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 have now built the layout. This is now a full record of the building of this layout and any new additions along the way.

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

Thursday 28 February 2019

Painting Railway Carriages Part 5

1st coat of Crimson on one side of the carriages, 2nd coat of crimson on the duckets, and 2 coats of grey on the roofs.

Keith.

Wednesday 27 February 2019

Painting Railway Carriages Part 4

Good progress with the carriage painting today. 1st coat of cream bands on the carriage sides. The compartment interiors have wood paint on the floors and walls, and green seat cushions. 1st coat of crimson on the duckets.

Keith.

Painting Railway Carriages Part 3

Short video of painting one of the railway carriages. 

Keith.

Tuesday 26 February 2019

Painting Railway Carriages Part 2

All the coaches primered.

Keith.

Painting Railway Carriages Part 1

All my railway carriages stripped down ready for painting in their new livery.

Keith.

Monday 25 February 2019

Loading Gauge

Today I also painted the loading gauge, which is now temporarily on the layout.
I say temporarily because as it is at the front of the layout, I will have to remove it to work on the landscaping behind it so I don't break it like I did with the last one!

Keith.

Painting Animals Part 3

This morning I finished painting the donkey.


The donkey in the field with the cattle.


This afternoon I painted the 3 border collies.


Fun time in the farmhouse garden with the farmers wife.


In dry-brushing the donkey I had reduced the glossy look to his eyes, so I have repainted them.



Keith.

Sunday 24 February 2019

Painting Animals Part 2

This afternoon I added a bridal to the black horse and dry-brushed the bay, which looks a lot better.


The 2 horses outside their stables.


I have also painted the 2 pigs.


The Friesian cattle in their field.  

Keith.

Painting Animals Part 1

Part of getting Hadar ready to set off on our Spring/Summer cruise we have had to put 12 bags of coal in the railway room.
this means it is stacked in front of the layout and access is restricted for the time being.
This means I am now catching up on some much needed painting which I can do sat in my armchair in the saloon.
Yesterday I painted the 6 bicycles. 2 of them are parked in the bike stand behind the gents toilets at the station, with a newly painted pillar box and waste bin. I have painted all 9 waste bins black (Warwick District Council colours) and distributed them around the layout.


I have this morning finished painting the Friesian cows and bull. He is the big fella at the front.


I have also this morning painted the 2 horses, unfortunately the bay does not look as good as I would like, I may have to do some further work on it. It looks too painted!

Keith.

Wednesday 20 February 2019

Spring/Summer Cruise

With only 17 days till we set off on our Spring/Summer cruise, we have lots of sorting out to do, so no more work on Hadarford for a while, just in case you think I have forgotten to post about it.
Keith.

Tuesday 19 February 2019

Brick Built Barbecue for the Pub.

Today I built and painted a brick barbecue for the pub's beer garden, all made from scrap pieces.
The 3 main components. The main barbecue area, the table extension and it's York-stone table top.
 I had to glue 2 sections of brickwork back-to-back to get brick detail on both sides of the 3 side walls.


The 3 main components glued together with the added support bricks to support the grill, charcoal tray and the York-stone side table.
I have also made the grill from 2 printed on paper drain covers glued onto a scrap piece of glazing material.
Also the charcoal tray is just a piece of plastic painted black.


The completed barbecue.



The completed barbecue in the pub's beer garden.

Keith.

Monday 18 February 2019

Farmhouse and Workers Cottages Garden Paths Part 3

The glue has set and I have vacuumed off the excess material.


Keith.

Farmhouse and Workers Cottages Garden Paths Part 2

This afternoon I added the brick edging for the paths for the 2 farm workers cottages.


Then I glued the path material in place, just waiting for the glue to set.

Keith.

Farmhouse and Workers Cottages Garden Paths Part 1

This morning I have been cutting and fixing in place the brick edges for the farmhouse garden paths.


Even behind the garage.

Keith.

Sunday 17 February 2019

Pub Access Ramp

This afternoon I constructed a ramp from the pub car park down to the beer garden, and it's accompanying brick walls.

Keith.

Farm Worker Cottages Privies

This morning I constructed the 2 privies for the farm workers cottages.


I then painted them.


In position at the end of the farm worker cottages gardens.






Lock Keepers Cottage Garden.

This morning I constructed the lock keepers cottage garden, mostly concrete, but with a raised flowerbed.


I then painted it.


Added the earth in the flowerbed.


Located alongside and behind the lock keepers cottage.

Keith.

Saturday 16 February 2019

I made a set of York-stone steps from Hadarford Lodge to the summerhouse.



I have also added a path behind the long cottage from the conservatory, to the model railway shed.



I have also finished the path at the small cottage to the garden shed.

Keith.

Tied Up at the Wharf.

Today I made a T stud for President, and tied the bow to the wharf.


I also added a pair of Dollies to Presidents stern, and tied that to the wharf, along with the bow of Hadar.


Hadars stern tied to the wharf.

Keith.

Friday 15 February 2019

New Door Part 2

The new door that we hung Wednesday now has a Yale lock and hasp & staple and padlock. 
It can also be secured back against the wall with a hook into the staple above the Yale lock.
Draught excluder also fitted.

Keith.

Wednesday 13 February 2019

Engine Shed Access Road Part 3, Maintenance Yard and Garage Compound

Having left the 2nd coat of surface for the engine shed access road, the maintenance area and the garage compound overnight for the glue to set, I have tonight removed the excess material.




New Door

Today Jo and I hung the new door that Lesley has made for us. Still have to add the locks, etc.

Keith.