Andrews' Card challenge layout

[Simon Andrews]

Looking good Andrew Theres some great modelling there

Simon.

[andrew milner]

Well, I had to go a long way to find this thread I have been making progress slowly but with the deadline approaching, I'm getting nervous





The gateposts have been changed for longer/thicker ones as there was nowhere to hang the hinges (cut from card). The gate is just coffee stirrers (I have 5000 if anyone wants any £1 per 100 or bulk rates available - my dad sells coffee ) Lights are from brass tube/plastic card/BIC biro (for lenses!) with GOW bulbs. I read on another thread that it 'never rains on model rail layouts'! Well it does on mine, this is Yorkshire


Just remembered - SEASONED CAMPAIGNER - YES

[Steve Bennett]

Not sure about the backscene , but the rest of it, WOW. That is looking great Andrew, has a really good atmosphere to it. Looks just like dawn or dusk with the lights on. The slight glint of light off the wet cobbles works very well in the photos, think this one needs to be in constant twilight. One last push to get it finished , it's going to look great.

[cjwalas]

Yes, indeed! Wonderful character and mood conveyed in a simple design. Your execution of every element is tops and the lighting really makes it magic!
Chris

[Gerry Bullock]

Hi Andrew,
The layout looks great, I now know what detail is like after fiddling with photo a bit. What's the guy in the shed got in his hand

[michael]

Superb atmosphere there Andrew! That shed is a fine bit of modelwork. Your comment about the gate posts is interesting I am just doing a bit of work on some wooden gateposts for the wood gate that is under the walk on Macton, and I came to the same conclusuion about the smaller posts that I had.

[Rockley Bottom]

It is great
The artificial lights on the cobbles (and the odd puddle ) would make it look just like my home town. It might need a screwed up fish and chip paper, Sheffield Star or Barnsley Chronicle for my neck of the woods

Just great to see

Ralph

[Peter]

Amazing work!

[DCRfan]

Thats is truely great work. It's amazing what can be done to hide a simple circle of track but I wouldn't what to be working in that shed without a hard hat

[andrew milner]

Thanks for the comments, gives you a push to keep going

The workman is holding an angle grinder, may be better in this pic


well, not really, I'll take a better one. Just bits of plastic card and filler. As for the puddles Ralph Thanks for the idea about chip paper! As it is Autumn, there are some leaves to scatter too and more ground cover. There are plans afoot for 'daylight' too and a use for the space underneath, although my original plans have had to be scaled down due to time limits!

Steve, backscene ( ) is now white, waiting to be painted! At least it proves to be cardboard!

The more I see of Chris' pirates, the more I'm glad there is more than one prize though

[Catweasel]

Wot,no sparks

[michael]

Wot,no sparks

Now there is a challenge.

[Jon Randall]

michael said:

Quote:
Wot,no sparks



Now there is a challenge.

Try http://www.expressmodels.co.uk/acatalog ... fects.html and scroll down to "Knife grinder 4mm"

[andrew milner]

Hmmm... sparks are a sore point One of the reasons for the space underneath was for some fibre optics for - guess what Unfortunately, I couldn't get the effect I wanted, maybe next layout .

Not much done but the loco in the pics is now coming along, photos soon

[andrew milner]

Just had a look at the knife grinder Jon - thanks, I think

For Steve's benefit, the background is now a bit plainer (actually it's changed now but no photo 'til tomorrow )


and I'm making some progress on the loco



Got to go - much to do

[andrew milner]

Sorry Gerry, forgot to put these on

[Steve Bennett]

For Steve's benefit, the background is now a bit plainer (actually it's changed now but no photo 'til tomorrow )

OK, I take it back I prefer how it looked before
Joking aside, the effect you had in the earlier photos, made it appear to be in the middle of a built up and congested area, which did suit the setting very well. In a way, it would be a bit of a shame to lose that feeling, but I'm not passing judgement (yet ) and will look forward to seeing what you have done. It's pretty ironic, the plain untreated cardboard above the gates in those photos, was just about the perfect colour under the lighting conditions . I'll shut up now .

[Gerry Bullock]

That grinder is superb Andrew. More than interested to see how the loco develops as I'm sure I've one of those units ---------somewhere again.

[Peter]

This layout keeps looking better and better Andrew!

[andrew milner]

Must stop playing

Sorry it's a bit dark

[andrew milner]

Well that last video was a bit rubbish to say the least, so....









thanks to Catweasel, Michael and especially Jon!

[Jon Randall]

That looks great.
Hope he's got a ticket to change that abrasive wheel, looks like he wears them down quickly

[andrew milner]

Well I've missed the deadline for the $29 challenge (the loco was going to be 'it' ) so I think I'd better get a move on with the layout or I'll miss that one too
Several updates, hope not too boring but I wanted to get the photos off the camera
The 'animation' looks like it will now consist solely of the grinder. No time! For anyone interested, I took the idea from the knife grinder linked by Jon. I have some fibre optic threads I bought 30 years ago 'just in case'

A bunch were passed through some Plastruct tubing, then the tubing cut and attached at an angle so the fibres bent as above. This tube then goes through the baseboard. After I measured the height of the figure, the tube was glued and the fibres cut to length 'in situ'. The ends under the base were fanned out and held with sticky tape.

I then used a cheap motor and gearbox with pulleys to reduce the ratio and cut a circle of card to go on the shaft. A slot was cut near the edge (leaving several tabs to hold it) and a sheet of clear acetate glued over it

I then used a thick marker to make crosses on the acetate so the 'sparks' would flash. A 12v bulb in a holder sits below the card circle under the optics

By the way, my wiring has been (kindly!) described as Heath Robinson


The loco is getting there Started life as a Model Power Porter Hustler as in the early video. However, it looked too long in the wheelbase, so I took the weight off and sliced a section out of the middle.

Plasticard for the superstructure using the photo as a guide. I had no pic of the front (though I'm sure there will be SOMEONE out there with some!) so I made it up and covered in the sides to hide the motor. As the front light is still working, I made an oversized one as I remember reading in some thread It's one of those screw covers for kitchen cabinets with the cap bit cut off, some acetate glued to the front and a thin slice off anothe screw cover over THAT as a bevel (?)

(sorry, a bit out of focus!)
Needs exhaust and suspension - interior going in now!

Lastly I have made a 'softbox' lighting rig (well AM making )


Card cut to a curved shape to cover the layout, slot left in the top for 12V flouorescent tube

Still trying for that 'overcast look'. I will cover the bottom of the box with tracing paper to diffuse the light more but here are a couple of test shots.


Unfortunately the camera just adjusts the lighting


Well that's it for now ('thank goodness' they cry!), although the scenery has moved on

[Gerry Bullock]

The angle Grinder looks spectacular Andrew, I can see reason for the subdued lighting now. The rest is coming along Gnicely

[andrew milner]

Thanks Gerry, I am pleased with the grinder! Have to do another with the workshop light on