Cambrian Shed (nearly Aberystwyth shed). Now with Cambrian Mainline diorama

[SteamingWales]

Hello everyone, and welcome to Cambrian Shed! 

 

 

Now I have your attention you probably have various burning questions about the layout. So sit tight and read on to find out more!

 

Inspiration for the layout

 

Over the past few years I have been developing an interest in the general mid-Wales Cambrian network, the locos that ran during its lifetime and most notably Aberystwyth. The interest in Aber specifically has spawned from having lived in the town for the past 5 years (although I have recently moved away) and I therefore wanted to create a snapshot of the place in its heyday and thought what better thing to do than recreate the engine shed

 

Aberystwyth but not Aberystwyth 😕 what the hell does that mean?

 

The answer to this question is that I am aiming to capture the look and feel of the shed (track plan below) but not fully recreate it down to the millimetre and obviously gives some comprise with space and the construction of buildings etc. for example the coal stage is a GWR one but there are some minor differences to the one that was actually built at Aber and the track plan may vary a little. That being said I have been staring at photos in various archives to capture the shed to the utmost accuracy 😅 

 

And an aerial view of the actual baseboard for good measure

 

 

So what era is it going to be?

 

The shed is going to be based on the post-1938 rebuild i.e. the current shed in Aberystwyth that the now VoR occupies, which narrows down the selection of eras a little bit. I've always been into BR steam vs grouping so I have specifically chosen to model the summer of 1960, with a bit of slop either side of this by a year or so, because more research always has the potential to throw a spanner in the works, or I was a bit stupid with the Std 3 🤦‍♂️(see below). I chose this period specifically as it was an interesting time on the Cambrian as the last few Dukedogs were still in service, with the BR Standards becoming ever more common (but not dominant) alongside the GWR stalwarts such as the Manors, Moguls and 2251

 

Below is all the research I have so far with regards locos that will appear "on shed" at any given time which includes mostly locos I already own or have on pre-order (I'm holding out for a new 2251 and Pannier to be announced)

 

 

 

 

 

Edited October 29, 2023 by SteamingWales
Title change

[SteamingWales]

Thought I would just share a bit of progress so far. The most complete/most progressed building at the moment is the coal stage.

 

It's is based upon the Scalescene GWR coal stage which has been clad in plasticard, with the large brick arches being 3D prints and the smaller ones being from York Modelmaking to match the windows frames from them too.

 

The basic Scalescene blueprint has been modified a little too with an additional window added to one end to reflect the one found on the prototype and a few other minor tweaks

 

The current current stage of progress with it is painting with the initial base applied to the outside and the second coat currently drying, with the inside walls already painted

 

 

 

As a side note the VoR are currently in the process of restoring the original running shed which has involved shot blasting the brick work of the old paint (see FB link if interested) https://www.facebook.com/734086926942157/posts/1641184089565765/?sfnsn=scwspmo

 

This has been rather useful for the project in trying to decide paint colours. Once all the work is completed there I think a visit is definitely one the card. 

 

Now which highlight shades to use 🤔🤔🤔

 

 

 

[Captain Kernow]

Is this 4mm scale, please?

 

It looks totally fab, anyway, looking forward to seeing this develop.

 

PS. What's the provenance of the 74XX in the top photo, please?

 

[SteamingWales]

1 hour ago, Captain Kernow said:

Is this 4mm scale, please?

 

Yes 4mm. That is OO scale right? 😅

 

1 hour ago, Captain Kernow said:

PS. What's the provenance of the 74XX in the top photo, please?

 

The 74XX is a conversion from the Bachmann 64XX. I'm not skilled enough/confident enough to have the conversion myself so it was converted and weathered by James Hilton

[SteamingWales]

I think I have found the most tedious thing in modelling tonight with painting individual brick. Only 3 more sides to go now. Yay 😫😫😫

 

 

N.B. the area under the arch isn't highlighted as the will be hidden beneath the earth bank 

[russell price]

I’m modelling Welshpool,  one loco type noticeably absent on Cambrian metals were the majority of pannier tank classes, I can justify a 2021 and 64/7400 classes but not much else, tender locos being preferred due to their coal and water capacities 

[SteamingWales]

I hate painting brick work, only 3 different colours to go. Please send help 😭😭😭

 

Edited May 17, 2022 by SteamingWales

[SteamingWales]

4 hours ago, russell price said:

I’m modelling Welshpool,  one loco type noticeably absent on Cambrian metals were the majority of pannier tank classes, I can justify a 2021 and 64/7400 classes but not much else, tender locos being preferred due to their coal and water capacities 

 

That is precisely why I commissioned the 74xx. A GWR/WR layout wouldn't be complete without a pannier and like you say it was only the 74xx mostly. 

 

The one exception I have found is an 8750 No. 3630 that was allocated to Machynlleth for a few years from and I assume worked as a station pilot at Aberystwyth as shed bash records show her there and I have found a photo somewhere too

 

But yes, generally few panniers and not the common ones

[SteamingWales]

Finally managed to complete the painting of all the brick work and add the mortar courses on the coal stage 🥳🥳🥳

 

I think I regained a bit of sanity during the process by adopting a little and often approach. Given this was my first attempt at a plasticard brick building I'm pretty pleased with the results. 

 

 

Now onto the massive list of jobs to complete:

 

Add the windows

Paint the door lintels

Add window sills to the windows

Fix/redo the arches over the tracks

Design and 3D print the coal drop

Complete the internals of the coal stage

Work out how to tackle the water tank

Source some water tank steps

Build the side access steps

Weathering

 

Most of these are "little" jobs (except the water tank) so I feel as though I am over the hump with this building

 

As an aside I managed to go and see 34046 "Braunton" on the Fellsman at Garsdale on Wednesday. First mainline steam since pre-pandemic and didn't realise how much I have missed this!!!!

 

[SteamingWales]

On 22/05/2022 at 17:20, SteamingWales said:

Add the windows

Paint the door lintels

Add window sills to the windows

Fix/redo the arches over the tracks

Design and 3D print the coal drop

Complete the internals of the coal stage

Work out how to tackle the water tank

Source some water tank steps

Build the side access steps

Weathering

 

Time to start ticking stuff off this list

 

I thought I would start off with the coal drop. This has been designed using various images for reference to get the "look" of the prototype whilst also compromising to fit the model coal stage

 

I spent last night designing the initial shape in Fusion 360 and set the 3D printer going this morning so I had v1 of the coal drop ready to clean up after work

 

 

Cleaned up it was time for a test fit. Easier said than done as it was designed slightly large than the allowed gap so a bit of filing, sanding, hacking and crushing 👀 later it fit

 

 

Even though it is a pretty mangled test print at this point the overall shape is just about there I think. The fixes to the dimensions have already been made prior to posting this so a v2 test print is probably in order to check fit again. After fit is confirmed I can then design in the finer details and print the final version

[ChrisN]

This appears to be an interesting build.  It might be worth posting a short thread with a link in 'The Railways of Wales' as you may draw followers who specifically model Welsh Railways.

[B15nac]

Very impressive coaling stage.

 

Regards Neil

[SteamingWales]

Bit more of an update on the coal drop

 

The main drop is now complete and painted. I think I'm happy with the finish for now but a bit more weathering might be needed.

 

 

I'm still to finish the coal drop flappy thing (not sure what to call it 😂). I think it needs to be a lot smaller having looked at some photos of the ones at Didcot. On a positive note it has been designed to function in CAD and the test print does actually work properly. A small revision of the design and it should be good to go!

 

 

EDIT/UPDATE

 

As I can never finish things before starting another rather than finish the drop I thought I would make a start on the stairs with a rough mock up in card and a bit more accurate sketch.

 

 

So time to draw this up in CAD. I'll update the flappy thing too and print both together me thinks 

Edited June 1, 2022 by SteamingWales
More progress

[SteamingWales]

Bank holiday modelling after a 2 hour bike ride followed by a brisk walk up onto Ilkley Moor

 

The aforementioned steps have been drawn up in CAD and are now in the process of being printed. The extra piece for the coal drop is being printed too so it will be all go once printing is finished!

 

 

[SteamingWales]

Time for a summary of the weekends modelling me thinks

 

The coal drop is now complete! As previously mentioned I have adjusted the size of it as I thought it was to tall/long. I'm now pleased with the look so a bit of painting and mounting later it is finished! I did previously mentioned that it swung (and it does) but given the fragility and exposed nature of the piece I have superglued it into position

 

 

With the drop, I also printed the access stairs and managed to successfully remove all the supports with no breakages. The plastic is still a bit soft so needs to cure a bit longer before I think about paint. This hasn't been helped today with a cloudy and wet day ☁️☁️🌧️🌧️ Although just lent up against the stage it gives an idea of what it will look like, although the finished thing won't be radioactive ☢️☢️

 

 

Unable to advance with the steps I have moved onto the internals of the coal stage. To be complete this needed 3 things doing (I think):

1. A floor

2. Tank/roof supports

3. Coal (duhhh)

 

The floor was an easy job. Just a thin piece of plasticard painted black.

 

The tank roof supports are made from various plastic strips with H beam for the main support and some thick rectangular piece I had left over from a different project. This now sits in some spaces cut into the internal brickwork so it is nice and solid and the view inside is now pretty good

 

 

 

Lastly it wouldn't be a coal stage without coal! The basis for the piles are a couple of bits of polystyrene, painted black and then real coal on top. I'm a bit more advanced now that the photo but will post a completed photo when finished 

 

 

To finish I just though I would have look at me list and progress:

 

Add the windows ✅

Paint the door lintels

Add window sills to the windows

Fix/redo the arches over the tracks

Design and 3D print the coal drop ✅

Complete the internals of the coal stage ✅

Work out how to tackle the water tank

Source some water tank steps

Build the side access steps ✅

Weathering

 

Slow and steady!!!!

 

[B15nac]

Just superb modelling looks spot on. Bit of info on the water tank that I didn't no intel recently is the corigated roof didn't go to the ends there was a gap so the water ran off it into the tank.

 

Regards Neil

[SteamingWales]

37 minutes ago, B15nac said:

Just superb modelling looks spot on. Bit of info on the water tank that I didn't no intel recently is the corigated roof didn't go to the ends there was a gap so the water ran off it into the tank.

 

Regards Neil

 

Very interesting regards the water tank. Makes sense really given rain is free!

[B15nac]

Any more progress?

 

Kind regards Neil 

[SteamingWales]

On 23/06/2022 at 21:55, B15nac said:

Any more progress?

 

Kind regards Neil 

 

Hoping to post something this weekend. 3D printer currently knocking out the next little bits

 

 

 

[gismorail]

A very impressive build going on here to an extremely high standard. I just wish I had the knowledge and skills to use a 3D printer it really does puts modelling into another dimension. Thanks for sharing your project and I will follow it with interest . 

[SteamingWales]

Update time me thinks!

 

First off I do have a decent excuse for the lack of progress. Last weekend I completed the Lakesman Ironman triathlon as part of a relay team (I did the cycle) so the focus has been on that the last few weeks

 

 

Fully rested the focus is now on hill climb season (and more modelling obviously). No train stuff out the way what's been happening?

 

The 3D printer has been busy again (see above ☝️☝️☝️) printing out a batch of little coal hoppers that would have been used in the coal stage

 

 

 

I have also printer another outer part to essentially model the drop in an up as well down position. The current is only push fit so the plan is for them to be exchangeable for photographic purposes as a fixed down position is at cab clipping height, demonstrated here by 7827 https://zenfolio.page.link/4LSYp. The weather looks a bit cooler next week so all these will be painted and weathered soon.

 

The shed foreman has also had a recruitment drive with a number of shed staff and fitters taken on (AKA an arrival from ModelU making use of Jubilee 15% off). These aren't a priority but I couldn't resist popping the hoppers and figure in the coal stage for a planned scene.

 

 

 

With the coal stage drawing to a close (can't be bothered with the tank for now) I have moved my attention to the other buildings

 

First up the main shed!

 

Currently only one side the complete-ish and the other side non existent. I'll go into this at more detail at some point but for now I have been cutting out the main walls from greyboard with the finished product next to them for context.

 

 

I also forgot I had actually already started on another building too and rediscovered it whilst having a tidy. This is the beginnings of the workshop, or maybe its the staff rooms not sire, which was to the south of the shed and was originally built with original Cambrian Railways shed - link here for context https://zenfolio.page.link/hccGU (don't look at 7803, behind her!!!!). Most of the building was rendered so will need a bit of thinking how to tackle that 🤔🤔🤔

 

 

Until next time happy modelling 🚂🚂🚂

 

Edited June 26, 2022 by SteamingWales
Adding more images

[ChrisN]

2 hours ago, SteamingWales said:

 

I also forgot I had actually already started on another building too and rediscovered it whilst having a tidy. This is the beginnings of the workshop, or maybe its the staff rooms not sire, which was to the south of the shed and was originally built with original Cambrian Railways shed - link here for context https://zenfolio.page.link/hccGU (don't look at 7803, behind her!!!!). Most of the building was rendered so will need a bit of thinking how to tackle that 🤔🤔🤔

 

 

Until next time happy modelling 🚂🚂🚂

 

 

Is the card finish too rough to leave as rendering if you prime it?  Doing the brick pillars will be interesting.

 

Well done on the triathlon, which one is you?

[SteamingWales]

17 hours ago, ChrisN said:

 

Is the card finish too rough to leave as rendering if you prime it?  Doing the brick pillars will be interesting.

 

Well done on the triathlon, which one is you?

 

A bit of googling later I have the solution for the render. 100 grit sand paper

 

I'm the ugly mug on the right of the picture

 

 

[SteamingWales]

Just a short update on progress

 

I have been working on the staff rooms today with the render complete and the brick supports started (just having a break from these to post here)

 

The render is achieved using 100 Grit sandpaper, a technique used by Galgorm Hall over on YouTube, so I was happy to just go ahead and get it stuck to the grey board without testing. Before doing the brick supports I added a coat of grey primer to seal the sandpaper.

 

Onto the brick supports. Nothing special, just bog standard Slater's brick card

 

The doors and windows aren't fixed in. Just loose fitted them for aesthetics.

 

Pretty happy so far. Time to get the bricks finished now

 

 

[Mike 84C]

just a thought about the coal stage. I don't think there would have been a large pile of coal in the corner, that would have meant handling it twice. At Banbury we had a lot of tubs that were mostly kept full and when a fresh wagon of coal was opened four tubs would be put under the door and the catches knocked up. Most coal went into the tubs! after 1/2 tubs would be filled at a time. The tilting ramp should be high enough to clear the highest parts of large locos and were often seized in the down position.

Coalers and fire droppers were usually very wiry little men or had arms like shot putters. I have helped on both jobs back in the day and very glad I did'nt do it all the time!