We had an excellent Society meeting on Tuesday, eleven members turning up together with four guests.
John Ewart and Sophie Jenkins from PLANED gave us an enlightening talk on the assistance that is available to community groups and societies that wish to promote local interest.
It was much appreciated, and gave us a lot of food for thought. Talking of food Dawn provided us with platters of Indian snacks, which rapidly disappeared...
An electrical problem delayed the new heaters from having the desired effect, but as you can see from the picture below, everyone was prepared, and wrapped up well!

Not a great deal to relate on the modelling front, but a little bit of progress has been made on Gorsaf Y Pentref.
A bit more ground work has been done, and rudimentary roads laid down:

Whilst browsing the shops in Cardigan, I found 'Matchbox Yesteryear' models on sale at three for a fiver - normal price is around £3.50 per vehicle.
Consequently I bought some. Gauge varies between 1:30 to 1:50, but with careful placing they fit in quite well with 7mm.
What doesn't fit in are the bright non-typical colours!
Here are some of the ones that I picked up-

I thought that I would de-struct them, and repaint in more subdued colours that suited the early to mid 1900's.
They are cast metal and plastic, and riveted together, but a bit of work with a drill and I had the component parts.
I dunked them in various paint removing solutions - X10 stripper, caustic soda, and brown Dettol.
(Nitromors would have been my choice, but I didn't have any, and Jewsons only had the large tin...)

After paint stripping they have had a waft of grey primer.
This is where I am up to:

Now all that remains is to fire up the air-brush and get painting!


All the best,
Shaun.

Hi everybody - couple of days late with this post, so apologies to those who checked it out yesterday...
No Cardi-Bach Society news to report, except that to remind you all that we have a meeting next week, 7 pm at Login on Tuesday December 3rd. John Ewart will be giving a talk on improving  a groups image and communication, and also on how drone operating helps in presenting a groups interest.
All are welcome - you don't have to be a Society member!

On to Chuffer stuff...

We gathered at Patricks (can three people be called a gathering?) on a rather wet Tuesday evening, and Pat showed us the progress he has made on scratch-building a small diesel engine. I think we showed a picture or two in the last post - anyway, here are the latest pictures:

This is a side view, minus a roof, and the bare engine showing inside the cab-

A front shot of it emerging from the tunnel -

And then a rear view as it goes under the bridge to disappear round to the fiddle yard -

The Quarry-Hunslet has had a bit more painting done to it:

And then it was given a bit of exercise around Gorsaf Y Gof:

Nothing more to report on the modelling scene, so we settled down with chicken breast braised in a cream sauce with garlic, peppers and mushrooms, and garlic bread on the side (and the ubiquitous sausage rolls...)
For entertainment we watched a couple of old VHS cassettes on railway related subjects, one of which was a recording taken from S4C television 20 years ago of a B & W film - 'Kate Plus Ten' with Jack Hulbert - 1938! unfortunately the cassette stopped halfway through, and wouldn't restart...
Luckily the film is available to watch free online on the BFi website, so all is not lost!

No chuffs next week, as it's a Cardi-Bach meeting.

Ta-ta,
Shaun.
Please feel free to leave a comment below - we are interested to know were our audience comes from!

Nothing to report on the Cardi-Bach Society front, and not a lot really from the ChufferDuffers...
We met here in Llechryd on Tuesday, and although it was a bit cold and dark in the conservatory, we did manage a run on the new layout.

Might call it 'Gorsaf Y Pentref' - simply 'The Village Station'...

Patrick brought along the Quarry Hunslet that Colin had made, and Pat had painted - herewith a view of the right hand side:

And one of the left...

Not only painted on the outside, but Pat also painted the backplate and the controls:

Plenty of room for footplate personnel - they will be following in due course!



We put the loco through its paces (at a bit more than prototypical speed, it has to be said...)

We then watched a couple of episodes of  'Scenic Railway Journeys' on My5, before repairing to the dining room for Chicken Jalfrezi and a rather pleasant Shiraz.

If we have any readers in Scotland,

Feasgar math.
Shaun.

Special edition... I know we meet tomorrow, but this post is to highlight the Hermon Model Show, that the Cardi-Bach Society exhibited at yesterday, Sunday November 17th.

The show is the brain-child of Roger Howells, who has put on this event for at least the last four years (maybe more, but I'm too lazy to check)


Here is Roger with his own display of model aircraft:

In the background the Society Chairman, Emyr, is setting up the display of Cardi-Bach photographs:

Next to him, Patrick, Peter and I brought along the Login Layout - (later in the day Society members Thomas and Colin came along to assist)

Some of the other exhibitors - Dave Haughton with his trams:

Ron Weatheralls Truck display:

Chris from Carmarthen Modellers with his 3mm continental layout:

Upstairs we found Dave the Painter with his latest masterpiece in progress:

And next to him one of his grandson Mac's American layouts:

Lots of other good stuff - too much to show on here - but altogether an excellent afternoon.
Finishing this post with a video of a goods train passing through Login Station:

Hopefully a Chuffer report next week.

Shaun.

Hi everybody.
I didn't post last week, as I knew we had a Cardi-Bach meeting coming up. That was last night, so in view of that we decided to miss out a Chuffer night this week, and schedule one for next Tuesday.

The C-B meeting was well attended - a dozen of us assembled to hear member Phil Hawkins give a talk on the history and development of the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways, of which he has been a very active member of since around 1960.

It was a very informative talk and presentation, illustrated with over 40 archive photographs taken in the late 1980's, together with more recent pictures, including one of Phil leaping in the air playing a 'shovel guitar'! He also showed us a DVD taken very recently of the journey from Porthmadog to Blaenau, including excellent drone footage.

All-in-all an excellent evening enjoyed by everyone.

On to Chuffers...

Last week our meeting was at Colins, with Mariannes tasty salad together with soft dough pizza and the sausage rolls, without which it just would not be a ChufferDuffer meeting!

Patrick had brought along the 7mm Quarry Hunslet that Colin had built, and had tasked Pat to paint:

Still some fine detail to be coloured, but you have to admit Pat has done a fine job.


For comparison, we put Colins 009 Hunslet next to its big daddy:

Just incredible workmanship...


Colin then showed us the steam organ from his Scenic Railway 'Galloper' that he had tarted up a little:

The 20p piece gives you an idea of the size!


And here it is in place on the scenic railway. (The mountain behind it has a water fall on the side hidden from view)

Nothing more to report from last weeks meeting - I've done a bit on the 7mm layout, but nothing that merits highlighting.
Meeting here in Llechryd next week, for a home-brewed Chicken Jalfrezi - so the house should be quite fragrant for a couple of days!
'Til the next time,
Shaun.

Mornin' all. October 30th - almost another month gone. In fact almost another year, and another government. Or a feeble excuse for one. Cleisthenes must be spinning in his grave...

However, all of that is beyond our control. The Cardi-Bach has new lights!
The old tubes are gone, and in their place are bright LED fittings. I was there last Friday when the West Wales Modellers came to the Station for afternoon tea, and took a couple of pictures before they descended on the museum:

Also included is a picture of Ronnie Howells uniform that he kindly donated to the museum. Peter and Dawn managed to source a mannequin torso to hang it on. No legs, so the trousers stay neatly folded!

On to ChufferDuffers.
After missing a week due to Patrick venturing to the North of the Principality for a short break, we met last night at Chessboard House.
I had tasked Colin to make a couple of level crossing gates for the new layout, and as usual he came up trumps:

Made from balsa wood, all I have to now is to find some mesh, and make some gate-posts.

Colin had also finished the Hunslett Quarry style loco, and it is just left to Patrick to paint it!

It runs superbly, as can be seen in the video below:

Also captured on video is this clip that Colin and I took last week of the Railbus running around the new layout:

We settled down for the evening to watch several DVDs, accompanied by home-made pizza and home-made garlic and chili pork sausage rolls.
Yet another enjoyable Chuffer evening. No modelling done, but that's not the point...the intention was there!
Colins next week, but before then there is the Carmarthen 0 Gauge exhibition at Bronwydd Arms to visit on Saturday.

Hwyl fawr,
Shaun.

Hi everyone.
Starting with the Cardi Bach Society - as one of our members pointed out, having meetings at the beginning of the week and the beginning of the month is not the best idea, as that is the favourite time for most organisations to have their meetings - which is a fair point.
With that in mind, I polled the membership by E-mail for their views... the response, I have to say is underwhelming. Oh the joys of being a secretary.


On to happier matters.
We met here at Llechryd last night - little bit dark in the conservatory, so we put the lights on on the new layout:

It wasn't that bad really! I had the lighting gantry above the layout, and spot lamps over the work table, so we managed (after a fashion)
Starting with Colin - with his departure from the Dark Side, as 'Station Master' would have it (not sure who Station Master is, but I think he might reside in Login) he showed us the progress with his 7mm scratch build of a cabbed quarry Hunslet.

This is built completely from scratch using plasticard, brass and copper tubing and bits of wire. The only proprietary component is the chassis, which came from a Hornby 'Smoky Joe'.
The chassis cost in the region of £10... disregarding Colins time and the cost of the rest of the materials, it compares quite favourably with a commercial model, which would be in the region of £180 or more.
Here is another view:

Not only looking the biz, it actually runs!

We are impressed!

Patrick meanwhile was busy correcting the Kaydee couplings on some of the rolling stock, but he brought along the latest waggon load that he had put together:

I just hope the bumper is man enough for the restraining chains...


He also secured a bargain on Ebay of a period taxi, which we see here parked up in the station forecourt:

You have to appreciate that the layout is still in the early stages of construction, and a lot of what you see is just plonked down to create the overall effect.
The scenics have been started, but just colour-washed to give us an impression of what is needed.
We ran all the stock around the site to highlight glaring mistakes (lots) which I will have to try and corrrect before the next meeting here.
But to give you a quick preview of things, here's a short video clip :

By half past eight we had enough, so repaired to the dining room for entertainment with Youtube and a home-brewed Chicken Dhansak that I had prepared the day before, with the usual accoutrement's.

I think Patrick just bit on a clove...


No Chuffers next week, as Pat and Mary are off to Criccieth for a couple of days, with the highlight being the Welsh Highland Railway (and the Lloyd-George Museum) (He knew my father...) 

Thanks for your indulgence - all comments welcome.

All the best, Shaun. 

Chuffers at Col's last night, but first an update on last week - no Chuffers, if you remember, as it was a Cardi-Bach meeting.
Very enjoyable meet, with an interesting DVD on the GWR, and a couple of clips of the C-B, commentary provided by Emyr in his own inimitable style.
A disappointing turnout of members though - there was only eight of us, which included Rob John from St Clears, a potential new member.
Hopefully with will get better attendance at the next meeting, Monday November 11th, when Phil Hawkins will be giving a presentation on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways.

On to last nights Chuffers.
As usual we started with Show-and-Tell, with Patrick coming up with the little boat we saw two weeks ago, but now painted and partly covered with a tarp'.
(Apologies for the out of focus pic)

This is followed by an updated shot of the mourners carriage, which now sports internal lighting, which can be operated remotely via a magnet and reed switch.

Again I'm sorry about the quality of the photo. However, I got it sorted for the next collection of pictures which show Colins 'Scenic Railway' fairground gallopers and traction engines:

Everything you see is completely scratch built, and to a scale of 2millimeters to the foot. Some close-ups of the traction engine(s):

A twenty pence coin for comparison...


And here are a couple of shots of the fairground ride itself, duly painted and decorated:

To finish Colins 'Show-and-Tell' he is in the proccess of moving up a couple of scales, and is building a 7mm engine for the new layout.
Here is the chassis and the start of the cab:

And the layout in question - a little bit of progress was my contribution to the evening, shown in the form of a short video clip:

Our evening was rounded off with the usual selection of Youtube clips and railway related DVDs, and one of Mariannes excellent pork pie salads, washed down with a Merlot. The salad was all the more interesting with the inclusion of 'Orzo' pasta, something that was new to Pat and myself.

Next week we will be here in Llechryd, hopefully to do a bit more on 'the layout'...

Bora da,
Shaun.

Cardi Bach meeting next week, on Wednesday October the 2nd, when we are going to have an evening of DVDs and slides, railway related, and quite a bit showing the old Whitland to Cardigan line. Should be entertaining!

The Chuffers met at Patrick's on Tuesday night and Pat showed us the latest work that he has done to the Funeral 'collection'

Starting off with the coffin, it now sports a cross shaped wreath on the lid:

And inside the mourners carriage, as well as grieving passengers, there is now a collection of floral tributes:

Also gracing the rails at Maes Y Gof is this latest loaded wagon on it's way to the coast.
Yet to be painted, the dingy is a 3D printing from 'Merlinsmodels', a gentleman who has just started up a business in Newcastle Emlyn.

I've been busy on the new layout, (which we have yet to name). Over the last few days I managed to complete the electrics, and checked the boards for separation and alignment.
Successful on all counts, as well as the Kaydee uncouplers.

Ballasting has been started - I took a quick trip down to Cybwr Bay and collected a quantity of sand.
This is quite coarse, and more of a grey colour than other beach sand. I sifted it, washed and thoroughly rinsed it, then dried it in the sun.
Spreading it dry onto the track, misting it with methylated spirit, then applying dilute PVA mixed with water and a little meths, using a disposable pipette, this is the result:

 

After reviewing Pats work, we settled down in the lounge to watch an old VHS video of a steam special running on the Heart of Wales line down to Swansea, and then on to Haverfordwest. Two preserved locos were being used, an F4 and a Black 5. It was a semi-amateur film made I think by a Llanelli Railway Club back in 1993.
Barbecued chicken wings washed down with suitable libations ended the evening...

Thats it for this week folks.
As next week is a Cardi-Bach evening, Chuffers wont be meeting until the following week, when we will meet up at Colins.

Shaun.

Bang on target again!
Pat and Colin have just left after another successful afternoon of constructive modelling.

First of all though, the Card-Bach. Our next meeting was going to be on Tuesday October 1st - unfortunately Emyr will be giving a talk and film show in Crymych that evening.
As the theme for our evening was going to be films and slides, we are now going to meet on the following evening, Wednesday the 2nd of October. Sorry to mess you all about...

Back to the Chuffers.
Colin has done a bit more work to the Gallopers:

Remove the roof, and we find that the Dragon cars now have customers!

The calliope churning away in the background - she was originally a Greek muse renowned for her harmonious voice - how that can be compared to a barrel organ God alone knows.
Anyway, lots of tiny people enjoying the ride!

 

A bit more has been added to the steam engine which will be providing the power to drive and illuminate the Galloper:

Soon to be painted and the wheels fitted. Watch this space!


The main purpose of the afternoon was to get the track laying finished on the new layout - and the good news is - its done!
Here is an overall view of the track plan:

A couple of buildings already made:

And just to show that it all works, we have a quick vid of the train trundling around:

After patting ourselves on our respective backs, we retired to the lounge for sausage rolls, Pats scones and homemade bramble jelly with clotted cream, coffee and the latest Ffestiniog Youtube.
Evening session next week, to relax!

Selamat malam,
Shaun.