Recent Stuff on the FBGR

[FBGR]

The refurbishment of the section of Fence Buildings and Retaining Wall behind the Station area was completed yesterday with the return and refixing of the last three portions of the latter – just in time for the first running session (Weather permitting) next Weekend.

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One thing I did notice was that the paving areas in front seems to have shrunk, with the gaps between the sections opening up. I shall have to try and disguise the joints a bit better and avoid straight butt joints for the next areas to be done.

JOhn

[FBGR]

Things have been progressing steadily on the FBGR this year, nothing spectacular, just onward progress.

The paving/covering of the boarded area is continuing, as you will here.

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I have been making an hexagonal kiosk to be positioned on the platform extension, but my printer went FUTT, and I have been unable to finish it by printing out the various signs and contents. The space that the printer used to take up has now found another use and I seem to be getting along fine with being paperless, so I don’t know when this will be completed.

The picnic tables are scratch-built, in plasticard of course, and are loose (put away at night). The ‘grass’ is stuck to the foam-board with Wickes Pipe Cement, and lives outside.

John de Havilland

[FBGR]

I have found a use for the roof left over from the POLA crane (see http://gardenrails.myfreeforum.org/abou ... a29b8ba0e8). It had to be tidied up round the place where the cables would have come out to turn this area into a notice sign.

The kiosk, out of mostly plasicard (the brick plinth from Foamboard), is yet to be decorated with window contents, posters and advertising. It is likely that this will not be living outdoors, but only brought out for running sessions.

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I’m still not sure about the colour of the roof, the pot said ‘copper’ but this looks more like brass to me – maybe I’ll paint it green to look like oxidised copper, along with a bit of weathering eventually.

JOhn

[MDLR]

I agree the roof could do with "toning down" - maybe a very dilute wash of moss green paint (instead of the usual black) with "dribbles" of a slightly stronger mix would do the trick.

[FBGR]

Its been a little time since I reported – but we have not been completely idle.

We started the Fleecy Bunnies Garden Railway in 2004 (thirteen years ago!), and we are now finding that some of the construction work under-taken in the first couple of years was not good enough. We were keen to get everything up and running, so a quick lick of preservative paint or using timber that was “guaranteed 10 years” has stated to catch up with us.

Last September, during a running session, part of a timber retaining wall near look crossover started to fail. Although the track was not at first disturbed, one side of the abutment to our double track bridge (inserted over the path to the shed) had moved, meaning that it no longer fitted.

It was not something that could be just patched up. A complete rebuilding of this section of the formation was required – hopefully to last for ten more years.

I would have liked to rebuild everything in plastic, but this would have been too expensive. So we plumped for using short lengths of square plastic rain-water-pipe which we ‘postcreted’ into the ground. To this we bolted timber pads and screwed timber boards and rails,making sure that all new timber was well coated in a proper thick and smelly creosote obtained from the local independent ironmonger (NOT the stuff sold in the DIY superstores).

First pics shows this process under way and complete. As far as possible we tried to leave a ventilation space behind the new vertical boards.

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After we had refixed the points and trackwork back in position (over felt), taking care to keep to level as much as possible, we have started to fill in the areas outside the track.

Foamboard, either one, two or even three layers thick, suitably sanded down with the Drimmel, with a plasticard railing fence to one side and a haphazard palling fence to the other have now been laid, and because there was a rather empty space on one side that we thought would be made into some sort of yard, I knocked up a plasticard wagon body acting as a storehouse to try an fill some of this space – much more is needed here.

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The original bridge at the end of the new decking is being modified. It was constructed with the tracks fitted to decent a plywood deck which we have been able to retain, but the parapets and arch under was made of thin plywood which was already showing signs of age, so are being replaced with foamboard to match our viaduct.

The rebuilding of the bridge itself is nearly complete, and we can then ‘decorate’ round the ends to tie in with the boarded area.

Then it will be ballasting next after that.

JOhn de Havilland

[LNR]

Love that paling fence, really looks the business. Hope it lasts as well as mine has.
Grant.

[tom_tom_go]

Will the glue last outside when used with Plastikard?

[Peter Butler]

Will the glue last outside when used with Plastikard?

I guess it depends on the 'glue'.... if solvent is used (as I do) then it welds the plasticard together so should be permanent, or as good as! My structures show great resistance to temperature and moisture variations so I'll 'stick' with it!!!!

[tom_tom_go]

I have only used Humbrol liquid poly so far, will that work outside?

[FBGR]

Some of the Fleecy Bunnies Garden Railway's Fence Buildings, all built from Plasticard, have been out there summer and winter since 2010, and there has never been any problems with the solvent glue joints.

In those days I tended to use just the Humbrol Precision Poly Cement: nowadays I use the Humbrol Liquid Poly for small and medium size joints but still use the Poly Cement for larger areas and pieces. Sometimes I would run a fillet of the Poly Cement around some joints after construction, just to be sure.

JOhn

[ge_rik]

Just been catching up with this thread. Some really great ideas here which I will 'borrow' if you don't mind. I hadn't thought of embossing foamboard to make cobbles, I must admit, but they do look worth the effort.

Thanks

Rik

[tom_tom_go]

Thanks for the glue advice, keep up the good work.

[FBGR]

The rebuilt bridge middle bit was fitted yesterday, and it fits nicely. I was able to retain the original stiffened plywood centre support with the tracks on it and just had to make a new arch bit to underneath (which does not support any weight) and some cladding to the parapet – all in foamboard which was screwed to the original timber. This item does not live outside, so I am quite happy with retaining the use of the original wooden parts.

Painted with B&Q Tester Pots to match the three arch viaduct on our railway (see above). I notice just a little fading of the original paint, which has been out in the weather since November 2015.

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Next, in this area, I have to get the corners of the bridge and deck filled in and tidy.

JOhn

[FBGR]

Today the bridge abutments were fitted.

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And this is what it looks like when the bridge is not in place

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Next should be the track ballasting of this area, and maybe a little building in the Y.

JOhn

[Peter Butler]

Lovely work, that foamboard material is wonderful stuff and you work it well.

[LNR]

I agree with Peter. Your railway is living proof that with ingenuity, you can build a railway in a back yard in almost any circumstance. I particularly like the way you have used the fence with the low relief buildings, to provide a back drop.
Grant.

[FBGR]

Last week a new building was completed – generally in German style to suit most of the other structures on the FBGR - built in foamboard with plasticard details as usual.

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This week we were able to ballast the recently rebuilt area – resin bound 2mm green granite stuck down with SBR.

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Some more structures are planned to fill the blank spaces in this area.

JOhn

[bazzer42]

Another little gem Mr Bunny, something cute about overhanging roofs.

[ge_rik]

Great looking structures, especially the bridge. What adhesives do you use for the foamboard and for the plasticard adornments?

Rik

[FBGR]

The Goo I use to stick foamboard to foamboard and plasicard to foamboard is Wickes Solvent Cement, made for sticking together plastic RWPs – you have to ask for it as it is kept behind the counter. Its about £4 for 125ml pot – it goes un-runny in the pot quite quickly if you leave the cap off.

Here is another pic of the latest building – the brickwork bond is a continental form, not your normal English Bond.

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JOhn