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North Welsh Coast Railway - Welsh Dragon Rail


Anthony Ashley
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  • 1 month later...

Dear All,

 

I have returned from my holiday in North America. A few of the trail highlights included two trips on the Rock Mountaineer from Seattle to Vancouver and Vancouver to Banff, A trip from Skagway to White pass in Alaska and New York to Washington DC. I may post a few photos on those trips later.

 

The finale of the holiday was spent at the home of John Dew with his wife Doreen. Sarah and I had a fantastic day enjoying demonstrations on John's layout "Granby" and a lovely lunch. Most of the demonstrations were some fantastic examples of how the TC Gold train controller system can be incorporated into a DCC layout using computer control for complex operations involving a number of schedules. John was very generous with his time in both preparing and setting up the demonstrations and the time to actually show me a great range of TC Gold  operations. I have much to apply to my own layout when I have got enough of it laid to run a few trains, and the demonstrations provided me with much insight and knowledge on the versatility of the system. I would like would to acknowledge and thank John and Doreen for the generosity shown to Sarah and I. It was a very special day and one I shall never forget. 

 

I have been given approval by John to post some of the pictures taken on the day of "Granby". John's attention to detail in the scenery and small viginettes he has created is second to none, and is a brilliant recreation of a historical past in Britain. It was great to see such a detailed and comprehensive layout, which of course will never "quite be quite finished", but has  little need or room for further improvement. Some of you may have seen many of these scenes on John's RM Web site, but I am very privileged to have approval to add a few more on mine.

 

This is the view as you enter the layout room looking at the right side of the layout. Tenement houses on the right side and a storage yard behind them.

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The other side of the top of the layout features an engine shed and operating computerised turn table . 

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One of a number of factory buildings requiring deliveries.

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Track to the coal loading shed.

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Detailed photo of the coal loading operations on the layout.

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Three bridge scene over a canal and factory on the right of the photo. Lock in the fore ground. There is so much detail in the layout it is hard to take it all in on a single visit, as I only noticed the loch on the photo!!

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Entrance to the beautiful train station completed with an eye to great detail. It looks like a busy period at the station!!

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Soldiers lined up outside the station. Perhaps ready as an escort or maybe due for a train trip. Officers appear to be standing around.

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Local cafe "Great Eastern" serving lunch dinner and bar snacks.20190922_151638V3.jpg.6858e8f96295bff9f9338c47268d17e5.jpg

 

Tenement houses with a window cleaner.

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Milk storage 

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Signal box with the signalman having a short break.

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As you can see from the quality of the scenic areas and track the day was a treat in seeing such remarkable

workmanship in the construction and finishing techniques. Thankyou again John and Doreen for a fantastic day!!

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley

20190922_151709V2.jpg

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Hi Anthony

 

Thank you for those very generous and flattering comments. We are so glad that you and Sarah enjoyed your visit. Granby  gets hardly any visitors from fellow modellers so it was a pleasure indeed to show you the layout.

 

The photos are brilliant. You have managed to highlight all the good features and gloss over the (many) defects. You have featured some details in the canal scene that I had actually forgotten about....... and I am in that room most days! 

 

Best Wishes

 

John

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  • 1 month later...

Dear all,

 

Although I have not posted much over the last few weeks there has been some progress. The higher mountain road has been done to the left side of the viaduct. The early photos are below. The first photo is the actual area. it is a crazy hotch potch of walls and rocks. 

 

99352092_Taid167-PenmaenmawrV2.jpg.4470b535760d8877a2fb6779c00aca31.jpg

 

I have not recreated exactly the wall face but elements have been included.

 

IMG_5484V2.jpg.3c453a38d417da85493bae9d214bbae9.jpg

 

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IMG_5487.JPG.418d31b6ea83caa912b3623d1816d808.JPG

 

These are the earlier stages of the area. Later photos will show more development.

 

I have also added more concrete dust to the mountainIMG_5488V2.jpg.563d19693b21b7185f6abd1f544b9d6b.jpg

 

IMG_5489V2.jpg.b8071e605ce73043bfa24c9ec173943d.jpg.

 

One of the more interesting jobs was filling in the gaps with plaster using a really large pipette. More photos in a day or so.

 

Regards,

 

 Anthony Ashley

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Lez,

 

Thanks for the encouragement. I have a few more photos of recent work on the rock/embankment wall.

 

 Rock face on the mountain. Most of the mountain is scree slope but there is a very rocky area. I experimented in this area with a reasonable result. The plaster rocks were blended with brown red, grey and black water acrylics More to be done.IMG_5491V2.jpg.2ca2619ed38538c8a37c2324a9d5a26f.jpg

 

The two roads are visible with the rail at the bottom of the mountain but out of view.

IMG_5492.JPG.0c7ca6c10d5a581bfe3d8a9b4eba1265.JPG

 

 

The jumble of walls is very unusual but I have tried to replicate the actual area. I have used a pipette to fill in the gaps with plaster of paris. No paint has been applied to the walls. Next I need to clean the plaster out of the mortar lines, Paint the wall a mortar colour and then dry brush the stone in the walls a variety of colours

IMG_5494V2.jpg.eb687902588f2b86a3d345feb442927e.jpg

 

 

 

IMG_5495V2.jpg.7a2b58f13dafe4c6211731883776b0ee.jpg

 

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IMG_5502V2.jpg.7bfb0183a768b0ac79d08b9bf2474f40.jpg

 

Next series of photos will be the stone work having been painted and the walls finished.

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley

 

 

 

 

IMG_5500V2.jpg

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Dear All,

 

The crazy wall section is finished. There is more rock work to be done above but the area between the 2 roads is nearly complete bar some green vegetation and dirt in the area. Photos are below.

 

IMG_5515V2.jpg.6b8cdf06a3b44180b3a14d6b794a2361.jpg

 

IMG_5516V2.jpg.3df16bf2a8f712169465aa6f73771471.jpg

 

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IMG_5518V2.jpg.249e9822ee31c034b6eafde66e056023.jpg

 

I have recently had an N gauge modeller buy a 3D printer and asked him to create tebnement buildings off plans I supplied. My next post will be the 3 D printed elements and the finished building.

 

Regards,

 

 Anthony Ashley

IMG_5519V2.jpg

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Richard,

 

I appreciate your comment. I am never really sure how the modelling I produce will be viewed by the range of modellers who read these blogs. 

 

I thought I would show the 3D printed parts forming the basis for my tenement buildings, There will be three main designs which all use the same basic rectangular main house. Added to the back of the simple rectangle on some is an extension. There are 2 sizes of these extensions, larger and smaller. The photos below will help explain.

 

The front view. There are 3 main components to the rectangle. The base, side walls and 2 interior walls are all printed in hte one print. I am surprised that the thin walls can be printed vertically. The front and back walls are both separate prints and super glued onto the base. 

IMG_5510V2.jpg.3db1f79a609624f0ca31bd5fc89cf284.jpg

 

The back view showing 4 thin windows. The rectangular piers on the back wall provide a positioning marker and support for the extension. Where I do not require an extension these will be absent and more doors and window inserted.

IMG_5511V2.jpg.48beffc5cbb9cd400081e5646f71980a.jpg

 

The exstension pieces prior to gluing onto the back wall.

IMG_5512V2.jpg.07456db77d81cfbf98d2e634739d5121.jpg

 

The model nearly completed but minus guttering and down pipes. The roof is plasticard slate roof is not supported with an y other material. The 3D model is covered in scale scenes paper brick and other materials. The windows will be better in the next model as we had the slightly too small and I had to enlarge them once the pape rhad been added. 

IMG_5508V2.jpg.2a1f725ab0d363b18e4378ab35c3c029.jpg

 

Slate roof and roof capping, made from normal printed paper, pained grey.

IMG_5509V2.jpg.4993e2b166a146c2f00465cc6726ba57.jpg

 

Rear view showing the extension. 

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IMG_5514V2.jpg.a63e424a5207093d155c22d74b9ce733.jpg

 

 

My next project is to complete the rock face and gully on the mountain, largely composed out of rock as well. The rest of the mountain is scree and loose rock so will be much easier. Once this is completed I need to add some vegetation, experimenting with my new static grass applicator.

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley   

 

 

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Howard,

 

I am very interested in your background, being from Penmaenmawr. Do you have any photos of the 50s to 60s of the town that you would be willing to share? I have found accessing such material is invaluable in being able to accurately recreate the towns and rain infrastructure in those towns.

 

I have been working on the stone piers supporting the road viaduct. Photos to be posted today.

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley  

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Simon,

 

I think I need a proof reader for my entries. Are you up for the job? Only joking!!

 

I have continued progress on the stone piers for the rail viaduct in between baby sitting our new Border Collie puppy. Photos are below.

 

The piers are larger than my purchased models so I have had to extend them. You can see the side supports for the resin stone surface below. I need to cover the gap top and bottom with the material at the bottom of the picture. 

 

IMG_5521V2.jpg.35fd613e9847d56cf2f8b10a46cb6c1f.jpg

 

The assembled pier with the commercial purchased top section and my addition at the bottom. 

IMG_5523V2.jpg.8218078c8370e219f136321d3f16e128.jpg

 

IMG_5524V2.jpg.7a6f8518df8cae62dae52b864f2667d5.jpg

 

 

The whole of the pier has been painted in a mortar colour

IMG_5525V2.jpg.c1d5045266d5953fcf83f08cc3a7688c.jpg

 

More photos to follow in the next blog.

 

Regards,

 

Anthony ashley

 

 

 

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Dear All,

 

Part 2 of my road viaduct piers.

 

The piers have been painted with the mortar, light grey, dark grey and brown colour.

 

IMG_5527V2.jpg.f8c80a9f24cfb01b5776159e079472c1.jpg

 

IMG_5528V2.jpg.c2147addf1f5d995dabf142158463a25.jpg

 

IMG_5529V2.jpg.66ea7a19b7a5ecfa44e8eac2bc53f9d9.jpg

 

Next I need to add the stone capping about 1/3 of the way up and attach the piers to the viaduct and ensure it fits in location. 

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley 

 

 

 

 

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Simon,

 

I have pandered to your request for a doggy photo. Please see below. His name is Darcy and he is very cute.

 

Lezz the stone work is slow to complete but looks OK with a number of dry brush colours. I have fitted the viaduct into place and am happy with the outcome. I still need to add the capping 1/3 of the way up the piers.

 

Darcy at rest. An uncommon occurrence!!!

 

IMG_5531V2.jpg.99918a39929e70a44ead1fbd9301697b.jpg

 

IMG_5539V2.jpg.f02c49d4323cc1f568123aa1ab5ca001.jpg

 

Piers in place.

 

IMG_5532V2.jpg.54c9635f1a416d5ef021bd6a09069cfd.jpg

 

IMG_5535V2.jpg.1e1d7c9bd021fad8220d88426f0c9d42.jpg

IMG_5536V2.jpg.d3094cbb5f3ea5d77eff2258ddc52110.jpg

 

IMG_5537V2.jpg.ed0ca146f61fb28a4ca2e40e5026f07f.jpg

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley

 

  

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Dear All,

 

I have completed the brick work under the arches. I manged to find a couple of photos of the area, showing very washed out bricks with darker bands between. Photos are below.  

 

 

It is quite difficult to get a good picture of the underneath section of the arches showing the real detail. The piers will straighten when I add them to the layout.

IMG_5540V2.jpg.c18eee7744dacd6920ab8b1e58c2653f.jpg

 

IMG_5541V2.jpg.488dc9bd78bb8528990c89359377724f.jpg

 

IMG_5542V2.jpg.a01aed2f0259a83b0eeb53436e58e168.jpg

 

IMG_5544V2.jpg.eddcd358fd6a4d9da857119c35d46175.jpg

 

This is the detail I have added to each arch.

 

IMG_5548V2.jpg.3c109ae5216b28da7ae87253a72c5613.jpg

 

Next is to glue these section in place, trim them to size. After that I have to add the outside stone work above the piers, both external and internal. I shall need to cast some more resin stone sheets, as I have run out. One task I need to complete is to add a thin band of smooth stone directly above the arches. I have decided to use thick paper overlaying the basic stone work covering the arches. The underneath edges of the brick work are quoins.

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley

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Lez,

 

Thanks for the comment and encouragement. I had one sheet of stone wall left so I have covered 2 of the spans. I am really happy with the result. I need to add more quoins, but it is looking better than I expected. There is a 1 cm wall section between the spans which I will add tomorrow. This will cover the join between the spans . Photos are below.

 

It is amazing how the colour of the stone work can change from photo to photo.

 

IMG_5551V2.jpg.0595ea605ca73898726520088e78f077.jpg

 

IMG_5552V2.jpg.64cb4c8db08bad22653f7f68991f5b3c.jpg

 

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IMG_5558V2.jpg.919051c8950b66e936050fed00006b1e.jpg

 

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IMG_5566V2.jpg.abcbc3fc95bf10bc984592ea6ef3cafe.jpg

 

Regards,

 

 Anthony Ashley

 

 

 

 

 

 

IMG_5556V2.jpg

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Howard,

 

I am really excited to see the publications you have posted. They add a lot to my knowledge of the rail infrastructure at Penmaenmawr. A really excellent contribution, thank you very much for posting them on the site. If you have any other photos to post it would be really appreciated. I find that it is the less obvious nooks and cranies that cause difficulties when you come to model them, as the odd space of grass or wall may crop up in an unexpected place. A photo is worth a thousand words by providing an overview of an area. 

 

Thank you again I am really excited to see what you have added. My 2 favourites are the -photo immediately below the "Rails of granite", featuring the goods area and the photo of the Fairburn crossing the bridge over the under pass road. While I have seen photos of the other side of the underpass the bridge structure from the side you have shown is completely new to me. 

 

One of the other areas I only have limited photos of is the old picture theatre and the old hotel/mansion on the hill top at Penmaenmawr. It is a huge white building with bay windows. I only have photos of the front of it at this stage.

 

A great contribution thank you Howard for the time taken to post these photos.

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley

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Hi Anthony

A couple of images that may be of use :

I can only find one (distant ) image of the Grand Hotel.

The aerial image of the mountain you probably have  seen ?

(Both images are from TuckDB Postcards and are non-copyright)

Kind Regards

Howard

 

 

 

86825421_PenGrandHotel.jpg.ac970d6fb3be3abf7abd0080e9d63838.jpg1765093845_penmountainaerial.jpg.b0c1016e7c6ec914521938f12055d66a.jpg

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Howard,

 

Your picture of the rail and road viaduct are the best I have seen to date and provide me with a much higher overall level of clarity on these structures in their place. Thanks again for your contribution I appreciate it. I had not seen that picture before.

 

I am going to have to use a fair amount of guess work on the hotel, as  Only have a few limited photos. 

 

I have progressed with the road surface on the road viaduct, although it is a slow process. I am using 3 ml strips of plasticard om the sides to give me 2 surfaces to scrape on. Then I lay the plaster of paris with black pigment to get grey tarmac. Sand back the surface. Pull up the side supports and re plaster to fill in the gaps. My batches of plaster have varied in colour, but that just creates a patchwork road effect which is fine.

 

Plaster road surface nearly completed. I know it looks patchy but it is a well repaired road!!

IMG_5570V2.jpg.2477530fe06b3bd57bbc6f9ba54e03ab.jpg

 

 

The edge strips have been removed in this shot, so another plaster run to fill the gaps!

IMG_5571V2.jpg.d5cb72f4ceb57b6b4ef6833168ee643c.jpg

 

 

The strips are still in place in this photo, but plaster has been added.

IMG_5572V2.jpg.2379caa7789157f21ebb5b81e24744e5.jpg

 

Plaster strips in place ready for a plaster pour.

IMG_5573V2.jpg.121032c6b80f92bb09fda4f22a9f8d77.jpg

 

I need to finish the road and then add stone edges to the inside of the walls. Lastly a stone cap to the top on either side of the viaduct.

 

Regards,

 

Anthony Ashley

 

 

 

 

 

  

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