HADARFORD: October 2020

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.

Sunday 18 October 2020

CCTV

CCTV cameras installed around Hadarford.

Front of Beeton's Garage.

Rear of Beeton's Garage.

Station Hotel car park.

The Boat Inn car park and beer garden.

Keith

Footbridge over the Canal Part

Final touches to the access to the footbridge , weeds between the modified stone wall and new pavement.

Keith

Saturday 17 October 2020

People Painting Part 2

This morning I have been finishing off painting the seated passengers and have fixed some inside the private saloon, the local WI group have hired it for a trip.

Keith

Friday 16 October 2020

Distressed Loco Part 4

This afternoon I finished the distressed loco.

Dry brushed with rust coloured paint.

Various shades of rusty and green weathering powders applied.

Some static grass applied to finish.

Placed in it's home alongside the engine shed.

Keith

Thursday 15 October 2020

Distressed Loco Part 3

Rough coat of matt and gloss black and red buffer beams, ready for distressing tomorrow, when it has had a chance to dry overnight tonight.

Keith

Wednesday 14 October 2020

Distressed Loco Part 2

This afternoon I added the couplings, tank filler caps and the cylinders, which I discovered I did have after all, but I had thought they were the front truck, doh! 😳

Primer coat applied.

I just have to decided whether to give it a coat of black 1st then a coat of rust paint then weather it, or just paint all rust then weather it. Decisions, decisions 🤔

Distressed Loco

A lot earlier in the year I purchased this partially built Baldwin Class 10-12-D and recently started to look at what I could do with it. the 1st photo is all the bits supplied.

Unfortunately the wheels on the supplied chassis does not suit the loco and there were no piston cylinders with it.

I have been thinking about what to do with it, so this morning I started on building it as a disused loco to sit forlornly near the engine shed, going rusty and overgrown with weeds.

I removed the wheels and electric motor from the chassis and glued the chassis to the bodywork. I also fitted the front of the footplate.

I fitted a card floor to the cab to cover the hole where the electric motor came into the cab.

I then glued the rear and cab sides onto the floor.

I have formed a new card roof as the original white metal one does not fit correctly and it was easier to make a new one rather than butchering the original and will fit this after priming and painting the cab interior.

Keith

Sunday 11 October 2020

People Painting

My pet hate!

People painting.

As it takes a lot of concentration this is enough for today.

This could take a few days.

Keith

Saturday 10 October 2020

Footbridge over the Canal Part 6

Final finishing touches to the footbridge.

A piece of H section used as a support for the footbridge.

A name plaque added.

Keith

Friday 9 October 2020

Footbridge over the Canal Part 5

I wasn't happy with only the top edge of the footbridge painted white, so this morning I painted the bottom edge and uprights white, which now looks a lot better.

For those wondering why the steps were not just take straight up and through the wall between the 2 bridges, the drone view shows that the road is very narrow and no room for a footpath, with both pavements lying outside of the bridge dimension.

Thursday 8 October 2020

Footbridge over the Canal Part 4

Footbridge painted.

Steel plate covering the joint between the bridge and the pavement.

Keith

Footbridge over the Canal Part 3

Short section of stone wall cut down in length and angled, original short section of pavement removed and new longer section of pavement fitted up to the footbridge.

Footbridge now primered ready for top coating this afternoon.

Keith

Wednesday 7 October 2020

Footbridge over the Canal Part 2

This evening I constructed the new footbridge and have placed it temporarily in place to see how it looks.

I need to paint it and work out how to finish off the left end where it joins the land.

Keith

Tuesday 6 October 2020

Converting the Interior of the 'Private' Observation Saloon Coach Part 2

Armchairs painted and fitted to the interior of the 'Private' Observation Saloon coach.

I just need to paint some seated passengers and install them to completed this conversion.

Keith

Monday 5 October 2020

Footbridge over the Canal

For some time now I have concerned that is is no direct pedestrian access from Hadarford Wharf to the village. Friday I received in the post a footbridge kit which I am going to kitbash and fit across the face of the canal bridge on the wharf side. Slow steps so I don't overdo it and upset my back again as it almost completely settled down, but I just keen to get back to it.

The canal bridge against which I will be building the footbridge.

After much measuring and calculating I have decided to go for it, the start is to remove this short section of stone wall.

Short section of stone wall removed.

Top section of the bridge sidewall removed.

At least with what I have done so far has proved it will work.

Keith