A Chuffer update is long overdue - I have failed to report on the last three meetings...

Going back in time, the meeting on March 14th was at Pats. No modelling was done, instead we concentrated on an evening of audio/visual steam engine related lectures (watching railway DVDs)

We also inspected Pats latest modelling exploits - two locos in narrow '0' gauge, using Hornby chassis.

Early stages. More on this once Patrick gets settled into retirement and can concentrate on the important things...


The following week it was just Patrick and myself, as the other two had prior engagements.
We knuckled down and did quite a bit of work on the Crymmych Arms layout. This is how things are looking at the moment:

Eagle eyed amongst you will have spotted the buildings that have appeared. They are the premises of W.H.JAMES, who has an ironmongery and agricultural engineering business. - it's no longer in the position shown, his grandson has moved up into the town.
The other firm was that of JOHN JONES & SONS now long gone, although some of his family are still extant.

These are the two buildings:

This brings up to last night, when the four of us met up at Cilfair, Colins house. The task for the evening was to test a 'remagnetising' kit that Pat had purchased - the purpose of which is to put a bit of life back into the small electric motors that drive the model locomotives. After time the magnets in the motors lose their 'attraction' and use more and more current to operate. The answer is to apply an electromagnetic force across the magnets to refresh them.

Colin had also finished another tram loco, this time on a Minitrix chassis:

This next shot shows the body separated from the gubbins (technical term for motive power and drive mechanism):

Closed the evening in the time honoured fashion.
No ChufferDuffers next week, as we are having a Cardi-Bach walk from the old Cardigan station site along the remains of the track to Cilgerran.
I'll report on that after the event.

Hwyl fawr,
Shaun.

A quick update on the Chuffers - we met here at Llechryd a couple of days ago, and set to on the Crymmych Arms layout. I had roughly bulked out the scenery using a spray can of expanding foam - the sort that builders and window fitters use to fill gaps - I omitted to take an overall picture of it, but here is a snap shot of one corner:

 As you can see, it expands beautifully!
It had more or less dried by the time the boys arrived, so Patrick and Colin got going with a carving knife and bin bag to sculpt the lumps into something resembling the landscape around Crymych station.
The foam is really easy to cut once it has dried, and provides a good base.

This is the foam after Patricks efforts - we let Pat do it as he has had the most experience at carving joints in the restaurant!

This morning I gave it a covering of Modroc plaster bandage prior to slapping on a top coat of emulsion.

State of play at the moment:

Thats it for this week - No Chuffers next week as we have a Cardi-Bach Society meeting. If any local readers would like to come to a Society meeting please feel free - it's at Y Bont public house in Llanglydwen, 7 pm on Tuesday 7th of March.

Hwyl fawr,

Shaun.