Llantisilliant

[Coffinhammer]

So, a little update as we are almost at the end of November. The purchases keep coming much to my other half's disapproval as apparently its nearly Christmas (Christ only knows where she gets that idea.....still ages away!!!   ). However, money has been spent on the scenic side of the extension rather than on more locos. 

 

After trying the shed under the bridge to see if it looked okay I decided that the overbridge should really have 3 supports rather than the planned 2 so ordered a custom set made from modelling ceramic via a well known online auction site. Whilst waiting for these to turn up I turned my attention to other scenic matters. I purchased a Bachmann Scenecraft articulated office (44-081) as I wanted something that was reminiscent of the Movements Office at St Phillips Marsh Depot in Bristol. When it had arrived it was weathered heavily using our Diesel Mess cabin at the GWsR as a template.

 

 

 

It was then a case of looking at where best to place it. Ideally, I want to hide the sidings going into the scenic board at the end of the layout so it was a case of where would be most effective. I'd ordered a pair of Gaugemaster GM31 retaining walls that I wanted to use to partially act as a barrier between the scenic area and the scenic board that will make up the fiddle yard. This was weathered and positioned along the line where the scenic board will go. On top of this, my mate, Ian, had given me a OO Gauge Road/Rail BR Land Rover. He had orginally bought it for his 'Hollow Hills' layout but, in it's bright BR yellow, it wasn't suitable for the 1960s transition era that he was going for. It sits much more readily with South Wales in the early 1980s. 

 

    

 

It was then time to look at the placement of the additional sidings and to start thinking about what stock was going to be present. As I had one length of PECO Code 75 left I decided to split it into three lengths - one long and two short - with a view to having 3 sidings at the front. When placed it appeared quite cluttered and unnatural so I returned to the idea of 2 sidings at the front. These will have some wagons placed on them in various states to replicate a cripple siding just to add some visual interest. At this point I stumbled across someone selling an unmotorised Bachmann Tamper unit and hit upon the idea of perhaps having this sat on a siding beyond the bridge (in the fiddle yard) to give the illusion that the yard continues beyond. It was purchased for the reasonable sum of £20 and suitably weathered.....although I was quite surprised with how small it appears! Especially when sat next to my Class 08!

 

  

 

With the bridge supports in my possession, weathered and placed, it was a good test to see if it all worked together before making things more permanent. 

 

  

 

I'm pretty happy with how it is coming along now...it is certainly surpassing what I thought it would turn out like! Next on the cards is starting to get the next lot of ground cover/scatter/ballast and plant life down before looking at areas of hardstanding and additional buildings and paraphernalia. Its then on to the backscenes and, after Xmas, getting sound decoders for 08322, 33004 and 47035.

 

[Coffinhammer]

Happy New Year to you all and a bit of an update on the layout. Sadly, due to my car packing up, illness and Xmas, progress has been a little slower than I would have liked. That being said it has meant that some thought can go into the larger aspects of the layout - backscene, scenic break and so on.

 

One problem was overcome in the meantime. My decorating table was showing the strain so an alternative elevation mechanism was investigated. When I bought the layout previous owner, Ian, had mentioned about DIY trestles being a good option so I had a look at possibilities. My local B&Q had a deal on with a pair of trestles for 30 quid and they had one left! Cue much better working environment and more stable support.

 

Most of the work has centred around setting the additional sidings and finishing the ballasting and weathering of the sidings. I had laid the cut pieces of PECO Code 75 track to the board and, once I had found the desired layout, they were secured to the baseboard using acrylic adhesive. I decided to go with the short siding 'behind' the fiddle sidings and the two sidings (one short, one long) at the front of the layout. 

 

 

The overview of the extension with the two short sidings and one long. I wanted to make it look at work worn and deshevelled as I could. As we all know, yards were filthy places and it is something that will always be further enhanced. 

 

Once the adhesive had dried I ballasted all three using a mix of fine and coarse black cinders courtesy of Woodland Scenics and securing using the time honoured method of PVA mixed with water and a dash of washing up liquid. The excess was brushed off when the PVA was dry. The sidings were capped with bullhead buffer stops from PECO before the track was weathered using Railmatch Sleeper and Rail Grime and Tamia Weathering Powder. Finally, grasses and buddleia was added to further detail the area. 

 

 

A close up of the shorter siding with the bullhead buffer stop and assorted foliage. The buddleia was bought from a wargaming website and, although fiddly, looks the business.

 

 

Landore celebrity Class 37, 37180 'Sir Dyfed/County of Dyfed' sits on the long siding awaiting its next duty.

 

Whilst I was doing this I also managed to get behind the layout to further ballast the fiddle yard and work out where the scenic break would sit. 

 

 

The rear siding and fiddle yard from the 'operators' perspective.

 

 

Looking down the layout with the placement of the 'yard' in view with the stabling yard behind the bridge. As you can see it was a quiet day with just the tamper in residence.

 

Foliage and weathering has now also been added to the overbridge and abutements - again using buddleia and a variety of adhesive grass tufts. These are really good for added vegetation and are quite realistic. I have even used them in my 'crippled' HEA wagon reminding me of a short rake seen at East Usk Yard in Newport in 1980s. One of them even had a sycamore tree growing out of it! 

 

 

The overbridge showing its graffiti and plant life. It was obviously a busy day with 33004, 37180, 37270, 37308 and 56040 all stabled along with the Tamper. 

 

 

A common view amongst yards up and down the network - wagons and weeds!

 

The next stages will focus on the front of the layout. I purchased some Metcalfe paving sections as I felt the original idea of using paper sheets didn't give the depth I wanted around the site office or for the car park area. I also bought some metal crash barriers from Gaugemaster to separate the small car park area. A small concrete area has been allocated under the bridge for the siting of a container. I did use the papaer paving for this as it seemed to offer the lower concreted area that I wanted next to the ballast from the yard. It gave it a slightly rushed and last minute application which I was after. I bought a multipurpose container/shed kit from Wills, painted it black and weathered it prior to fitting it under the bridge.

 

 

More ballast and ground scatter will go down as well and then it'll be on to the bigger jobs! 

 

Finally, a look down the whole of the layout.

 

 

 

 

[Jerry1975]

Looks really good, nicely weathered too.

 

Jerry.

[Clover]

A nice layout with some great modelling.

[Coffinhammer]

Thanks for your positive comments Jerry1975 and Clover. Much appreciated.    

[Slug]

The buddleia looks great

Edited January 12, 2019 by Slug

[TechnicArrow]

Excellent progress, and good use of weathering and weeds. I particularly like the weeds in the wagon, I don't think I've seen that modelled very much. The overall layout is looking great!

[Coffinhammer]

A long overdue update to proceedings..........! It seems that long ago since the last one that I had to read back to see where I had left off! 

 

Well, it appears that I have actually done more than I thought over the last few months, despite circumstances not being too favourable. But that's life! So, after completing the sidings and ballasting them I then looked at starting the concreting and setting out the car park. I also set the position of the container under the footbridge with the associated concreting. 

 

 

The standing base was completed using a scrap piece of card wrapped in printed concrete paper. Leading to the door I used Metcalfe PO210 Paving Slabs which would also be used around the car park area as the pavement. They do look particularly effective! I then carried on laying ballast and ground scatter to cover the non-concrete areas. 

 

 

Once the ballast and scatter had dried I then made a start on laying the slabs for the pavement around the car park area and around the office/mess. The tarmac for the car park was done using the Metcalfe Tarmac sheets and, with the slightly raised lip of the concrete paving, it gives a reasonably good feeling of depth to the car park area. 

 

 

The Land Rover Road/Railer just tops off the scene!

 

To finish off the look I had purchased a pack of Gaugemaster Crash Barriers (GM381) to fit around the perimeter of the car park. I did look at other options, such as a low concrete wall, but my memories of yards always kept bringing me back to the crash barriers. I painted them black with white stripes before leaving them to dry. They were then weathered and fitted to the board. 

 

 

 

With all the paving and concrete down the only bit remaining free of any scenery is just infront of the cabin. Not sure what to put there.....maybe a shrubbery!

 

After completing the scenery at the front of the layout, perusing the secondhand columns, I decided to expand the rolling stock section - just to give more variety to the wagons I could have sitting around and that could be shunted. Two Bachmann 'CLAM' ballast wagons were followed by a trio of MXV/MMV 16T Mineral wagons. These mineral wagons were part of the everyday railway fabric in South Wales right up until the 1990s and no layout based in the Principality could do without them. They even came from the seller with a real coal load! Both sets of wagons were then fitted with realistic couplings using photos as a guide. The 'CLAM' were fitted with screw couplings and the 16T with 3-link - both coming from Smiths by W & T. They were also suitably weathered. 

 

One of the 16T mineral wagons.

 

Three link couplings fitted to the 16T wagons. 

 

Canton based 08322 shunts the 'CLAM' wagons.

 

Also amongst the purchased wagons were a 12T ShocHop (Bachmann), an SPA Steel Wagon (FTG Models), a YGB 'SEACOW' (Hornby), a 'Shark' Brake Van (Hornby) and a 20T Brake Van (Bachmann). Again, all wagons that would have been commonplace in South Wales during the Speedlink era. They were fitted with realistic couplings and weathered. 

 

08322 continues to marshal a rake of ballast wagons for a weekend possession.

 

There was also another arrival in the motive power department. Another Bachmann Class 37 had appeared on a well-known auction site that provided another nose end type to what I already had. Although I have 37270 as a domino headcode, vallance fitted example this one provided an example of one with the HoW headlamp brackets above the headcode box. Too much of an opportunity to miss and it was duly purchased. Again, it had been numbered outside of the number range it depicted so it was hastily renumbered to one of Landore's boilered examples...37187, complete with mini ploughs and Selwyn Sheep TOPS panel.

 

Landore's 37187 arrives 'on shed' after working in from Carmarthen. 

 

Although fitted with a DCC decoder it doesn't have sound so this has been added to the list along with 08322, 33004 and 47035. 

 

We also had a brief look at a the possible future. How would Llantisilliant look in more recent times? A friend of mine has, since I restarted modelling, has had his motivation increased to kick start his layout aspirations. Although he is looking at doing a more 'modern image' layout he needed to test a recent acquisition.......DRS liveried 37425 'Sir Robert McAlpine/Concrete Bob. What if..........?

 

 

Llantisilliant 2019 - 37425 sits in the yard. Perhaps on driver re-familiarisation for the mooted return of the Rhymney loco hauled services??? 

 

So, as it stands the layout looks like this.........

 

 

Much thinking has gone in to the backscene and the possibility of adding a separate fiddle yard. If you have followed the threadsfrom the beginning my original plan was to have the fiddle yard behind the 'stone' wall to the right of the footbridge. However, with operatiing at home, more and more thought has been given to having a separate board to act as a fiddle yard. I decided to buy one of the laser cut, self assembly diorama baseboards from Scale Model Scenery. At just over 300mm in width it allows it to be fitted 'end on' providing a scenic backboard as well as a break to the rest of the layout and will fit longer locos with enough spare. It will require some adaptations and modifications but should provide an adequate fiddle yard. Just some logistics over how it will be supported. It will also mean that the backscene that was originally fitted by its previous owner will be removed and a new, slightly higher' backscene will be fitted around the whole layout.

 

Sadly, that, as well as the sound decoders, track and more locos, will have to wait until I have secured a new job!!   

 

 

Edited April 4, 2019 by Coffinhammer

[Crisis Rail]

Glad you are progressing Gareth - good enjoyable stuff going on narrowed down to your area.

Slow progress up here nothing on my garage trestles yet as it's become a write off of a storage area  just got FERNESS OIL to keep the interest going.

 

Is the Subaru back on the road?

 

Ian

 

 

Edited April 8, 2019 by Crisis Rail

[south_tyne]

What a cracking little project. The weathering and colouring of the layout, stock and associated paraphernalia (for want of a better word!) are absolutely superb. The whole scene blends so wonderfully together and paints such a realistic picture. Hugely impressive stuff! 

 

David

[Coffinhammer]

On 06/04/2019 at 09:56, Crisis Rail said:

Glad you are progressing Gareth - good enjoyable stuff going on narrowed down to your area.

Slow progress up here nothing on my garage trestles yet as it's become a write off of a storage area  just got FERNESS OIL to keep the interest going.

 

Is the Subaru back on the road?

 

Ian

 

 

Hi Ian, 

 

Its getting there. I'm firmly in the zone of 'what else could I do with it?'  Too many things on the wanted list but no money to get them at the minute.

 

Sorry to hear of your dilemma. Hopefully only a temporary set back for you and the trestles can be used in anger sooner rather than later.

 

Sadly, the Subaru is still in the garage....been 4 and a half months now. But, on the plus side, it'll be all new under the bonnet AND will have more power!! Just have to put up with driving the other half's Renault for a little longer!

 

Gareth

[Coffinhammer]

On 07/04/2019 at 09:36, south_tyne said:

What a cracking little project. The weathering and colouring of the layout, stock and associated paraphernalia (for want of a better word!) are absolutely superb. The whole scene blends so wonderfully together and paints such a realistic picture. Hugely impressive stuff! 

 

David

 

Thank you, David. Although, the previous owner, Ian (Crisis Rail on this thread), should have a lot of the credit as he did the main board....I've just 'developed' it a little! 

 

Gareth

[Coffinhammer]

I can't believe it is nearly a whole year since my last post! Sadly, a lot has happened that has seen the layout pushed well and truly to the back burner. However, there has been little pockets of activity as cash flow has allowed although it is nowhere near where I had envisaged it would be!

 

Still, I managed to complete the scenery at the front of the layout with the thin strip outside the 'yard office' now having foliage laid instead of just a strip of black paint! I have also managed to get the track at the rear of the retaining wall fully ballasted, a third siding as well as some discarded rail, and other lineside detritus. 

 

 

 

I have also managed to get the remainder of the locos fitted with Legomanbiffo sound decoders which adds a whole different dimension to things - its quite a sound having all four Class 37s on the board all ticking over in my living room! That's before even firing up the Class 56!

 

There has also been a new loco addition with the arrival of a 'Peak'. I purchased a Class 45 from a well known online auction site for a very good price. Pre-owned but nothing wrong with it. 'Peaks' of Classes 45 and 46 were very common visitiors into South Wales throughout their lives and could be seen on a myriad of freight, parcels and passenger workings - some were even allocated to Cardiff Canton for a period. Even during the 1980s, the two classes were regular visitors on booked workings right up until their withdrawal from BR service. Say 'hello' to 45036 - a loco that worked into South Wales frequently and was a bit of a celebrity as it retained its split, centre headcode box until 1986.

  

I weathered the loco myself, based on a friend's photo of it at Severn Tunnel Junction in 1985. It is also fitted with a Legomanbiffo sound chip. 

 

We're getting there.....even if very slowly!!

Edited April 2, 2020 by Coffinhammer

[Crisis Rail]

All well and good Gareth - but is the Subaru back on the road?!!!

 

Ian

[Crisis Rail]

Ever since the original made a trip from Scotland  to Wales - there is a replacement.

 

 

[Coffinhammer]

14 hours ago, Crisis Rail said:

All well and good Gareth - but is the Subaru back on the road?!!!

 

Ian

It is!! It's been back on the road for about 8 months now. Just about to go back to the garage for its stage 3 remap!  I'm bored with 300bhp already!! Got some minor body work to get done as well. 

 

Glad to hear all is well with you...and it is good to see Caerbannog return to the railway map!  The new one looks mightily impressive, as you would expect!

Edited April 3, 2020 by Coffinhammer

[SouthernBlue80s]

Nice layout, love BR blue. I have just deviated and got my hands on Oystermouth as well.

 

What Subaru is it. I have one too and know a bit about them.

Edited April 5, 2020 by SouthernBlue80s

[marc smith]

Although not much has happened - I'm pleased to see you're sticking with this project.
Doesn't matter if it needs to go on the back burner.... as long as you keep up with this project.
I like it, and the extension works too - which isn't always the case

Besides.... you've still done far more modelling than me, in the same time! lol  

[Coffinhammer]

On 04/04/2020 at 15:04, SouthernBlue80s said:

Nice layout, love BR blue. I have just deviated and got my hands on Oystermouth as well.

 

What Subaru is it. I have one too and know a bit about them.

Hi SouthernBlue80s,

 

Apologies for the very late reply....I rarely come on here at the moment and never seem to get the notifications! I spent my first 3 years (and subsequent family revisits) in South Wales in the 1980s and it was always BR Blue. I wanted to replicate what I could remember from that period, but also have something where I could easily change the time frame to something a little more 'modern', when money allows! 56040 was a purchase that had to be made to add a splash of colour. Its the only loco on the layout that is not too heavily weathered. 

 

As for the Subaru, I have a 2005 WRX that has had upgrading and been remapped. I use it daily so all the upgrades have been with that in mind. No point having it rated at 500bhp if I'm using it on clogged suburban roads!  It currently runs 324bhp with a 2.1l forged shortmotor, vf34 turbo, Blitz straight through exhaust and the 330mm injectors etc. It hasn't an ounce of rust on it, either. The bodywork is fantastic for a 15 year old car. It still drinks like a fish, though!! I love it, even after all the money spent on it. It is why I had the engine fully rebuilt last year rather than get a new one.

 

What have you got?

 

Regards

 

Gareth (Coffinhammer)

Edited June 10, 2020 by Coffinhammer

[Coffinhammer]

On 06/04/2020 at 10:12, marc smith said:

Although not much has happened - I'm pleased to see you're sticking with this project.
Doesn't matter if it needs to go on the back burner.... as long as you keep up with this project.
I like it, and the extension works too - which isn't always the case

Besides.... you've still done far more modelling than me, in the same time! lol  

 

Hi Marc,

 

Sorry for late replying, also. I'm sure that isn't true on the modelling front! 

 

No way will I be stopping it. It is a project I have wanted to do for so long. It is frustrating, especially as I am on furlough and could be doing so much on it, but other priorities exist and we all know that certain things are much more important sometimes. The worst thing is I keep up coming up with more things I want to do!!

 

Regards

 

Gareth

[SouthernBlue80s]

On 10/06/2020 at 11:27, Coffinhammer said:

Hi SouthernBlue80s,

 

Apologies for the very late reply....I rarely come on here at the moment and never seem to get the notifications! I spent my first 3 years (and subsequent family revisits) in South Wales in the 1980s and it was always BR Blue. I wanted to replicate what I could remember from that period, but also have something where I could easily change the time frame to something a little more 'modern', when money allows! 56040 was a purchase that had to be made to add a splash of colour. Its the only loco on the layout that is not too heavily weathered. 

 

As for the Subaru, I have a 2005 WRX that has had upgrading and been remapped. I use it daily so all the upgrades have been with that in mind. No point having it rated at 500bhp if I'm using it on clogged suburban roads!  It currently runs 324bhp with a 2.1l forged shortmotor, vf34 turbo, Blitz straight through exhaust and the 330mm injectors etc. It hasn't an ounce of rust on it, either. The bodywork is fantastic for a 15 year old car. It still drinks like a fish, though!! I love it, even after all the money spent on it. It is why I had the engine fully rebuilt last year rather than get a new one.

 

What have you got?

 

Regards

 

Gareth (Coffinhammer)

 

Hi Gareth

Quite interesting parallels we have. I have fond memories of my visits to South Wales in the very early 80s and everything was BR blue. I am from Kent but for years always had a connection to the area. My first wife was even Welsh. And your thinking behind getting 56040 was the same as mine.

 

As far as the subaru goes. Once they have bitten you there is no turning back. 20 years in now tuning them

Mine - well this sound a bit over the top. It is one of the quickest classic track subarus in Europe.

I have it detuned from 600hp to about just under 500hp. Although lots of subarus run that. I guess what makes it special is that it is a one off build and the suspension and brakes ect are just as heavily modified to match. Even the shell is a one off that is cut lightened and sits lower than any classic impreza you will see you will also notice the front wheels also sit further forward than on any other classic. It has one off modified front arms with a new age spec c subframe on the front and the wings cut to accommodate. It is suprisingly usable on the road.  However, like many, I have no work at the moment - so a dust cover is on it and who knows when it will turn a wheel again.

 

Yours sounds just right for a road car. If you ever need second hand parts let me know.

I have not touched my 56040 yet but when we both have them finished we should post up our pics on here

 

Pic of the brute attached

[Coffinhammer]

On 17/06/2020 at 16:29, SouthernBlue80s said:

 

Hi Gareth

Quite interesting parallels we have. I have fond memories of my visits to South Wales in the very early 80s and everything was BR blue. I am from Kent but for years always had a connection to the area. My first wife was even Welsh. And your thinking behind getting 56040 was the same as mine.

 

As far as the subaru goes. Once they have bitten you there is no turning back. 20 years in now tuning them

Mine - well this sound a bit over the top. It is one of the quickest classic track subarus in Europe.

I have it detuned from 600hp to about just under 500hp. Although lots of subarus run that. I guess what makes it special is that it is a one off build and the suspension and brakes ect are just as heavily modified to match. Even the shell is a one off that is cut lightened and sits lower than any classic impreza you will see you will also notice the front wheels also sit further forward than on any other classic. It has one off modified front arms with a new age spec c subframe on the front and the wings cut to accommodate. It is suprisingly usable on the road.  However, like many, I have no work at the moment - so a dust cover is on it and who knows when it will turn a wheel again.

 

Yours sounds just right for a road car. If you ever need second hand parts let me know.

I have not touched my 56040 yet but when we both have them finished we should post up our pics on here

 

Pic of the brute attached

 

That is one awesome piece of kit. I believe I have seen it in a couple of mags over time. I would love an all out track car but I would never get the chance to use it. I did drive the Pro R WRX STi around Castle Combe and thats probably as close as I will get! My Aunt used to race (Sierra Cosworth) and I would have loved to have done it myself.

 

 I do miss my Classic, it was nowhere to that level, but the newage is a little too refined at times. You don't get the same 'feel'. The classics are just something else. If I didn't have other such expensive hobbies then I would probably treat myself to another classic!!    Really kind of you on the parts offer. I'm very lucky to have a couple of guys local to me that know them inside out (you may have heard of one, Nik @ Car and Custom Garage in Bristol?) but they are always struggling to get decent second hand parts.  

I find that there are always little parallels in this hobby, as in the larger railway community. The number of people I have got to know through music or cars that I suddenly find out are rail enthusiasts and/or modellers! Its just one of those hobbies!

 

If the weather conditions are a little better tomorrow I will see about getting some more shots of 56040 to show off the very minor weathering that was done. That's how she will stay.....the proper South Wales way. 37s utterly filthy, 56s ex works! 

 

A couple of pics of mine - one of the old classic and the other is a really bad photo of my current one.

Edited June 18, 2020 by Coffinhammer

[SouthernBlue80s]

4 hours ago, Coffinhammer said:

 

That is one awesome piece of kit. I believe I have seen it in a couple of mags over time. I would love an all out track car but I would never get the chance to use it. I did drive the Pro R WRX STi around Castle Combe and thats probably as close as I will get! My Aunt used to race (Sierra Cosworth) and I would have loved to have done it myself.

 

 I do miss my Classic, it was nowhere to that level, but the newage is a little too refined at times. You don't get the same 'feel'. The classics are just something else. If I didn't have other such expensive hobbies then I would probably treat myself to another classic!!    Really kind of you on the parts offer. I'm very lucky to have a couple of guys local to me that know them inside out (you may have heard of one, Nik @ Car and Custom Garage in Bristol?) but they are always struggling to get decent second hand parts.  

I find that there are always little parallels in this hobby, as in the larger railway community. The number of people I have got to know through music or cars that I suddenly find out are rail enthusiasts and/or modellers! Its just one of those hobbies!

 

If the weather conditions are a little better tomorrow I will see about getting some more shots of 56040 to show off the very minor weathering that was done. That's how she will stay.....the proper South Wales way. 37s utterly filthy, 56s ex works! 

 

A couple of pics of mine - one of the old classic and the other is a really bad photo of my current one.

 

It took 10 years to get it too that level. With alot of right and wrong turns and bespoke engineering solutions along the way. Anyone can build a 500hp Impreza but to build one that can get its head kicked in on a racetrack and keep going back out time and time again...that's what takes the time. However I can not see my work coming back anytime soon. Those shots above were taken at Donington in March. And I do wonder when it will turn a wheel. If it does perhaps I take you out in it.

 

Nice looking classic. Although as you say the newage is so much better as a daily driver but not as involving. 

 

Anyway better stop boring the train folk with all this car talk...Back to trains 

 

Looking forward to your 56 pictures. It will be a few weeks before mine is finished. Mine might be dirtier as I can help myself when I get the weathering powders out!

[SouthernBlue80s]

My western region 37 is on page 2 of my layout thread here.

 

My layout is general BR blue, but with a western region feel. So I have these locos at the moment

56001 in blue lightly weathered

33053 and 33062

37254

47285

47076

31117

 

Would like more 37s ... but locos aren't cheap these days.

 

Edited June 19, 2020 by SouthernBlue80s

[Coffinhammer]

12 hours ago, SouthernBlue80s said:

 

It took 10 years to get it too that level. With alot of right and wrong turns and bespoke engineering solutions along the way. Anyone can build a 500hp Impreza but to build one that can get its head kicked in on a racetrack and keep going back out time and time again...that's what takes the time. However I can not see my work coming back anytime soon. Those shots above were taken at Donington in March. And I do wonder when it will turn a wheel. If it does perhaps I take you out in it.

 

Nice looking classic. Although as you say the newage is so much better as a daily driver but not as involving. 

 

Anyway better stop boring the train folk with all this car talk...Back to trains 

 

Looking forward to your 56 pictures. It will be a few weeks before mine is finished. Mine might be dirtier as I can help myself when I get the weathering powders out!

 

There's an offer I wouldn't refuse! Very kind! Beyond that, I hope you do get a chance to take it out this year. They shouldn't be cooped up in a garage for too long, it does them no good. 

I loved the classic. It was only a UK2000 but was running at 280bhp with very little in the way of extravagance. Sadly, the previous owner had had it in a garage for a long time and the sills and wheelarches had rotted on the insides. Me being naive, as it was my first, didn't notice until too late. Got it repaired and it was like a new car - 2 years later the gearbox went! Found the newage at garage in Stourbridge - one of these backstreet places that wouldn't look out of place on Eastenders! Took it for a test, impressed me. Really tidy, low mileage but the bloke knew nothing about them. He'd bought it through trade on a whim. However, the Mrs had gone in to the Morrisons next door and got chatting to this woman in the queue who said that this chap was brilliant and her husband would vouch for his trustworthyness and had always bought his cars from him. She was bloody right! The car is in great nick - usual cosmetic things but, other than the engine rebuild, its been brilliant. Not a hint of rust! I've been very lucky with it when I compare it to others of the same age!!

 

But, yes, back to the trains! Might get kicked off otherwise!  That is a great looking layout and, as another parallel, it is exactly the kind of thing I would like to do if I expand 'Llantisilliant', hence why the little segment of sidings at the front. Also, as you have put in the background on the first post, I will eventually look at getting locos that woudl also allow me to operate the stabling point in the early sectorisation period as well. 

 

There is some fantastic weathering on it as well! Will need to give it a much more detailed look when I finish work!