Port Elderley

I'm really interested in seeing how you handle ocean water. You're making a great start. 

Re: my health. The Afib has stopped. I don't know if it's a result of the beta blocker or it self-corrected. Either way, I am not unhappy. Thank you for asking. I did some reading about beta blockers and can't figure out from what I read how they would actually correct the electrical problem. But whatever it is, it's working.

Thanks, Myles. 

I've done the other two sides (see earlier in the thread).  I just have to remember how I did it. 

Good news about your cardio.  I had angioplasty 18 years ago.  It's still holding together so far - touch wood.

My parent's generation all succumbed years ago.  The oldest was 75, so I'm going for the record in a couple of years.

Modern medicine is marvellous! 

Yes! If you had a time machine and could come back at any time, you'd be better off to pick now. Since almost in any other time in human history, if you had a bad heart, or anything else for that matter, you either lived with it or you died. Didn't matter if you had money. In fact, in the 18th Century medical care for the rich was probably worse than for the poor since all they seemed to be able to do was bleed you to let out the bad liquors (or whatever they called it). I've had this discussion before on my thread. I had one living grandparent, all four of my grandkids have living and active grandparents on all sides. Even my parents didn't have the medical care available to us on a routine basis.

And even if the angioplasty stopped working, there's other things they can do to fix that too.

Someday we'd like to get to Australia. I'd have to fly first class all the way since that flight in coach would wreck me.

Here's a lamp pole I made from some 3/16" dowel.

How did I do it?

I cut it down the middle using my Dremel circular saw, then hollowed out both halves to take the wires and the resistor.

Then glued it back together again.

I've got an NMRA meeting to go to, but when I return I hope to make a very atmospheric image. 

Ingenious and certaily cheap! that's the goal! 

Well done!

jp

Thanks, JP.

Oh, WOAH! I was thinking of the shadow of a lamp hanging inside the shed.  But that's so much better!  Nicely executed, Max.  I'll await more "atmosphere" upon your return.

Tomlinson Run RR

I was going well until i noticed the handle of the vacuum cleaner in the background. 

Max, as if you need help with inspiration, here's a pic of a model lobster sloop(sans jib) that I bought 20 years ago. I just liked it.  As long as you're getting beehive pots, maybe a one man rowing sloop to go along with them is in order. The scale is off by a long shot. This one is around 1:20. TW

That's a beautiful thing, Ted.

Thanks for sharing.

I'll send you my postal address.  

Ah.  That's better . . .

The first flush of plaster has set up.

Note the cracks.

Now to knock off all of the knobs and excrescences and do the second flush with the finishing plaster.

It looks like sand! just a little bit of water on and it's perfect! (my humble opinion...)

Penultimate photo: the vacuum cleaner is now in the dark side.......

jp

Keep watching . . .

Now the second coat of filler is on.

Just to recap; this is the effect I'm aiming for . . .

Now that the fine filler has set up, I've taken a piece of cotton cloth and wet the surface.

The filler quickly reconstitutes, which allows me to smooth off the pointy bits with the cloth.

The marks from the weave of the cloth will rub off with a dry cloth.

It's important to remember that I'm modelling the surface of the water with the plaster.

jpv69 posted:

Penultimate photo: the vacuum cleaner is now in the dark side.......

I just got it. 

Very good, JP. 

Looking good Max, cant wait to see what the next step is and how it turns out!

Thanks, Mike.

Next step is painting.  

Keep at it. It's look'n good!

Thanks, Myles.

Green paint.

I'm guessing how much of the seal to leave above the paint.  I'm hoping that when the gel goes on, it will be at the right level.  No second chances from now on. 

MaxSouthOz posted:

Green paint.

I'm guessing how much of the seal to leave above the paint.  I'm hoping that when the gel goes on, it will be at the right level.  No second chances from now on. 

Looking GREAT Max! everything should be ok, as long as you don't have any Orca wales around!

Thanks, Mike.

I fell a lot better for hearing that. 

Less dangerous for a seal than an orca! 

jp 

Very true JP!

The gel coat has been on for a couple of days now.

I expect that it will take a few more days for the white to disappear and for it to become clear.

I'll report back in a few days.

Max, explain the gelcoat please.  Is it a specific or generic product?  Brand name or equivalent please. How much did you use? (Quart). Do you buy a lot at a time for multiple applications?  Applied in coats, if so, how many?  Do you dam up the edge with something?  How thick end result?  As you can see I dont know much about it. Am going to start a water feature on a xmas layout so the information would be useful. Thx in advance for any help you can provide. TW

Hi Ted

The gel coat is the icing on the cake, so to speak.  The lines of swells and the basic wave "lumps" are made by the dry wall plaster, then the gel is applied over the top, to simulate the wavelets whipped up by the wind.

It also gives an impression of depth of the water, due to the green paint.

Once the gel coat has set up, I dust it with white weathering powder; otherwise the shiny surface looks unrealistic.

The gel is Liquitex Gloss super heavy gel medium.  Liquitex comes in a range of viscosities, but the super heavy is the best for the job.  My wife, Wendy is an artist, so I was able to try various ones as I researched the process.

I've adapted the method from one developed by Troels Kirk.

Here is how he did his.

Cheers

I've had to do away with the seal, as I wasn't able to get a realistic pose.

While I'm waiting for the gel to set up, I've moved to the other end and marked out where the sand will go to and where the colour will start.

I'll keep this shot on file to remind me, as I now have to sculpt the sea using more jointing compound.

I've had to mess with the lighting to overcome the reflection from the white plaster, but you can get an idea.

Back to the deep end . . .

The gel coat has finally set up.  Now for some weathering powder, and I can put the tug boat back in place.

A bit of a close up . . .

Tricky stuff to photograph, but you get the idea. 

Great, Max! 

On the second shot, it looks like the propellers of the tugboat are running!

jp

Thanks, JP.

I didn't notice that. 

Looks wonderful Max, what are your plans for the tug? You going to leave it as is or weather it also?

Thanks, Mike.

I "rescued" the tug boat as a half built kit, stripped it down and rebuilt it up to where it was.

Now I have to finish it and weather it.  It's actually a RC model and will eventually be able to go to the lake.

I've been disciplining myself not to go back to it until the near half of the layout is done, so I should be able to resume soon.

MaxSouthOz posted:

Thanks, Mike.

I "rescued" the tug boat as a half built kit, stripped it down and rebuilt it up to where it was.

Now I have to finish it and weather it.  It's actually a RC model and will eventually be able to go to the lake.

I've been disciplining myself not to go back to it until the near half of the layout is done, so I should be able to resume soon.

Nice boat, I m into scale RC boats (mainly steam launches) and if you finish the boat, make sure it will float and usable at a pond or lake. It is a lot of fun plus you will be expanding your interest during the summer months where you want to be out doors.
If the is a scale boat club in your area look them up and check out any events they put on.

Happy Sailing.

Thanks, Ron.

I actually bought it through our local scale boat club.  There are a couple of Amsterdams there already.  They are nice models.  I have a bow thruster to install as well, as she will get work as a rescue boat for the sail boats.

Cheers

MaxSouthOz posted:

Thanks, Mike.

I "rescued" the tug boat as a half built kit, stripped it down and rebuilt it up to where it was.

Now I have to finish it and weather it.  It's actually a RC model and will eventually be able to go to the lake.

I've been disciplining myself not to go back to it until the near half of the layout is done, so I should be able to resume soon.

Very nice Max! More power to you! I think it looks great and should be lots of fun to take to the lake also!

Thanks, Mike.