Muddysblues
Western Thunderer
Hello Geoff, yep still oozes atmosphere and is still very much inspirational modelling, and you prove that less is more with your skilful modelling eye and attention to detail.
Craig
Craig
7mm Bleddfa Road
- Thread starter Geoff
- Start date
Geoff
Western Thunderer
Thanks Larry, you are right about the amount of detail that can be modelled, which goes some way to compensating for the small size of Bleddfa.
I just hope that Dapol engineer a decent chassis to do their proposed model justice. I couldn't resist comparing the price of this new 14XX with the original Airfix model when it arrived in the seventies. I paid a tenner for mine and was lucky enough to get a good running example, some years down the line I started modelling in EM, and she gained an etched chassis, Gibson wheels and a replacement motor/gearbox. The top feed was removed, and a new chimney and smokebox door was fitted.
She was always my favourite loco, and is still going strong today, mind you I do like her big sister...........
Thank you Simon, I'm pleased that you managed to track me down, I've been modelling in the senior scale for some years now and my only regret is in not making the change sooner.
Nice, I do like the lifted and truncated siding.
As an idea could you have left the old (rotting?) crossing gate posts in their original position and have a newer set with the original gate in the revised location to provide a bit of juxtaposition between the old and new?
If you were going to install cattle grids (or not) then you would need new fencing (concrete posts with wire or tube?) from the new crossing gates to the original crossing gate location. Again this would provide an old/new comparison and evidence the line and locale has evolved/developed. It will also allow experimentation with differing degrees of ageing and weathering without the uniformity often seen on layouts.
So many ideas and so little time Dave, I'm pleased you like the truncated siding. The old gate posts ended up in a spoil wagon after some heavy handed bloke knocked them over whilst lifting some track
. At the moment they are lying amongst the uprooted hedges and bushes, so they can easily be recovered if need be.Thanks Craig, your comment is much appreciated.
Geoff
NHY 581
Western Thunderer
With apologies to Geoff, I'm pretty certain the Dapol 14xx is all new. There's a very strong rumour that Accurascale now have the Hattons 14xx, along with the P class, Andrew Barclay and Class 66 diesel. All three of those are being produced under the Accurascale brand. The exception is the 14xx. If they do in fact have it, I suspect the chassis is being redesigned and the missing ash pan added before any announcement is made to confirm this......if in fact they bother now after Dapol's announcement.
I suspect Dapol have been working on theirs ( and the 517 ) alongside their already announced auto trailers.
Rob.
I suspect Dapol have been working on theirs ( and the 517 ) alongside their already announced auto trailers.
Rob.
MarkR
Western Thunderer
I got rid of my Hattons 14xx without it ever turning a wheel, an excellent body moulding completely let down by the dome which had no flange where it joined the boiler. It stuck out like a sore thumb every time I looked at it. The renders for the Dapol model look to be ok in this respect.
Mark
Mark
Geoff
Western Thunderer
Larry, I think that disaster was solely down to Dave Jones, who was a former employee of Dapol. I remember contacting Hattons to ask if their model would be EM/P4 friendly, they said they didn't know and suggested that I got in touch with DJM. Dave Jones said that he couldn't discuss clients commissions, at that point I gave up and decided not to order one.
No apology needed Rob, my thread often goes off topic and is all the better for it.
Fingers crossed that a decent 4mm scale 1400 model is on the way at last, it certainly has a good spec.
Geoff
Fingers crossed that Dapol don't go on to produce an O gauge 517. That would really open up Pandora's Box, as I'm currently managing to restrict my GWR modelling to 4mm scale, apart from a few O gauge wagons that I can just about get away with visiting another part of the country! I do have a OO 517 on order though, and a layout that needs it!
Geoff
Western Thunderer
Be very careful John, I was modelling in 4mm scale then bought a few 0 gauge wagons, and look what happened to me!!
Geoff
Dapol did that to me when they produced the K&ESR Terrier! Until then I was thinking of building a Colonel Stephens layout in EM, that may have be built by now, and had never considered O gauge, but these unfortunate things happen!Be very careful John, I was modelling in 4mm scale then bought a few 0 gauge wagons, and look what happened to me!!
Geoff
Geoff
Western Thunderer
Almost missed this on BBC 4 at 7 pm last night................
www.bbc.co.uk
Geoff.
Let's Imagine - A Branch Line Railway with John Betjeman
John Betjeman looks at the Evercreech Junction to Burnham-on-Sea railway line.
www.bbc.co.uk
Geoff.
Tim Hale
Western Thunderer
Each time I trundle up to Meare, I cross the former Glastonbury line as it traverses the iron bridge over the drain featured in the film. The iron bridge is still extant but the trackbed is almost lost to nature, the Street line was almost flat as it crossed the levels and the land is rather lush.
Tim
Tim
Geoff
Western Thunderer
After much faffing about I have finally completed the occupation crossing scene which now looks something like this......
From an operational point of view shortening the siding has had no effect, as only a couple of wagons were ever stabled alongside the kilns.
The cart track narrows beyond the crossing, and its surface is slightly lighter in an attempt to make it look longer than it actually is.
With the new crossing complete, the whole area and track was cleaned prior to the line being handed back to the operating department. 5807 has been the regular branch engine for a while, and is now due for a boiler washout and exam. Or more accurately a wheel clean, lub and general check over.
The weather is closing in as 5807 departs for Kington Yard with a short train of empty wagons.
Geoff
From an operational point of view shortening the siding has had no effect, as only a couple of wagons were ever stabled alongside the kilns.
The cart track narrows beyond the crossing, and its surface is slightly lighter in an attempt to make it look longer than it actually is.
With the new crossing complete, the whole area and track was cleaned prior to the line being handed back to the operating department. 5807 has been the regular branch engine for a while, and is now due for a boiler washout and exam. Or more accurately a wheel clean, lub and general check over.
The weather is closing in as 5807 departs for Kington Yard with a short train of empty wagons.
Geoff
Yorkshire Dave
Western Thunderer
Nice touch leaving the new fence and gatepost looking new and the lighter coloured younger looking vegetation growing in the gap left by the tracklifting.
michael mott
Western Thunderer
Wonderful modeling Geoff, thanks also for the link I was unable to watch the BBC version but found it on U tube brought back a lot of memories of the England of my childhood. Although different my train journeys from London to Manchester are still magical memories of my 7 year old self. So thanks again.
Michael
Michael
Geoff
Western Thunderer
Thanks Dave, I spent a fair bit of time trying all manner of different colours, textures and taking photos from different angles until I was happy with the scene.
Geoff
Thanks Alan, with the layout all but finished save for a few minor details and tweaks, I can now press on with some serious wagon building
Geoff
Thank you Michael, glad you enjoyed the film clip. It certainly took me back to my old haunts, for Evercreech Junction wasn't far from our home in Mells. My Dad could never understand why I wanted to go spotting there to see dirty Midland engines, when the Western was closer to home.
Geoff
Captain Kernow
Western Thunderer
This one is pretty darned good as well!
Pencarrow
Western Thunderer
That's lovely work Geoff, a really natural scene - well modelled that man!