Geoff
Western Thunderer
This time last year I was seriously looking at 7mm scale modelling, alas my experiments came to nothing but the itch just wouldn't go away. Come Easter 2019 I finally came up with an idea and layout plan that would not only satisfy my simple needs, but would also fit in my modelling den. The only problem was that my old layout Llangunllo was in the way, after much soul searching I threw caution to the wind and dismantled the old layout. The baseboard frames being salvaged and modified to suit my new and first 7mm scale project. All the old buildings and rolling stock along with my 4mm scale EM diorama Llanbister Road were placed in store up in the loft and a new modelling dawn began.
Those of you who followed my old Llangunllo and Lugg Valley saga will be aware that flood waters undermined one of the bridges across the River Lugg, severing the line just east of Llangunllo. The closure of the dairy a few months earlier had already put the lines future in doubt, but the flood damage put the final nail into the coffin. But what happened to the remaining section of the line between Presteign and the damaged bridge? Well the line now terminates a few miles on from Presteign at Bleddfa Road to serve a local quarry, passenger services have been withdrawn but there is a rumour circulating about a limited service being restored. So much for fiction, now for a few facts, the village of Bleddfa actually exists but no railway line ever reached it. The fictional Bleddfa Road station being some miles away from the village, and more for the convenience of the quarry rather than for any would be passengers.
Location Map
The layout plan is a mix of Llansilin Road on the Tanat Valley, Soudley No2. Crossing on the Severn and Wye and my imagination. The line should actually curve to the left but to fit the layout into my modelling den I had to drop that idea. Yes it is ever so simple and operationally lacking but the whole project is an exercise in landscape and architectural modelling. I want to know if my less is more ideas can work in the larger scale and needed a fresh challenge. During the planning stages I built the shells of the station building and goods shed from 3mm thick Palight. They will eventually be clad in corrugated iron sheet. Despite the station being in Mid Wales both are being modelled on the rustic corrugated iron buildings which once stood at Llanrhaiadr Mochnant. The layout measures 11ft 9" x 20" in old money but looks far longer than it is, I think its the curve that creates the illusion of length as the whole layout cannot be seen in one go. Instead the eye has to follow it around. The backscene which I intend painting myself this time will be placed further back from the layout in an attempt to create more depth to the scene, in fact the plan is to secure it to the room walls on a sweeping curve.
Early Ideas.
Track is being made from Slater's ply sleepers, n/s rail and C&L plastic chairs.
After reading many 7mm layout topics here on the forum and picking the brains of fellow members, thanks chaps you know who you are, I decided to use 0-MF track standards. S7 looks brilliant but after years of modifying '00' stock to EM standards I have had enough of wheel conversions and time isn't really on my side now anyway.
As well as starting the buildings I made this Peco 'Toad', weathering will be carried out at a later date. According to my research the real van was based at Tondu, how it ended up on the Lugg Valley is a mystery? The Kington transfers are a custom job by Railtec, the remainder being stock items.
Well that is all for now, another update will follow in due course.
Geoff
Those of you who followed my old Llangunllo and Lugg Valley saga will be aware that flood waters undermined one of the bridges across the River Lugg, severing the line just east of Llangunllo. The closure of the dairy a few months earlier had already put the lines future in doubt, but the flood damage put the final nail into the coffin. But what happened to the remaining section of the line between Presteign and the damaged bridge? Well the line now terminates a few miles on from Presteign at Bleddfa Road to serve a local quarry, passenger services have been withdrawn but there is a rumour circulating about a limited service being restored. So much for fiction, now for a few facts, the village of Bleddfa actually exists but no railway line ever reached it. The fictional Bleddfa Road station being some miles away from the village, and more for the convenience of the quarry rather than for any would be passengers.
Location Map
The layout plan is a mix of Llansilin Road on the Tanat Valley, Soudley No2. Crossing on the Severn and Wye and my imagination. The line should actually curve to the left but to fit the layout into my modelling den I had to drop that idea. Yes it is ever so simple and operationally lacking but the whole project is an exercise in landscape and architectural modelling. I want to know if my less is more ideas can work in the larger scale and needed a fresh challenge. During the planning stages I built the shells of the station building and goods shed from 3mm thick Palight. They will eventually be clad in corrugated iron sheet. Despite the station being in Mid Wales both are being modelled on the rustic corrugated iron buildings which once stood at Llanrhaiadr Mochnant. The layout measures 11ft 9" x 20" in old money but looks far longer than it is, I think its the curve that creates the illusion of length as the whole layout cannot be seen in one go. Instead the eye has to follow it around. The backscene which I intend painting myself this time will be placed further back from the layout in an attempt to create more depth to the scene, in fact the plan is to secure it to the room walls on a sweeping curve.
Early Ideas.
Track is being made from Slater's ply sleepers, n/s rail and C&L plastic chairs.
After reading many 7mm layout topics here on the forum and picking the brains of fellow members, thanks chaps you know who you are, I decided to use 0-MF track standards. S7 looks brilliant but after years of modifying '00' stock to EM standards I have had enough of wheel conversions and time isn't really on my side now anyway.
As well as starting the buildings I made this Peco 'Toad', weathering will be carried out at a later date. According to my research the real van was based at Tondu, how it ended up on the Lugg Valley is a mystery? The Kington transfers are a custom job by Railtec, the remainder being stock items.
Well that is all for now, another update will follow in due course.
Geoff
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