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.

Quick off the mark today...
Last Wednesday we had the first Autumn meeting of the Cardi-Bach Society in the Heritage Museum at Login. A dozen members attending, and good to see Sue and Huw Jones, as they are not always able to attend.
Phil from Tan-Y-Bwlch was there, and has pledged to give a talk on the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway at our November meeting. The October get-together will be a film and slide night, showing the C-B archive films that we have, plus assorted railway themed movies.
That will be on Tuesday October the first.
Excellent pizzas and garlic bread brought out to us by Dawn, Peter's wife.

On to Chuffers...
We met here at Llechryd this afternoon instead of an evening session, to enable us to take advantage of daylight, as we wanted to crack on with laying track for the new 7mm Narrow Gauge. With the nights drawing in it gets a bit dark in the conservatory.

But first a bit of show-and-tell!

Colin has been busy with construction of his showmans steam engine. Here is the body complete with ancillaries:
(20p coin for comparison) 

The brass cylinder on the front is the 110 volt generator that the steam engine drives to provide power for the fairground attractions.


Patrick brought along a garden shed and cold frame that his son Daniel had made from coffee stirrers in 7mm scale for the new layout:

Many thanks to Daniel - can we persuade him to carry on?


On to the purpose of the Duffers meeting here. Colin and Pat, the Gandy Dancers of old set to and laid track, while I sort of helped on the periphery...
Below is a shot of work in progress:

We knocked off at 4:30 for coffee and cake, and watched a couple of videos about the Ffestiniog railway, then called it a day.
Convening here again next Tuesday to complete the track laying.
Meanwhile I cleared the decks (a little bit) and did a trial run with a loco and carriage.

Success!!