Watershoot Bay goods yard progressing.

In view of the time frame left, several kits will have to be used together with some modified parts.

The Wills woodyard is fairly small compared with it's larger Ratio cousin- and a lot cheaper!

Undercoated with grey primer, the roofs and lean to have been lightly weathered with rust acrylic paint dry brushed on.

The represented wood stacks took an age to fix together and finally coated with wood coloured paint.

The level crossing is, again, a Wills offering. This has had a panel removed and is sited adjacent to the signal box.

The wooden walkway has been produced from wood effect plastic sheet.

Greenwood products made the lazer cut Southern concrete hut and is similarly positioned to one on the Island.

 

 

An overall view of the goods yard which has had very fine scatter glued in place as the yard surface.

Cobbles were originally laid for the entrance and crane base but never extended further.

 

Finally the crossing to the second area of the goods yard.

Black card cut to shape , painted and then covered with flock.

 

00 Gauge Railtec 3D Numberplate transfers.

The Railtec plates are slightly smaller than those that have been printed onto the loco.

A quick brush over with BR Green acrylic paint- slightly differing from that applied by Bachmann- prepared the surface for the transfers.

The transfers are floated from the backing, dried, then secured with a spot of varnish as directed in the instructions.

The smokebox number and shed plate are secured in the same way.

 

I brush a thin coat of varnish around the transfer edge and, to date, there have been no loss or lifting.

As the complete loco numbering set, and complete loco set, can be supplied there is no need to purchase separate packs of plates, shed plates.

https://www.railtec-models.com/index.php

Just need some suitable lamps to complete.

 

00 Gauge Prairie Tank re-numbered.

Steve at Railtec Transfers has excelled himself again!

Belying the fact that these are transfers they arrived extremely promptly and are a work of art.

These will transform my 4575 Class 5500 into 5502 during its time shedded at 83E-St Blazey,

https://www.railtec-models.com/index.php

 

Preparing St. Mewan for its first outing.

St. Mewan was built during the recent lockdown on a couple of baseboards 3ft 6inches long by 8incheswith a short extension to the fiddle yard.

The fiddle yard extension is removable and the layout is hinged to fold in half. This has the added bonus that there is no need to split the wiring as it is permanently fixed together.

The only removable part is the Clay Dries chimney- a resin casting by Bachmann.

The most time consuming thing is checking that all the locos work together with checking the couplings- in the case of Goods Stock these are fitted with Sprat and Winkle couplings.

 The passenger stock has modified proprietry couplings which have a small staple fitted through a hole in the dropper which is soldered into place.

Most of the goods stock is run in rakes of 4 so the centre wagons don't need alteration.

 

 

The magnets for uncoupling are fitted under the baseboard and are invisible to see. The uncoupling points are indicated by figures or scenic items- all I need to do is remember where they are!

 A type 2 Diesel Hydraulic awaits departure with a short goods tarin.

The layout can be run in either GWR or British Railways (Western Region) so stock is split into the two periods.

One era in the morning and one after lunch.

St. Mewans first outing is at the Moors Valley exhibition on 25th/26th June 2022.

If you visit please do say hello.

An 00 gauge souvenir from the Watercress Line.

 A limited edition wagon by Wessex Wagons , number 411 in partnership with the Mid Hants Wagon Group, was available from the shop at Alresford Station. Limited to 175 examples, mine is number 15.

Harwin & Co supplied the embryonic Mid-Hants Railway with coal until their cessation of trading in 2002.

A fitting momento for a great day out.

A trip on the Watercress Line with High Tea.

Today was the day that I enjoyed one of my 70th birthday presents. Not a Sunday Lunch as originally given but an afternoon tea.

Joining the train at Alresford we sat in first class accommodation and enjoyed a trip to Alton and return to Alresford. The train loco was Schools class- Cheltenham.

In the mood for a relaxing journey and tea please excuse the random shots- not necessarily in the right order- of an enjoyable trip and an excellent afternoon tea which was served by superb volunteers and thoroughly enjoyed by this 70+ year old!

 

00 Gauge Watershoot Bay update.

Basic ground cover- paint- applied. It already makes an improvement.

One of the re-imagined 4 wheeler from a GN Hornby model- captures the essence of IOW early coaches.

The Southern Vectis bus makes an appearance, this be repositioned when the roadway is built. Hopefully the 'Southern Vectis' lettering will be more visable.             

 

The coal wagons have had a Sprat and Winkle coupling fixed to each end of the rake of four. The couplings between them are shortened proprietry type.

 

0 gauge BR ply sided Fruit Van.

A reasonable aquisition at the recent New Forest MRC exhibition was this av- it looked forlorn in Railfreight red and brown but has been re-incarnated as an early BR example. As usual Railtec Transfers have been used. Just the buffers to refit and some Sprat and Winkles et voila!

Once other projects are complete then another 0 Gauge layout is in planning- I have the points and just need a few more lengths of bullhead track and it can be started. Still have to think of a name for operation around Bath with S&DJR, Southern and GWR locos together with a bit of BR!

 

00 Gauge Watershoot Bay- now electrified.

 

With Watershoot Bay now up and running- thanks mainly to my good friend Nigel-work can now progress on the scenic side.

This post shows the rolling stock that will be used on the layout. Motive power will mostly be 0-6-0 ex LB&SCR Terriers. Most are in Maunsell Olive livery but there are also a couple of others, one in Sunshine Malachite and one, as yet ,devoid of markings.

The Olive coaches are now 4 wheelers- the centre axle having been removed. The teak 4 wheelers are re-branded GNR stock.

The wagons are a fair mixture. One of each Hornby and a Smallbrook Studios Brake vans together with a Smallbrook van converted from a redundant brake are the correct replicas whilst the others , both vans and opens, are modified and repainted Hornby with a solitary Oxford ex-GN van.

The first picture shows the station building sat atop the platform base- this needs some work before it can be glued to rest- hopefully in the right place!