Ballasting and browning

Its been a busy few days in the garage which has seen the last plaster work and the start of colour.

The most important bit of plastering is the 'ballasting' of the track. I have a theory that most narrow gauge track was poorly laid and then hardly maintained, so nicely manicured ballast is fine for the L&B or the 1880s Festiniog but the Isle of Stoner not so much.

In the story of IoSR the layout represents the recently reopened branch line, mud and cinders ballast is still mostly the line's standard. 

I trowel some filler onto the track and then level it out using a wet paint brush. I try to make sure that the running surfaces are as clear as possible but it isn't always possible. Once it is set but not hard I use a small screwdriver to scrape the rail clear and run a track rubber over the top.

I also added a final layer of filler to bed the 6.5mm gauge track in.

I also spent a happy hour or so running a black Sharpie over the greenhouse metalwork and it looks better for it.

Once it was all set I started to colour in the white bits. Very satisfying too. I use B&Q tester pots of emulsion to cover the basics and then acrylics to add detail. There will then be weathering powder to finish. A way off yet.

This will be my first large areas covered with static grass. I've been collecting a variety of colours and lengths since I bought the applicator.