Time to thin out the collection!

 I have slowly been sorting through all gauges of my collection- so far I have a box of 009 stock which I have to find the boxes for. Then its on to the O gauge. There is also the layouts which need to be sold, Cringle Street Goods in O gauge and RAF Misarah and Hillbrow both 009. Both of the 009 layouts have appeared in Railway Modeller over the last couple of years. Hillbrow won best in show at Minehead in 2018. There is also a started N gauge layout with a bit ofstock.

The time it takes to sort out boxes etc. , however, means that these won't be available any time aoon

009 Festiniog Coaches.

 Having a bit of a clear out with the intention to sell some of my layouts and stock.

Came across a pair of unbuilt Festiniog white metal coaches and, as you do, idly began soldering them together. I must say at this point that the kits aren't complete so they are not prototypical.

I had a piece of thick plasticard which has been cut and fitted for floors. 

I have a couple of old Farish N gauge bogies which will fit one coach - the other will have whitemetal ones soldered together.

A quick wash to remove any errant flux and then a quick coat of grey primer.

00 Gauge S&DJR Colliery Wagons.

 Recently, and due to the modest collection of S&D locos I have been casually searching for colliery wagons which would have operated around the Radstock coalfield.

I already have a representative rake of Clerestory coaches repainted from the short Tri-ang/ Hornby range.

To date I have discovered three examples, may be more in the store, which are illustrated alongside.

Each is marked as return to Radstock, either S&D or GWR. Will continue searching so a decent rake can be formed.

Something completely different in 1:1 scale.

During the recent hot spell, my wife and I visited Abbotsbury Swannery and Sub-tropical garden. Both were very well laid out for social distancing and the cafes supplied good tea and sandwiches.

On almost reaching the exit from the Swannery I nearly missed the recovered half scale prototype of Barnes-Wallis' bouncing bomb. This was recovered from the Fleet in 1989 by Sea King.

First time I had heard of the recovery since learning of the testing in the Fleet whist at school.

 

Figures for the Mill.

 Came across these in local model shop. Figure in white is perfect for the miller. Others are useful too.

Wiring Gwartha Vellan 009.

Nice and hot over the weekend so migrated to the workshop , which is nicely insulated, and spent some relaxing (read frustrating) hours wiring . With the trusty multimeter it seems to work but the main feeds have yet to be added. Sorry for the single paragraph but this new Blogger won't let me start a new one! The chaps at ESR Electronic components delivered my order in quick time and very reasonable.       https://shop.esr.co.uk/index.html 

                           Two of the five boards - must get some more plug covers.

 

009 High Mill station

This is just a quick mock up of how the station will look. The facing and platform surface are from some 'N' gauge random stone sheets which, again, I found hiding from me!                    

The Scenecraft buildings have been given a coat of dry brushed paint so they are more matching to other structures.                                                                      

009 High Mill water wheel.

The water wheel has been made and roughly placed . The river beds have had the first coat of base paint,

the mill stream joining the main tributary after the shed viaduct.

009 Engine Shed for Gwartha Vellan.

The engine shed has been painted

and some weathering applied.

This time I have used Humbrol weathering powder rather than dry brushing. Why? Well I have had weathering powders sat in the paint box for so long I thought this may be a good time what with using plastic sheet for the buildings.

To my eye the shed hasn't turned out too badly but once the layout has been wired and ballasted then the sceneswill start to really come to life.

009 Brake Van from e-bay seller Woodworm2014.

I have ordered from a seller-

woodworm2014 on e-bay previously.

This was only some

coupling hooks which were an

excellent product.

This time I ordered a 3D printed Brake Van at a very reasonable price. It was complete with wheels and couplings so just assembly and painting to do.

At the same time some oil drums and more couplings were ordered. A message saying all had been posted and a couple of days later a well packed envelope arrived.

The service really was excellent  and the parts, clearly 3D printed were cleaned up and assembled with superglue. The chassis comes fitted with wheels and the couplings are easily located and attached. Really recommend this seller who I have no connection with but as a satisfied customer.

Minitrix chassis for 009 scratchbuild.

The latest aquisition is an aged Minitrix 0-6-0 tank loco which will be used to attach a scratch built body.

The loco runs very well but is a little light footed without the cast metal body attached. Weight can be incorporated in the new body I am sure.

Although this is an aged loco, the chassis is intact without any alterations which should make conversion easier.

It did, however, appreciate a drink of light oil on its moving parts improving its running even more.

009 GVT Station Nameplate.

I am undecided if this will be the stations name. I suppose that it should be Higher Mill as per the tramways title.

As I have several packs of Slaters lettering in various sizes it seems prudent to use them instead of more etched names, and I only want one this time..

Also I am unsure if such a small facility would have running in boards at each end of the platform.

Still plenty of time before this decision needs to be made as at present I am undecided if any of the layouts will be shown again.

Progress on Gwartha Vellan 009.

A few bits of plastic offcuts has enabled the building of this small stone shed. The roof, I think, is from the Wills small signal box.

Presently in primed grey it will be dry brushed to match the stone colouring already used.

Likewise with the engine shed which is mainly corrugated iron cladding with wood bracing.

The stream is slowly coming on with the course of the water brushed in brown. I must look for some small rocks to add before the area is flooded with varnish or maybe I will use the airbrush to contour a coat of Mod Podge which I have been meaning to try for a while.

The corrugated sheets have been roughly applied and literally cut to fit from many offcuts I had- no more!

There are three different profiles which represent the make do and mend attitude used on many narrow gauge railways on a less than solvent budget.

The last pics show the mill bridge and viaduct- very grand name- in position waiting for the sluice gates and water wheel to be located.