Bron Effans

 After the successes with the coaches, I decided that it was high time that the fourth Fletcher Jennings locomotive was given some attention. I had been soaking it in strip-magic, primed it and then left it whilst I focussed on the coaches. I know that nowhere had a fourth Fletcher but I think that my railway would benefit from a third of these amazing looking machines.  I planned to attempt to recreate the Penrhyn livery. I wanted to try reverse masking and this was the perfect opportunity to give it a go. I masked up the boiler and the sides of the cab.  As you can see the results look pretty good. I have actually accidentally created a version of the Lancashire and Yorkshire livery. I still need to work on the running plate and cylinders to make them match the work that I have done so far.  I have taken all the masking tape off the locomotive and it looks well for my first attempt at reverse-masking. I plan to paint the running board black and the cylinders to mat...

I decided that, with the lockdown taking effect, it was time to bite the bullet and begin the construction of a locomotive using the spare Graham Farish Prairie tank locomotive. I was in two minds whether to purchase a Roxey Mouldings 'Troodos' locomotive kit or a Rodney Stenning Manning Wardle locomotive kit.  I decided on the Manning Wardle over the other kit because I was not sure whether it would actually be in gauge on my line and, deep down, I have always really wanted a Manning Wardle locomotive for my railway.  The kit itself was very straightforward and only required subtle alteration to fit the chassis.  I added some additional details to the loco using brass rod to form the handrails and the steam pips that proliferate the sides of this locomotive.  I built a backhead for the boiler using plasticard and various other odds and ends to imitate the look and feel of a working cab. I must confess I did make ...

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...

The conversion of the Bachmann Rheanas has come on in leaps and bounds with the removal of the original chimney and the replacement of a more authentic looking chimney.  Rheanas looking rather bald.  Removing the chimney took a great deal of effort which required me to invest in some needle files to remove the spare material from the base of the chimney.  Once the smokebox was added I decided to keep the original cab from Rheanas and began the process of basecoating the locomotive. Presented in the basecoat ready for the delivery of the paint for the final coat. I am in the process of procuring a new shade of red paint for the locomotive that will set it apart from the other red locomotives in the fleet. I have LMS Crimson Lake in mind which would set it apart from the Indian Red I have favoured thus far. Time will tell.

I have been toying with the idea of purchasing a Rheanas model and converting it for some time, when I happened upon a GEM kit model of Dolgoch that had been built by someone else. There was nothing cosmetically wrong with the model and it would only need a little bit of TLC on the connecting rods, as the lower ones were missing.  I was very fortunate to get hold of this locomotive and have taken delivery. I must say that the finish of this model is something that I aspire to. I am going to need to give some thought to the mechanics of the locomotive as, it doesn't look fully right. I am not a rivet counter, but I want it to look as correct as possible. I may purchase a new chassis for this model and possibly alter it slightly in future but for now the phrase "If it ain't broke..." applies to this locomotive.