So the layout has been set up all week and I have managed to make some progress with various tasks. I had already ordered the backscenes for the layout, which are a series of foamex boards onto which I will glue the backscene. Last weekend was spent cutting the foamex boards to size and adding in wooden struts to support them. These are all now cut in and yesterday I started gorilla gluing the foamex backscene boards down. The light blue colour is a thin protective film that pulls of the backscene. I have left most of this in place for the time being, as it will protect the surface whilst I undertake more detailing on the layout. Just adding the backscenes to the layout has started to transform the whole look of the baseboards.
In the area around the tunnel I have started building up the elements of the scenery for an embankment, using some foam packing. The foam packing has been glued to the backscene/baseboard. One of todays tasks is to layer plaster bandage over the top of this. I will need to protect the tunnel using some low tac masking tape/paper before starting this job.
Yesterday I also visited my local model shop in Bideford (Osbournes Models) and picked up a grampus wagon kit to build, alongside a painted figurine of 'Vera'. Taking a snap of her against the tunnel made me realise just how big the O gauge tunnel is, using the figure for perspective. The tunnel is probably out of keeping with the scenery of the Withered Arm, but hey ho, it will do - I must confess I quite like its monumental proportions!
The other bit of detailing I have been doing is the quay front water. I have built up the water using layers of PVA glue and I painted this a light yellow colour. The outcome is not to my liking and the water does not look deep. So the plan for today is to add a layer of AK Atlantic Blue water gel on top of this to see if it will provide some depth to the water. At full tide the water in the estuary certainly has a blue colour on a summers day, so I am hoping the blue water gel will provide a pleasing water front scene. The joins between the base boards are difficult to do with the water gel/pva glue, but fingers crossed I can make it look acceptable.
So a full day of modelling is planned and the layout will be able to stay up into next week, allowing me to make some further progress in the evenings. My hope is that I can get a lot of basic scenery elements done this week, before the layout comes down over xmas (there is not enough room). However, come the new year, I should be able to crack on with the detailing of the layout, whilst adding in some of the buildings.
