Static Grass Part 11

The bank has had a covering of 2mm grass, just got to let the glue set, then I can vacuum up the excess, then add some 4mm & 6mm grass in patches.

Keith.

Static Grass Part 10

With time on our mooring running short, we are setting off on our Autumn cruise on Monday 12th August, I am trying to get as much of the static grass done.

Next section done, which is the very narrow strip between the canal wall and towpath between the 2 bridge 'oles.

The trees on the bank have been removed and matchsticks placed in the holes to mark where they go, in preparation for grassing the bank, which I should be able to do after lunch.

Keith.

Static Grass Part 9

Just after lunch my order of extra 2mm static grass arrived so I was able to get back to grassing Hadarford.

1st I did the section between the railway and the canal wharf.

Then I did either side of the footpath from the level crossing to the canal wharf.

Keith.

Static Grass Part 8

This morning I grassed another section of the layout.

I now have to wait for a delivery of more 2mm static grass as I have used up what I already had.

The 2mm is used as a base layer, and the 4mm & 6mm are added on top of the 2mm.

This is a close-up of some of the 4mm grass.

This is a close-up of the 6mm grass.

Keith.

Static Grass Part 7

This morning I completed this third of Hadarford with the static grass. Many thanks to Peco, who on their website have suggestions to improve model railway photography. For these photos I have used my camera set to "Aperture Priority" (A or AV, etc. dependant on camera manufacturer) and wound the F stop to its maximum F number, in this case F22. Usually, with indoor lighting, this might be anything between 1/10 of a second to 15 seconds, depending on the amount of illumination. Obviously, as it is impossible to hold a camera steady for these exposure times, the camera must be mounted on a tripod during the exposure and I also used a remote trigger to avoid further camera shake by depressing the camera shutter button (this bit I added). This method improves the depth of field so that distant objects are also in focus.

Keith.

Static Grass Part 6

Today I decided to have another go at the static grass. 

1st I filled in the bare patches in between the canal lock and the railway.

Then I filled the bare patches alongside Hadarford wood.

Lastly I did either side of the railway track around the top end curve and part of the hill.

Depending how the hill works out I may leave the remaining bare patches as they will not be seen underneath the trees once I fill in the gaps with undergrowth. Fingers crossed for tomorrow morning when I vacuum up the excess.

Keith.

Level Crossing Repair.

Patience is a virtue when building a model railway. Back in November I ballasted the track, but unfortunately when it came to the level crossing, the diluted PVA glue ran down the holes where the rods, which operate the gates, from the servos came through the baseboard, and glued up the servos! I have left it till now to mull it over as to how to fix it. over the last 3 days I removed the gates from the operating rods, took out the glued up servos, removed the operating rods from the old servos and super-glued them into the new servos. Refitted the new servos, super-glued one of the gates to its operating rod, set up the electronic control board to move the gate accurately between the open and closed positions, then super-glued the other gate to its operating rod. All working perfectly now, just needs the gates repainting over the new glue.

Keith.

Creating Leaky Lock Gates Part 4

I have added some ripples below the leak in the lock gates, but they do not show up very well in the photo, but they are there.

Keith.

Creating Leaky Lock Gates Part 3

I dry brushed some white on the leak this morning.

Keith.

Creating Leaky Lock Gates Part 2

This morning I added a bit more "Water Effect" to the leaky lock gates.

This afternoon I added a bit of colour to the leak.

Keith.

Creating Leaky Lock Gates Part 1

Early stages of creating leaky lock gates using Woodland Scenics "Water Effect".

The first application.

As it sets it changes from white to clear.

I will have to do a few applications to get it right.

Keith.

Canal Repairs part 2

2nd attempt at repairing the canal water effect this morning.

The crack in between the lock and the road bridge has virtually disappeared by doing another pour of resin.

As seen from the other side of the road bridge.

Top side of the lock is now topped up to the correct height.

The 2 cracks alongside the canal wharf are still visible despite a wash of resin over the top. 

I will  have to live with this as I cannot do a resin pour, as I have done below the lock, because of the close proximity of the waterlilies.

I have done a pour of resin the other side of the other road bridge as the timber was showing.

It isn't now.

The other side of the road bridge and the extent of the resin pour blended in.

Keith.

Canal Repairs part 1

First stage of repairing the canal water effect.

The 2 cracks alongside the canal wharf.

The crack below the lock and the water level in the lock itself has been topped up.

The top end of the canal lock has been topped up.

Almost a colour match but not quite, but as close as I will get.

Keith.

Hearse

I now have a hearse to complete the funeral scene at the church.

Keith.

Beetons Garage

Beetons Garage, classic car and Mini specialists, this is why there are many classic cars and Minis in Hadarford.

Keith.

New Loco Body

Yesterday I removed this loco body from its broken chassis, which I purchased on eBay whilst we were out cruising, and added it to the good chassis I had with a broken body.

Keith.

Hadarford Canal

Initially the pouring resin went well, pouring the resin into the canal.

Once dried most of it was okay. The reed and bulrush bank.

The tyre. The resin has gone a strange orange colour and not sure why.

The bicycle, traffic cone and floating log.

Some waterlilies above the lock.

Some more waterlilies at the canalside cottages.

Hadarford wharf.

Above the lock.

Unfortunately 3 cracks have appeared in the resin below the lock, these are 2 of them. We cannot work out why this has happened. 

This is the 3rd crack below the lock. I am not sure what to do about this, will give it a lot of thought.

Also there was a leak in the lock, so the level has dropped, but also it has not turned the same colour as the rest.

Well at least I tried.

Keith.

Final touches to the Canal

Final touches to the canal on Hadarford this morning.
The photos are 2 of the 3 fish-plates I added this morning to the rails on the concrete piling.
I also weathered the canal and lock walls so all is now ready for the resin pouring to create the water effect Monday.

Everything ready for creating the water effect in Hadarford's canal.
Pouring resin, catalyst, murky water tint, various sized buckets and stirring sticks.

Keith.