Blog Archives
Re-laying track
Well I can’t believe it’s 12 months since my last post. I just never seemed to get around to posting anything.
One of the biggest tasks undertaken was to re-glue the rails to the CV ties all the way from Kankool to Ardglen. I had discovered that the rail had started to lift in quite a few locations. I am still unsure what the cause was, but I’m putting it down to my initial glue mixture of contact cement and MEK.
I had been very apprehensive about doing it, but realised I had to just bite the bullet. Subsequently over about a six week period, I lifted 38 metres of rail, cleaned the old glue of the base and also off the CV ties, and using Pliobond straight from the tube, applied it to both rail and ties and re-laid the rail back in place. The process wasn’t too bad, as it was still all pre-curved.
During the process, I also increased the gap between lengths of rail from virtually nothing to around the thickness of a piece of paper.
The next biggest task had been to install more scenery foam nearly all the way to where Ardglen quarry is located. This was roughed in using previous techniques and is yet to be carved to shape.
More backscene board was installed, again, up to where the quarry is located.
More foam and trees
Work continues on foam installation in the area between the main peninsula and Ardglen.
As mentioned in a previous post, the track will be on quite a high embankment here with the New England Highway skirting around below.
I have also recently been purchasing and stocking up on seafoam “trees”. I have been able to successfully source them from Hattons Model Railways (https://www.hattons.co.uk/…/Gaugemaste…/StockDetail.aspx). They are the Gaugemaster brand GM195. I can get two boxes shipped here for around $60. There are literally dozens of “trees” in each box with a variety of sizes. Have a look at this video by Luke Towan as he describes how to make very realistic gum trees from the seafoam. https://youtu.be/IB6gMvN78fA
I also recently made the tree drying rack Luke uses in the video, and today I prepared some trees for straightening. Every month or so I get another two boxes shipped over and stockpile them.
Fascia installation continues
Work continues on more fascia installation on the other side of the main peninsula.
As before, I temporarily clamp a piece of masonite in place to get the curve required, then foam is cut to the curve and laid down. MDF backscene has also been installed.
This section will be on quite an embankment with more high hills behind. There will also be another section of the New England Highway here as shown in the picture of a reference photo.
More fascia installed
Over the last few months I have been busy installing fascia from Kankool to the main peninsula.
This also involved more foam installation in the foreground and shaping this in preparation for the fascia. I also finalised the location of the New England Highway near Kankool that was mentioned in a previous post.
I have glued the cork down but that’s as far as I’ll go with this for a while until I start on the scenery. The unpainted section of fascia was installed this afternoon.
The feel of the highway
One of the many features I have wanted to model on the layout is how the railway wound around the hills between Kankool and Ardglen with the New England Highway just below.
This feature will be done in at least two spots on the layout with the first being just after leaving Kankool.
Here can be seen some cork temporarily pinned in position to get the feel for it.
Terrain shaping
Shaping of the foam has commenced using hot wire tools and surform tools. It’s starting to look like a cutting around a hill!
More roughing in
More roughing in of foam continues back towards Kankool. Getting to the point now of being able to start shaping the foam.
Still more foam
More progress on foam installation. The area shown in the pics is pretty much done as far as ‘roughing in’ goes. I am slowly working my way back to Kankool.
Foam installation continues
Scenery foam installation continues between Kankool and the peninsula. MDF backscenes have been installed. In the section with double height MDF, there will be a gap between hills here. The foam will continue to be installed in a stepped fashion until it hits the backscene.
Liverpool Range 