

 

 

Trees, buildings etc are still loose and some of the buildings need painting and weathering so they are not the finished article.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's coming on......

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rob. 

Edited April 4, 2022 by NHY 581

[NeilHB]

Superb work Rob, project X is utterly delightful. 

[NHY 581]

1 minute ago, NeilHB said:

Superb work Rob, project X is utterly delightful. 

 

 

Thanks Neil for those very kind words. It's been a bit of a full on day but I am pleased with what's been done. The Memsahib left me pretty much alone to get on with adding the grass and it now needs to dry off properly. 

 

Now that the basics are done, I can get on with adding grass to the track bed etc then turning to the river bank and water. 

 

Before this though, I fancy a change and I'll turn to buildings and locos next. 

 

Rob. 

[JustinDean]

Some lovely views developing there Rob. Nice work mate. 
 

Jay

[Winslow Boy]

Looking very good already Rob.

 

It's amazing what a difference those trees make to the scene.

 

I know you pursue the less is more philosophy but it really goes to show just how much better the setting is with them added.

 

Excellent.

[Alister_G]

That's looking superb Rob, top class.

 

Another little miracle in the  making.

 

Al.

[MrWolf]

That's looking really atmospheric Rob, seeing the trains appearing from amongst the trees puts me in mind of lost railway sites all over the country.

[NHY 581]

Thank you all for your kind words. 

 

I am pleased with how it looks. Still much to do but we are getting there, methinks. 

 

Rob. 

[NickBrad]

On 02/03/2022 at 11:50, NHY 581 said:

 

 

Morning Winny. 

 

I'm sorry, I meant to reply earlier. 

 

The ash I used to provide the yard surface Is a mixture of charcoal barbarcue ash with a few other different kinds of ash chucked in, possibly bonfire ash ? 

 

I've had it for a while, sorry. It's done five layouts now.....
The ash is dusted over a layer of normal PVA using a plastic tea strainer. 

 

You have to work quite quickly to avoid the PVA starting to dry out. To extend the drying time, I sprayed the PVA with water with few drops of washng up liquid in it, using a fine spray.

 

The ash is then added by being  forced/ground through the mesh using the back of a plastic tea spoon.

 

For the spray, I dismantled an old aftershave bottle  and used this as I wanted a fine spray, important for the next step. 

 

The spray is then used to wet the ash. Important to add here that I spray at a distance to avoid disturbing the ash, hence the fine spray. 

 

Dilute PVA is then dropped onto the wet ash using a syringe as you would when glueing down the ballast. In fact I used exactly the same mix.

It's important to avoid dropping the diluted PVA on from height as this could cause circular depressions or 'cratering' so the glue is added from quite close to the surface. 

 

It's then left to dry out for as long as it takes, generally overnight. 

 

Once dry, I rubbed the surface to remove any particularly rough bits and then hoovered up any loose stuff. 

 

 

 

Job done. 

 

 

 

I hope this helps.

Rob.

This is going to be very helpful, I have some track to ballast with a combination of ash and dirt to replicate what the full size did in a yard.

[NHY 581]

Just now, NickBrad said:

This is going to be very helpful, I have some track to ballast with a combination of ash and dirt to replicate what the full size did in a yard.

 

 Glad to be of service, Nick. As ever though perhaps do a test piece to have a try out with. 

 

 

Rob. 

[Ramblin Rich]

I've been peering at a phone for previous images, but seeing the last lot on a bigger screen it's very obvious this is going to be another masterpiece. Saying "it's coming on" is an understatement. Lovely work!

[NHY 581]

On 05/03/2022 at 21:42, JustinDean said:

Some lovely views developing there Rob.
 

Jay

 

 

Thanks Jay.

 

Development is on going....  

 

 

 

 

 

It will look a bit better when I've weathered the shed. 

 

 

Rob. 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by NHY 581

[JustinDean]

19 minutes ago, NHY 581 said:

 

 

Thanks Jay.

 

Development is on going....  

 

 

 

It will look a bit better when I've weathered the shed. 

 

 

Rob. 

 

 

 

 

Yep - that roof should be in a right state directly under a tree!

 

Jay

[NHY 581]

Morning all. 

 

A couple of photos........

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Still getting there...........

 

 

 

Rob. 

 

 

 

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by NHY 581

[keefr2]

I can feel the windchill from here....!! Lovely bleak open-ness Rob!

 

Keith

[NHY 581]

Somewhat cheesed off with the poor light in the garage and in what is a perfect illustration of the portability of a cameoesque layout, I plonked it on the table in the garden..............

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It was difficult to be 100% sure in the garage  but outside in proper light,  I think the colours are about right. 

 

 

 

 

 

I can now move onto to the buildings and finalising a few other bits and bobs now. 

 

Rob. 

 

 

Edited April 4, 2022 by NHY 581

[Alister_G]

It'll never catch on you know, this taking layouts outside...

 

Cracking job mate, the colours look spot on.

 

Al.

[Winslow Boy]

Definitely like that 'new' back drop for that third photo Rob.

 

Just like an approaching storm sweeping in from the North Sea. Few flashes of lighting would really finish it of.

 

Any chance?

 

Looks really good Rob. Coming along nicely.

Edited March 8, 2022 by Winslow Boy