Devonbelle

Well the layout never made Winchester 2018 Show - the Norwegian layout went instead. I found by August 18 I wasn’t sufficiently far enough ahead of the layout; and did not want to rush it as it is a hobby after all. Track is all in now. Wired up and tested and the station building glued Down. Now my degree is all complete (studying outside working day) I can give Stari my attention now. Few pictures taken in August reflect progress.

Well the layout was back out yesterday at the excellent Winchester O gauge Continental and American Show. Good attendance and well organised. I keep fiddling away improving the layout. The real change will come when NMJ bring out the Nohab and I can start running pass trains. The Nohab is on order.

Just back from seeing the real thing in Croatia. A few days travelling the Split Perkovic line, and taking lots of photos for items to model. A treat was daytime loco hauled trains Fri, Sat and Sun mornings Split-Perkovic and back, to cover a shortage of DMUs/plus DMU Maintenance. The Split Zagreb sleeper train was used to convey a failed DMU for works attention and bring a ‘good’ one back from Zagreb, the one in plain red. HZ rail staff great imparting what trains were about and they let me into Solin depot, in the Split suburbs. They were somewhat taken aback someone is building a model based on Kastel Stari station! Modelling update next week.

Had this afternoon working on the baseboards. Recycled pasting table, being used suitably beefed, now topped with 9mm mdf and in parts topped again with more 9mm mdf. I want to create the appearance of the railway being cut into a ledge - which of course it is at Kastel Stari on the Split Knin line and in either direction for many miles. So there will be circa 3 or 4 levels in play, I find this helps dispel the table top appearance of my earlier French o layout, Nouvion. There are some shots attached, with the station building in approx position. The track is Peco flat bottom points and plain line. I have wired the points with micro - switches in, which so helps electrical conductivity. I could not resist getting a few of the excellent Brawa freight cars out. The class 33 in shot is the test loco, after I’d wire up each point set - that was last Sunday’s job.

Looks excellent Neil. Very inspirational.

Thanks very much for the supportive comments and offers of help. Special thanks to Patrick for the hunt he has embarked as to the plans. Also special thanks to Neil, I had a vague recollection some DB Railbuses had come south to what is now Croatia - so with the bit between my teeth I have ordered a Lenz DB railbus- should be with me next week, then I’ll have the spray paint out and it with go in HZ blue and silver. Some model railway time this weekend so I’ll post an update. The layout BTW is planned to debut at the Continental O gauge show at Winchester in October this year, would be a pleasure to meet some of you then. Regards Paul

Tim asked about stock. Hmm that’s a challenge, I was spoiled there’s so much RTR O European stock, just none Croatian! So my plan is to use my European freight stock which gets a run out on my Norwegian and French 0 layouts, but I need something HZ. So I plan to scratch build a single car DMU, in my picture. I’ve found a side on diagram of one. Perspex is my planned medium and in the first instance that will get me up and running. Plus I have a Playcraft (?) Henschel diesel shunter in the bits box. So before the layouts first public appearance I’m aiming to have the DMU and the Henschel. After that who knows. I have some spare Lima UIC coaches so they could be bashed into HZ Counterparts. But I’d really need a HZ pukka diesel loco. Ozjusko is a long burn project and I have really gone to town with the station - it’s not finished yet but below is it’s current state - it’s fixed to the boards by screws. Thanks Paul

Hello all, I’ve been footling away for the last 4 months on an o gauge scratch built station. All started last October when I was packed off to Croatia for a few days R&R by Mrs Devonbelle, who felt sorry for me after my taking her and our lads on summer holiday to Dubrovnik and there being no trains, last one left in 1976! Upshot of the October trip I was bitten by the Croatian railway bug, loud American diesel locos, stunning scenery, stations that still have small signal box’s, station masters, mix of loco hauled passenger, DMU and freight services. I based myself in Split and was very taken with the achitecture of the country stations, when I travelled the Split Zagreb line. I thought I’d scratch build one. Things have moved on and a layout is under construction. Plasticard was the building material. I generated a simple plan from photos I took. Pictures of the model and prototype will give you a flavour of how things are shaping up. I’ll do some updates. Thanks Paul

I do indeed mean the 0-6-0 Gordon. It last ran at Bitton in June 1994; double heading with the Hunslet Saddle tank Darfield. Val Baldwin (RIP) was firing. J Miles was driving. Littleton No.5 was a noisy locomotive, some old boy once said to me at Bitton when I was the Guard, and Littleton No.5 was working, it sounded like a King Arthur class loco. Paul S

Amazing thread and I have only just found it. This year is 25 years since Littleton Colliery closed. I went on the last day (3-12-93?), I spoke to the surface superintendent, saying I was the Ops Manager of the Avon Valley Railway which had Littleton No.5 (which was our only working steamer at the time; i was then humbled they summoned Western Enterprise and I had a cab ride around the entire system and down to Penkridge. Very sad but at the same time enjoyable. Drive Ray Rushton had me in tears of laughter with stories of Littleton No.5 working in the 60s and 70s. My pictures attached. Paul

4-12-01 The Wrington Vale Light Railway opened - Congresbury to Blagdon with intermediate stations at Burrington, Langford, Wrington. I walked the line last week, well using paths and lanes. Highlight was Blagdon station. A number of parts are still very clear - especially Congresbury to Wrington which closed in 1963. Wrington to Blagdon, closed Nov 1950 is harder - some parts are very clear but between Langford and Burrington in parts, the formation has been completely erased. 1st picture Congresbury just after line branched off Cheddar Valley Second picture between Burrington and Blagdon station. Last picture - Blagdon by site of run round loop headshunt - where land is gated from the main road by the reservoir.

Britvik had an outing today to the very well organised (and friendly) Wimborne O gauge guild show. I've been quietly working away on Britvik, ranging from new buildings, figures, and rolling stock. Pola Maxi 0-4-0 diesel shunter made its debut and ran well. Owing to work commitments this is my only show this year, but today was an enjoyable day.

Attended this morning and really enjoyed the show. My first TVNAM. Good venue and actually straightforward enough by public transport- really appreciated the O gauge and made some purchases from Jason. Few shots attached, of some of the O gauge layouts.

Lovely, really superb. Will be following with interest - just the crossing and the building, with palm trees, tells me Spain - without trains present.

Thanks Rich. It's not a rework of Lapford Gate, it's longer by 2 feet and an extra set of points - with half term coming up this week, and a few days off work - I'll update in progress in Britvik. Paul

Thanks to South Tyne for the words of encouragement - apologies so long to come back - working on the big railway all through Christmas sapped my energy and my time for hobbies. I'll have another spell on the layout and share progress. So I have acquired another O loco - it's a Pola 0-4-0 diesel which will suit the layout (a German Werhmacht machine?). Picked up at the excellent continental show in Brum first week of Dec 2016. As I say, I'll update soon, as I can see some headroom for modelling. All the best Paul.

Hello, after a lull of a few weeks, I've been busy again - some new trees have been planted and anoth pass with the electro static grass thingy. I find multiple passes on different occasions to build up the grass - and then set with hair spray. So Some pictures follow, more to come this week.

Really interesting thread and quite an inspiration - the models are lovely. It always lovely to meet Northroader and his modelling is quite an inspiration. So thank you for that, and look forward to more photos - The photos and accompanying text have given me all sorts of ideas for my layouts existing and future - both Lapford Gate and Britvik will see further work on rolling stock and scenery as the days get shorter. Paul

Well here's the further photos, and Mark asked about the Japanese o gauge - I have an Aoshima 1/45 diesel loco kit (of a DD51 Bo-Bo-Bo) and some buildings and a pair of two by four baseboards. Britvik has priority for now for completion. I've two show bookings for next year. I need get myself into gear and build a Norwegian Y1 railcar. Cheers Paul

Hello. I've been busy on my latest (mad!) project. For some years I've wanted to do a Norwegian model in O gauge, here in the sunny West Country. So what follows is experience to date. 2 x 4 based boards (a pair) hinged to each other, with track laid using Peco flat bottom track. Buildings are general kit built/bashed. The layout is not yet finished but made its debut at the Winchester o gauge continental show last Saturday. Rolling stock is Lima or Rivarossi. I have two locos, see the pictures - the brave bit of me purchased new a V60 Lenz diesel shunter in DB Blue and Cream and then I set to re spraying in NSB Colours - the NSB have examples of these fine machines. I can post a few more shots as work progresses. Paul

Hmm Paul - not sure about an SB - I could cut into the embankment - as per Lapford - you have got me thinking now! Thank you again about the comments - really appreciated - and I look forward to meeting other RM Members in due course - Rich we will meet sooner or later! Railway Rod asked about the class 47 - that's a job for next weekend. In the meantime I'm on with building a Slaters vanwide - they used to carry fertiliser to Torrington - pic below. Also in pic is a new purchase of Saturday - a Dapol milk tank wagon - on the latter I didn't realise there was a massive thread on this forum as to the wagon accuracy - shame wagon not correct - the RM Web thread on the accuracy looked worse than the Watergate scandal - Unigate scandal maybe ) Anyway I shall weather the milk tank to death - recalling when I used to see them as a lad in the 1970s - I still remember Western Druid on a warm summers night at Bristol TM - on a bogie van and a long rake of empty mill tanks - tanks were blackened with rancid milk - I remember the sight and smell now. The milk tank incidentally I purchased from East Somerset models at Cranmore where I visited with Mrs Devonbelle on May BH Saturday needing a steam fix. I was impressed with range of o gauge stock - plus 00 and N - usual disclaimer I'm just a very happy customer and will be back.

Northroader Lovely thread and some lovely modelling in evidence - keep up the postings - one day, just one day I'll do an O gauge US layout - after Nouvion, Lapford Gate and the Japanese layout. Good to see you at Taunton on Sunday last. Paul

Just an awesome thread. A real inspiration - some photos, I wanted to keep clicking the like button - in particular on about page 10 was of a two tone green 47 on load 3 with the coast in the background. Absolute pleasure meeting Howard and Rod on Sunday at Taunton and for,the support and encouragement they gave with my Lapford Gate o gauge efforts. I'll follow this thread with great interest - it's a super inspiration. Paul aka Devonbelle

Great work Dougal. I love the Fowler shunter in ECC livery - superb. One of your shots appeared to have a milk float heading into a building - driven by Pat Mustard? Paul Ps - loving your Presflo cement wagon - I only ever remember Presflos in grotty bauxite - covered in grime and cement

Thank you for the comments the last few days and of course today. And for Mudmagnet yes I would be interested in attending Barnstaple next year. I attach some snaps of Lapford Gate today - its first appearance. I have learnt much and it's next appearance will see the fiddle yards each end of the scenic section. Some visitors today to the Taunton gathering asked about passenger ops, they were limited as the 2 car Met Cam was misbehaving - derailments occurring, so I need repair a defective wheel set. As to next jobs, I've got to get Southern Region semaphores in, string the wires on the telegraph poles and erect the Southern pre cast concrete lamp posts. All the best Paul