Drastic Plastic: Brafferton Update

Having mocked up the bridge and been satisfied with the result, I thought I'd better get the actual model built. I took the layout up to the Area Meeting on 13 December and it attracted some very encouraging comments; always an incentive to press on!

On Masham I used brickpaper over card for the built structures. With more stonework evident at Brafferton (although the station building is in the majority brick), I decided to take the embossed plasticard route. The main shell was constructed from 40 thou card using the mock-up, drawings and photos as a guide:




The stonework on the arches is very prominent. These were formed from individual pieces of the embossed plasticard which was affixed back-to-front to conceal the embossing. The string course was fabricated from two layers of plain plasticard and will be notched to represent individual stones. Once these two elements were in place, the arched sections were infilled. The results are a bit gappy in places, but a bit of grouting will overcome this before the whole structure is given a light abrading:



The undersides of the arches are not yet in place and there are lintel stones required at the top of each pier and along the parapets. But I'm pleased with progress to date:

Underneath the Arches

A little bit more scenic progress on board No.1. Evidence of more cutting and the unused trackbed base is complete:

The overbridge is mocked up using copies of the drawing that I developed from photos. Proportionally it seems to be coming together and the mock up has served its purpose:

Roll away the Stone(s)

What's going on, you might well ask? Well, having gotten sick of soldering on board No.2, I thought I would progress board No.1 a bit. Which involves... soldering! Actually, I had to fabricate the cross board track from board No.1 to the fiddle yard and then wire in electrical feeds for both ends. 

Having done that, I thought that titivating the trackwork would be a good idea! The odd soldered bits were painted a base brown; the majority having been sprayed the same. I then proceeded to drybrush a lighter cream/brown/grey mix onto the sleepers. Ultimately I will go back and add some brighter rust bits and an overall wash, but for now this will be sufficient painting.

Having let that dry, I have started some ballasting. The results are displayed below:

I used a similar process to Edward; spreading glue in and around the sleepers and then adding the ballast. I am using Woodland Scenics which I think is sufficiently fine and more importantlyto me, is of a consistent grade. 

This is a piece of single track which is actually on a double trackbed; the line was singled very early in its life. I did consider laying a double track bed and ballasting the whole. However, careful inspection of the Marsden Rail DVD "Harrogate & District" clearly shows that the unused portion has been deballasted, lies substantially lower than the remaining track, and is quite overgrown with grass and smaller shrubs. As such, I will make this part of the scenic element and plaster to the track base at a slightly lower height. Having done about 50% of the ballasting on this board, I will continue and then complete the scenic contours in insulation board. Then comes the plaster!

In the Distant for 13th December 2008

North East Area Group meeting information.

Saturday 13h December 2008 Saint Barnabas Church Hall Bournmoor.

Time - Please Note 2.00pm – 5.00pm. (approx.)

At the forthcoming meeting, which is, Christmas our get together there will be no instructional session. Instead those of you who have been working on a project are invited to bring it along and show us what you have been up to. There will be no need to stand up and speak just bring your bits and pieces along sit at a table, maybe do a bit of work on whatever it is you bring along and answer the questions that will get asked. Do bring something along because we may have a couple of new group members attending for the first time and there can be nothing better than models to enthuse new blood. It is no surprise to see how much interest is generated by partly completed models.

For my part I will have with me the Bachmann class 108 DMU that I have just finished fine scaling and I hope to have the Q6 back in action in time for Darlington show this coming weekend (6/7th Dec) so I will bring that along.

I have been working on some adjusting screws for the Wansbeck Road fiddle yard so there’s a good chance I will able to show some result there.

There will be a number who will not make it this time due to the Wigan Show - on one hand and the unveiling of Tornado in it’s new livery on the other.

At Wigan, 2mm Scale gets a really good showing. In addition to the 2mm Scale Association publicity stand, Stephen Harris will be there with Ynysarwed Sidings and Jim and Sue Allwood with Welton Down so there are three really good reasons for trying to get to the show if you can. Of course even if we didn’t have such a good presence it would still be an excellent show to attend. While Wigan is in full swing, we will be enjoying our usual pre Christmas celebration with all the normal goodies including the mince pies...........!
See you all on the 13th.