1/32 Devoran Quay

[Simon]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Hi Simon :wave:
I quite like the look of roofing grit for outdoor ballast, but where do you buy it from ?, I have also had tennis court gravel recommended but I have drawn a blanc on the supply of that one too :?
Cheers Phill :scratch:

Hi Phill

I today ordered a couple of bags of "grano dust" from my local builders merchant and will report with pictures after I have got it, which will hopefully be on Monday. It cost ?2.50 a bag plus VAT (these are the "midi bags" that aggregate from builders merchants normally comes in) so if suitable it will be an economical option.

On other fronts, the pond is now properly seated and 2/3 full of water, backfilling is ongoing. I need rain to refill my water butts before completing filling it, I am now considering my options regarding how I route the railway line over one end of it for maximum scenic effect.

I am going to try actually laying the track over and around the bridge shortly, I have retreated into "dither mode" and need to just go out there and do it, the worst that can happen is that I will need to rip it up and start again...

 

[28ten]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Well, the forecast seems good for the weekend so there is no excuse for any delay :lol:

 

[lancer1027]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Looking forward to some up-date piccies

 

[Jordan]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Well, the forecast seems good for the weekend so there is no excuse for any delay :lol:

Looking forward to some up-date piccies

So am I... no pressure, then... :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[Phill Dyson]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Hi Phill

I today ordered a couple of bags of "grano dust" from my local builders merchant and will report with pictures after I have got it, which will hopefully be on Monday. It cost ?2.50 a bag plus VAT (these are the "midi bags" that aggregate from builders merchants normally comes in) so if suitable it will be an economical option.

Sounds promising Simon, if it's the same stuff they put on roofing felt it should be sound

 

[lancer1027]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Hi Simon, im interested in what this looks like. Can this "grano dust" be bought from any builders merchants?

 

[Simon]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Hi Simon, im interested in what this looks like. Can this "grano dust" be bought from any builders merchants?

I think so, the guys at the merchants I ordered it from didn't really know much about it other than the fact that it comes from their usual suppliers. They used the word Basalt and so I suspect that what I have ordered is that rather than Granite, not least because a local quarry (Wainwrights at Moons Hill) produces the stuff. Having looked it up I think it might end up being too dark, but I didn't want to appear to be a rock anorak (as well as a train anorak) and at £2.50 a bag it can just go into the next mix of concrete if I don't like it.

Yesterday I managed to permanently fix down the first piece of track across the lift out bridge. This is actually three sections, and as the picture below shows there are subtle differences of level at these points but I reckon it will do. In my defence the photograph highlights the deficiency/error and given that this is a removeable section I suspect that perfection will be impossible anyway.

It has rained overnight so I don't know if I will get anything else laid today, the next three sections towards the point are completed and ready bar soldering on the feed wires. The gripfixing of the track to the base seems to have worked well, I used a little bit more than I needed to on my first attempt but I think that what's left in the tube will do the next few sections OK.



I have also been weeding and compacting the embankments and have a few things planted to see how they get on. The ants (of which we have very many in our garden) seem to have adopted the area under the concrete lintels in a fairly big way. Nipon spraying trains perhaps?

 

[lancer1027]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Exiting stuff. Trackwork always gets the adrenalin (not sure of spelling,but you know what i mean) flowing . When you get the "grano dust" down i will have a look at how it looks and make a decision if i will use this for myself. Top job Simon, keep those pics coming
Rob :wave:

 

[28ten]

Embryo G1 Garden line

It already looks good the way it curves off into the distance

 

[Phill Dyson]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Beginning to look like a real railway now Simon , beats me why more people don't do it
Phill :wave:

 

[Jordan]

Embryo G1 Garden line

It already looks good the way it curves off into the distance

Beginning to look like a real railway now Simon

What a bunch we are, eh? All drooling at a picture of a plain piece of unballasted track, and not a train in sight... :lol: :lol:

They don't have this pleasure in the small scales, do they..?!?!?

 

[Simon]

Embryo G1 Garden line

The grano dust is too pink for my taste - I will post a picture later. It would also need sieving, I bought a cheap kitchen one today to start "testing" today.

I suspect that the grano dust may still be just the thing if you live in a granite-ish area, but it's back to the drawing board for me. Maybe I'll buy some of Cliff Barker's stuff after all.

We have a new member on here who can show us a different approach, but I won't "steal his thunder"

 

[Simon]

Embryo G1 Garden line

I have just spent a blissful hour or so outside in the sunshine, soldering wires to the next piece of track and then fixing it to the trackbed.

I think I have got the level and line right, here is my "testing picture".



Sorry for inflicting individual pictures of such small pieces of progress, I just can't believe that I am at last laying tracks in the garden

Roll on elastictrickery

 

[iploffy]

Embryo G1 Garden line

And so you should feel well happy about taking pictures at every step makes you feel good looking at it dont it

Ian

 

[lancer1027]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Well boy's if it was'nt for your threads with lots of pics showing progress my project would not get off the ground ,as i would'nt have had the encouragement or help . So please keep those pics coming regardless of how small the progress
Rob :wave:

 

[Steve Cook]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Good progress Simon, excellent to see track going down and wiring on its way
Won't be long before you'll be shuttling trains back and forth in the sunshine, happy times ahead

Steve

 

[28ten]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Well boy's if it was'nt for your threads with lots of pics showing progress my project would not get off the ground ,as i would'nt have had the encouragement or help . So please keep those pics coming regardless of how small the progress
Rob :wave:

You are right the support and encouragement make all the difference, that's what the forum is for
anyway laying track is exciting after all the preparation

 

[Phill Dyson]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Great to see a bit more track down & please don't apologise for posting more pics, I'm sure we are all watching with great interest. When I got a bit of track down it was a major milestone , after all that hard work & just to see a loco running up & down a few yards of temporarily wired track is great incentive
Phill :wave:

 

[Simon]

Embryo G1 Garden line

I very nearly got the next section fixed down this morning, but having got everything marked out and all wires soldered on, the rain started and I had to stop.

This may have been a blessing in disguise though, because I am pretty certain that I have a slight high spot where the new section goes over the joint between pairs of lintels, which I will be able to remove with a bit of gentle attention from my angle grinder .

I think this picture shows it, just next to the brown wires to the left of my hand. I was holding the track down to the position it will assume when glued down.



Currently trying to order some cornish granite sand Cornish Lime - The Trusted Lime Experts (Lime Putty and Mortar, Sands, Paints and Aggregates), carriage costs are a bit eye watering

 

[marsa69]

Embryo G1 Garden line

Lumpy track? very prototypical