V.2 Operation Mirror Image

Despite my status update earlier, I'm still planning an extension, not just a fiddle yard. Here's my latest plan after a thought struck me earlier. It occurred to me that my abnormally-shaped plan for my extension would be hell to transport! So, I took the original layout and mirrored it and came up with this:

This design allows me to stack the two boards on top of one another. I'd have to create a square off section for the original board to make it easier to connect the two board. The join would be approximately where the tail fin of the seaplane is. The controls will be concealed in the hangar at the bottom of the diagram. Not sure what I'm going to do with the backscene though...

Oh, and while I'm here, here are a couple snaps with the second layer of paint on the seaplane:

I'll be interested to hear your point of view on the extension plan. I'm not sure how accurate the plan is because it is not drawn to scale, but it should give a general idea. The big green rectangle is a sports field for the RAF base. Also visible is the standard gauge platform and also the NG engine shed (based upon the one at Eaglehurst).

Preliminary sketch, how not to paint a seaplane and more weathering

Hello again,

Here's a sketch of the possible extension. The existing hangar will be extended and will have an apron sitting next to it along with yet another slipway. I have also shown the beached seaplane at the back (will be the Catalina in the photos below) and the beach, trees (forming the scenic break) and locomotive shed.

These next photos show the freshly painted Catalina. The painting is of poor standard and I still have another coat to go on. Also, I will need to add the glazing, paint the wheels and props. Then it will have a battered about look (not quite as drastic, but not far off something like this: Beached Catalina) Will be an interesting weathering challenge!

I hope you have enjoyed these set of photos. If you require any more information please do leave a comment and I will get back to you as soon as possible!

Thanks for looking,

Jam

How to get carried away...

... or, 'Yes, it's me, Mr Indecisive!'

It's fair to say that I have not exactly made any sort of progress on the layout for well over a month, probably more in fact. I've had far too much stuff going on lately to even comprehend touching the layout let alone working on it.

So today I wanted to change that and find some time to do some modelling. Unfortunately, things didn't go to plan and I couldn't find my mojo! Suffice to say, nothing got done.

I think that the reasoning behind this is because I am getting a bit bored with the layout. Perhaps even fed up. Fed up that it's still not working that well, fed up that I have to prod locos every 15 seconds, fed up that I can't uncouple automatically and fed up of problems that I generally can't solve!

So, I wrote a list of some of the annoying things that hadn't been completed (click for larger size):

I straight away ignored no.1 and focused on no.2.
So I decided to start fiddling with Paint.NET. The original plan was to just add a fiddle yard on. However, as you will see I got a bit carried away and built a whole new extension. This came about from the simple desire to both portray more of Calshot, and run trains for longer than 5ft and make it look as if they actually went somewhere. I've always absolutely loved little branch lines - you know, those quiet little backwater lines with ageing coaching stock and diminutive little tank engines pulling short freight trains with flanges squealing and couplings clattering.

So I've added in a little bit more SG. I've also added in the fiddle yard design and also a beached seaplane. The hangar has been extended to behind the control panel and there is a NG loco shed with trees forming the scenic break. So I ask the question I always seem to ask you folk - What now?!

Through the lens...

Some more up-to-date photos of Calshot

I won't add any descriptions to the photos as it's all pretty self-explanatory I hope. In the photos you will see a new platform taking shape. However, I am yet to find a drill chuck small enough to hold some drill bits less than 1mm in diameter!

Latest Photos

Haven't got much to say, so I'll let the photos do the talking!

Photo of the day

I was pleased with this photo taken last night showing the hand crane with the hangar beyond.

Calshot - Painting and structure modelling

After having been unable to make any progress on the layout for about a month I was getting fed up. Today I decided to take a break from revision and crack out the paints and glues.

Firstly, here is the castle gatehouse before painting took place:

Secondly, the other side after painting had been 'finished':

I decided to also paint the outer wall of the castle to try and tone down the bright white clay. Here I have gouged out some of the clay and inserted some old brickwork to suggest a crumbling outer skin. I will add cracks in due course:

The next job was to sort out the castle roof. Here are the new buildings on top with a little scratchbuilt lean to. This will need to be painted with some rust streaks at some point.

As a side note, I am thinking of adding lighting to the buildings on  Calshot. Obviously I will need to paint the insides of buildings black and fill up all the gaps, but I am hoping it will bring a new life to the layout. I am looking into some RAF era street lights (if such things exist!)...

Please feel free to comment or add any observations!