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About this blog

EM layout of Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway 1936-40

 

 

 

Entries in this blog

Let there be light...

...and there was light. And it was not lo, but I saw that it was electric. I've been making the proscenium arch and lighting rig for Clevedon. I've gone with the aquarium lighting again, this time 2 x 4ft sun-glo tubes with a slightly warmer tone than I used for Wheal Elizabeth. The arch is in 3 sections and supports off the floor via a couple of hanging rails which slot into the sides as I didn't want the foam boards to take any weight. They're clamped to the layout for stability. Th
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9

Shed Complex

Have rediscovered the modelling mojo and engaged on Clevedon.   Firstly, the water tank panels have been soldered together resulting in a pretty good representation of the WC&PR tanks. Does anybody know whether Braithwaite tanks were open topped or did they have a lid? My guess is the latter. Having spent a considerable time trying to work out how the various shed buildings and water tank interact, I came to the conclusion (surprisingly) that as the engine and original carriage shed wer
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3

Sunshine in Clevedon

As it's been such a beautiful day, I couldn't resist putting a few bits of stock out on the layout and taking a few pictures. Progress since the last update has mainly comprised making the various signs and putting some (hopefully correct) 1930's film posters on the hoardings. Eventually I'd like to make up some flyposters for the Curzon cinema and Knightstone theatre but they'll do for now.   Railcar creeps over the River Yeo bridge Railcar emerges onto Lower Queens Road Hesperus and c
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4

Back to front

Evening all Gosh, it's almost 3 months since I posted anything about the WC&PR. edit can't count! Well I have been busy with the T9... Had a blast at Expo EM North last weekend and on the journey I home I was reminded that the next show I'm exhibiting at is Clevedon's debut. Eeek Nothing like the headlong descent into blind panic to get the juices going! So where was I? Oh yes, at the last local EM meeting, there were a few mutterings about which side of the la
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3

Backscene

Evening all I have been a bit preoccupied with the backscene of late. I must admit to getting really stressed doing them. SWMBO is quite a talented artist and has helped with the last two layouts but it very nearly ended in divorce last time...   The plan for Clevedon has always been for a continuous backscene. This will include the town at the Portishead end, pan round including Hangstone Quarry then flatten out to reflect the levels towards Weston. Originally I envisaged a
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4

WCPR No 5 Part 5 - undercoat & WCPR show

First of all, thanks to all who came and said hello at last week's WCPR anniversary show in Portishead. Numbers were in excess of 750 through the door for the day and it was busy from opening all the way through until closure. So busy in fact that I didn't get to take many photos at all! Highlight for me was meeting Howard Carey, whose father was a guard on the line. Howard has been an amazing source of information over the years and his memory (given the line closed 76 years ago) is astonishing
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5

WCPR No 5 - part 6

Had an enjoyable show at Tolworth last weekend with Clevedon. Thanks to those who came and said hello. Alas I didn't get No 5 finished in time. Almost but not quite! Since the last blog I've finished off all the bodyworks and spent a lot of time painting various bits and pieces. The engine when originally purchased was a 'pea green' with black, yellow, red, yellow and black lining. The overall colour darkened to almost black as a result of years of cleaning (aka smearing the dirt about). M
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8

Clevedon Debut

Afternoon all Greetings of the Season and all that. Hope you had a good one. Time for an update. I've been quiet on here of late, not because I haven't been doing anything but the opposite. It's been all systems go since the end of October. Not solely model railways either. SWMBO decided that the time had come for a new kitchen so we've had the house upside down. Thankfully everything went live on 22 December and the brownie points I've acquired will last me most of 2014 I hope! I
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9

Various shed and water tank progress

Evening all Now I've stocked up on Evergreen I've been able to make some progress on Clevedon. The Engine Shed has gained a roof, made from a base layer of clear plasticard with car siding laminated to the insides and cartridge paper glued to the outside. The roof lights were then fitted with individually cut glazing bars from 0.5 mm square section. The roof lights were sealed in the later years with something and it's this laddered finish I'm trying to replicate (all except the front roof lig
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3

Clevedon WCPR update

I'm happy to report that the layout's been put up ahead of the outing to Uckfield and all is well. I took the opportunity of giving the scenery a bit of a refresh, adding some ground cover and trees as I've been using all the stuff on Cheddar anyway. An additional hedge or two help break up the previously plain grass to the right hand end. One of my operators has very kindly provided a traction engine and trailer, hauling some timber for Clevedon Saw Mills and it'll make a nice cameo in the ya
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10

Clevedon Platform

Evening all Have had the luxury of a week off work and so have turned my attention to the second board. The platform has been built from ply sleeper strip and the water towers added at each end. These were made out of brass sheet and riveted with my GW models riveting tool.The supports are Evergreen strip. Also added are two of the sheds. The left hand one is going to house the ganger's trolley. Still a few bits of paintwork to touch up but I'm pleased with how it looks. The trackwork has
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3

Water Tower

Having decided to start on the structures for Clevedon, the question was which one? I finally decided on the water tower because it is pivotal for the engine shed complex. I'm modelling the second set of tanks. The first were an all timber affair, spanning the original engine shed road. The second was made from Braithwaite panels and was comprised of two tanks and incorporated a water softening plant.   Having consulted many, many photographs, I came up with a drawing that looks a bit like
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1

WCPR Taff Vale Coach and wagon No 19 - part 2

The coach is finished, painted and ready for service. Or will be once I've put some AJ's on. The body was sprayed with plastic primer then dark green (Railmatch DMU). The chassis is bits of Bill Bedford W irons and other odds and ends. Handrails etc are folded up from 0.3mm brass. The steps are 1mm angle for the supports with the treads from waste etch. I got the ducket lamp tops from Branchlines and that's about it. The wagon had also been finished and once I've given them a light waft of weath
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1

Manning Wardle No 5

During the rather enjoyable exhibition at Expo EM Autumn this weekend, I started to think about the gap in my loco fleet, namely no 5. It was one of the engines that didn't have a name. This was one of the two engines the line purchased from new, the other 'Walton Park' being too heavy for the line was transferred to the East Kent Railway. No 5 as far as I have deduced was a Manning Wardle class L, modified with disc wheels. I'm still trying to find out whether an accurate drawing exists as
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12

Green fingers

Afternoon all Sorry for the lack of postings recently, but progress is being made. Don't know if it's the influence of Springwatch or the Chelsea flower show, but things are definitely blooming in Clevedon. Fencing has been completed and the last of the various sheds have been built (finally). Signalling is all built. With all the boards up, I've been planting static grass and am starting on the various trees and bushes. Fibres are a blend of Heki with some Green Scenes straw
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8

Filth

Progress continues. Well it wouldn't be progress otherwise would it? I've been experimenting with weathering using baby powder mixed with Carrs powders. As you can see I couldn't resist putting a few models out to take a few photos. After trying a number of different colours and paints, I settled on a grey/brown mix sprinkled onto wet Humbrol acylic (roof grey). I've made three batches up varying the blend of Carrs to give a mottled effect. I'm quite pleased with it. More clay has been laid.
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7

WCPR No 5 - part 1

Having redrawn the engine to what I think is a more accurate outline, I've set about making the chassis. I'm using 10 thou nickel silver for the rods laminated with three layers and 15 thou for the chassis mainframes. All were marked out with the vernier and cut with a scrawker into rough shapers before tidying up with files. The chassis frames were sweated together before I fretted out the outline and drilled holes for the brake gear hangers and compensation beam. The rods are hinged on
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2

Exhibitions 2017

Morning all Just a quick note to say Clevedon will be at Expo EM Autumn next weekend 9/10 Sept at Partington Thereafter it will be at the WCPR Group show at Portishead on 22 October where it will be paired with Weston WCPR which is coming out of retirement for this one day, one off event. Later it will be at Tolworth showtrain in November. Good news is that the layout is up and working though I've a few little jobs to sort this week and I have a new wagon for the fleet. Ah, exhibition de
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0

Weston WCPR

In 4 weeks time, Weston and Clevedon will again have a service provided by the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway, albeit in 4mm scale (EM Gauge) at the Portishead WCPR group show. With the looming deadline, I've spent the day clearing a space in the garage so I could retrieve Weston from the dark recesses where it's been residing for the last 6 years since it was last out. After much effort ( I can see why I switched to lightweight foam baseboards ), I managed to remove the spiders, wo
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2

Weston

Pleased to report that layout and operators generally behaved themselves. A couple of minor gremlins but nothing I'm worried about. Thanks to all who came and said hi. We had some very nice comments. Next outing will be Expo EM in May.
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3

Railwells

Another short update to says that Clevedon will be at Wells next weekend. The population will have increased a little and I'll be trying out a mock up of Fitter Hill's cottage to act as a scenic break at the Portishead end of the layout. Come and say hello if you're there. We'll be the ones in shorts (probably)...   Those of you that know the story will recognise the lady with the brolly.
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5

WCPR No 5 Part 2

Managing to make a little progress with No 5 in-between getting Weston ready for the Portishead show in 3 weeks' time. Good news is the layout is now fully working, has a new temporary power supply rigged up (it shares the power box I use for all my layouts) and has had one or two running repairs. In the meantime, I've assembled the chassis using my Avonside jig and High Level horn blocks. As you can see it's simply compensated with a fixed rear axle. The footplate has been cut from 15 thou ni
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6

Exhibitions

Afternoon Hadn't realised I've not posted an update since March. How time flies. Clevedon has a few shows this year, starting with the Southampton exhibition this weekend. Thereafter it'll be at York - Easter Epsom & Ewell - April Oop North - September (provisionally)   Also, rather excitingly I can confirm a one off event on Sun 22 Oct 2017 (next year) when both Clevedon and Weston will appear at the same time. This will be the 100th anniversary of th
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6

I'm covered in baby powder

Things trundle on here in Ullypug towers. The water tanks have a representation of the water softening equipment and an access ladder. Still a couple of pipes to add and some patches of missed paintwork to fill in, but I think it's getting there. Bit of a session with the DAS last night saw the station approach area duly treated. The baby powder/Carrs and now with added MIG concoction has been sprinkled onto a coat of wet acrylic, but hasn't been brushed off yet, so the texture will flatten
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