Time to build a railway...but where?

[Peter Butler]

Well, it's that time of year when I need to put all of my houses and other structures into hibernation. Each year, about this time, I do a quick health check, wash and brush-up, and repair any minor blemishes. The first of my HIP (Plastikard) structures appeared in 2015 and are still in great condition now. They are all left outdoors from about April until November, and have withstood some (rare) seriously hot and dry conditions, also torrential rain and very strong winds. Descriptions of their construction and materials used are in earlier posts, so the length of time each has been exposed to the weather proves their resilience.
As previously mentioned, the commercially produced materials, particularly resin moulded roof sections, have fared less well than HIP ones.....

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I have found the acrylic paint I use has tended to peel off resin. There is only one HIP building, the Chapel, which shows evidence of peeling paint, and the reason for this oddity is that I used emulsion paint on my usual grey primer, instead of acrylic paint. However, the effect is very pleasing and prototypical where maintenance on such a building would probably have been minimal.....

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Overall, the buildings have mellowed and matured with the solid colour gently fading and taking on a less harsh appearance....

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What I am less pleased about is the disappearance of four of my resin dustbins, which some creature has decided their need is greater than mine!

[philipy]

That natural weathering effect is about par for the course, in my experience.
I love the peeling paint on the chapel, that looks exactly right to my eyes.

[FWLR]

Time does that to everything Peter, unfortunately for us it not as pleasing for some..

Your'e building however, are even more superb, they were superb before mind and now they look even more realistic.

[ge_rik]

I wonder who stole your dustbins. Jackdaws, squirrels, rooks/crows??

Rik

[Andrew]

I wonder who stole your dustbins. Jackdaws, squirrels, rooks/crows??

Tiny dustmen?

I need to bring my buildings in too. They've not weathered quite as pleasingly as yours (some minor structural repairs will be required as well as a little spot repainting), but they're doing remarkably well. I do like how your village is looking more and more natural over time...

Andrew.

[Peter Butler]

I do like how your village is looking more and more natural over time...

I have a degree (with honours), in Neglect.

[Peter Butler]

After a general inspection of my structures I am really pleased with the condition of them all. Certainly the cast resin ones have suffered from peeling paint, but not too serious and easily restored. Nothing made from HIP has distorted, broken or become detached. The worst thing about the structures is the discolouration of window glazing material... clear styrene which has yellowed so nothing can be viewed inside. I rarely bother with interior detailing anyway, but shop windows did have displays which are now completely hidden.
A friend has used 'slate-grey styrene mirror sheet' in his windows and it looks very good. In most instances it is impossible to see what is inside a building (which is why I don't bother, but the yellow appearance is more noticeable so will be replaced.
I have made a shocking discovery however.... the HIP signal box was tightly sealed against water penetration, so much so it also prevented water from escaping from the only opening, namely the small diameter chimney from the pot-bellied stove. My railway has had no use this year so I hadn't noticed the signalman, who had nothing to do but go to sleep in his chair, had drowned whilst on duty! When I lifted the box it held about two litres of water, reaching half-way up the windows. After removing the roof and washing out the interior, then sealing the chimney, everything is good to go!....

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[philipy]

Swimming whilst on duty? Surely that can't go undisciplined?

[ge_rik]

The patination of algae on the roof tiles looks very realistic. Is it natural or painted on?

Rik

[Peter Butler]

The patination on the roof is entirely natural and occurs on several of my buildings, although not all to the same extent. I have no idea why as they are all exposed to the same conditions and made of the same material with no surface finish. It is always damp here, which is why moss grows so abundantly too.

[Peter Butler]

On the subject of roof patination, as shown in the previous posts, here is a good example of how other buildings, of the same age and in identical conditions, have not been affected......

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This picture does show how the window glazing has yellowed and the shop displays inside are no longer visible. My next job is to replace it with slate-grey mirror sheet, (delivered this morning), so that just a reflection is given, much as would be seen in full sized structures.

[FWLR]

That seems like what it is in real life Peter.
Don't they say if your roof is facing North or East, that moss and stuff grow there.
On our roofs where ever we have lived, North facing roofs have all been full of moss and lichen, yet the South and West have never had any at all.

[Peter Butler]

The minor damage to the structures is just about complete now, worst affected were the shop/pub signs, which were printed on paper, laminated and stuck on with Evo-Stik. The adhesive has held but the signs became sun-bleached, which is no surprise and easily fixed....
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The last picture shows more replacement window glazing with slate-grey tinted, 5mm mirrored acrylic sheet. The effect is really good and should last far better than the clear styrene sheet, which went opaque.

[Trevor Thompson]

Peter that is a clever idea - I would never have thought of using mirrored acrylic.

I might just try that myself.

Trevor

[Peter Butler]

Peter that is a clever idea - I would never have thought of using mirrored acrylic.

I might just try that myself.

Trevor

I can't take credit for the idea, it was one of our local model group members who presented his engine shed using the material at a club meeting. It is a perfect solution as windows naturally reflect and I don't model interior fittings.

[Peter Butler]

I have recently turned my attention to small industrial locomotives. A number of Youtube videos, filmed at Amberley Museum, and the Slater's Simplex I built not long ago, have inspired me to add to my collection.
The first (used) 16mm scale loco I bought when I started this scale was a ready made, kit built, 'Caravan', which I believe to be an early white-metal model made by IP Engineering? This has a 3v motor and carries two AA batteries. Due to it being either on or off, with no control over it, I never ran it. Yesterday I decided to swap the motor for a 12v one of identical dimensions, so no need to change the gears, and power it from a rechargeable, 9.6v, 220mAh PP3 battery, thereby allowing me to install RC. .....

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The latest addition is the purchase of a ready-made, laser-cut chassis.....

https://bolelasercraft.com/product/ruston-20dl-chassis/

The body for this chassis is now under construction and is based on the Ransomes and Rapier loco, also shown on the Bole website.

[philipy]

I have recently turned my attention to small industrial locomotives. A number of Youtube videos, filmed at Amberley Museum, and the Slater's Simplex I built not long ago, have inspired me to add to my collection.

I kind of know that feeling, Peter.
With no fixed purpose in mind when I started, I have of course, recently built the Wickham Trolley, the Chingford contractor and am partway through the De Winton and it dawned on me a couple of weeks ago that I now seem to have developed a penchant for oddballs!

[Peter Butler]

Christmas has come early, despite the best efforts of the Post Office!.. Elsewhere on the Forum I have mentioned my order for two models from new Forum members, 'Porterhouse Models', and the associated problems with delayed deliveries during the strike action. At last they have arrived and I am more than pleased, in fact delighted with both. The 3D printing is just superb, and the design detail astonishing!
Something I have wanted for some time is a 'Cleminson' wagon, but after hearing of the problems with making the 6 wheel chassis perform on curves and inclines in a realistic and satisfactory way, I chickened out! The chassis on this wagon has solved those issues in a most ingenious way allowing the outer axles to turn and the centre one to slide sideways. It also has built-in vertical movement at either end and 'floating' axles to allow for any sideways lift of the body.... wonderful!

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If you haven't already guessed, I am 'over the moon' with this and desperate to get it in paint, just as soon as the cold weather allows!
Check out their website....
https://www.porterhousemodels.co.uk/store
.
(No personal connection, just a satisfied customer)

[Porterhousemodels]

Hi Peter,
Glad the models arrived safely (eventually!) and you are happy with them.
Thankyou for the glowing write up about the models.
We have seen your email about the post driving band for the Spooners boat and we are getting some spares packed to send to you.
I have been reading through your thread and really like your layout and other projects you have been working on.
Hope you have a Merry Christmas
Best Wishes
Porterhouse Models

[Peter Butler]

Many thanks for your kind remarks, Adrian, I will try to do justice to your models.
The second model from Porterhouse was 'Spooner's Boat', something I have been thinking about for several years and, again, failed to find a solution in the absence of a 3D printer. I know Trevor has made one, which looks very good indeed.
This one has a motorised option, which I took advantage of as I don't have gradients, unlike Trevor. I can put a sail on mine and make it appear to be wind powered.
Again, the model is beautifully printed with very little sign of lines, although I have given it a slight smoothing which can be seen in the pictures....

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Just as the Cleminson, the detail is crisp and well formed. Although I know nothing about 3D printers, my feeling is that some investment has been made to produce models to this standard, but the models are sensibly priced.
Something to note is that they come pre-assembled, which is included in the price. In both instances, because of the complexity of the parts, I think this is a good idea.