Rocky Ridge

You can achieve a lot with a wee bit of imagination and ordinary American Ash tree bark from the nature store. 

Tree bark rock on the new Display Layout. 

Tree bark rock on the new Display Layout. 

The "rocky ridge" in the centre of the picture is actually a piece of tree bark!

On the old Layout. 

A rocky ridge.

Added more vegetation.

Miniature Steam Engine

My Miniature Maritzburg "Steam" Engine - Model 'A' kit.
(Kits are available from the "Pietermaritzburg Model Engineering Society" - search them on Facebook)

THREE LINKS TO MY YOUTUBE VIDEOS:

The initial test run of my Maritzburg Engine Model A kit (Unfinished) - November 05, 2016 

Hand starting my finished Maritzburg Engine Model A kit - February 16, 2017

Controlling the speed of my finished Maritzburg Engine Model A kit - February 23, 2017 

Test fitting of custom made

brass parts.

Test fitting of custom made

brass parts.

Test fitting of custom made
brass parts.

A custom built cylinder -
mild steel and brass stock.

Polished the brass cylinder 
outer ring.

Shaped and polished the 
brass cylinder end-cap.

cm

A Customized Cylinder with a
Brass Sleeve, Mild Steel Piston
and Adjustable Brass Connecting
Rod Assembly.

Holes were precision drilled 
and tapped.
Test fitting the various parts.

A great product for gluing
metals - be careful though
and plan well in advance.

Wynn’s Nut Lock & Stud Lock are solvent free products that cure in the absence of air and in the presence of metal ions. Applications include studs, nuts, screws and any threaded fasteners. The adhesive prevents loosening caused by vibration, mechanical and thermal shock. Resistant to petrol, diesel, transmission fluid, anti freeze, and other chemicals. Wynn’s Nut Lock and Stud Lock also inhibit fretting corrosion and prevent seizure and galling. Nut Lock is a medium strength bond which requires 20Nm torque to loosen. Stud Lock has high bond strength for more permanent locking and requires 36Nm torque to loosen.

The finished model - I love the look 
of bare metal - Spray painted all 
the parts separately with Tamiya 
Clear Flat varnish.

Faded Billboards

Experimenting with "Faded Billboards / Signboards". Evenly faded - white washed with thinned white acrylic and light tan matte paints - it dulls the bright glossy look.

Washed with white acrylic matte.

Washed with white acrylic matte, left
to dry over night and then washed
with light tan acrylic matte.

Comparing the signboards.

Stained Parking Area

Stained Parking Area - Bokomo yard

Tan and Earth Brown acrylic washes ...

... with the odd oil and diesel spill.

Weathered "Stormwater Runoff 

Permeable Interlocking Concrete Paving"
"The paint colour wash technique" 
was achieved using 
Revell Earth Brown Acrylic Matte.