NOVAHILL ...... U.S.A

[spurlines grandson]

Hi Nick;

From what I'm seeing its coming along real nice ,How's that painting project going with the rail ties?

Cheers

Mike

[upnick]

Hi Mike,

Thanks, the ties i drybrush with an old Humbrol Authentic colour before adding the ballast ........ the pics here arent good enough to show it as i took them under artificial light Sunday evening when i get chance in good daylight try and get close up of them.

Need to rust up the rails before ballasting as well .....

[Bigsteel]

your track work looks great ,although,turnouts are generally not very rusty,the points and such should have quite a bit of grease on the sides.but other than that your ties look very realistic and the rails look great .i especially like your weathered hopper .--josh

[upnick]

Hi Josh,
Cheers i tried to make the track look well used needing a bit of maintenance in places..
Yes the points have had some scatter added to the top of the ties but movement has wiped away any excess very realistically, looking around now for the right shade of rust to do the rails.

Yes i love the hopper .... i bought it off ebay for good price .......... needs some Kadees fitting and its done.

[upnick]

Hi All,

Quick post of a car converted to Kadees couplers and a new weight non magnetic added ......then weathered.



Opposite side

[Bigsteel]

i dont see why you need to buy weathered stock off ebay when your own weathering surpasses the ones you bought ,great job --josh

[upnick]

Hi Josh,
Thanks ...... yes i am getting my weathering technique better and enjoying it try and get the GP38 sorted tonight and post some pics.

[upnick]

Hi All,
With working and a few other bits not got a lot done on the layout but here are a few pics of some stock including a hopper i started adding Grafitti to





Other side

This Atlas pulpwood flat car i couldnt resist on ebay for less than the price of the car ($9.27) all weathered up ....... just needs the grab irons in the box adding and blending it to match along with the new Kadees fitted.











Next week i'm off on hols from work so hoping to get the backboards sorted and make a start on planning some scenery

[Trucklover]

Nick, looking good!! Nice graffiti and weathering!!

[upnick]

Thanks Josh,

I forgot to say here i got some Bragdon powders from laser kits the other week so more messing with them soon

[LiveSteamer]

Looking Good Nick.

[Bigsteel]

looks great nick ,evrything looks great,but one improvement,most grills on diesels had the black soot and dirt running straight down,there really was nothing on the sides or top of the grill.but all-in-all,they look fine--josh

[upnick]

looks great nick ,evrything looks great,but one improvement,most grills on diesels had the black soot and dirt running straight down,there really was nothing on the sides or top of the grill.but all-in-all,they look fine--josh

Hi Josh,

Thanks i havnt applied soot to the sides or top of the grilles could be the how the light is showing the loco up could do with some light dirt coming down need to get the powders out again i used these pics as references.

[upnick]

Few pics from Novahill

Looking more like a busy railyard now ... the gondolas making up a nice length train for the scrapyard at the other end of the layout.



SW9 sat awaiting work alongside the carshop ......... when the new handrails arrive they will look better







Latest loco Proto 2000 SD50 with white metal front plow fitted and first coat off Harbour grey paint on, some scratchbuilt sunshades andit's all ready for weathering.


No progress on the layout this weekend to busy sorting couplers and other jobs on the locos.

[upnick]

Hi Guys,

After asking about the height issue with the background buildings on the layout i added a backdrop board this morning 14'' high and used some foam to try and get some ideas how it may look when done ........ nothing is glued down at the moment here are a couple of shots a loco in to give an idea of scale the pickup is on a road next to the apartments but there is no space for a sidewalk and a retaining wall to the railroad, the foam will go on the level there at least left to the end of the module.
What do you all think of it as a concept there are a couple of issues i need to solve
1. the sidewalk
2. what can i do to with the end of the foam on the right next to centennial mills ..... i was thinking of a grass bank sloping towards the mills ?
3. Should i have an overpass road inline over the railroad to service the apartments and market ? ending before the mills, another apartment kit needs to be built yet to go alongside and a DPM factory.





Any ideas appreciated.