4mm Morfa - The race is run.

Neil

Western Thunderer
Morfa - Back on track.

Ok chaps, can we edge away from all thoughts of Sigourney Weaver's forrested zones. Struggling? Ok here's something to help re-focus on railways.

morfaspeedlimit.jpg


Many years ago when we had to holiday in Wales rather than live here I took this photo of the approach to Barmouth Bridge from the Morfa end. I rather hope I can capture the sense of space the photo gives; etched brass speed restriction signs are on standby.
 

iploffy

OC Blue Brigade
Morfa - Back on track.

Neil said:
Ok chaps, can we edge away from all thoughts of Sigourney Weaver's forrested zones. Struggling? Ok here's something to help re-focus on railways.

morfaspeedlimit.jpg


Many years ago when we had to holiday in Wales rather than live here I took this photo of the approach to Barmouth Bridge from the Morfa end. I rather hope I can capture the sense of space the photo gives; etched brass speed restriction signs are on standby.

you spoilsport oh well

Ian
 

Alan

Western Thunderer
Morfa - Back on track.

I used Hanging basket liner on Wencombe. I did it the barry norman way, Bleached it and then painted (airbrushed) it with the nearest acrylic ( Tamiya Flat Green)I could get to Doncaster green. Slightt problem is (was) that the liner goes yellow when bleached so when painted it has a definate yellow tinge,Obviously a very hot summer. I am tempted to re-airbrush some of it with a bluer green. Or one that's not quite so thinned (it was if I remember something like 50-1 water to paint).
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Morfa - Enlightenment

I had been wondering for some time how I was going to light Morfa. All the ideas I could come up with involved unsuitable contraptions of an ugly and intrusive nature, great expense or both. With Steve's visit the penny finally dropped, his description of Hursley having a 'big arsed security light' when at home, made me realise the we had a big arsed security light that we never used. Unfortunately ice and snow stopped me taking it down till today. However five minutes work with the screwdriver before lunch had the blighter off the wall. A little longer after lunch saw the PIR sensor unhitched and the remains fastened to the beam in the playroom.

bigarsedlight1.jpg


It's very difficult to adequately photograph the difference it makes, this is the nearest I could get.

bigarsedlight3.jpg


bigarsedlight2.jpg


The before and after give some idea, but the reality is a huge improvement.
 

3 LINK

Western Thunderer
Morfa - Enlightenment

The lighting is certainly an improvement but without sounding a spoil sport , I would keep to 150W bulbs at the max. Otherwise your leccy bill will certainly not be an improvement  :scratch:. Apart from that I do enjoy your thread  :thumbs:

ATB,  Martyn.
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Morfa - Enlightenment

Thanks for the fiscal concerns chaps, but a few extra kwh on the lighting bill isn't a biggie when compared to heating a chapel through a sub zero month.
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Morfa - Enlightenment

That looks great Neil  :thumbs:
I take it the snow and ice have retreated now to return you to the green and pleasant pastures you had when I arrived? If my visits bring forward a month of cold weather, not sure you'll let me back in (especially with the hydraulics)  ;)

I do like the shadows with single point lighting now (even if one has crept up onto the backscene  :-[ ), it all lends itself to an extra degree of realism.

Minge trimming  :)) At least its only on the model...

Steve
 
S

Simon Dunkley

Guest
Morfa - Enlightenment

Neil said:
However five minutes work with the screwdriver before lunch had the blighter off the wall. A little longer after lunch saw the PIR sensor unhitched and the remains fastened to the beam in the playroom.

bigarsedlight1.jpg
Whose ear is that, hanging from the beam?
 

iploffy

OC Blue Brigade
Morfa - Enlightenment

Sorry just got to say this but Ms weaver was neither bleached or irradiated she was attacked by an alien

Ian
 

iploffy

OC Blue Brigade
Morfa - Enlightenment

that was rather naughty of me I will post no more posts about ********  ****** now can we get back to Morfa

Ian
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Morfa - Enlightenment

I realise that I'm a lucky chap having the space to build a big layout, but this hasn't always been the case. i thought that it might interest to see what I'd have done in a far more restricted footprint but taking the same theme and inspiration.

barmouthjunctionplan.jpg


Hopefully it's apparent that what we have here is again centred on Morfa Mawddach, the line entering stage left over the end few trestles of the bridge, the hole in the sky and the incomplete structure being hidden by the short return face of the backscene on the front edge of the layout. The junction with the Dolgellau branch is included as is the platform on the curve. Closing the other end of the loop takes place in the fiddle yard. The same sort of operational potential should still be present, with two fiddle yards at either end and a removable section of the Dolgellau branch (from the trap siding point on) as a fully scenic cassette.
 

iploffy

OC Blue Brigade
Morfa - Enlightenment

The plan you have posted looks good but it's alot of messing about moving from 1 end of the layout to the other all of the time what length of trains/frequency did you have

Ian
 

Steve Cook

Flying Squad
Morfa - Enlightenment

Nice plan Neil, I like that a lot (set my mind all of a wander last night it did!). A different use of 6 x 4 for scenic space too, although as a short arse I reckon I would struggle to reach the scenic cassette, especially if balancing a train.

The pro's far outweigh the cons though, and it would make a cracking layout to photograph stock on. I'm still pleased you have more space to play with than that mind  :)

Steve
 

Geoff

Western Thunderer
Morfa - Enlightenment

Very nice Neil,
When it comes to hanging basket liner there is a different approach which you can use.  Lay it face down into a thin neat coat of PVA and when it has gone off tear bits up as you would when using lint. If you are lucky this will give you the appearance of coarse scrub rather than dense long grass. A little static grass can then be used to blend the differing textures together.

Geoff
 

Phill Dyson

Western Thunderer
Morfa - Enlightenment

Geoff said:
Very nice Neil,
When it comes to hanging basket liner there is a different approach which you can use.  Lay it face down into a thin neat coat of PVA and when it has gone off tear bits up as you would when using lint. If you are lucky this will give you the appearance of coarse scrub rather than dense long grass. A little static grass can then be used to blend the differing textures together.

Geoff

Yes I did that for Withercombe but with the old style carpet underlay & I'm very happy with the results  :thumbs:
 

Neil

Western Thunderer
Morfa - Enlightenment

Time for another small update. Having got rid of the black and avocado hell hole that was our bathroom, replacing it with crisp white Edwardian fittings, I've spent most of my weekend boxing in pipes. Having the woodwork tools out, I thought I'd get the layout front profile finished. I haven't but I'm well on the way and it does make a difference.

morfaedges.jpg


Here I've fitted the edging to what will be the sea/estuary, for those who know the real Barmouth the train in the background is heading out of the tunnel through the headland and towards the bridge. On the model once the scenery is in place the distractions to the rear will be blocked out by the rising ground behind the train. What I hope you will see is a bank of greenery, some stone walls and rock outcrops. A bit more detail reserch is required, another trip to the seaside with the camera. Such a hard life.
 
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