Chris Chewter

I always hate it when a layout stagnates slightly. Tetbury is currently giving me a number of different headaches! Firstly the goods yard was giving me a few troubles. The only image of the goods yard came from the B&R video Vol 116 Gloucestershire Byways. As you can see, the goods yard is covered in fairly black cinder. I considered using real ash, however I read reports that this is slightly corrosive, therefore thought better of it. So a sprinkler tub of Woodland Scenics Cinders was upturned, and this was the end result. Other techniques such as using air drying clay didn't come to my attention until after the Woodland Scenics cinders was laid. I did think it didn't look quite right in reality, however I don't think it looks too bad in the photos, which has helped to spur me back on track. The trees have also put me off slightly. After using two reels of florist wire to make half a dozen tree armatures, I probably need to invest in a florist wire factory to finish the layout. However I just need to remind myself that Rome wasn't built in a day, and this is a marathon and not a sprint. Fences are also on the radar. There is a multitude of different fencing used at Tetbury and have been mapped using Randolphs book. This ranges from timber post and wire, timber post and rail, and concrete post and wire. I just need to get myself into gear and paint the posts before fixing into position. However playing trains keeps on getting in the way! Another deviation has come from Modelu. As you can see from the pannier in the goods yard which has been kitted out with a Modelu crew, the figures produced are second to non and look absolutely superb. However everyone who visits the layout asks whether the figures in the locos are actually me, especially as I'm a volunteer fireman! So I thought I'd splurge and get myself scanned! The idea of a miniature version of myself in some of the locomotives on the layout appeals to my level of vanity! Now to get busy with the paint, or should I start with trees... or the fences. Where to concentrate my efforts next is probably the reason why Tetbury has come to a bit of a halt. (I knew it was a mistake to clean the track!)

I couldn't find a working link to the Bachmann video for the Baldwin on this thread, so I thought I'd post the youtube video link below: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Uonh9U3GdWY&t=3s I love that valve gear. Its almost hypnotic to watch!

Thanks for the photo link. I had wondered whether the chalk graffiti was fictitious as the collectors club mag didn't appear to go into too much detail about it. However the photo demonstrates that its factually correct, which makes it a nice touch.

In April, I decided to splurge and buy the yellow austerity. An order was duly placed and the tanky arrived. However when I opened it, the front handrail was missing, so I sent it back for a replacement. Hattons dispatched another yellow austerity. I was a little disappointed that the same thing had happened again. It would appear that the packing at the front can knock it off in transit: At least this time, the handrail was in the box. Because it's a minor fix and not too difficult to do, I'll just get on and fix it myself rather than playing parcel ping-pong, but I thought it was worth raising in case the packaging needs to be adjusted.

Good work. Not too dissimilar to my Trojan cut-n-shut, although I used the Pug chassis for mine: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/96593-avonside-trojan-cut-n-shut/

Started to wind together some tree armatures tonight. I've used the thinnest gauge florists wire from Hobbycraft, available only in black. It's also covered in oil leaving my hands black after making a single tree! This is a 60 strand tree which makes a decent height model. After watching a variety of YouTube tutorials, the plan is to coat the trunk with latex and spray. Foliage is to be supported on rubberised horse hair with flock held on with spray glue or hair spray. Interestingly, Barry Norman suggests painting trunks grey, not brown. I have some smaller 30 strand "saplings" to experiment on. More photos as my tree modeling adventure progresses.

I managed to get an hour today whilst the kids watched something boring on telly, so I decided to see how far a thinned tin of Humbrol 33 would go towards weathering down the ballast. The answer is not as far as I had planned! Looks like I'd better pick up a couple more tins when I next past a model shop! Happy Easter!

Personally I didn't think the weathering on the BR 14xx is too bad, although I'm not too sure about the white staining,,,

With Easter Day upon us tomorrow, I'm aware that when my father visits, he'll ask how I'm getting on with the layout, so I thought I'd better give it a quick test. To my surprise, other that a loose wire on the common return, everything worked great with exception of some dirty track post ballasting. Even the points I forgot to protect worked! I just need to give the track another clean. However it's great to see the wheels turn again!

Tonight on model railway nightmares: Ballast This is the result of a total of 4 hours worth of ballasting, a tub of Woodland Scenics Medium Light Grey Ballast shaker, and I think two bottles of Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement (Basically watered down PVA) I used a sprayer to apply the glue to the ballast. With hindsight perhaps not the best idea as its disturbed the ballast and lifted some of it up over the top of the sleepers, so perhaps a pippett may have worked better. When its dry, I'm going to have to start scraping anything off the top of the sleepers. I also forgot to protect two of the points. So I'm going to have to pick bits of ballast away to get it working smoothly again. What fun! Perhaps some of you may wonder why I've used Woodland Scenics Scenic Cement instead of watering down my own PVA. Basically its because someone else will have measured the consistency instead of myself. Lazy I know, but it saves me a bother! Anyway, it needs to dry overnight. Lets see if its set by the morning!

I haven't posted for a while because i feel that I'm in the middle of some sort of model railway scenic nightmare! Here's why... I've proceeded to pour the water following the technique explained above. As suggested by Barry Norman, the base has been painted in Raw Umber. A light amount of Woodland Scenics Talus was laid, and the Woodland Scenics E-Z water was melted down (Not suggested by Barry Norman, but I wanted to get the depth without using acrylic sheet). This is where things went wrong. During the pour, I ran out about 3/4 of the way through on the right hand side. Probably the most visible part as well. So I had no choice but to melt a second batch and see how bad the transition lines were, and they were bad! So bad, I didn't take a photograph out of sheer embarrassment. So how could I sort this out? I decided to paint over the E-Z water with a dilute green paint to give it a bit of murkyness, and wiped some of it off with some Humbrol thinners. This hid the transition layers around the edge, and gave a bit of variety. Because the paint was matt, it needed a layer of Woodland Scenics Realistic Water over, and it seems to have worked. Phew! That's three packs of E-Z water pellets and nearly a bottle of Realistic Water used. The current problem is that the raised parts of the bank painted in raw umber needs a bit of grass stuck down. Not a major issue but i thought I'd explain why it looks like a five year old has painted along the bottom of the wall (Next time I'll be painting the base plaster in Raw Umber throughout!) However I'm also not happy with the road. It just looks too rough! i need to think about that one. I've used Woodland Scenics Smooth-it, as well as Hydrocal and household filler. Nothing seems to be working at the moment. Time for a think on that bit! I have also decided that knowing the platforms were constructed from brick, I'd reface the Ratio stone platform edges. Simple. However after taking a few photographs, I've noticed that one of the corners is damaged and needs to be adjusted. Another job on the to-do list! Thankfully, when you step back and take a look, its taking shape and looking Tetbury-ish. Lets see what I can get done over Easter.

Batch 3 of the 14xx appear to be now in stock. Just received notification that my pre-order has been processed,

Weirdly I didn't see the Heljan post on my Facebook feed! No excuse for me not reading Paul Uni's post though!

Another email of delay from Hattons. May/June 2017 now!

I've been steadily working away ticking off various bits on Tetbury. The most pressing is to sort out "The Splash." I've been experimenting with different water techniques. After finding that Woodland Scenics Realistic Water only works on flat surfaces, I realised that I need to try a different method. The most suitable would be Woodland Scenic's Deep Water product, but its only available in the USA. Over here we have Woodland Scenics E-Z water. Basically it consists of a load of pellets that you melt via heating in a disposable container (not supplied), and you pour into place. But be careful. Stir too fast and you add bubbles in the mix. Pour as its cooling, and you get bubbles on the surface that are a pain to remove. The best way is to get it as hot as you dare, and pour in a quick and efficient manner. I've followed Barry Normans advice to use Raw Umber as a colour base. I've experimented with adding in some Talus to give it a bit of visual interest, but I think less is more here! The other piece didn't come out so well. This used Dulux Muddy Puddle as a colour base and lots of Talus. I'm reasonably happy with the first piece. With some PVA ripples, I think it will look the part. However I'm open to suggestions before I make the pour!

Fair comment. Knuckles rapped. (Although I don't think Hattons will say no to my cash!)

Its so that Christine Hatton can buy some more designer handbags!

Unless anyone has any insider knowledge, I'm not convinced they've arrived in Denmark! Sometimes there's a post on their Facebook page of new locos under test before dispatch to retailers, but to date I've seen nothing more than a single Manning Wardle. I think they must still be on a slow boat from China!

No guarantees it'll be a Manning Wardle in 30 days time. More like another Hattons email of postponement!

So to be clear, that's a date between the 27th March and the end of the world, hopefully nearer the former than the latter. I'm bracing myself for yet another Hattons email!

Thank you for the correction.

I received a facebook notification that a review of the Heljan Manning Wardles shall reviewed in the April 2017 edition of Railway Modeller. I don't think I've come across a model in recent history that's been reviewed before it's released to the general public! Looking forward to picking up a copy.

Things have been a bit stressful at work this week, so the thought of working on the railway in the evenings hasn't appealed. A trip to Reading and another to Newport haven't helped either. However I have been able to do a few little jobs in the evenings. Firstly the lamp hut has had a coat of cream paint. I managed to take a quick snap to see how it looks. I only put one light coat as the actual lamp hut was fairly shabby. I know the grass needs trimming and its next on the to do list. The water crane also needs a bit of TLC! I've also been trying to work out how to model the coal yard. There are very few photos in existence. The best are in Randolphs book, and the two on page 69 are especially useful. One of which is replicated on the Tetbury Raillands website: http://www.tetburyraillands.com/content/history-tetbury-goods-shed-and-rail-lands There is also the briefest of glimpses on the B&R DVD Gloucestershire Byways The closest I've found to the Dolphins office is the Dapol coal yard office. I've added in an additional window to the rear and lowered the sign. The colour is a little subjective as I've only got a black and white partial image of it. Unfortunately the model is a little crude but it'll do until those raised window surrounds get annoying. The kits aren't too expensive, so I can easily pick another up with a packet of Wills windows and try again. The resin garage model may get clad in wills corrugated steel. Also a little update on the lorry. I found mention in Tetbury Through time by Lynne Cleaver that the coal was moved around by horse. However on p70 of Randolphs book, there's a tantalising glimpse of the rear tyre of a lorry in the coal yard, so I think the Bedford can stay! I decided to take the plunge and open up the Wills semi-detached stone cottage kit to start next. However being a craftsman kit it does give me the heebie-jeebies a bit! Perhaps I might finish off the cattle dock next...

Whilst shopping around on eBay, I came across the Hornby Skaledale R8585 lamp hut, and was struck how similar it was to the engine-mans hut at Tetbury. Apparently this building housed the signing on point for the engine shed. I was thinking that I would have to buy a wills lamp kit kit and cut in the windows, but when I came across the Skaledale item, it was a bit too good to miss! All I need to do now is give it a coat of cream paint!