cornamuse

In other news, here are some shots of the train set… Molehaven takes shape. The slate wall is a plastic planter from B&M… or was! a shot of Voley Island (Lindisvole) from the 5’ swing bridge… and a slight turn to see Rattersby Station. then back the other way to St. Bead’s chapel and to the distant village of Rattersby. collecting suitable fake bonsai trees and plants is hard going!

Needs a whistle, locoremote controls, crew and lettering, but otherwise we’re done… I love the mesh on the spark arresters, and it looks kinda sleek in black. it’s not historical, but neither is my train set :) oh, the fence was first cheap. Intended for fairy gardens. No further comment at this time!!!!

slowly, but surely, we are getting there

When you have finished one loco, but a friend has turned you a pair of funnels specially, the only thing to do is make a second loco… This will be finished in NE goods black, to match my new rolling stock. I love how smart it looks..

Finally some movement on the layout! A good tidy up in the railway room, and the base layer on the hillside glued on. Largely used peppermint and chamomile tea with cheap scatter mixed in. also ballast laid. I’m leaving that dry if I can get away with it - to allow me to move the track and plant buildings - this area will be the engine shed - hence the cinder and ash ballast (pumice). Aiming to have a small shed, a covered area and a coal stage/water tank, I need a lot more trees. The large pines are 12”-18” mini Christmas trees, there are fake bonsai, all sorts. Will take a while to afford the forest I’m planning for this end. The churches and village will be just visible through the trees. I love the degree of perspective you can get on here…

Carriage finished, bar crest. I’ve lowered the wagon on its bogies, too, as it was too high to couple properly with the new magnetic things. Looks much better, and wobbles less! Our posh lady passenger is slumming it a bit in 3rd, but as the only other choice is to hop in the guards van…

With the WWI Pechot… Personally, it seems strangely convincing, for a very flexible definition of convincing. ooooh, handrails, too!

Lining looks ok from 6’ away, like most of my lining. The carriage is on its 4th repaint so not a good surface to line any more

The van needs handrails, more clutter and a guard. Cauldron waggons are absolutely on the cards, too. Because, well, wouldn’t be the North East without them.

Ok guys… if you are a purist, back away slowly… Still here? On your own head be it! Soooooooooooo imagine that there was an island off Saltburn - like Lindisfarne. It has a narrow gauge railway that is taken over by the NER, like the GWR did with the Corris. More history will be developed, but, pertinent to this… NER style stock started being produced…. I give you these rather handsome abominations. Plateway models brake van, IP engineering bogie open with plateway’s very sexy roller bearing 2’ bogies. NER style compartment coach to follow, as well as the second Pechot in NER goods black. I know, I’m going to Hell.

That looks incredible.

One more time, with feeling… I was given two lovely turned funnels by a friend. The day after I had just built two, obviously… so what else to do, but to build a variant of the first locomotive. This time in green, with fewer embellishments and hopefully fewer design alterations. The hole for the motor is the right way round this time, and I have built in the access holes for the wiring. Window frame detail went on when flat, not as an afterthought. Almost a pleasure this time! also in the works are a pair of 2ft wheelbase bogies from plateway models. I’m thinking a shortened hospital truck, perhaps. Nice kit, I’m not used to ball race bearings, usually just ‘oles in the wood!

Finally, a finished one… Should be briquettes, but I liked the look of coal more. I do need a wheel for the smoke box doors, but it will keep. Next to start on a green one.

Getting there: mostly finishing off details, then I’m going to build a green one, as a friend has made me two more funnels on his lathe, and I can’t miss an opportunity like that!

Now in colour… with a change in headwear for Jean-Claude, who now sports a French army helmet. Bloody awful shape to make, glad it’s mostly out of sight… Bead eyes are a new idea. They look a little startled…