In 1908, the Pembroke roundhouse was listed in “fair” condition. It stood for another 48 years until it burned. So, I read “fair” to mean that it was not dilapidated, but also, perhaps not first class. I speculate, therefore, that perhaps it wasn’t painted. The other challenge with the Pembroke roundhouse is that it is right near the front of the layout, and one corner … Continue reading Test wall for Pembroke roundhouse
Dear future self; One day when you go to take Pembroke out, the north section can be removed with just the screws into the wall and the cabinets. They’re all accessible from beneath. All except this one screw at the end of the Pembroke Milling Company siding, which goes straight into the windowsill. You’ll probably find it completely buried in ballast. The southern section has three … Continue reading A note to whoever uninstalls Pembroke
Thanks to Graham Stokes for organizing the North Shore Model Railroaders’ visit to Pembroke last night. Despite the photo, we had nine modellers in the basement (two had to leave early). Sadly, #10 wouldn’t move at all; I think it has gone out of quarter again. Everyone was very polite, all the same. Thanks to everyone who came, and gave me a chance to run … Continue reading A Visit from the North Shore Model Railroaders
There is a truism in modelling that the surface is all anyone sees. So, in preparation for a visit from the North Shore Model Railroaders, I quickly dabbed some paint on all the blue foam insulation. The paint is Rona recycled “Clay,” which is a pretty close match for the gravel ballast. Suddenly the scenery stops looking so much like a junk pile and more like … Continue reading A touch of paint
After years of hearing about it, I decided to give Lou Sassi’s ground goop a try. I found a few online resources with the recipe, including a video on the Model Railroader site, with Lou himself mixing it up. The recipe I found was one part Cellulite one part fine vermiculite one part dirt-coloured paint (I found a recycled paint at Rona called “clay” for … Continue reading The Consistency of Oatmeal
I’ve declared the river to be finished from now. Does it look like a river? Well, from sufficiently low angles, it reflects mostly sky, and almost succeeds. However, the sky is not as bright as a real sky, and so, the river is not as bright as a real river. The kids both say it needs to be blue. Okay, let’s add it all up. … Continue reading Pembroke’s River is Finished (for now)
After five coats of paint or primer, filling and sanding in between, I finally felt ready to place the finish coats. These are all going to be sprayed in the hopes that I don’t have to sand between coats (time will tell). My darling wife looked at the river and declared that it was too black. “Rivers are brown,” she declared. She might be right. … Continue reading Liquitex Spray on the Muskrat River
