Ten years later, I start on the other side of the structures..
About ten years ago, I built a bunch of DPM kits but left the unseen half untouched, using MDF for the backwalls. Since then, I've found that these structures as they stand don't fit. So I had to remember what paints I used on the initially completed portions and apply these to the fresh ones. This, folks isn't as easy as it sounds. Ten years is a long time in modelling and paints change or don't even exist.
A wee bit of detective work was required. On the insides of these older parts, I found some overspray from a very light ceramic colour. I remember the can, but it's been long gone. This is going to mean a number of things. First off, is the most reluctant answer. Having to strip the old walls and remove and strip the window castings, plus the very nice painted wall ad. There has to be an easier way !
Then I remembered..and how's this for total recall? I had tried the lighter ceramic colour but it turned out too light,so it was then covered over using a darker maroon colour. Well, I was impressed, but there's still a wrinkle,and the woods still surround me. There is a wash over this,of my favourite grey wash (mid grey house acrylic) which I used for everything. I loved this paint. (I will add, that the finished wall had the appearance of staying with the lighter paint which was very confusing)
Well, let's give it a try. Rattled the can and had at it. A lovely even coat. Next, the grey wash. Bingo. Matches exactly the work I had done ten years prior!
The windows pretty well worked out the same, suffice to say that Tamiya paints, if they keep, do their job well years later.
What I did do during all this was to decide to complete every wall of a structure that isn't going to be a flat and give it a base. I decided on 6mm ply. That way the chances of being able to re-use a structure is greatly increased and I don't have to go back and sweat I still have the same paints. The ply base will also give much needed strength.
One other thing, DPM plastic goes brittle over the years. You can't go using side cutters to desprue. Use a jewellers saw.
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Good Tips!
Nice tips on working with older kits, and thanks for sharing your trials and tribulations. I'm glad it worked out in the end - DPM kits are, IMO, worth saving for all the nice brick and trim work. At the same time, not having to repaint all those mullions, ledges, etc. is a bonus. How about some pictures?
Galen
We're are the PICTURES
Picture is 10'ooo words.
Art Houston
Grande Pacific RR
ahouston3@charter.net
pictures.. I'll see what I can rustle up.
stay tooned.
Lesson # 465.2
Don't wear your kilt whilst fixing anything under the layout with company present.
Photos
Thanks guys. I am having issues with gluing some pics from my Photobucket account.. I want to do more than just paste the URL..but to no avail.
I'll keep trying.
Lesson # 465.2
Don't wear your kilt whilst fixing anything under the layout with company present.
Link to pics for now....
http://s927.beta.photobucket.com/user/tallyho1/media/HO%20LAYOUT/17082012906_zpsc1bdaed8.jpg.html?sort=3&o=22#/user/tallyho1/media/HO%20LAYOUT/17082012906_zpsc1bdaed8.jpg.html?sort=3&o=22&_suid=1355658098125040517807775995223
Folks, I'm going to bung the link here. Just copy and paste... I've got to really get in and sort out my photos.. listed by date right,so need to go through two years worth of pics and organise. This link,which no doubt will have you having a look about the rest of my collection,shows the sides of two DPM's I doubled up..wards..
cheers
Andrew.
Lesson # 465.2
Don't wear your kilt whilst fixing anything under the layout with company present.
Canal St..canal
I've got four tracks,two main, a yard lead and spur crossing a canal. I really wanted to do something different with the canal,so I've made it very muddy,polluted and low tide. I can't recall seeing this before and I must admit to being delighted with the results. I wish I'd given a bit for rust work on the debris in the mud though.
Right now, I'm trying to figure out what else I need before installing my Central Valley plate girders.. I think I'll just run some plate steel or timber boards down between the guard rails to hide the lack of bracing etc under the track. So I'll just glue the girders directly under the ties and cover it up,leaving gaps here and there to allow light to sneak underneath to the muddy mess.
Lesson # 465.2
Don't wear your kilt whilst fixing anything under the layout with company present.
Large Scale Outdoors. Humpybong & District Rly
Folks, I really didn't make that name up. The "Humpybong" bit... The area is not far from where I live in North Brisbane, Qld. It was a large sugar cane and pineapple area that used 2ft guage rails.Most if not all has been lost unfortunately. But,none the less, I am intending on making my garden railway in that local scheme.
Anyhoo, for waaay too long, my line has been neglected and hardly half finished. I really like track. Track tells me stories. Takes my mind back in time or away to places I can only imagine. So my 45mm just sat in the garden. I often just liked looking at it while I figured out another world problem. Then,whilst stuck on my HO layout Canal St bridges (The plate girder and track amalgamation) issue, I ordered 1cu m of 20mm crushed concrete and .5 cu m of 5mm crusher fines,bit yet another bullet and started a major overhaul of the District Rly. I'm not kidding, after sitting for ever nutting out options and alternate routes around the ferns,frog pond and Bremilads, took the only option that really worked and nabbed another chunk of lawn. I now have room for a larger loop,a wye and a small yard. Eventualy I'll get to (after the silly season) making more faux rocks and install the branchline. Over all, I'm going for straight forward and simple. The goal is to be able to let a train rumble around the garden,roundy round style. I have my HO pike for switching...although, there will be some op for ops. I'm thinking trams or railmotors.
Routes marked out and track lifted or removed. Trenches dug and stone dumped,thumped and covered with flyscreen. Then the 5mm crusher fines.. ;-)
Most of my handlaid turnouts(code332) pine ties have survived at least 2 years neglect on poorly drained soil and have been reinstalled straight away. I also found that when using my rail bender, the rails twist making the ends point downwards. If I get a length of track ,ties and both rails complete, I can gently bend it over my knee. I get both rails at the right curvature and it's ready to go. Well nearly. Sometimes I still need to bend the ends if in the middle of a curve.No big deal. The rail doesn't twist either.
I now have two path crossings too. One a single track and the other,double. Both made of 1" ply with routed grooves for the rails. My first time using a router and I managed to pull that stunt off successfully !
Mainline is completed,but for two trestles. The wye and yard are currently under construction. Pics to come..again...
Lesson # 465.2
Don't wear your kilt whilst fixing anything under the layout with company present.
I myself do not worry
I myself do not worry too much about exact matching of paint colours, on the same side yes, I would repaint the entire wall, but I find it more realistic looking if the two sides, front and back are slightly different shades. Have a look at the prototype, the sun hits at different angles and changes the shades.
--
Will Annand
--
Will Annand
Modeling the Credit Valley Railway in N scale.
http://model-railroad-hobbyist.com/blog/1917
DPM structures
I have always finished all four sides of my DPM and other structures; especially since my previous layouts were only going to be temporary until I could afford to build a permanent layout building. Many of them now face different directions. I am also reminded of the wisdom of doing this now that many modelers are mounting cameras on trains and doing videos. Nothing takes away from the realism of the video like seeing plain styrene backs on buildings.
willie
Link to Humpybong pics
http://s927.photobucket.com/albums/ad120/tallyho1/Humpybong%20and%20District%20Rly/
Here's the photobucket link for the Humpybong & District Rly.
Lesson # 465.2
Don't wear your kilt whilst fixing anything under the layout with company present.