Penmaenpool MPD WIP December 2012

 More progress has been made on the Penmaenpool MPD module.

Once the "gloop" had dried overnight, a base layer of the ubiquitous hanging basket liner has been glued down ready for more scenic material to be added over the top of it.

These pictures show work in progress from the viewing side of the module.

Also note that the advanced down starter signal has been permanently installed, wired and tested (more about that in a future post) the signal has also been blended in to the scene by even more "gloop"!
Also visible in this picture are the engine men's rest room (Bothy) lamp hut and grounded van body (Pway dept) along with one of the working yard lamps.

In this picture,The coal stage, water tank and fitters office along with more hanging basket liner!
Note that the rails on the running line have been rusted and ready for ballast.
The yard tracks and turnout has been well and truly "blended in" with more "Gloop" I was going to use DAS clay as per Chris Nevard but Gloop is good!

The 3 plank wagon is there to check that all flangeways are clear after the Gloop was applied.

For the curious, "Gloop" is a mixture of Pollyfilla, PVA, Water and black emulsion paint. (You can use other colours). Mixed to a consistency of porridge and applied with a half inch paint brush. Most of the layout has been covered with about 4 coats of the stuff! Great stuff it is too,if you like playing with mud pies! It dries hard and if chipped won't show white like Pollyfilla alone would do.

Any time available for work on the module over the next day or two will be spent ballasting the running line.
I love ballasting, time consuming I know but I find it very therapeutic!

Another update as and when.

Cheers to all thanks for reading and happy new year!

Frank

Oh! Christmas Tree, Oh! Christmas Tree.

Christmas is fast approaching time to get the trees out!

No, not THE Christmas tree,but,  my model trees being made at Christmas!

I'm going to need quite a few trees and bushes for my second Cambrian module Penmaenpool MPD.
To buy ready to plant trees from Wooland Scenics or Treemendus would cost a small fortune so it's down to me to make some.
The method I've always used is the twisted wire method but this takes a long time to make each individual tree. What was needed was a quick and easy way of making trees

I picked up some Woodland Scenics plastic armatures from my local model shop. These were intended to be used individually to make  trees approx 2 inches high. (not very big in 4mm scale) so I came up with this idea.

The trunk of the tree is a length of 4mm dia plastic or brass tube. The branches from the Woodland Scenics kit being glued to the trunk with cheap super glue. I chose the branches to suit as I went along.

The next stage is to form the trunk proper using Milliput epoxy putty smoothed  with water.

Once the Milliput  has set, usually overnight, The trunks were painted using Humbrol 66 dark grey.(matt)
This takes the plastic look away from the branches and covers the Milliput OK too.

Finally, once the paint is dry, The foliage is added. I used a "Greenscene" foliage mat for this one but, again Woodland Scenics do something similar.

That's it! OK they are not up to Pendon standard but, as I need so many for this layout  I can easily plant some better ones towards the front with these behind to bulk up the wooded areas.


With that I will take this chance to say Merry Christmas to all my readers, I hope you all have a great time around your own Christmas Trees!

Cheers
Frank