Hello everyone, welcome to the third blog of February. Despite the constraints of lockdown, we are managing to get something together thanks to the wonder of the internet. We all take it for granted these days, but I don't think I'm alone in remembering the first television set to appear in our street...

Last weeks castle was Dinefwr - National Trust property in partnership with Cadw. Lots of people go to Newton House at Dinefwr, but not many make it to the castle, as it is a bit of a climb. Well worth it though for the views down the Tywi valley.

Another Carmarthenshire castle picture for this weeks blog - again, not a particularly well known tourist spot, worth a visit though as there is a free car-park and it's a good picnic spot.

 

On to the blog. I mentioned innovative things we take for granted. How about 3D printing... it is really catching on, and an expert in this field is Patrick's son Daniel. Having the daunting task of making seven more sets of crossing gates for the C-B N gauge layout, and not having enough bits of plasticard, I approached Daniel with the problem. Within hours, he came up with this:   

I sent him a sketch and the dimensions, and this is what he came up with. Just incredible!!

All I have to do is stick the gauze that I had from Bethan on the back, and away we go. Just got to make the stations...

Lots of pictures for this posting, so we will start off with some more images of the progress on Pat's 00 gauge Heritage layout, depicting a Classic Car Exhibition at the station hotel and adjacent yard.

Despite all the hoo-ha that is going on around them, the permanent way gang still have work to do, though more time seems to be spent discussing the work, rather than doing it.

The gent on the bench gave up interest a while ago, and seems to be fast asleep.

In the station itself the old heritage steam train has just pulled in after a half hours run up and down the couple of miles of restored line, and is disgorging a bunch of happy enthusiasts, whilst in the goods yard the restored vintage omnibus is taking on passengers for a nostalgic run through the local countryside.

and two late arrivals for the show are coming over the bridge:

Leaving Pat and his layout in Cilgerran, we move further into the hinterland, down the route of the old Cardi-Bach to Login, where Pete Towns has been busy with some really exacting modelling and painting. He has had to really, as a slight leg injury meant resting up as much as possible

He has produced the following farmyard bits and bobs from laser-cut kits to enhance his Lynton and Barnstaple 009 layout.

Starting with some farm carts:

and adding a horse (looks like one of Huw's from Dyfed Shire Horse farm)-

Next we have the chicken coop, which was a feature in a previous blog, but now it is completed, and already has residents:

Imagine painting these...

They reflect Pete and Dawns actual flock, and all have names, though the only one I can remember is a chesty white one named after Carol Kirkwood the BBC weather lady...

Moving swiftly on, we have a dog kennel:

A rabbit hutch:

(Bear in mind that these are kits of several parts, painstakingly put together and painted - each doorway is in three separate pieces.) To go with the hutch, kennel and chicken coop is the garden tool shed:

Finally one man and his dogs, who with a lot of come-by's and away's managed to organized the sheep into some semblance of order, while at the same time clutching a molly-lamb...

The kits to make up the carts are 'Arch Laser' from Osborne Models, and Ancorton.

Chicken house/kennel/hutch/shed from Model Scenes,

and the chickens and sheep from Serious Play (Wargamers)

Construction and painting is down to Peters diligence and patience. Well done Pete!

I think thats the lot for this posting - hope you are all coping with the present situation. Majority of us seem to have had our first inoculation of the anti-virus serum, with no ill effects.

Lets hope we can get back to normal fairly soon.

Cheerio.

Shaun.