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danpickard
Fireman
Australia
1100 Posts |
 Posted - 11/29/2010 : 05:18:13 AM
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Hi all,
I thought I'd start to document a little side project I'm about to get stuck into. Basically, I do have plans well under way for my next larger exhibition project, but I expect the development and construction of that will take a couple of years (since as well as a heavily sceniced layout, there are a number of scratchbuilt loco's and all the rolling stock to build up...and I have no deadline like previous efforts!). In the mean time then, I'm going to put together "Digger's Bend Mining Co" as a small On30 display layout to present at exhibitions while the next effort gets developed.
Building the smaller layout kind of has two purposes. Firstly, I have a number of newer construction methods, scenery styles and techniques etc, that I want to experiment with, plus I thought I could use it as a small presentation piece that I can incorporate into a clinic I'll do at the Aussie NMRA Convention here in Melbourne next October. A bit under a year to put together, which should be comfortably achievable (provided the experiments work that is!).
I guess the starting point for this new little layout, was completing a Bachmann gas mechanical detailing job that had been on my workbench for about a year as well. I had a Backwoods Miniatures dress up lit for the loco, which was assembled quickly, primed...and then sat. I finally got around to pulling out my airbrush to complete the paint work a few weeks ago, tried a few different weathering methods, and it turned out quite nice...nice enough for me to think it needed its own layout to run around.
I thought that this loco would be more than suitable for a little mini layout, trundling around some tight radius. I decided a short string of little rugga v-tipper wagons would be appropriate, so ordered 6 from "KB scale models", which now put out the older Roy C Link items (if anyone is familiar with these past kits). Originally O-14 kits, but KB now have an On30 16.5mm conversion set for the wagons. Thay are simila in style to the Bachmann v-tippers, but much finer castings and on a smaller/lighter frame...a bit more quaint than the Bachmann version. They are also link & pin coupling, making for a nice tight little string of wagons.
So, another starting point was a previous unfinished layout that was sitting in the shed, my old Brewery Cove mini layout. It was also an inbetween big layouts project, started prior to my previous Dolly Varden layout, but never got completed. My modelling style has changed a fair bit since it was started, so it made more sense to strip the frame out, and start again. Same size boxed diorama style unit, about 1000mm front width, 700mm deep, about 600mm high, with a curved backdrop, and the same simple loop of track to run a short train through a scene. The scenery and structures were gutted out, backdrop primed again and a new backscene started, and the brainstorming began.
The above photos show the current state at the starting point really. Still with the old name on the shell, but soon to be replaced. The backscene was a quicky trial using oil paints, since I haven't painted landscape with oils since my days in high school (still distant hills and trees to add once I work out what else will go in the display).
Heres a list of some of the small experiments I want to use this layout as a testing ground for.
- finally doing some Aussie style scenery, with some new types of trees and grass finishes to try (prior to applying them to the larger exhibition layout that is under development),
- the front old wharf area will be refashioned into a bend of a rivers edge (hence Diggers Bend), where I want to try some different long edge water grasses and reeds,
- a couple of new painting and weathering techniques, which be tested out on the few small structures for the scene,
- soundscape construction, which I picked up the cheap 2.1 system as seen in the photos for (only about $25 on sale), which will be hidden within the scene, incuding the subwoofer, and do some soundscape recordings in the virtual studio setting (have done these previously with my old Stumpy Creek layout, and also for John Hunters Narchuca Wharf diorama).
I've also got a heap of castings I want to use up, so expect a good volume of junk and detailing.
Back top the bench then...
Cheers,
Dan Pickard |
http://danpickard.blogspot.com/
http://www.lauriegreensweb.com/ |
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andykins
Fireman
United Kingdom
3860 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 05:25:30 AM
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neat little critter dan, may i ask who makes the figure? (if you've already said, its the lack of sleep thats stoping me from seeing it)
im looking forward to seeing this come to life |
"Is it really "rivet counting" if it's regarding NBW castings?"
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kirk
Fireman
Sweden
4525 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 05:42:31 AM
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| Exiting! I'll be following this... I use soundscapes many places on my layout, and wouldn't be without it... |
Troels Kirk
Näsum, Sweden
http://coastline.no13.se |
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wesleybeks
Fireman
South Africa
2197 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 05:45:22 AM
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That little critter looks fantastic Dan.
Id love to know how your technique for the rust on the panel with the 4 on it.
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Regards
Wes.
Dont leave for tomorrow what you can do today. |
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danpickard
Fireman
Australia
1100 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 05:51:43 AM
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Andy,
The figure is from Buffalo Landing. He is a New Zealand guy who has a couple of really nicely cast 1:48 figures based on images from the Westside Lumber Company. I think he has around a dozen figures or so (search On30 on ebay, where he sells direct as probably the easiest place to find them). They are currently some of my favourite 1:48 castings as far as clean cast, good poses and very nice details. I've painted up about 10 of them now, and am debating about ordering some more (and hoping he puts out some new figures in the near future as well).
Kirk,
Sound is certainly fun to play with. I'm not such a fan of DCC sound chips etc, but more the atmospheric appeals, along the lines of the fantasonics collections you've used in your settings. The sound/movement thing doesn't always match up, but the feel the right sounds can add to a scene are priceless...especially when viewes at exhibitions look to see where the sound came from.
Cheers,
Dan Pickard |
http://danpickard.blogspot.com/
http://www.lauriegreensweb.com/ |
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danpickard
Fireman
Australia
1100 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 06:06:05 AM
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Couple of quick shots of the new trees I've been working on as well. These photo's are from the recent Sunbury Model Railway exhibition held here back in October. Myself and good modelling mate, Grant McAdam, were displaying the "art of the diorama" display, where we usually sit and build stuff on public display, answering questions from the public on how to do the things we do. I spent the weekend finishing up these few mid size gum trees.
They are grafted together dried sedum flower heads, to form the more significant tree structures (althought the one in the middle is from one lucky stem). I'll expend on the construction techniques with them a bit later in the thread, but I'm pretty happy with the finish they display, particularly the trunk colouring, which is something I've been looking at for some time...
Cheers,
Dan Pickard
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http://danpickard.blogspot.com/
http://www.lauriegreensweb.com/ |
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andykins
Fireman
United Kingdom
3860 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 06:19:05 AM
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| ahh thanks dan, i have heard of buffalo landing, but if im honest have not cheeked them out. thanks again |
"Is it really "rivet counting" if it's regarding NBW castings?"
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quarryman
Fireman
USA
1071 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 07:54:02 AM
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Dan-
I have been a big fan of all your projects over the years ... looking forward to following this one.
Mark Chase
Richmond VA |
Visit my Piedmont & East Blue Ridge Railroad
http://www.eastblueridge.com |
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TRAINS1941
Fireman
USA
4884 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 07:57:48 AM
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Dan
Looks to be another wonderful start. You can count me in for following.
Love the Loco.
Jerry |
Jerry
How old would you be if you didn't know how old you are. |
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Oh_Mr_Porter
Engine Wiper
United Kingdom
236 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 08:50:56 AM
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Hi Dan, I'm looking forward to watching your progress with this mini project.
The critter is really neat - superb finishing and well deserving of a nice scene to run in. Those trees look very convincing to me. I'd never guess there was more than one stem to each.
Andy, I can thoroughly recommend the Buffalo Landing figures - some of the best figure sculping I've seen. Equally up to the original Phoenix standards and in true 1/48 scale too. |
Ian
"The next train's gone" |
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UKGuy
Fireman
USA
5427 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 08:58:21 AM
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Sounds real interesting Dan, I'm looking forward to following and picking up some things from your build.
Karl.A |
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Tommatthews
Fireman
7268 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 09:44:36 AM
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Dan,
Looks good, great ideas. I hope to pick up a few pointers as you go along. |
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andykins
Fireman
United Kingdom
3860 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 10:31:55 AM
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| now its just a case of finding some, cant even find them on ebay, where people seam to say the best place to get them? |
"Is it really "rivet counting" if it's regarding NBW castings?"
Unknown |
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Oh_Mr_Porter
Engine Wiper
United Kingdom
236 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 11:02:21 AM
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Andy, keep an eye on Ebay, they're there pretty regularly. Some sets finished last week, they're sold in sets of 5 or 6 figures.
The seller ID is durang0 so you could set it up as a favourite seller and have Ebay e-mail you when a new listing goes on.
Incidentally these guys did a run of the Westside Lumber Co saloon railcar a while back, similar to that which Backwoods has just announced for the Tamiya Ford staff car kit.
Sorry for hi-jacking the thread Dan [:-ashamed] |
Ian
"The next train's gone" |
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Rick
Administrator
USA
17717 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 3:00:47 PM
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Dan, thanks for starting this thread.
I know I'll pick up a lot of tips looking over your shoulder. |
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BBLmber
Fireman
USA
4209 Posts |
Posted - 11/29/2010 : 3:33:11 PM
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Dan, while be watching to see where you are going with this.
Mark |
W,L,&E |
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Topic |
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Digger's Bend...an On30 mini project
