HADARFORD

From when my Parents gave me my first train set for a Christmas present as a child, I have had an interest in model railways. I originally started in "OO" gauge, but have also built in "N" and "O" gauge. The last layout I built was my exhibition layout "Holmehurst" which was in "O" gauge, and I exhibited it around the country. Photos of it can be seen by following this link.

I inherited some "OO9" rolling stock from my late father, including a loco I built from a white metal kit for him, and ever since living on our working narrowboat Hadar I have been thinking about building a "OO9" layout.

For those who do not know, "OO9" is "OO" scale, which is 4mm to 1ft, but the track and rolling stock are narrow gauge, equivalent to 2ft gauge in real life. Modelling-wise this means that I can used standard "OO" scale buildings, people, scenery etc. of which there is a far greater range of ready built items and kits to choose from, but it has the advantage that the reduced size of the track and rolling stock means that curves can be tighter than for standard gauge, without losing a realistic look within a restricted layout size.

I had thought about building a layout in our garden alongside our mooring at the Saltisford Canal Centre, but after much thought decided that this would not be practical. However I built a small layout (now dismantled) which sat on the shelf above the display cabinet, in our saloon, which houses my "O" gauge rolling stock. Having finished it, my wife Jo suggested that when we stop selling coal I could build a layout in the hold. As we stopped selling coal at the end of 2016, I am now building the layout. This will be an ongoing record of the building of this layout.

Please feel free to leave comments, I am always interested in suggestions or questions.

Sunday, 27 September 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 20

Final work on the retaining wall section by adding all sorts of weeds, brush, undergrowth etc.

Keith

Friday, 18 September 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 19

3 benches added to the ruins scene.

Keith

Birthday Presents

Birthday presents from my wonderful wife, a living van and MGTC to add to Hadarford.

Some different combinations with the new living van.

Keith

Thursday, 17 September 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 18

Final piece of static grass laid along the front edge of the newly created scenic section.

Keith.

Sunday, 13 September 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 17

Gradually adding more detail to the ruins area.

And the permanent way area.

Keith

Saturday, 12 September 2020

New Lighting

New lighting fitted today, above my workbench.

And under the crossbeam, which created a shadow on the layout from the ceiling lights.

Keith

Thursday, 10 September 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 16

Adding detail to the ruins area.

Keith

Hadarford in Railway Modeller Magazine

Hadarford has made it into October's issue of Railway Modeller.

It has been a dream of mine, since I bought my 1st issue over 50 years ago, that I could get a layout of mine into it's pages.

Keith

Wednesday, 9 September 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 15

This morning I applied the static grass on the new section of baseboard.

Applying the base glue by brush.

Using the applicator to sprinkle the grass on the glued area.

Applying the layering spray glue.

Whole area taking shape.

The ruined wall fixed in place.

Keith

Monday, 7 September 2020

Permanent Way Depot Part 2

Permanent Way depot buildings and bunkers fixed in place and ground cover laid, it looks patchy in colour but will change when the glue has dried, possibly, maybe.

Keith

Sunday, 6 September 2020

Permanent Way Depot

The 6 huts plus the coal and ballast bunkers that are the start of the permanent way depot.

Keith

Permanent Way Depot Huts

Painting day today, 5 huts repainted and glazed, I attached brick paper to the 3 chimneys.

These will be apart of the small Permanent Way depot on them corner below the retaining wall.

Keith

Saturday, 5 September 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 14

Planning stage of the new baseboard and small trackside permanent way depot.

Keith

Wednesday, 2 September 2020

Other End of the Fiddle-Yard

Having used only half of the bridge kit, I have been thinking about using some of the rest of it at the other end of the fiddle-yard.

This morning I set about building it, reduced in height to fit under the shelf, and with shortened side walls.

Keith

Monday, 31 August 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 13

This morning I assembled a side wall.

This afternoon scratch-built the sloping side wall for the bridge just to finish it off..

Keith

Saturday, 29 August 2020

Small Guards Van and Short, Bogied Coach Part 4

Transfers applied to the guards van.

Transfers also applied to the short bogie coach.

Keith

Friday, 28 August 2020

Small Guards Van and Short, Bogied Coach Part 3

The nearly completed coach and guards van, they just need some transfers to complete.

Keith

Thursday, 27 August 2020

Small Guards Van and Short, Bogied Coach Part 2

This morning I applied the glue to the ballast, so whilst waiting for it to dry I painted the short bogie coach and guards van.

Keith

Wednesday, 26 August 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 12

It has taken all day today to lay the ballast.

Using the handle of a teaspoon to shovel the ballast onto and alongside the track.

Using a small paintbrush to move the ballast into place.

The completed corner section.

The main section.

Up to the bridge at the fiddle-yard.

I will be gluing it tomorrow.

Keith

Tuesday, 25 August 2020

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 11

With the retaining walls fixed in place this morning, this afternoon I replaced the Superquick brick papers on the front of the layout with the Metcalfe cards, which now match the retaining walls.

Keith

Non-Scenic Section of Layout to Become Scenic Part 10

Just one of the difficulties of building a model railway on a narrowboat, the new retaining wall is along the hull side, and due to the tumbledown of the hull sides I have had to create this spacers to go on the backs of the wall sections.

Having created them and glued them to the backs of each section.

I have now glued all the retaining wall in place.

Keith.