Montgreenan

[Hound Dog]

Hi,

Wanted to share the addition of the Parcels office to my Montgreenan layout...….again based on the nice Metcalfe kit with extension, but owing to a lack of available space I had to reposition the ramp building from the normal location at the rear to one on the r/h side, but I think it works ok...…….the key thing concerning this Parcels office is that it is built upon the portion of the incline to my low level fiddle yard, where the rolling stock finally dip below or emerge at ground level - to accomplish this I have installed 1mm plasti-card sheet across the baseboard cut-out and then made a channel in the plasti-card and underneath the platform...….the two are then bonded to give a sort of honeycomb structure minus the internal stiffeners where the rolling stock traverses - difficult to explain but hopefully the pictures will help.

The plan is to build a retaining wall to the left of the parcels office to hide the rest of the above board level incline until the train emerges at board level via a tunnel further round the layout...…..a piece of retaining wall will be added perpendicular to the l/h platform edge and into which a cut-out will be made to allow the train to pass beneath.

Next step is to do some track weathering and ballasting in the coming days, before starting work on the retaining wall and tunnels etc...…..probably end of Jan due to work commitments again.

Appreciate any feedback as always - thanks and Happy New Year

[Chops]

Visited your thread several times; I never tire of it. For one thing, it demonstrates the close relationship Britains have with their trains.
The craftsmanship is enviable, and the subtle use of color on the pedestrian walkway and the awning of the station really makes this
stand out. If it's not too much trouble, I would greatly enjoy seeing video of those ubiquitous DMU's breezing to and fro.

[Hound Dog]

Many thanks for the kind comments - still very much learning the trade so to speak, but hopefully on the right tracks ( if you pardon the pun) to get such positive feedback.

....... will look into making a short video but not yet something I have tried ...... watch this space.

Thanks Richard

[Chris]

looks like a clever way to hide the cutting for the gradient without looking out of place

[bulleidboy]

Super clear pictures - any chance of them being the right way up?

[Hound Dog]

Hi,

Making reasonable progress on my main station area with the addition of Island platform buildings and a cut and shut canopy arrangement for my bay platform using two Metcalfe kits ( canopy and walled canopy)…….not perfect and needs some tweaks here and there but coming together.

I have also started ballasting my track using Woodland Scenics ballast - one bag each of Medium and Dark Brown, and a small measure of grey and red oxide...…...trying to get a browny / reddy Scottish type ballast...…..looks great dry, but darkens a little after adding Ballast Bond even after drying, but overall I’m reasonably happy with the outcome...…...will be at this job for some time but breaking the boredom by doing little jobs around the station, eg signs, benches etc etc

Also made a start today on my tunnel arrangement by which I will hide the initial descent to the low level fiddle yard - but I will save that for another post once I make some tangible progress…..hope you enjoy the pictures (think they might be the right way up this time) and as always any and all feedback appreciated as I’m still learning as I go with this hobby - thanks Richard

[Hound Dog]

Hi,

Cannot believe it has been a couple of months since my last post, but work has been continuing to develop the main station board and earlier today I finished the woodwork to finally box-in the descent to my lower level fiddle year and in doing so create the base for Montgreenan town area.

Attached are a few views of the newly constructed road bridge, the single track-hand left-hand tunnel of which provides the entrance for the long descent to the fiddle yard on the other side of the layout, the initial stage of which is hidden behind the retaining walls, before finally dipping below baseboard level right under the parcels office. The retaining walls are a little bit higher than I would have liked, but this was governed by the height of the bridge, which being across 2nd radius curves means that the inner most track is not in the centre of the tunnel and so needs to be a little higher to provide the necessary clearance at the curve in the tunnel roof / walls...….like most things on my layout compromise is the order of the day.

I have started to pick out individual bricks on the left-hand side of the bridge and plan to darken this right down with a series of washes, before repeating this along the retaining walls...…..if I am not able to produced a realistic result, my back up plan is to cover the bridge and walls with Redutex texured stone sheets, but I want to have a go at something home-made as a test piece I prepared earlier turned out not too bad. The bridge and town will get a yet to be decided road surface and thoughts are already turning to low relief buildings for the town area and a suitable backscene etc etc.

Might need to modify the ramp area to the right of the bridge, as I would like to have a descending r/h bend off the bridge down to a board level road junction, that feeds off to the right hand tunnel, through which will be the access road to the station area...…..still trying to figure this piece out as I go along.

Other developments include ballasting and track-weathering of most of the main station area, fitment of AWS / TPWS, preparation for Train-tech sensors signals and cable trunking, and some metal fencing to the right of the parcels office......lots of small things on the go, and need to conclude a few of them before moving onwards to the next major part of the layout ( Tunnels, mountains and a TMD, but not necessarily in that order).

Hope the pictures make more sense than my words and as always, any comments or feedback very welcome - thanks Richard.

[RogerB]

Hi Richard, that all seems to be coming along very nicely. Look forward to seeing your efforts on the bridge. Someone on here has used washes with great effect - should be good. R-

[Hound Dog]

Thanks Roger....... would certainly welcome any advice or inputs on weathering laser cut wooden stonework with washes etc...... perhaps sounded like I knew what I was talking about but in reality it will be another first for me - thanks Richard.

[Bandit Mick]

Blimey - that's going well!