7mm Layouts and Dioramas by Stephen Fay, including Pontycwm, Newton Mills and St Stephens Bank

[Compton castle]

St Stephen’s is very much a mix of nostalgic holidays to South Devon the layouts location plus my childhood haunts, I was very lucky to have a mountain on my door step growing up, the Mynedd Maen between Cwmbran and Pontypool.
Here’s the inspiration for the man planted forest, a pond which will appear soon enough and some lovely late spring early summer flowering plants at my local pub tucked on the side of a mountain.

And also the location for the Aberpandy back drop

 

[Compton castle]

My first time using a grass mat from Lars Hof scenery, This is summer pasture grass which is ideal for a cow grazing field. I’ve added a few tufts and nettles here and there too.

 

[Purple-haze]

Looks nuffin like it------ rubbish

luv Rog

 

[Compton castle]

Looks nuffin like it------ rubbish

luv Rog

Pop your self on the naughty step Wednesday!

 

[Purple-haze]

Only if you bring your feather duster!,

 

[Compton castle]

And moving swiftly along !
Tree day, another batch from Primo models for the man planted forest. I’ve got enough of the smaller ones so it’s all tall spruce trees now.

 

[Compton castle]

Westbourne Bridge got to have its day in the limelight today for a Model Rail magazine photo shoot. The sun thankfully played it’s part. Here’s a few shots I grabbed between posing locos and stock.
Next job is to get the fascia on and painted.

 

[Compton castle]

 

[Purple-haze]

Great photos Steve, but did they really have a sundial? Sometimes it's a pity that the reality of the shots are exposed , as Jordan would say, stop pretending that these are models.

Regards Rog

 

[Compton castle]

Great photos Steve, but did they really have a sundial? Sometimes it's a pity that the reality of the shots are exposed , as Jordan would say, stop pretending that these are models.

Regards Rog

I’m sure Chris will edit that out digitally. It is a bit of a pain being there but the pay off of natural light was worth it.

 

[Compton castle]

After an epic 300 mile road trip to Doncaster today I’ve now got the signal box for St Stephen’s plus some wheel barrows

 

[Compton castle]

St Stephen’s box primed and the base red applied yesterday morning, later that evening I picked out the Blue Engineers and the chocolate brown around the window frames. The windows themselves have been sprayed gloss white.
Next up will be the individual brick red/ orange shades & I will be adding an interior in this one combining the Peco signal box bits along with some nice 3D prints from ModelU along with the obligatory Bobby.

 

[Captain Kernow]

Steve, that is a lovely looking signal box. What is the origin of the laser cut components, please? Is it a commercially available kit or perhaps something that you have commissioned yourself privately?

Thanks.

 

[BrushType4]

Steve, that is a lovely looking signal box. What is the origin of the laser cut components, please? Is it a commercially available kit or perhaps something that you have commissioned yourself privately?

Thanks.

I produce these. 4mm versions are on there way.

GWR Signal Box

www.intentio.shop

 

[Captain Kernow]

I produce these. 4mm versions are on there way.

GWR Signal Box

www.intentio.shop

Thanks, Phil, that's very useful to know. Looks really superb.

With the 4mm one, if I may ask, is there likely to be an option to produce a GW Type 5 box, please, with the gable end roof, rather than the hipped roof type, please?

Sorry for brief hijack, Steve!

 

[Compton castle]

At the chicken pox stage now, all of the various shades picked out ready for mortar.

 

[Compton castle]

A little spot of weathering today, first up my dads large Prairie, how do you want it? mucky he said!
Then it was the turn of 5099 just back from Paul Moore, the chassis was previously weathered as was the whole loco professionally and I wanted to keep the dirt on the chassis as it was such a nice job. So it was just a little blending in today.
Mortar now on the signal box, windows next

 

[michael mott]

Lovely work Steve, The sundial didn't shock me as much as the blue King, I am glad that GWR basically went with the green and not blue.

Michael

 

[Compton castle]

Windows in this evening

 

[Compton castle]

Slate roof on and ridge tiles. I’ll sort out the wonky tiles once the guttering is on.