Signaller69

Thanks Ruston, Apart from loco crews those 3 figures are the entire population thus far! Being quite an isolated area there were not many folk around, however a lot of photos on internet searches show Enthusiast visits so some photographers will hopefully be added at some point. As for junk, the site was littered with ash piles and discarded timbers, with a liberal covering of almost dead looking grass almost up to the shed doors, hopefully its not over done! (The shed site being formerly part of the English Iron Works iirc.) Martyn.

Thanks, yes Llantanam Abbey would make a good model, I think it differs slightly from Islwyn and Illtyd though not 100% sure. The layout is very much a compressed interpretation of the site (usual Modeller's comment of "I really could do with another couple of feet length and width" applies!), adding the landsale yard/repair shed, and even the siding on a gradient where wagons ran down under gravity through the arch, in order to be hauled by loco up to the Exchange sidings, would make for a very interesting layout but sadly I just don't have space.Hope to visit the Pontypool & Blaenavon at some point, to have trains running over the "Big Arch" would be quite something. :-) Martyn. Edit: Another J94 with cast nameplates is shown in several photos so I'm wondering if that was a Mountain Ash one (which is where 7754 went after working at Talywain)? Hattons do a heavily weathered Mountain Ash J94 so that may be added when funds permit.

My thanks to Ruston for the suggestion, and to Andy Y for relocating this thread into UK Standard Gauge Industrial Modelling. Martyn.

One of the final jobs prior to Saturdays debut outing was to fit the safety fence around the "Big Arch". This was achieved using some etched brass stanchions aimed at the model boat community, picked up a few months ago with this in mind. Holes were drilled at regular intervals in the wall capping and posts down one wall fixed in place with 5 minute epoxy. 3 lengths of Steel 0.5mm piano wire were then bent to shape for the top corner and fed one at a time through the posts. All the posts on the other "axis" were then fed onto the 3 wires before themselves being epoxied into their holes. Rather fiddly but I feel it looks the part after a quick coat of grime. Found time to test run some locos, hence 7754 and a Barclay 0-4-0ST made an appearance. Neither have run for a while and need maintainance, 7754 being sluggish and the Barclay (Kingdom Kits loco I built about 20 years ago) having always had a slight binding or gear meshing issue, and quite noisy as well as the paintwork needing some attention, although given its P4 profile wheels (all I could get in the correct size at the time) it doesn't derail which surprised me!

More detailing done today in readyness for Wrexham show on Saturday.

Layout is progressing well, almost at the "extra detailing" stage, main work now involves completing the loco shed and interior and immediate surroundings. Some photos taken outside in fading light whilst waiting for some paint to dry. NB the class 05 on the "main line" is on loan from Crinan. . . ! The layout will make its Exhibition debut at Wrexham Toy and Hobbies Show next Saturday 5th November, come and say hi if you're in the area. Appropriate it should be in a former coal mining area!

Still torn between the maroon and plain yellow versions for my c.1970 layout as either seem appropriate. More research asap methinks.

Out of interest what was the score datewise for removing the end steps? Found a photo of a BSO in April 1962 without end steps (Possibly E9289 which features widely - plate 11, "Scottish Branch Lines 1955-1965" among others), whilst others still had them at least up to 1965. Was it something done at heavy overhaul visits? Thanks, Martyn.

Could be part of the branch line add-on set which also includes a tunnel and an 08 with goods wagons which automatically reverses at speed every time it goes into the tunnel. The supplied point would of course have a removable point lever fitted. And now Bachmann distribute EFE products a Pantechnicon removals lorry with Flash Harry figure could be included too. If ever there was a set with play value. . . !!!!!!! ;-) Edit: With apologies for deviating somewhat O/T!

Now if Bachmann just re-release their Gandy Dancer (aka P. Way Pump Trolley) with St. Trinians figures it could be the basis for a good micro train pack. Add on sets could be the Kernow DEMU with police figures and DJ Models could get in on the act with a J94 with a set of Jester figures. Any takers? ;-)

A start has been made on applying the greenery at last. A basic gunge mix of variously coloured cheap scatter and PVA with a little water added, was applied before using a variety of static grasses applied by hand, then a final cover of more static grass applied using a Noch puffer bottle. The short section of track over the "arch" will be tackled next (seen in brown undercoat). The low relief shed has now had windows added (glazing still to be fitted) and exterior painting completed. The loco shed concrete floor (plasticard) is largely finished too. The small hut, being tested for position, is based on that glimpsed in various photos of the shed and is a bit small, but as this area is significantly compressed, compromise was needed. If ready the layout may feature at Prestatyn Show (3rd December, see link in signature for more info), watch this space.

I hope they do, for me this is a very welcome announcement from Hornby. Purely as an observation I have their Mk.1 BG (complete with end steps, or rather it was) and Hornby's BR Blue is significantly darker than the Bachmann colour, enough to be quite noticable in a rake so hopefully they will address this. Either way I will buying some of these, Blue grey and/or maroon.

Excellent stuff, thanks for re-kindling my memory of seeing that LMS Inspection Coach in use as an observation saloon at Inverness in 1984 or 1985, iirc it was 45030? I do have a photo somewhere. Was on the first Kyle train of the day. :-)

Coming on rapidly, like the look of your trackwork, hope the navvies and P.way gang had a well deserved pint after doing that lot??!

Also (up North) is Prestatyn show on Saturday 3rd December http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/115517-prestatyn-mre-saturday-3rd-december-2016/?fromsearch=1 Colwyn Bay show usually last weekend in July too.

Further to the other reasons given I would suspect the traction tyres are also provided to overcome the friction from brass wiper pickups bearing on the other, unpowered, very small wheels.

Crinan is booked to appear at the Pontefract show on 28th/29th January 2017. Link here: http://nprms.webeden.co.uk/exhibition-2017/4582393753 Martyn.

Coming together nicely, I can assure you your control panel wiring is no worse than mine, propably better in fact. :-)

Looks great, like the offices and staff cameo, and the stores van as a viewblocker idea. Martyn.

Another nice compact shunting layout, and a dockside to boot, will follow with interest! Martyn

Very impressive!

Agreed, a 1970ish Inverness headcode boxed 24/1 with the specific detail for those locos might just do it for me! Especially as Bachmann don't appear to be catering for them with their model (if it ever appears).

Thanks Phil, it strikes me they were probably comparitively expensive back in the day with the quality and number of parts, bespoke printed brickpaper etc. No contact address on the packaging. (Although I've not opened it so there may be on the instruction sheet- not that it would be much use now probably!) To be honest I bought it with the idea that for the price, the windows may come in handy, if nothing else!

Talking of lost suppliers, Scenerama are a company I'd not heard of before I picked this old kit up last year for my "might come in useful one day" pile (from late 80s or early 90s I'm guessing) from the Corris Railway stand at a show. As can be seen its an injection moulded kit similar in concept to the Airfix/Dapol range of buildings, however the level of detail is fantastic and includes a one piece roof, superbly detailed windows and one piece complete chimneys, and even very nice garden fencing and gates. Rather than moulded brick work, printed self adhesive brick papers are included to finish the exterior. I'm thinking Redutex or embossed plasticard may be a better option nowadays. Can anyone throw any light on this range as to when they were made, other models that were produced, etc?

Thanks, I don't have step by step photos but I did take a few snaps during construction (see below, not best quality I'm afraid). I had no plans to use so I can't claim Islwyn is an exact scale model, rather my own interpretation based on photos and constraints imposed by the chassis. As you say Islwyn was one of the bigger AB 0-6-0's, there were of course many variations of saddle tank size and height of same above the running plate (different boilers possibly?), let alone coupled wheelbase variations, cab size and design etc etc so any plan other than for Islwyn may not be correct for this loco anyway. It looks in proportion when placed next to the Austerity "Ebbw" and I'm pleased enough with it. First job was to cut the footplate out using the Electrotren chassis as a guide. This was trial and error, length had to be proportional to the chassis, width taken from other loco footplate widths. After this the saddle tank, smokebox saddle and firebox were built up from layers of plasticard with constant reference to the chassis, motor etc to ensure a good fit. The curved top of the tank was made from a double layer of plasticard laminated around a former and once fitted this had a thin layer of Milliput skimmed over the top and along the edges which was sanded smoothe when dry. The cab was then assembled ready for fitting. Above shows the cab attached and the body being test fitted over the chassis. A cast chimney and dome from my scrapbox have also been modified to fit the tank. (from a LMS 4F I suspect.) The smokebox door took some head scratching as I had nothing suitable to hand. In the end a blob of Milliput was flattened into a disc, when dry a hole was drilled in the centre and it was attached to the mandrell of my mini-drill and turned against wet and dry paper to give a profile I was happy with. A disc of plasticard was turned by the same method before having the Milliput part attached. Strapping is from plasticard strip, with a dart from RT Models filling the mandrell hole when complete. RT also supplied the cast axle box springs on the footplate (after completion). Body in primer. Most of the detail bits came from the aforementioned scrapbox. Lastly a couple more shots above after a little further weathering to blend the homemade transfers in better, still not perfect but better than it was. HTH, Martyn. Edit: if you need any measurements from my loco for a similar project I am happy to oblige.