|
| 19/02/07 |
  <-The Blaenau ffestiniog module is nearing completion with the interface to the main layout under construction
----> the riverside part of the castle is being landscaped |
| 12/01/07 |
  
More card constructions - From left to right :1) Footbridge linking removable section of the Ffestiniog module from the fixed section . 2) Metcalfe coaching house kit , modified into the Red Lion . 3) Superquick low relief terrace - this is my first Superquick kit and I'm not enamoured about the instructions. |
| 03/01/07 |
New Timetable page added : Timetable summary |
| 15/12/06 |
  Serious work has now begun on the elevated Blaenau Ffestiniog branch section.The backdrop has been constructed from plaster/kitchen towel overlaid on plastic mesh framework.
This mini-section will later have a Ffestinog Railway section added
|
| 12/12/06 |
  In readyness for the Ffestiniog section ,
<--THIS becomes THAT-->
Seems a shame but you can't stand in the way of progress !! |
| 6/12/06 |
  Signal box and shops added.These are a couple of Metcalfe card kits.This is my first experience of these kits and I am impressed with the results they give !
More kits on order ! |
| 11/06 |
  The castle is almost complete trackside . A small creek has been added along with a road under-bridge.
The interior detailing and the riverside still require plenty of work !! but I'm still quite pleased when you look at the humble beginnings !!!!
-------------------->>> |
| 11/06 |
  Left - A small low relief factory added at the East end of the station. The profile was a piece of scrap fibreboard which was absolutely crying out for a place on the layout !!!!
Right - Building starts on the Ex LNWR West signal box.The model has been shortened by 1 bay to fit the layout .The original was demolished and replaced in 1984
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| 11/06 |
  Left -The carriage shed / stabling point is roofed , isolation breaks wired and switched so that 12 locos (I wish !) can be parked.The completion of the shed requires roof lights to be made and glazing to be fitted - still pondering this !!
Right - Junction platforms completed - Canopies done in mock up form to get sizing right. |
| 09/10/06 |
Some progress on the layout but my camera has expired so no photos at the moment.
Castle external walls are complete and weathered on the railway side. Walls constructed riverside . Interior of Castle under construction. Track retaining walls built.
Carriage shed roof structure added - still to be glazed .
All trackwork and point motors have arrived. Depot and yard area has been laid out and tested but is not fixed - awaiting switches.
Control panel number 2 added .
East junction track point motors wired ,underlay & track fixed. |
| 12/09/06 |
Sub-page Brive added to French Photos page |
|
10/09/06 &
30/08/06 |
  10/09/06 (right) - one block has been relocated to Blaenau !! The remaining 2 blocks have been improved with the addition of a back yard and extension to one block. bank landscaped and fencing added
30/08/06 (left) - 3 blocks of terraced houses adjacent to the Junction station . The buildings are made from 3mm fibreboard lined with home-designed paper frontages.1 rear extension done and 'backyard' added to that block.
The roofs are made from 1mm card withslate roof tiles pasted on. 1 of the blocks ha been moved to make way for a small industrial unit |
|
10/09/06
&
29/08/06 |
10/09/06 - Bridge construction largely finished with back scene added . This corner is starting to take shape now even though the point motors and track bed have not been fixed (some may frown !! )
30/08/06 -  Mock up for an arched bridge based on Queen's Road. I've studied a lot of old photos and thought that the bridge was a double arch. It turned out to be a triple !!
Massive compromise made here and eventually I decided that the single arch was the only real modelling option. |
| 24/08/06 |
 The long awaited arrival of my star of the show. No North Wales 70's (80's ?) layout would be complete without 24081 , the last surviving member of the class and since preserved.
The class was seen in numbers in the area during the 70's on trip freights and summer relief & excursion passenger workings.
This Bachmann model runs extremely well. I'm beginning to favour Bachmann
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|
week ending 20/08/06 |
Lots of fiddly little jobs done this week as we have holiday visitors coming next week ,so, foreman has had me on gardening duties etc. and any work on the layout has been sneaked in !!
Most of the little jobs have been around the station area. . |
| 20/08/06 |
 Panaromic shot taken from above the castle showing the view across the river to the Junction station. Branch to Blaenau is awaiting some flexitrack but that's always a problem of a railway tycoon. |
| 20/08/06 |
 Station car park . First attempt at brick wall with barb wired fence
(right) Chain link fencing along track side at station |
| 18/08/06 |
 
(left)Overhead view of the station as it is at the moment
(right) First paying customers arrive at the Junction |
|
18/08/06
&
14/08/06 |
 
Crosville bus garage nears completion with the addition of the coach annexe (lean-to to be more precise !!)
Tarmacing and fencing in progress --->> |
|
11/09/06
&
17/08/06 |
  West end wall set in place , and first tourist walks the castle walls !! |
| 13/08/06 |
Web site pages updated are : Locos and Carriages/wagons |
|
12/08/06
&13/08/06 |
 
12th ,Restoration work on Conwy Castle continues with all the crenellations now cut. The first retaining wall is in place and that plus 2 towers have been lined with stone paper ,made from a photo of the castle itself..
13th , Underlying stone formed from plastic mesh , runny plaster and kitchen towel .Great fun for 6 year olds !!!! |
| 09/08/06
updated
13/08/06 |
 
New 4 road carriage shed / stabling point under construction A section of backscene has been painted and placed behind the shed. The tunnel mouth is from my old Cognac layout and marks the trackbed of the Blaenau branch which will squeeze itself behind the depot.
(right) More new arrivals : 2 * freightliner 3 box sets , the start of a 5/6 set rake |
| 07/08/06 |
(left) 33025 Sultan makes a first appearance at a crowded Junction station
 (right) At long last , 2 new arrivals at the Crosville Garage , Leyland PD2 - destination Rhyl and Leyland Tiger Cub -destination Northwich (a little off track) but nobody's arguing.
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| 05/08/06 |
 Llandublo Station Wall - First attempt at making a layered structure from balsa. .  Top cut-out section is 1.5 mm which will be laid on top of the bottom section, (2.5mm). The top section was strengthened on the back with sellotape prior to cutting . This was because the cutting was across the grain and this balsa has a tendency to rip.I managed it with one break - just visible 5th strut from the right. The centre piece is coping cut from 5mm balsa and is 10 mm wide to allow 3mm (9 in prototype) overhang. Brick paper courtesy of New Railway Modellers was laid on each section with a 50/50 mix wood glue/water - I believe this is very close to PVA - and allowed to cure overnight. The top section was then laid onto the bottom section and again left overnight. The coping was added and once more left to dry. First arrival on scene is 47593 . Another similar sized section will be built.
I need to find a material to represent a brading effect (in brick) in the recesses. - Not urgent as I'm reasonably happy with the effect so far |
| 03/08/06 |
 First fishing boat arrives on scene. This was bought to serve as a prototype for scratchbuilding.
I'm not sure about the scaling on this because 'prototype' size works out at 45' for this model which I think is a little on the large size. 37' is more realistic . No big deal though as I can scale down easily enough IF I can find the time !!!! |
| 02/08/06 |
 Junction Station towers -Basic structure made from 4 strips of 2.5 mm balsa . NRM brick paper ( colour enhanced to try to get Accrington brick effect) is again used for lining . Door & window recesses to be cut from brick paper. Doctored photos to be used for window & door detail on the top section.
This structure was in place until fairly recently when the 'look-out' towers were replaced by 'pointy hats'. |
| 01/08/06 |
Construction of the station building at the East end of Junction station under way |
| 31/07/06 |
Tubular bridge , second portal cut . Clearance tests done - work on the main 'tunnel section' can now begin |
| 28/07/06 |
To start the ball rolling , the whole site is new . Priority number one at the moment is getting all the points on the main line wired back to the control boards. This will allow all the main line track to be fixed in place. This is crucial as work can then begin on the Junction station layout and the 2 branches |
