Jump to content
 

Blowers Green-7mm 1970's blue diesel layout [The rat pack has arrived]


Oldworseandworse
 Share

Recommended Posts

Is this Layout still going to Lydney at the weekend? I would like to see it.

 

 

I hope it is going. I saw it at Swansea last year and have been waiting to see it again.

 

Cheers

Wayne

Yes it is. All baseboards ready to transport down to the venue tomorrow. Looking forward to it.

 

Paul J.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Fantastic to see the layout, was as great as I expected.

 

Spent a lot of time chatting to Bill and Andrew about it and the merits of O gauge...

 

And right behind me was little Dan from derails telling me how much he can get a Dapol 08 for me !!

Link to post
Share on other sites

Hello guys,

 

Nice to see this again today at Lydney. I was hoping to meet Paul (Swindon 123) to finally thank him in person for his contributions when I was building my Dragon Steels layout, but I didn't get the chance although I heard he was around.

 

WIll post up some photo's tomorrow if nobody minds?

 

Cheers

Wayne

Link to post
Share on other sites

I enjoyed seeing this layout  today at the Lydney show. It was running very nicely indeed.  I spent  an hour or so watching about three 08s pottering about with various wagons and then had a round trip on the Dean Forest Railway,  hauled by an 08, which was a nice.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Thanks for posting those rob D2. Love the last one with the Class 31, and the 2nd shot, which i have posted below, the right way up. Have managed to take some myself over the 2 days, which I will post in the near future.

 

Blowers Green, Lydney 2018 show. Original taken by rob D2.

 

post-7146-0-32555800-1538333147_thumb.jpeg

 

Paul J.

  • Like 7
Link to post
Share on other sites

My thanks to RobD2 for the pictures and nice to meet you at the weekend. Lydney is a very friendly show and the team really appreciated the way we were looked after by the organisers. We will be very happy to exhibit the layout at the 2020 show if the verbal invitation we received becomes a firm one. My thanks also to the operating team for their efforts this weekend; you guys make it all worthwhile.

 

I know that Steve and Paul got some cracking shots of the layout and I look forward to seeing them posted on this thread soon.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Having seen everone elses photos, I have finally got round to sorting out some of the ones I took of Blowers Green at the Lydney Exhibition. Bolow is a selection of some of them. more will follow.

 

08111 indulges in some shunting in Blowers Green yard.

post-7146-0-22711600-1538579180_thumb.jpg

 

08111 shunts a single MDV, (of the single door variety).

post-7146-0-62094700-1538579189_thumb.jpg

 

20019 passing Blowers Green yard on a short mineral wagon train.

post-7146-0-61882900-1538579197_thumb.jpg

 

Tyseley class 116, TY539 passes Blowers Green yard on an infrequent Stourbridge-Walsall service.

post-7146-0-64006100-1538579207_thumb.jpg

 

More to come.

 

Paul J.

  • Like 10
Link to post
Share on other sites

I really admire this layout and it’s stock, it has inspired me to pick up a few 0 gauge items recently. I hope to see it in the flesh some day.

Seen it in the flesh, and without upsetting anyone, I have to say that the pics don't do it justice, it really is so good, and enjoyable to watch as well.

 

But YES, more pics please.

Link to post
Share on other sites

Seen it in the flesh, and without upsetting anyone, I have to say that the pics don't do it justice, it really is so good, and enjoyable to watch as well.

 

But YES, more pics please.

Your wish (and all that).

 

Looking at the Dudley Tunnel end of the layout. The photo doesn't convey just how high this end of the layout is in the flesh.

post-7146-0-75386300-1538732774_thumb.jpg

 

Looking down over the yard, from on top of Dudley Tunnel.

post-7146-0-83863100-1538732731_thumb.jpg

 

Blackcountry Industrial Lubricants Limited. In reality this area was originally occupied by a gasworks, before its closure and demolition.

post-7146-0-64690500-1538732763_thumb.jpg

 

For an aerial view of the real Blowers Green station area see link below.

https://britainfromabove.org.uk/en/image/EAW001199

 

At the other end of the layout is New Road overbridge, which gives a good view over the yard, or in the case of this shot, 31193.

post-7146-0-50100900-1538732751_thumb.jpg

 

Finally for this post, a "Ixion" Fowler 0-4-0DM shunter, lurks in the back siding with a couple of wagons. I'm just waiting to replicate this shot, but with a "Little Loco Works" Ruston 48DS instead.

post-7146-0-06670300-1538732743_thumb.jpg

 

I hope you all enjoy this look at Blowers green.There are a few more shots left to post, in due course.

 

Paul J.

  • Like 10
Link to post
Share on other sites

My last set of photos from those I took at the Lydney exhibition, of Blowers Green.

 

First 47499 relegated to humble pick up goods duties, waits in the yard.

post-7146-0-21040300-1539021838_thumb.jpg

 

Class 128, M55994, fresh from a works overhaul, on a test run to Stourbridge Junction.

post-7146-0-91237200-1539021846_thumb.jpg

 

Walter takes his wheelbarrow back to its shed for a tea break.

post-7146-0-43169600-1539021854_thumb.jpg

 

Furure plans for Blowers Green, include some extra industrial buildings and clutter, in the area above Dudley Tunnel, and at the other end of the layout, a station building, based on Tyseley, on New Road overbridge, for the "fictitious" Blowers Green station, which on the model is in the "V" formed by the Old Hill branch, the junction for which was just beyond New Road bridge, in real life and the model. The real Blowers Green station was situated where the yard is on the model, and its later ticket office just on New Boad bridge, but the opposite corner to where the model one will be situated.

 

To give you an idea of the proposed station building, I have added it to a photo of the New Road overbridge.

post-7146-0-39077000-1539021883_thumb.jpg

 

Some of the plans drawn by Bill, of the proposed station building.

post-7146-0-62771900-1539021868_thumb.jpg

 

post-7146-0-66595600-1539021873_thumb.jpg

 

The next outing for Blowers Green, is a one day show at Weston-super-Mare, on Sunday 13th January 2019. Some more photos should then follow.

 

Paul J.

  • Like 7
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 1 month later...

We are off on another West Country jaunt in January to a one day exhibition at Weston Super Mare.

 

The show is to be held on Sunday 13th January 2019 at The Campus, Highlands Lane, Locking Castle, Weston Super Mare, BS24 7DX and will have 25 working layouts plus some trade support. opening time is 10.00am - 4.30pm with an early bird entry of 09.30 for those willing to pay a supplement. 

 

While I have been busy either producing, detailing or weathering additional stock, Paul has been tinkering with the new wiring to interlock the points and signals. I am currently working on some Grampus wagons built from Parkside Dundas kits and will post a few photos when i have completed them in a couple of weeks time.

 

In the meantime you may be interested in a few shots of the stuff I have nearly completed and one of a pair of 25's straight out of the box. a condition Paul and I intend to change before they are again seen on Blowers Green.

 

post-28848-0-91655500-1542626081_thumb.jpg

 

We have had a bit of a shortage of these workhorses which were commonplace all around the Birmingham area. It is intended to further detail and weather these Heljan RTR locos and add a green example and a 25/0 as well. 

 

post-28848-0-95320000-1542626125_thumb.jpg

 

To go with the class116 high density unit already on the layout I am adding a 128 parcels, which i am in the process of weathering (see above), as well as an Easy build 121/122 single car unit which is in the 'workshop' awaiting my attention.

 

post-28848-0-53365700-1542626328_thumb.jpg

 

I could not resist having a GUV to go with the 128 and so the image above shows my RTR model awaiting a final dusting with the airbrush.

 

post-28848-0-62246600-1542626256_thumb.jpg

 

You can't have enough brake vans! So a pair of superb Dapol RTR Standard brake vans have been treated to some fairly serious weathering with both brush and airbrush.

 

post-28848-0-84353000-1542626204_thumb.jpg

 

Likewise, can you ever have enough 16 ton minerals! A further 6 heavily weathered examples are pictured above. I built these from Parkside Dundas kits, adding instanter links and transfers from 3 different sources, then weathering them using brushed acrylics, weathering powders and airbrushed enamels. All that is required now is some work with the airbrush to finish them off.

 

Cheers for now.       

 

 

  • Like 13
Link to post
Share on other sites

  • 4 weeks later...

Thanks for the Photos and info Paul, does the Layout ever get set up at home or in a Clubroom for running sessions?

Sorry for being a bit slow in responding to your question. The layout cannot be set up in exhibition format at its home (ti doesn't live in a club, being privately built and owned by Oldworseandworse of this parish), but the scenic bit can be set up to allow testing and alterations to the scenics to be made. It can only be operated at its full potential at exhibitions, which makes it just as much fun for us operators, as for the watching public.

 

On the modelling front, with less than a month left to Blowers Greens next outing, at Weston super Mare on the 13th January 2019, Bill and myself have been working on adding to the rolling stock list. Bill in the form of wagons, and myself in the form of the latest 25/3 offering from Heljan. Bill has been the most produtive of the two of us, and has finished a number of Parkside Grampus and 16t mineral wagons, along with weathering a couple the Dapot 20t brakevans, and a Heljan class 128 DPU and a GUV. Below are a few photos of some of the finished items. in this post i shall feature the Grampus collection. Future posts will be on some of the other stuff.

 

Looking down from New Road onto some of the recently finished Grampus.

post-7146-0-00416700-1544796485_thumb.jpg

 

The Grampus line up in Blowers Green sidings.

post-7146-0-17794000-1544796492_thumb.jpg

 

And from the other end.

post-7146-0-63147600-1544796499_thumb.jpg

 

DB984086.

post-7146-0-69205300-1544796596_thumb.jpg

 

DB986973.

post-7146-0-74956200-1544796602_thumb.jpg

 

DB990745.

post-7146-0-91881100-1544796609_thumb.jpg

 

DB990685.

post-7146-0-63062000-1544796616_thumb.jpg

 

My own contribution to the stock line up for Blowers Green has been in the form of the new Heljan 25/3 which are an absolute must for any layout set in the West Midlands, and lots of them. The only Class 25 I ever drove as a driver was 25211, so that was an obvious choice to model. a quick look at photos soon showed some modification to the Heljan model would be required, as it had lost the small bodyside grill at No2 end in the mid 70's. So some surgery on the Heljan body was required, and duly started by cutting out the offending grill. photos of which, below.

 

post-7146-0-63286000-1544797509_thumb.jpg

 

post-7146-0-45927600-1544797520_thumb.jpg

 

post-7146-0-24127200-1544797527_thumb.jpg

 

post-7146-0-63409700-1544797532_thumb.jpg

 

I will post more as this alteration progresses, along with more photos of Bill latest builds.

 

Paul J.

  • Like 10
Link to post
Share on other sites

Brave man, chopping up brand new class 25s !

 

Do t think I can make Weston as working , is there a list of other outings this year for the layout ?

Hello Rob.

 

The next two Exhibitions are Burnham on Sea, 24-25th August, then Taunton 26-27th October. Nothing booked for 2020 at the moment, so open to offers from exhibition managers.

 

Paul J.

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

A look at some more of Bills latest additions to the Blowers Green wagon fleet, this time 16t mineral wagons.

 

B257486.

post-7146-0-60936100-1545504871_thumb.jpg

 

B257598.

post-7146-0-77156900-1545504878_thumb.jpg

 

B258623.

post-7146-0-21691500-1545504889_thumb.jpg

 

B259772.

post-7146-0-60648100-1545504897_thumb.jpg

 

B551679.

post-7146-0-35080500-1545504917_thumb.jpg

 

On the locomotive front, my alterations to the latest Heljan model have continued, with the hole resulting from cutting out the small grill at No2 end, being filled with a piece of plasticard, which was initially painted in Rail Blue before fixing to the model. Any imperfections in the fitting were filled and then sanded back repeatedly, until a smooth finish was achieved. The photos below show the process.

 

post-7146-0-43257700-1545505327_thumb.jpg

 

post-7146-0-26825100-1545505336_thumb.jpg

 

post-7146-0-67692300-1545505343_thumb.jpg

 

Paul J.

 

 

  • Like 1
Link to post
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
 Share

×
×
  • Create New...