The Welshpool Narrows re-born on the WGLR.

Mel, if you do 'chip' any, then you better build 'er one of these for the layout. Course it might only turn them out in 1:22 scale.

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I think she'd rather I built something like this Bob :bigsmile:.


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I've done the one end with the extension on it today. SWMBO has made a couple of further suggestions;
1) I could try my hand at cake making, especially trowelling the icing on :thumbdown: and
2) I could use the grout for what it's designed for and finish the tiling in the bathroom :@.


Also, carving the stonework is not too bad, but carving brickwork is a pain in the ar ...............................
 
Hi Mel,

It will still be a pain but if you make a form from bits of wood the size of bricks, wrap those bits of wood in plasticard, 30 thou should do, make some 2 and 4 or 5 bricks long and now use those to stamp an impresssion in your grout: it will be a bit faster?

Use a (fixed with a couple of clamps) ruler, just above the surface, to slide the 'stamps' along to keep resultant bricks straight.

Or give up and get some brickwork sheets from Jacksons Miniatures?

link - http://www.jacksonsminiatures.com/ and goto 1/24th scale products.

Dont forget it needs some fancy glue to hold it though!
 
peterbunce said:
Hi Mel,

It will still be a pain but if you make a form from bits of wood the size of bricks, wrap those bits of wood in plasticard, 30 thou should do, make some 2 and 4 or 5 bricks long and now use those to stamp an impresssion in your grout: it will be a bit faster?

Use a (fixed with a couple of clamps) ruler, just above the surface, to slide the 'stamps' along to keep resultant bricks straight.

Or give up and get some brickwork sheets from Jacksons Miniatures?

link - http://www.jacksonsminiatures.com/ and goto 1/24th scale products.

Dont forget it needs some fancy glue to hold it though!


There's very little brickwork left to do on this build now Peter, but your stamp idea makes perfect sense. I know that David uses a stencil designed for dolls houses. For future projects I might try something similar.
 
A trip to Solihull for the West Mids GSS meeting yesterday resulted in getting some clear plasticard for the window glass and some really nice roof mouldings which one of the members had made. They're spot on because the tiles look decidedly dogdey, just like in the photos of the real cottages. I've got enough to do the stone house roof, the extension and the outhouses. I'll still have to do the cottage roofs though.

Anyhoo, today I finished the stonework on the third wall of the house (the fourth one will have to wait until the cottages are joined on), glazed the cottage windows and started slapping a bit of paint about.

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This is very much just a sort of undercoat, a heck of a lot more painting will be required on the brick and stonework. Note how the chimneys are brick - that'll make a nice contrast.


The tile grout/ adhesive is also used in blobs to hold the glazing and doors in place. Not pretty, but effective and won't be seen when it's all finished.


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I'm really seeing the light at the end of the tunnel as far as the stone house is concerned thanks mostly to the excellent roof mouldings I picked up on Saturday.

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The chimneys need their brickwork applying, the far wall it's stonework and then it's just down to painting.


As far as the cottages are concerned, the outhouses need to be added and then it's that darn roof and dormer windows together with another chimney stack. :(
 
Keep at it Mel, it will look b****y gorgeous when finished.
 
beavercreek said:
Keep at it Mel, it will look b****y gorgeous when finished.


Cheers Mike. I must admit it's proving to be a bigger job than I thought, but I hope it'll be worth it in the end.


It's certainly much easier just to buy a kit off Stockers.
 
yb281 said:
It's certainly much easier just to buy a kit off Stockers.

Don't mention 'kits' I have sort of used up my 'kit' patience quota for a little while with me Box car jobby :wits:
 
beavercreek said:
yb281 said:
It's certainly much easier just to buy a kit off Stockers.

Don't mention 'kits' I have sort of used up my 'kit' patience quota for a little while with me Box car jobby :wits:


Worth it though mate, it looks great. :thumbup:
 
yb281 said:
beavercreek said:
Keep at it Mel, it will look b****y gorgeous when finished.


Cheers Mike. I must admit it's proving to be a bigger job than I thought, but I hope it'll be worth it in the end.


It's certainly much easier just to buy a kit off Stockers.

I have to say I'm with Beave on this, and I know it's the painting that would kill it for me. Yeah it's bigger than expected, but WORTH IT when done. Loads of Percy! That's P. Vere not P. Penguin; though he does a good job too. :thumbup::clap::clap:
 
bobg said:
yb281 said:
beavercreek said:
Keep at it Mel, it will look b****y gorgeous when finished.


Cheers Mike. I must admit it's proving to be a bigger job than I thought, but I hope it'll be worth it in the end.


It's certainly much easier just to buy a kit off Stockers.

I have to say I'm with Beave on this, and I know it's the painting that would kill it for me. Yeah it's bigger than expected, but WORTH IT when done. Loads of Percy! That's P. Vere not P. Penguin; though he does a good job too. :thumbup::clap::clap:


Thanks Bob, yet another example of how people's post on this forum provide encouragement :thumbup:.


Ooops, I'll get me coat :bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile::bigsmile:.
 
Just caught up on this thread as usual it's great. Also read your article in GR this morning so I am quite in admiration of your industry today. looking forward to a youtube of trains navigating the narrows!

I tried to find the alignment of the street running on google maps to no avail - do u know of a map?
 
CoggesRailway said:
Just caught up on this thread as usual it's great. Also read your article in GR this morning so I am quite in admiration of your industry today. looking forward to a youtube of trains navigating the narrows!

I tried to find the alignment of the street running on google maps to no avail - do u know of a map?


Thanks Ian. Didn't realise my article was in this month, I haven't got my copy yet.


You won't find any trace of the narrows section on a modern map as it's pretty much all been demolished and built on. You might be able to pick out it's course through the Bron-y-Buckley housing estate though. For a reasonably priced book that includes maps of the time try the Middleton press "Narrow gauge branch lines - Welshpool to Llanfair" by Vic Mitchell & Keith Smith. The new Wild Swan W&L book is a belter, but it's £40.


In the meantime, here's a video of the narrows with the mock-up cottages in place as an apetiser :thumbup:.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsdNOWWUuTE
 
These buildings are like a vintage wine- they just get better. Beautiful work. This is a thread I will keep following.
 
Thanks again Trainman. Gord, there will be more washing, just a different scale :bigsmile:. No plans for the insides - other than a bit of painting as per the Kat's earlier post.


More progress today, mostly with the painting, although the only bit that's actually finished is the brick extension. All done in various Humbrol enamels mixed on a palette.


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The roof of the cottages has been started. A base made from thick plasticard, as are the dormers. Soon be time to start tiling :'(.


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That's looking the Muts nuts Mel, I do like the paint job matey
 
Mel, the 'clincher' is the video. The harshest judgement - and I'm aware you were using the card mock-ups- is a view from the place we can never be, at lineside. The proportions, the view-blocking, the atmosphere, are all utterly convincing. We're all waiting for another video with the 'real' range of buildings in place.

You have re-created something that those who knew Welshpool thought they'd never see again, and those who never knew that stretch will ever see anyway. If only you could restore this stretch of the L and CR for me- different, I know, but I'm sure you understand!
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All the best,

Alec K
 
Great vid Mel. The green Spreewald looks brilliant, so Countess will be magic.:thumbup:
 
Alec K said:
You have re-created something that those who knew Welshpool thought they'd never see again, and those who never knew that stretch will ever see anyway. If only you could restore this stretch of the L and CR for me- different, I know, but I'm sure you understand!

All the best,

Alec K


I do Alec, absolutely. Many thanks :bigsmile:.
 
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