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 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.

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.

Thursday, 1 August 2019

Creating Leaky Lock Gates Part 4

I have added some ripples below the leak in the lock gates, but they do not show up very well in the photo, but they are there.

Keith.

Wednesday, 31 July 2019

Creating Leaky Lock Gates Part 3

I dry brushed some white on the leak this morning.

Keith.

Tuesday, 30 July 2019

Creating Leaky Lock Gates Part 2

This morning I added a bit more "Water Effect" to the leaky lock gates.

This afternoon I added a bit of colour to the leak.

Keith.

Monday, 29 July 2019

Creating Leaky Lock Gates Part 1

Early stages of creating leaky lock gates using Woodland Scenics "Water Effect".

The first application.

As it sets it changes from white to clear.

I will have to do a few applications to get it right.

Keith.

Saturday, 20 July 2019

Canal Repairs part 2

2nd attempt at repairing the canal water effect this morning.

The crack in between the lock and the road bridge has virtually disappeared by doing another pour of resin.

As seen from the other side of the road bridge.

Top side of the lock is now topped up to the correct height.

The 2 cracks alongside the canal wharf are still visible despite a wash of resin over the top.

I will have to live with this as I cannot do a resin pour, as I have done below the lock, because of the close proximity of the waterlilies.

I have done a pour of resin the other side of the other road bridge as the timber was showing.

It isn't now.

The other side of the road bridge and the extent of the resin pour blended in.

Keith.

Friday, 19 July 2019

Canal Repairs part 1

First stage of repairing the canal water effect.

The 2 cracks alongside the canal wharf.

The crack below the lock and the water level in the lock itself has been topped up.

The top end of the canal lock has been topped up.

Almost a colour match but not quite, but as close as I will get.

Keith.

Sunday, 14 July 2019

Hearse

I now have a hearse to complete the funeral scene at the church.

Keith.

Saturday, 13 July 2019

Beetons Garage

Beetons Garage, classic car and Mini specialists, this is why there are many classic cars and Minis in Hadarford.

Keith.

Wednesday, 10 July 2019

New Loco Body

Yesterday I removed this loco body from its broken chassis, which I purchased on eBay whilst we were out cruising, and added it to the good chassis I had with a broken body.

Keith.

Wednesday, 12 June 2019

Hadarford Canal

Initially the pouring resin went well, pouring the resin into the canal.

Once dried most of it was okay. The reed and bulrush bank.

The tyre. The resin has gone a strange orange colour and not sure why.

The bicycle, traffic cone and floating log.

Some waterlilies above the lock.

Some more waterlilies at the canalside cottages.

Hadarford wharf.

Above the lock.

Unfortunately 3 cracks have appeared in the resin below the lock, these are 2 of them. We cannot work out why this has happened.

This is the 3rd crack below the lock. I am not sure what to do about this, will give it a lot of thought.

Also there was a leak in the lock, so the level has dropped, but also it has not turned the same colour as the rest.

Well at least I tried.

Keith.

Sunday, 2 June 2019

Final touches to the Canal

Final touches to the canal on Hadarford this morning.
The photos are 2 of the 3 fish-plates I added this morning to the rails on the concrete piling.
I also weathered the canal and lock walls so all is now ready for the resin pouring to create the water effect Monday.

Everything ready for creating the water effect in Hadarford's canal.
Pouring resin, catalyst, murky water tint, various sized buckets and stirring sticks.

Keith.

Friday, 17 May 2019

Working Boat Sign-Writing

This morning I applied the transfers to the two working boats to represent the sign-writing.

I commissioned Fox Transfers to create them for me.

I am rather pleased with the result.

Keith.

Monday, 6 May 2019

Repainted Carriages

For some time I have been thinking about the livery for my railway carriages, I wasn't happy with the continual cream across the guards end of the coaches. Today I repainted these ends crimson.

Apparently this was done to indicate to passengers which parts of the carriage they could enter or not enter.

Keith.

Friday, 19 April 2019

Road Steam Engines Part 3

Today I finished securing the Showman's engine and traction engine with chocks and chains to the trailer.

The Showman's engine secured.

The traction engine similarly secured.

The whole unit. I do need to paint the chains rusty to finish.

Keith.

Friday, 5 April 2019

Visitors to Hadarford

It was nice to have Beth & Lindsay from Australia come to see Hadarford this morning, they had been following this BLOG and are over here for a few months cruising on our canals.

Keith.