Wonderful weathered locos

“Dear Al,

Here are some pictures to illustrate the work I’m doing here in Belgium. Actually I’m planning a small portable layout based on the GWR in early 1944 (with US & British troops waiting for D-Day).

But I already have done several dioramas based on the Belgian Railways prototype. Photographs shows a diorama of a Belgian Railways goods shed (with interior details)

Also, you’ll find pictures of a scratchbuilt Belgian Railways signal box (who could be found in Liège) with the interior fully detailed (model now displayed on my club layout)

The last pictures shows the weathering I’ve done to my Airfix BR “Royal Scot” steamer and two “Hogwarts Express” based LMS coaches from Märklin.

You can publish them on your website, just indicate that the models were made by Eric Sainte, from the Liege’s Train Fan Association (ALAF Asbl) in Belgium.

Best regards,

Eric.

P.S. : If you’d like, I can send you an article about how I weathered the Marklin LMS coaches and my Airfix steam locomotive in PDF format (I’d just have to translate it in English)”


Amazing pics, Eric, I’d love to see your weathering guide!


“Hi Al, few picture for you , just a couple of handy tips , a piece of garden trellising from the big D.I.Y. Store , cut a few cuts off, and ready made Logs , for the log carriers , then a new light for the buffers , it just clips on to the rail DCC or DC and it light up and at only £4 , If any use to you pick out which could be useful, will post a video within the next week or two featuring these two new additions

Regards

Dave”



That’s all for this time folks.

Please do keep ’em coming.

And if today is the day you get started on your layout, the Beginner’s Guide is here.

Best

Al

PS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.





Need buildings for your layout? Have a look at the store.

They are great fun to make and great value too.

Ballasting a turnout

The talented Dave sent me this.

It’s not one of his – but I know if he found it useful, the rest of us probably would.

I certainly did!

Wish I’d seen it a long time ago to be honest…


Don’t forget the latest ebay cheat sheet to hang on to your hard earned cash.

Helpful video? Let us know below…

Best

Al

More railroad tips – and more sign pics from Roger

“Hello Al

Here are the photos for INTERIORS. The photo numbers continue on from the last batch on my previous mail (12-17).

I use high quality on my camera which means I can send a limited amount attached to a mail.

Best,

Rodge.”


“G-Day, from Australia, Alastair I have used latex and covered a section of a natural rock wall, out crop, and then splattered a thick plaster mix inside the mold with some great effects.”

Dominic


“Most people use oil based paints to paint buildings, engines and rolling stock. I use a water base paint, it makes it so much easier to weather which ever piece I am working on and once I am happy with the way it looks I then spay a flat clear coat over the piece. It make it look old and weathered, it is so easy to maintain. Besides the clean up is so simple. Thanks,

Rick”


“Take dry wall compound and dilute with water to a thick batter consistently. Then dip paper towel sheets in it to coat. Lay over foam or crumpled up newspaper
and shape with fingers. Works the same as plaster cloth and much cheaper.”

Droa



“Love this thanks !!! I have been a modeler for many years and i try not to spend money on stuff i feel we can make . I’m in the auto restoration business and use body filler to make so much stuff with foam , by making forms out of foam then cover with body filler then before its dry i place latex brick or cobble stones mold place it on the filler let dry .Once its dry pull form from the filler and u have bricks or streets would like to show you with some pics . I a’m currently doing Amsterdam with its canals and central station on of the most beautiful cities i have seen in my travels . thanks for your time.

Ken”


“The feathery seeds from pampas grass makes good clumps of bush grass for OO/HO or elephant grass for N gge. Clumps makes good bamboo. Paint with simple school poster paints, or dye in a poster paint/ water 30/70 solution. Sue hairspray if you want a fixative.

Dried tea leaves and coffee grounds make good scatter material. Sift them with a sieve for different grades. Dye them with poster paints.

Duncan”


“Hi Al,

Keep em coming. I like some of these idea’s.

Another sugestion for Wire Netting is strips cut from Net Curtains that can then be sprayed with “Mount Spray” or Hair Lacquer to provide the rigidity.

Regards

Jon”


“I have something I can share with you. I am sure someone has already done it. It came to me as I was sitting with my wife a few months ago. I was planning my “Drive in Theater” layout for my HO’s trains. I was thinking about making the speakers for the cars. She was taking bobby pins out of her hair, I picked up one and said it’s the right size and it was as simple as this. I took one and cut it in half to make two even pieces then bent the head pieces on an angle away from each other, painted them aluminum. So with one drop of super glue at the bottom with a bead making the cement bottom of the post- painting the lower part flat white. I went to the dollar store and picked up 2 packages that had about 100 in each pack and a small pack of beads that fit perfect. It has done more than complete the area for 140 cars facing the screen. With all the materials at your side it takes about one min. to make one and cost little to nothing for a great result. Using a 1/87 or 1/64 scale car this resembles an incredible memory and furthers the conversation for the layout. It worked for me.

Bill”


“If you want to model craggy weathered granite on cliffs or outcrops I have found chuncks of pine bark, I get mine from pine bark mulch, set in plaster gives a very realistic look even close up. If you want sandstone then a few passes with awire brush and a spray with an airbush of whatever colour you prefer also looks pretty good.

Robin”


Some good tips here. Hope enjoyed them.

I keep getting mails that the ‘ebay cheat sheet‘ doesn’t work with the Chrome browser. I’ll try and fix that. For everyone else, thanks for all the comments on it. Hope it’s saved you a few dollars.

Best

Al