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After 6 months of trying and failing to get anyone to make a laser cut kit from my Autocad files I have decided to take matters into my own hands and sort the station once and for all. I saw Ratio now produce a William Clarke style station building, which I thought might make a starting point for my kitbash. They also make an etched roof light, so I gathered my raw materials. This approach would surely meet with Mr Clarke’s approval as he was essentially an early proponent of design and build, adapting a set of plans for stations to fit multiple sites and local materials. The plans were drawn by my late father from pictures, maps and from photos I obtained when the station was shamefully demolished over a weekend. If people are interested I can put a link to the Autocad files in my next post. The plan was to get all the parts from two kits and cut and shut each elevation to fit the plans. I experimented with staggered joins and straight, I will go back and micro fill all the gaps before final assembly. I have used this technique before and with careful finishing it can be very tidy. The poly cement used for joining can also start the filling process. Be sure to put thin reinforcements on the back of joins over lintels etc and leave to set on a flat surface. Cuts were made with a sharp hobby knife, steel rule and patience, cleaned up with a needle file. After a short while the front elevation was nearly finished. We have most of the right door and window apertures, just not necessarily in all the right places... The rear elevation presented a challenge, since one half of the building is mostly windows. I did cheat a bit, the three WC windows are now one long oblong window. This side will be away from the main view angle and I think it looks OK. I considered scratch building the window section, then realised the doors were all in the right pace. I filled in the bottom with off cuts and will re scribe the bricks later. That means the whole of the original building, which is wider than the extension, is now done, I have the gable ends to make up, which will be done in plasticard with DAS clay overlay, to scribe the stonework in. At the opposite end the “extension” part which is narrower was the perfect width for the Ratio kit, I just have to buy one more kit to make the platform elevation. Work done I took the dog to the beach for a paddle. Which may or may not be upside down, depending on your hemisphere or personal orientation... Next time- “I love it when a station comes together...”

Ah, thats better, a bit of wagon building. Nice relaxing stuff. In this case its a pair of D59 wagons from the “true line models” kit, available from the CRA. Many thanks to Tony Brenchley for making the range available. Resin body, my usual type of chassis. As ever full history in “Caledonian Railway Wagons’ by Mike Williams. These two have the later 1905 style end door. Thought I would have a go at weathering them a bit, that coal dust gets everywhere. And just a bit of a panorama from the direction which isn’t usually viewed. Gives me an eye on what it all looks like. Still a bit of a wide open space.

While the stock boxes were out today, I took the opportunity to take a pics of some of my stock. Bachmann 56xx in Lined Green-this shouts South Wales to me more than Shirley Bassey in Cardiff carrying a leek! Then my new kid on the block,bought as a bargain because of a broken buffer.....love a bargain! Both of the above have crew,coal, lamps and very importantly for South Wales; Duty Discs. Then we have these two scruffy individuals that work in the colliery itself. The Austerity is a Dapol one,DCC Chipped.The cab vent and roof vent are both open,the Peckett's origins are clear to see. I know Hornby's Peckett is magnificent but at a ton, it's too much money to consider.

After a very enjoyable weekend at Expo EM I've had time this week to get back to the mogul. This is the current state of play. Footplate and cab done so far. This is made easier by the use of my RSU and I've discovered the technique promoted elsewhere of using slivers of solder, placing these near the join and watching it flow once the foot pedal is depressed. There are a lot of overlays in the kit but the RSU has made light work of them. The engine will be 5311 so has the longer splasher mid cover on the right hand side. It's going to need a really good clean before its finished!

So, finally part 50! I have started the benchwork. It's 1/2" construction Plywood that I had the lumber yard rip for me in 5" widths. I have glued and nailed the modules together. The longest sections will be 8' and no one wider than 2'. That will make it easier to move if needed. This is the first two sections:

Yes, I have made some progress with the Standard 2 tank, but it seems to be at a glacial rate. Various details have been added but it has also involved re-fitting bits I've managed to knock off (probably not very well attached in the first place) or having to move existing parts that interfered with new, additional items and in a couple of cases, removing new bits because they prevented re-assembly of the whole thing. Definitely a case of two steps forward and one and a half back! Some of the newly added parts are custom etchings very nicely made by Justin Newitt of Rumney Models, based on my fairly rudimentary sketches. Thanks Justin - they fitted beautifully. There are still some more parts to come, including a replacement cab roof, but the ones fitted so far are the wheel balance weights, brackets which support the push-pull vacuum actuators and the tank support straps. The push-pull apparatus is now completed, as best I can, including most of the associated piping and a representation of the electrical jumper cables, front and back. The only parts of the original kit which have survived are the vertical leg of the outside steam pipes and the vacuum diaphragm actuators mounted on the smokebox sides. Parts still to do are the top, front and the bunker mounted lamp irons, fire-iron holders, lubricator drives and the cab roof. The smokebox dart, number and shed plate will be fitted after painting (by David Clarke). I might need to do a bit of filling and sanding on the drop sections of the footplate at the front. Here are a few photos of the current state of the loco. I also need to re-fit the speedometer drive which I managed to break off during handling of the body. Dave.