Under Starters Orders

The day I’ve dreamed of since I was a kid is drawing near - the steaming of Welsh Pony.

I cant tell you what it means to see the loco I used to play on outside Harbour station run again - I never believed it would happen.

I’m also proud to have done my small bit to fund it through donating proceeds from sales of my resin kits.

Our own Pony has been waiting patiently for the real one to catch up.

Although we won’t paint it until the real one has received its final green livery we will at least be able to add all the missing small details.

This model is made from the ‘unbuildable’ Mercian 4mm kit.

For the full story of why it’s unbuildable, and what Himself did to overcome it, real back through the blog.

Completing ‘Conk Out’

Things must be bad if Himself is picking up one of those projects you avoid for years!

Our second Conway Castle - affectionately known as ‘Conk Out’ - has been in abeyance since Himself moved north of the border.

He’d got so far with the lining, then decided he wasn’t quite happy with it, and its been shunted into the ‘too difficult’ siding ever since.

The other major thing it lacks is glazing, which is an awkward job because all the bits have to be cut to fit flush in the white metal holes.

This same Chivers kit was the first 009 model he made - in ‘Bertie Basset’ orange/ black / grey livery -  and I remember the work that went into glazing it, only for the varnish we were using to turn it all cloudy!

But that colourful ‘80s livery is a step too far for Bron Hebog so we had no option but to make another in two tone green.

I’ve always regarded the Boston Lodge rebuild as a very handsome machine, and I’m saddened that the plan is to return it to something more like its original Planet outline.

For me it’s another example of the FR’s period of modernisation and innovation - which included things like the push-pull set - being lost.

Blacked Out

The title is not a reference to current affairs - some attempt a click bait - merely a reference that the cursed carriage Gwyrfai has fooled us again!

Himself was fitting the handrails at the door end when it suddenly occurred to him he has yet to black out the end windows in the cubby hole behind the saloon.

This will be done by painting a section of the glazing.

Fortunately he’s noticed now rather than when he had declared it ‘finished’.

Speaking for myself I’m glad it’s not just me who’s been caught out.

This fourth Pullman observation car has been a swine at times - please, no more!

Russian Doll

If I put up a post telling you what I’ve been working on this weekend it would be very boring - casting scores of Superbarn seat and table sets for a customer.

So instead I thought a little walk down memory lane would  be more interesting for you.

Prompted by discussion on a Facebook group I dug out some pictures of a model of Rhiw Goch signal boxes - note the plural - which I made as a gift for the chap who led the rebuild project many years ago.

I don’t have many moments of genius but this was one of them.

Inspired by the way they built the new box outside the old one then did the demolition from within.

So I built the models like a Russian doll with the new one slipping on top of the old ‘70s garden shed box.

I was pretty chuffed with how it turned out, and when the late, great Steve Coulson produced a plinth and protective Perspex case it finished it off brilliantly.

Still one I’m very proud of.

The full story is in Narrow Gauge and Industrial Modelling Review number 74 - I hope the editorial team won’t mind me reproducing the images here.

Gwyrfai Glazed

One of the (many) tricky jobs on scratch building these Pullman observations cars has been completed.

Himself has cut and fitted the glazing to Gwyrfai and put the carriage back together for a photo call before it is dismantled again for varnishing.

 What do you reckon?

Gate Keeper

Himself has been on gate patrol.

While assembling some of the boards he noticed damage at Bron Hebog crossing - could it be anything to do with the somewhat battered Ford Puma parked there?

Our wooden gates are all fabricated from styrene strip do it didn’t take him long to knock up a replacement.

Now, Where Was I?

The commission for a model of FR ‘Barn’ 105 is complete and ready to send to its new home.

The buyer will be painting it themselves and the blue colour in the windows is the protective film which I’ve left on the glazing to reduce any chance of scratches.

Now I can pick up where I left off on my own projects.

First I will carry on the built of the latest WHR saloon 2048.

At the moment I’ve got the first base layer of the sides made, and now they need to have beading added and the four recessed door sections at each end made up.

I’ll probably also find the challenge of that Maenofferen tank waggon impossible to resist.