Plastered....

I've been slopping a bit of plaster around on the Barra Town layout, so the layout looks a little more than just track on board.

I use a system I've used for many years. I create formers with thick card, then fill the gaps with scrunched up newspaper. I then create a sort of web over the newspaper using masking/packing tape. Finally a skin of paper towels is added using PVA as the glue. When all is dry I add a coat of plaster.

This is a sort of hard shell scenery. I know that this sort of scenery creation is a bit old fashioned and that I'm supposed to use extruded foam, but this is how I like to do it and I'm happy with the results.

I'm also having a go at assembling a "Model Train Buildings" N Scale kit. It's my first laser cut timber kit. I bought it at the Liverpool Exhibition in October. The manufacturer's website is at: Model Train Buildings,  a relatively new Queensland based producer.

This is what you get in the bag (no not the plate).

And this is how far I've got with construction:

I must say the parts fit together very well but there was a problem with warping weatherboard which I believe is not so unusual. Also the kit is pretty basic. There are no gutters or downpipes  and no signs. The instructions are also pretty basic, with no painting guidelines. The image of the completed kit in the instructions is I believe of the HO version, not the N Scale. The windows are different.

I should have the building finished by the next blog so I'll post some images then.

Also I'm trying to prepare a more detailed article for N Scale Modeller magazine and hopefully Graham will find it acceptable.

I'm off to hospital for a couple of days so I probably won't get a lot of modelling done but I'll try to have something more to report on next time.

David