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.

 

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.

00 gauge Great Beams Clay Co wagon.

 

Whilst perusing a well known auction site I stumbled across this- a Burnham and District MRC Limited edition wagon. Produced for them by Dapol.

I haven't seen this particular example before and was unaware of the company.

The Great Beam Clay Co. was established in 1849 with their head off in St Austell.

A limited edition of 164, this is number 20.

St Mewan motive power - 00 Gauge.

Three out of the four locos available for roster are ancient ReplicaRailways products.

It was decided early on that the cheapest option, except the Hornby example, would be used to minimise cost.

The exception is a Bachmann latest chassis example obtained cheaply due to incorrect boxing!

You can tell the difference by looking at the wheels!

This one is the exception- a 8750 pannier. It admittedly run better but usually 3 times the cost of the others so it should.

Some spares were obtained from Replica and some spare gears from Peters Spares which have given a new lease of life to them.

All bar 3635 , which is the haulier of the 4 wheel coaches,  are all fitted with loops for Spratt and Winkle couplings which are a feature of the GWR stock on St Mewan.

 

St Mewan in GWR guise and an update.

Some while since an update was posted regarding St. Mewan.

So to put right here are some pics, this time in GWR mode, showing the limited progress.

The Hornby 4 wheel coaches have provided an option which has negated the need for an Autotrailer.

Several Pannier Tanks are now available plus a Collett goods for motive power.

A loading gauge and platelayers hut added by the platform headshunt.

00 Gauge Replica Railways Collett Goods.

Proof that you can make a decent model from a long out of production model. This one is a Replica Railways Collett Goods from the late 80's.

The moulding is very good- almost as good as the present rendition by Bachmann.

Purchased as a non-runner- it has been stripped and new parts added as needed. Add to this the addition of lamp irons, coal irons to the tender and a crew makes this model into a gem.

Cruelly enlarged images show how effective even the slightest of adds can lift a model into the super detailed idiom.

This one has had the couplings removed and loops for Sprat and Winkle etched couplings substituted. This loco is destined for use on the GWR era of St Mewan, my micro 4mm layout based near St Austell.

Crushed real coal and a crew- Dapol figures, complete the modifications and after testing, was deemed ready to take its place on the loco roster.

 Please excuse the two crew members fighting under this loco- lockdown heh?

4mm Scale Dapol Class 52 Western Diesel.

The recent upload of posts has been erratic to say the least. This is due to life outside model railways and the fact that some things aren't considered to be of interest to you- my adoring public!

I have many models which haven't been recorded including this one, my Dapol Class 52 Western which was a limited edition from the |London Transport Museum some time ago.

This one made me part with the Heljan example - wish I hadn't. This is part of the St Mewan project which has just about come to fruition!

 

Powsides 4mm scale rub-down transfers.

The price of Limited Edition wagons from Dapol has become one step too much.

So, what to do to expand the China Clay fleet? Now what I am proposing is probably too much for the purist- so please look away now!

Powsides catalogue is extensive in both 4 and 7mm scales with quite a few ready printed kits and RTR models thrown in for good measure.

However, I aquired some very inexpensive 4 plank Oxford Rail wagons and after removing the printed on legend undercoated and then sprayed black.

The inside has been left in primer grey but, being gloss black, the transfers will adhere well.

I will admit it is trickier to apply the transfers rather than a flat unassembled side as I had previously done.

After cutting to size and attaching the film to the wagon side with low tack adhesive tape I was able to rub the transfers on without too much trouble.

The result -below- bears this out I feel- then one more black wagon to similarly treat then I will see what kits I have left or if more  Oxford Rail wagons will need to be sourced. Just need to seal with matt varnish then reassemble the wheels, buffer heads and couplings.One more clay wagon to go before another Somerset collieries wagon is started.

 

00 Gauge Hornby GWR 4 wheel coaches.

 

I had been intending to purchase a GWR liveried Autotrailer for the GW stock for St. Mewan.

However, remembering I had some unused gift vouchers from Christmas, I decided to order this pair of Hornby 4 wheeled coaches from Derails.

https://www.derails.co.uk/

Ordered on a Friday evening they arrived on Monday lunchtime- excellent service that I have come to expect from Big and Small Dans and Saul- thanks guys!

These two are of the same quality as the Southern Railway one's I already have.

The only downside is a First and Third or Tri- composite which would have been better for a short train for a micro layout.

Still, Hattons are producing these so I will patiently drum my fingers until I can see if there is a good livery match when they are released.

In the meantime must getback to modelling!

00 gauge Bachmann China Clay Wagon with tarpaulin cover.

 E-bay can be extremely annoying sometimes!

A china clay wagon with replica tarpaulin cover,not hood,caught my eye and has subsequently joined the Western Region stock. 

I have far too many of these now but can't resist a bargain or a rarity as this seems to be judging by the dearth of them on the bay.

Already weathered, I will have to decide whether to leave as is or fit a tarpaulin to match the others!

Great Western pannier tank in 00 gauge.

Whilst I have collected a decent amount of private owner and Great Western stock- I realised I didn't actually have any GWR locos!

So this example was found which will be converted to 3635once the replacement plates arrive. 

A crew has already been fitted plus the buffer beam numbers painted over in readiness to be altered.

Real coal has been adhered to the bunker and lamp irons will be fitted once the lamps arrive- or I find the one's I already have!

 

00 Gauge English Electric Type 3 modifications.

I have had several English Electric Type 3's later Class 37 over the years. Not until now have I managed to aquire an early all green example.

D6722 is a Lima product and, after servicing, runs rather well.

OK so its out of era for St Mewan but hey it's lockdown and it's my railway etc.

Firstly the buffers had to be swapped from the oval ones fitted to some nice shiny round turned brass one's because thats what D6722 was outshopped with at the Vulcan Foundry.

Next the couplings were cut off flush to the bogie frames and some .5mm nickel silver wire was fitted into holes drilled in the loco's chassis. The buffer beam was painted black as per the prototype. Coupling height was checked with a Sprat and Winkle fitted brake van and adjusted accordingly.

A trawl through the 'net provided some headcodes appropriate to the St Austell area on clay train workings. Once these have been applied then basically that's all i'm going to do to this one.

 

Pre-nationalisation stock for St. Mewan.

It was always my intention to have a collection of pre-nat stock for St. Mewan.

I have slowly been collecting wagons from around the St. Austell and Fowey area that can be used on the layout.

Four or five wagons have so far been sourced together with a few GWR items of stock. 

Luckily it doesn't need a lot to operate St. Mewan. I still need a couple of GW locos though, brake vans I already have.

 I was therefore pleased to find a shunters truck already branded for Fowey which will serve my purposes.

It does need a resident shunter which I will have to find. 

Until then I still have to decide which couplings to use- tension lock or Sprat and Winkle.

Point rodding for St Mewan.

 A new addition- well for me anyway- is the addition of point rodding.

I have used the Wills point rod kit and this will be more of a representation than a faithful reproduction. This is due mainly to lack of forward planning and the fact I am not going to dig out the ballast.

First a coat of track dirt and it's ready to position.

Coal Yard Thunderbox!

 

 

 Found this in the bits box. A quick paint and its ready to be placed in St Mewans coal yard.

You may wonder why the lifebelt. Well being near the sea, the area is prone to flooding so it's better to be safe than sorry- the toilet paper is also waterproof!

Coal Yard for St Mewan.

Slowly the finishing touches are being put to St Mewan.

Idly sorting through the bits box I came across a bundle of coffee stirrers of various sizes.

Roughly cut with a pair of sidecutters and stuck together with quick stick PVA they have turned out quite well for no outlay.

A coat of acrylic brown paint mixed with dark grey they are all ready for a delivery of coal and a Coal Office.