Dear All,
If I can get this to work properly this is the first entry of an occasional series relating to the building of a small GWR layout in OO gauge. A few key facts are as follows:
It will be OO gauge but I plan on using handbuilt trackwork (soldered or fully chaired pointwork, not sure yet)
Set is the late 1920's/early 1930's it will be pure GWR, set in Wiltshire, possibly with a hint of the old Midland and Souther Western Junction Railway in it.
It will be a branch terminus as that's all I have space for.
It will be DCC even though I don't need it with the one engine in steam principle operated on many small branches.
First off I decied to start with the locomotives and rolling stock as this is my favourite area of interest.
Locomotives to date are as follows (thought I would get the RTR selection ones first so at least I can get something moving):
5713 - Old Mainline body with kit built Perserverence compensated chassis as DS10 motor. The loco has been backdated with the removel of the top feed and a few other changes. Not really a branch loco at the time but I expect I can get away with it on a freight.
8750 - A modern Bachmann body (secondhand from ebay) fitted to the original Mianline chassis from the 57xx. By changing the brake pull rods it looks OK and with extra pickups and a Lenz decoder runs surprisingly well.
4567 - A Bachmann small prairie tank bought for it looks rather than being typical of what it required for the finished layout. Should go well with the B set when that is finished.
13 - A new Model Rail Sentinel, again not really suited but I could not resist the GWR version. Full marks for the running quality though and I'm sure I can find something for it to shunt on the finished layout.
835 - Finally a loco that should fit in well with the finished layout. This is an old Models & Leisure kit for a 517 tank engine with open cab. It is fitted with a modified chassis including simple compensation, along with a modified rear bunker off an old K's 57xx kit. it runs well and I am pleased with the result as this is my first white metal kit.
GWR Bulldog - This is a K's kit and has remained unbuilt in my cupboard for nearly 30 years. After completing the 517 I decided to build this one even though it will not really be suited to the layout. It is however my all time favourite class of GWR loco. It features a modified Comet models 4F chassis with Gibson wheels and flycranks. This will be my next loco to complete and will get a full spray paint (the others so far except the 8750 pannier and Sentinel have been hand painted)
After that I have a Perserverence kit for a 4800 tank nearing completion, along with kits for a Metro tank (Wills Finecast), M&SWJR 1334 2-4-0 (Nu-cast) and a Duke (Mallard Models).
Rolling stock will be a mix of RTR and kitbuilt, with an old Airfix B set and autocoach ready to go into the works. I also have a few odd coach kits to build so that should keep me busy for a while.
I hope you will all find this of interest so watch this space.
Paul
