JZ

Chimneys and a bit more signage added to The Smiths Arms. Chimney tops are waiting for the glue to dry, then they can be painted and placed. Had planned to get the guttering on today, but it turns out that I am out of 1mm drill bits. The Travellers' Rest is at the same stage now. I'll be adding an outside dunny on this end as the real one, that looks nothing like this, had a lean-to structure there. Station has been assembled and the large door turned into a window to approximate the actual station. No idea what the backside looks like, so I have made the double door a single, but it won't be seen anyway. The far end has different colour bricks, but difficult the tell what colour and this end has a Gents toilet, by the looks of it and the wall appears to be rendered. In an ideal world, I would like to get hold of 3 windows like this, as it appears to be this type at Aberbargoed. I have contacted Peco to see if I can get some, but if any readers have three going spare, I would dearly like to take them off your hands.

Good to see this again.

This is the building that will stand in for the Travellers' Rest. Rather truncated, but it has to be to fit the width of the boards. Originally planned for it to be a cream colour, but it look more white in the YouTube clip above. With only a small pot of white available, I will use Halfords white primer. Bit of a tidy up around the windows and doors. Thoughts now turning to the station itself. I have already blocked out some windows and doors to get it similar to the front layout of the actual building. Would it have missed out being painted in Western Region colours and maybe remained in GWR stone? Also of note is the end wall in a different colour brick. For the running-in board, I have ordered a 3D printed one from a seller on ebay.

From 1:45 to 2:50. r

Waiting for slate tiles from Model Rail Scenery. If I am happy with them, I will get some red and yellow brick paper for the station building. The R.A.O.B was drawn freehand and is crap, so I've now downloaded a sign and will have it as a plaque. Decided to put net curtains behind the RAOB windows. Also made some PUBLIC BAR & LOUNGE BAR signs to go over the doors. Bar windows are half opaque and I have lightly sanded the signs. Ratio will supply the gutters and downpipes. Next will be a look at the Travelers' Rest.

Knocked up the signage for the Travellers' Rest. On the actual building, the letters were raised and are still in situ today, albeit painted over. Unable to find suitable letters, I have decided to have it on a raised frieze(qv) along the front.

Could it be a cummerbund? The 'hobby horse' is used by the present Rhymney Brewery, but in reverse.

"What's she doing on my tower?"

Printed on 50gm paper, it'll need weathering in a bit. Meanwhile I am putting together the upper floor bay window, then the tedious job of glazing all the windows. Fortunately they are all laser cut.

Next was the signage. A text search gives the font as Havelock Titling. A search finds no free downloads and one at a cost of £38.99. Bu99er that. So I used Monserrat, one of the ones in MS Paint, and stretched it. Close enough for me. Above SMITHS there was a brewery sign. In later photo's it can be just made out that it reads Pritchards, the rest of the wording cannot be deciphered. However, in earlier photo's, post war, it reads BUCHANS RHYMNEY BEERS on three lines. DF Pritchard was a Crumlin brewer and all I can find about them is "Acquired by Andrew Buchan's Breweries Ltd. June 1930. Brewery closed and dismantled by receiver." But their logo lived on, the Hobby Horse, and was used by Andrew Buchan's Rhymney Brewery. Interesting fact: Rhymney Brewery was started by the chairman of the Rhymney Iron Co. When the ironworks was sold to the Powell Duffryn Steam Coal Co in 1920 the brewery became a separate company. Registered as Andrew Buchan’s Breweries Ltd in 1929, the name was changed to Rhymney Breweries Ltd in 1959 and acquired by Whitbread in 1966. The brewery closed in 1978. Now this suggests to me that pictures showing the Travellers Rest and Greyhound with Rhymney Beers sign, are post 1959 and Smiths was already closed. So, what shall I do? Probably the model will be around 1960. I don't have the room for the Greyhound. Should I have Smiths still open? In which case it should have the Hobby Horse sign. Or maybe the Buchans sign on the front, but a hobby horse on the end wall?

Cement rendering on. A little filler needed on the corner. The window opening look a bit tatty, but will be covered when the windows are in.

And the bonus. 2017 2018

Just sprayed the B-17 cockpit and other glazing using masks. Why I hadn't considered using them before eludes me.

Made a start on the building that will represent the Smiths Arms. Windows and doorways have been made a bit smaller so I can use Tichy Trains products. Although HO, they are large enough for OO. Not intending for it to be an exact copy, just trying to give a flavour of the original. The end wall, below has to have some openings added, which will be done when I get my Dremel back from my daughter's partner tomorrow. Once these are cut out and the wall fixed in place, I will cover it in craft paper to give the texture of rendering, before adding the windows and doors. I shall also add an upper floor bay window between the windows on the righthand end. For the station building, I am going to use the Peco LK-200 kit as a base.

I've had the mask for the Zero cockpit a couple of weeks and today decided it was time to use them. I gave it a coat of grey primer before the green. So much better than doing it freehand, or even using masking tape and/or liquid mask. I have now ordered masks for some of the other kits I have. Next will be to get on and finish the B-17

It got there on it's own. Nothing to do with me.

Part 4.

Part 3. The feed mill i s only here temporarily, as I wanted it in for our depot magazine, Bristol Temple Reads. Smaller industrial units will replace it and the background buildings.

Part 2. Taken as I finished and removed the bridge section across the doorway.

First operating session of the year today. Part 1.

Exploring the house bit by bit and yesterday she found a bit of sun in my store room.