Monday was a quiet day, Andrew ballasting on Lyne Road, Fred taming a troublesome 42xx chassis and LBH tidying the electrics on Ty’n-y-Coedcae. No pics sorry.
On Friday Paul trimmed the plywood surround Cwm Carno to its rough profile. It’s starting to look more like a layout now.
And Mr Chairman furnished ABB with a makeshift store and some traffic for the Goods Shed to handle.
Monday 8th December Read More »
Saturday 22nd and Sunday 23rd November we took Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae to the Thornbury & SG Model Railway Club exhibition. Here are some scenes from the day.
Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae on the road Read More »
Steady progress on Cwncarno and Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae but not so much in front of the camera.
Spot the difference! Wagonman has built two brake vans that are similar, but not identical. How many differences can you spot? The prize for the best entry will be Free Admission to our up-coming open day.
And TAFKATYS has been working on the servos and control system for the turnouts on Cwmcarno.
The servos and control gear are mounted on the tops of the baseboard and will be accessible via a removable side panel.
Five of us made it to the club on Monday. Paul 🏅🏅 fitted a DCC socket (there’s no doubt a better name for it – I probably should have said fascia panel) on TyCc, Mr Chairman continued with the track work on Cwm-Carno fitting the inside halves of the chairs and LBH assembled a Loading Gauge kit, also intended for TyCc. Andrew J and the Wizard continued with their own projects, but away from the camera.
Back to normal attendances this week and eyes are turning towards ABB’s visit to Scaleforum in Crewe with practice running sessions being run.
Mr Chairman fabricated a recycled sleeper fence to fill in the ugly gap between the garage and the chippie lean-to.
LBH has been messing around with laser-cutting again. First he purchased a Peco Rail 200 baseboard (despite him knowing perfectly well that this year we are celebrating the 218th anniversary of rail passenger transport). He also got three sets of stockbox inserts cut to his designs.
Then over a couple of days various circumstances changed the availability for the Crewe show. After a discussion on Friday we had to decide to withdraw ABB from the show – we just didn’t have enough bodies. It was not a decision taken lightly. At least we were able to give 3 weeks notice to the organisers.
Meanwhile over the last few weeks Wagonman has been getting on with this early GW brake van from a kit picked up at the Kettering show.
LBH is making progress with the cart for Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae. It seems a pity, although necessary, to cover up all the cart underframe detail.
Getting ready for Crewe – or not Read More »
We seem to be in a bit of a quiet patch between shows at the moment, but Monday we welcomed Rhobat back after several weeks away.
Tuesday was quiet too, but LBH did manage to assemble some barrels from the Miniart range, they are actually 1:48 but will look ok on Tŷ’n-y-coedcae’s 1:43.5.
On Friday we were better attended. ABB was erected using the modified toblerones with support over the top of them, to provide an improved bearing surface. This was better but it made access to the joining bolts and electrical connections more difficult.
The persistent problem of how to finish off the end of the terrace may be coming to an end. The garage/workshop mock-up is a better size than previous suggestions, having the doors nearer the terrace makes sense and positioning it away from the line of the terrace looks better. Obviously we need an improved tree.
A lull between shows Read More »
This week was a bit quiet; Monday we decided not to open up on the Bank Holiday – deciding in the way of politicians being hounded out of their jobs to ‘spend more time with our families’.
Tuesday someone else will have to talk about since I was otherwise engaged . . . . . So Tuesday was quiet with a select few getting on with stuff including the next turnout for Cwmcarno, – but no pics.
Friday saw Paul make substantial progress on the modifications to the ‘Toblerones’ to make them more stable prior to ABB’s visit to Crewe, while LBH amused himself building a kit for a flat bed cart destined for Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae.
Away from the clubrooms Mr. C was working on a Bachmann Coal Tank for ABB and CC (so two bodies). The bearings have been reamed out to 1/8th, set up in a chassis jig and the coupling rods checked. These had previously been bushed, so were carefully opened out to align with the chassis. Postings on forums had noted that there were variations in some models.
Post-Easter blues? Read More »
Monday saw a quiet afternoon meeting, the Wizard painting the stonework for Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae’s goods shed, LBH on barrels and cable drums and Mr C on Cwmcarno track work.
More around on Tuesday, The Wizard and LBH carrying on much as before. Mike E bringing a collection on Fuchsia cuttings to act as pit props on Cwmcarno; The specification being
1” diameter per 1 ft of prop. Pit props were cut to 7, 8, and 9 ft lengths, and cut to shorter lengths underground. TAFKATYS, Luke and Wagonman discussed chassis construction, particularly in respect of Luke’s Railbus and S7 0-4-0 tank.
Luke has also completed a water column for Cwmcarno, seen here posing with its big brother on Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae, the different colouring reflecting the variation in south Wales sandstone with red predominating further south.
Our resident Wizard completed the repaint of the Goods Shed for TyCc.
Also from Luke were some very welcome homemade Hot Cross Buns.
Friday was more trackwork from Luke and Mr C. For the project we had been donated two common crossings (1 in 6) and three V’s for the four turnouts in bullhead track. So two more common crossings are needed. So Mr C made a quick jig by mixing up some Milliput and pressing the made-up crossing into it to form a template. You can see before and after pics below. The first resulting crossing looks good and checks out with the gauges.
LBH has been working on a few bits and pieces to populate Tý’n-y-Coedcae.
What, it’s already April?!!!
At Monday’s club session we received this mock-up for the station building on Cwmcarno. The terrace behind is only temporary being some built for another layout.
The Zoom meeting on Tuesday was lightly attended. Preparations for the NEWGOG show continued while we were on-line, holding over any presentations until next month.
Friday was preparation for the NEWGOG show followed by the exhibition itself on Saturday. Of course club traditions were observed and the layout performed well with perhaps too much (!) stock available.
Starting on Monday and Andrew N delivered the turnout and track for the colliery built away from the clubrooms. It has suitably dirty sleepers and prototypical variations in the quality of the trackwork. This should be manageable as only 4 wheeled wagons and small shunting locos will operate here.
The two views are down from the screens to the exchange sidings, and in the reverse direction.
Also present on Monday was the Peak class diesel, just completed by the Welsh Wizard, Fred Lewis from a kit of ancient lineage.
Moving to Tuesday and Luke’s railcar re-appears, now with a tarpaulin fitted over the open goods compartment.
In the layout room the mock-up of the colliery has moved on with the level ground created and walling arranged. We are approaching the atmosphere of a narrow valley with river and railway crammed in the bottom.
Finally some adjustments to Ty’n-y-Coedcae have created the space for a crane in the goods yard, with a fence being moved and a plinth built for the crane.
At the end of Friday the turnout for Cwm Carno has progressed with the crossing in place and the curved stock rail too.
On Ty’n’Coedcae the plinth for the crane has a surface and first coat of paint and is seen roughly in the right position. Also the front of the layout has a fresh coat of paint ready for the NEWGOG show next Saturday.
