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Modelling time has been limited recently due to work, family weddings, uni open days and holidays. I did have a rather splendid weekend at Scaleforum, helping operate my old Wheal Elizabeth layout and it was great to see so many old friends again. Once I’d gotten over the urge to come back and start building another china clay layout thoughts returned to Cheddar. Progress has been limited to the building of 1 Station Road. I wanted to include this as part of the final board and after making a couple of mock ups, decided to build in 3.5 mm/ft as I did with the station master’s house. Nothing particular noteworthy about its construction and I’m just about ready to start painting and bedding it in. I’m planning on having the backscene curving round behind it so haven’t bothered with the back of the house. Some more aerial photos have come to light showing trees between the house and railway anyway which should help the scenic blocker. The tortoise motor is for the turnout on the bridge by the way and operates via wire in tube. and before anyone asks, the telegraph pole is deliberately on the slant as per the prototype and has a couple of stays from EZ Line holding it up!

This month, I have been mostly gardening. In a scale style obviously. And that's about it really. Road surfaces are the usual Attwood Aggregates dust, greenery is static grass undercoat and postiche top coat, horsehair hedges and an assortment of sprinkles and flocks. It's funny how I'm down at the dregs of various containers as I hit the last board. Another obligatory strawberry patch has appeared inside the railway fence (which is still to do). Still lots to do but I already like the vista of the embankment and station approaches. It'll look good with a couple of signals on it.

Thanks Mikkel. I'm not sure. I'm thinking Elm. Photo my collection, credited J H Moss.

Thanks. It’ll be debuting hopefully next year.

I've finally finished the station board and have swapped it out so that I can start on the last board, the one nearest Wells or board 8 if you want to be specific. It includes Station Road and its bridge. The last things on the station board were the coal bins on the down mileage sidings and fencing. I've still to do the station chimney pots but that will require a visit to the actual station to take some better photos as these will need to be 3D printed. The roof is going to be fixed down to cure the warp that has developed but that can be done on the workbench. Board 8 was ironically the first one to be constructed, a long time ago and in a galaxy far away. It's going to be fairly simple, mainly scenic with a very big tree, quite a few hedges, at least 4 fields, a council depot and possibly one other building (2 Station Road). This afternoon comprised me trying to interpret all the maps of the area and just how I compressed it when I started all that time back. The bridge was built a while ago using the usual Green Stuff World embossed ABS and is home to a tricky little point operating mechanism as it site on top of the bridge with no room underneath for a Tortoise motor. The actual motor is tucked in the corner and will be hidden behind the curved back scene, or a house, or something... Actual productive work today is a waft of primer for the bridge and the commencement of rail and chair painting ahead of ballasting and point rodding.

Hi Mikkel The building behind was not so high, it just shared its outer wall with the train shed wall so doors and windows look disproportionately lower.

Afternoon peeps. progress has slowed a bit and been limited to detailing of the station building. The train shed has been adorned with signs, posters and timetables and after a couple of attempts, I’ve got some representative gas lighting installed and working. These came from eBay and are of Chinese origin. They just need painting and tweaking a bit. The platform lamps are from Kytes Lights and are the best I could do to match the original GWR gas lamp columns and replacement heads. Telegraph poles have started to be planted too. I’m currently building the coal pens for the down mileage sidings but haven’t yet taken any pictures. Likewise the running in boards. I keep thinking I’m at the point where I can move on to the next board but still a bit to do yet! My Accurascale siphon has arrived any very nice it is too. Not to mention an easy conversion to P4. As for the K’s E116 B set… well it’s kind of getting there!

I agree. The sandbox operating rod passes behind what appears to be box or some form of cab extension. I was going to make reference to the WCPR Sharp Stewarts but the Tumblr link has a photo of it. Ex Furness Railway but you can clearly see a pattern. There are drawings available of this WCPR Sharp Stewart if you need them. The Cumbrian Railway Association has useful information and a link to models of the locos: CRA link Sharp Stewarts also ended up on the LBSCR and there are kits available from EB models (Exclusively Brighton): EB Models They're also on RM Web if you search. HTH

There have been some changes to the attending layouts Layouts Anglebank (EM) Clee Hill Tramway- Chris Hewitt Canada Street (EM) Dockside 1970's - Peter Johnson Church Warsop (EM) GCR pre-group circa WW1 - Tony Gee Eastwood (P4) LYR circa WW1 - South Hants MRC Hembourne (EM) GWR 1930's - Paul Ash Harkness (EM) Northumberland light railway 1950's - Tony Bucknell Kerrinhead (P4) LYR mid/late 1920's - Gavin Clark Leysdown (P4) SR early 1930's - Adrian Colenutt Oldshaw (EM) BR(WR) mid 1980's - Guy Molyneux, Mike Hale Tom Harwin Pulborough (P4) LBSC set in 1910 - The Depots, Rosedale East (EM) NER pre-group North York Moors Paul & Nicola Gallon Yard No2 (P4) LNWR inter war years - Dave Barrett

From one of our group who is involved with taking a layout there.

Having seen this year's floor plan, it does appear that the 'corridor' space under the balcony previously occupied by the societies and some demonstrators (MERG/DEMU/WCPR/EMGS) for the past 20 years has not been allocated to anyone this year. There may be a good reason for this and it is something that is being/will be discussed with Warners separately by EMGS and no doubt others. I am aware that some societies have paid for stand space in the hall itself.

The list of clubs and societies is still showing the 2022 list. I understand that due to a lack of available space, EM Gauge Society has not been invited to attend the Bristol show.

So I’ve been reading through this thread with interest. The new models look really good. I have an interest in china clay and still have the stock from my old Wheal Elizabeth layout. I’m wondering whether any of the existing or future announced batches would be suitable for Cornish operations? 37 142, 196, 206, 207 spring to mind. I have the Kernow limited edition 207 William Cookworthy. Tre Pol & Pen in Railfreight livery would be nice. Then again the limited edition Defiance 50149 is also appealing!

I found the instructions confusing and was not sure I had sufficient parts. They’re laser cut ply which I glued together with cyano. I seemed to end up making extra bits myself. There are scale drawings in Great Western Journal edition 0 (preview) that I used as reference. If you treat the kit as a useful set of scratch aids that gives you about 80% of what you need you won’t be disappointed. With perseverance it’ll make up into a nice model. Hope that helps.

Realised I didn't get round to writing an update last month so but happy to report that the 7th board is progressing nicely. I mentioned last time that this was going to be mainly scenic work and indeed it has. First though was the ballasting, which uses Atwood Aggregates Dulcote Stone. Then the point rodding using Modelu stools and 16 thou guitar strings. Then I could start to build up the basic ground form which is made up of layers of extruded 5mm thick polystyrene sheet. I wanted to have a camping coach on one of the down side mileage sidings but realised that it wasn't long enough, so a little extension was added to cover the buffer stops, one of which was a LMS models kit and the other from Mainly Trains, now Wizard/51L. Coach W9992 was stabled here and I'm pretty sure it was a diagram E73 clerestory, so one is on its way from Worsley Works. It'll make a nice cameo. I also the 5mm foam to make the platforms now that I've used up all the 15mm blue sheet that I had. Platform surfaces are scribed Palight then coated with Atwood Aggregates quarry dust. This is also used for the road surfaces. Final contouring uses a light weight filler called One Strike that I get from Proper Job, my local diy store. Thereafter it's painted with cheap emulsion and given its first coat of static grass. I'm now at the stage where I'm adding additional texture, using Postiche and various foam scenic scatters. Much use of hairspray and fixing lacquer has been made. My modelling room now smells like a hairdressers. I'm going to remove the cast iron railings from board 6 in front of the up side station approach as I've found a photograph showing it wasn't used here, only the down side. This does make sense given that was the main entrance. It'll be replaced with standard 7 strand GWR stock fencing instead. I've run out of GWR picket fencing so the down side but this is on order and should turn up this week. I'm presently painting telegraph pole insulators to add these. There's still plenty to do; more scenics, a couple of sheds, station lighting and detailing work to the station itself. Oh and I haven't even thought about doing the signals yet, but I will. Posed a pannier on the line to get an idea of the final effect and am quite happy how it's turning out.

Bought one of these on the strength of the Ferry Van and wasn't disappointed. Conversion to P4 is really straightforward. Prise out the tension lock couplings. Unscrew the NEM coupler pockets. The body drops out. Replace the steel weight with some lead shot. Beware the weight is sandwiched between chassis and body when assembled. 1mm thickness max. Replace the wheels. Brass pin point bearings are included in the original wagon. The brakes push out and can be easily trimmed to be refitted closer to the wheels. I glued mine back in with MEK. Add a bit more lead shot to the underside, held in place with superglue. Enlarge coupling hook holes slightly Fit 3 links (Brassmasters). All done in less than half an hour. I wish every wagon was this easy!

During my local EM group zoom meeting last night I took the just received and rather lovely Ferry Van out of the box and had a look. Replacement P4 wheels from Branchlines were dropped in for the time being without bother. I think this will ultimately need springing though. Maybe the Dave Bradwell units or the Bill Bedford pedestal ones if you split them.

Took advantage of a sunny day to swap the boards round on Cheddar at lunchtime. Board 5 comprising the goods shed and signal box is now sufficiently complete to allow it to be put away until the final assembly, when I can add details, signalling and a level of weathering to the entire layout in one hit. Board 6 was moved up one and board 7 dropped into place. This last saw the light of day in 2016 and has survived surprisingly well given the track was originally laid in 2015. I always knew it was going to be a long term project. Quite how long I'm not so sure! The track across the board joint is going to need a tweak since there is now a level difference in rail height. Not sure what that is but it is fixable. Looks like the rail is sitting up on the rivets to me rather than a swelling of the ply, but I'll sort it out whatever. Board 7 comprises the Wells end of the platforms and station approaches. As such it shouldn't take too long to do as most of the work is scenic. The end of the mileage sidings on the down side will need to be completed and I've plans for a camping coach here in one of them, along with a coal yard in the other, all as per the prototype. As previously, much use will be made of extruded polystyrene sheet. This will form the roadways and platforms. Nice thing is it can be sanded to induce a camber. I'll start by finishing off the station building first though, adding platform details, lights and signage, then moving onto the station approach. Before I put it away, I took some photos of board 6 with the addition of clutter around the permanent way sheds. I've plans for a cameo of a wagon under repair here as the siding was used to store red carded wagons and make repairs before they were released back to traffic. For a relatively insignificant station, Cheddar certainly had a lot going on.

Hi Rich Dulcote Stone (DS) and one marked (WE). Not sure what that one is. The fencing is EZ line superglued to Evergreen posts. I use a jig to space the 7? strands as GWR lineside fencing

Happy New Year and all that to everyone. Hope 2023 is kind to everyone. Now that we're halfway through January, I thought I'd update you with progress on Cheddar, which is entirely scenic at the moment. The station master's house has been finished, painted and planted in the garden, which has been added without going overboard. The idea is for it to be in the background after all. I did spot the mistake of having the chimney on the gable end with the windows. Doh! Still it was corrected without too much bother. The stone loading point is more of less done. Just some weathering down the sides as it's all a bit too clean at the moment. The scenics to the up side have had some layers added from postiche and scatters, fixed with spray lacquer. There are two permanent way sheds presently in the paint shop which will be added here. I've made a start on the surfaces of the down yard. These again use the excellent range of quarry dusts available from Attwood Aggregates which are laid into a PVA glue/water mix. it can be sanded down when dry. The cattle dock has been added from a modified Ratio kit and the fencing has started to go up. There's a protective rail to go on the edge of the mileage siding. That's a simple piece of rail and a Palight base. Lastly the station approach has the paving cut and ready to stick down. Again, embossed Palight and sprayed with a rattle can. I'm getting to the point where one of these boards can be crated back up and the next one bought out, so I can finish the station itself and finish off the platforms too. All very exciting!

Mikkel. That really is a rather lovely piece of work. Well done!

So as 2022 draws to a close, I've been reflecting on what has been a pretty good year all in all. Cheddar has a place where it can be worked on when the mood takes me and whilst I don't have as much time as I did, I'm still managing to make progress. I've done a couple of shows and really enjoyed exhibiting at Warley last month. Even better as Rapido have announced a range new E140 B set. That's saved me a job. I now have a surfeit of 7 airfix B set coaches I won't be needing! I have started preparing a pair of E116 K's sides instead. Progress is limited this time, but in summary: The 6 tonne yard crane was finished off with hook and chain, painted and duly plonked on the layout. I'm quite pleased with it. The station masters house is presently under construction and I decided after making a few mock ups to model it at 3.25 mm/ft to give an illusion of distance. I'm using PECO 2mm embossed plastic sheet for the stone rather than my usual source of Green Stuff World. The stone loading point has been cut down a bit after I discovered a photo showing me I'd not quite got it right. There was a large permanent way hut in the up yard and I always knew I wouldn't be able to fit it all in due to its width. I toyed with the idea of building half of it but the mock up just looked wrong. I'm going to have to compromise and use a few smaller huts instead. Luckily I have one of the Springside white metal kits so will use that and cobble up some others. I've laid a couple out to gauge this. There were often red carded wagons stored here for repair so maybe there will be a cameo of some sort.

Well I've bitten the bullet, closed my eyes and ordered two sets. They will be perfect and look fab on Cheddar. I may change one to an E145 when I get them. Just got to do the E116, E129 and E147 B sets now.

Thanks to all those who stopped by Clevedon WCPR and had a natter. I know some people don't get light railways but we had lots of nice comments and I must say a big thanks to my operating crew. I found the show quieter than last time I went, which the club said they were kind of expecting. As to access, I found the NEC's voyager system really straight forward to organise online. I arrived about 14:45 and I was straight into the hall to unload via the access gate. We were all set up and out by 16:30. The M42 was it's usual self and I heard lots of complaints about the time it takes to get into the NEC on both mornings. Breakdown was one of the smoothest. I went to get the car from E1 at 17:30 and after driving through gate 1 was directed to door 5.8 as 5.7 was chock full. We were leaving the NEC at 18:00. Sadly the M5 on the way back was a bit busy with a car fire, breakdown and roadworks. Overall though getting in and out was much easier than last time I exhibited there. Still, the show was a great one to go to and operate at. I'd have liked a little more EM and P4 layouts there but understand the impact covid and historical cycle of invites has had. I did miss the overseas modellers though. There's always something weird and wonderful to look at. Hope that can continue next year.

Yes it will ultimately have back scenes showing housing, Cheddar gorge and the Mendip Hills behind but I should try to add something whilst I’m still working on these boards in the meantime