narrowman

No progress really, but I have decided to rename it "Pritchards Motorsport" and feature a rally preparation unit, with a rally breakers yard at each end with a rail running along the front, so I can have a small diesel and a couple of flat trucks with car parts running back and to. I'll have a selection of rally cars lined up, that can be changed every exhibition. These will be cars I have owned, driven or just liked.... Obviously, now it's a very long term project, as there's a few kits that need building and/or modifying... Tony

Does anybody make a 00 kit of this loco any more? I believe GEM did in the 1960s, but now no longer available, as the company who took over Gem has now stopped trading. Are there any resin or "printed" 3D bodies available? or a brass chassis kit? Just considering a dive into 00 (or EM) ex-Cambrian/GWR layout.. of Llangynog or Porthywaen.... Tony

Back working on Coombe Bridge, with most of my medical problems now sorted. I've been building/sorting locomotives, wagon and coaching stock so when I have the layout up and running, I'll have something to actually run on it!!! Tony

https://www.yelp.co.uk/biz/shrewsbury-model-centre-shrewsbury

My doctor booked me into hospital last week and went to the sport physio department, who had a look at my badly worn shoes and declared that I needed insoles fitted to my shoes, which will (hopefully) core my leg problems. Luckily I had ordered two more pairs of shoes, but they hadn't arrived before I went to the hospital, so the physio was able to see the problem a lot quicker!!! So, now all of my shoes have inserts, one pair for driving, one for hiking and a pair of trainers - with inserts (instead of slippers) for 'around the house' wear! I hate trainers, but if they help in curing my problems, I'm quite happy to wear them (around the house). "Modelling" was mainly looking what I have stored in various boxes and rebuilding some badly made job lots 'Ebay' wins and removing loads of 'flash' from plastic kits, which will need some 'wet'n'dry' to be purchased to finish them off, before gluing them together! I did do a bit of preparation on the two mills which will become the arts centre, which will have floors added, with 'art' attached to the back walls and some artists working... I also won an Ebay win of a couple of bridge girders for the addition of "Coombe Bridge" itself over a new river that will be constructed soon... and probably replace the railway viaduct. Tony

Popped down to Epsom a fortnight ago to see the family, but had a lot of problems walking about, with bad pains in my lower right leg, which has continued last week. Booked in at the hospital to see the physio about an arm problem next Tuesday, but might call in the docs on Monday to sort my leg out. Basically, I'm falling apart!!! I did do a small amount of modelling, before i went - built a 4 wheel diesel shunter to pull my works wagons (Ebay win) along... Went on a coach trip to Leeds yesterday (Saturday) and spent most of the day in the Armory, which was very good (If you like killing machines throughout time past!). Managed a walk from the bus station to the Armory and back (with help from my walking stick!). The coach driver took us back along some old city narrow roads, with plenty of old buildings, some that have been modernised and others looking fairly original. I don't know the amount of WW2 damage the city had, but I remember the large gaps in Liverpool, with levelled areas cleared and the rubble dumped in the Mersey, some sites which have only recently had new buildings covering the old damage. The Leeds dock area around the Armory, has been more or less totally rebuild, with a plaque in the wall listing the old businesses that were there. Interesting! Must go back and have a good look around, when my leg works better!!! Tony

Actually done some modelling today, finishing off some 009 coach and wagon kits, that have been in boxes for far too long.. Popping down to see the grand children tomorrow, so it's playing with radio controlled cars over the weekend, a nice change from model railways and deciding where we're going for holidays this year... Cardiganshire or Pembrokeshire... Tony

Still working on the Snow Leopard Scientific Expedition, which we can call it that now, as my co-driver is a qualified scientist! and I've now got a dedicated website www.snow-leopard-expedition.co.uk, so you can see what we're up to and join us if you wish! Colorado still needs the two end pieces cut and all I've done with McHale's Yard is select a few cars that need "distressing" Now where's that liquid rust bottle?... Tony

28th July Still working on the Snow Leopard Expedition and I've got a new co-driver, which is good news, but I'll have to get on with the rebuild of my Land Rover Discovery 1, which will involve cutting out the rusty boot floor and welding in a new one, which I have now purchased! So, no more modelling for quite a while. Then there's the bottom of the sills to do... and the front inner wings, which only need patching... Today was 'lost' clearing out the boot ready to use the angle grinder on the floor, but the heavy rain put an end to that (I do not work with electric in the rain!!!), so it was on with loading up a couple of software packages for press releases and proposals, so they have now been completed. It looks like it's no going to rain all day tomorrow, so hopefully, I'll be able to remove all the floor, so I can see what condition the floor supports are like (not good, I assume!) and get on with rubbing down the surface rust ready for a coat of Hammerite. Hopefully, I'll have a bit of time to have a go and have a go at working out the track layout for he second board for my On30 Colorado Heritage Railroad layout, which I did do a bit of modelling yesterday, in taking off the end of the original board! I expect Sunday will be a day off from the Land Rover (if we have heavy rain as predicted) and the Snow Leopard Expedition, as it's the end of the Summer break for BTCC on ITV4. So, depending what the support races are, I might get a bit of modelling done!!! Tony

and I've also have to continue with the snow-leopard-expedition.co.uk...

Just come across this, as I've been modelling, not glued to the internet! One of my favourite preserved stations, so I'll now be watching it as much as possible! Nice one, Coachman!!! Regards, Tony

I've got to stop work on this layout for a week or two as I need to get a couple of my other layouts finished. Such as my Gn15 "McHale's Yard" and my On30 "Colorado Heritage Railroad". Colorado needs extending by adding another board, which is the same size as the main board and McHele's Yard needs completely rebuilding on two four foot boards, which have already been built, so (hopefully) they won't take time to finish... Tony

Fiddle yard has now been rebuilt and I have been also rebuilding the mills, which are now low relief and a section of "hill" has now been removed to locate them. Must start on the back scenes as soon as I can. I'll get some photos up soon, as soon as my new battery recharger arrives!! Tony

Progress on Coombe Bridge has somewhat come to an abrupt stop, as the shelving I had put up to store the layout, collapsed and reduced the fiddle yard to two sections again.. The result of my landslide! May and Corbyn we looking for one, but I actually got one... Repairs are underway, with the fiddle yard being worse than I expected. Brian had built them VERY well and took quite a long time to get them apart. They are now being put together... This is the last day of modelling/repairing, as I must carry on with my Snow Leopard Scientific Expedition proposals to potential sponsors/crews (see www.overlandtravel.org.uk for further details) So no more modelling until that is complete (hopefully, next week!)

I've decided to retain its location in Yorkshire, but the Yorkshire Dales. I will be adding some more mills, but it will now be modern image, so expect modern cars, a classic car show and modern locos and stock. The wrinkled back scene will also be replaced by a painted back scene. Tony

I now have acquired "Coombe Bridge" and have re-located it to North West Wales, although it actually resides in North East Wales, if you see what I mean!!! I just need to redo the backdrop as it has got loads of bubbles/creases on it, so I will replace it with a painting of typical Welsh countryside and add some "Corris'" type buildings which I built years ago for a now defunct layout. And, of course, get on with building stock (locomotives/coaches). Hopefully it will be back on the exhibition circuit before long! Narrowman (Tony) www.tonysmodelrailways.co.uk/

Have a look at my website: http://tonysmodelrailways.co.uk - Layout Ideas/Layout Ideas 2 Plenty ideas for GWR style layouts, which include a couple that are seaside based... Tony

http://www.llanellirailway.co.uk/contact.htm

Since emailing you, I've found a leaflet from the Llanelli & Mynydd Mawr Railway (www.lmmrcoltd.com) (not updated since July 2014), giving a summary of the 30 minutes DVD: Chapter One: BR Blue 37248 heading north from Llanelli with a rake of HAAs, then runs around at Cynheidre Colliery for the return working. Chapter Two: Railfreight 37696 takes another rake of empties north to Cynheidre from Llanelli, then runs around before following it south as far as the main line in Llanelli. Chapter Three: Bonus chapter with a selection of unidentified 37s working the branch. All footage was filmed in the fianl weeks before closure on 24th March 1989. Perhaps of you contact them, they may have a copy for sale - or know of someone who does?? Kind regards, Tony

I've now added some reference photographs and two Layout Ideas sections (with new photographs) to my website: www:tonysmodelrailways.co.uk I hope they are of interest to fellow modellers, both 00 and 009 Tony

Photograph of the first board: The dots at the top right indicate where the shed will stand and the dots on the top left show where another shed might be and the dots leading out from the point indicate where the track may lead to the next board - but probably not - as I may remove that point!

The layout was originally built in 2010 and was exhibited in a 4' by 2' format and, appeared as such at the Midland Railway Centre, Butterley in 2010 and Crewe Heritage Centre in 2011. I later sold this layout, but kept the name (as McHale was my grandfather's Irish family's name) and most of the Gn15 (1/24th and 1/25th) rubbish in the yard, as the new owner wanted to convert it to 7mm. So, everything that wasn't required was removed and placed in boxes, for me to use if I ever wanted to rebuild McHale's Yard, which is now what I'm about to do. The new boards are four foot by eighteen inches and they will be joined together to make eight foot by eighteen inches. I probably will add anothet four foot by eighteen inch board so I can add a workshop with cars under repair/restoration, although I may decide to build a preparation unit for Humanitarian Aid vehicles, something I was involved with in the past and still act as a consultant. I have already acquired a Land Rover Series 3 LWB, Land Rover 90 and a couple of Range Rovers in 1/24th scale! - and finding the Mercedes G wagen that was recovered from the original layout (it's in a box somewhere!!!) This is my 1:1 scale Land Rover 110 in its original livery,,before we changed our name to Aidventures, at a show on our return from Belarus. So, at the moment, track has been laid on the first board and the second is just a plain board, so if I feel well enough, I will continue track laying and getting on with preparing the 'scenery' gunge

No idea why the line spacing is like this, I just copied it from my website!

COLORADO HERITAGE RAILROAD On30/O9 As the model is of a Heritage Railroad, it will have 'set scenes' as above. Think Beamish, Blists Hill, Ironbridge, etc. This is a scene of an actual theft and recovery of a racing saloon, somewhere in the USA. This layout consists of some of the modules built for and used as part of CRM's Ferrocarril Internacional and currently is in module form in my spare room. It is intended to join the modules together, possibly taking them out of 'module mode', by removing the end parts, and incorporating them into a 'roundy-roundy' layout, which will end up being located in my shed when I get around to re-water-proofing and making it very secure - CCTV, alarms, etc. Until I have my operation (and am feeling considerably a lot better!) - I have been concentrating on buildings, locomotives, rolling stock and scenery, including buildings.. This was another of CRM's modules, built to the original measurements, called "The Shed" Hopefully, I'll be able to incorporate this into the layout... on the other hand, I may just adapt this into a 'stand alone' layout which can attend exhibitions, Just need to lift it up to the other modules 4" and motorise the turntable, which I do have a unit ready for it... and yes, I know the locos do want weathering completed!!! My "Tramway de Gare Tigre", which has undergone considerable change from being exhibited at Crewe Heritage Centre and now just has the bridge and factory left, with new shop buildings ready to be positioned where the workshops were. I must work out a plan to see where the modules may fit... Updates to follow - if I get a "better day" - which today isn't!!! "Wetlands" Most of this has been cleared for new tracklaying (bit like the Teifi Valley Railway).. One of the later pictures of Calle de la "Coronacion" at an exhibition, with the other CRM modules, before that background was replaced. Some of my stock: Locomotives: Bachmann Mogul Camelbck conversion using a Backwoods Miniatures kit, built by Brian Mosby of Mozzers Models. Latest arrivals: this is a Bachmann mogul, converted to an 0-6-0 and fitted with an oil tank tender. Built and photographed by Brian Mosby. This is a conversion of an 00 gauge Bachmann 2-8-0 WD with parts from a Bachmann On30 Mogul, fitted with an oil tender. Built and photographed by Brian Mosby. Repainted Bachmann mogul, with a wood burner tender with added crew. Modified and photographed by Brian Mosby. Must get some "Colorado Heritage Railroad" transfers for the tenders designed, printed and fitted (along with some numbers and maker's plates....) I've also been collecting 1/43 and 1/48th scale vehicles for use on the layout and as it is a preserved heritage railway, modern vehicles as well as period vehicles will appear, as Crick . The latest addition is a set of tractors, which may be converted into works vehicles with the additions of snow blades, cranes, winches and roll-over safety items. Tractors are 1951 Fiat 25 R, 1956 Renault D22, 1961 Fiat 80 R, 1928 Fiat 700A and a 1968 Renault 65. Also due is a ten wheeler chassis and tender, some more Bachmann On30 locos - along with more coaches and wagons... As the model is progressing, I have been thinking what I would do if I had the money to do it, (which could have happened if I had the correct set of numbers!). I had discussed this with a friend who was going to access to a large amount of money in the future and he wanted to have a large undercover car collection, along with a narrow gauge railway, with recreated scenes, so when I can't sleep, I think what I'd like to do... Like a collection of rally/competition cars, along with some of the vehicles I've owned or used, so I've also been collecting them - Road Rally Austin A30, Stage/Road Rally Hillman Imps, Esso Uniflo sponsored Hillman Avenger Tiger, Paris Dakar/Scottish Rally Range Rover, Land Rover 110 expedition vehicle, Land Rover Series 1 trails vehicle, Hillrally Land Rover 90, Tarmac Rally Ford Escort Mk 1, Land Rover Series 3 LWB Expedition vehicle, Land Rover Discovery1 Expedition vehicle... Below: One of my O9 locos, a Pepper7 Mordred, still in kit form. Photo: Pepper7 Another of my O9 stock - an Ebay win of a railcar on a Kato chassis - a superb runner...

UPDATE: 25th October 2015 Unfortunately my 'feeling better' situation, was NOT carried over to today and I haven't done any modelling, just watched Formula E and tried to find 'lost' model railway items (not actually lost, just unlocated!)... However, I did recover a couple of Class 37s, so I stuck them on the layout, now less the buildings and took a couple of snaps two of which are shown below - I see the aerial needs straightening... and yes, there is another board which will make the layout 8 foot by one foot. The track layout will need changing and that will involve finding some Peco points and a visit to a model shop for some track lengths, unless I can find some lying around... Tony