Cwm Bach - A South Wales Branch Line

[Giles]

I do like that...... that's nice.....!

[railwayrod]

I agree with Giles. That is nice.

 

Rod

[pwr]

You just feel you re almost there don't you!

 

There area few layouts like this on the forum - Ramchester being one - Tonfanau Camp another and anything by Steve Fay. There are of course others.

 

In 4mm Waverley West always stood out for me not because it was true scale modelling but because the photos were so lifelike which had something to do with the lighting

 

Paul R

[81A Oldoak]

The Cwm Bach auto-train has been restored to service after a gap of at least 18 months.  It is powered by a Lionheart  ex-GWR  64XX 0-6-0PT that was bought when they were first produced in the days when Lionheart Trains was an independent concern. My original weathering of 6437 suffered from a rather heavy-handed attack with an airbrush and has been polished away with T-Cut to give a more restrained finish.

 

The autocoach is also an original Lionheart product and is a delightful model. I have a pair of them and I think the crimson and cream livery is most becoming. However, Cwm Bach is in the South Wales Valleys so the gleaming, spotless appearance did not fit in with the mucky surroundings. A few prototype photographs and a few hours’ work with bristle and air brushes produced what I think is a satisfactory effect.  All that remains is to acquire some suitable passengers, no more than three or four, and a driver for the coach cab. Now that the train is back in service, the ex-GWR railcar and BR Bubblecar replacements have been sent back to whence they came.

 

Chris K

 

PS More photos in other places. 

 

 

Edited September 1, 2019 by 81A Oldoak
Typo correction.

[westerner]

I hope that as my layout Blakeney progresses I can get somewhere near the standard you have reached on your layout.

[81A Oldoak]

24 minutes ago, westerner said:

I hope that as my layout Blakeney progresses I can get somewhere near the standard you have reached on your layout.

Alan, 

You are very kind. My technique is to copy good colour photographs of the real thing, ensure all aspects of the scene are a uniform, harmonious style, fade or weather all colours, and take take my time. I like your weathered wagons, especially your GWR Toad.

 

Regards,

 

Chris

[Hal Nail]

13 hours ago, 81A Oldoak said:

My original weathering of 6437 suffered from a rather heavy-handed attack with an airbrush and has been polished away with T-Cut to give a more restrained finish.

 

All that remains is to acquire some suitable passengers, no more than three or four

From my own experiences and even looking the brilliant stuff by Martyn Welch, BR green seems much harder to weather convincingly than black - even the merest hint of weathering stands out whereas black responds well. Conversely green buffs up very nicely to a rich colour - although as you say that’s not often appropriate - so it may just be something to do with the way the colour responds to the dull finish. Edit to say that’s not meant to be a criticism of your stuff which is very good - just picking up on your comment!

 

For passengers, I find there are enough useable ones in the very cheap 1:50 sets available on eBay. Although I’m about to have my dad preserved by Modelu and popped into a b set!

Edited August 29, 2019 by Hal Nail

[pwr]

I think you nailed it

 

Paul R

[81A Oldoak]

23 minutes ago, Hal Nail said:

From my own experiences and even looking the brilliant stuff by Martyn Welch, BR green seems much harder to weather convincingly than black - even the merest hint of weathering stands out whereas black responds well. Conversely green buffs up very nicely to a rich colour - although as you say that’s not often appropriate - so it may just be something to do with the way the colour responds to the dull finish. Edit to say that’s not meant to be a criticism of your stuff which is very good - just picking up on your comment!

 

For passengers, I find there are enough useable ones in the very cheap 1:50 sets available on eBay. Although I’m about to have my dad preserved by Modelu and popped into a b set!

Hal,

I think you are right about BR green. 6437 is the only green engine in my stud of BR steam locomotives. Generally, I prefer a weathered, but cared-for appearance on passenger engines where some attempt has been made to clean the more visible areas of the engine. The second photo shows 6437 after its first attempt at weathering several years ago. It is passable, but lacks sublety and detail. The other photo shows the result of the later polishing with T-Cut. The most annoying feature is the fogged-up cab spectacles, which happened during that first drive-by shooting with the airbrush and I suspect the only solution will be to remove and replace them with some suitable glazing material. My one piece of advice to all is to avoid so-called factory-applied, production-line weathering, which is almost always poor; weathering must be a customised, personal affair. 

 

CK

 

 

 

[Hal Nail]

10 minutes ago, 81A Oldoak said:

I suspect the only solution will be to remove and replace them with some suitable glazing material.

 

DCC supplies do sell the glazing as a spare - £4.50 a set.

[Happy Hippo]

I'm hoping for a similar combo when Dapol 's next batch of auto trailers hits the shops.

 

Like you I do like the carmine and cream, which will eventually be twinned with a 14xx,  as the 64xx is destined to marry up with an A44 auto trailer, the kit of which I commissioned from Worsley Works......  I just need the time to build it!

 

I appreciate that work gets in the way of modelling, especially when you are a manufacturer, so it is always a great pleasure to see updates on both the Cwm Bach and Tonfanau Camp plus the Peppa saga.

 

I shall be there, slavering at the Minerva stand this coming Saturday (and Sunday) eager to find out what your major new announcement is, and to get an update on the 'Teddy Bear'.

[Guest Isambarduk]

53 minutes ago, 81A Oldoak said:

The most annoying feature is the fogged-up cab spectacles, ... I suspect the only solution will be to remove and replace them with some suitable glazing material

 

I can recommend real glass, easily cut from microscope slide cover slips with a carbide or diamond pointed scriber (I do this even with your excellent offerings!).

 

David

 

[Giles]

12 minutes ago, Isambarduk said:

 

I can recommend real glass, easily cut from microscope slide cover slips with a carbide or diamond pointed scriber (I do this even with your excellent offerings!).

 

David

 

Me being an awkward cuss, I double them up using superglue to get laminated glass..... they are still very thin, but much more resilient and lessnprone to breaking.

[pwr]

22 hours ago, Isambarduk said:

 

I can recommend real glass, easily cut from microscope slide cover slips with a carbide or diamond pointed scriber (I do this even with your excellent offerings!).

 

David

 

Completely agree. I used this in my signal box models and with a diamond pointed scriber its easy to cut. If you get some diamond coated files too you can file the edges. I am going to use this glass in a Gresley coach which is under construction. 

 

Scribers and files readily available from that well know auction site at very reasonable rates

 

Paul R

[81A Oldoak]

A quiet morning in the valley at Cwm Bach after Guildex. 

 

 

[pwr]

Looking forward so seeing Class 14's on test runs up here!

 

Paul R

[81A Oldoak]

Manning Wardles everywhere. PALMERSTON and LADYSMITH at Cwm Bach waiting for the order from Evans-the-Shed to move off for the day's work. 

[81A Oldoak]

My latest project is to convert the Minerva Kerr Stuart ROD Victory 0-6-0T into a locomotive inspired by the chunky Robert Stephenson & Hawthorns 0-6-0Ts works numbers 7683 and 7684 of 1951. The model is not an accurate copy of the originals, but is an impression of the prototypes. Only the superstructure has been modified, the Minerva chassis is unaltered.

 

This is a simple conversion comprising mostly the creation and fitting of cab, tank and bunker overlays from 20thou plasticard. The most difficult task is the drawing and cutting of the overlays. I decided not to make the cab spectacles rectangular instead leaving the original portholes. Most of the other work involves details such as new handrails and lamp irons. The valences on the on the buffer beams were cut away, but the chimney and dome were left in situ. 

The photographs show the loco almost ready for painting with primer. I think I will finish it in dark blue with NCB insignia and I might attempt some black and white lining. Works and name plates have been ordered from Narrow Planet and I will choose either “CWM BACH No6” or “MABON”, the Bardic name of William Abraham, the late trade unionist and MP for Rhondda and later Rhondda West.

 

I rather enjoy these RTR conversions. They take me back to the days of converting Airfix AFV kits: I was especially proud of my Priest self-propelled gun blended from the Airfix Lee/Grant tank and 25 Pounder gun. Stay tuned for the next instalment.

 

Regards,

 

Chris K

 

[NeilHB]

Very nicely done Chris.

 

 

[keefr2]

Looks good Chris - can I ask how  you did the rivets? Impressed through on the reverse of the card or....?

 

Keith

[81A Oldoak]

On 17/09/2019 at 23:26, keefr2 said:

Looks good Chris - can I ask how  you did the rivets? Impressed through on the reverse of the card or....?

 

Keith

Keith,

They were impressed from the rear of the plasticard with a vintage, wooden-handled bradawl.

 

Chris

[81A Oldoak]

The RSH fka Kerr Stuart Victory has been primed for painting. I confess that I am always rather relieved when the primer coat is applied and the loco ceases to look a mess. I shall leave it to harden for a few days. 

[Barnaby]

Very nice Chris it all looks prim and proper, make sure those pesky sea-gulls don't poop on it.

 

Best

[81A Oldoak]

Attached are some photos of a Minerva Kerr Stuart VICTORY 0-6-0T posing at Cwm Bach that I have recently weathered for a customer. The brief was to simulate the effect shown on the prototype photo of FRANCES. It was a something of a challenge, but I hope I have captured the appearance of the real thing. NB the cylinder drain-cocks are not attached for security in transit.
Regards,
CK

Edited November 14, 2019 by 81A Oldoak
Added a sub-clause.

[81A Oldoak]

It seems to Victory week.  My conversion of a Minerva Kerr Stuart Victory 0-6-0T an RSH-esque loco continues to progress. This is a simple conversion involving little more than bits of plasticard cut to shape. The handwheel on the smokebox door came from spare Minerva Manning Wardle parts and the safety valves are from a box of Minerva Peckett E spares. The whistle was found in the general box of spares. The nameplates are Narrow Planet and carry the bardic name for the late William Abraham MP, a famous trade unionist and MP for the Rhondda, later Rhondda West constituencies for 35 years. The next jobs are to fit DCC sound and weathering.

Chris K