Strange things are afoot!

We had 62 hits from Russia yesterday! I wonder what is happening?

Anyway, some more progress on the  Login layout. On Tuesday we (actually it was mostly Colin, as Charles and I were playing with the TV) built up the landscape behind the station, using polyurethane off-cuts.

Once that had dried I covered it with plaster-of-Paris soaked bandages, and allowed that to dry before liberally coating it with a mixture of PVA, acrylic paint and plaster powder (Pollyfilla). This is the ensuing effect:

And from the front:

 

The area behind the platform fencing will hopefully be the Station garden.

Hello Russia... are you visiting us today?

Tuesday night come and gone - only three of us last night, as Pat has gone off 'glamping' somewhere down South...
We made some progress on the Login layout, but at the moment it's a bit too messy to show, so you will have to make do with this comparison photo (minus the platform staff and loco!)

Colin brought along some up-dated bits of the Fairground Gondola Ride. In fact he brought up all of it!
The prototype that he has taken inspiration from had an imitation mountain in the centre with a waterfall (it was actually billed as a scenic railway)
Anyhow, Colin true to form made a mountain, complete with a waterfall:

And here it is in place in the Roundabout:

 

In front of the mountain is the pipe organ, yet to be painted. For travellng between fairs, the organ is towed along on its own dedicated trailer:

The whole roundabout will have been pulled along by these two showmans steam engines, which after setting up on site will then provide the power to run the ride and all the illuminations:

I've run out of superlatives for Colins work - bear in mind that that one pound coin used for comparison is just 22 millimeters across. That makes those traction engines less than an inch and a half long...

Regards to our followers,
Shaun.

Rained all day yesterday, so inbetween watching the cricket I did a little bit more to Login - mainly hegdes and undergrowth. The PW crew filled in the hole in the ballasting, and then started on rebuilding  some of the trackside fencing.

Weather has cleared up today, and Llechryd cricket team are playing a home game, so I don't think there will be much progress on the modeling front...

We didn't bother with a meeting this week, as with the fine weather we all had other things to do. However I did manage to get a little bit done to the Login layout - a couple of bridges over the stream that feeds into the river Taf, some fencing, and the level crossing.
The large hole in the track is going to be filled in as soon as the permanent way staff can get to it!

More as and when!

LET BATTLE COMMENCE!

No excuses any more - we finally got Login layout (what there is of it) transported from Pats annex over here to Ty-Nant. Colin and I managed to get it into the Audi, with the split seat down and the front seat flattened. Seven foot of board just fitted in, with Col in the rear seat holding it steady.

Up in the hobby room now, waiting to be fettled.

At the opposite end of the room I managed to get the Cilgerran end of the Teifi Gorge layout up on the table, as we still have to work on that ready for the Aberaeron show next month.

In the shot below you can see the slate workshop, engine shed and the goods shed. In the background is the tunnel mouth that will take the branch line through to Newcastle Emlyn (eventually...)

Last picture for today is the latest offering from Colin on his fairground attraction - its going to be the steam driven organ, which will be mounted on a trailer, and become an integral part of the Dragon ride. Now searching for a speaker small enough. Possibly those used for DCC sound in N gauge locos?

Progress reports as and when - and who are you who are watching from Ukraine ? Do let us know.

It's not even Tuesday yet!!

Notice the change of picture above. I can't remember where I took it - possibly Bala, or could be Llanberis. Not that it matters all that much in the grand scheme of things.
Thought I would do a quick post today - we had a good weekend at Login Station Extravaganzer, despite the adverse weather and all the other events that were taking place around West Wales.
This was the set-up inside the marquee:

Cardigan layout first, followed by Boncath, and Kilgerran across the end. Down the middle double-sided display boards with photos and articles all about the old Cardi-Bach railway.

Honourary Duffer Mike turned up to keep us going with cups of tea...

Meeting at Colins tomorrow, so there maybe another post in a day or two...

Another week, another Tuesday...

Met here in Llechryd last night - had a serious discussion around the table on the way forward...

But not a lot was finalised...
Prior to this we did actually set up Cardigan layout down in the garage, wired up the signal box to check the new lights, and then test ran all the locos that Pat had been busy cleaning. Everything ran perfectly, all ready for the show at Login this weekend.
I met up with Emyr this morning, and we loaded his van with all the layouts, tables and display boards. Just waiting now for word from Pete about the marquee going up. Emyr is on tenterhooks as his eldest daughter is a couple of days overdue with her first child. Women just don't seem to understand the importance of railway matters...

Colin produced more of his miniature masterpieces, the gondolas are now in place on the rails, but lacking passengers at the moment.

He also put together a 009 kit that Pete Towns kindly donated to the TGR:

Yet to be painted in the TGR livery, it's standing outside the Cilgerran goods depot that I built on Monday.
Just roughly positioned at the moment, and yet to be bedded in, it may also be the change-over station for the Newcastle Emlyn branch line.
couple of pics of it's placement:

We also added platform lights, and internal lighting in the engine shed, and Charles put the strip light into the goods shed, and then wired it all up in the nether regions of the board. Bit bright at the moment, but a bit of black acrylic may well tone things down a bit. Or maybe another resistor or two.

 Thats it for this week - hope to bring you results of the weekends do at Login next week sometime.