I prepared and glued in place this section of fencing alongside the car park.
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. One 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
This is a full record of the building of the original layout, and having moved into a flat in Warwick and sold our narrowboat, this will now cover the building of the New Hadarford in our flat.
Please feel free to leave comments, I am always interested in suggestions or questions.
Sunday, 19 April 2026
Car Park Fencing, Stone Pillar and Stone Wall
Saturday, 18 April 2026
Castle Mound Part 23 and Level Crossing Part 4
I glued the castle ruins onto the castle mound.
Keith
Friday, 17 April 2026
Pavements and Level Crossing Part 3
Various tasks done today, weathering, gluing, painting and a new arrival.
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| Which weathering powder should I use? I have a good range to choose from. |
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| Cobblestone floor for the castle tower weathered and glued in the tower. |
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| Yorkstone paving weathered. |
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| Bank, photographers' shop and pedestrian access steps to the castle glued in place. |
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| Centre wood planks of the level crossing brush painted with primer, I also sprayed the access ramps for the level crossing with primer (but forgot to take a photo!😕) |
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| This model of Harold's Larder arrived today. |
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| It will complete the row of buildings at the rear of the layout, I need 2 half-relief buildings to fill the gap to finish, I just have to wait for them to come up on eBay, at the right price! |
Keith
Thursday, 16 April 2026
Pavements and Level Crossing Part 2
First piece of pavement now glued in place on the baseboard.
Keith
Wednesday, 15 April 2026
Pavements and Level Crossing
Creating pavements in front of the bank and photographers shop, and Yorkstone paving under the castle mound pedestrian access steps, all ready for gluing in place.
Keith
Tuesday, 14 April 2026
Castle Mound Part 23
Sunday, 12 April 2026
Castle Mound Part 22
Saturday, 11 April 2026
Castle Mound Part 21
I have been busy this afternoon, painting with brown paint, working out paving area underneath the steps up to the castle mound and car park surface glued down.
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| The ground around the track now painted brown |
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| Piece of Yorkstone paving in place |
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| With the steps and photographers in place, I need to decide how to proceed further with the paving, there are a number of options buzzing around my brain! |
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| Car park and access road glued in place |
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| Starting to take shape |
Keith
Friday, 10 April 2026
Castle Mound Part 20
This morning's effort at painting the piece of stone wall alongside the car park access slope sees it fully painted in one go, two shades of grey for the stones, red coping stones and wooden post. 😊
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| Polyfilla applied to the castle mound where needed |
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| Castle mound and road embankment painted brown |
Keith
Thursday, 9 April 2026
Castle Mound Part 19
Having laid out the castle mound car park yesterday, I wasn't very happy with the rather prominent 'hump' in the access road to the car park from the main road.
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| I marked up a level slope |
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| Then cut away the offending hump |
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| The hump |
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| I made a new piece of stone wall to border the access road |
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| I attached a post to the upper end |
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| I sprayed the wall with primer |
Keith


















































