My Layout Progress

Gday everyone!! Here are some shots of the progress of my briefcase layout. I have finished the trestle bridge and have scratchbuilt some level crossing lights. I will make a post later on with the methods used to make each of these. After completing the landscape (made from shaped foam covered with thin layer of plaster) I painted the entire layout in acrylic brown. I added different shades of brown to the sides of the cuttings as these would recieve less foilage later. I the attached the track to the base board and taped up the rails. Spraying fine mist of water and PVA glue to the entire layout I then added the grass. For the grass I used Woodland Scenics Fine Turf ('Burnt Grass' and 'Earth'). I added two fine coats of each of these colours.
So now I am up to the stage of making shrubs and trees. I also have to do the buildings for the little town near the road intersection. These will include an 'Aussie' Pub, General Store, a few houses, Railways station and goods shed.
I will edit this post at a later date to add some pictures of the landscape before it was painted and 'grassed'.
Paul has alspo made huuuuge progress on his layout. He has utilised the same steps as I have done and is up to the same stage. I will make a post of his layout when I get pictures of it while 'grassed'!

Until then........Happy Modelling
Adrian

Been working hard on layouts.

Gday All

Paul and I have been working very hard on our layouts. My briefcase layout is coming along quite well and Paul has started on a rural valley layout. We are catching up tonight to work on them a little more. It has been 40+ degrees during the day here so that makes it difficult to work. Layout building time has been pushed into the cooler evenings.

I have pictures but ill keep them to myself until after tonight were I can add some more progress shots. Ill make separate posts for each layout.

Until then.

Take care and Happy Modelling

Adrian

Start of my briefcase layout.

Gday All!! I have started on my T-Gauge briefcase layout. As seen below I have purchased an aluminum case for 'visual appeal' during exhibitions. I was thinking of finding an old case for the layout but I thing I would be portraying the wrong message. I wanted to promote something that is 'new' and 'fresh'. I have (with the assistance of Leo from my local model club :-) ) cut out a piece of plyboard to use as the base. I used temporary pieces of foam (later to be replaced with timber) to elevate the ply. Deciding on an angle I would like the layout to be I traced the track oval onto the board. It is now that I can draw my layout design onto the board and start the landscaping and scenery. I need a few materials before starting the scenery. Particularly since I have to scratchbuild most of the buildings.

I purchased some packets of Hornby 'Wire Foliage Branches' to use as trees. Here is a pic of these.

I will be starting on the landscape in the next few days so stay posted.

I also hope to try and adapt the Eishindo mech and bogies to the scratchbuilt rolling stock that Paul has designed. The progress of this will be posted up here soon too.

Cheers and happy modelling!

Adrian

Im a T-Gauge OWNER!!!

Hooray!!! I am now the proud owner of some very smaaaalll trains!! I dont think I will ever get used to how small this Gauge actually is. As soon as I got home the trains and track were out of there respective boxes. I might say here how very impressed I am with the packaging. Top job Eishindo!! Everything was well packaged with minimal movement and secures with tape.
The first test run went well with no issues to report. The only thing of note is that one powered car travels faster than the other. That is of no issue as I plan to convert it to a Victorian Railways locomotive/railcar and will most likely be running them independantly.
I have also purchased an aluminum case to build the layout in. I will post pictures as soon as possible. With regards to the layout it will be Victorian prototype. I have written down a list of features that I would like to include on the layout that would suit this prototype. These include a trestle bridge (likely to be on the corner), a cutting and embankment plus a small VR station and Goods Shed.
This is where I leave you for now. As mentioned earlier I will post pictures up as soon as possible. Take care.

Adrian

Just a quick post to say I have started a N scale blog of all my N scale stuff and projects.

www.victorian-nscale.blogspot.com

My new toy!!!

Taking macro pictures using my old 2 megapixel Canon A40 was ok when dealing with HO and occasionally N scale. However entering a competely new arena with T gauge I had to resort to borrowing my parents 5 mexapixel camera. Not completely satisfied with the results (all previous shots), I deemed it necessary to go out and purchase a new camera, so I did......... ok.....truthfully I begged my wife to get one......... :-)
The new beast is a Canon PowerShot SX100. 8 megapixel with the best 'Macro' mode in the shop before hitting the Digital SLR market. I have only had it for a bit over a day and am already very happy with it.
What better items to test the macro mode on that some T-Gauge rolling stock. Here are the results:

Click on image to expand to full size

A view of the front of the loco. The 'wing' effect was achieved by slightly cutting the vinyl triangle. The circle (which is usally filled with a VR logo) was programmed into the vinyl cutting design.

Using direct sunlight as lighting.

The loco looks like its made to fit perfectly on an Australian 50c coin.

Thats all for now. The next post will hopefully be when the T-Gauge stock arrives. Till then take care and happy modelling.

Adrian

MORE PICS!!!!

Just to keep you guy interested while we eagerly await the arrival of the T-Gauge stock, here are some more pics! Rolls of vinyl that are used in the layering process. Imagine how much rolling stock can be made with all this!!!!!!

Here is a side of a BCE passenger carriage.

Incomplete steel car showing the method of creation.

12.5cm for the length of a small train!!! Imagine the length of a big train!!!

Hmmmmmm.... closest this to seeing a full train so far!!

Just a quick post. Will keep you updated!!

Adrian

First VR Locomotive

Wow!!!! I have just arrived home after meeting with Paul to take photos of the progress of his VR Flat-Top T Class locomotive. Upon laying my eyes on this materpiece im sure my mouth was hanging open however no sound was coming other than "wooooow" and "amaaaazing" followed by drool!! Unfortunantly this wont be seeing the track as the design needs adjustment, however it will make a very nice scenic loco to park in a siding or shed. Anyhow Paul is typing up a post for me to upload to the forum outlining the production details but for now I will simply amaze you all with his handywork. Enjoy!




Adrian



Click for larger photo.

Yep, thats 3 cm!

Here is Paul with his handywork. Can't tell he is proud can you............. :-)

Exciting

The Pointer Sisters once said, "Im so excited. That I just cant hide it.". This describes how I feel at the moment. Waiting for the T gauge stock to arrive. Itching to start a layout...to play with the tiny trains myself..... oh my heart races!!

I started a trestle bridge earlier this week. Measuring and figuring how theyre made....easy. It was going good until I decided to attempt to make one span out of brass wire. The choice of material was only as this was all that I had at home that would fit to scale. Trying to solder something that small requires a much more precis soldering iron than my 'lumpy' old one.

So to cut a long story short, I have decided to try the same design using styrene rod and glue. I dont have any styrene rod so after I post this im going shopping :-) !!

Below is an image of some trees that I purchased at our N scale club. The palm trees are made from a metal of some sort. If I was to guess I would say they are an etch. My camera doesnt take the best clost up shot (hmmm Christmas present for self) but the detail of the palms are amazing. The other trees I also think are an etch of some sort. I connot remember how much I paid for these or where they are available from. I will find out and post details on here as I think they are of great design and detail and would suit a T gauge layout quite well.

Take care and no doubt ill make a post when the T gauge stock arrives....."im so excited..."

Adrian

Thinking??

Just a post to state I have added the picture behind the main heading. This photo is of Pauls AE wagon and an Australian $2 coin taken by Darren Hodges (B67).

I have been thinking of possibilities of scratchbuilding railmotors utilising the method Paul uses to make his wagons. The Victorian Railways DERM (Diesel Electric Rail Motor) seems like the most obvious choice as it is very similar to the AE car and would require minimal modification to the design.

Still at the thinking stage at the moment. I guess ill have to work out the measurements of the mech and see if it will fit keeping to the scale measurements of the DERM.

For further reading and pictures regarding the DERM see this excellent resource:

http://www.victorianrailways.net/motive%20power/derm.html