Killashandra - Irish Nn3

[VonRyan]

Finished my last open wagon kit. Still haven't gotten any more chassis.

I'm debating on paint scheme now. Whether to do them in a dark grey as they would have appeared under the CIE, or do light grey like I did to the box can, but pick out the metalwork in dark grey, which is what the County Donegal Railway did before everything came under CIE's administration.

[VonRyan]

I just finished constructing version-2 of my static grass applicator. Last week I decided to go ahead and buy a whole new ion generator rather than keep fiddling with the old one.

Testing will commence as soon as it is convenient for me to do so. Right now I have an N-Trak module in the way.

[VonRyan]

I should also mention that version-2 was built inside a scrap piece of PVC pipe that I had laying around. The inside diameter gave me plenty of room for all the components and wiring, and it was especially helpful in that I only had to cut the screw-mount tab off of the ion generator, thus for all intents and purposes it is unmolested.

[VonRyan]

Version-2 works. Although it sounds like pouring sand when applying the grass. Probably because my power supply is 12vdc at 1500mA.
When I turn this thing on it practically starts shooting out grass fibers. I guess this means mission accomplished.
Now I just need to get water in the river and I can re-grass the bare spots.

[Philip H]

Well done Cody. 

[VonRyan]

News Flash!

I went to my local Michael's today to pick up some Envirotex. Well I happened to go through the isle with the model kits and Testors spray cans and paints. All the Testors spray cans were on clearance. Prices were no more than $3 from what I saw. I bought all five cans of dullcote that they had. Only $1.99 each.

And once I got home I mixed up a batch of Envirotex and poured it in the river. The creep/climb is as high (if not higher) than the thickness of the pour. The depth of my first (and only) pour seems to be pretty much the depth I was looking to get, so once it dries I'll double check things and see if I want to do a second, thinner, pour. If not, I'll get the riverbanks rescenicked, and get my sheep pasture finished.

Then all that'll be left to be done is the cattle pen, a couple finishing touches on the level crossings, and possibly plant a few trees and shrubs on top of the center hill to liven things up a bit.

Then I'll get a proper fascia on the layout, and build a "shipping crate" to house the module and all it's related equipment so that it can safely travel to shows.
Ideally I'd like to get the layout "finished" to where I can take the layout with me to Bedford/Altoona, but we shall see.

[VonRyan]

Here's a photo I grabbed last night about two hours after I poured the Envirotex:

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And while picking up a dropped stir-stick, I found this nifty viewing angle:

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[Philip H]

that lower one will be really nice for focus stacking with a backdrop behind it.

[Ed Kapuscinski]

You know, a shipping crate with some acrylic windows in it would be pretty nifty too, so you can even show it off without unboxing it.

[Chris333]

Hit Micheal's to check the paint, Dullcote was $5.33. I do remember when their Bestine went on clearance though.

[VonRyan]

You know, a shipping crate with some acrylic windows in it would be pretty nifty too, so you can even show it off without unboxing it.

I thought about doing something like that, but ideally I'd like the layout to be viewable from all angles. The crate would just be to transport the layout, rolling stock, and support items. I'm even considering making it with attachable legs that can be stored inside the crate, that way it can also serve as a table/stand for the layout.

[VonRyan]

Pour #2 of Envirotex. Still have a few more hours till it dries and I can start re-grassing the riverbanks.
It'll be nice to see the layout fully green again.

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Also, once I have the riverbanks re-grassed, I plan on making a new video of the layout.

[VonRyan]

The Envirotex has cured and the masking-tape dams have been peeled off.
Gonna have to get rid of what managed to creep up the banks, or at least kill the shine of it.
Scenery will be reapplied once that has been taken care of.

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I also have to remedy one of the bridge girders as a drop of Envirotex got on it, and in my panic I attempted to clean it off with a stiff brush rather than just let the drop harden and attempt to peel the blob off. And there is no way to remove the bridge at this point as everything is glued down quite well.


And just for the heck of it:

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[VonRyan]

last night I decanted some dullcote from a can and brushed it on to the riverbanks where the Envirotex creeped up.
I also began regrassing the previously defoliated areas. Still some to be done, and some more bushes will be in order to hide a seam in one area. I might also start looking for some suitable rocks to add to the riverbank areas since those spots are more "wild" and thus no one would have bothered to clear the area of rocks. Only problem is that I know once I add some rocks and such on one area, other areas will start to look needy as well...

Also, finally scored a new Märklin victim. Namely a "Talbot" hopper that will be having its' chassis cannibalized for use under one of the three open wagons I built a few weeks ago. Those wagons have yet to be painted, as I've decided to further change some of their detailing to better match some Irish prototypes.
I know I'm potentially risking the loss of one of these incredibly hard to get wagons, but recently I've been seeking to push the limits of my hands' abilities.

Pictures to come auf morgen.

[Kuchler10]

You know, a shipping crate with some acrylic windows in it would be pretty nifty too, so you can even show it off without unboxing it.

I really like this idea, too. It would travel very well and you could have some windows and some backdrops for forced viewing angles and great photography.