7mm Llanbister Rd. via Bleddfa.........

[Geoff]

Ah, they didn’t distract me, but they did distract you.

Whatever the scenic equivalent of rule 1 is, it applies!

My eye was drawn straight to them as soon as I opened the door to my layout room, so they had to go. But not before I tried my ideas out using my photo editor. The scenic equivalent of rule one certainly applies Simon

Make that three in favour Geoff, love the photo's

Gary

Thanks Gary,
Judging from the feedback so far, it looks like I've got away with it again.

Woah - one for the limekiln.

I never knew they were so popular Tony, my mistake was in trying to squeeze a quart into a point pot. Had the baseboard been slightly wider, I would have been able to live with them.

You changed the wording on the signpost ????

Crumbs my eyesights not that good Paul, and I'm only half mad, though some will dispute that
Geoff.

 

[Geoff]

Earlier today, 4600 arrived with the pick up goods, and is seen here passing the site of the old limekilns. I've gone back in time and used hanging basket liner, laid over a plaster bandaged card lattice to model the new embankment. Clumps of the liner were covered with static fibres prior to being laid, then blended together with more fibres applied with a puffer bottle.



The fence was made Peter Denny style from card, once in place more fibres were the applied around its base. The brambles, weeds are fine scatter applied over teased out postiche as described by Gordon Gravett in one of his modelling books.



The SR van behind the loco was rebuilt from a poorly made kit, that had been discovered on the secondhand stall at a GOG event by one of my
friends. It was lacking decent brake gear, so I made use of the forum small ads to ask if anyone had a Bill Bedford RCH etch. John (Aberlour) Duffy came to my rescue, and very generously donated an etch to the cause. If you are reading this, then thanks again John, you are a true gent.

And that my friends is how I've been spending my retirement since my last update, in between carrying out various chores and trying to stay cool

Geoff

 

[Alan]

Like you Geoff I have just laid some hanging basket liner as a base for the embankments around the mill and furniture factory. I hope mine turns out as well as yours.

 

[Geoff]

Thank you, and good luck with your embankments Alan, are you going to apply some static fibres or leave the liner in its natural state?

Geoff

 

[Alan]

There will be some static grass and other undergrowth.

 

[Flaxfield]

Lovely work, Geoff. Your layout continues to provide inspiration to this now committed ( should be, some would say !) 4mm modeller. With some very splendid GWR releases due in the latter part of this year, it's getting harder to resist Swindon's influence..........

Rob

 

[James]

And that my friends is how I've been spending my retirement since my last update,

I'd like a similar retirement

 

[LBSC123]

Looks fantastic, something to aspire to for a future layout.

 

[Geoff]

Lovely work, Geoff. Your layout continues to provide inspiration to this now committed ( should be, some would say !) 4mm modeller. With some very splendid GWR releases due in the latter part of this year, it's getting harder to resist Swindon's influence..........

Rob

Thank you Rob,

I never had the chance to resist Swindon's influence, my dear old dad saw to that



Happiness is a Pannier or two in 7mm scale

I'd like a similar retirement

Including a never ending list of household and gardening chores, or without?

Looks fantastic, something to aspire to for a future layout.

Thank you, and good luck with your future layout.

Cheers guys,
Geoff

 

[James]

Including a never ending list of household and gardening chores, or without?

If the Parkinson's allows me to still do household and gardening chores I'll be very happy!

 

[Geoff]

If the Parkinson's allows me to still do household and gardening chores I'll be very happy!

I would be very happy for you as well James.

Best wishes,
Geoff.

 

[cmax]

Hi Geoff, thanks for sharing your pictures, they are brilliant, as is your modelling, less is certainly more! please keep posting them.

Gary

 

[Geoff]

The old limekilns are now a distant memory, and the cottage scene that replaced them is nearing completion. The fencing and the cottage backyard are both a case of work in progress, I've not yet finished with the surrounding scenery either. I took this photo and a few others earlier this week to check the camera angles.​

After several years on the workbench a new wagon has also entered service..........



I have modelled one of the examples that was absorbed in the RCH pool in 1925, which had their sheet rails removed, and in some cases their DC brake gear replaced. I'm not sure if W74725 was one of the pool, or for how long it survived, so I might end up changing its number.



Last month I told the story of restoring an old SR van, well another poorly made kit has found its way onto my workbench.



The kit in question is this Slater's 6 wheeled milk tank, so far I've repaired the chassis and the wheels go round now. The ladders will be fitted once the tank has been repainted. It's been successfully track tested and was purchased with the intention of modelling a drinking water tanker, shades of Titley Junction. But I might change the backstory of the layout, and rather than a quarry being beyond the road bridge, there might be a dairy instead.

Shame about the telegraph pole growing out of 5807's chimney



The end.
Geoff

 

[Geoff]

Afternoon guys,

Thanks to the recent bad weather I've been forced indoors and have made a little progress on the layout, not that there's much to do now. The cottage is now firmly bedded into its new location, more weeds and brambles have taken root, and a Slater's milk tank has been rescued from the scrap heap.




The cottage backyard has been remodelled, and gained a side door, the veg patch is now overgrown and weeds are forcing their way between the styrene flagstones.






More brambles, weeds and unkempt grasses have appeared on the platform.



I came across this Slater's milk tank on ebay, where it was described as being a nicely assembled kit. The fact that the chassis components were
falling apart, resulting in one wheelset being jammed solid, didn't get a mention. After much cursing, I managed to sort things out and have ended up with a sweet running chassis. The tank has been given a coat of Lifecolor burnt rubber black, damn I've just noticed the centre spring needs attention!




Once these plates have been fitted, to the tank sides the model will be weathered.



This is my sort of train.........

Geoff

 

[cmax]

Just oozes character

 

[Mullie]

Stunning.

 

[John Duffy]

Most of us spend our time wishing we had more and more space to get an ever bigger layout. Here you are squeezing more atmosphere into a scene than most can get on a layout. A wonderful concept, beautifully executed.

John

 

[Geoff]

Just oozes character

Stunning.

Thanks chaps, much appreciated

Most of us spend our time wishing we had more and more space to get an ever bigger layout. Here you are squeezing more atmosphere into a scene than most can get on a layout. A wonderful concept, beautifully executed.

John

Thank you John,
There was a time when I had a large layout, albeit in 4mm scale, but progress stalled due to family commitments and a demanding job. I also have many other interests so it made sense to think small. I suppose I'm fortunate in favouring small tank engines and short trains, the lack of track means the layout is low maintenance, so I can spend my time adding those small details that can make all the difference.



I could always tunnel through into the next bedroom and extend the layout, but I'm happy with my lot

Geoff

 

[Phil O]

Most of us spend our time wishing we had more and more space to get an ever bigger layout. Here you are squeezing more atmosphere into a scene than most can get on a layout. A wonderful concept, beautifully executed.

John

Definetley a case of less is more! These days I prefer the smaller layouts that have an abundance of atmosphere, over the larger layouts, even if they are correct down to the last rivet, screw or nail.

 

[Geoff]

Well, it's almost six months since my last update, which is partly down to problems logging in and uploading photos. I'm told a few other members have had the same problem, but another reason for my absence is simply down to not having much to share. I do more pondering than modelling during the winter months, so I've been doing a little research and drawing up plans for Bleddfa Roads replacement. Whether my plans see the light of day remains to be seen?



To cut a long story short, the last passenger train departed from Bleddfa Road several weeks ago. Goods trains lingered on for a little longer before the layout was dismantled.



The two outer baseboards have been stripped and disposed of, the centre section from the right of the crossing to the goods shed has been saved.





Thanks for taking an interest in my scenic shunting plank over the last few years, and for your kind comments and likes.

Geoff