Marmion Valley - HOn30 2 x 4 Layout

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  DUH. I ACC'ed them in today. Don't know why I didn't think of that.

I've never painted a brass/white metal model before; I'm assuming I should prime it first? Any tips on how to clean everything up beforehand?

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Details all finished, ready for the paint shop. She is not without her rough edges, but I'm fairly proud that I finished this kit.









Any pre-painting prep advice is appreciated!

[Chris333]

I used a grit blaster on my brass, but if you just wash everything you should be fine. I've read soaking in vinegar helps too, but never did it.

[packers#1]

You did a really great job on that little locomotive, it looks awesome!

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I used a grit blaster on my brass, but if you just wash everything you should be fine. I've read soaking in vinegar helps too, but never did it.

It won't affect the ACC or the Epoxy, will it? I didn't solder anything...

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A little update. Been working on the depot more:






The post for the train order signal is HO 8x8 basswood, stained with Minwax "Special Walnut." Oh-so special.



The chimney is styrene rod, and the smokejack is cut from a coffee stir straw:


Almost ready! Awaiting the door/windows, trim, the train-order signal, and the shingles, plus a few additional details.


I built the frame for the layout from left-over 1x4 stock that was fashioned from 3/4" birch ply.



The table you see that the layout is sitting on has been taking up most of my free time, but once that's finished up and out of the garage I can dig in more on track-laying.

[packers#1]

Really neat; I need to look into HOn3 more, I do really like the charm of logging railroads; looking forward to seeing more!

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Started applying shingles to the roof, installed doors, windows, and trim. I really like the Grandt Line shingles.





An indoor lighting shot:

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No pics to show at the moment, but got the 2" foam laminated to the frame today and got the PCB ties ACC'ed to the masonite roadbed.

I'm getting ready to take my 0-4-0 to the paint booth; if it's getting a coat of flat black, do you think it's worth doing a primer coat first? I will definitely give it a scrub down and thorough drying before painting.

More to come.

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Primed and ready!

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Pink foam! Roadbed! PCB Ties!



Starting initial contouring around the bridges. I have trouble visualizing my ideas of the topography in 3D, so this is really just experimental hacking:







There will be a central ridge in the middle, of course, perhaps 4" or 6" high.

I had a disaster when trying to lay the first coat of paint on the locomotive. I was using a Testors flat black enamel, and despite carefully thinning it, it came sputtering out of the airbrush and created a strange cobweb-like film all over the model. It took about 45 minutes of cleanup with a toothbrush and thinner to try and save the loco. Not sure what I did wrong, but I think I'm going to order a batch of Scalecoat paint and work from there.

I'm not familiar with the shades of the Scalecoat I color selections, but I think I'll go for their "Loco Black" and the "smokebox gray" for the the, well, smokebox. Anyone have any other suggestions for good color choices?

[Chris333]

Couldn't you just use a spray can of flat black? and then brush paint the grey.

I used model master gunmetal buffable metalizer for the boiler. And plan to use olive green for the cab/tender.

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Chris, do you have a pic of how the gunmetal turned out on your boiler? I'd be interested to see how this "buffing Metalizer" paint works.

I think I might just go spray can after all. KISS method.

[Chris333]

This is all the further I got so far:


Fixed img tag. -gfh

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That turned out very nicely. Almost looks "Russian Iron" to my eye.