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ullypug

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  1. ullypug

    GWR WR Diagram E116 B set

    By ullypug,


    Coaches
    I have finally finished the first B set for Cheddar. Little did I know that this was going to be quite so involved when I started, what now seems a very long time ago.
    The origin was a set of sides, roofs and ends from the Ks kit, kindly given to me by Tim Venton. These coaches were prevalent in the Bristol division after nationalisation so I was always going to have a set on Cheddar.
     
    When it came to start, I’d lost one of the ends so ended up making a blank from plasticard. The sides were glued together and married up to a Comet under frame and Bill Bedford sprung bogies. Under frame detail is a mixture of Comet and MJT. The bogie sides were originally the incorrect 9ft pressed steel type before I swapped to the 9ft plate.
     
    I also made the mistake of painting carmine and cream before being corrected and advised that this wouldn’t have been applied to non gangway stock. Easily rectified and painted chocolate and cream to match the photos in Russell. Lining is HMRS. Numbering and end lettering is from Railtec.
     
    Seating is Ratio, handles Comet and an unmarked bag of unknown origin.
     
    Glazing… Hmm. This was individually flush glazed with perspex and yes it did take an age but I’m out of therapy now.
    I’m never, ever doing this again. Thank goodness for Rapido’s E140/5. I’ve an E129 and E147 to do from Comet kits but at least they’re brass. Whether I’ll ever use the shawplan extreme etching flush glazing on the Airfix b sets remains to be seen. At least they’re pre-cut.
     
    These coaches have taken over a year to complete and yes there are plenty of things I could have done better. Apart from some weathering they’ll have to do for now.














  2. ullypug
    With the layout up, I have been able to assess and make a series of repairs required after its prolonged period in storage. First up was to fix and rectify all of the point mechanisms and prove the wiring such that I could get trains to run from one end to the other and back into the up and down yards. There's still a lit of errant ballast to deal with but I'm happy with progress. Most of the turnout droppers' soldered joints had failed and it took a while to sort out.
     
    I also fixed down some scenic sections which had come loose, reinforced the back of the layout where the road runs behind the hedge and dealt with the chasms which had formed at board joints, inserting new ply former pieces, applying filler and squeezing boards back together, with a sheet of cling film inserted to maintain the break. Scenics have been retrospectively applied and there's still a bit more to do.Photos show works in progress.
     
    The entire layout was then turned around so I could fix the fascia to the front. Filler has been liberally applied and it is currently primed, awaiting painting and scenery tweaks.
     
    This afternoon, I dragged the two 5ft fiddle yard turntables out of their hiding place and duly unwrapped them. These are Tim Horn products and came ready assembled. They're rather nice too. I couldn't resist putting some flexi track on the top to gauge how many roads I might be able to accommodate. At least 6 I reckon. They've been given a coat of Danish oil to seal the tops and I'll treat the underside in a similar manner. Once the fascia is done, the plan is to mate up the first and last board to their respective fiddle yard boards and finish the run off track work.
     
    Cheddar is going to the Railwells show in August as a work in progress, but I'd like to be able to run trains from one end to the other, if only to appease my sense of pride!









  3. ullypug
    I don’t post much about my Clevedon layout anymore but just a note to say that the layout will be having a run out at the Sodbury Vale show in Yate on 9 March 2024.
    I’ve spent a pleasant evening servicing all the engines and checking the layout still works!
    All is well. Do come and say hello if you’re passing.



  4. ullypug
    Major milestones this month.
    For the first time since I started building Cheddar, some 11 years ago now, I’ve finally been able to put all of the 8 scenic boards up together. Cheddar is going to be making its exhibition debut at RailWells this August as a work in progress and with under 6 months to go I needed to take stock of just how much left there is to do before it gets there!
     
    The layout has been in various unheated garages for the last few years and it’s almost 6 years since anything last moved on it, way before ballasting and track painting started. So needless to say I wasn’t expecting a great deal especially as on retrieving the panel I noticed the din sockets were corroded and the box itself showing signs of mould!
     
    So first things first, the trestles and supporting rails were erected in the dining room, fitting with about half an inch to spare. Yes I did check when I bought the house but don’t tell anyone! After that the boards were brought out one by one and erected on top and the panel plugged in and an engine plonked on. Power applied. Nothing, nada, no sausages at all. No surprises there really.
     
    Then I tried all the turnouts. Plenty of encouraging noises from the tortoise motors but nothing moving.
    well at least the point feeds were getting to the layout.
     
    So I started cleaning the track. It had tarnished heavily and had a crust that needed serious attention from abrasive pads. No wonder nothing had moved. After a while though, I got the furthest (Wells end) board clean enough. A bit of power and the engine moved! After a hearty hurrah and a little jig of delight, I then worked my way up towards the other end (Axbridge) cleaning and testing. By the end of the week I’d got to the other end (yes it was that dirty), and confirmed that all track sections had supplied power to the rails and that both cab controllers worked to each section. DCC is a pipe dream…
     
    There’s still a long way to go though. Next step is to get each and every turnout working again, which will be a combination of cleaning out all the crud and scraping away the ballast which has welded everything solid.
     
    A couple of track joins require attention at baseboard ends as steps are now evident, I guess due to the plywood plates at the edges swelling over the years.
     
    Curiously, the scenery sections have opened up considerably across baseboard joints. These are on a mixture of extruded foam  and paper-mache so I’m going to need to redress that, or blag that Cheddar gorge is a bit closer to the station…
     
    But onwards! I can start my snagging list now and carry on knowing that power is restored. It’s a case of deciding what has to be done by August and what can be left for later. One thing I will need is the fiddle yards, so maybe that’ll be next.

    Attached photos and I even took a few videos to cheer myself up.

    In the longer term, Cheddar will be exhibited (when it’s fully ready) and I hope that it will have a permanent home in a temperature controlled room where I can avoid the problems caused by its storage.
     
    The other highlight of the week came from a very helpful chap at Bristol Water who sent me the original 1920 drawings of the Water Works that was served by a private siding. But that’s another story.
     












  5. ullypug
    Gosh. Another year has arrived and the layout still isn’t finished!
    This time of year is always busy with various family birthdays but I have managed to find time to get a bit of modelling done. It doesn’t help that my progress this time isn’t really progress, rather the correction of things I didn’t get right in the first, second or even third case. Ho hum…
     
    The camping coach is all but finished, it just needs weathering down slightly and detailing added. Transfers were from Fox and I’m pretty happy with how it’s come together. The steps are made and I’ve a collection of figures to add a little cameo here when it’s all done.

    Progress with the E116 B set has been glacial at times, but both coaches have been resprayed chocolate and cream and one coach is now flush glazed. Lots of individual pieces of 0.5mm perspex cut and filed to shape before being secured with Klear.
    Now there’s just the small matter of changing the bogies, since it would appear the set had 9ft fish belly type and not the pressed steel type which I’ve modelled. I’ll have to swap them out and use them for something else.
    I’ve got some Bristol Division transfers from Railtec for the ends too yet to do.
     


    Lastly, having never ever seen a photo of the bridge on Station Road prior to its demolition, two turned up on the local Facebook history page which, yes you’ve guessed it, showed the bridge looked nothing like the first, second and third one I have built. So with suitably sized underwear on, out came the mini drill and circular saw and I did the best I could without destroying everything and bearing in mind there’s a piece of 12mm ply acting as a track base which obviously I can’t do anything about. I think we’ve got there and a little more weathering and maybe a little filler will finish it off.
     


    Tonight I’ve been sizing up the signals required for the layout and next I real want to get the whole layout up for some testing, oh and sorting out the fiddle yards. 
     
     
  6. ullypug
    As another year draws to a close, modelling output has slowed a bit due to various demands on precious modelling time. But with 1 Station Road complete for now, I've been concentrating on a couple of projects that have been lurking on the depths of the modelling bench for far too long. The first is a diagram E116 B set, the origins of which were a K's plastic kit, kindly donated by Tim Venton of Clutton fame.
    I needed to do quite a bit of salvage work on the sides and the ends were a bit hit and miss. The E116 was joined by a Tommy bar and had no intermediate buffers from what I can tell, so I've done what I can to tidy things up and add the various alarm gear. The under frames are Comet kits, bogies white metal sides over a Bill Bedford sprung frame. They've been awaiting their innards and glazing but have languished on the workbench waiting for their turn in the paint shop first, which has finally started. State of play at the moment is an initial pass of carmine and cream with the lining, ends and roof still to do, along with correcting some ride height issues.
     

    Second distraction is the camping coach which was stationed at Cheddar. This was W9902W from the pictures I have, a conversion from a diagram E73 composite. The basis of this one is a set of etches from Worsley Works, sitting on a pair of Dean 10ft bogies just introduced by MJT.
    This coach will never move and consequently definitely has an 'A' side and a 'B' side, which will not be visible to the public and reflects my struggles with the forming of an acceptable joint line for the clerestory roof! It has just had a coat of primer which has revealed a few blemishes.
    It should form a nice little cameo at the back of the layout once done.
     

  7. ullypug
    Modelling time has been limited recently due to work, family weddings, uni open days and holidays. I did have a rather splendid weekend at Scaleforum, helping operate my old Wheal Elizabeth layout and it was great to see so many old friends again. Once I’d gotten over the urge to come back and start building another china clay layout thoughts returned to Cheddar.
    Progress has been limited to the building of 1 Station Road.
     
    I wanted to include this as part of the final board and after making a couple of mock ups, decided to build in 3.5 mm/ft as I did with the station master’s house.
     
    Nothing particular noteworthy about its construction and I’m just about ready to start painting and bedding it in. I’m planning on having the backscene curving round behind it so haven’t bothered with the back of the house. Some more aerial photos have come to light showing trees between the house and railway anyway which should help the scenic blocker.
     
    The tortoise motor is for the turnout on the bridge by the way and operates via wire in tube. 
    and before anyone asks, the telegraph pole is deliberately on the slant as per the prototype and has a couple of stays from EZ Line holding it up!







  8. ullypug
    This month, I have been mostly gardening. In a scale style obviously.
    And that's about it really.
    Road surfaces are the usual Attwood Aggregates dust, greenery is static grass undercoat and postiche top coat, horsehair hedges and an assortment of sprinkles and flocks. It's funny how I'm down at the dregs of various containers as I hit the last board.
    Another obligatory strawberry patch has appeared inside the railway fence (which is still to do).
    Still lots to do but I already like the vista of the embankment and station approaches. It'll look good with a couple of signals on it.






  9. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - June 2023 Update

    By ullypug,


    P4 layout
    Afternoon peeps.
    progress has slowed a bit and been limited to detailing of the station building.
    The train shed has been adorned with signs, posters and timetables and after a couple of attempts, I’ve got some representative gas lighting installed and working. These came from eBay and are of Chinese origin. They just need painting and tweaking a bit.
    The platform lamps are from Kytes Lights and are the best I could do to match the original GWR gas lamp columns and replacement heads. Telegraph poles have started to be planted too.
    I’m currently building the coal pens for the down mileage sidings but haven’t yet taken any pictures. Likewise the running in boards.
    I keep thinking I’m at the point where I can move on to the next board but still a bit to do yet!
     
    My Accurascale siphon has arrived any very nice it is too. Not to mention an easy conversion to P4. As for the K’s E116 B set… well it’s kind of getting there!
















  10. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - July 2023 update

    By ullypug,


    Cheddar
    I've finally finished the station board and have swapped it out so that I can start on the last board, the one nearest Wells or board 8 if you want to be specific. It includes Station Road and its bridge. The last things on the station board were the coal bins on the down mileage sidings and fencing. I've still to do the station chimney pots but that will require a visit to the actual station to take some better photos as these will need to be 3D printed. The roof is going to be fixed down to cure the warp that has developed but that can be done on the workbench.
    Board 8 was ironically the first one to be constructed, a long time ago and in a galaxy far away. It's going to be fairly simple, mainly scenic with a very big tree, quite a few hedges, at least 4 fields, a council depot and possibly one other building (2 Station Road). This afternoon comprised me trying to interpret all the maps of the area and just how I compressed it when I started all that time back.
    The bridge was built a while ago using the usual Green Stuff World embossed ABS and is home to a tricky little point operating mechanism as it site on top of the bridge with no room underneath for a Tortoise motor. The actual motor is tucked in the corner and will be hidden behind the curved back scene, or a house, or something...
    Actual productive work today is a waft of primer for the bridge and the commencement of rail and chair painting ahead of ballasting and point rodding.
     
















  11. ullypug
    Realised I didn't get round to writing an update last month so but happy to report that the 7th board is progressing nicely.
     
    I mentioned last time that this was going to be mainly scenic work and indeed it has. First though was the ballasting, which uses Atwood Aggregates Dulcote Stone. Then the point rodding using Modelu stools and 16 thou guitar strings.
     
    Then I could start to build up the basic ground form which is made up of layers of extruded 5mm thick polystyrene sheet.
     
    I wanted to have a camping coach on one of the down side mileage sidings but realised that it wasn't long enough, so a little extension was added to cover the buffer stops, one of which was a LMS models kit and the other from Mainly Trains, now Wizard/51L. Coach W9992 was stabled here and I'm pretty sure it was a diagram E73 clerestory, so one is on its way from Worsley Works. It'll make a nice cameo.
     
    I also the 5mm foam to make the platforms now that I've used up all the 15mm blue sheet that I had. Platform surfaces are scribed Palight then coated with Atwood Aggregates quarry dust. This is also used for the road surfaces. 
     
    Final contouring uses a light weight filler called One Strike that I get from Proper Job, my local diy store.
    Thereafter it's painted with cheap emulsion and given its first coat of static grass. I'm now at the stage where I'm adding additional texture, using Postiche and various foam scenic scatters. Much use of hairspray and fixing lacquer has been made. My modelling room now smells like a hairdressers.
     
    I'm going to remove the cast iron railings from board 6 in front of the up side  station approach as I've found a photograph showing it wasn't used here, only the down side. This does make sense given that was the main entrance. It'll be replaced with standard 7 strand GWR stock fencing instead.
     
    I've run out of GWR picket fencing so the down side but this is on order and should turn up this week. I'm presently  painting telegraph pole insulators to add these. There's still plenty to do; more scenics, a couple of sheds, station lighting and detailing work to the station itself. Oh and I haven't even thought about doing the signals yet, but I will.
     
    Posed a pannier on the line to get an idea of the final effect and am quite happy how it's turning out.
     



















  12. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - February 2023 update

    By ullypug,


    Cheddar
    Took advantage of a sunny day to swap the boards round on Cheddar at lunchtime. Board 5 comprising the goods shed and signal box is now sufficiently complete to allow it to be put away until the final assembly, when I can add details, signalling and a level of weathering to the entire layout in one hit.
     
    Board 6 was moved up one and board 7 dropped into place. This last saw the light of day in 2016 and has survived surprisingly well given the track was originally laid in 2015. I always knew it was going to be a long term project. Quite how long I'm not so sure! The track across the board joint is going to need a tweak since there is now a level difference in rail height. Not sure what that is but it is fixable. Looks like the rail is sitting up on the rivets to me rather than a swelling of the ply, but I'll sort it out whatever.
     
    Board 7 comprises the Wells end of the platforms and station approaches. As such it shouldn't take too long to do as most of the work is scenic.
     
    The end of the mileage sidings on the down side will need to be completed and I've plans for a camping coach here in one of them, along with a coal yard in the other, all as per the prototype.
     
    As previously, much use will be made of extruded polystyrene sheet. This will form the roadways and platforms. Nice thing is it can be sanded to induce a camber.
     
    I'll start by finishing off the station building first though, adding platform details, lights and signage, then moving onto the station approach.
     
    Before I put it away, I took some photos of board 6 with the addition of clutter around the permanent way sheds. I've plans for a cameo of a wagon under repair here as the siding was used to store red carded wagons and make repairs before they were released back to traffic.
     
    For a relatively insignificant station, Cheddar certainly had a lot going on.










  13. ullypug
    Happy New Year and all that to everyone. Hope 2023 is kind to everyone.
    Now that we're halfway through January, I thought I'd update you with progress on Cheddar, which is entirely scenic at the moment.
    The station master's house has been finished, painted and planted in the garden, which has been added without going overboard. The idea is for it to be in the background after all. I did spot the mistake of having the chimney on the gable end with the windows. Doh! Still it was corrected without too much bother.
    The stone loading point is more of less done. Just some weathering down the sides as it's all a bit too clean at the moment.
    The scenics to the up side have had some layers added from postiche and scatters, fixed with spray lacquer.
    There are two permanent way sheds presently in the paint shop which will be added here.
    I've made a start on the surfaces of the down yard. These again use the excellent range of quarry dusts available from Attwood Aggregates which are laid into a PVA glue/water mix. it can be sanded down when dry. The cattle dock has been added from a modified Ratio kit and the fencing has started to go up.
    There's a protective rail to go on the edge of the mileage siding. That's a simple piece of rail and a Palight base.
    Lastly the station approach has the paving cut and ready to stick down. Again, embossed Palight and sprayed with a rattle can.
    I'm getting to the point where one of these boards can be crated back up and the next one bought out, so I can finish the station itself and finish off the platforms too.
    All very exciting!
     
     











  14. ullypug
    So as 2022 draws to a close, I've been reflecting on what has been a pretty good year all in all. Cheddar has a place where it can be worked on when the mood takes me and whilst I don't have as much time as I did, I'm still managing to make progress.
    I've done a couple of shows and really enjoyed exhibiting at Warley last month. Even better as Rapido have announced a range new E140 B set. That's saved me a job. I now have a surfeit of 7 airfix B set coaches I won't be needing! I have started preparing a pair of E116 K's sides instead.
     
    Progress is limited this time, but in summary:
     
    The 6 tonne yard crane was finished off with hook and chain, painted and duly plonked on the layout. I'm quite pleased with it.
    The station masters house is presently under construction and I decided after making a few mock ups to model it at 3.25 mm/ft to give an illusion of distance. I'm using PECO 2mm embossed plastic sheet for the stone rather than my usual source of Green Stuff World.
    The stone loading point has been cut down a bit after I discovered a photo showing me I'd not quite got it right.
    There was a large permanent way hut in the up yard and I always knew I wouldn't be able to fit it all in due to its width. I toyed with the idea of building half of it but the mock up just looked wrong. I'm going to have to compromise and use a few smaller huts instead. Luckily I have one of the Springside white metal kits so will use that and cobble up some others. I've laid a couple out to gauge this. There were often red carded wagons stored here for repair so maybe there will be a cameo of some sort. 





  15. ullypug

    WCPR No 5 - part 6

    By ullypug,

    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). Most of the photos I have don't show lining at all, but in some of the earlier ones it is just about visible. As I'm modelling the line circa 1936 I wanted some representation of lining, but not a sparking clean loco.
    I duly dug out the bow pen and compasses and had a go at the lining. I'm not Ian Rathbone by any stretch of the imagination and I found it a little tricky, but I ended up with something I'm not wholly embarrassed by, only partially!
    The engine was then treated to a serious weathering session with the airbrush; using metalcote gunmetal, dark grey and a little olive green for the body and the usual grey/leather mix for the chassis. There are a few areas I need to revisit and touch up a little but overall, I'm reasonably pleased with the results.
    The crew have been added and the loco just needs a trip to the coaling stage. The pictures show pre and post weathering.
    It's a shame that the next exhibition isn't until Uckfield next October, but I suppose at least it gives me time to bed everything in.
    I think I will have a bash at Coach No 18 at some point (the 'Taff Vale' coach) as this is the last major outstanding piece of rolling stock I need for the layout.

  16. ullypug
    Starting to find the time I need to make progress when I can. Since the last entry I've completed the first batch of platforms, fencing and made a start on the greenery on the up side of the station. Barrow crossings have been added too. Platform faces and barrow crossings are scribed Palight. which is a foamed pic sheet. Surfaces are generally stone dust from Atwood Aggregates, applied onto glue/paint and suitably sanded down afterwards. Fences and gates are the usual Ratio products. I'm working on the stone loading point which was added by Chelmscombe Quarry in the 1950's at the moment. In reality the siding stretched around the front of the layout but I don't have enough width to represent it, so a small cameo of one of their lorries tipping into a wagon is planned here.









  17. ullypug
    Some projects just seem to take on a life of their own. The WC has been ongoing for a long, long time now and seems to have been one of those projects.
    I'd decided that I was going to have to paint the loco. I wasn't expecting to have to do it twice.
    First off was a Humbrol rattle can over Halfords plastic primer. The finish was awful so after much cussing it was stripped right back and second time round Precision BR loco green was airbrushed on.
    Lining was achieved by Fox transfers and cab side numbers are HMRS. Name plates and smokebox plates are Fox.
    There are just a couple of things to complete; screw couplings, crew and some route disks.
    But for now, that'll do. 
    The layout this loco was going to run on was sold some time ago and until I build a replacement this engine is going to go back in its box so I can get on with other stuff.
    A quick piccy in Cheddar good yard will have to suffice.

  18. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - October 2022 update 2

    By ullypug,


    Layout
    Wow. Nothing for 3 years then two in a fortnight. A bit like buses, but with less nutters. Or maybe not.
     
    The goods yard at Cheddar is now sporting a 6 ton crane, courtesy of the Osborne Models kit. I struggled with it if I'm honest. The parts don't seem to be a totally accurate representation of the drawings I found in GWR Journal preview issue but I think it'll do for now until maybe a replacement turns up. Anyone got any ideas what colour they were painted?
     
    In other news; I miraculously found the previously cut platform surfaces and duly extended these through the train shed. They're cut from 1mm Palight which is soft pvc sheet which can be embossed. I'm presently drawing on the coping slabs with a black biro. Once completed the Palight will be primed and painted, leaving only a shallow indentation. The surfaces were prototypically a mixture of slabs, tarmac, gravel and Staffordshire diamond patterned nosings. I'm still scratching my head on that one. Embossed brick paper is worth a go. I'm not going to scribe each brick then add a pattern. That would be mad. After all this P4 layout is being built by an EM modeller and the 3ft rule is going to apply for the sake of my sanity, which is stretched all too frequently.
     
    I've also used Palight to start to form the area around the signal box and include the barrow crossing. The back of the up platform has seen some terraforming done with craft foam. It'll be finished with my usual One Strike lightweight filler from Proper Job as I did with the surrounding areas. It was only after I'd built the boards and laid the track that I worked out the two mileage sidings behind the box actually rose up on a slight gradient to platform height, but hey we live and learn and I won't tell anyone if you won't.
     
    Still it's very nice to have the layout up so I can work on it a little when I've time and the mood takes me.







  19. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - October 2022 update

    By ullypug,


    Layout
    Good evening.
    Well it's been a while hasn't it?
    I had a fantastic weekend at the Portishead WCPR show last weekend which has certainly given the modelling mojo a bit of a boost.
    This has come at the right time too, because after some 9 months in the new gaff, I've finally got to the stage where I could actually fish some bits out of their various storage boxes and put a couple of boards up in what I hope will be the 'layout workshop'. This will be somewhere I can have the boards up whilst I work on them in relative comfort.
     
    These were the two that I was last working on at the back end of 2019 and at that time honestly didn't think it was going to be almost 3 years before I'd get a chance to work on them again. But happily, here we are again!
     
    I'm happy to say that on first inspection at least, the boards seem to have survived their period in storage. Of course there are some things that haven't quite survived unscathed. The train shed roof seems to have picked up a slight warp. Not surprising when you consider it's 2ft long and a composite structure of metal, MDF and plastic. It should be easily fixed with some form of clamping.
     
    The signal box has been placed for the first time on the layout. As it was built remotely, I deliberately didn't cut the leadaway out. It was covered anyway at Cheddar so that's good.
     
    The goods shed has been plonked on too. As you can see I was in the process of terraforming the ground with a recess for all of the buildings to drop into.
     
    The motor bus shed seems to have survived unscathed.
     
    Heaven knows where the platform surfaces have gone though! They were cut from Palight. Thankfully I've still got the remains of the sheets they were cut from!
     
    So, where to start? Maybe with the platforms and possible the yard crane.
     
    These boards will take a fair bit of work to complete as I'll want to finish the signal box board before I can move to the Wells end of the station. The station master's house will also have to be built at some point. Don't know where the mock up for that ended up either!
     
    So, hopefully updates will be posted more regularly from here. Hope so, because January will be the 10th anniversary of me starting its construction. Ouch!














  20. ullypug
    As I've posted in the exhibition thread, the Weston Clevedon and Portishead railway Group are holding another exhibition in Portishead, some 5 years after the last one.
    Details here: https://www.wcprgroup.org.uk/exhibition2022.html
     
    It's the only time I'll contemplate exhibiting my EM Weston and Clevedon layouts simultaneously and probably the last time Weston will go out ever. It hasn't been operated since the last exhibition so I've got a little over a month to get both layouts out and dusted down. In the intervening period they've been moved numerous times, been put into storage and relocated to my new home. I've yet to locate one of the lighting rigs. It'll turn up somewhere...
     
    One of the to-do jobs that's been niggling me for some time is the ex LSWR set of 4 wheel coaches, these being numbers 15, 16. & 17. For some reason when I built these many, many years ago I painted them the wrong colour! Green instead of a darkish brown. Many exhibitions later, I've finally got round to correcting it. Nothing drastic, just hand painted with Vallejo acrylic. Transfers are a mixture of HMRS and some custom printed WC&PR lettering from Railtec. I've no idea where the colour photo came from. I think it's from a slide at the Weston museum I scanned 20 odd years ago.
     
    It is funny when you look at your previous modelling efforts. Two of the coaches are scratch built, the other is a Bill Bedford kit. All are about 20 years old. I think they've held up well.
     
    I've also increased the wagon fleet with another Slaters ex MR D299 5 plank, again with Railtec transfers. Well it would be rude not to, wouldn't it?
     
    If you're of a light railway persuasion, please do pop by and say hello. I'll be the one looking worried.




  21. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - March 2019 Update

    By ullypug,


    building
    Evening all. It's been a while since I updated this blog. Still not too sure about the new software and I haven't had either the time or the inclination to go and update all the previous entries and their photos links etc.
    I've been working my way through the drawings for the goods shed, to the point where it's now ready to cut (I hope). In the meantime, the station board's been put up, ballasted and the point rodding stools added ahead of the platform sides. There's a lot to do on this board with lots of subtle changes in ground levels.
    I suspect that not much will change for a while as most of the activity will proceed off layout for now, but I've attached a couple of photos of today's progress.
     
     


  22. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - June 2019 update

    By ullypug,


    Cheddar
    Please to report the goods shed is nearing completion. A few bits to fettle and awaiting ridge tile tops from Scale Link, but it's nearly there. Goods shed detailing will be limited to a crane and a few loads on the platform. Just need to paint them up.
     

     
     
     
     
  23. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - July 2019 update

    By ullypug,


    Cheddar
    The goods shed has been finished and duly plonked on the layout. It's removable as it spans a base board joint. The internal platform is stuck down because it doesn't.
    most of the area around this will be subject to some terraforming, either subtle ground levelling, goods dock or a barrow crossing.
    Quite pleased with how this has turned out so now onto the station!

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
  24. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - March 2020 update

    By ullypug,


    building
    This month I have been mainly doing tiling.
    With the footbridge finished, it was time to turn to the building range roofs. At 2 feet long, that's a shed load of tiles. Add the pattern of alternate square and round tiles and I wasn't left with much of a choice but to go with York Modelmaking 2mm tiles and take my time. After a few sessions, we finally got to the stage where it was coming together. The tiles were painted with a mixture of Vallejo and Lifecolor acrylics to match the main shed tiles.
    Chimneys added from the usual Green Stuff World ABS sheet and self adhesive quoin details from York. The gates and bargeboards have turned out beautifully, amazing what can be cut in Rowmark. The bargeboards are a couple of layers, stuck together with solvent.
    Shed bargeboards have had their final painting and fitting
    Canopies are done and I'm just debating how to fix them in place. Pins through into the walls seem like a sensible idea as the glues surface offered by the brackets isn't going to hold much.
    Suddenly the list of jobs to do doesn't seem so long. Well, there's the internal shed trussing but I'm not starting that just yet, though I do have another cunning plan.
     
    I am feeling quite pleased with how this has turned out. It just screams Cheddar to me anyway!

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

  25. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - April 2020 update

    By ullypug,


    building
    Despite the covid-19 lockdown, modelling output has slowed this month. However, I have been slowly working on the station building and feel like the to-do list is getting shorter. Canopies have been fixed in place, the south side one is removable in case I can’t get it into its travelling case.
    Rain water pipes have been added from the rather nice Modelu range and this weekend’s job has been to make the roof trussing. I made a cradle from foam so I could invert the roof and work on it separately. Main spars were cyanoed into the rafters and various cross rods and struts soldered on based on the photos I have. Once complete they were painted with a mixture of grey and gunmetal Vallejo acrylic. The photos show the effect I wanted to achieve.
     

     
     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
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