After watching for quite a few years now, it is satisfying to see you get round some of the parts of your layout that got put down in the beginning and are now being made to look real with your usual superb level of work. Despite not being as into the youtube content regarding this hobby as I have been in the past, I still look forward to your videos coming out. It is always a pleasure to watch a great craftsman at work. Cheers.
Hi, thanks! It’s very exciting to see the scenic work starting on parts of the layout that have been bare for many years. It all take time but now that I’ve started I look forward to pushing on with it. It will take a while as I don’t like to rush things. I like to try get it right :-) Thanks for your support of the channel, it’s much appreciated. Cheers Dave
An excellent video. I like seeing your layout and I appreciate the way in which you transform it into a realistic looking set of scenes. Please keep doing this, as I watch all your content. Good stuff.
Haha, I don’t like to make an appearance too often. As the channel is about my layout and not my face. Glad you enjoyed the demonstrations, I try to make it as easy to follow as I can :-) Cheers Dave
Very clear video. It struck me that the DCC Concepts PowerBase produces the effect that Triang Hornby managed with steel track and what they called "Magnetdesion", which worked due to factory fitted magnets on diesel locos. I still have a couple: A 37 & a 31. A case of "everything changes, but nothing changes"!
Great progress. Always amuses me how much whacking your track with a piece of wood, or my favourite the back of a teaspoon, actually does when ballasting!
Another great video as always. The weathering on the parcel coaches look fantastic. I think it might look good not to weather the ballast on the incline, to give the impression of recent engineering work.
I’ll be weathering as if it was freshly laid it might have switched over to concrete sleepers. And I’ve gone with the wood (as when it’s weathered you can’t tell the difference anyway!). Not sure how dirty I will make it. Not decided :-)
Great update. That's exactly how I do my ballast, though I weather the sleepers before I apply the ballast. While I like to look at other peoples weathering jobs for reference I like to do it myself. However, I think you got good value for money with those coaches, they look great. Cheers
Great update as ever Dave! Next year, I'll be replacing the track on the station side of my layout, and I'll be using the correct sized ballast, N gauge, and I may also start putting ballast in the depot, so your video is very useful indeed!
Dave your attention to detail is superb , and your so methodical just like myself , l sometimes wonder if we take it to far, l see a lot of guys who are less precise but get great results LOL . Anyway great video Dave.
We all have our own ways of working. I see most people who rush it get untidy/unrealistic results. I do it the way I do as it keeps me happy lol. That’s the main thing…as long as you’re happy with the way you do things, then that’s fine by me!
Very good David great explanation of ballasting especially for any beginner watching. I can remember a few years ago being very grateful after watching a similar video. As for the loco weathering I'm totally with you, I wouldn't dare to make a botch job on my new bachmann or accurascale especially at their prices atb Andy
Great update, totally agree with the weathering, I’ve done bits and bobs but wouldn’t dare try my hand on a £275 sound fitted loco for example. I use Grimy Times for all my stuff really brings everything to life. The Mail wagons look really really good 👌
And yet another excellent video Dave for which thank you. I love the weathering and for £10 per coach.... I keep thinking about it but in the long run does it devalue the stock or increase its value? Something at my age one has to think about. The ballasting part was great and it is exactly how I have been doing it for years. Keep up the good work and the videos and stay well. Cheers, Bob
Cheers. I am of the view that. At the end of the day I ain’t looking to sell the stock. So thought I may as well weather it. When I’m no longer here the value of it is no longer my problem 😆
@DeanPark That's interesting thought Dave. Sadly at over 70 I have to think of my daughters and 10 grandkids although 30 years ago I would be in agreement with you. Bob
I used smooth-it a few years ago but to be honest, the cheapest plaster at places like Poundstretcher is just the same to use but a fraction of the cost. I like using it. I much prefer it to the plaster bandages. I don't like to see the texture of bandages you see on some people's layouts.
You do very proffession and acurateal looking modelling. I also love your BR Era too. Are yiu staying away from weathering on purpose? The Westerworks cars are epic!
Hi thanks. :-) I fully intend to get into the weathering my own wagons etc in time, but I’ve soooo much else to work on and build that this isn’t my priority just now. :-)
Disturbs it. If it derails due to ballast on the inner rails it ruins your work. Once it’s all in place you can hand run a coach back and forth. There are loads of methods for ballasting… I’m just showing everyone the way I do it.
Surprised you pulled the trigger on catenary because you said previously that it obscured the view which I agree with but I suppose it adds a level of realism. Wondering if it’s just the actual catenary or the mast tensioning cables as well? A great update as usual. Just one thing on the weathering those roofs don’t look like they’ve had repairs, notoriously mk1 coaching stock will have patchy roof repairs. Otherwise the weathering is top notch and well worth £10 per vehicle, maybe even twice that for such a good job. These models are not cheap and paying slightly more for peace of mind is a no brainer for me and by the time you consider use of consumables such as paint and powders and the actual time taken I do think £10 is more than reasonable.
Hi. Yeah I can’t complain with the value for money aspect. I’m really happy with the level of weathering. Just what I was after. About the wires…. When I was planning the OHLE for the incline I bought a couple of peco masts, just to see what they were like. That was an expensive decision! As I then started the ‘what If I added wires’ debate with myself. On the lower main line there is only one line that’s fitted with OHLE. So accessing the rolling stock and cleaning of the track can still be done. On the upper level twin main lines I will be adding other mast types and peco wires …. I hope to be able to share that with everyone by the end of this year. It’s not a cheap upgrade, but will add more realism and with the number of AC locos now being released by companies i thought now was the time to take the plunge. Gotta stay ahead of the curve and keep the level of detail above most of the rest! ;-)
Personally I like adding neat PVA to the shoulders then adding the ballast let it dry then using the wet glue mixture because sometimes the ballast from Woodland Scenics can float sometimes as it is crushed walnut shells rather than real rock
Sorry but I don't agree with puttong magnets onto anything in order to increase traction, In my opinion it is putting more load onto the locos mechanism and motor than was designed for. At the end of the day we are having enough issues with problems with motors without introducing more. My view is to simply "consist" Using more than 1 loco to pull the train is better in the long run. JMO
It’s a minimal if not negligible load. Probably equivalent to adding a coach with pick ups on its bogies for lighting…that would be the equivalent drag/load. Models are designed to cope with longer rakes of coaches than we ever expose them to, so o am confident that the tiny magnetic draw for 1m of track on my incline will have no ill effect on the motor and mechanical parts of a steam loco or 4 axled loco, such as a class 87.
The opening sound where that Deltic diesel is going along so realistic, it’s fantastic. What a brilliant layout 😊😊😊
Hi thanks. Really glad you enjoyed watching :-)
Hi Dave, an excellent video on ballasting, especially for beginners. Cheers Greg
Hi Greg good to hear from you again. Glad you liked the video too. Cheers. Dave
Great to see you in front of the camera mate. Makes for much better watching seeing who is teaching me these nifty tricks!
Haha, I don’t go in front of the camera much, as the channel is all about the layout and not me :-) glad you enjoy watching.
After watching for quite a few years now, it is satisfying to see you get round some of the parts of your layout that got put down in the beginning and are now being made to look real with your usual superb level of work. Despite not being as into the youtube content regarding this hobby as I have been in the past, I still look forward to your videos coming out. It is always a pleasure to watch a great craftsman at work. Cheers.
Hi, thanks! It’s very exciting to see the scenic work starting on parts of the layout that have been bare for many years. It all take time but now that I’ve started I look forward to pushing on with it. It will take a while as I don’t like to rush things. I like to try get it right :-)
Thanks for your support of the channel, it’s much appreciated.
Cheers
Dave
this is my teacher
Brilliant. Thanks for the detail of how to ballast.
My pleasure. It’s easy enough if you take your time. Cheers.
Yet another inspirational video there Dave. The level of detail is incredible. If my layout turns out half as good as yours, I'll be one happy dude.
Cheers. Thanks for watching :-)
Dave
Great show well done
An excellent video. I like seeing your layout and I appreciate the way in which you transform it into a realistic looking set of scenes. Please keep doing this, as I watch all your content. Good stuff.
Cheers Robert. Glad you like what I do and thanks for supporting my videos :-). Thanks. Dave
Always good to your work and the care you take to get the result you want.
Good to see what you look like! Thanks for the detailed explanations
Haha, I don’t like to make an appearance too often. As the channel is about my layout and not my face. Glad you enjoyed the demonstrations, I try to make it as easy to follow as I can :-)
Cheers
Dave
That class 37 sounds amazing.
I have to be honest…this is a real life sound of a 37 dubbed on to the video lol. If only our models sounded like that it would amazing 🤩
Great video Dave .. it'll be interesting to watch you do your electrification 😀
I’m busy doing it now. It’s a long ‘engineering’ job. :-)
Very clear video. It struck me that the DCC Concepts PowerBase produces the effect that Triang Hornby managed with steel track and what they called "Magnetdesion", which worked due to factory fitted magnets on diesel locos. I still have a couple: A 37 & a 31.
A case of "everything changes, but nothing changes"!
Haha, yes it seems that way. New ideas from old ideas. Thanks for watching and commenting, I hope it was useful for you. Cheers. Dave
Nice video here once again Dave👍👌
Cheers :-)
Very welcome @@DeanPark 👍👍
Great progress. Always amuses me how much whacking your track with a piece of wood, or my favourite the back of a teaspoon, actually does when ballasting!
I use the teaspoon a lot too 😆
Awesome update Dave!!! Thanks for sharing this video. Cheers Onno.
Thanks :-)
Great to see the OHLE progressing!
Yeah it’s good to see the wires going up! Not a quick task….but it will look good once it’s all done. :-)
Another great video as always. The weathering on the parcel coaches look fantastic. I think it might look good not to weather the ballast on the incline, to give the impression of recent engineering work.
I’ll be weathering as if it was freshly laid it might have switched over to concrete sleepers. And I’ve gone with the wood (as when it’s weathered you can’t tell the difference anyway!). Not sure how dirty I will make it. Not decided :-)
thank you very informative
Hi, thanks for watching and glad you enjoyed the video. Dave
Great update. That's exactly how I do my ballast, though I weather the sleepers before I apply the ballast. While I like to look at other peoples weathering jobs for reference I like to do it myself. However, I think you got good value for money with those coaches, they look great. Cheers
Yeah loads of ways to ballast and weather tracks. It’s all finding a method that you like. They are excellent looking coaches now :-)
Agreed@@DeanPark
Great update as ever Dave! Next year, I'll be replacing the track on the station side of my layout, and I'll be using the correct sized ballast, N gauge, and I may also start putting ballast in the depot, so your video is very useful indeed!
An overall god update on the layout here Dave and some great weathering jobs on some of your models, keep up the great work.
Cheers :-)
Dave your attention to detail is superb , and your so methodical just like myself , l sometimes wonder if we take it to far, l see a lot of guys who are less precise but get great results LOL . Anyway great video Dave.
We all have our own ways of working. I see most people who rush it get untidy/unrealistic results. I do it the way I do as it keeps me happy lol. That’s the main thing…as long as you’re happy with the way you do things, then that’s fine by me!
hi. Instaed of tapping rails with paint brush handle, suggest you try using an old electric toothbrush to tapper ballest in.
Very good David great explanation of ballasting especially for any beginner watching. I can remember a few years ago being very grateful after watching a similar video. As for the loco weathering I'm totally with you, I wouldn't dare to make a botch job on my new bachmann or accurascale especially at their prices atb Andy
Agreed.. if I made a mess of a £330 bachmann deluxe model I would cry!
At least you have discovered the advantage of a squeeze bottle to apply glue, pipettes and syringes are terrible!
Yup, never used a syringe bear ballast! Terrible idea.
Great update, totally agree with the weathering, I’ve done bits and bobs but wouldn’t dare try my hand on a £275 sound fitted loco for example. I use Grimy Times for all my stuff really brings everything to life. The Mail wagons look really really good 👌
One day I’ll have a go at weathering myself. When the layout is ‘finished’ 😆
And yet another excellent video Dave for which thank you. I love the weathering and for £10 per coach.... I keep thinking about it but in the long run does it devalue the stock or increase its value? Something at my age one has to think about. The ballasting part was great and it is exactly how I have been doing it for years. Keep up the good work and the videos and stay well. Cheers, Bob
Cheers.
I am of the view that. At the end of the day I ain’t looking to sell the stock. So thought I may as well weather it. When I’m no longer here the value of it is no longer my problem 😆
@DeanPark That's interesting thought Dave. Sadly at over 70 I have to think of my daughters and 10 grandkids although 30 years ago I would be in agreement with you.
Bob
Another great tutorial Dave, layout looking fantastic as always, are you still using Hornby railmaster software ? All the best Matt
Hi, no. I moved over the using the ESU ecos system a few years ago. I found the rail master became to slow and ‘clunky’ to do everything I wanted.
Hi. Great update as always. For some reason the link about ballasting a point didn’t come up for me. Which video is it as I’d like to watch that one 👍
Hi, oh that’s strange. Not to worry. Here’s the link:
ua-cam.com/video/-Wyy-xjW25g/v-deo.htmlsi=7KKal5-A2M0KXrBP
@@DeanPark brilliant thank you. Will take a look now. 👍
Hi Dave would you have any recommendations for a good source of track plans? Any help would be appreciated?👍🏻
Hi. I am afraid I am not very clued up on track plans. When I did mine I just planned it on paper and used templates of paper. :-)
@@DeanPark ok Dave thanks for responding.
I used smooth-it a few years ago but to be honest, the cheapest plaster at places like Poundstretcher is just the same to use but a fraction of the cost. I like using it. I much prefer it to the plaster bandages. I don't like to see the texture of bandages you see on some people's layouts.
Is that a Scotrail West Highland railway brake in the corner? I have a rake of five converted Lima coaches and they look great behind a black 5
It’s a coach from the highlander pack from bachmann mk2a in the green and cream.
Hi. Great video. Do you paint the baseboard or just lay the Cork on top of unpainted plywood. Cheers Chris
Hi, on the odd occasion I’ve painted it. But it’s not required. As you’ll be sealing it anyway with all the cork. Ballast, scenic scatters etc anyway.
Thanks for the info @@DeanPark
You do very proffession and acurateal looking modelling.
I also love your BR Era too. Are yiu staying away from weathering on purpose? The Westerworks cars are epic!
Hi thanks. :-)
I fully intend to get into the weathering my own wagons etc in time, but I’ve soooo much else to work on and build that this isn’t my priority just now. :-)
@@DeanPark Sir .. Trust me.... You work a lot harder than the majority of us "modelers"
Cheers from Canada
Why would you not run a loco or coach along the track to rest the ballast?
Disturbs it. If it derails due to ballast on the inner rails it ruins your work. Once it’s all in place you can hand run a coach back and forth. There are loads of methods for ballasting… I’m just showing everyone the way I do it.
Just thinking really for a ScR and in period themed layout should the ballast be more of a pink salmon colour than grey?
Hi, not in the central belt it wasn’t No.
Do you cant your curves? I always loved that for visuals. Is your layout permanent or can it be moved if you change house?
I can’t my curve on upper mainline yes. But it’s subtle…not over done as I’ve seen on some layouts.
It is permanent yeah. I don’t intend moving lol
Surprised you pulled the trigger on catenary because you said previously that it obscured the view which I agree with but I suppose it adds a level of realism. Wondering if it’s just the actual catenary or the mast tensioning cables as well? A great update as usual. Just one thing on the weathering those roofs don’t look like they’ve had repairs, notoriously mk1 coaching stock will have patchy roof repairs. Otherwise the weathering is top notch and well worth £10 per vehicle, maybe even twice that for such a good job. These models are not cheap and paying slightly more for peace of mind is a no brainer for me and by the time you consider use of consumables such as paint and powders and the actual time taken I do think £10 is more than reasonable.
Hi. Yeah I can’t complain with the value for money aspect. I’m really happy with the level of weathering. Just what I was after.
About the wires…. When I was planning the OHLE for the incline I bought a couple of peco masts, just to see what they were like.
That was an expensive decision! As I then started the ‘what If I added wires’ debate with myself.
On the lower main line there is only one line that’s fitted with OHLE. So accessing the rolling stock and cleaning of the track can still be done.
On the upper level twin main lines I will be adding other mast types and peco wires …. I hope to be able to share that with everyone by the end of this year.
It’s not a cheap upgrade, but will add more realism and with the number of AC locos now being released by companies i thought now was the time to take the plunge.
Gotta stay ahead of the curve and keep the level of detail above most of the rest! ;-)
HI MR WATSON
Personally I like adding neat PVA to the shoulders then adding the ballast let it dry then using the wet glue mixture because sometimes the ballast from Woodland Scenics can float sometimes as it is crushed walnut shells rather than real rock
Use a foam brush. Your fingers will thank you!
Sorry but I don't agree with puttong magnets onto anything in order to increase traction, In my opinion it is putting more load onto the locos mechanism and motor than was designed for.
At the end of the day we are having enough issues with problems with motors without introducing more.
My view is to simply "consist" Using more than 1 loco to pull the train is better in the long run. JMO
It’s a minimal if not negligible load. Probably equivalent to adding a coach with pick ups on its bogies for lighting…that would be the equivalent drag/load. Models are designed to cope with longer rakes of coaches than we ever expose them to, so o am confident that the tiny magnetic draw for 1m of track on my incline will have no ill effect on the motor and mechanical parts of a steam loco or 4 axled loco, such as a class 87.