WEST ORTON

[bulleidboy]

As you have done Steve - point rodding needs to be positioned before ballasting. Yours really does look as though it should operate the points. It was not on my "to do" list when I started in 2013. Barry

[Steve M]

As you have done Steve - point rodding needs to be positioned before ballasting. Yours really does look as though it should operate the points. It was not on my "to do" list when I started in 2013. Barry

I will be the first to admit that this is just to give a representation of the rodding - it won’t fool anyone with any real knowledge.
DCC Concepts do sell working rodding and cranks although they look rather overscale for OO, might look ok for O.

I did a quick calculation, the equivalent using Wills rodding kits would have cost well over £200 - I did this for less than £35.

[Steve M]

Thoughts started turning towards ballasting this week. As most of the points are in the junction area, I am a bit reluctant to start flooding it with PVA. I looked at the dry powder glue that you mix with the ballast and realised that it’s just an expensive version of cascamite (powdered wood glue).

I also ordered some ‘fine’ grey ballast from the WWS range as I have always been pleased with their products. Let’s put it this way, the grains are big enough to build a scale drystone wall - stone by stone. (Now there’s a thought )

I’ve given up on that side of things for a bit and instead put together the waterfall that will eventually be under the viaduct.

2021-06-06_12-53-25 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[bulleidboy]

That is going to look very good when it's finished - impressed

[Steve M]

Yesterday I started painting the track - just an overall coat of Humbrol dark earth then a mid grey coat for the point rodding. Overspray will be covered (eventually) by the ballast. Also the missing part of the station set arrived in the post.

20210608_172059 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

On the subject of point rodding, I added the pulleys for signal wires.

20210608_172022 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

And finally I started hacking some bits of plywood into shape for the viaduct sides. I started with four small arches but changed to three. It currently hides the waterfall but I think it’s mainly because it’s casting a shadow which should change when the proper lighting is fitted. I kept the tops horizontal which disguises the fact that the track falls from left to right.

20210608_172039 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[Carl L]

You just know it's going to look good. Your speed is quiet astonishing.

[Walkingthedog]

I actually think Steve is taking his time on this occasion.

[Steve M]

Construction of the viaduct is complicated by the need to assemble the front and back separately to fit either side of the fixed trackbed. The challenge is creating the shell for the inner arches.
In the end, I laid out two strips of bandage and glued a load of wide stirring sticks (tongue depressors) to the strips to create a flexible wooden sheet. These were glued to the front side of the viaduct and held in place with a plastic bag full of sand.
Today I cut a piece of ply to match the trackbed so the bridge can be assembled on the bench and the slats cut to the correct length.

The whole thing will be clad in Wills plastic sheets but I’ve already cleaned out the supply from the local shop so I’m waiting on the postman. The wall capping and moulding on the bridge side are offcuts from a Wills platform kit.
At some point I will have to learn how to bend sheets by heating them in a shaped mould - what could go wrong?

2021-06-10_07-26-01 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[brian1951]

If you pop them in the oven Steve just remember not to answer the phone.

[Steve M]

If you pop them in the oven Steve just remember not to answer the phone.

Label it modern art and put it into auction. Someone will fall for it.