Thread: 1/5th Scale Peny-Darren 1804 Locomotive

Hi all,

I am making the base, track and sleepers in two 1200 mm lengths so I can move it around. I will bolt the 2 sections together for display.
Photos show baseboard 1 which has the securing blocks and support blocks in position. I am using 9mm MDF so the support blocks should stop the MDF from sagging. I am painting the boards an earth brown and this will be the colour which I will secure the sleepers and the track ballast. The second photo shows securing the blocks an the securing bolt holes on the second half of the base (bottom side). The third photo shows some work I have done on weathering the sleepers. Again I am using an angle grinder with wire brush to dig into the grain. The sleepers are normal pine. I am using a wash (50% acrylic 50% water) to colour the sleepers. This gives better effect of ageing instead of using a 100% acrylic.

Regards

Keith

The sleeper looks great the wire brush and the stain has it looking as though it has been down for a while.

Thanks Derek,

Yes the wire brush on the angle grinder cuts out the softer timber and leaves the harder grain. You need to be careful at the ends, the brush may catch and you could lose control of the grinder. turned the timber around at the ends so you are always pushing against the grinder and timber and won't catch. I have now done all the sleepers. Pots below show weathering and I also put a piece of "unweathered" pine to show comparison. I reckon looks much better "weathered". Also joined together 2 base boards to see how they aligned - OK.

Regards

Keith

Those sleepers look fantastic Keith.
Mighty fine work
You must be chuffed!

Cheers mate
Trev.

Originally Posted by Repliconics

Those sleepers look fantastic Keith.
Mighty fine work
You must be chuffed!

Cheers mate
Trev.

I must agree with Trev, Keith...top job..Cheers crowie

Thanks guys - just chugging along

Don't let the railway inspectors see them, they will want to know where you got them from and demand to see the paperwork approving it

With the sleepers have you tried using a darker colour on them and then before they dry wipe off as much as possible so to leave the darker colour(not to dark just enough to give a little contrast) in the grooves from the wire brush. Maybe if you have a spare piece to try it on first would not want to ruin all the work so far if it does not look right

OK I'll get my coat silly idea

Originally Posted by Dalboy

With the sleepers have you tried using a darker colour on them and then before they dry wipe off as much as possible so to leave the darker colour(not to dark just enough to give a little contrast) in the grooves from the wire brush. Maybe if you have a spare piece to try it on first would not want to ruin all the work so far if it does not look right

OK I'll get my coat silly idea

Derek,

No, that's a good idea - I will give it a try. I will use a really weak black wash. Thanks or your suggestion. This is a great forum.

Thanks

Keith

Originally Posted by rwbuild

Don't let the railway inspectors see them, they will want to know where you got them from and demand to see the paperwork approving it

Thanks. Think the inspectors would be dead and gone. (LOL)

Regards

Keith

Thanks to Derek for his suggestion on improving the age weathering look on my sleepers. I made up a 5% acrylic black / 95% water wash. I then "painted' this on. Didn't wipe any off. It soaked into the pine and it made a subtle difference in highlighting the grain. I think it has improved the weathering and added some "years" to the look. Do others agree ? Thanks Derek.

Regards

Keith

I couldn't agree more they really look the part now
A great suggestion on Derek's behalf!
And well executed by yourself!
Fantastic.

Cheers
Trev.

Originally Posted by Keith_1

Thanks to Derek for his suggestion on improving the age weathering look on my sleepers. I made up a 5% acrylic black / 95% water wash. I then "painted' this on. Didn't wipe any off. It soaked into the pine and it made a subtle difference in highlighting the grain. I think it has improved the weathering and added some "years" to the look. Do others agree ? Thanks Derek.

Regards

Keith

It does look good but a suggestion.

If you look at old railway sleepers, you cant see the grain, years of oil, grease, soot and natural weathering, all you see is what you achieved first.

If you want to see the grain, the latest looks terrific, but if you are trying to be authentic, then your first one is better.

You do what you want, that's the satisfaction of any job.

If it was for a customer, you would finish it how they want it. Your the customer, you do it how you want it.

Originally Posted by rwbuild

It does look good but a suggestion.

If you look at old railway sleepers, you cant see the grain, years of oil, grease, soot and natural weathering, all you see is what you achieved first.

If you want to see the grain, the latest looks terrific, but if you are trying to be authentic, then your first one is better.

You do what you want, that's the satisfaction of any job.

If it was for a customer, you would finish it how they want it. Your the customer, you do it how you want it.

Thanks for your comments. I will probably go with the update.

Regards

Keith