Irishrailwaymodeller Posted July 12, 2017 Share Posted July 12, 2017 (edited) The Ruabon to Barmouth line is becoming well covered by model railways based on the many stations on this route. I have completed models of Llangollen (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/91600-llangollen-in-n/) and Cynwyd ( http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/111150-cynwyd-in-n-gauge/page-1 ) stations both in N-gauge. Other modellers have covered Carrog (N and OO gauge), Berwyn, Barmouth Junction and many other locations. Having visited Llanuwchllyn station a number of times (most recently during the Bala Model Railway Exhibition in May 2017) and admired the photographs in Martin William's fine book on this railway line, I am minded to have a go at modelling the station/goods yards in N-gauge. I propose to do this as another end-to-end layout 4.5 feet by 1 foot similar to Cynwyd. Llanuwchllyn was a passing station with two platforms and an interesting diamond crossing leading to a small goods yard. A shuttle unit with train crossing function is planned to automate the layout which will be a fiddle-yard to fiddle-yard configuration. Thanks to Martin Williams and Peter Fisher have kindly made these historic photographs available to me which I attach below: A BR Standard Class 4MT 4-6-0 arrives at Llanuwchllyn station in the early 1960s: Lydham Manor and Hinton Manor bring a Ffestiniog Railway Special past the diamond crossing/goods yard in 1963: A sadly overgrown station in August 1966 some years after closure: Llanuwchllyn station in fine shape in 1963 prior to closure: A postcard view of the station c 1920: Station staff and families proudly pose for the camera c 1895. Note the wooden toy locomotive at the boy's feet right of centre: Edited August 28, 2017 by Irishrailwaymodeller 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted July 19, 2017 Author Share Posted July 19, 2017 Getting cracking on the baseboards with component wood frame formed from usual 2X1 planed wood and plyboard cut to size by local wood merchant. The plan is to utilise the same end fiddle yards as Cynwyd if that can be done. Llanuwchllyn layout totem signs were commissioned from Tracksidesigns.co.uk with similar in 2 mm for the layout from Sankey Scenics. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted July 25, 2017 Author Share Posted July 25, 2017 The baseboard has been assembled and painted with a photographic backscene fitted (from Gaugemaster) which approximates the scenery around Llanuwchllyn (I may add cut-outs of photos of significant local buildings in time as I did for my Llangollen model). Reproducing the 1960's track layout at this station will involve 7 trackwork elements: 3 right-hand points, 3 left-hand points and a long cross-over. I have selected the appropriate Peco Code 55 Finescale sections and have laid them out roughly to show the general look of the layout with the two platform tops. Llanuwchllyn was a passing station for this single line with a passing loop through the station and goods yard area. First up, a couple of views of the backscene: The rough layout of the model track elements which will be used from left to right: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted August 8, 2017 Author Share Posted August 8, 2017 Rail lengths cut to size ready for pinning down and then to the wiring which should be interesting: 4-pole Double throw switch to alternate between manual and automatic shuttle/passing loop operation including synchronised turnout change; reed switches for passing loop operation including wiring in to fiddle-yards being shared with Cynwyd; two frogs to change with two turnout operations along with alternating direct and linked power source to diamond centre rails; not to mention manual control to separate the power to the two fiddle-yards. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted September 16, 2017 Author Share Posted September 16, 2017 (edited) A recent visit to Llanuwchllyn Station to meet some of the folks there from the Bala Model Railway Exhibition allowed me take a few photos to inform my modelling. Great to meet David, John, Bernard and Barbara again! The station has been preserved as a narrow gauge line with some additions made to the station building itself. Edited September 16, 2017 by Irishrailwaymodeller 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 (edited) Good progress on Llanuwchllyn with all wiring completed, tested and working fine in both manual and automatic modes. The track is also finalised and ready for completion of sleeper gaps and ballasting. Mirrors are in place at each end to provide an infinity perspective. Initial work has commenced on buildings some of which will need to be scratch-built. Then its a case of painting/weathering the buildings and developing surrounding scenery to the standard achieved with Cynwyd. First a look at the trackwork pinned down: Edited November 17, 2017 by Irishrailwaymodeller 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 Next for the record, an update on the buildings/platforms developed before painting/weathering and placed roughly where they will be. Some buildings will be scratch built based on photos of the extant and historical structures. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted November 17, 2017 Author Share Posted November 17, 2017 Final update at this time to show the control/electronics at the back of the layout. The layout may be operated in manual or automatic mode. The points are operated in pairs by push buttons to make the road for the trains. Automatic mode allows the trains to stop and cross at the station including changes to the points as needed to accomplish this. The Goods Sidings are operated by a separate manual controller only. Note the use of side-action point motors at the back allowing manual control. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted December 17, 2017 Author Share Posted December 17, 2017 A couple of shots of some scratch and kit-built buildings and other features for Llanuwchllyn placed roughly where they will appear on the layout. Next steps are to fill in missing sleepers and start the ballasting... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted December 21, 2017 Author Share Posted December 21, 2017 Track has been painted chocolate brown and a rust wash has been applied to the rail sides. Masking has been done to prepare for the application of fine grey dry ballast... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted January 2, 2018 Author Share Posted January 2, 2018 (edited) Llanuwchllyn has been ballasted with a fine grade grey ballast and a fascia board added. Track/points have been re-tested and working fine. Next up, fit two platforms and form the landscape around the buildings and rails... By contrast, a beige colour ballast was used on my Cynwyd layout but grey is probably closer to the prototype for the Llangollen line. Edited January 3, 2018 by Irishrailwaymodeller 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted January 8, 2018 Author Share Posted January 8, 2018 Layout is now at the "Blue Peter" stage with scrap card/wood, crumpled newspaper and PVA glue in use to form the basis for the landscaping around the platforms and buildings... A couple of shots showing the now weathered buildings in their approximate locations: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted January 12, 2018 Author Share Posted January 12, 2018 Snowfall on Llanuwchllyn! Plaster bandage was wetted quickly in strips and and placed over the dried cardboard/newspaper base. Polyfilla was then added with wetted brushes to provide smooth surfaces and contours. This is left to dry overnight before adding further filler if needed and wiping off any unwanted splashes on the backscene/mirrors/tracks with a damp cloth etc. Next up, once plaster is dry, paint the base landscape with undercoat to harden the surface... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted January 14, 2018 Author Share Posted January 14, 2018 We Fade to Grey for this phase! A good coat of Rustins grey primer/undercoat provides a hardened surface for the landscape. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted January 15, 2018 Author Share Posted January 15, 2018 A coating of Green Earth Undercoat and we can see the emergence of a model railway... Particularly when a number of model buildings are added to the scene... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 A layer of patchy Earth Undercoat with two shades of static grass applied with a Noch puffer bottle onto PVA glue adds to the scene. Additionally, some coarse sand sprinkled onto PVA provides a granular stony texture to the rougher ground: 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 Moving swiftly along, the weathered buildings are now glued in place along with some detailing. The fencing and many other details are in development and will be fitted shortly also. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted February 7, 2018 Author Share Posted February 7, 2018 Coming towards end-game now, some details added and trees and signals are in preparation. 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chrisoafc Posted February 7, 2018 Share Posted February 7, 2018 Really like the look of this layout. Buildings are spot on and I do like the backscene! Good work! And track is nicely weathered too, how did you do that? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted February 8, 2018 Author Share Posted February 8, 2018 Really like the look of this layout. Buildings are spot on and I do like the backscene! Good work! And track is nicely weathered too, how did you do that? Thank you! The track is Peco fine code 55 and, once laid with fine grey ballast, the sleepers were painted brown. The rail sides were given a few coats of rust/brown wash (Humbrol) - some of which washes down into the ballast. Finally, a wash of light grey over the track helps highlight the detail again. The backscene is from Gaugemaster selected as typical of the area being modelled in Wales. Most of the buildings were scratch-built with some kit-bashed. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted February 11, 2018 Author Share Posted February 11, 2018 Some trees have been prepared for the layout using the Gaugemaster seafoam kit with a variety of scatters attached with diluted PVA glue. The trees vary in size, shape and texture as in nature and look well particularly for the N gauge scale. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted March 1, 2018 Author Share Posted March 1, 2018 Llanuwchllyn has had its trees planted and numerous other details added. Note the unusual GWR Calling On signal lower on the Down Starter signal: Two guys have a chat by the Goods Shed while their colleague works on the lamp on the Advance Starter on the Up line: A couple of more views of the railway: 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted March 4, 2018 Author Share Posted March 4, 2018 A couple of shots of Llanuwchllyn with 1960's BR rolling stock although GWR stock would be at home here also: 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted April 4, 2018 Author Share Posted April 4, 2018 Llanuwchllyn is booked to make its exhibition debut at the Bala Lake Railway Great Little Trains of Wales Model Railway Exhibition Saturday 26th May to Monday 28th May 2018. See http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/110659-bala-exhibition-bala-gwynedd/page-2&do=findComment&comment=3114811 for more. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Irishrailwaymodeller Posted May 9, 2018 Author Share Posted May 9, 2018 Currently getting Llanuwchllyn in N ready for its Exhibition Debut at Bala Model Railway Exhibition, North Wales at end May: 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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