Barry Ten's Blog

Great stuff Al B)

Al

 

For all the world it's Dowlais Central, only a bit more inviting !

 

Is that the same 'Railway Arms' as in 'Up the junction' by Squeeze ?

 

Looks great

 

Brian

What an attractive and natural grouping of buildings! I like the Tin Tabernacle.

 

Chris

Very nice - but where are the puddles?

Looks great Al - very nicely done indeed.

 

Not long to the L&B show!

 

Cheers

Roger

Comming on a treat. Why Paynestown? Doesn't sound Welsh to me.

Don

Quite typical of the valleys, Don - there's a Robertstown near me, a Griffithstown near Pontypool, an Evanstown near Bridgend ...

Looks good. Am I right in thinking you're going to be showing it at the L&B show?

 

Incidentally Don, excuse me for jumping in and while I know the answer to why Paynestown I will leave that to Al. However, I do know what you mean about the name but across the Valleys there are a massive number of places called a superficially English-sounding "something-town" often after the mine owners who would had invested in sinking pits. So within an area of just a couple of miles in the Rhondda you've got Wattstown, Stanleytown, Tylorstown and further afield Dukestown and Georgetown to name just a few.

Hi Bad Rabbit - yes, this'll be at the L&B show. It was there last year but in a much less finished condition. Of course I can't believe how fast the last 12 months have shot by as there's still more stuff to do than I can reasonably achieve in three weeks!

Hi Al,

 

I've just discovered your blog! Such lovely work. Just out of interest what have you used for grass, carpet felt or hanging basket liner?

 

Kind regards,

 

Nick.

Hi Nick - I'm in two minds about the grass, TBH -it's something I may revisit. It is basically hanging basket liner, which I think is obvious in the grass at the rear, above the retaining wall, but the foreground stuff has then been treated to an additional layer of static grass. Although it looks OK it's not the effect I wanted, which I think is due to me not using the static grass applicator correctly.

Hi Al

 

Looking forward to seeing it again at the L&B show. It impressed me last year - Ithought it captured a real feel of the Valleys. Are you going to be bringing the Taff Vale Class A or any of the other pre-grouping locos from the 'eponymous' source?

Hi Nick - I'm in two minds about the grass, TBH -it's something I may revisit. It is basically hanging basket liner, which I think is obvious in the grass at the rear, above the retaining wall, but the foreground stuff has then been treated to an additional layer of static grass. Although it looks OK it's not the effect I wanted, which I think is due to me not using the static grass applicator correctly.

 

Cheers Al,

 

Perhaps you could try carpet felt as a method. I'm in the process of building a little scene and intend to use it, the worst thing is the length of time that it takes to dry after it has been bleached!

 

Regards,

 

Nick.

 

 

Bad Rabbit - well done for remembering those locos! I plan to keep it mostly BR this time, and not to bring too much stock - just what's been proven and tested on the layout, and (ideally) what's been fitted with sprat and winkles. I could run the A class, though, as it's a nice model.

 

Nick: I quite like the basic effect of the liner; it's the static grass that needs a tweak. I can't be ar*ed with anything that needs bleaching!

Love the pictures Al, the whole layout is looking great.

 

Ian

 

 

Dowlais Central was my first thought as well -- until I saw a deck chair in one of the back gardens!! (Photo elsewhere). Now I think it must be nearer Swansea! Great street.