steve fay

The up and down milk tanks on the Torcombe branch

A local goods down on the Torcombe branch and the big new hand made tee planted

Plymouth Exeter local, last section of track ballasted today and the board joints blended in

Some excellent 3D printed bits for the coal stage arrived today. I’ll use two on the stage as the centre one was slightly different being upgraded to an electrical hoist in 1944

Lighting installed on the new show display. The low relief north light pattern shed segments are on the way.

Pontycwm has replaced Grimsby on the trestles, I’ve got the summer to complete it in time for the Guildex show in Stafford in September

Here’s my dads version with Cardiff Canton / East Dock 5081 Lockheed Hudson at the stage for a top up. It was primarily a goods shed serving the vast array of sidings and local area plus trips to severn tunnel, Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan, Hereford the midlands and further affeild. Toton 8F’s were regular visitors and a lot of the Manchester / Liverpool north and west services changed locos here meaning Scots, Jubilees and Patriots were all regular visitors. All GW types bar the 47xx where to be seen as well My loco fleet will be used on this and Canton

I recently had the idea to make a small show piece I could easily take to shows and it was to be based on a low relief version of the Coal stage at Pontypool Road, I was contacted by some one who has designed laser cut buildings and wanted to collaborate to supply me and to improve their work, we’ve been working behind the scenes for a few weeks now and they thought it would be easier to design it as a full size kit and then cut it down, Well I couldn’t possibly turn down the opportunity to make a full size version. Pontypool Road PPRd 86G has a lot of personal connections for me as my recently passed maternal Grandad was a Fireman there in the last years of the GW and into the early 50’s before he went on the PWay and my dad has many happy memories of the shed as his local Argus paper round gave him full unfettered access on a daily basis. The area to be modelled is shown here marked in white Consisting of the coal stage the ramp and the raised wagon section, the entrance to the shed on the left will be in very low relief. This will be my home based layout and somewhere for my engines to be on display instead of in boxes. This won’t be a quick build as it will fit in amongst the commission work. The little show display will have a different background and you can see that progress in my other thread. My dad has actually scratch built his own model of the coal stage and I’ll pop some pictures of his version in here too.

Track work nearly completed, I’ve polished the rail heads before the paint fully hardens, I’ll clean up the loose paint tomorrow

The little show case build back on the bench today, I’ve reduced the height and beefed up the top timber so I can add a 3’ LED strip light behind. Intentio low relief north light shed sides ordered for along the rear.

Brilliant kits to build, very easy and well thought out. about the best laser cut kits on the market

A few hours hand laying individual 7mm scale bricks for the floor between roads one & Two at Canton. I’ve run out so I’ll order another 500 to complete the hard standing.

The Intentio coal stage is progressing nicely.

Another one added

2nd one weathered up, 3rd on the way tomorrow 18 more to go after that !

First batch in yellow and according to a reliable source the grey appeared from 63 onwards, however there was also Bauxite liveried with small blue circle branding that Ellis Clark do but they are listed as TOPS only however I’ve since found this picture ( copyright Ben Brooksbank, unfortunately I can’t embed the link ) that shows they was around during steam haulage as well.

Yes I’ve got that book, they certainly look grey to me as the yellow boards are a noticeably different shade

Copyright Ben Brooksbank but definitely answers one question.

I’m wondering if anyone could shed some light on when grey replaced yellow as the main body colour on the Blue Circle branded wagons and what period the Bauxite with small Blue circle branding are from? I’m modelling the 59 to 63 period and I’m building up a train of these. The above are listed as TOPS but there are unnumbered options available. thanks all Here’s the first one weathered up.

Without starting a new thread, I’m building up a train of Ellis Clark Pressflow’s set around 1959 / 63 I’ve got a Bauxite example and a Blue circle yellow one. when did grey supersede yellow for the main body colour on Blue circle branded wagons ? They do some unnumbered versions so I could apply the transfers myself as the numbered grey blue circle wagons are listed at TOPS. They also offer the Bauxite with small bLue circle branding again as TOPS but with unnumbered options available, What time period is correct for that livery option ? thanks all

Grimsby is now nearly finished, a few coats of paint on the fascia should complete it.

Ably assisted by Roger and Rob who held the Torcombe board up to the rest of the layout I took some shots to show where it will go.

Don’t often see panniers on the Torcombe branch it’s usually 45’s. a works train of sewer pipes heads for Torcombe and the man planted forest has been thickened out

Torcombe branch south Devon

I’ve been sent these GWR water cranes from ModelU to have a look at, They are superb, plug and socket construction ( no glue used yet ) 3 different variations on offer plus a fire devil. Suffice to say I know where my GW shed project water cranes are now coming from