It’s been over three months since I did any work on my new 009 layout.
The layout needs to be finished, or at least in a presentable state, for the Beccles exhibition on the 1st June. Time to stop dithering and do something.
First job: the station…
The station area was pretty straightforward, apart from using the ash for the platform. It didn’t seem to adhere to the glues I used. After three partially successful attempts I resorted to flooding the platform with diluted PVA glue (white glue), with the usual ‘drop of washing up liquid’ added of course. This worked, but I will be using normal model railway scatters for my platforms in future!
I’m pleased to have restarted work on this layout. A deadline definitely increases motivation!
Next up: the goods yard
Steve's Narrow Gauge Railway Adventure 
Dear Steve
I used real ash on a number of my past layouts I used to get people where I worked to dig out their bonfires as fires are not allowed in our area. I used to find the ash very useful as you could get so many veriants from different fires wood, paper and garden weeds and plants. The course ash with bits was good for factories and sieved for paths and a bit courser for country lanes, in all I got about seven different types of ash mixture used on my layouts I found the real ash very useful but it must be compleatly dry. I am running out now as I have not worked there for over 10 years
All the Best Roger sisley
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Hi Roger That’s really interesting. I must admit I was given the ash by someone too – I don’t have a fire and, like you, bonfires are banned !
It does look great doesn’t it.
But how did you stick yours down? That’s the bit that stumped me. It stuck in patches but not evenly…
Cheers
Steve
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Dear Steve
Sorry I did not go into that, I brushed on PVA glue straigt fron the container a good quality like Gorilla glue make, using a stiff ended brush the type for stencils making sure there was a good coating then pushed the ash into thick glue, pushing and leveling it if req with wax paper, it does not stick to the paper normally keep cleaning the wax paper so there is not a build up let it dry. Then if more is required for edges or middle or yards etc use the stiff brush to to push glue into the set ash, a stiff brush will get the glue into the crevises and round the other ash do it gently other wise the first lot of ash will come off add more ash as required, again you can push it down with wax paper as required, carry on with layers as required. I sometimes added a semi wet layer at end of glue water and washing up liquid not to much water to seal the serface. It sounds long winded but I got a finish with texture in it, not just a powder flat finish, using different textures of ash in different areas
Yours Roger Sisley
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Hi Roger, Thanks for the explanation. Very interesting. I couldn’t get PVA to work for me. I was using Evostick not PVA but I suspect that’s not the difference. I didn’t press the ash into the glue like you. I suspect that’s the difference. Using wax paper is a really good trick, I will try that in future.
Thanks for the good advice!
Steve
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