Bron Effans

I have completed the paintwork on the new GWR Buffet car. It has turned out very well and I am pleased with how I have managed to relivery something without wrecking it.  I still need to find some suitable lettering to bestow this carriage it's proper GWR credentials. It will be added to trains during summer running as additional coaching stock of high season trains.  I am envisaging running a rake with this carriage included alongside the WHR set with the Pullman Dulas. The rolling stock rota still needs some work.

After my delight and glee with the Lynton and Barnstaple carriages I was bitten by a bug to obtain some more for the layout, just because I could. My rationale for this was in anticipation of an exhibition that I was due to attend, which was unfortunately cancelled due to the Covid-19 outbreak. Anyhoo, I preferred the look of the Southern liveried carriages and, as such, I purchased an observation carriage and a new brake carriage for the newly titled "Southern" rake. I decided in lieu of realism I would posit that these carriages have been especially built for the railway as part of a preservation movement initiative.  A rake such as this will come in very handy when I just want some trouble free running on the line as they work exceptionally well with all of my other stock.

After the recent success with the construction of the interior of 2080, I decided that I would have a go at scratchbuilding a locomotive to fit on one of my spare Kato chassis. I had a browse of  a well known auction site and found an A1 models brass kit that represented a Funkey diesel. I bought it without even thinking and set about deciding how I was going to build it. I wanted to adapt the kit to move the cab further towards the front of the running plate so that it represented a smaller version of Castell Caernarfon.    The kit can with a styrene running board, which did not need any adaptation to fit on either of the chassis. I chose the one on the left as the basis for this new diesel and set to work. I cut a recess into the rear of the cab to allow for the motor to remain unobstructed.  The bonnet was constructed from 40 thou thick styrene to give the structure some substance and added the brass radiator grill from the kit. If it isn't b...

I found myself a real bargain the other day in the form of a RTR brake coach in Southern Green to compliment the composite coach. I was a little downhearted when I realised that it was missing the footboards and the rear window of the guard's compartment. I considered sending it back. However, it was the start of the 'Lockdown' to combat the Covid-19 virus. I thought that I would take advantage of a time of crisis and alter this carriage to become a First Class Saloon Car for one of my rakes.  I began by removing all of the Southern detailing and spraying it in black to give it a solid base. I also spruced up the interior to emulate the interior of a Pullman carriage.  The exterior was given a coat of the same livery as 'Dulas' the Pullman carriage on the WHR rake. I removed the windows and the duckets on the guard's compartment. It is looking very promising. There are some issues that I need to fix with regards to my sloppy paint...

Progress on the third Fletcher Jennings locomotive is gathering pace. The conversion to a real-life example has proven to be my favourite to date. The green has turned up really well and I have been waiting on the shapeways smokebox to complete the look of the locomotive.  Im not really familiar with 3D printed materials, except the Budget Model railways kits, which are usually solid plastic. This transparent example threw me at first but it already adds a good level of detail to model that I am really happy with. The plan over the next few days is to line the engine and I am looking forward to maybe purchasing a new one to form a replacement for the model of Glyn should it fail in future.

I was gifted a Bachmann Skarloey, for my birthday, and I wanted to do a conversion that was unlike any of the other locomotives on the layout. I decided that it was time I added a green locomotive to the passenger fleet. I decided that Skarloey would benefit from a GWR green colour. I decided to go with this instead of BR Green as I have rolling stock in that colour and felt that the Locomotive needed to stand out from the stock a little bit more.  I started by taking his face off and removing the old lining from the bodyshell.  I basecoated it in my usual style with Games Workshop green paint. Once that was dry I began to start the layering process with the GWR enamel green paint.  I need to order a new smokebox door for the model and finish off the details on the sides. The new locomotive will need a name, but for now it will be known as Fletcher No. 3.  On a side note, I am tempted to purchase another Skarloey model to make as a replacement fo...

I have had another go at the backscene, after making a mess of it with the mod-rock on the scenic background. It was a terrible mess after I had sploshed plaster water everywhere. I was planning on adding to the backscene anyway but a new coat of paint was essential. Especially after the scenic work. I started with a white base and then made use of some blue poster paint to complete the blue look of the background. I dont intend to add much more detail to this, as my artistic skills are severely lacking.