Last Major Landscaping

Having shaped the churchyard, this now completes all the landscaping of the insulation foam.

Keith.

Lower Lock Landing, etc.

Today I constructed the lower lock landing, Hadar awaiting the lock on the lock landing.

I laid the Yorkstone patio for Jo’s Tea Rooms.

I have now fixed in place the 4 treadways under the lock gate balance beams and started to fill in around them, but I need to let this dry before doing some more.

I have painted the landscaping at the farm, farm road and tunnel area.

I also painted the the the 2 new pieces of landscape at the other end of the layout.

Keith.

Lock Beam Tread Bricks & Canal Bed.

Today I glued the bricks to the simulated concrete for the treadway under the balance beams for the lock gates.

Then I used plaster to form the canal bed above the lock.

Keith.

Primering and Final Landscaping.

Shopping this morning meant a delayed start today. I have though primered with red oxide the canal lock approach walls and the lock landing.

I have fixed the towpath under the bridge and the towpath ramp, and primered both and the remaining retaining walls around both bridges.

The other end of the towpath under the bridge.

I have prepared the lock beam tread areas for attaching the raised bricks which I have cut ready.

Finally I have prepared the last pieces of landscaping, I will glue them down tomorrow.

Keith.

Towpath Ramp.

Towpath ramp and back wall constructed, but not fixed in place. The ramp has the raised bricks for the horses hooves to grip.

Keith.

Canal Lock Details

Not much progress today, due to having to take the radiator out of our shower room so it can be painted, and a trip to our local hardware shop for some plaster to use on the layout.

After lunch I started to tackle the detail around the lock.

I have decided to create concrete balance beam tread areas, which will have bricks added for the foot grips, along with the ground paddles at the top gates.

Bottom gates tread areas.

I have also started to create the towpath ramp from under the bridge up to the lock-side.

Keith.

Lock Landing

this morning I had fully intended to be a “navvie” to dig out the canal above the lock. However, I suddenly realised that I had not constructed the lock landing area above the lock!

For those who do not know about canals, a lock landing is a section of some form of wall where boats can tie up temporarily to be able to leave it there and to go to the lock to prepare it to go into it.

This is the now constructed lock landing.

Hadar patiently waiting on the lock landing for the 2 working boats to exit the lock.

Keith.

Village Roads and Car Parks.

All the village roads and car park areas are now cut to shape ready to be glued down.

The village hall and church car park area.

Village shops roads.

Post Office, general stores etc. area.

The Boat Inn car park.

Keith.

Upper Lock Entrance

This afternoon I constructed the upper lock entrance.

Keith.

Yorkstone Paving.

The start of some of the finishing touches. the residents of Hadarford obviously favour Yorkstone paving.

The under building entrance to the Boat Inn.

The backyard of the hair salon.

The bus shelter and telephone kiosk area.

The passageway between the cottages and the general store.

The under building entrance and backyard of the chemists.

The entrance to the butchers has some red floor tiles.

So does Jo’s tea rooms.

Keith.

Village Pavements

Not a good start this morning. One of the points on the layout has failed and I have had to remove it and ordered a replacement.

This afternoon I have been cutting and placing the pavements in the village.

They need fixing in place, but I will leave that for now as I have to cut and fit the road surface to replace the temporary ones.

Outside the bakery and newsagent.

In front of the chemist and in front of and alongside the butchers.

In front of the Post Office, cottages and in front of and alongside the general stores.

Opposite the general stores and behind and alongside the lock keepers cottage.

At the junction of the 2 roads opposite The Boat Inn.

Alongside Jo’s Tea Rooms.

The new road surface across the two bridges. The temporary black road surfaces will be replaced with further red road surface, and once all fixed in place the roads will be painted black.

Keith.

Baggage Van

Received this baggage van in the post this morning. Another eBay bargain.

Keith.

2 New Purchases

These arrived in the post this morning.

A Baldwin 4-6-0 engine and 2 special edition “Bure Valley Railway” wagons.

This photo is of the new engine behind the kit one I built for my late father about 30 years ago.

Quite a difference especially in the size of the motor, which in the original one extends into the cab area, whereas the new one you cannot see the motor at all!

Keith.

Filler and Painting

This morning was spent using filler to fill all the gaps in the landscape.

This afternoon I painted the brickwork of the canal lock and the approach walls.

The painted brickwork of the canal wharf wall.

The painted brickwork underneath the canal bridge.

I also painted the tunnel portal, fixed in in place and filled in the gaps around it.

Keith.

3rd and Final Phase of Landscaping and Further Lock Chamber Construction.

The 3rd and final phase of landscaping is almost complete in the village and canal lock area. I just need to add a small fillet along the front edge adjacent to the railway track, but I need to wait for the glue to set on the rest before doing that. I will also need to do some final shaping once I have added the fillets and they have set.

The whole village and lock area.

The church area.

I have also made and fitted the lower lock entrance walls, underneath the bridge.

As seen from the canal wharf.

The lower lock entrance on the towpath side, as seen from the lock.

The lower lock entrance on the opposite side to the towpath.

Keith.