Getting a little more practice with the air brush Micro Structures Victorian House Kit V-404 "The Seattle" and the F-303 Fence kit. I used the Grassinator from Raildig for the first time to plant the grass. At first i was concerned about only needing to cover a small area then i remembered i had gotten the optional accessory lids with the smaller screen and i must say i was impressed with how well the whole system worked and how easy it was to use.
Nice work David. I used to add Venetian blinds to my windows. I also try different ways to simulate blinds and drapes. I also try to alternate different drapes on different buildings.
IMG_2017-09-30_201314 by MegaBlackJoe posted Sep 30, 2017 at 6:29 PM An attempt to build a linear servo turnout for a handlaid track. I don't like the idea placing servos under the layout and using L-shaped constructions to mount them, so I have decided to build a turnout using linear micro servo which can be found on hobbyking. The housing is lasercut from plywood. I am now waiting for electronic part and then I will be able to test if torque is enough. I think it will be good. By the way, if anyone knows any cheap or open source frog polarity switchers, please let me know. Tam valley products are expensive for me. Gaugemaster product is fine, but I am not sure it will work in Z where the maximum power supplied to the rails is 10 volts.
Lurking in the loft for a couple of years was a Trumpeter 'Sovremenny' destroyer kit I bought on a whim from Marcways model shop. I don't mind using 1/200 scale boats on Cuyahoga because boats are big anyway and only the Parps are going to worry about it. But this boat is really big at 780mm long and 90mm wide and dwarfs the other boats in the harbour. So big in fact that it is too long to fit the layout! I'm sure I'l find a way at some stage to get it positioned. The foreground of the picture has been photoshopped to tidy it up but you get an idea of the scale of the thing with the dockfront of Cuyahoga behind. I've still got the photoetched handrails to fit and some more ariels and some more minor details but it is getting there. I also picked up an old Heller kit for the 'Jean Bart' a 1950s era ocean going tugboat on ebay the other day which is going to replace one of the other boats on the layout that looks far too modern. That can be one of my winter projects now that the clocks have gone back and the evenings are dark Kev
Frank, *great* depth in that painted pix. David, nice variations in color. Don't forget a light wash ( <10% off-white in thinner). Age a little bit. Kev, boat, er, 'ship' looks great pulled up beside.
When I stopped with model trains I still had one kit left that was left unbuilt. It's the Animek Snowden Theater and it's been sitting unbuilt all this time. Well, I'm back and it's been a blast to build. It's made to accept Woodland Scenic's Just Plug LED system, but I had a bunch of single WS2812B addressable RGB LEDs lying around and they seemed to be about the same size as the Woodland Scenic ones. So, some thin gauge wire, a little solder, and one Arduino sketch later, Bob's your Uncle. I've just gotten these hot-glued in, but once I get all 4 walls up, I'll put in the sequin LEDs I got from Adafruit behind the exit signs and finish the marquee with another RGB LED. Then, I can get started on making it more light-fast. I'll give updates as I progress. I'll be putting these everywhere (or at least in industrial buildings converted to nightclubs). It's gonna be a non-stop party on my layout.
Projects for the Christmas break. When I escape to the workshop over the next couple of weeks here is the things to do BR Class 25 Bo-Bo (3D printed by Shapeways- Ivanf) another Class 42 warship (IvanF, Currently being reprinted by Shapeways, lot of diagonal cross hatching on this one compared to the first one I ordered) two rather crude white metal GWR 0-6-0PT Pannier tanks to fit Marklin BR 89 chassis (might have my work cut out with these two) 3 Citroen DS and 3 Peugot 405s (exlibris on Shapeways) The RS11 etchings are finally going to get assembled!! Another Torpedo car (stonysmith on shapeways) and the BG parcels van still in primer grey will get finished in Royal Mail livery (Ivanf on shapeways) should keep me busy Kev
Hi Ben 15 minutes in the ultrasonic cleaning bath in warm to hot soapy water and then left to drain and dry. Then a quick rinse in Toluene and blow dried with the airbrush. First coat of paint is an acrylic aerosol we have in the U.K called Hycote. Most models are primed in their grey plastic primer but for things like the torpedo car I've used their Red Oxide primer. I also use this for model that are going to be red when finished as it makes the red colour richer. If you are planning to top coat in enamel you have to let the Hycore cure for a couple of days somewhere warm otherwise the enamel stays sticky for ages. You also need to let the primer cure if you are planning to go anywhere near it with masking tape!!!! trust me, I have learnt the hard way. One of the Warships will be finished in BR Marooon as D821 'Greyhound' This is the one I have been working on today and compared to the first two I've pimped it slightly. It rides on Marklin 6 wheel trucks off the heavy flatcar model and I've used some end platforms left over from the conversions of the 4 wheel tank wagons to add more interest to the ends. The original two torpedo cars are sat on John Pope 6 wheel buckeye trucks also available on Shapeways. cheers Kev
Z-snack... Had a laserkit lying around, bought it a while ago because it was a first for the company to enter the Z market. And since they make beautiful kits, of course you want to encourage Z scale kit development Finally got to building it. Allow me to show you my proceedings of this afternoon and evening... This is in the box (ziploc bag...) (10 eurocents and Preiser lumberjack not included...) Instructions are basic... Essentials... Starting with the outerwalls and the (nicely tiled) floor. I use beer or soda caps for glue, toothpick with sharpened end to apply the glue. Miniature clothpegs (meant to put up Christmas cards) to hold to inner walls that get glued afterwards. The open squares under the frontwindows are meant to be left blank, which I didn't particularly like. I filled them up with tiny squares. I decided to put in a bench. This etching is by Rolf's laedchen, (Rolf's little shop...), which has many nice Z items. See http://www.rolfs-laedchen.de/ Bending the bench is tricky, I broke one set of legs and had to superglue them back on. I painted the bench with spraypaint and put it in the little building. Putting the roof on was simple. The facade was a different story. The frontal part didn't fit very well. I ended up having to cut the upper parts over the two windows off, otherwise the window trim would sit out of place (too low). Too much handling doesn't do the vulnerable tiny part good... I dipped the trim in slightly diluted glue that was put on a flat surface and then stuck it on the wall. Later on I returned to the original method (tiny stips of glue applied with toothpick). Done! Only thing left to do is put up signage. I didn't use the (very pretty) sign because I don't want to call my little railroad shelter "Wilhelmsthal", which is the original name of the kit. I'll have to come up with a name someday, haven't figured it out yet. The little shelter will we put on a mini layout sometime in the future. This kit is available from Joswood: http://lasercut-shop.de/epages/22270.sf/en_GB/?ViewObjectPath=/Shops/22270/Products/88001 Cheers, Matt
Thanks Matt: Good job with the kit and write up. Really enjoyed reading it! I like the modifications you made to the original kit and understand the point. Heck, l really like the photography and your writing style, as well. ...But, I've been studying the pictures for a while. What is that little man doing? Did he come with the kit?
Thanks, Commodore. The fellow is a lumberjack by Preiser. He used to have an ax in his right hand, but that got lost over the years. He's been with me since I got my first Z set, some 35 years ago. I use him for hight reference. With the tree stump he is easy to keep standing up. Matt
