Reports and Blog

12 attended our April meeting.

John Walker brought along his test track.  He ran a selection of his stock, including a Langley Double Fairlie . He had built it when the first batch of kits released, and like John it’s lasted well.

John Davies brought along a rather nice 12 mm gauge 0-8-0ST. This had been built from a Berlinerbahn chassis and Hornby ‘Desmond body (in fetching Caledonian Rly livery). He also brought a part built 12 mm gauge Clogher Valley tram loco. As something a little different he also had an 009 Kerr Stuart 0-6-0.  This had been built from a Roxey Mouldings Metropolitan Water board loco on a Minitrix 0-6-0 chassis.

Tim Williams had been busy with his 3D printer.  It had been making a new winding house for the incline on Chwarel Tegid.  Tim had also adapted some of his failed 3D printed wagons into damaged and abandoned runaway wagons to add to the layout’s scenery.

Dick John’s layout (previously owned by Hugh Freeman) has now been christened “Tren Bach”. Running on the night was Dick’s Bachmann double fairlie “Merddin Emrys” joined by Steve Mann’s FR England tank “Princess”, new from Kato.

Steve Mann had also been busy with some model making.  His 3d printed Talyllyn ‘Alf’ Hunslet mines locomotive (a Shapeways print) now sported

a coat of dark green. He had also painted his Five79 Skylark on minitrains F&C 0-4-0 chassis in the same livery. Also fresh from the paint shops was Steve’s 4 wheel railcar.  Made from a Dundas Eisteddfod coach on a Kato 11-104 chassis it now has a pale green livery and is due to be named “Benbow”.  Whilst sorting through some boxes Steve had come across a Five79 Freelance Peckett 0-4-0 he had mounted on a Minitrains Krauss chassis that needed finishing off.

Joseph Jacks brought along his putative Snailbeach layout with its new engine shed. He also brought along some home printed Snailbeach hoppers that he hopes to add a system whereby they can be prototypically emptied through the bottom door. He also had the start of a Kerr Stuart Skylark in the form of an outside frame N-drive chassis and plastic card footplate. Also shown was a Kato 11-109 also fitted with plastic card footplate, buffer beams and dummy side frames. Joseph hadn’t quite finalised plans for the upper works yet, so watch this space!

Peter Hardy brought along his test track to test his latest purchase, a Bachmann Percy. This is destined for a Narrow Planet 40 HP Orenstein & Koppel 0-4-0T. Also being tried out was David Churchill’s Kato England chassis.

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Our March meting saw a full house, with 15 attending Moorfield Hall.

Will King brought along his latest loco. Going back to 009 he had been working on a Langley WD Hunslet 4-6-0. He had re-motored the Mintirix chassis with a Tramfaberike motor,  and lowered the body onto the chassis for a more prototypical look. Despite the loco being in grey primer the results looked good.

John Walker brought along his test track and ran a selection of stock. His Roco 6 wheel diesel (recently fettled by David Churchill) was first up.  Then his two Bachmann double Fairlies. His Livingstone Thompson has been joined by an open cab Merddyn Emrys. Both locos were just back from Julien Webb who had fitted the etched nameplates and ModelU crew figures.

Ben Powell brought along part of his Industrial Layout. Even without movement it looks impressive. Ben also brought along his recent kit builds. The locos were a ‘Fiji’ Baguley Drewry and Thomas Green 0-6-2 ST “Masham” from RT Models. The wagons a trio of the new plastic bogie wagon kits from Chivers Finelines.

Geoff Harper brought along his Mintirains Ns2f. This was running much better after some fettling following last month’s meeting. It was joined by a Dundas Vale of Rheidol guards van Geoff had modified with a veranda end.

Steve Mann had been busy at his workbench.  A 3d printed Talyllyn ‘Alf’ Hunslet mines locomotive fitted with a Farish chassis  joined a pair of railcars built from Dundas Eisteddfod coaches. Moving up a scale Steve  had built a selection of 09 stock built from kits bought at NG North 2 days earlier. Also running was his Bachmann Double Fairlie Earl of Merioneth (another NG North purchase).

Peter Hardy brought along his test track and gave his K1 0-4-0+0-4-0 Garratt a run. It was joined by Julien Webb’s 2-8-0+0-8-2 Sierra Leone Garratt. This is a Paul Windle build that Julien had recently refurbished, replacing the split axle muff in the locos Bachmann chassis with spares printed by Shapeways. Being dwarfed by the articulated superpower was Joseph Jacks’ Kerr Stuart ‘Wren’ 0-4-0ST.

At the other end of the scale (pun intended) was Paul Atkin’s his 16 mm scale tram loco. this operated via bluetooth remote control linked to an app on his smartphone.

In the reading room (ok – on a table!) was Dick Johnson’s copy of the second edition of “A Guide to Simplex Narrow Gauge Locomotives” by D.R. Hall and J.A.S Rowlands.

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February saw 12 of us make it to Moorfield Hall.

Dick Johnson brought along his layout. This showed some more work on the scenery. Dick ran a trio of Bachmann Baldwins. He also ran his Bachmann “Merddin Emrys” in ‘as built’ condition with a rake of the new Peco FR bug box coaches.

Hugh Freeman made a welcome return to the group, bringing his new OOn3 layout “Barrow Road”. This is based on the track plan at Wantage with track by Tillig.  Rolling stock was built from various Worsley Works kits, and many of the tram locos were powered by Rietze Automodelle chassis.  There was also a guest appearance an Italian Os.Kar. HOm Railcar. Barrow Road is actually half the layout, with the other half a HOm model. When the 2 are linked one forms the fiddle yard for the other.

Matthew Tozer brought along some of his Fox Valley Light Railway 009 stock. He also took the opportunity for an impromptu painting & weathering demonstration.

Peter Hardy had been busy building. First was a Dundas SLGR 2-6-2T on a modified Liliput 0-6-2 chassis. He also had built a new chassis for his Dundas Ffestiniog 2-4-0ST ‘Linda’. Both got a run on Peter’s test track, along with the latest from Steve Mann – a second Roco diesel on a Farish 03 chassis and a scratch built bogie flat wagon – and a recently purchased MinitrainS NS2f diesel from Geoff Harper.

Tim Williams’ 3D printer had been busy making a new pair of platform trucks for the Bryn Tegid incline, some Dinorwic slate wagons with redesigned axle boxes and printed wheel sets and a ‘what if’ bogie slate wagon with 3D printed body, bogies and wheel sets.

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Six made it to our January meeting. This was held online due to uncertainty over potential changes to COVID guidelines in England with the change of the year.

Mac Strong gave us an update on his current layout build. This is a museum/ preserved line for his collection of DCC diesel locos. With the aid of a plan drawn up with RailModeller Express he showed what tracks he had laid, what was left to done. We also discussed a few options with respect to sidings, their use and possible operating sequences.

Julien Webb showed his 3D printed Avonside 0-4-0T now with name and works plates from Narrow Planet. He also showed a long term project (one of many!) in the form of an N-Drive Productions Lily. This has been modified to raise the cab footplate level with the running plate and to fit a pony truck.

Andy Foster had managed to obtain some Ninelines Welshpool & Llanfair rolling stock kits and a Dundas L&B Van and there was some discussions as to how best to tackle them.

Charlie Forbes joined us from the East Midlands and showed us some bogie vans. Each van was made from a pair of Dapol Gunpowder vans. He also showed two stone buildings – a station building and a water tower with tank. These were built from Pop Up Designs kits and clad in Scale Model Scenery stone with their slate strips on the station roof. This lead on to discussions about making 4mm scale windows and how they could be 3D printed.

That discussion was very useful as Tim Williams was also online with us. Tim went on to show us the latest things from his 3D printers. The first was a bogie slate wagon that was entirely 3D printed (body, bogies and wheel sets). This was running on Bryn Tegid with other 3D printed stock. Haulage came from Tim’s models of Winifred (Brian Madge kit) and a recently overhauled Blanche (Dundas body on Ibertren chassis). Blanche is destined for a recovered 4 mm scale model of Port Penrhyn. The other model off the printer was a 16mm scale Fairbanks Morse speeder with printed chassis frame, wheels and gears. Tim also showed progress with the 2nd hand Maid Marion (another Brian Madge kit) where the running has been greatly improved by Tim’s fettling.

David Churchill was able to join us to show his latest build. This was a Darjeeling Himalaya 4 wheel van with corrugated roof from a 3D printed kit obtained from India. David was also working on some artwork for 1970s style DHR decals, and had been trying out his recently purchased Silhouette Portrait cutter by drawing up a coach side to cut out.

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Thirteen made it to Moorfield Hall for our December meeting under the new Plan B anti Covid measures.

Peter Hardy had brought along his test track and his latest projects. These were a railbus and PW lorry based on Cooper Craft kits. Also running was a variety of stock from Matthew Tozer. First,  Bachmann WHR 590 Baldwin in black. This hauled  A selection of 3D printed bogie and 4 wheel wagons built from Dundas kits. These were lettered for his Fox Valley Light Railway. There was also a 3D printed rail lorry and tram loco.  And a freelance 0-4-0ST running on a pre-White Box Bachmann 0-4-0. There were also some hopper wagons and open coach based on those that ran on the Guinness system in Dublin.

Peter’s test track  also played host to David Churchill’s 3D printed NDM6 diesel from the Merseyside & South West Lancashire Narrow Gauge Group running on a Kato 11-109 chassis. David also ran a tiny 4 wheel ARU models chassis imported from Japan, possibly destined for a 3D printed Soviet railcar body obtained by Blair Hobson.

Dick Johnson brought along the layout acquired from Hugh Freeman. This now has improved scenics in the form of a wooded area and waterfall with accompanying stream. This allowed the trio of Bachmann double Fairlies – Andy Foster’s “Earl of Merioneth” in green, John Walker’s “Livingstone Thompson” in Maroon and Dick’s own “Merddin Emrys” in ‘as built’ condition – to run. These were joined by Peter Hardy’s scratch-built double Fairlie “Hengist & Horsa”.

John Davis had been busy building 12 mm gauge stock. He showed us a tram from the Giant’s Causeway Tramway to 4 mm scale and a Corpet 2-6-0T ‘Ainse’ from the Baie du Somme in HO. These were joined by a vintage Eggerbahn 0-4-0T in need of a little TLC. Going up again in track gauge, and also scale(!) Will King brought along his latest project.  This was a Baguley McEwan Pratt ‘677’ 10HP Class 0-4-0PM chassis in 16mm scale using aluminium channel section and 3D printed wheels & jackshaft cranks.

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Fourteen made it to our November meeting at Moorfield Hall. We welcomed new members Matthew Tozer and Robert Griffiths, who had joined the Society at the recent GBMRS at Gaydon Motor Museum.

Peter Hardy brought along his oval test track that we haven’t seen for a while. On it ran Steve Mann’s Roco HOe diesel body on a Farish 04 chassis. Steve had started work on at the Gaydon show and the loco was nearing completion. Andy Foster’s latest Campbelltown & Macrihanish 0-6-2T from Fourdees streched its wheels. Star of the evening was one of the brand spanking new Bachmann Double Fairlies – Earl of Merioneth in 1960s green livery – that Ben Powell had managed to acquire. Based on the number of circuits it did the loco has no issues with 9″ radius curves on Peter’s test track!

Elsewhere in the hall Tim Williams had his ‘Circle Line’. On it was running a Brian Madge cabbed quarry Hunslet that Tim had recently acquired, but the running showed that it needed some fettling. Also running – wherever it liked! – was a battery powered 3D printed chassis for a SM32 Fairbanks-Morse speeder. This featured 3D printed frames, bevel gears and wheels.

Joseph Jacks bought along a rather nice work in progress diorama. This was based on the transhipment area on the Snailbeach & District Railway. It also featured some wagon chassis that Joseph had 3D printed.

Dick Johnson brought along the layout acquired from Hugh Freeman at the September meeting. This has sprouted a few more trees as part of its re-woking by Dick . On the evening it was running a variety of stock including, Dick’s powered snow plough and Andy Fosters C&M loco.

Paul Atkin has also brought along his layout, “Brende Lane’s End”. This ran a variety of stock during the evening, including a rather nice Peckett inspired pug bash on a Fleischmann 0-4-0 chassis.

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Twelve made it to Moorfield Hall for our October meeting.

Peter Hardy brought along his latest layout, a ‘lock down’ project called ‘Norton Heath’. This is based on the track plan drawn up by Angela Baker for ‘West Midford’ – the replacement for Bowleggett Manor that we never got around to building.

The tracks on Norton Heath saw quite a variety of stock durning the evening. Steve Mann ran a Bachmann Baldwin in WHR maroon livery, with a  second from Andy Foster in Snailbeach livery. This was hauling a nice pair of freelance bogie hopper wagons. There was also, a crowd of Kerr Stuarts and a plethora of Pecketts from Ben Powell, were joined by a Peckett Gamecock chassis built by Geoff Harper from the SRB kit. Even Peter’s own K1 Garratt got a look in, and there may well have been other things that ran that escaped my attention.

Elsewhere in the hall Tim Williams had his snow scene out on display.  This seems to have advanced since we last saw it, with snow covered bushes and debris from the snow ploughing added to the land around the railway line. Tim also had a new layout/test track called ‘The Circle Line’.  This saw a rake of Tim’s 3d printed slate wagons of various types. Motive power when i looked was by some of Will King’s locos. These were vertical and horizontal boiler deWintons, Bagnall inverted saddle tank and McEwan Pratt / Baguley 10 hp petrol loco. Also away from Norton Heath David Churchill had brought along two NDM6 diesel bodies for 009, one printed in India the other obtained through Narrow Gauge Railway Modelling Online.

There was also a selection of books and magazines to peruse.

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Fourteen made it to our return to Moorfield Hall in September for our first ‘real’ meeting since March 2020.

Tim Williams brought along his HOf layout, now christened “Malcolm & Forsythe’s Erratic Timber Supply Company and Forest Adventure Park”. During the course of the evening Tim demonstrated the Radio Control, and a charging system using dedicated track sections he hopes to incorporate into the layout. Tim also had some 3D printed models of the new Bala Lake Railway coaches.

Julien Webb brought along Xavier’s Creek and his 3D printed Avonside tank loco (David Malton via Shapeways), now with added electric lights and turbo generator.

Hugh Freeman brought along some 12 mm gauge stock to show. For 4 mm scale some Branchlines Clogher Valley stock and an old Tramalan Beyer Peacock tram loco, and a selection of French HOm wagons from REE Modeles. Hugh had also brought along a selection of surplus items that sold on for donations to group funds. This included a small French themed HOe layout snapped up by Dick Johnson.  This may well be seen at future group meetings after a move to Wales. This layout also saw a few things running on it during the meeting, including:

Some of Ben Powell’s locos, including his 0-4-0ST ‘Oakhill’ and 0-6-0 Sena Estates Peckett and a Kerr Stuart ‘Skylark’ – a Five79 kit on a Farish 08 with RT models conversion parts. These hauled trains of Ben’s industrial stock (009 Society 4 wheel wagons and Ben’s scratch built bogie flat wagons).

Steve Mann’s latest loco, a Farish 04 which he had fitted with a new 4mm scale cab, also had a run hauling Ben’s wagons.

John Davies had made a few purchases during lockdown. These included some rare American HO brass models, 5.5 mm scale stock and in OOn3 some vintage items from the Dai Bach Valley Railway. He had also built a 7 mm scale town hall, based on the Kibri HO kit, for a friend, constructed of salvaged materials (plywood , rocket sticks, cereal packets) and finished off with some polyfilla render and a finial turned on John’s new lathe.

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Five made it to our online August meeting.

Julien Webb had been working on a harbour office building for Xavier’s Creek, using the Wills Crossing Keepers Cottage as a start for his kit bashing. He had also been working on the Sierra Leone 2-6-2T.

Mac Strong had been working on his layout Beacon Point, re-wiring it for DCC operation in preparation for the Bournville Exhibition on the 28th August.

Tim Williams had converted one of his Busch diesel locos to radio control with an onboard battery for ‘Insulation Lumber’. The run time for the loco was about 25 minutes and Tim was working on a charging point that could be incorporated within the track plan to mitigate this. He had also been 3D printing some low resolution figures.

Charlie Forbes had been adding finishing touches to some of the things shown in previous months, painting the 3 car railcar set, Campbelltown & Macrihanish coaches and bogie diesel locos, and fitting interiors into the railcar units.

Seven made it to our online meeting in July, including Peter Ashby from Kent, and Lee Allen who has been absent for far too long!

It seems to have been a period where people have been away, as Julien Webb had just got back from a week in South Devon with a few days in Weymouth, and Peter had just got back from Wales. Despite this some modelling had been completed!

Peter Ashby showed us a new facing for the viaduct on his Dolgoch inspired layout that he’d been working on since getting back from holiday.

Charlie Forbes had been making further modifications to his Campbelltown & Macrihanish style 2-6-2T to enable it to sit lower on the chassis, and had also built one of the Society’s RNAD van kits to use as a luggage trailer for his railcars and finished it in a maroon livery. He had also put into service some ex- Brian Guilmant bogie tanker wagons bought from 009 Soc. Sales.

Tim Williams had been busy working on his HOf / OO6.5 layout ‘Insulation Lumber’, making good progress with the timber trestle bridge made from balsa wood, with steel tape under the track to provide extra adhesion for the Busch locomotives that seemed to be fine with hauling the 3D printed log carriers over the gradients. He was also working on building a servo controller for the point servos using a BBC Micro bit.

Tim had also recently rescued a large (12′ by 2′ 6″) 4 mm scale model of Port Penrhyn built by the late Peter Midwinter, part of a long term plan to restore it to running condition and exhibit it to promote the Bala railway or have it on display in the museum space at the Bala Railway.

Julien had managed to do a bit of model making whilst on holiday, and showed a Sierra Leone 2-6-2T built from the Dundas kit he had (mostly) soldered together to go on an outside frame, Farish 08 based 2-6-2 chassis he had commissioned from Ben Powell. Like Charlie, he had also bought some of Brian Guilmant’s Imperial Western Railway stock from 009 Sales, in this case 2 large bogie hopper wagons based on East Broad Top prototypes.

Work on Mac Strong’s second plank had progressed, being in the final stages of wiring. It will then be tested (in other words he will play trains for a while !) before being passed onto Paul Towers who he has built it for. Mac had also put a first coat of paint on his Merseyside & Southwest Lancs Group 3d printed Upnor Castle, and it’s Kato 109 chassis has been disassembled for a DCC chip to be fitted.

Ben Powell had unfortunately been in isolation as one of his daughters’ classmates tested positive for Covid-19. Whilst this meant he had to miss the Quarry Hunslet event at Statfold the extra modelling time gained resulted in building a small smithy and some much taller warehouses for his layout, and designing and building a magnetic coupling system using 2mm diameter Neodymium magnets glued onto a brass arm pivoted off the bogie pivot on his bogie flat wagons. This allowed him to propel the semi-fixed rakes through a crossover, 2 sets of facing points, and a 9″ reverse curve with no derailments, and shows that every cloud has a silver lining.

Ben was also investigating fitting an IRDot system to the layout to help him find trains amongst all the architecture, and how to combat the high temperatures in his attic workshop.

Whilst Lee Allen had been doing little model making he had managed visits to the Talyllyn and Welshpool lines, with Angela Baker, to make up for it. There was also a bit of discussion on a possible future dog bone layout built on 2 guitars joined at the neck.

That lead on to discussions of wearing kilts to aid ventilation in order to keep cool, and then on to miniature sets of bagpipes mounted on a Kata chassis along with a sound chip, and with the meeting rapidly heading down a surrealist rabbit hole it was (thankfully?) time to call a halt to proceedings.

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