Building thereof

Just started making the track for the O14 line. Basically using KB Scale parts, but I thought that there may be a quicker way than spiking. Had a look round the suppliers and found C+L Finescale may have the answer. Had a chat with them on Monday and they can supply Code 82 rail,but I have the Peco product. The base plates they have are for 4 mm scale to represent Pandrol Clips and they are a nice fit on Peco. Got myself a pack and started threading them on a length of rail and, to me at least, look like spiked track on base plates. Admittedly the "spikes" aren't staggered on the sleeper,but it should be a faster way of getting something down. I found it best to file a small chamfer on the foot of the rail to help start the plates, but otherwise they slide straight on and hold the rail firm.  

Been looking for Gun Blue in a reasonable quantity. I phoned a local gun shop and he only had the cream. What I was asking for was Birchwood Casey Gun Blue. I already had a small bottle, but needed more. The shop suggested a company called Restoration Materials, http://www.restoration-materials.co.uk/index.php/metal__marble-antiquing/?k=1906:37:: so I phoned them. They had a product called Antiquing Fluid, the smallest bottle of which was 150ml. So I ordered a bottle to try. Wow,what a result. Lobbed a piece of rail in for a minute and it came out black. This stuff can also be watered down, so, potentially, it will be cheaper than Birchwood.  It's available in black, brown, bronze and antique brass. I think that brown may have been the better colour choice for the rail. Watering down also effects the colouring, so that'll be the next trial.