Time to build a railway...but where?

[Peter Butler]

Cheers Jim, I was looking to give a different finish to the normal brick or stone and tried to think of a way to achieve it. I haven't seen this method used before so it is a bit of an experiment, which I enjoy.
I know you often use timber because it is available to you, that makes sense, but unlike you, I don't have youth on my side so look for materials which will last in our damp climate here.
The 2mm thick HIP sheet costs just over £6 and there's enough to make this structure with all of its strengthening and detailing. I think that is a good price to pay for something which is likely to outlive me!
I watch with envy when others make moulds to cast stone effects and build walling from resin or concrete but it is out of my comfort zone so I must stick to what I know.
I do have other finishes I want to try as I have a whole village to construct.

[Peter Butler]

So far I think I can claim my rendering as a success. Before I worked on the large factory unit I had already made a small sample to test the idea out. It has now been four days since I made it and today I gave it the sort of punishment it should never receive out on the railway.



That is quite a severe bend, and not the first one as I have bent it several ways to try out the bond to plastic and the possibility of cracking. I am pleased to say it passed on all counts.
Also, I have given a coat of water based paint on one half to see how it looks and again I am delighted with the appearance.
Can't wait to get on with the big one now.

[TonyW]

I've used car underseal as rendering in the past, with a bit of sand mixed in if it is not "gritty" enough. It goes on with a brush and can be removed from places it shouldn't be with a rag dipped in white spirit. Once dry its black colour can be successfully lost with a couple of coats of masonry paint.

[Peter Butler]

Sounds interesting, how has it lasted and do you have pictures?

[TonyW]

Sounds interesting, how has it lasted and do you have pictures?

It lasted fine, until other parts of the wood structure fell apart due to old age (15 years) and consequent rot. This is the best picture I can find, taken about 8 years ago...

[Peter Butler]

That looks fine Tony and your comment about the wooden part failing first is the reason I went with plasticard. I would rather spend more time creating a detailed model in materials I think will last, rather than make more structures quicker using perishable materials in the knowledge that they will certainly need rebuilding in a few years. I am definitely a one-time constructor rather than a regular maintenance man.
I see your cat made good use of the shed, she has found a safe place to hide there.

[TonyW]

That looks fine Tony and your comment about the wooden part failing first is the reason I went with plasticard.  I would rather spend more time creating a detailed model in materials I think will last, rather than make more structures quicker using perishable materials in the knowledge that they will certainly need rebuilding in a few years.   I am definitely a one-time constructor rather than a regular maintenance man.
I see your cat made good use of the shed, she has found a safe place to hide there.

I'm with you all the way there Peter and if I were to build another shed then I would be looking at something more durable than pieces of tree.

For a long time now I have taken the view that wood has no place, no place at all in a garden railway unless, unlike me, you are willing to spend time and money replacing it every few years. A friend of mine built his line in boil-proof rot-proof everything-else-proof timber about 10 years ago and it cost him a fortune. He tells me the wood smelt nice when it went in his log burner last winter, but that is all he had to show for it. A second fortune is currently being spent on concrete, blocks and bricks.

[Big Jim]

Much as I like the idea of creosoted sleepers I have to agree with you Tony.
I have just demolished a small garden structure built 5 years ago with super duper, pressure treated timber that has been treated by myself twice with good preservative it was absolutely rotten. Now I know I have a garden that is damp and doesn't get much sun but still 5 years life out of good and expensive materials, no thanks.

[LNR]

I guess climate would be a key element here. I just happened to pick up an item made of styrene yesterday, only to have it completely disintegrate in my hand. The old UV at it again.
Grant.

[tom_tom_go]

Don't you just hate it when your cat derails in the shed...

[Peter Butler]

Further progress.... the ends of the building are now rendered and the chimney ( constructed to fit the roof line around a fence vertical support batten) has been clad with stone effect sheet and capped.





So far no paint has been applied but I should be able to begin tomorrow when the SBR has had time to thoroughly dry.

[SimonWood]

That looks terrific. And the painted render is incredibly effective.

[Big Jim]

A nice clean wall like that next to a railway is just crying out for a bit of graffiti.
Looks impressive Peter.

[Peter Butler]

Graffiti sounds like a good idea Jim. Most of my line is still too clean and clinical and I must try to loosen up a little. 'I distress' my rolling stock but haven't done much to the structures yet.
Ideas for suitable graffity would be most welcome.
Please bear in mind I have no knowledge or interest in football, so that is out!

[Big Jim]

Best bit of graffiti I ever saw was on the bottom of a toilet door, the ones that end 4 inches from the floor. It said " beware of Irish limbo dancers."

Not really suitable for a wall though.

[ge_rik]

Best bit of graffiti I ever saw was on the bottom of a toilet door, the ones that end 4 inches from the floor. It said " beware of Irish limbo dancers."

Not really suitable for a wall though.

In a similar vein, I once saw some graffiti in small writing above the cistern in an old fashioned toilet cubicle. Intrigued, I stood on the seat to get a closer view. It said, "What are you doing up here, you nosy b*****d."

Really like the rendering and the concept of decaying industrial infrastructure, BTW.

Rik

[SimonWood]

I like the idea of graffiti. I find the funniest ones are embellishments on official signs, neither of these would work in your context but this is the kind of thing I mean


From a bathroom hand-drier


Little Haven village sign

So perhaps you need some official signage first?

[Peter Butler]

OK, own up...... whose bright idea was it to have graffiti on my building?  You know I can't resist a challenge!
First I had to paint all of those individual stones and bricks, fit the roofing slates and coping stones, make the down-pipes from the gutters and then find some suitable graffiti images on that inter-watsit-thingy.
So eventually I came up with these....

 





Together they look like this...





And the detail of the structure.....





Next time you set me a challenge, show us yours first!!!!!

[philipy]

Obvously your real name is "Butlersey"

Very nice as always Peter. Looking forward to seeing it once the Welsh weather has taken the the newness off of it all.

[ge_rik]

I'm really disappointed there's no Banksy, Peter.    ;)

Rik
PS Are you sure you're not a closet graffiti artist. These do look a bit too realistic!