wiggoforgold

More bedding in of the Up platform building. With the building temporarily in place, pieces of 10th our plastic card were slipped between the building and the edge of the hole. The gap was then filled with Das. Once dry, the building was removed and the Das painted with Mig faded Sinai grey , covered with PVA and sprinkled with a mix of sieved earth and grout, which is a light grey colour.

Bedding in the up platform building this morning. The building sits in a hole so it is removable. The pictures show the northern elevation and the disused Princetown platform. The gully in front of the building is from a length of Modelu guttering, with gratings from a Langley models etch.

More wagon building over Christmas I wanted a mogo to collect the carts made by the cart builder in Walkhampton. This one’s from a Ratio kit which I’ve had for a while. Body colour is Mig acrylic “Dark Rust” which looks OK to me. Weathering is thinned artists oils and powders.

A chap at the local model club recently introduced me to thinned artists oils for figure painting which has been an absolute revelation. I use Modelu figures. Alex PS Happy New Year!

Morning Martyn. Happy New Year. Apologies if I've asked this before, but too lazy to look back! Where did you get the valance for the station building? Alex

Thanks Brian. Happy New Year to you too. It's not finished yet - the scenery round the up platform needs finishing and the up platform building bedded in. Also, the point motors need to be installed (they have been in a box for the last 9 months) ...and there's a couple of ground signals....another 6 months or so I reckon. Alex

I went up to Catcott in Somerset today, for reasons not unconnected with the cancellation of the Edington show. My son and his girlfriend presented me with a card, the inside of which read "we owe you one grass dobber" I asked what a "grass dobber" was. Further questioning elucidated the explanation that they meant a static grass applicator. Henceforth such items will be known in this house as "grass dobbers". Alex

A pair of J70's in their new home. More soon! Alex

It’s over a year since I last posted on this thread. With my Yelverton project progressing well, so that it will probably be scenically largely complete in the net six months or so, thoughts have turned to the next project. A number of possibilities were considered, some of which may see the light of day at some point, but for my next project I am returning to East Anglia and giving my existing Diddington layout an update. The new project will be called Diddington mark two. The original Diddington was conceived about twenty five years ago. Technology has changed since then, and I have learned a lot, which will be incorporated in the new layout. I’ve given some thought about what I want to change about Diddington. The track plan will remain unchanged, and the boards trackwork and a large part of the scenery will form part of the new Diddington, with no need to make a complete change. The biggest shortcoming is the platform length, and I’m going to insert an additional 2’ between the station and station throat boards. This will enable me to lengthen the platform, and realign the turnout leading into the goods yard, which I have been unhappy with for years. The signal box will be moved to the platform end, and will be a model of the one at St. Ives (Cambridgeshire) A new station building will be a model of Bluntisham, and a model of Huntingdon East shed will replace the existing engine shed, which was always the intention. Additional point motors, and a new control panel are planned, and the new layout will at last be fully signalled. A new cassette fiddle yard will be installed, which initially will be shared with Yelverton. The terminus of the tramway at Outwell Drove will be returned, but the Elm Lane section will not be part of the home layout, the space released providing room for the additional section at Diddington. Work will commence in the New Year. I've been getting together items for the "new" layout, including some new engines, so hopefully work will move ahead quite quickly. Have a grat new year everybody - hope it is better than the last one! Alex

Working until Thursday. Have a good Christmas!

I go the disappointing, but unsurprising news today that the Edington show in January has been cancelled. I think a few people were hoping to meet up, so a shame that won't be happening. They are hoping to stage a show later in the year, so I've said I'm up for that. The up side is this gives me more time to work on the scenery! All the best to everyone for Christmas and the new year. Alex

Some more pictures of the new 4574. She's nearly finished now. A bit of weathering is needed, coal in the bunker and a crew. Alex

4574 waits at the Yelverton up starter with a Launceston - Plymouth freight. Once the right of way is given and the crew have finished pinning down the brakes, the train heads south down the gradient to Bickleigh. Alex

Sorry Ade. I wanted to post the Edington show poster but it didn't work. Here it is again. I can't get it to come straight up in the post so its just the ling. I thought the photo was rather nice Edington show post.pdf Alex

MRE Poster 2022-1-1 (8).pdf

Hi Martyn Edington, 8th and 9th January 2022. Should be an easy drive for you, family permitting! Alex

Oh I quite like the lined ones . My eyesight can only cope with unlined though so if I want a lined one I have to trawl the s/h market for lined Bachmann ones. Yes it is the show in Somerset and it would be great to meet up. NHY581 is assisting, but you would be most welcome. Operaton is a bit less onerous than Brent with only three turnouts and one signal. Alex

The next month is going to be spent making sure the whole thing works without issue!

4555 entering Yelverton with a Plymouth - Launceston passenger train Alex

In a previous post, I showed a picture of the new 4574 in primer. Here she is, almost finished. I tried Lifecolour green, which sprayed well, but I felt there was too much blue in it, so I went over it with Railmatch. Transfers and 3d plates are from Railtech. My original model of 4574 was made as a pair with my model of 4555. Then I learned that 4574 was unlined by the time it reached the branch, so the old lined model has become 4567. Here's the new 4574 posed with 4555, which has had a bit of a tweak. Alex

More work on the road behind the down platform leading to the loading dock. The row of conifers are made from coconut hanging basket liner on barbecue skewers. The platform fence hasn't been properly installed yet, which is why it is a bit wobbly! Some more pictures round the station area The foot bridge is now in place.it slots into place on the platforms, and helps disguise the joint between the boards. A small section of platform surface is fixed to the legs and end of the stairs, and these fit into holes in the main platform surface. The footbridge simply lifts off before the boards are separated. It still needs a bit more detailing round the legs - some stored barrows, a seat, and the running in board for the up platform. The posters and "passengers must cross the line by the bridge" sign are from Scalescenes. More work on the legs painting(!) and electrics for the next few weeks. Alex

Thanks Nick. It needs to be a 45xx with straight tanks. Alex

A small plea this morning. I'm looking for a Bachmann 45xx body. Any livery. A non-runner would do. Anyone out there with one to sell? Thanks Alex

The road leading down to the yard from the station pas the back of the signal box is taking shape. On the left of the picture, the row of conifers is made using coconut hanging basket line on barbecue skewers, covered with Treemendus pine scatter. The up platform building is glimpsed through the trees. The model is set in 1958, by which time the Princetown platform was out of use. I want to give the impression of a run down building in its last years, More is to be added in the way of fencing and vegetation, with the building rising out of the long grass. Another glimpse of a building through the trees, this time the signal box. Having taken the photograph, I realised the safety bars over the end windows had come unstuck Layton the local raptor surveys tthe scene from atop the telegraph pole by the signal box. Now a question. On the prototype, there is a ground signal just by the front left corner of the signal box, which controls the exit from the down line to t he refuge siding. Because of the need to avoid a baseboard joint, the turnout has been moved slightly closer to the platform end, with the result that the switch blades no longer end to the left of the signal box, but in front of it. There is no longer any room for the ground signal by the end of the switch blades, but I think it would look better in place just to the left of the signal box. Would this be permissible in practice? Alex Alex

This little chap arrived this week to join Yelverton's pack of small prairies. It will become either 5569, or the auto fitted 5572. I'm not sure which yet. I like the Bachmann small prairies. They look good without any modification. The main modification I do is to remove the moulded coal, and fix the plate round the rear lam bracket, moulded as part of the coal, to the bunker back. They receive a new smoke box dart. New pony wheels look good, and finer whistles. Some feel the safety valve casing is slightly large, and could be changed, but I haven't done so yet. I particularly like the BR lined green ones. The green looks OK to me, and the lining is far better than I could do myself, so I simply weather the factory finish. A slightly bigger job is 4574, currently going through the shops. This will be painted plain green I'll replace the smokebox door dart. I've already removed the coal, and added some short lengths of plastic rod to the rear of the tank fillers, to represent the wood blocks fitted to prevent the filler caps hitting the tank tops when they are opened. The model is currently in primer. Alex