What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

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Old Man Aaron
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Old Man Aaron » Mon Jan 04, 2021 4:44 am

Peter Butler wrote: Fri Oct 16, 2020 10:48 am I sympathise with you about loco failure, especially after such a history of improvements etc. I am not an engineer though and have no interest in constant maintenance when my battery electrics are always ready to go at a moments notice. Good luck with the sale, times might be getting harder for such things?
Sorry Peter, looks like I missed your reply - managed to miss the last reply on my Fowler rebuild thread, too. :roll:
The Baldwin didn't sell at the open day, but it went fairly quickly once posted in the "Garden Railway Trading Group" on Farcebook. Quite sure that once sorted, it'll make a good loco for it's new owner, but I'm glad to be rid of it nonetheless..

10/12/20
Been too hot for running, but I've kept busy as always. With the change in seasons, the sun now beats down at the rear of the van, starting to kill the ferns and MYOB..
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..Forcing the reluctant acquisition of an umbrella. It's been good to have, though; and assuming it lasts, (was $150AUD from Bunnings so I'm not counting on that) it'll be a good thing to have over the steaming sidings on the next tramway, when we buy a place. At the time of writing, thanks to the umbrella, the hot humid air and a daily soaking of tankwater, the plants are springing back very well.
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22/12/20
Finally got round to "planting" that lump of tree root, that came in the load of dirt used to level the yard. Also refreshed the mulch, which was a bit thin in places, and planted some more weedy shrub things that I propagate in BBQ trays.
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We've had some heavy bouts of rain, which has all but removed the oxide washes used to cover the whitened outdoor PVA in the ballast. I'm waiting out the hot, rainy months, and will re-apply the oxide washes when the weather settles a bit.
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The line (center of image) leading to "Stage Two" has been laid, relatively lightly as access to check levels etc. was difficult. The Stainz and track sweeper run across it without issue, though.
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The MYOB, whilst spreading nicely, wasn't actually penetrating the ballast here, but creeping across it. In order for the track sweeper to not simply tear it all up as it passes, I need the MYOB to take root between the sleepers. So the ballast was torn up again, this time replaced with just potting mix, and watered in.
Is this about right, for how you Brits get that beautiful MYOB track? We'll see how it goes..
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So far, my quick and (filthy) dirty solution for routing the air conditioner's extension lead, seems to work. :roll:
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The other side of the van looks much better, now that I've planted most of my shrubby weedy things from the BBQ trays, then moved said trays to behind the van, and propagated more MYOB in them for future use.
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The MYOB has been here for two weeks now, and seems content with the limited direct sun it gets in the morning - long as I keep them moist.
I still need to properly route that drain hose from my sink, so trains can pass under it..
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Unsurprisingly, there's still supply issues with getting Peco points. And an accelerated change in circumstances, means we'll likely be buying a house in only 12-18 months from now. So I don't think I'll bother with the full plan of "Stage Two", with the earlier-mentioned sugar mill and yard on the elevated section.
I'll just make do with the spare points on hand, and lay a few sidings for any visitors' stock. Being so hot though, progress on this front will be sporadic.
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In the meantime, progress is being made on structures. All of foamboard and styrene, with aluminium roof flashing ran through a homemade corrugator.

This general store is based on an unusual prototype that once stood not far from here, in Mapleton, QLD; It had it's own siding served by the Mapleton Tramway. It was unique, to my knowledge, in that the veranda of the store served as a platform, allowing goods to be unloaded from vans and wagons of the daily trams, directly into the store. Kegs of beer and other supplies for the Ocean View Hotel, still standing just over the road, were also unloaded there.
The name is a reference to the game "The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim". Apologies for this poor quality photo, I'll get a better one soon.
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This bank is based on one that stood in Nambour, QLD from 1904-24, when it was demolished in a panicked attempt to create a firebreak, during a blaze that destroyed half the street.
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The pub, which eventually will have the name "Imperial Hotel" emblazoned across it's fascia, was again, based on a prototype from Nambour. It's build has taken almost two years on-and-off so far, and really deserves it's own thread, if anyone's interested. Again, apologies for the quality of the image, it required some amateur photoshoppery to look right-ish, as all the bright white makes photography very difficult.
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Regards,
Aaron
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by philipy » Mon Jan 04, 2021 6:52 am

Thanks for the update Aaron, I was only thinking yesterday that we hadn't heard from you recently.
I love the way your Tiny Barren Wasteland has developed, it looks as though it has been there for years, if not centuries! It will be such a shame to have to lift it all when comes the time to move, but I guess that having a permanent place to start again will be worth it.

As for the MYOB, we don't have a problem getting it to root around here :evil: The only problem is stopping it from rooting everywhere. From my experience, it took a little while for it to find it's feet and actually feel comfortable, but after that there is no stopping it, it gets in everywhere. I suspect that water may be your problem, it does like to be damp at least and is better too wet than too dry.

Yes please, I for one would like to see the build of your Hotel, It's a fantastic looking building.
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by gregh » Mon Jan 04, 2021 8:41 am

You must have a real green thumb - the plantings around the railway look great. I also love the look of your track - it really fits into the 'jungle'.

Great buildings too. Love the pub.
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Lonsdaler » Tue Jan 05, 2021 9:46 am

Your buildings look most impressive Aaron, it will be good to see them in situ. And of course, a thread on the build of the hotel would be most welcome. As if you needed to ask! :lol:
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Andrew » Wed Jan 06, 2021 11:52 am

Yes please to the buildings thread!

Your line is looking great - for a "tiny, barren wasteland" you've squeezed in an incredible amount of realism and atmosphere!

Re MYOB, if it grows the same there as here I think you might just need to leave it a while. My ballast is held in place with SBR, so is pretty tough, but although the MYOB starts by growing over the top, before long it's pentrating between the lumps of ballast, despite the glue. I clear the top of my trackbed every now and then just by tugging out the MYOB with my fingers (I think the old WHR probably had pretty scrappy permanent way, but not completely overgrown), but it still seems to grow quite happily on either side...

All the best,

Andrew.

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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Old Man Aaron » Thu Jan 07, 2021 3:24 am

Thanks again, gents; and for the advice, too. I'd figured as much about the MYOB, but it's always good to ask. Will leave it to engulf the track over the hot months. When it cools down a bit, I'll take a pair of scissors to it and "mow" the track. With 10-30L being deposited in the 300L tank each day, I should be able to keep it moist.. 8)
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The site of Belethor's General Goods was cleared and levelled the other day. As I've no proper flattening paste, which is mixed into the signwriting enamel to dull it's finish, I'll brush some Tamiya flat clear enamel over the lettering on the shop, before installing it here.
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I'll get started writing up the pub, hopefully this afternoon, if the impending bus trip into town for groceries doesn't wipe me out. A car would be a lifesaver, but I won't have anywhere to store one till we buy a place.. I digress again.. :roll:
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Old Man Aaron » Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:08 am

I let this get a bit out of date, though little has happened during these hot months.

First time using Postimages.org, and it's a slight learning curve. Phil's thread on using the site proved most helpful - cheers! These pictures seem to appear just fine on my end, but if they don't show up on your end, please let me know and I'll have another try.
A lot of my posts here to date, have mostly been copied-and-pasted from my Blogger blog, with the images re-uploaded onto the forum itself - Linking images from the blog onto here, appears to work, so I'll get around to editing my previous posts, to utilize those already uploaded on Blogger. Easy enough to do, and should free up couple-hundred image "spaces" from the tally here.


18/01/2021
Belethor's General Goods is now in place, and I'm quite pleased with the result.
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06/02/21
The temporary staging yard is now complete and usable. The Baldwin is track-testing a trio of new Mapleton-Tramway-esque wagons.
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Two of the points had to be ballasted for support, as their sleepers aren't as deep as those of my hand-laid track. The yard seems to do it's job, so the line can now welcome visiting locos and stock.
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02/03/21
Speaking of which, some mates are coming round on Saturday afternoon. The line was weeded and pruned in preparation.
Normally I'd just fill a bucket, but figured "screw it, I've not run a weed train in years". I should've used the Baguley and cane bins, would've been far fewer return trips to the staging yard to dump the weeds. The Baldwin struggled a bit with just these four wagons; it really needs some extra weight hidden somewhere..
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As half of the wagons used are long-wheelbase four-wheelers, (which of course don't like being propelled) it was easier to run around them and pull them back to be emptied. In the end, weeding took four times longer than carrying a bucket would've, but doing it by train was a nice change.
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A grasshopper decided it was now foreman, and perched himself atop the Baldwin's roof to oversee the last of the weeding. As these little f**ks are devouring my palms, I would've squished him, had he not been on the loco. Between the grasshoppers, and numerous other problems caused mainly by ants, I certainly won't be using palms next time round. They're just too problematic.
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by philipy » Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:32 am

Old Man Aaron wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:08 am These pictures seem to appear just fine on my end, but if they don't show up on your end, please let me know and I'll have another try.
The pics all look fine to me Aaron.

The General store looks great.

I'm amazed that your line looks so much as though it has been maturing for years. Nobody would ever guess how recent it is.
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by GTB » Wed Mar 03, 2021 8:55 am

Old Man Aaron wrote: Wed Mar 03, 2021 7:08 am Belethor's General Goods is now in place, and I'm quite pleased with the result.
That photo of the general store reminded me of photos of the store at Mapleton. If that was your intent, you've nailed the right look.

Just needs a baby shay and a short train parked in front of the veranda......... ;)

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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Old Man Aaron » Mon Mar 08, 2021 5:16 am

Thanks again, fellers. And aye, that is the Mapleton store. I'd love to model the Mapleton line, even with the Shays built on Bachmann electric trucks rather than steam; it'd make a great modelling subject of it's own - but I've more or less trapped myself at freelance 16mm. :roll:


First visitors to the line on Saturday. Was a bit of an experiment, will further extend the invitation next time. Plenty of notes were added to the .txt file I keep for the next tramway one day. Specifics of things like the loco prep area, regular passing loops and servicing spots along the line, covered storage for stock, etc. etc.. Remember, this line is really just a test loop to tide myself over for a couple of years - the next one'll be built for visitors and operations from the start.

My Baguley shunts the loop.
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Driveway yet to come..
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Anthony's model of Fowler "Alison" waits for another loco to clear the junction.
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"Alison" is permanently-set for reverse running.
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"Alison" moved this lot with power to spare. We set out the rest of my stock, but it started sprinkling rain shortly after, so we scrambled the mostly wooden fleet back to shelter.
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Ben's coal-fired Fowler "Eudlo" approaches my rake to couple up.
The near-complete pub was requested to be seen, so it and the bank were plonked roughly in their future locations. I'll see about getting these done before the next visit..
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Shades of Howard Street a century ago?
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As night falls, my 'Moore works the coach rake.
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By 7pm, it occurred to me that I hadn't photographed Ben's Queensland Railways DH.
My camera doesn't do well in low-light, however, so it decided the DH being struck by lightning was an acceptable alternative to a good photo.
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Lonsdaler » Wed Mar 24, 2021 5:30 pm

Your railway looks as though it is well established, rather than recently laid! Brilliant. The buildings are wonderful, and the image of the store in particular has so much atmosphere :thumbup:
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by RobRossington » Sun Apr 25, 2021 2:12 pm

What a lovely railway. It has such a nice atmosphere :)

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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by ge_rik » Mon Apr 26, 2021 9:01 am

The plants really complement the rolling stock. Clever use of the available space.

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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Old Man Aaron » Fri Jun 11, 2021 5:29 am

After running into problems with his previously-pictured loco "Alison", Anthony weathered it up, and left it with me, to see how his unusual weathering technique (kitchen spices sprinkled over wet paint!) would hold up in real-world weather. I'm not so willing to experiment on my locos, but this one works pretty well as part of a larger (if temporarily posed) scene. Planning and stockpiling for the next tramway, is well underway. It's sugar mill will certainly include a more permanent boneyard; as most mills will rarely throw anything away..
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by FWLR » Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:01 am

That does look like it has been there for quite some time Aaron. Brilliantly done with both the photography and the weathering. :salute:

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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by ge_rik » Fri Jun 11, 2021 7:15 am

FWLR wrote: Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:01 am That does look like it has been there for quite some time Aaron. Brilliantly done with both the photography and the weathering. :salute:
Ditto
My thoughts exactly

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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Andrew » Fri Jun 11, 2021 8:38 am

That's very effective!

Love the spices idea - I'm guessing cinnamon? My WD Baldwin's smokebox door is still smeared with the cocoa powder I used for some temporary weathering...

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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Lonsdaler » Fri Jun 11, 2021 6:34 pm

Mmmm - that looks 'crusty' :lol: several more in similar condition and you would have the makings of Barry scrapyard in the 60's and 70's.
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Old Man Aaron » Sat Jun 12, 2021 4:04 am

Thanks again, I'm also pleased with the overall effect. Letting the weeds do their thing would further improve it..

that is indeed cinnamon, with a little paprika here and there for highlights. I particularly like how the oil has wept out of each joint in the motion, and turned very dark.
I'll have to remember that, when I get round to bodging a spare LGB Koppel body, into my own boneyard loco.. The owner of this one, informs me he'd like to "restore" it with a motor driving the rear axle, a-la "Moreton" "preserved" at the Yandina Ginger Factory.
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Re: What to do with a tiny, barren wasteland?

Post by Old Man Aaron » Wed Sep 08, 2021 2:40 pm

30/08/21

At the time these photos were taken, we expected to buy a place and move out of this sardine-suburbian hole early next year. So to give myself plenty of time to lift the line and re-terraform it into a driveway, (and so the grass under the elevated section can grow back) a final visitor's day was held at the end of August.

"Victoria" on the bins.
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Ben's recently-completed coal-fired Fowler "Eudlo" of the local (closed 2003) Moreton Mill.
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Four Fowlers (or is it 3½?)
On the next line, I'd love to make it a regular thing, to try and beat the previous record for Fowlers in attendance.
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Due to dropping a nut which was thankfully later found, "Eudlo" never got to pull the bins this time.
But we posed this "what-if-Moreton-steamers-lasted-into-the-diesel-era" shot anyway. :roll:
I should build up a stock of spares from Roundhouse, for this sort of thing..
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Ben's R/C-ed Ruby "Ida" was an impressively smooth and docile runner - besides the tender and R/C conversion, I believe it's a bog-standard Ruby!
Now that he's about finished "Eudlo", Ben plans on giving "Ida" a ten-year overhaul, new tender and plenty of other mods.
Having owned and heavily-rebuilt a Ruby in the past, I'm very much looking forward to seeing what he does with his loco.
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More photos to come..
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