00 Scale Woodlands making debut at Salisbury & South Wilts Exhibition 20th/21st May 2023

 

Woodlands has its debut this weekend at the SSWRS exhibition at Wilton.

Set in the era of British Railways (Southern Region) in the mid 50's to mid 60's. Mostly operated with Small tanks and tender engines.

The layout is 8ft long and was inspired by Martin Brents Arcadia published in the March 1981 Model Railways magazine.

Slightly elongated scenic area but virtually identical track layout.

                                                    Crossing Keepers Cottage

4mm scale Cambrian Wagon kits-LNWR/SR D1316

 There are many suitable wagon kits for both of my 4mm layouts. Indeed I have made many and adapted some I have purchased 'ready made' but it really does satisfy to look at a constructed kit and think 'I made that'.

So looking at the Cambrian range gives a large selection to choose from. Unlike Parkside/Ratio the Cambrian kits don't come with wheels- they have to be sourced separately. The thing is wagon wheels are nigh on impossible to find as many are out of stock.

Still, I have found some so construction can re-commence.

00 Gauge Bachmann Class 419 MLV.

I have been looking for one of these for some time and I must say the wait was worth it.

From an e-bay seller I have dealt with before this example was found and, although Christmastime, the Post person pulled out all the stops and delivered within the 48 hour time.

So, this is just about perfect and will join the roster for Woodlands once the third rail is installed.

And no it won't be DCC I like easy wiring!

 

00 Gauge Southern Region loco and coaches.

In amongst the clerestory coaches were a pair that had been lengthened. The two make a good pair which have had the ends squared off ready to be modified for the Southern roof profile.

It is intended to modify the Brake end to a driving trailer although I have enough parts to make another.

A recent arrival is a early crest Kernow 02 0-4-4T which, together with my kit built example will provide alternative motive power on Woodlands.

 

3MM BR&CW Type 3.

The pair of Type 3's or Class 33's will both be powered by Halling 12mm gauge power bogies.

Halling bogies have adjustable wheel bases and the only real drawback is that the wheels are only 9mm in diameter- slightly too small for 3mm diesels.

A U shaped carrier has been made with mounting screw soldered into the predrilled hole. The mounting has been Epoxy Resin bonded to the motor.

Once the glue has dried, how to mount into the body? A length of brass (freebe from Worsley Works)
has been formed to shape as below but I have made it too long so will have to shorten. The upright is to provide rigidity

500th post- Welcome to 2020!

I really like the products of Petite Properties as you may gather. This is the first one that I built back last summer.

However, after completing the three others, I saw that the roof really let this one down.

So, using the tiles from ID stuck onto a thin card backing as a guide, I then cut the sheet into 2 tile strips and cut through the lower tile and stuck the strip on.

When complete it gives a much better finish as shown in the lower photos. In actual fact I could have gotten away without painting but the finish was well worth it. Must now wait for PP to re-stock the terracd houses as I have another project in mind. Until then....

Hornby 00 gauge Adams Radial.

Just when Ithought I had enough, this one was lurking on my local, preferred, Model Shop's shelf.
Now I have the three survivors which worked out of Exmouth Junction, mainly on the Lyme Regis Branch. A suitable code for Lyme has been added front and rear together with a suitable crew.
Thank you Father Christmas!

4mm Petite Properties.

I am extremely pleased with the finished Harpers Yard from Petite Properties.

Yet to be named, this building has been finished in Howards Scenics- available from Freestone Accessories, Victorian Brickwork paper.

The roof has been coated with corrugated iron and has been aged with a coating of  rust over the metallic silver base.

1/76- 00 scale Petite Properties.

I really like these kits by Petite Properties. Previously I have made Teacup Cottage. Accurately lazer cut in thin MDF these parts go together extremely well.

The wooden parts have been glued together with PVA and held tightly with clamps.

The finish is left to the purchaser and this building will be faced with Victorian Brickwork from Howards Scenics.

Once the glue has cured the edges have been cleaned up ( to correct my mistakes- not the kits) with emery boards which can be purchased reasonably at Poundland etc..

Once completely dry, the clamps have been removed to reveal a blank canvass to be detailed.

The last picture shows the carcass covered with brick paper which has been  cut and folded around the door and window apertures.

All that remains is for the doors, windows and associated woodwork to be painted and glued in place.

4mm Petite Properties.Teacup Cottage.

This kit has been lurking in the to do tray for some time. Petite Properties was a new name to me.  Laser cut MDF forms the main shell with similarly cut card the detailing parts.

Using a quick tack glue the main parts were quickly assembled. Weights were used to tightly hold it all together.

When cured the detail parts were attached before spraying in white primer to give a whitewashed finish.

 The windows and doors have been secured with tacky glue and curtains fitted to the glazing.

I did consider using individual slates on the roof but decided to us a Superquick sheet instead.

Just the coping stones to fit and its just about finished.

After the next couple of exhibitions my 4mm layout- Woodlands- will have Teacup Cottage located.

4mm Private owner wagon.

I have several private owner wagons which are from the immediate area of South East Dorset. This is a little further away but will be able to run with my Somerset and Dorset 8F in blue - also obtained a LMS brake van without duckets which has been sprayed grey and is waiting for some suitable S&D branding transfers.
I am at Taunton this weekend helping with Parkstone Goods so should be able to source some there.

Narrow Planet B4 Smokebox numbers and shedplates

Dapol's ex-LSWR B4 is a real beauty so it deserves a decent set of smokebox plates.

So Narrow Planet is where I turn to when sourcing etched plates.

The set below arrived recently and they don't disappoint.

4mm Slaters Open Wagon.

 This wagon has stood in the cabinet for ever!

Whilst assembling the Cambrian wagons I removed the plastic wheels and fitted pinpoint bearings just to see if metal wheels would fit. Success! So a quick coat of grey primer and the chassis painting black when dry gave another inexpensive addition to the collection.

I have since applied a BR Private owner number and blackened the metalwork which i must picture sometime.

4mm Cambrian wagon kits.

 Whilst looking for something or other I came across a couple of Cambrian 4mm scale kits.

Where or when I acquired these is unknown but having a few idle moments started to build them.
Firstly the SECR 10Ton van with lower door as right and latterly the ex-GWR Loriet below.

These 4mm kits go together as well as the 3mm versions of which I have made many.
The chassis is posssibly easier to construct than the Parkside version although the Parkside kits are supplied with wheels.

Luckily there are several pictures of the Loriet in GW/BR wagon books I have- however, again, the numbers are incorrect and missing the LORIET branding as I didn't have the correct transfers for one wagon!

There were only a very few Loriets so the chances of me building another is very slim!
Engineers wagons are rarely used on my layouts but now I have a Shark, hopper and Loriet so that's a start.

4mm coach miscellany.

 During the hot weather several unfinished projects have reached completion.
The etched brass offering, right and below was found in a poor condition but was complete. It has been stripped, repainted in BR unlined crimson and will be used on a branch line as a single coach- again this has had Humbrol matt varnish applied at the same time as the 33 reported a few days ago and,guess what, it too has a white sheen to the varnish-anyway this looks a bit neglected and will stay as is with maybe some weathering powders applied.

 Below is a 62ft MK1 suburban brake which has been assembled from Replica Railway parts. It is always rewarding to search Godfreys stall at exhibitions and this is the third coach built in this way. And, yes I know that the numbers are wrong but I had some rub down sheets of numbering and didn't want to buy another sheet for one coach.

Hornby Railroad BR&CW Type 3.

I have had this partially detailed for some time and I suppose it wasn't high on the list of priorities due to a couple of the Heljan offerings.
By chance, at the Brockenhurst  Exhibition, I found a set of South Eastern Finecast flush glazing for the Lima class 33.
Never one to spend 50pence lightly, I aquired this and three sets of glazing for the old Tri-ang/Hornby Clerestory coaches as well!
Brought them home and promptly forgot about them until I was looking for something in the 4mm round tuit box.
the necessary pieces were cut from the moulding, checked for fit, window surrounds painted matt black, transfers applied- sealed with matt varnish and the windows fitted and secured in place with canopy glue. Job done- except Mr Humbrols varnish has gone a patchy matt white. Sprayed in 26 degrees C and agitated for at least a couple of minutes before applying.Note to self- don't use his again!