john flann

Good start Andy. Now enjoy the build-and "playing" along the way.

Hintock-1937

Creation, evolution, maintenance-the story of a layout. It's going well. I don't however, think it likely Martyn, that a BB/WC will reach either Hintock or Port Bready.

Jim, I'd missed your recent posts and your Christmas one-may I there offer my Best Wishes and for your wife and yourself in the coming year, I'm happy too to see you are back to modelling. It's a great relief, as I found, to have such a hobby amid the cares you carry. Even if the opportunity to do much physically is absent it doesn't stop the mind from thinking about it. That's just as important. My kindest regards, John.

David, just found this thread and shall be happy to follow it. Very nicely done. John.

Have a look at my Hintock thread (on here) and website (below). They should set you thinking. If they don't give you some ideas nothing will. All Good Wishes for your project. And, if you have any questions please get in touch.

Sheepcroft Yard. Hintock. 1937

I've just found this thread again and I'm happy Hintock and my methods have been cited. I'm happier also that Chapelton Loop or something similar is being planned. Being "my" system pf wagon management (with due acknowledgement to all who have gone before) what I commend about it is it's simplicity and random quality. It keeps me (a simple soul) happily engaged in goods workings along with the sequence style of operation. I employ rakes of wagons for convenience, but I have singletons and these too introduce variety in train make-up and their shunting.

Martyn, I'd missed your earlier post and have now caught up. That is so very nicely done and as has been said you've caught the atmosphere. Too, from photos I have of these coaches they were maintained in a clean and shiny condition. (I can't resist it, but it's a nice change from your grime-no matter how well achieved.)

Sad and hard task Rick, I faced it when we moved from the UK to USA in 1990. I finished up scrapping a great deal but harvesting structures and the like that could be readily removed. Some found a new home on Hintock. However once off the layout many looked a bit off and I thought I'd do better next time. Ruthlessness pays. I did box up one baseboard complete and brought that out. It survived with no damage and was, and remains the nucleus of Hintock. It all takes a long time and at least twice as long as you bargained for. My best wishes for Sharon's settling in, yours too, and all the donkey work down the line for you.

Martyn, you shouldn't be surprised at the interest in your activities. Very much your own individual idiosyncratic thing, and it is to be much admired. We need "originals" in this world-model railway (and the real.). PS, on Edit, I went away and did something else-another wash of colour on the cottages at PB-and thought how right you were on the comment about the coach looking "silly". Gut re-actions like that are of far more value than whether it is "correct" or not. The acid test is does it look "right" and now the coach does.

Happy Christmas to you Martyn, and in due course, look forward to seeing the outcome of your endeavours. Looks promising.

What a difference the years make. Nicely achieved.

John, I like your roof boards and admire your imagination and creativity. They do add that little something. If I'd seen such a train with coaches for Port Bredy at Birkenhead (WS) on a damp/wet/blowing Mersey day I would have tempted to jump aboard. Even if only so far as my LMR all stations pass would have taken me. Would you be so kind as to send me an image? You also referred earlier to Working Timetables and I agree they are so very fascinating. I got hooked on those when young as my late father occasionally brought some home for me. Light snow here, rain forecast for later.

Rob, I think fiddle/staging yards are a very important part of any layout. Yet we rarely see them pictured. I've often wondered about yours-and now I know. Thank you.

John, St Enodoc suggested Charford and I agreed recalling it from RM of many years back. It too influenced my thinking on Hintock. But I had forgotten all about the branch to Bridport. Now that is an idea for it means I can introduce a service from Port Bredy via Hintock and Charford to Yeovil. And it would make a nice working for the Radial and its rake of ex L&SWR coaches. So thankyou St Enodoc and John for creating the opportunity. BTW, beautiful cold and sunny day here today. The mountains have a deep covering of snow and look superb. Regards,

Colin, your first blog. Well done and nicely presented. I can see with that approach you are going to be a real asset to this on-line community. What you say makes a lot of sense and I look forward to the threads continuance. I use the unravelled wire cable form of tree-and have the punctured fingers to show for it-like you I experimented with other forms and was never satisfied. I make mine in batches creating the wire forms mostly in the summer when I can sit outside in the shade of my trees (!). Trees are, of course and as others have remarked all individual, that is part of their beauty and attractiveness, and with grouping gives a lot of scope for individual treatment. I don't make mine of any particular species, it's the finished shape, texture and colour that I'm looking for.

Martyn, in reference to your earlier post two of the photos I referred to were of the K&T, and the two and three coaches respectively seen appear to have a degree of shine. The photos were taken in August 1950. The loco also has a reasonable shine too. I think it's a J67. Another photo of small branch line coaching stock interest is of the Framlingham Branch in 1952. There seen in nice shiny condition are two coaches captioned as "..ex GER main line vehicles painted in the unimaginative dun brown of the L&NER secondary line stock." It might be as described but they look newly painted, clean and fresh. There are no signs of grime or wear. With this further evidence would you consider perhaps using a lighter touch with your coach weathering? I only weather one side, if it's successful I leave it; if not I try again on the other side. And quite right about that ease of getting under the baseboard, I have had recent need to do some electrical work on PB, and whilst it was built in sections I have subsequently secured them altogether. So getting at the underside is extremely difficult. To avoid that effort I am having to excavate a cable run on the top.

Oh dear, I do seem to have put the cat among the pigeons, I agree weathering is a subjective matter (and I do prefer what some may regard as a chocolate box result) but I do respect the effort that goes with it. I just think that some results are "over the top". They don't just seem to fit for all sorts of reasons, not least the locale in which the stock operates. I don't comment without some reason: at the time of my initial comment I had in the back of my mind photographs I had seen of E Anglian railways of 1940/50 scenes and last evening checked my sources, (thinking that some response such as yours Rob was possible for you are of the same school as Martyn is here). The two books I have handy reference to are Gammel's The Branch Line Age, 1976, and Whitehouse's Branch Line Album, 1962, together they show fourteen photograph of E Anglian passenger trains and in none are the coaching stock in that extreme condition. I agree that in the photo you select the brown coach does appear drab, and I think it's quite definitely brown, but the red one in comparison appears in quite reasonable order. PS, just seen your post Martyn, need to leave this now, but I'll comment, as required,later.

No, Edwardian, apart from occasional visits. And, on those occasions I was very conscious of the wind straight off the N Sea. It was that I was thinking of, whereas in and around Leeds it was dank and smokey with a settled gloom. Now there I would expect to see local coaching stock in that condition but I was surprised at the thought distant stock in a coastal rural atmosphere could attract so much grime. But I always stand ready to be corrected.. I applaud the effort but not with this result.

Thanks Martyn I accept all you say as to decrepitude-which is correct-but even so it looks a bit heavy to me given the fresh clean airs of E Anglia rather than Leeds, for example.

Martyn, you've certainly achieved a "grimy" look-maybe a bit overdone for a rural locality?

Adrian: I see you are bemoaning the cost of brass windows for your custard factory. What's wrong with plastic? See the variety offered at http://www.tichytraingroup.com I'd be surprised if you didn't find something that will suit. I use them and am satisfied.

John, you are a master with :"improving " Metcalfe kits, Alma MIll takes me back a few years and I'm sure I came across its namesake somewhere in the Bolton/ Accrington/ Blackburn/Preston localities! And whilst have only a hazy memory of Wrexham, I think, it reminded me more of E Lancs, as was, rather than N Wales. Port Bredy is not yet open to traffic but the next few months will get me there in time for when your through train coaches start running. Meantime theyand their passengers are welcome at Hintock and onward travel by GWR motor omnibus to the company's renowned Pennsylvania Castle Hotel.. Lovely sunshine here-drying off my river rock very nicely.

Ray, long time since I looked in last. Very impressed with the progress. My regards.