Arigna Town - this week's scenery

[David Holman]

Am now at the stage where 'ground cover' is being added, so decided to start from the fiddle yard end. Hopefully the tree and garage help to hide the exit to the train turntable. Relied heavily on the writings of Barry Norman, Tony Hill and, especially, Gordon Gravett, who's new book, 'Modelling Grassland and Landscape Detailing' deserves to be the reference book of the next few years. you do need an electrostatic grass 'planter' though. Will add some more notes in my blog.

The garage is still not finished and the close ups of the petrol pumps expose the crudity of my hand lettering. However, while the Classic Commercial castings and transfers remain unavailable will have to do for now. The pumps are [like pretty much everything else] scratchbuilt and came from doing an internet search for pictures. the choice of Esso was down to the 'head' being the simplest shape, though have since found that headless examples were quite common in Britain, so presume the same occurred in Ireland?

Edited October 27, 2013 by David Holman

[Kirley]

You have captured it - it's so good it feels you are looking at pictures of the real thing.

[RedRich]

Fantastic David it looks as it should, and you can't achieve that level of finish without hard work and using all the experience you have gained during the years. Gordon Gravett is a remarkable scenic modeller. Pempoul is one of if not the best scenic layouts I have ever seen.

 

Rich,

[patrick]

I love it! You did a wonderful job on the transition between the three dimensional scenery and the backdrop and the entrance to the train turntable.

[IrishModelRail]

Amazing, go hiontach, unbelievable, ar fheabhas; I'm speechless.

[heirflick]

beautiful! fantastic piece of work on the shrubery around that house, espically the gate and door.....stunning=D

[enniscorthyman]

That's a beautiful job,well done.

[David Holman]

Have been working my way along the layout, towards the station, from the fiddle yard. A couple more trees done and much fun experimenting with the electrostatic grass tool. 6mm fibres mainly, but also judicious use of postiche [artist's hair], spray lacquer and fine crumb.

 

Have had to adjust the colours on the backscene as the trees did not match the colour of the Woodlands scenic matting I used for the foliage. Still more work needed here as the colours are still probably too bright.

[Dunluce Castle]

Superb work, everything looks so realistic.

[Glenderg]

Disgustingly good.

[enniscorthyman]

Top attention to detail-very impressive.

[Dave]

Beautifully done, looks so natural. Well done

[Georgeconna]

Gawd thats so nice, The Whitewash building and rusty roof is a beauty, Is that Wills sheets you used?

[heirflick]

its the galvinised sheeting on the house that does it for me- superb work! what did you use to construct it?

[Kirley]

Just excellent!

[BosKonay]

Wow!

Absolutely humbling scenic work! Masterful!

[David Holman]

Humbling comments chaps. You certainly know how to make someone feel good!

 

The white, corrugated building started life as a dairy, believe it or not, but there wasn't enough room for it on the previous layout. However, you are right, it is Wills sheets, the corrugated asbestos version, which to my eye look fine in 7mm scale. The provide the overlap of sheets much better than Slaters. The building is now serving as the Arigna Town Miners Welfare...

The barn is also all Wills sheet, on a card formers. The stonework is used all over the layout and is marginally easier to paint that brickwork. The trick with the corrugated roofs is to run dirty thinners into the gullies and when dry, dry brush the ridges with a lighter shade of the top colour. See Martyn Welch bible for details.

Meanwhile, have become unhappy with the back scene behind the goods yard, middle board, so that has been painted out, pending a mark two (or maybe mark 3) attempt. Will keep you posted.

[Sulzer201]

David congratulations on a wonderful layout which captures wonderful little railway.

[scahalane]

Beautifully done, suburb attention to detail.

[heirflick]

Humbling comments chaps. You certainly know how to make someone feel good!

 

The white, corrugated building started life as a dairy, believe it or not, but there wasn't enough room for it on the previous layout. However, you are right, it is Wills sheets, the corrugated asbestos version, which to my eye look fine in 7mm scale. The provide the overlap of sheets much better than Slaters. The building is now serving as the Arigna Town Miners Welfare...

The barn is also all Wills sheet, on a card formers. The stonework is used all over the layout and is marginally easier to paint that brickwork. The trick with the corrugated roofs is to run dirty thinners into the gullies and when dry, dry brush the ridges with a lighter shade of the top colour. See Martyn Welch bible for details.

Meanwhile, have become unhappy with the back scene behind the goods yard, middle board, so that has been painted out, pending a mark two (or maybe mark 3) attempt. Will keep you posted.

 

great stuff and thanks for the info. looking forward to seeing more:)

[Mayner]

Humbling comments chaps. You certainly know how to make someone feel good!

 

The white, corrugated building started life as a dairy, believe it or not, but there wasn't enough room for it on the previous layout. However, you are right, it is Wills sheets, the corrugated asbestos version, which to my eye look fine in 7mm scale. The provide the overlap of sheets much better than Slaters. The building is now serving as the Arigna Town Miners Welfare...

The barn is also all Wills sheet, on a card formers. The stonework is used all over the layout and is marginally easier to paint that brickwork. The trick with the corrugated roofs is to run dirty thinners into the gullies and when dry, dry brush the ridges with a lighter shade of the top colour. See Martyn Welch bible for details.

Meanwhile, have become unhappy with the back scene behind the goods yard, middle board, so that has been painted out, pending a mark two (or maybe mark 3) attempt. Will keep you posted.

 

Taking Irish scenic modelling to a whole new height and showing what can be achieved in a small space. I am a great fan of the Will's Scenic sheets, the effect seems to be even better in 7mm Iain Rices book on making the most of the kits has been my bible for over 20 years and I am still learning http://www.amazon.co.uk/product-reviews/0906867711/ref=olp_pr_see_all_top?ie=UTF8&showViewpoints=1

[StevieB]

Does Arigna Town ever get exhibited or is it just a home based layout? The big wide world out there would love to see it.

Stephen

[David Holman]

While some way from being finished yet, I very much hope the layout will make its debut at the Chatham show, at Gilingham leisure centre in June next year. Assuming all goes well, will then be open to invites.

Main tasks still to be done are 50% of scenics, a triple armed signal, display boards/fascia, plus another small tank and a few more wagons. Reading that makes me sometimes wonder if I am on schedule, but hey winter approaches which is very much the modelling season.

[RedRich]

I reckon it will soon become very popular on the exhibition scene David. It is already a top layout.

 

Rich,

[David Holman]

Have tried to follow my own advice in last week's blog by returning to the 'little and often' approach.

The problem I have with scenic work is that the first application [on top of previously bare boards] seems to make such a difference, that I either then try and go on to do too much, or think it is ok and don't need to do any more. In the first case, it definitely helps to let paint, glue etc dry [seems obvious but have far too many of those t-shirts in the drawer], while for the second, a return visit, even an hour later soon shows how much still needs doing.

When applying ground cover, you only have to look at nature to see how varied everything is. Hence my scenic work is built up in layers. The basic sequence is:

- scatter foam on a bed of PVA glue, then wet with water/dilute PVA and apply a layer of static grass straight on top.

- this is when it pays to wait for things to dry!

- after out with the postiche/scenic matting and spray lacquer to add layers of weeds, brambles etc

- alternatively, use the static grass for a second layer

- additional detailing then comes by planting previously made nettles [horse hair dipped in crumb], dry grass etc

These last few jobs can be done quite quickly and are very satisfying in terms of seeing things build up. Beware over doing though! Equally, a trim with the scissors can soon restore order.

Hope you like these latest pictures. The 'end' board is now nearing completion, though every time I go back to it, the list seems to get longer - mainly in terms of stuff still needed for the garage. Am hoping a shopping trip to the Reading Trade Fair in December will help.

[Kirley]

The detail is breath taking.

[jhb171achill]

This has got to be my single favourite layout. And as we all know, very SERIOUS competition isn't lacking! I love the artistic effects. Not just the scenery, good as it is; just look at the weathering too... and the detail.......

[Dave]

That is just stunning, the level of detail in every aspect of your layout is truly fantastic and inspiring. Well done

[BosKonay]

 

An absolute master class in creating realism, atmosphere and 'getting it just right'!

[Glenderg]

David,

 

Can i say two things - please get a moderator to merge all the threads, just so i can rate the thing 5 stars. Secondly, the quality of the photography is astonishing. It picks out the detail, gives you a sample of what may beyond the layout, and i'll be mighty upset if none of the big three publications come knocking on your door. Thirdly - i lied - i robbed some books from wrenneire last week and your railbus was expertly shown in one of them. I was astonished at the accuracy and finish. Your 4mm cousins, myself included need to up our game. Just bloody gorgeous....and as for the buildings, perfectly vernacular, the Shaffreys would approve. So well captured, particularly the choice of building names, the arrangement around the rail head, and the backscene.. god it's good....richie

[David Holman]

Thank you again for the kind words.

No idea re the moderator thing, advice anyone?

 

Must admit to being pleased with the pictures. Believe me I am not expert, though an eye for composition perhaps helps. I mainly use a fifty quid Nikon Coolpix, set on auto and lowest resolution for the website. Only adaptation comes from using the Microsoft Works 'crop' tool in the photo editing bit. The other thing is to mostly go for low angle shots, putting myself on the same plane as if looking at the real thing. This can really help hide stuff you do not want seen and improve overall perspective. Taking pics is also like doing a proof read of your modelling. Sometimes they show up stuff that really needs improving, other times you can get a nice surprise. Guess which ones I share!

 

25 years doing fine scale modelling, mainly in 7mm scale has helped me gain the skills I now use. However, there is so much fine stuff available commercially now That I really do feel it is well within anyone's ability to produce an effective layout. For me it I'd the scenics that can make all the difference and what I do is very much thanks to the writings of John Ahern, Barry Norman, Iain Rice, Martyn Welch, Tony Hill and Gordon Gravett. They have done all the hard work and then shared how they achieved it.

Am wary of repeating what they do, but will try to put something on Workbench to show my interpretation of it

[BosKonay]

Threads merged - lovely work David! An absolute pleasure and daily inspiration having your work showcased!

[Barl]

As the rest have said that really is a stunning layout, very atmospheric! The grass is some of the most realistic I've ever seen too!

[David Holman]

Thanks for the merging BosKonay, am guessing I stick to the same thread in future. A bit slow, but I get there in the end. Bit of a butterfly mind too...

 

Re the grass, Barl, 'tis incredibly easy if you possess one of the wonderful static grass machines. Whether the cheap, tea strainer one [Freezinghall Models], or of the more expensive type, they are the poodles' privates for scenic work. Mine cost me £75, but has been worth every penny. Also use the Noch puffer bottles too, which are great for tight spaces. My local model club invested in one & is be loaned out. Nice idea if you don't want to splash out yourself.

[RedRich]

David thanks again for sharing this with us, as railway modeller's we all need inspiration and this is truly inspiring. Your modesty deserves mention also. I really look forward to updates and can't wait for the next instalment.

 

Rich,