Rob’s been in touch with something that’s always fun: model railroad castles!
“Hi Al,
I have said from the beginning as I built this new Farland layout I wanted a ruined castle on it. I will also be starting on a ship for my harbour next month.
The castle was built from Elmer’s foam board with pieces cut with a craft knife in to the basic shapes, then covered with drywall compound about 2-3 mm thick. When this very soft plaster set up or dried, I carved the stone shapes with an old dental tool purchased on eBay. After scoring the grout lines and vacuuming off all the dust, I painted the lines with a very small brush using a black wash watered down.
When that dried, I sanded it lightly leaving fairly crisp edges. When it was thoroughly cleaned again I gave it a wash in a watered down sepia color to represent weathered lime stone. All in all I am very pleased with the result and once bedded into my layout with access stairways and small platforms, I think when done I may add a couple knights in armor with their horses demonstrating to a small crowd.
Thank you so much for all you do.
Rob”
Thanks to Hall of Fame member, Rob. Stunning stuff:
Now on to Yale:
“Al:
As John’s Gardenton Model Railroad shows, the devil is in the details. When folks come to visit our railroad they always comment on the details we’ve added in these little scenes.
Yale”
A huge thanks to Yale and to Rob for showing us some more model railroad castles.
Just loved Rob’s video – watching him build the castle was a real joy.
That’s all for today 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 Latest ebay cheat sheet is here.
PPS More HO scale train layouts here if that’s your thing.
Nice job, Rob. You might have a word with the driver of the 66, mustn’t have your loco tail lamps lit when working a train. Cheers,
Rod
Great job Rob. I like how you and Dave do things on your model railroads.
From Randy USA
Love the kitty rescue idea.
Good looking layout John especially the town scenes.
Rob, every layout should have a castle and your looks great as is the rest of the layout.
Eric (Leeds) UK
I can’t say enough on how wonderful your idea’s come to life on your layout. As an artist you are so creative. Frantastic, looking forward to the next installment .
THANKS AGAIN
Marklin ed
may I suggest placing a few blocks of stone near were the walls have fallen with the grass well worn from visitors climbing around on them I have been lucky to have visited a few castle ruins some have had some large pieces lying about the idea of the re enactors is great !! I was told that the ones that had no blocks around that they were salvaged when others built structures near by .
Very nice work on the castle Rob, as with all of your layout. I always look forward to see what you’re working on next. What make of camera do you use for the videos? Jim from CB.
So, a man’s layout is his castle. Nice work, Rob. Thanks for sharing.–Tom