More weathering with Oils...

Tonight I installed a Peco -  Hayes Style Bumper on the L&T, it was painted last night in Reading Yellow and weathered tonight using Oils (WN - Raw Umber).

I also did these Tomar - Hayes Style Wheel Stops, same deal Reading yellow as the base followed by weathering with Winsor & Newton - Raw Umber Oil Paint...

Having way to much fun doing this now!

Jas...

I've found the Holy Grail, well Oil Paints & Washes for Weathering...

Tonight while doing some airbrushing I decided whilst waiting for the paint to dry I'd have a go at doing some washes and oil paint weathering...

Now I have been researching the Internet & YouTube the last few days getting pointers, but for a first go man I'm impressed by what can be achieved by using these.  I've basically started out just doing some dirt runs, rust spots and runs, tire marks & wear marks and some highlights on timber.

This has been achieved with just three colours, Lamp Black, Raw Umber & Titanium White this was based on Jappe's advice when he did his loading ramp thread.

The building that was done was the Stamping Plant...

I've officially caught the bug of weathering now, I just have to control the urge to want to do more and concentrate on completing the L&T.  Now that the weather here is coming into the colder months it can be the inside/night time project...

Jas.

More Concrete & Weathering...

Today as part of the mega airbrushing & weathering session I also managed to get the concrete area around the stamping plant painted & weathered.

I'm really beginning to like the effects and weathering I'm getting from using the powdered chalks & isopropyl alcohol washes.  I've also begun using some dry brushing using oil paints too, but this is only very small things presently till I get the hang of it.

Storage Warehouse grade crossing...

Looking back from the plastic pellet unloading shed...

Stamping Plant...

Cheers,

Jas...

Two more weathered buildings & ready for detailing...

Had an extremely productive day today and finished off weathering another two buildings for the L&T.  They are now ready for windows & doors and final detailing...

Storage Warehouse & Goods Receiving...

Metal Stamping Plant...

Things a really flying at the moment and the vision is starting to take a firm hold in this area, I find myself more intensely looking at more things to ensure that each section is relating to the last and that continuity is consistent too.

More to follow soon.

Jas...

CR #9528 - Working the L&T Branch...

CR SW1500 Switcher works the L&T Branch Line for the day...

Cheers,

Jas...

Adding a simple view blocker for Photo Backdrops...

After a suggestion from one of the guys from MRH, I tried adding a simple truck & trailer to the layout to act as view block for the new photo backdrop.  The one leading off from the road created a skewed viewing angle from the left hand side (won't be viewed from this position as its above my workbench) and it has worked perfectly for blocking it and as an added bonus created a ncie little scene element...

This is the angle from the original photo but with the inclusion of the truck & trailer...

And from the original front on view with the truck & trailer...

The addition of the truck & trailer has worked perfectly, turning in was better than turning out as I could plausible place them closer to the edge near the backdrop.  Also I needed to hang the rear of the trailer out a little so you don't loose the angle of the photo backdrop that actually works well...

Cheers,

Jas...

Testing begins for the Photo Backdrops...

Well tonight I printed out the various buildings & structures that I wanted to use for the photo backdrops.  At this stage they are all in black & white, and have not been altered in any way (yet) till I get the viewing angles and size right.

I clearly have to print some of these on A3 as even A4 wasn't big enough for some of the structures to look right.  so was the concept right and did the Photoshopped version prove to be right on the layout, as it looked from the renderings?

Well the proof is below:

This angle is almost the same as the rendered one from the original post.  And this is placed on the layout backdrop...

On an angle looking left, just to the right of the first position...

And from the opposite side on the left looking back towards the entrance to the L&T...

And looking back to the left again from the crossover, with the billboard back in position...

And an overhead view of the L&T entrance area...

And finally a little HD video showing the whole scene...

Cheers,

Jas...

L&T Branch - Photo Backdrops...

Hi everyone, as part of my progression with the scenery on the L&T Branch I have started playing around with photo backdrops for the entrance to the L&T.

Over the last few days I have been scouring the internet looking for all manner of photos of industrial, commercial & residential areas to use as photo realistic backdrops.  The method I have been using is to take a photo of the area on the layout viewed from its most common angle, then on Pixelmator (OSX equivalent of Photoshop) I have been placing the backdrop photo into the actual layout scene.

One of the great outcomes is that I can play around blending the actual layout into the photo backdrop, cropping & editing all manner of things.  I can also quickly print off a rough colour copy at home, place it onto the layout and check the viewing angle and composition before getting a good quality print done.

I must say that I thought things start looking really good when scenery starts, but it look amazing when combined with a photo backdrop!

Anyhow here a few comparison shots of two areas I have been working on, the photo on the left is the original layout photo, and to the right is with the photo backdrop added and blended in.

These photos are to the right of the entrance to the L&T branch, this should be an interesting test as the backdrop here curves...

 

The next two photos are to the left of the L&T entrance and will sit behind the existing JL&T module...

 

And a slightly different angle, and different structure to finish...

 

More to follow soon as I progress and start some test printing.

Jas...

Testing your patience & almost loosing your marbles...

Like to now how to do both?

Well its easy, have a go at making a HO scale Wall Light from "nengineering" from scratch...

Yes creating a jig to bend the stainless steel tube thats 0.012" in diameter for starters...

Then attempting to feed human hair thickness magnetic wire (2x wires) through the lovely series of bends you have just created in the 0.012" tube...

Then solder on a resistor (that you actually thought was the LED!) then the LED (which is actually a third the size of the resistor...  Connect it all together trying not to break the delicate magnetic wire that is now soldered onto the smallest electrical components you have ever seen...

Then once its all connected cross everything you can and hope you have wired it up correctly and don't get the little pop from the LED...

Then sit back and marvel at the light as your little creation comes to life.  And lifts a huge relief off your shoulders that you have done it right, and managed to pull it off too!

All in all a very rewarding little project that will test out the metal of any model railroader.  I think I have just found something more frustrating and aggravating than wiring too!  I ony hope that Richard who I said I'd have a go at these for asks me to only build a few more and not the whole packet of 8!!  :P

Jas...

L&T Grade Crossing - Gets a Bell Sound Module...

Hi All,

Well I've now installed the ITT Products - HQ300 - 1 Bell Sound Module to the L&T Grade Crossing.

It was a fairly easy installation and I have managed to wire it into the existing circuit that ran the Circuitron Flasher Kit.  This means that the on/off button on the fascia now runs both the bell and crossing signals.

The idea is that it will be operated by the switch crew prior to crossing the intersection via a small relay box located on the ROW.  The crews will have to stop the train and turn the system on before proceeding to switch out the spur.

Here is the complete wiring circuit for the system...

The systems is located underneath the layout...

Clearly a little different to the wiring diagram in the flesh...

And here is a little YouTube video of the Grade Crossing in action.

Cheers,

Jas...

Athearn RDG GP35 & Two Wide Vision Cabooses...

Well another Jim Rinker locomotive & two cabooses are finished and on the way to the ride the rails of the JL&T.

The GP35 is an Athearn RTR - Reading Lines numbered #3655.  It is DCC ready, and has been weathered.

I'll be adding Tsunami sound at a later date.

The cabooses are Atlas - Reading Lines - Wide Vision cabooses, numbered #94102 & #94106, they have both been weathered by Jim.

Cant wait to get these latest editions onto the JL&T.

Jas...

Scratch building a Loading Ramp, while you wait...

So this morning whilst waiting for the ballast to dry, I decided to start the loading ramp for the L&T Branch entrance.

It will serve the industry on the left hand side of the entrance, it is being scratch built out of Evergreen styrene.

Ramp section being built using styrene to brace the sections.

Internal structure to support the styrene top...

And all finished in about 3 hours, next step is to paint it a concrete colour and then weather it...

Jas...