Excellent 3mm Society meeting on Monday, Pat, Mike, Bill and James were members present, together with myself, and Chris - a friend of James. Colin turned up after lunch, and an enjoyable day was had. Teifi Gorge was already set up, and as it was essentially a 3mm meeting, we put up Cardigan, and half of Boncath, to exercise visiting stock.
Colin produced some of his 'work-in-progress' 009 locos, which we ran on the TGR. One of which is  pictured below:

Besides the unfinished ones, he also brought this little beauty:

This was it's first appearance actually running on the Teifi Gorge, but I did post a couple of pictures in an earlier post just after Colin had finished the coach lining.

Last night was a Tuesday meet at Chas, where a very mature Gorgonzola, together with an extremely runny French Brie were coaxed out of the garage where they had been hiding from Charles' wife, having been banished from the kitchen refrigerator.
Colin produced a couple of refurbished locos which the Teifi Gorge Railway Company had purchased from the continent to suplement the existing stable.
Here is Rosi, languishing outside St Domaels shed, yet to be painted in TGR livery:

And a jolly little Austrian steamer together with a work coach, which will be the TGR's dedicated maintenance train. Again waiting to go into the shed for  a repaint. Seen here outside St Dogmaels station:

3mm Society Area meeting here tomorrow

 

In advance I put up the Teifi Gorge Railway layout - I know it's not 3mm - but I thought the others might enjoy seeing it, and Pat and Colin, the co-builders will be here, so we might as well show off our baby...

It will be my last 3mm Society meet, as I have not bothered to renew my membership. 3mm has proved too much of a challenge. I enjoyed making Kilgerran, and Boncath, but enough is enough!

Anyhow, I cleaned all the TGR track with electrical contact cleaner, and then rubbed all the rails with graphite. One or two point problems, but other than that everything ran perfectly. Connected power to the lighting system, and here are the results:

 

one of the engines backing into the engine shed at St Dogmaels

 

 

 The goods shed - way too bright - I shall have to sort that

the workers returning late at night past the harbour Masters Office

 

Change of heading picture today - it's a shot of Patricks Cardigan Layout, taken last year at the exhibition in Drefach Felindre, at the Welsh National Woolen Museum.

This year we hope to show the Teifi Gorge Railway...

Did a bit more to it today. Added a Harbour Masters office, complete with outside light, a light in the office itself and a flickering fire. It's only 'plonked on' at the moment, as it needs furniture and a floor plus a bit more to the front.
Also added a tunnel portal and vegetation, and fettled it a bit so that trains pass through.

WE HAVE ROTATION!!

I ventured south on monday to Peters to see if I could sort out the water wheel problem.

It turned out (sorry!!) to be excessive PVA under the scenic mat covering the wheel axle. Bit of scaping with the Stanley knife, and everything working once more.

Here is a video clip that Peter took:

 

 

I can't believe a week has gone by since the Aberaeron Show.
We had a very successful time exhibiting Cardigan and Boncath - Pat Colin and I set up quite quickly on Saturday afternoon, and on Sunday Pat and I started the operations, with excellent help from Mike who turned up soon after the opening and very happily took over operating the layouts while Pat and I took turns to wander around.
Colin came along after lunch for the afternoon session, and we were all packed up and home by six.
We all thought it was the best run that the layout had experienced in its couple of years of operating.
I didn't take too many pictures of the show, but here is the set-up on Saturday afternoon prior to opening (the hall is bare, as we were the first there!):

Also at the exhibition were the Haverfordwest boys with their Calder Bridge layout. Part of the layout incorporated a mill scene that I had built 6 years ago when I was a member of the Haverfordwest Club. Peter Francis asked me if it was possible to get the mill wheel to turn...
I brought the mill section of their layout home with me after the exhibition and gave it a go.
I removed the wheel, and attached it to a double worm drive gear box fitted to a small electric motor.
I had to butcher a part of the scene to fit the motor in, but managed to disguise the scars with an old building from the 'spares' box. Both the mill and the old building had been wired for lighting, so I hooked them up to the same supply as the wheel motor. Fitted a switch and suitable power supply, and everything worked!
This is the original mill, taken during the build 6 years ago:

and this is it now:

The wheel (which is hard to see in this shot) did turn, but when Peter got it home yesterday, it decided not to play ball! Nothing that can't be rectified though I'm sure - just needs a visit to Johnston to sort it out!

More progress today on the TGR.

Started working on the St Dogmaels end, with rudimentary buffer stops on the sidings, an engine shed in place, and a stone wall separating the West end of the village from the rail yard.
On the other side of the wall, Mr. Rees has a small mechanical workshop, catering for the new horseless carriages (He later purchases the rail yard when the TGR winds up)

and another closer up-

All bits are removeable at the moment as it's still work in progress

Also W-I-P is the Login build

I made a start on the keepers cottage.

This is the interior of the lounge, at the moment lacking furniture!