15 attended our January meting.
Dick Johnson’s Tren Bach saw Dick’s Quarry Hunslet ‘Holy War’ pulling a rake of Peco special edition vans (Pic001). He also ran the Purple Moose train seen at the last meeting (Pic002). Maybe it’s awaiting the addition of a beer tent on the layout, perhaps? These joined a train of Egger stock from Ian Willetts (Pic003) that he had lightly re-worked and repainted in a Ford red.
David Wilcox brought ‘Dolserau’ along (Pic004). This has gained a few vehicles including the RAF St. Athan mountain rescue team (Pic005). These are based on David’s childhood memories. Amongst the usual selection of David’s stock was a rather nice Knightwing based loco running on a HST chassis (Pic006)
Peter Hardy had built a new bogie break coach. This uses parts from the Dundas Model kit (Pic007). Peter has painted it to match the 4 wheel coaches built from Colin Ashby parts. These looked rather nice behind “Hobgoblin” (a Bagnall 0-6-2 by Paul Windle – Pic008.jpg) . The train also ran with Peter’s O&K contractor’s loco (Mosskito kit on Fleischmann chassis with Tramfabriek motor – Pic009.jpg)
Adrian Hall spent the evening working on some HO scale buildings (Pic011.jpg and Pic012.jpg). These are being restored from a job lot as part of a larger layout project. Sharing the table was Mike Bartleet. He was building some On30 stock (Pic013 & 014) based on those that ran on the Huntsville & Lake Of Bays railway in Canada.
Someone else taking the time to work on some projects was Dave Marriott, who was working on some laser cut plywood servo mounts from Megapoints (Pic015).
A layout making its debut at the meeting was Rob Taylor’s 1st layout (Pic016). This wintery scene consists of an oval of track with the tunnel mouths made from Das clay. The rest of the scenery made up of polystyrene and papier–mâché. The Bachmann ‘Holy War’ and train of 2023 Christmas van and WHR 590 van (both Peco special editions) looked well at home (pic017).
Neil Davis brought along one of the new O-16,5 L&B brake coaches from Lionheart – and very nice it looked too! (Pic018).
Alec Matthews brought along a new work in progress layout. “Darjeelish” is loosely based on the Darjeeling & Himalaya with small cameo scenes from the line (pic019). To go with the new layout Alec has been printing some updated DHR stock. These included a semi-open milk van, some vans to fit the Peco 10′ and 15′ N scale chassis and Tindharia shunters truck. There was also a DHR version of his ‘Yorkshire’ 4 wheel diesel (Pic020) shown with his Vale of Rheidol timber truck and V of R (ex-Plynlimon & Hafan) Bagnall flat wagon. He had also been working on more Vale of Rheidol stock in the form of a loco coal wagon and ex-Plynlimon & Hafan Bagnall open wagon (Pic021).
Joseph Jacks’ Kerr Stuart Skylark made a visit to Darjeelish on a test run after having the body lowered onto the chassis slightly. In the company of a Peco L&B bogie coach and one of Alec’s DHR wagons it looked the part (Pic022).