Catwalks

With the main structure of the signal gantry constructed it was time to get the catwalk into place. In real life this would be in place to enable maintenance works to take place on the signal heads. 

Unlike a fashion show catwalk, this type of catwalk was not glamourous and to be honest before the advent of some of the necessary health and safety legalities, could be dangerous to those having to use them.

The catwalk does come with some stanchions which the instructions (yes I did read them - eventually!) say should be used to attach some thread to creating a safety rope. Not feeling as though that was the best idea I raided WMD Stores again to find some suitable plastic rod which was cut to length and glued in place. It may not be all that safe for any 00 gauge maintenance staff but it looks a lot better than sagging thread!

Another successful bodge!

A bit of file work to tidy up the points where the parts were attached to the sprue and it was time to actually glue some parts of the signal gantry together.

One part that is a bit of a let down is on the supporting girder structures where the outside face is nicely detailed with strengthening swage but the other side is flat and looking a little toy like. Just as I highlighted yesterday that something would go wrong, this was that moment!

However, there is usually a solution, or in my case, bodge to overcome such matters, A delve into the ever resourceful WMD Stores found some suitable plastic strip that was glued into place.

That looks better! Another successful bodge!

No matter how few parts there are something will probably go wrong for me!

As work progresses with the station board to My Last Great Project Layout now also known as Woodville Junction, thought has gone onto details other than ballast, dummy point motors and vegetation.

This is part of that thought process which was actually aided by finding this kit in my stash of such things a few weeks ago and suddenly realising that it might actually fit in near to the signal box.

Originally part of the Airfix range and released back in 1960 means this kit is now 66 years old! Looking at the contents of the bag shows that either the original Airfix moulds that Dapol bought from them back in the mid 80s have survived well or that Dapol have remade them. Very little flash present and all the parts look good. Looking at the small number of parts is always heartening until realise that no matter how few parts there are something will probably go wrong for me! I will just have to see if that comes true - again!

Yes, I still listen to live broadcasts - the only steaming I know are the ones that run through fords!

Anyone in the the south and mid part of the UK will be well aware of the drought and whilst out I crossed what is normally a ford about a foot deep.

Barely any depth to what is now a stream but the grass next to the water is still an actual shade of green compared to the desert sand colour of most other vegetation away from any source of moisture!  I will probably regret saying this in a few weeks time but I am actually missing the rain!

Meanwhile, back in the Man Cave, the vegetation on My Last Great Project layout is unaffected by the drought but it does get dusty!

As you may note, more detail to the tarck and track side has been added.

Detail that includes dummy point motors mounted at the side of the points just as real ones would have on most railways around the World.

I like this picture with its view under the road bridge capturing the ballasted track with vegetation growing in and around it in the sidings and eventually leading up to that other road bridge that appears far off in the distance but is actually about a metre away. Doing all this detail takes time but it is therapeutic ;listening to something intellectual or musical on the radio - yes I still listen to live broadcasts - the only steaming I know are the ones that run through fords!

Shady goings-on at the Rocks By Rail Museum!

 Following the lunar eclipse on Wednesday it appears that the sun was out for revenge on Thursday having had its rays disrupted by the Moon.  Well that is how it felt at the Rocks By rail Museum.

Just like one of those apocalyptic films, you could see where things had been done like more painting on Uppingham.

The new timber sections in the Southern brake van had been painted.

More work on steam loco 1931 had been done.

The flowers on the platform had been watered.

But where was everyone? Seeking the shade! That is where they were!

Well, everyone was in the shade! John here enjoying some iced water!

Rob who appears to have given up on painting!

Dave and David were in the shadow side of steam loco Uppingham!

Barbara was counting money in the shade of the cafe!

And the all inspiring Ray was resting whilst watching Barbara!

For me there was no vegetational butchery but I used the shade of the Signing In Office to sort out the banners! 

Another exclusive WMD video production!

 The progress continues with the application of weathering powders and vegetation on the ballasted track.

This will actually take a longer time than the week I suggested a few posts ago and you can see the scale of the work in this exclusive WMD video production!

Oily times!

Progress!

With the ballasting done (well almost as I will explain in a moment) it was time to make the trackwork grimy! First thing was to just dust the area with my usual dilute mix of brown paint and that was done with an airbrush for convivence.

It may not look that different in the photo but that misting of brown took away most of the shininess of the track and ballast.

Blasting compressed air, even at low pressure, onto ballast soon shows the areas where I had missed applying the glue such as illustrated by the red arrow above. Oops!

Having reapplied ballast and glued it, attention turned to the tracks running at the side of the platform. Where trains stand they tend to leak oil and fuel onto the tracks and ballast. 

I replicated that with a product by MIG which is oil and grease stain. Simply brushed on oy dries with an oil like sheen to it. I also had some old black paint that I diluted and applied with a syringe.

Still much more to do but as I started this post - progress!

A week or so of work may see it finished - or maybe not!

 As things progress with the ballasting I noticed that the platform had a slight twist in it.

A number of heavy items were placed on top of the platform and left overnight.

I removed the items the following day and whilst not perfect, the platform is certainly better than before.

Looking the other way shows that it is all coming together and hopefully a week or so of work may see it finished - or maybe not!

You could well miss this if you were not on a bike!

You could indeed well miss this if you were not on a bike. Out on my bike I passed this field entrance and gate. 

From this initial view it seems just like any gate but me being on a bike meant my slowish speed allowed the fact that this was more than an ordinary field gate and was worth a closer look. Being on a bike also meant it was a lot easier to turn around and take that closer look!

Is that not a work of art and not to be miossed!

Making some dirt areas!

As things move on with the present ballasting task on My Last Great Project Layout there is a need to break up the ballasted areas with some rough dirt areas.

Painting a coat of PVA onto the areas to be dirtied...

...provided the base for the application of dried sand which is my go to material to replicate dirt. It was then soaked with dilute PVA so should dry solidly!

Sometimes you need a bit of a neat edge to things and masking tape can assisting in giving that. The grey rectangle is the card base that secures the signal box in place.

Once the glue dries removing the masking tape reveals just what I wanted!

Nice!