Freight car No. 16: GTU GRUW 40006 from Artitec

I bought Artitec's model of the GTU Zeildakwagen yesterday, a very detailed and beautifully weathered model. I has a length of 104mm. Art. No. 20.302.01, more information: artitec

Inspiration: freight traffic in the Netherlands

This could be a nice backdrop building for Valkenveld.

 

Team track inspiration.

Silos

Walthers' Medusa Cement kit could be a good base for Valkenveld (Walthers Cornerstone No. 3019; 22.5x17.5x27.5cm)

Plan is to cover the left-hand end of my small Inglenook-style layout with a silo complex. I like big industrial buildings that dwarf the trains. I will use the Medusa Cement kit from Walthers as base.

As my layout is situated in the Netherlands of the early 60's, I was looking for actual prototypes. And found one not far off my current home-town. Silo 61 is a complex in Maarssen. The number refers to the building date which fits perfectly to my layout timeframe.

"Silo 61" for the storage of grain in Maarssen. Source: DeFabrique

Arrival of NS 2437

DHL delivered my new NS 2437 from Roco.



On 6 September 2015 I had the opportunity to photograph a 2400 in action at VSM's Terug naar toen event.

More about the prototype here. Information on Nico Spilt's site here.

Aantal	130
Nummering	2401-2530
Fabrikant	Alsthom
In dienst	1954
Uit dienst	1991
Asindeling	Bo'Bo'
Spoorwijdte	1435 mm
Massa	60 ton
Aslast	15 ton
Lengte over buffers	12,5 m (2530: 13,3 m)
Breedte	2,9 m
Hoogte	3,8 m
Maximumsnelheid	80 km/h
Aandrijving	dieselelektrisch
Vermogen	620 kW
Tractiemotoren	4
Motorfabrikant	Société Alsacienne de Constructions Mécanique
Inhoud brandstoftank	3100 l
Treinbeïnvloeding	geen
Remsysteem	directe rem, Westinghouse eenleidingrem

Ordered: NS 2437 from Roco (Art. No. 62790)

I ordered Roco's model of NS class 2400, numbered 2437, today. An interesting article on the model can be found here.

Inspiration: Deventer Industriespoor

A description of the remains of the freight lines in Deventer which could be an interesting inspiration for Valkenveld. See here.

Ballasting completed

I finished ballasting yesterday. With the glue dried overnight, I want to do the final clean-up work today and finish it off with a drop of ATF oil. Check all tracks and remove ballast on unwanted spots. Finally, to ride a train again. And then, do some weathering on the rails and roadbed.

I had spread the work over many days, by doing small sections at a time and in-between other, non-railroading activities. The proces steps have been as follows:

1. Brush-paint the rail profiles with Humbrol Enamel No. 113. Clean the top of rails with a track cleaning gum.

2. Distributing the ballast, a mixture of Woodland Scenics products: 2x Fine Buff Beige, 1 x Fine Light Grey and 1 x Fine Grey to reflect a roadbed of the Netherlands in the early 1960s.

3. Using a brush, toothstick and fingers to ensure the ballast comes up to the ties but not on top of them. Also, keep the profiles free of ballast and be cautious with the switches.

4. Lightly spray water with a few drops of detergents over the tracks to wet the ballast. Be careful to not move too many "stones"

5. Fixing the ballast with the traditional mixture of 50% glue, 50% water and a few drops of detergent.

6. Removing ballast from unwanted spots using a fine brush and toothstick

7. Clean the top of the rails with a track cleaning gum. Check that rolling stock is moving freely and remove any stones in the wrong places.

8. Apply a tiny fraction of ATF oil and distribute by running a train over the tracks.

Testing the ballasted track

Applying ATF oil.

Inspiration: NS 2233 at the VSM event "Terug naar toen"

Adding a concrete-ish colour before ballasting

The colour is No. 710 Neutral Grey from the Amsterdam Acrylic Standard Series from Royal Talens (way too good for this purpose)

Roco Universal Couplings installed

I equipped all rolling stock with Roco's "Universal" couplers (No. 40395). These couplings are ideal as they are easily uncoupled which is obviously important on a switching layout.

Artitec SSy 45 Demka Hoogovens joins the fleet

I finally got me a short, 4-axle car, the SSy 45 with NS No. 92416 "Demka Hoogovens" from Artitec (No. 20.281.07). With a length of 12,4cm the model is perfect for my small switching layout.

Not a man's cave...

...but at least a man's corner.
Yesterday I mounted the Valkenveld layout on new shelves. Now all tools, cars, kits etc. are easily accessible with the layout at good height and fully operational.

DAF "DEMKA" truck from Artitec

I bought Artitec's DAF "Demka" today which is now the first truck to serve Valkenveld (Artitec No. 487.041.02).

Original DAF "DEMKA" on the premises of the N.V. Nederlandse Staalfabrieken DEMKA, previously J.M. de Muinck Keizer at Havenweg 7, Utrecht. The truck is carrying a load for Philips. More information on Demka can be found hier. Source: hetutrechtsarchief

Aerial image of the Demka steel works in Utrecht, 1923. Demka had connections via rail, road and the Amsterdam-Rijn-Kanaal. Today almost nothing reminds of this steel plant. Source: usineutrecht

Warehouse weathering

I took a view quick shots to look at my two warehouses. I found out that you discover flaws in a model more easily on an image than looking at the building in reality. Also I am sooo unsure about the colors and weathering. I think I will have to tone it down..