Modeling a Jacaranda tree in HO scale

Hi all,

I have completed a project modeling a Jacaranda tree that ended up turning into a diorama!

I noted the trees around the Northern Rivers NSW and Ipswich QLD, so I thoiught I would give modeling one a go by painting white sand, a few shades of pink and purple. I used water based hobby paint and airbrushed a small amount of sand in a ice cream bucket.Yes, it blows everywhere. But if you keep the airbrush well away from the sand it can be done! Shake the sand around as you paint.

I will be bringing the diorama along with me to the New England convention so I hope to see you there. The model was weathered using Dr Ben's weathering pigments on just about everything - cars, buildings, people and animals.The red Australian dirt was also pigment and looks very realistic however the photos made it much more reddish than it is.

New England Convention

I have been asked in a number of emails, and in person at the Ipswich exhibition, why I will not be demonstrating weathering techniques at this years New England Convention. The reason is that  I was not asked/invited. I thought the idea of a convention is to bring something new or different to entusiasts. If it was the same thing, done by the same people each year, wouldn't it just get boring? Anyway, if you have any questions just let me know, I'll be  more than happy to help.

                        

Cheers Deano                                       
    

Weathering rusty iron roofs - A how-to guide

Hi all,

Another update and some weathering tips. My PC is still under repair. Most of the problems are sorted, but it's now getting some updated parts, extra USB ports and a new case...so I'm posting this from my way too small keyboard on an older-than-I-am, very slow, laptop. With a battery that lasts five seconds!

I joined facebook a few weeks back and I was asked how I weather iron roofs on my sheep wagons. So I will do my best to show you all how I did it, and I've included pictures. You can find this Facebook page at:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Rails-In-scale/266244323495711

The first thing is to prime the roof with white primer. I use Turpentine based primer, not automotive thinner based primer, as the turps based takes longer to dry allowing the primer to stick to the surface. "Turps" primer is found in most paint shops, hardware stores and "discount stores".  If you not sure ask, and if they don't know, you are better of  shopping where they know the product. 

Turps primers white and gray - I often used gray first, then a light cover with the white
In this case I only used the white as it covers well over plastic..

The next pic shows the white primed roof with some brushed silver in random spots.  

Now coat the roof with Dullcoat as this will allow the Dr Bens weathering pigments to stick

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/WEATHERING-PIGMENTS-that-work-DARK-DAMP-RUST-Rails-In-Scale-ebay-store-/140881189765?pt=AU_Toys_Hobbies_Model_Railways&hash=item20cd2c5b85.

Next you can add some Dark Damp rust pigments around but not over the silver. It will cover well over the white primer.

Now add fresh dry rust making sure you keep some of the dark rust showing and give the whole roof a light dusting with the dry rust. Now I cover with a light coating of dullcoat and reapply pigments, that is if some of the weathering has been toned down too much by the dullcoat.

And there you have it. A weathered rusty iron roof!

Later Deano

            
   
                                           

Damage control..What a month

Hi all,

Well it's about time I posted an update, things have been flat out and it's not getting any better at least, for the short term. I will start with the bad news. When I returned from the Liverpool Exhibition, I went to boot up my PC.....and nothing! To cut a long story short the hard-drive was dead. I had backed up most of my data however, I will have to redo most of my HO scale sign range (see Ebay link). I will also have to re-do the Coil-wagon instructions, and with regret, this will be another setback on an already slow delivery. I have prints of everything so it won't be a big project, but one that will be painstaking to rectify.. I can't just  make photocopies, as the images in the instructions will not be clear enough.

I have about half a dozen instruction sets printed, so that will keep me going for a wile. However, I may be too busy to redo some of the signs. So, once all stock is sold on E-bay, I will stop listing therm, until I find time to play with the artwork. On the positivre side I have been forced to learn how to use my I-phone and set the internet up on my laptop!! I am slowly overcoming my technophobia.

Now to the good stuff.

Thanks to everyone who stopped by the Rails In Scale stand at Liverpool. I hope you all enjoyed the weekend as much as I did. I did a bit of weathering over the weekend showing the use of the Doctor Ben's weathering pigments, and I was suprised and grateful how quickly I sold out of stock. I am very pleased that so many people bought the powders to have a go themselves! I've opened a Facebook page so please follow it, as I will be posting some tips and tricks to weathering soon. As soon as more pigments arrive, I will list them on the RIS E-Bay store.


Rails In Scale will be attending the Ipswich model train show at the Ipswich rail museum on the 27-28 October 2012.

I will be demonstrating the weathering techniques I use to weather all my models. I will also bring along the remainder of my HO scale signage and detail items, that is until I've sorted out my PC. Don't forget, Dr Ben's awesome weathering powders will also be available.

Hope to see ya there,
Deano

.

Eureka models NSWGR sheep wagon

Hi all,

It's been another busy weekend. I have completed the Rails In Scale coil wagon instructions although I still need to re-draw one image. But apart from that, they are ready to print. I hope to start sending kits out next week and I will start with all paid orders. If you have ordered and not yet paid, I will contact you when your kits are ready for post.

After my late night completing the instructions, I decided to have a weathering fix. My Eureka models bogie sheep wagons arrived last week and as soon as I took them from the box, I could see this was a first class model and was begging for some weathering. About the only thing I could have a winge about was that the wheels are shiner than Her Majesty's best silverware. Apart from that, it's a great model.

Eureka had the foresite to design the wagon so you can take it apart. You add sheep by simply removing the buffers and floor, and then unclipping the roof. After you add the woolies, you just clip the roof back on, and insert the floor, replace the buffers (or pins on NSSF) and your set to go.

Cheers Dean,

Murwillumbah Model Railway & Hobby Exhibition 2012

Hi All,

The Murwillumbah exhibition went ahead last weekend and as stated in my previous post, I was there to promote weathering to any that would listen. Thankfully, visitors were keen to learn and better still, try it out for themselves! The layouts were of a high quality, and plenty of other models were on display. Everything from cars and planes to ships and boats. Also on display were woodworking crafts and  retail model suppliers.

Over the weekend I worked on a few models demonstrating what can be done with Dr Ben's weathering pigments. Some people said I made it look easy, but the truth is Dr Ben's product makes it easy! The stuff just works! I will do my best to get down to the Sydney exhibition and if I do make it, stop by and take a look for yourself.

                                           

Updates and info

Hi All,

I thought it's about time I gave you all an update on the coil wagon - they are almost ready for release. I'm waiting on a order from KD for the couplers. It has been almost two weeks since my last contact with them, so I emailed them again yesterday and have almost got everything sorted. I just sent my payment info so I hope to see something in the post this week.

The other set back has been the writing of the instructions. After a rather poor first effort in black and white, I decided to redo them in colour, with photos and 3D CAD drawings. This will make life a lot easier in assembling the kit.

The progress on the BBP box plough has been slow, with the coil wagon being my first priority. However, I have made the roof master but that's as far as I have gone.

I do have two surprise kits on the way - one is a bridge, and the other is a shipping container. If I get enough of these kits done, I will have samples to show at the Murwillumbah exhibition on August 11th-12th  next month.

Whilst there, I will also be doing a weathering demonstration on the use of Doctor Ben's weathering powders. This is the very same product used to weather the model below, as well as all the my other models on this blog. This is the best weathering product I have used! It bonds to the model well, and is so simple to apply with a soft but stiff brush ( I usually shorten the bristles). It's not ground chalk but an industrial pigment and it works!

At the exhibition, I will demonstrate how to weather bogies in just a few minutes and the result

will blow you away! I will also demonstrate Loco and rolling stock weathering, using the both wet and Dry pigments. I hope to see you there, and I will be glade to answer any questions you may have

Later,

Deano

      
 

Steam era models - X class and NSWGR 45 class locos

G'day all,

I have some new pictures to share. I have had a few camera problems and with some help from a mate we got it all sorted.

I finished the 45 a few months ago, but I just could not get a clear picture of the weathering job! The X Class is a project for a client, and both locos are fitted with DCC chips! The X class has extra pick-ups in the tender and an LED front light.

I will demonstrate weathering techniques at the Murwillumbah model railway and hobby exhibition on the 11th and 12th of August 2012. I do  hope to see you there!

Later,

Dean

New kit - the BBP ballast wagon

Hi all,

I have some photos of my next kit - the BBP wagon. This kit has been in the pipeline for about two years, however it stalled when it came to the roof vents. I had contacted two manufacturers who made them in brass, and asked if a bulk buy could be arranged. One said they would get back to me, and the other said they would be able to make them in white metal. I did not hear back from either of them again and so I moved on to other projects but, I had made a promise to a number of people that I would do this kit and I was not about to let them down.

After seeing the outstanding casting work of John Dersch at Ornamental castings on my other projects, combined with his very fast turnaround, I gave him a call. I asked if I could send a master of the Flettner vents down for casting. The rest is history! The Flettner vents arrived and I got a move on with the masters and the casting. The photos show what I have done thus far.

The model will be made in such away that you can model it with the doors open or closed! Peter Boorman made the brass etch steps for me. You may not see it in the photos but that's checker plate on the walk ways! I used a new US brand of polyurethane for the castings with some great results. The fine details like bolts and rivets are there you just may not see them in the photos.

The kit will also include K.D's and bogie's.  It is some way off yet, but I thought I would share the progress. 

Cheers Dean

P.S. The early bird price is $55, however as things move along it may increase. 
If your after a kit please email me on railsinscale@gmail.com

Thanks John,

http://www.orncastings.com/ 

Thanks Peter,

http://www.peterboormansworkshop.com.au/index.htm

NSWGR Pay Bus number 8

Hi all,

It's been a busy few weeks! The weather has finally dried up allowing me to do some casting and get a move on with the coil wagon! In between I have been keeping my sanity by doing some modelling.

The subject is the NSWGR pay bus - FP8, based on the unit stored at the old Casino station. The model went together nicely, the only problem I encountered was the decals were not printed very well! I used a set of L7 logos I had in my decal collection.

I fitted DCC and fibre optic lights behind the clear lenses. I had to replace the headlight mounts with a set from Detail Associates as the castings on the bus were way to large.

Now to the coil wagon - I hear you say! I have started the casting and will soon be sending out the orders already taken. I will also have the coil sets for sale. They are $8 for a set of three, enough for each wagon. Those of you with unpaid orders will receive an email when you kits are ready.

Cheers Dean

Finished coil wagon sample

Hi All,

At last I have a sample to show!

This model has been built of castings from the masters and is what you will be getting in kit form. The signage is the only part that will be reworked with some extra details on the number board and a clean up of the L7 logo. I will now set about making new production molds that will let me cast parts at more than one at a time with so many small detail parts this will speed up production. I hope to have it all sorted in a few weeks.

I regret to say the price has gone up. The lost wax brass castings were not the only change made to the kit, I have made a number of new parts in white metal instead of polyurethane. This has brought up the empty weight of the model and also replaces some of the polyurethane brackets  that were so small they were prone to breakage.

All orders already taken will stay at the original  announced price however from this point in time all kits are $60 each.

Price on coils will be announced soon.

Cheers Dean

Coils for coil wagons

Hi all,

I have just finished some test castings for the coils. They are a two piece casting that is glued together not unlike the large plastic Auscision silver coil also in the photos. I have cast one in two colours so you can get an idea of the two parts. The other is finished with  the straps added.

At first I thought they were a little too fine however fine was what I was aiming for and after many attempts on the lathe with different speeds and tools I decided on this one! Not too fine or course, (some were so fine they would have passed as N scale).

They will be available as an extra for the coil wagon or the small Auscision or Walthers coils will also fit.

Cheers Dean 

 

Coil wagon steps

Hi all,

The coil wagon kit is ever so close, I now have the lost wax brass steps.  I know It caused a set back but the detail has been worth the wait! It will make the model look really great (much better than bent wire). I must thank John Dersch at Ornamental castings. Without Johns help, the steps would not have been possible (see link below).

The other good news is they make a great replacement set for a lot of NSWGR rolling stock. I just fitted a set to my Auscision NLKY Louvered vans (see pics). I will list them on my Rails In Scale E-bay store "Loco-Alco" in the next day or so.  I have poured more molds today.

I will give a few days for them to set. I'll post another blog with pics of the coil wagon and a surprise kit I have been working on. 

Until then...

Deano  

http://www.orncastings.com/

http://stores.ebay.com.au/Rails-in-Scale

 

A saturday arvo V/line X class weathering job

Hi all,

While I was waiting for silicone rubber molds to set for the coil wagon project, I thought I do some weathering. Just a weather powder job with a little oil spillage in places.The V/line locos can get rather dirty and their gray & orange paint can really show this.

I did change my flat clear from my usual dull coat to a water based paint. Now that Horizon has closed, I have discovered how well John looked after us modelers! I went to buy Dull Coat from another shop in Beenleigh and It was twice the price! So I used a water based paint from the UK.

The paint goes on white and drys flat clear, however the dull coat has a much flatter look and takes the powders with more tooth! I will use the Tamiya flat clear from now on. It does not eat decals and drys reasonably flat. As for this Loco, it will pass. But, I think it would have been better with the dull coat.

Cheers Dean