I use my longest carriage and depending on the curve, either hold a pencil against the middle of the car or the front end on the car, move the car and mark a pencil line on the baseboard where the edge of the platform will be. Polyfilla is very messy so I use 12mm MDF cut roughly to the shape of the platform and fix it inside the two platform edges. Then I use Ratio platform surface cut to size - job done, looks great & no painting required.
Interesting ideas for you method and some of the comments, so far all my flatforms straight using wood of the correct height with routed edges to take the ratio platform edges But will be using your method in some future project
Hi, Just found you on UA-cam as I was interested in finding a technique for building platforms other than card. I like this very much and will probably use the the same as I’d wanted to use the Peco platform edging too. I have subscribed to your channel and will catch up with it over the next few days. I’m also documenting my progress on UA-cam building an N gauge layout. I’m a complete novice and know I’m in for an interesting time! Cheers for now John
To get a smooth finish on the top, I used a wet plastic smoother. The water made sure it didnt stick, and laid flat and water just evaporated when it was done. Results in far less clearing up at the end :D
Thank you! Glad this has helped, for the edging I used Humbrol 63 for the tactile paving colour, then just generic greys and yellows for lines and slab edging, I have since resurface the platform with brick sheets from Scale model Scenery
They are just a selection of Humbrol Enamels, can't remember the exact numbers as it's been a while now, I've actually gone over the painted surface with brick sheets from Scale model Scenery
To get them to bend better, I put them in boiling water for five seconds, then put them down how I wanted, they then stay where you want under no tension.
Hi - interesting method of building the platforms and they do look good. I used Metcalfe's platform kits - they are very strong once built as the kits contain loads of strengheners. I can confirm the PVA doesn't interact with the card side walls as they are already treated with a protective coating - so no issue when you Ballast. Can I ask if you have a class 08 and if you does it clear the platform? Cheers Euan
Ah, I've never used the kits but just assumed they would have had a few issues but I always thought of the poly filla method anyhow, I do not have an 08 at the moment, though planning on getting one
@@greatdeltan6556 I think you might have some issues in the 08 clearing the platform edge as they have outside frames. I had to relay my track in the first version of the platforms on my own layout to allow the 08 to pass without fouling the edge. To give clearance you need to use the longest coach and fix a pencil to either the outside edge or middle of the coach depending on the way the platform bends. Euan
I use my longest carriage and depending on the curve, either hold a pencil against the middle of the car or the front end on the car, move the car and mark a pencil line on the baseboard where the edge of the platform will be. Polyfilla is very messy so I use 12mm MDF cut roughly to the shape of the platform and fix it inside the two platform edges. Then I use Ratio platform surface cut to size - job done, looks great & no painting required.
Nice job of your platform. It looks good. Interesting layout too.
Thank you
Interesting ideas for you method and some of the comments, so far all my flatforms straight using wood of the correct height with routed edges to take the ratio platform edges
But will be using your method in some future project
Thank you, glad you found it insightful
Hi, Just found you on UA-cam as I was interested in finding a technique for building platforms other than card. I like this very much and will probably use the the same as I’d wanted to use the Peco platform edging too. I have subscribed to your channel and will catch up with it over the next few days. I’m also documenting my progress on UA-cam building an N gauge layout. I’m a complete novice and know I’m in for an interesting time! Cheers for now John
Cheers glad you found this helpful :) I believe it's the best method
Very useful and helpful as I am just about to start my own model shortly
Glad it helps!
Thank you for this its really going to help. I tried all sorts on a OO gauge model but should have done this all along.
Thank you, glad it is helpful :)
To get a smooth finish on the top, I used a wet plastic smoother. The water made sure it didnt stick, and laid flat and water just evaporated when it was done. Results in far less clearing up at the end :D
Watching your videos, not sure how I haven’t seen this before but very good... I’d be interested to know the paint codes/colours you used...
Thank you! Glad this has helped, for the edging I used Humbrol 63 for the tactile paving colour, then just generic greys and yellows for lines and slab edging, I have since resurface the platform with brick sheets from Scale model Scenery
quite informative. i've never seen a platform done like that.
Glad it helped cheers :)
Hi used this technique and it’s the best thing I’ve done curious what’s the names of the paint you used?
They are just a selection of Humbrol Enamels, can't remember the exact numbers as it's been a while now, I've actually gone over the painted surface with brick sheets from Scale model Scenery
What distance have you got between the edge of rail sleeper to the platform? Looks about 3 to 5mm
To get them to bend better, I put them in boiling water for five seconds, then put them down how I wanted, they then stay where you want under no tension.
If I was using tighter bends I would have too probably
I also used the same method you did, looks far more realistic as well.
Indeed it does
Hi - interesting method of building the platforms and they do look good. I used Metcalfe's platform kits - they are very strong once built as the kits contain loads of strengheners. I can confirm the PVA doesn't interact with the card side walls as they are already treated with a protective coating - so no issue when you Ballast. Can I ask if you have a class 08 and if you does it clear the platform? Cheers Euan
Ah, I've never used the kits but just assumed they would have had a few issues but I always thought of the poly filla method anyhow, I do not have an 08 at the moment, though planning on getting one
@@greatdeltan6556 I think you might have some issues in the 08 clearing the platform edge as they have outside frames. I had to relay my track in the first version of the platforms on my own layout to allow the 08 to pass without fouling the edge. To give clearance you need to use the longest coach and fix a pencil to either the outside edge or middle of the coach depending on the way the platform bends. Euan
@@thegrowler-blackwoodngauge ah OK thank you, I guess when I do get an 08, it'll stay in the yard
you're using the same polyfilla as me! :D
What are the chances!
@@greatdeltan6556 I just realized this is a video from March lol, I thought it was done today ahah, UA-cam strikes again!