Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae – Newport Model Railway Society

Getting ready for Crewe – or not

15 May 2025 / ABB, GWR GBV, Peco Rail200, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

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 »

A lull between shows

1 May 2025 / ABB, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

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 »

Post-Easter blues?

25 April 2025 / ABB, P4 Coal Tank, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

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 »

Almost Easter

16 April 2025 / Cwm Carno, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

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.

Almost Easter Read More »

Into April

2 April 2025 / Cwm Carno, NEWGOG, Tŷ’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.

Into April Read More »

More Progress

26 March 2025 / Cwm Carno, Model T railcar, NEWGOG, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

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.

2024’s last hurrah

30 December 2024 / S7 Tank, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

Our last meeting of 2024 fell on a Monday. not many of us wishing to forfeit New Year’s Eve at home. LBH was very proud of himself for successfully changing a failed encoder in his NCE PowerCab,

Luke made a start on his first kit-built standard gauge loco, an 0-4-0T from a Connoisseur kit, which will be built to Scaleseven standards. Before long the footplate was assembled.

Paul S made a frame to allow Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae to be transported more safely.

2024’s last hurrah Read More »

Week ending 15th December

10 December 2024 / Bwthyn y Rhosod II, Cottage, Model T railcar, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae, U class

Monday was a normal session, and we wished bon voyage to Mr Chairman who is escaping the next few storms in Florida.

Tuesday saw our Wizard fettling a Peak (I think), LBH messing about ineffectually in his corner,

Luke, having eased the over-tight meshing on his Railcar chassis, gave the gearset a good running in and then assembled the chassis for the non-powered car,

Wagonman made great leaps forward with his Mogul,

And TAFKATYS virtually completed a baseboard and enclosure from a standing start in the evening. Bwthyn y Rhosod II will be a 7mm scale, 16.5 mmm gauge layout, which we hope to see at NEWGOG next year.

A very good turn out on Friday, the final discussions on the baseboard for the Jubilee Challenge were followed by a decision to process with the laser-cut proposal, our Wizard evading the camera while working on a job that shall nor be named, LBH on some telegraph poles for Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae, while we saw …

More progress on the U1 from Wagonman, with some lovely work on the motion.

Ed is honing his card modelling skills and has pushed this preprinted kit almost to completion.

Having progressed Bwthyn i Rhosod II so far adding legs TAFKATYS steps back to contemplate the next step.

Week ending 15th December Read More »

Week ending 8th December

7 December 2024 / Hunslet, Llanastr, Model T railcar, Peckett, South Wales Wagons, Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae

Monday saw us welcome a prospective new member, Dennis, who enlivened the afternoon with a sick 00 engine and memories of Mountain Ash NCB. Amongst other activities Rhobat was working on his etched brass Hunslet; Mr Chairman the short wheelbase wagons and LBH fettling Llanastr track work. No pics to show though, sorry.

Tuesday was a Zoom session and time for the Christmas Quiz. Steve Bell entertained us first with a short video of a preserved line in Japan, complete with shunters wearing white gloves. The quiz tested us on railways of all sorts in Wales, e.g. name five current stations in Wales that contain the letter J? Steve finished off the session with history and pics of the Knoxville to Sevierville short line in Tennessee.

Two of us snuck in on Friday evening before Storm Darragh could do its worst.

*LBH tested the fettled trackwork on Llanastr with his three B&MR locos with (ahem) acceptable results.*

Luke added motor and pick ups to the chassis for the Model T based railbus.

And LBH tested out his newly-converted-to-S7 Peckett E class and fitted it with a DCC decoder. It will be named Alma and operate at the works shunter on the Tŷ’n-y-Coedcae Tar Works. Its DCC code is naturally 1854. Conversion to S7 was undertaken by Colin Dowling.

Later its dome-safety valve was fitted and now it needs weathering.