Dukedog's Blog

the spoil heap is very convincing

 

Work of art that Frank. It's certainly sold 00 finescale to me - hard to believe it's not EM/P4. Beautiful model - when's the backscene going in?

 

Regards

 

Mike

This just keeps getting better and better , the colours just look so right .

 

good work Frank , now just have to wait a week for more .

You seem to be galloping through the scenery. Your rock work looks supperb.

The spoil heap is particularly impressive, not easy to make it look so convincing. Keep up the good work.

That's lovely Frank, as has been said, the colours look spot on.

You're clearly on a roll, Frank (ouch!).

 

Congratulations on the last shot, it's a fantastic centerpiece.

Love it, completely in harmony with it's subject.

 

MIke

This layout just gets better and better - captures the essence of the Cambrian to a 'T'! Well done, Frank.

 

Phil

Work of art that Frank. It's certainly sold 00 finescale to me - hard to believe it's not EM/P4. Beautiful model - when's the backscene going in?RegardsMike

 

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the comment. The backscene will be one of the last jobs, I'm still biased towards a plain blue sky with some clouds.

It all depends what I can get in in the way of trees and so on.

 

Cheers

Frank

Classy work Frank - really classy!

Backscene, my choice would be a bit of misty landscape along with your sky, it would add further depth.

I'm not a great fan of backscenes - especially if they compete for attention rather than compliment the forescene - but they can work on small scenes. I like your plan for Morfa Bach of a simple backdrop showing just a blue sky and clouds. Neil (Rushby) just about had it right on 'Shell Island', methinks.

 

Inspiring Cambrian modelling, Frank!

 

Phil

Your model of the Cambrian is looking fantastic! I only wish that I could emulate the sense of realism that you have created. I can’t believe I have missed this until now, but you can be sure I will be reading all of your other entries.

 

The Manor at the head of the CCE looks superb. I see you are running mark 1's in crimson & cream? Have you created the same formation as the actual train?

Your model of the Cambrian is looking fantastic! I only wish that I could emulate the sense of realism that you have created. I can’t believe I have missed this until now, but you can be sure I will be reading all of your other entries.The Manor at the head of the CCE looks superb. I see you are running mark 1's in crimson & cream? Have you created the same formation as the actual train?

 

Thanks for the comment.

I don't have enough of the right stock to faithfully replicate the proper train formation, even the short portion that traversed the coast route was up to six coaches. I will just about squeeze 4 coaches and the manor into the fiddle yard so a compromise has to be made somewhere.

 

I would like to get hold of (or convert) a "auto buffet" which was unique to the CCE but was only ever painted Chocolate & cream I believe.

 

Cheers!

Frank.

Frank,

 

I believe you only need three coaches to replicate a 'typical' coast passenger train - a brake second, open tourist second, and a compo (or similar).

 

My observations from many dated photos from the mid-50s to the mid-60s is that the basic Cambrian passenger formation for ordinary summer/winter trains between Shrewsbury/Welshpool and Machynlleth was a six coach formation, made up of two sets of the above (usually with brakes outermost), plus stengtheners tacked on as required in the summer months.

 

The formation would then split at Mach or Dovey Jnc with the two three-coach sets (plus any strengtheners) going forward to Aber and Pwllheli respectively. The set with the Mark 1 choc-cream "auto buffet" going forward to Aber.

 

These sets can be seen made up of either BR Mark 1s, or ex-GWR/LMS coaches (but rarely mixed, due to incompatibilities with corridor connections).

 

Maybe this is a well-known fact, but I've never seen an explicit description of this formation written down before. However, you can consistently see this in photos of the late steam period. (Not sure if this applies to the CCE.) Has anyone else observed this "standard" Cambrian train formation make-up?

 

So Frank, maybe you don't need all six coaches after all - you can get away with an authentic coast "stopper" hauled by a Manor at the head of just three coaches. Wasn't the Cambrian a delight!

 

Phil