aberdare

Andy I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out as I was thinking it was something I may need to do in the future. I was weighing up the cost of making moulds against buying the parts and I know the more parts I want the better it is, just a case of being selective of what to copy I guess. I'll keep an eye out for the next update. Jim

Perfect timing Jeff as I had just popped in for a look. It's looking pretty good now and that is one seriously big hill, a bit of colour and a few sheep and it's sorted Jim

Well he's missed it. No more ideas tonight Jeff, my brain hurts

Or just a collapsed piece of wall where those blasted sheep run through leaving a track with rough grass on the side leading away along the join.

That's the idea Jeff What you can do then is as the wall leaves the join some areas of rough grass or clumps can then 'block' the view of the join as there can be grass like this protected from the winds, a sheep track can then lead off to the right so that the eye follows the wall (left) or track (right). A little further along the join a couple of sheep will have wandered off the path to graze on the lush grass. The sheep track can lead the eye to the packhorse bridge from there, jim

Hi Jeff Had SQuirreL issues this end but all seems to be OK now Looking good on the plastering of the valley and I am impressed by the fact that you braved the cold and completed so much, I popped into my garage and thought bu99er this and came back indoors. As for the join I wondered if you would run a wall along some of its length, but I'm sure you will have something in mind. Jim

Ahh! The trusty old wire mesh this time I see. What made you change to that Jeff as you seemed quite happy doing your own thing earlier, it should enable you to use a bit less bandage though with a bit of luck. It will mean the next lot goes further. I tend to use the cardboard strips personally as it's free, it's an effect off moving to Yorkshire apparently . Looking forward to the hills growing and receiving an earthy colour. Jim (not overdoing the smileys so there's more for Andy & Polly)

Hi Jeff It's looking good now all the formers are in place, as for streams they meander between the banks from my experience of crossing them, it just depends where all the rocks end up. So plenty of scope there to do whatever you want. I'm starting to feel guilty now not having done anything for a few days, I'd better get motivated again. Jim

Great idea there Jeff I must admit that I want to do something similar as I wish to have large scenic areas to give the layout more depth in photographs, I would then have these as removable sections for access but I haven't thought about it too hard yet until I have somewhere for it to go. It makes the planning easier if you have it all in front of you. Look forward to the next instalment. Jim

Hi Dave Thanks for thinking of me and posting that. I had seen it on Google earth when I was checking the river direction and local lanes that may have crossed the track even though it has changed considerably over the years, mores the pity but that's progress. I did pay a visit to the site just after the dairy was demolished but there is so little left now I just use the street view option to look at what remains, the only thing of note being the road bridge over the river, everything else has to come from photographs. Good to know the site may be put to some use. Jim

Well knowing Jeff and his woodworking - solid 4x2 stuff - it can't be anything delicate like a small bridge so maybe it's a viewing platform for some aerial shots of the viaduct on the next video Apart from that I haven't a clue so I will just have to wait patiently. Is it tomorrow yet? Bu99er!! Jim

Well done Jeff At least you can get that bit of track sorted now so it was worth the time and effort completing the circuit. It looks as though walls is going to be the new grass in this thread now! Jim

I have only just come across this thread as well and I had to check again that it actually was 2mm. The detail that you have achieved in modelling those shops is fantastic, I can only dream of reaching such standards. I had to read it again to make sure I hadn't missed anything. Jim

I can't imagine having more than one layout, what I've got is more than enough to keep me busy for the rest of my life. Mind you it is heart breaking to smash up and skip all you have done in the past but as long as the new is better it can't be a bad thing. Jeff it is good to know that you have almost completed the wiring, keep it up. Jim

I think we all know the feeling well Mikkel, I sold off a lot of kits and stock that I had for years, but I think it was for the best as I am now more focused on a particular period. As for the sizes of the coach you had once, it was recorded as being 13ft long, so I can work out the height and wheel size - they are smaller than later ones - as for the width I would have to make a guess, no more than 8ft though. I thought that with the length being so short the compartments would be to narrow at a little over 4ft each but I noticed that some Holden stock was only 4' 93/4 so an early coach like this with basic bench seats probably would be narrow. Whatever the size is I don't believe too many people would say it was wrong. It is certainly a tempting little project and a challenge that I do not believe I can resist, I wonder where we find the extra time needed to achieve all our ambitions in this hobby? Jim

Hi Mikkel I'm envious of the fact that you had one once, I would love to have had that model and I can understand why you were loath to part with it, having seen some of the models you have sold and are selling I would have found it extremely difficult to part with any of them, if I had the money they would be all residing in my house. I remember now going through your blogs when I first joined and being inspired by your models and thinking that is how I want mine to look, I have a lot of work ahead of me but will get there in the end with plenty of time and patience . I feel I want to have a go at coach building now but I must resist and and concentrate on the buildings first. Thanks for posting the images and links. Jim

Hi Chris I got a bit tied up with other things for a while so didn't have time to spend looking them up, but Yes you have found the one with Culm Valley not Hemyock on the solebar. According to one book I have it came from the Monmouth Railway and canal company to the GWR in 1875 and appeared on the line on opening in 1876, apparently it was built in Liverpool in 1848 so maybe the same carriage builders supplied other Welsh companies. It just goes to show that the coach was already 28 years old when sent to Hemyock so it would appear there wasn't much importance in supplying state of the art stock! There was certainly some three compartment stock still running on the line just before the turn of the century, it would appear that in the early 1900s some four compartment stock was found and used, I can see there was a composite and what appears to be a three compartment brake third used so I may see what I can find and base them on those in fig10,p14 and fig17, p17 in JHs book. At least they have no tumblehome and and square panelling which should simplify things. Plenty of interesting research to do before I get the plastic and knife out. Jim

Hi Polly I usually just brush a thin coat of precision primer on the small pieces I do or even just a coat of whichever grey Humbrol paint I think suits, once that is dry I then use the diluted acrylics. I was never happy with using acrylics straight off as it never seemed as good without that base coat, just a personal preference I guess. If you get to making a ladder like mine then the blue tack on the end of a pencil or similar will help in getting the steps upright and in line whilst the glue is hardening, that's the fiddly bit, don't forget to tape the side bar down. Good luck Jim

Cheers Jeff It's surprising how a few small changes can make a difference and almost complete the picture. No, there is no period change as all my stock has been chosen for this period, it was a time of great change for the design and livery of most things on the GWR and I want too capture as much of that as I can in the years to come. I'll have to go and check what I said now! Jim Chris - I'll check on the coaches but I know it will be similar to one in Jim Russels book Vol1, it has 'Hemyock' on the sole bar but that particular one may be a bit too early.

Chris Luckily for me the coaches I need did not have a tumblehome so that makes life easier, I think - if my memory is correct - that the panelling even has square corners which is why I thought about building them. As for forming them if I needed I did think of making a wooden former to wrap them to before dunking in hot water, a bit time consuming to make but it should do a few if well sealed. Other than that I would use formers at the compartment partitions and under the seats at the ends, I know I'll end up doing it one day as there are quite a few coaches Iv'e seen that give off that 'must have' urge. I have looked at the Cleminson wheel set too and Followed 'Il Dottores' challenge thread last year to see how it went.. Let me know how it goes if you start before me (more than likely). Jim

Jeff I'm with you on that, I like to see a good mix of goods wagons but the period I model means they will be a bit different to yours, I just like to see the different shapes, styles and liveries as it makes for a much more interesting train. But then again... I can have clerestories, 4 and 6 wheelers with arc roofs together, Hmmm, might have to rethink now No hurry on the cds, I appreciate you doing them and you know I'm a patient sort of guy. Jim

Hi Andy It's been a while since I last looked in on here and I am impressed by what you have achieved so far, I love all the Kit/RTR bashing stuff as I did a bit many years ago and have some more to do so I will be following what you do and how you did it, I might need to know. Iv'e started to follow it now so I don't forget again. Jim

Hi Jeff Great little video there. I thought it was great that the first pass was nice and steady over the new track and and viaduct and then went hell for leather Whatever that step in the track is it's not as big as the one that appeared on my track Jim

Nothing like an impending deadline to add a bit of pressure, mind you I don't think anyone had spotted any areas that seemed incomplete. I find that when the model is as good as this with several points of interest that we tend not to focus on what's not there as there is so much else to see. I look forward to seeing it in print sometime later in the year. Jim

Hi Billy Thanks, I do need to complete the current buildings plus the engine shed and then I will have at least one half of the current boards finished this year, I can then concentrate on building the butter factory and cottages as well as the rest of the station. Plenty of fencing to make too which is pretty time consuming, so I may well have lots of room to play in but it will be a while before it is filled. My next exhibition could be York, but if not then it may well be the members day if/when we get one! I'll try and remember not to get side tracked right up until it is time to leave should we meet up, then we can have that drink and a chat. Jim