Douglas & Kiwiokie's BR Western Region* workbench.

[Florence Locomotive Works]

*North Wales that is!

 

 

Hello all,

 

Welcome to the workbench thread that will accompany the layout thread linked below.

 

 

 

However, here's a photo of Pwllheli station below. Please forgive the pre grouping wagons, they are simply to nice.

 

So, the workbench(s). Whats on them?

 

On my dad's or @kiwiokie their is currently this brand new but 10 years old Hornby Fowler tank, which runs but also doesn't: after a days work we ended up finding the one of splines for a gear in the depths of the chassis has been made to short, and the gear slips off it frustrating ease. The engine was bought in about 2011 and never run until Thursday, so we don't know if this problem relates to long term storage (it was in a stable environment) or just a production mistake. If you have any suggestions please feel free to say something.

 

 

 

Pictured at least partially above, is what's on my much messier workbench. A Bachmann ex. GWR Manor class number 7823, Hook Norton Manor, which I am currently attempting to super detail (first time for me). Above we see a cutout in the tender frames I made in order to close couple the 3500 ga tender to the engine. Below we see the finished arandment, and the engine and tender.

 

 

 

So what all has been done to super-detail the engine I hear the masses cry? Well, last night a large order was placed with Messrs Roxey Mouldings for a etched GWR screw reverser, a turned brass smokebox dart, turned brass tender brake and water scoop handles, and new brass whistles, all from Markits. However, today the tender was given a dusting of real coal, and a fine wire loop installed until loads of Kadee couplers are purchased for all the stock. The I also painted the backhead, and the incorrect driver and fireman's chairs were removed. The backhead painting could be a bit better, but it will suffice for now. The supplied brake rodding for engine and tender has also been installed, and hopefully a crew from Modelu will be bought.

 

 

 

 

The photo below is of the engine after these modifications, (minus the stuff from Roxey) pulling the down Cambrian Coast Express into Pwllheli station, strangely missing headboard.

 

 

Douglas

Edited February 7, 2021 by Florence Locomotive Works

[Florence Locomotive Works]

Various things were purchased from Wizard Models this evening.

 

They included:

 

1. Some Alan Gibson Collet parallel square base sprung buffers.

2. Scale 3 link couplers from somewhere.

3. A set of whitemtal fire irons.

 

All going well they should arrive before mid march.

 

Douglas

[Ian Major]

Excellent stuff.

 

Will you be modelling some of Station Square in front of the station? Up to 1926 (I think) the horse-drawn Pwllheli and Llanbedrog tramway terminated there. With a bit of modeller's licence you could keep it open in to the preservation era. Failing that, one of the tram cars was mounted outside the station as a tourist office.

 

Link to photo of a tram outside the station.

http://www.tramwaybadgesandbuttons.com/page148/page151/page418/files/pwllhelicorpstation_t0026lrs-red.jpg 

 

and a link to the article containing it.

 

http://www.tramwaybadgesandbuttons.com/page148/page151/page418/page418.html 

 

Here is a link to a photo of one of the tram bodies in use as a tourist office outside of the station.

 

https://rcts.zenfolio.com/miscellaneous-and-road-vehicles/miscellaneous-railways/tramways/hF463FF88#hf463ff88

 

Apologies if this is already known to you!

 

Ian.

[Florence Locomotive Works]

9 hours ago, Ian Major said:

Excellent stuff.

 

Will you be modelling some of Station Square in front of the station? Up to 1926 (I think) the horse-drawn Pwllheli and Llanbedrog tramway terminated there. With a bit of modeller's licence you could keep it open in to the preservation era. Failing that, one of the tram cars was mounted outside the station as a tourist office.

 

Link to photo of a tram outside the station.

http://www.tramwaybadgesandbuttons.com/page148/page151/page418/files/pwllhelicorpstation_t0026lrs-red.jpg 

 

and a link to the article containing it.

 

http://www.tramwaybadgesandbuttons.com/page148/page151/page418/page418.html 

 

Here is a link to a photo of one of the tram bodies in use as a tourist office outside of the station.

 

https://rcts.zenfolio.com/miscellaneous-and-road-vehicles/miscellaneous-railways/tramways/hF463FF88#hf463ff88

 

Apologies if this is already known to you!

 

Ian.

 

Thank you Ian,

 

I don't think we will be modelling the station square, but maybe a few "feet" of it. I had heard of that horse tram, but couldn't find the sites with pictures of it, so many thanks for those. I believe it's now preserved in a park in Pwllheli?

 

Douglas

Edited February 8, 2021 by Florence Locomotive Works

[Ian Major]

Douglas,

 

Yes, a tram car is preserved in Pwllheli.  See <here>.

 

My favourite shot of the P & L tramway is of passengers in an open car standing in the sort of weather I associate with that part of Wales. <link>

 

My Daughter-in-law's paternal family are from Pwllheli and I love that part of the country. In the '70s I took a holiday by public transport around the railway centres in England and Wales. Part of my trip was a ride from Shrewsbury to Portmadoc (then on to Pwllheli) in a 110(?) dmu. The driver had the blinds and door behind him open to the passenger compartment, and in the tradition of Welsh Male Voice Choirs he serenaded us with the classics. Wonderful.

 

Ian.