Model Railway Forum

Pictures look fine to me - your making good progress.

Weather is awful here in Cleveland so some modelling time today and chance to send some photos. I’ve been working on a small quay side area using Wills setts and painting an area of water. The water now needs multiple coats of varnish. A Metcalfe small factory has been further altered by me adding a small lean-to thingy building. The rods by the Planet Industrials loco (fab runner) are wire in tube rods which I still need to improve so they represent point levers. They pull forwards and backwards rather than side to side but so do the ones on our local narrow gauge miniature railway so I might get away with this! The ballast I’m trying out is fine block paving sand cos I’m tight. The problem is, how do I paint/weather it without it ungluing? Any suggestions please - I don’t have an air brush but want to create a lightly ballasted neglected cra*py sort of area. Hope you enjoy the photos. Suggestions more than welcome.

Two more pictures.

That all looks pretty good to me, I like it a lot.

Kind regards Peter M

Mick can I make a few suggestions, with regard to ballast I would use N scale ballast and mix a little of the sand you have with it. I use watered down white PVA glue with a bit of washing up liquid in it to make it flow better. When thoroughly dry, light washes, use plenty of water, of acrylic greys over the ballast very carefully a little at a time is best. Don't try to do it with one coat several light coats is best. Add a touch of black or dark grey where locomotives stop to represent oil drips. Don’t over do it, a bit at a time. You can paint the side of the rails rust colour where the track is exposed. A little gloss varnish can represent water drips near the water crane. ( if you have one) Black and dirty grey around the track at the engine shed, oil drips ash and coal. Vary the colours adding more or less white to the black paint.
With the cobles stones pick out a few here and there with fine brush using greys slightly darker than the basic colour, oil drips where vehicles park. A little at a time is the secret I think. Take your time doing it.
I hope this is helpful for you.

Kind regards Peter M

Thank you Peter. Never thought of mixing fine ballast and a little sand - I was going to go for one or the other. What colour ballast would you suggest? How do you suggest I add the washes? I have added a range of colours to my granite setts but have yet to colour individual stones.

I use a biggish cheap water colour brush for colouring ballast. A match pot of a light cream, magnolia emulsion for instance well watered down with a very small amount of black acrylic added to make various greys. Mix small amounts and take your time. Experiment first in an area that is not too noticeable, then when you are more confident try it out on the layout itself.
A rusty colour can be gently washed into the ballast near the rails to give a bit of variation. Have a look at real railway track to see for yourself what colours that is. Note what colour the sleepers are Concrete or Wood, it depends on the time you are modelling.
A little at a time is best. You will be pleasantly surprised at the difference it will as opposed to plain track.

Kind regards Peter M

Thank you. It’s now time to crack on!