Galteemore

Yes, it’s funny how our minds move on to project 2 right in middle of project 1! Dioramas are a great way to go - and quick! And you really can knock up 36.75 track quite easily with old Hornby oo rail and card sleepers. This whole thing took less than an hour from start to finish as a rough test piece of 5’3” track ...

I’m not a maths teacher, JHB, but it does make sense. The only issue would be how much sheer scratch-building one would have to do. It’s tricky enough in ‘pure’ 7mm but using a non-standard scale would shut one off from all kinds of useful stuff from buffers to scenic items. Indeed, the very track itself might look odd as the sleeper spacing would be off scale too if using proprietary 7mm scale track....

I ordered stuff in last week or so and had a quick reply. Said he’d post within the week. So he’s around somewhere !

Well done. They are great fun!

Thanks David - the small scenic area (4x2) has really made me think things through and a few simple changes like putting a siding behind the platform (originally all 4 tracks were to be out front) and changing the straight front siding into an arcing branch stub have helped. Your own layout postings have proved very helpful in the research process!

Thanks PP! Spent more time than is healthy in recent weeks poring over pics of weeds and ballast ....

Scenic work more or less finished bar the backscene. Track has taken a month to dress with clay and grass! No buildings fixed down as yet until I do backscene. But we are getting there I think! Lots of ‘set dressing’ with accessories to do but the heavy, messy work is done!

Lovely work, George.

Decided to replace the mock up goods shed with the proper building. Started at lunchtime today and managed good progress. My usual modus operandi for scratchbuilding - starting with Alphagraphix Glenfarne kit as a drawing. 1 mm card shell with SE Finecast stone overlay. DAS clay quoins. Plastic strip etc accessories. Basic mockup structure in the background!

A 1959 account by H E Vickers describes 12L as ‘filthy from end to end’. The subsequent cab ride from Dromod to Ballinamore involved surviving the spilt oil cans littering the cab, the wheels rubbing against the boiler sheeting, reversing gear snatching, and a regulator about to fall off the spindle. The loco was driven for much of the time with full regulator and nominal mid-gear. Vickers found that a second day on 12L told a different story, with the engine driven by a crew on ‘their mettle’, with full cut-off range employed. Six locos were in steam and he describes all as being on their last legs! This bears out Mayner’s comments about the busy season - perhaps the crew on day 2 were old C and L hands.

The pics on the website suggest that they would look better as backscene ‘flats’ for a street scene than 3D structures

Thanks Colin - do let us see how they turn out!

Nice work Jason. The IE/Irish Cement branding and careful weathering bring it to life

Great work David. That coal stage already shouts ‘Midland’ before it’s painted! The corner work looks especially effective, like time-ravaged brick

I’m not a 4mm modeller so can only give general pointers. For solid wheels, try looking for North Eastern Railway kit suppliers - 52F Models may help as a starter. For spoked wheels, the LNWR pattern isn’t too far off - maybe try London Road Models?

Thanks Patrick -that does look familiar now you mention it!

Nice goods shed Patrick. Is there some SLNC DNA in there ?

Nice stuff Patrick. Painted backscene looks effective, too

Cheers gents. Was a bit of trial and error, as I found my first efforts unconvincingly smooth. Basic technique of DAS and emulsion is from Chris Nevard, but adapted to include some wonderful stuff called lava paint which is artists’ gel infused with gritty beads. This was sparingly applied on top of the bare DAS, and then shades of dark brown emulsion tester pots was applied. Whilst the emulsion was drying, ground white pepper was tamped in - a Gordon Gravett trick. The gel and pepper help give a subtle texture to the the ballast. Sleepers are simply painted with two different grey/brown shades from Games Workshop, who do some wonderful dry brush paints. Sorry the pics are a bit random in order !

Thanks David. I should admit that one of your comments in another thread about modelling what you actually see and not what you imagine was most influential! Much to do yet - but am glad to seal up the DAS for a while !

The SLNC had various schools of thought on ballasting. Dromahair and Belcoo favoured traditional stone ballast. At Manorhamilton and Glenfarne, cinders ruled the day. The attached pics by J G Dewing from ‘Irish Railways in Colour’ gives the idea - the sleepers essentially look as if they are dissolving in black/brown mud. To replicate this look, for the past few weeks I have been individually packing every sleeper gap with DAS clay. This is finally finished now, and all is painted with household emulsion. Next step is to paint every sleeper - again individually - and add the weeds. This is a sample of work thus far..more weeds and detritus to add yet..I’m glad it’s a small layout!!!

SLNC goods train in 1953...wonderful ! Ernie - thanks so much for all this.....

The new building is coming on well, David. It’s a brave step, taking on a Marcway point and hacking it about! You’ve made a great job of it - much cleaner than my efforts on my Marcway product.....My crossover came self-isolating but I decided to future proof against my incompetence by making it switched frog. I learned the hard way that rail cutters do not necessarily make good frog gappers - I somehow managed to remove a 5mm chunk of rail! A carefully shaped araldite plug means the gap is now fixed and invisible. Next time I’ll use the Dremel.... Looking forward to seeing what progress emerges from your living room!

Next stop, Adelaide! Love it. Reminds me of my school commute in the 80s when Hunslets and MVs were daily sights....

Intriguing possibility. 2A was sold for scrap from Dundalk, in the auction of the SLNC’s southern assets in spring 1959, to the Hammond Lane Foundry. This could be it, but the headlamp looks wrong.