A New Arrival

I have been far too busy to update fortnightly as hoped and to make matters worse, my laptop finally packed up and sits tucked away awaiting disposal or replacement hard drive. Of course, I was clever enough to back up all files first and have permission to use the other half's from time to time.

Anyway, I have digressed. Work has been minimal due to work and theatrical commitments, but I have managed to acquire and construct an ARC models Andrew Barclay 0-4-0ST. In a weekend I had built her around a Dapol pug chassis, but in such a way as to make servicing possible, but over the following 3 weeks have managed no more than one coat of paint a day. The loco is now ready for the paint to be tidied and have the lining applied. Then attention can turn to handrails and any other detail I can find, though an order will have to made to Markits for detail such as a whistle and smokebox dart.

Where does an industrial 0-4-0ST fit in with the Wrington Vale? Well the focus of the project will be the junction station (Congresbury) where the WVLR meets the preserved Cheddar Valley Railway. Since I have only done minor narrow gauge jobs lately (though the pile of Mark 1s on the desk since June have been almost cleared) I thought I would prove my continued existence with something a little different.

In other news, the first permanent way wagon is underway (but was buried behind Mark 1s soon after construction began), the next three coaches have had sides built (again, the Mark 1 thing...) and the Cyprus coach has been given seats and is virtually complete (but stored underneath Mark 1 parts that are held up by another Mark 1 and a Hornby Class 25...). The play I am rehearsing for is nearly ready for the stage, so I shall have more time again soon. We'll see where I am by Christmas!

Gradual Progress

Definitely getting somewhere

I have found very little time for models recently (and with several projects on the go*, the Wrington Vale gets divided even more), but I have been slowly adding some of the finer details to No.3. The most interesting addition has been the balcony ends made from brass and guitar strings (currently on the southern end only). The whole vehicle has also been weighted with a piece of lead between the now crimson solebars. I am ignoring the prototypical steps as they will be made unnecessary by platforms. Next on the agenda (which should get done tomorrow) is a drop of paint in a few places to complete the look even more.

In other news, I have also began construction of the first Brake, Disabled, Guards, Luggage, Multi-purpose carriage thing (the brake coach but all fancy and modern), No.12. It is in the very early stages and will join Standard Open No.4 as a pair of sides for a while, but I thought I'd get started whilst waiting for paint to dry.

*The new arrival of a Bachmann Mk.1 BCK and completion of external rebuild of an FK, an 8750 requiring new numberplates and a clean, a scratchbuilt tender (more on this at a later date) and design work underway for the Permanent Way Train give a hint as to just the railway side of my desk!

Acquiring Planning Permission

With the prospect of a new job and new abode to follow, I have been thinking about extending from a yard of track on a desk to a baseboard, with scenery! Turning a collection of rolling stock into an actual railway!

This is a big step for the project and requires many questions to be answered but first there is a big obstacle to be overcome... Applying for Planning Permission to the partner...

I'm lucky enough to have a supportive partner that will allow me to indulge in my hobbies, but it did make me wonder if this is a common train of thought (no pun intended).

Coach No.3 - A new look for the WVLR

Whilst I am pleased with the result of my own design of carriages, I do feel that variety is not to be frowned upon, and concluded the best thing to do this was to scratchbuild a carriage in the style of those used in Cyprus. This provides interest and a more than suitable matching look with the locomotives.

 

The sides taking shape 29.03.2014



The boundaries were set by the materials I already have and since I had no drawings, I had to use photo evidence and descriptions to create a pencil drawn profile. The basic principals as used on the others remain the same; an open plastic box with a roof on an open plastic box with seats.



The interior box needs to be made before the sides
are finished to avoid warping 06.04.2014

Construction began with the sides, made from a sheet of clear plastic, taped over my drawing and built up using plastic strips (and a wooden patterned sheet to represent the matchboard sides). 

I completed and painted one side separately to both test the design and leave a subtle difference in the paint finish to represent the fading effect of natural sunlight. Then it was on to the ends and chassis before assembly and a flat roof. I decided to experiment with an aluminium can for the roof, with miliput to represent the domes. The main variation in the construction is that the balconies are fixed to the chassis, not the body, for reasons that should be obvious with this design!



The chassis is a Parkside Dundas Vale of Rheidol one, cut in half and lengthened. This gives an affordable, sturdy chassis with the compromise of unrealistically small bogies and straight, not fishbelly, solebars.

 

The Scrumpy Jack can was acquired empty... 29.04.2014

I have just given the roof a coat of primer and following the addition of a piece of lead for weight, will make the coach passable for service (paint, couplings and balconies). This means leaving the interior details behind, but since making seats is so tedious and can fit in with my busy schedule quite well, I won’t worry about it.

 

With Sunblinds attached the colonial background really comes through!





Introduction

Hello,

I am Matt, a 23 year old railway nerd that has stumbled into 009 modelling. Being young and busy I have limited time to work on my projects but through this blog shall motivate myself to spend time each week doing something WVLR related. However, since I am currently minus any of the railway itself you will notice the photos are taken on a desk-based test track in front of some other projects I have. These may interest people too so I hope to have a regular feature showcasing one of these, or perhaps a previous project (I have plenty of HBLR bits and pieces to display).

I will aim to credit all techniques I have clearly copied and all manufacturers without whom things would be different indeed! If you feel I have missed someone, just let me know.

I want to make it perfectly clear that this is a long term project and may not be finished before I'm grey or bald (though that is well underway already...)!

Challenge 1: A feature on my latest carriage (No.3) before the end of April.

A Brief Hello

Nothing starts a long term project like creating a blog!

Well I intend to document, to whoever may be interested, the creation of The Wrington Vale Light Railway in 009. It's a real place but I've completed butchered history to create something I hope people will find interesting. If not, just look at the pictures and enjoy crudely made scratch built coaching stock!

The next few weeks will see current photos and info uploaded and from then on there will be regular (fortnightly perhaps) updates on projects which will hopefully include building the railway itself!