Murray River Bridge how the pylons were built and how I faded my AHGX wagons.

Hi All

please see below a video on how I built the pylons for Murray river Bridge, and how I weathered the AHGXs.

Enjoy

Scott

Broadford Model Railway Layout by Iain Hunter from the UK

Hi All

Its interesting when modelling Australia is an attractive option for modelers all over the world.

here is some video footage of Broadford at a recent exhibition in the UK.

starts at 11:40

Starts at 40:04

Enjoy

Scott

AHGXs weathered and running on Murray River Bridge

Hi All

Well I have managed to weather thirty odd AHGXs for my southline grain train.
I got them back together last night, and made a quick video of them being hauled by three 930s.

These are all brush painted, with two washes each, one for the fade and the other for road grime.

I am quite happy with the results.

Enjoy Scott

Fading away (working on weathering AN AHGXs)

This afternoon I got going fading the green AN AHGXs I also experimented with some of the ultra modern AHGXs I have not done all of them, to vary the level of fade.

Anyway step one is compete, fade out, then bring back with darker colours, add grime etc.

I find that if I wait overnight I can then use a cotton bud dipped in mineral turpentine to clean up, any bits of yellow that have an overwash of green.

I plonked a untouched AHGX to show you the difference.

Enjoy Scott

Murray River Bridge is featured in the Murray Valley Standard news

Hi All

It's sort of fitting that my new layout Murray River Bridge has been featured in the Murray Valley Standard news.

Check out the link.

http://www.murrayvalleystandard.com.au/story/4967206/model-bridge-inspires-train-enthusiasts-video/?cs=1527#slide=2

Things for the future.

With Murray River Bridge structurally accomplished, I have more scenery work to do, including the wharf area, and lots of Southline rolling stock to weather.  This should keep me busy for the next little while, including working on:

1.       Even spread of lighting on the layout, there are still some dark spots.

2.       Small CCTV cameras hanging of the back drop so controls can be placed in the front of the layout.

3.       Remote point control for the fiddle yard, I have had problems in the past with operators unable to decipher a panel or macros, so the jury is still out with this, we shall see.

4.       Maybe even a roster of the trains, which comes up electronically on an Ipad so that the public knows what’s next.

However there are some things in the pipeline that I have been thinking about.

1.        A portable layout that can be transported by aircraft, IE would be considered excess luggage.  I am not talking about a layout in a suit case, or one of those freak show gimmicks, more that someone would be surprised that it was transported as luggage.  The layout would have to be light but also strong enough to handle bag chuckers.  I have a location in mind, but would still require lots of research to get it right.

2.       Alice Springs rebuild, I know this sounds crazy but, the current version of Alice Springs is a compromise in a lot of ways to get the yard to fit within a 2ft 6inch width.  That was a mistake on my behalf, this is related to me wanting to fit more in the space and limiting the yard.  Lance Mindheim has been thinking the same with his East Rail layout and its not crazy to start again on something you are really passionate about.  Putting pen to paper, I can replicate almost exactly the yard arrangement of Alice Springs, additionally a more accurate version of Alice Springs could be added to the future home layout so that its walk in, it would make the operation sooooo much easier including the transportation.

3.        Another display only layout, I must admit, I really enjoyed building Murray River Bridge (I could have picked an easier location), and there are lots of iconic AN locations that are screaming out to be modelled.  Iconic locations can be instantly recognizable by the exhibition public (you would think wouldn’t you??), and as long as they are not too complicated, they should be relatively easy to construct.  Believe it or Murray River Bridge is a layout I proposed back in 2001, finally got around to building it in 3 months this year.  Thus I am going back through the layouts I proposed when I was a young tacker, seeing if I can actually build them.  Those that have read the blog through the years will know what they are (smiling politely).  Two concepts have come to the fore, one of which Dave and Roger are itching for, a BCR layout…(me and my big mouth!)

The new train room, I have come to the conclusion that I am in a very lucky position to have a fair amount of space, so it would be silly of me to fill it with layout, without planning for additional work.  As such I have designated space that can be used as a work area, for building layouts such as Murray River Bridge, and the mood strikes and still maintain a working layout while building.  The work area will have all areas accessible  to walk around the layout in construction.  Working from only one side is a pain in the butt.  Thus I should be able to construct any future layouts with ease, and maintaining an operational layout at the same time.

Murray river Bridge pictures of three 930s on a grain train (just for the hell of it).

Hi All

Here are a few pictures, taken with the SLR, with three 930s heading to Tailem Bend with an empty grain train.

Enjoy, Scott

Murray River Bridge new layout construction end day 30.5

Hi All

So a little bit more progress on Murray River Bridge, the trees at the western side of the river have been installed and the levy bank as been "grassed".

I put two CLs on some of SDSs new lead ore wagons, AOQFs etc.  I know its not prototypical, I think that only occurred once and that was in the Standard gauge era.  But I just wanted to give them a run.

Enjoy!

Scott