Katzhagen - Archive - June 2012
May gives birth ...
... to the fruits of April's wet labor. So it seemed to be the perfect time for a grand renovation of the layout since ravages of time clearly showed up on the layout's optical appearance.After the gravel had been replaced in the station areas previously, the buildings, streets and panoply details had to cleaned and renovated next. The process was started applying an algae and moss remover to the buildings with a spray can. After the recommended residence time, the buildings were cleaned using a high pressure washer - interestingly without doing any major damage to the models.
A typical case of Return On Investment - The grand renovation's efforts were worthwhile.
In addition to some panoply details' repair, parts of the Preiser, Bully and Schleich families got new clothes...
The road maintenance staff applied new lane markings and the mercantile community replaced a lot of ad boards...
New driveway and a perfect cut for the green stuff
Within the scope of the renovations numerous details like f.i. roof gutters
and fences trampled down by deer as well as manky traffic signs were repaired
and a good deal of this stuff got a new paint. The parts which were impossible
to rescue were replaced.
Unlike the buildings and other details, none of the figures needed a repair, but most of them were brushed up with a bit of fresh paint.
The renewed driveway - which looked like the tracks' formerly scruffy gravelbed before - of a house in the countryside is shown in the picture on the left. The driveway's pea gravel was secured with Sarnacol 2116, too, just like the tracks' gravel - expecting the same persistent success.
This gravel glue was used as well at the (permanent ;-) construction site and the playground after these sites' renovation to retain the sand there.
Unlike the buildings and other details, none of the figures needed a repair, but most of them were brushed up with a bit of fresh paint.
The renewed driveway - which looked like the tracks' formerly scruffy gravelbed before - of a house in the countryside is shown in the picture on the left. The driveway's pea gravel was secured with Sarnacol 2116, too, just like the tracks' gravel - expecting the same persistent success.
This gravel glue was used as well at the (permanent ;-) construction site and the playground after these sites' renovation to retain the sand there.
The same efforts with identical results in the freight station area - worth a look again now.
The creek's bed around the mill also needed thorough cleaning which was accomplished by removing the gravel and cleaning out the filth.
Coincidently the millwheel's drive was found to be inoperational when
cleaning the creek's gravel and so needed an inspection as well. After
removing the wheel unit and disassembling it, some corrosion was found
on the motor's axle blocking its ability to rotate. This nuisance was
simple to remedy and the millwheel was put back into operations.
Conclusion...
The efforts which are necessary for this layout's technical maintenance and the preservation of its overall appearance - given the layout's size and level of detail - reach the capacity limits of a normal human being usually working from 9 to 5 (or from 5 to 3) for his employer. Extension plans will remain plans until further notice...
Clean gravel provides for clean and clear water ...
