Despite the distractions of the fine weather, and gardening duties, I've still managed to squeeze in the odd modelling session. First of all I painted the new scenery around the river bank with a mix of 'Burnt Sienna', and 'Sap Green' artist acrylics, the river bed was also painted in the same manner, but with less of the 'Sap Green' in the mix. Everything was then given a coat of PVA to seal the surfaces, then, having worked out, and marked the exact position for the bridge abutments they were removed for painting.
All the stone, and brickwork was given a coat of B & Q 'Wholemeal' matt emulsion, from a matchpot. Most of it was immediately removed with cotton buds, taking care to leave some in the mortar courses. The stonework was then dry brushed with Humbrol, 98, 110, 119, enamel, and various other shades mixed up from the same colours. (See Colour chart.) The brickwork was then dry brushed with Railmatch 2423, Light Brick, followed by Humbrol 98. Everything was then given a dusting of talc whilst the paint was still tacky, and set aside to dry.
Once dry the abutments were carefully refitted, the deck with its temporary track was dropped in place, and all the levels double checked. I had left out sections of the river bank around the abutments on purpose, because had I built them up earlier, it would not have been possible to make any small adjustments.
Both abutments had to be spot on, otherwise the deck wouldn't have fitted in place between them, or the track been level in all planes.
Finally with everything fitting in place as intended, I was able to build up the river banks with 'DAS', and bed the abutments in, I also built up the small cutting whilst I had the modelling clay to hand. Some suitable sized chippings from the garden path, and a piece of slate from god knows where have been placed on the river bed, which is now ready for another coat of neat PVA. The bridge deck was painted with Humbrol 145 enamel, then dry brushed with the same colours as used on the stone, and brickwork. A light dusting of Carr's 'Shades of Rust' weathering powders completed the job.
Another coat of neat PVA has been applied, and once its dried I'll be starting to add the first coats of gloss yacht varnish. Its another of those jobs that can be done in odd moments, so its not really a chore. A word of warning, don't be tempted to use a cheap PVA, or varnish, you need decent stuff for this method of creating water.
Rather than brush the varnish on, I let it drip off my brush to form puddles, which, will slowly spread outwards, flowing into each other naturally, and around any detail on the river bed. I believe it was Allan Downes who first came up with this idea of modelling water. I certainly remember reading his article on the subject in the model press during the 70's.
Here's the bridge and the new track being laid, 1455 is acting as a rolling weight as each chair is cemented to its sleeper. The river is a little too dark hereabouts, so areas closer to the bank will be picked out in 'Burnt Sienna' acrylic paint, before the next coat of varnish is applied tomorrow morning. There's a good few coats to be applied yet, and seeing that each has to dry before the next is applied its going to take a while to build up a feeling of depth. This certainly isn't the method to use if you are in a rush, but if you are prepared to spend a little time, then good results can be obtained.
The bridge looking in the other direction, its too early to dress the river banks up with static grasses, that will have to wait until I've completed the river, and sourced some suitable scenic materials.
I'm still hoping to find some of this Silflor 'Winter Pasture', but fear that its no longer produced. At the moment I'm awaiting a reply from the manufacturer in Germany. Unfortunately the current stockist of Silflor in this country, either can't help me, or in one case, can't even be bothered to respond to my enquiries. So in the meantime I've taken a look at a product by Noch, which is available from one of the good guys, namely Model Scenery Supplies.
First impressions were favourable, but under certain lighting conditions the material is too yellow for my liking. I'll probably use it as a base, and apply some 'MiniNatur' static grasses over it, the latter having a far more natural colour. I'll also soak a piece in some bleach to see if some of the colour is removed, experimentation is the name of the game, and I'll keep you posted.
Compared with the old bridge I think this one is a huge improvement, it sort of looks right to my eye, and sits well with the level crossing gates.
This is how the scene looked at lunchtime today, those ripples will get smaller, and smaller as more varnish is applied. There's still plenty of work to do in this area, but like the river, I'm feeling lazy, and in no rush, for its the journey that I enjoy the most.
All the stone, and brickwork was given a coat of B & Q 'Wholemeal' matt emulsion, from a matchpot. Most of it was immediately removed with cotton buds, taking care to leave some in the mortar courses. The stonework was then dry brushed with Humbrol, 98, 110, 119, enamel, and various other shades mixed up from the same colours. (See Colour chart.) The brickwork was then dry brushed with Railmatch 2423, Light Brick, followed by Humbrol 98. Everything was then given a dusting of talc whilst the paint was still tacky, and set aside to dry.
Once dry the abutments were carefully refitted, the deck with its temporary track was dropped in place, and all the levels double checked. I had left out sections of the river bank around the abutments on purpose, because had I built them up earlier, it would not have been possible to make any small adjustments.
Both abutments had to be spot on, otherwise the deck wouldn't have fitted in place between them, or the track been level in all planes.
Finally with everything fitting in place as intended, I was able to build up the river banks with 'DAS', and bed the abutments in, I also built up the small cutting whilst I had the modelling clay to hand. Some suitable sized chippings from the garden path, and a piece of slate from god knows where have been placed on the river bed, which is now ready for another coat of neat PVA. The bridge deck was painted with Humbrol 145 enamel, then dry brushed with the same colours as used on the stone, and brickwork. A light dusting of Carr's 'Shades of Rust' weathering powders completed the job.
Another coat of neat PVA has been applied, and once its dried I'll be starting to add the first coats of gloss yacht varnish. Its another of those jobs that can be done in odd moments, so its not really a chore. A word of warning, don't be tempted to use a cheap PVA, or varnish, you need decent stuff for this method of creating water.
Rather than brush the varnish on, I let it drip off my brush to form puddles, which, will slowly spread outwards, flowing into each other naturally, and around any detail on the river bed. I believe it was Allan Downes who first came up with this idea of modelling water. I certainly remember reading his article on the subject in the model press during the 70's.
Here's the bridge and the new track being laid, 1455 is acting as a rolling weight as each chair is cemented to its sleeper. The river is a little too dark hereabouts, so areas closer to the bank will be picked out in 'Burnt Sienna' acrylic paint, before the next coat of varnish is applied tomorrow morning. There's a good few coats to be applied yet, and seeing that each has to dry before the next is applied its going to take a while to build up a feeling of depth. This certainly isn't the method to use if you are in a rush, but if you are prepared to spend a little time, then good results can be obtained.
The bridge looking in the other direction, its too early to dress the river banks up with static grasses, that will have to wait until I've completed the river, and sourced some suitable scenic materials.
I'm still hoping to find some of this Silflor 'Winter Pasture', but fear that its no longer produced. At the moment I'm awaiting a reply from the manufacturer in Germany. Unfortunately the current stockist of Silflor in this country, either can't help me, or in one case, can't even be bothered to respond to my enquiries. So in the meantime I've taken a look at a product by Noch, which is available from one of the good guys, namely Model Scenery Supplies.
First impressions were favourable, but under certain lighting conditions the material is too yellow for my liking. I'll probably use it as a base, and apply some 'MiniNatur' static grasses over it, the latter having a far more natural colour. I'll also soak a piece in some bleach to see if some of the colour is removed, experimentation is the name of the game, and I'll keep you posted.
Compared with the old bridge I think this one is a huge improvement, it sort of looks right to my eye, and sits well with the level crossing gates.
This is how the scene looked at lunchtime today, those ripples will get smaller, and smaller as more varnish is applied. There's still plenty of work to do in this area, but like the river, I'm feeling lazy, and in no rush, for its the journey that I enjoy the most.