The last twelve months..............

Penhydd Station appeared in the latest issue of Model Railway Journal No.211

Quite a few changes have been made at Penhydd over the past year which just goes to show that you can’t plan for everything.  It’s strange to think that the layout was only meant to be a test track for a few ideas that I wanted to try out and the original plan did not feature the cottages or pub let alone a creamery !
At times the journey has been one of frustration and many are the times when a trip to the tip has been an inviting option !
However when the various problems are overcome and things go well then the feeling of satisfaction makes it all worthwhile.

The year started with plans for a simple creamery and after many false dawns the scene is coming together nicely.  The latest job was to build the water tower, modified from the old Airfix kit and fitted with a curved corrugated iron sheet roof it now looks something like this……..

The above photo shows how the new roof parts were made from Plastikard and grafted onto the original kit roof.

The first photo shows how I built up the new roof over the old one supplied in the kit.  Slater’s corrugated iron sheet was cut into strips and applied to the roof in much the same way as the prototype.  A new inspection hatch and ladders replaced the original kit items.  Finally the whole model was painted a light grey and then weathered with washes of dirty black and light rust. Much use being made of cotton buds to gently remove paint as required.  The roof was painted light rust with areas picked out in darker shades, then whilst the paint was still wet Carrs “Shades of rust” weathering powders were applied to give the results you see here.

Though the cross members and rings have been thinned down they still seem a little heavy and so I might try and reduce them a touch more.  Whilst awaiting paint to dry I continued to carve more stone sets into the yard and track infill surfaces and also worked up the scenery around the base of the tower.
I expect, or should I say hope to have the set stones painted and plenty of long grass in place by this time next week and then finish the two remaining buildings for the New Year, which will leave just the cassette deck scenery to be completed.

On a different note 1455 is now settling down and for several weeks has been the sole engine in steam as can be seen in the following photos……

Waiting between shunts

Propelling a van down to the end loading dock.

1455 awaits departure time with a single coach.

What next ? - Well I must finish my WR toad brake van and a couple of 5 plank opens, after all they have been on the workbench for over a year !  Line side fencing, telegraph poles and platform lamps are needed as are a few figures and additional details.  A second Pannier tank with the old style cab will be the next loco to appear followed by the Deans Goods which was mentioned some months ago.

Anyway thank you for following The Chronicles over the past year, and here is wishing you all....  

                                        A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year   
                                             Best Wishes 

                                                        Geoff