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.

Saturday, 19 October 2019

Static Grass Part 14

Yesterday evening I applied some static grass to the penultimate area.

Early this morning I vacuumed up the excess and applied more grass in the bare patches.

Just before lunch I replaced all the trees.

Keith.

Friday, 18 October 2019

Static Grass Part 13

Today I replaced some of the trees, on the next section for static grass, with matchsticks all labelled so every tree can be returned to the correct hole in the scenery, 76 trees in all.

The trees laid out on another section of the layout, each labelled to match the corresponding matchsticks.

Keith.

Flowerbeds Part 4

The start of flowerbeds for Hadarford Lodge.

Also for the Long Cottage

Keith.

Thursday, 17 October 2019

Vegetable Patch Part 1

Yesterday I started to create the 1st vegetable patch area for one of the canalside cottages.

Keith.

Wednesday, 16 October 2019

Flowerbeds Part 3

Firstly I have added more grass to the lawns of the 2 canalside cottages.

I have also added earth in the flowerbeds of the 2nd canalside cottage.

Keith.

Monday, 14 October 2019

Flowerbeds Part 2

I have added some sunflowers to the 1st flowerbed.

Keith.

Flowerbeds Part 1

Today I have made a 1st attempt on some flowerbeds, this was the 1st one for one of the canalside cottages.

2nd flowerbed added to the same cottage.

Keith.

Sunday, 13 October 2019

Garden Paths and Drives

Today I have been resurfacing various garden paths and drives to improve them.

The farmhouse and workers cottages area with buildings removed before improvements.

Improved paths.

The long cottage removed before improvements.

New paths for long cottage.

Hadarford Lodge removed before path improvements.

Improved paths for Hadarford Lodge.

Keith.

Thursday, 5 September 2019

Changes to Road Markings

Ever since I painted the road markings I have never been happy with them in the village.

This was the original markings with an unequal space either side at the parking bay.

Today I added some new markings equidistant between the parking bay and the stone wall.

Then I removed the original markings, much happier now.

Keith.

Gorse Bushes and Brambles

This morning I have started to add some gorse bushes and brambles behind the station buildings.

I have also added some brambles behind the platform end up to the maintenance yard entrance.

Keith.

Wednesday, 4 September 2019

Static Grass Part 14

This morning I have added some 4mm grass to the 2mm grass that I did yesterday.

However I have been struggling to photograph it, it must be camera shy!

Keith.

Tuesday, 3 September 2019

Static Grass Part 13

This afternoon I have put down another section of static grass behind the station buildings.

Right up to the maintenance yard entrance.

Keith.

Sunday, 1 September 2019

Farmyard Grass.

Today I have added some static grass around the farmyard.

Behind the 2 barns.

Behind the dutch barn.

Keith.

Saturday, 31 August 2019

Cow Field Part 2

Cow field grassed.

Cows added.

It is not evident in the photo but the daisies has worked as I had hoped, there is just a hint of them, you have to look very closely though!

Keith.

Cow Field Part 1

Back on track today. Yesterday I took the bus into Daventry to buy a new 12v vacuum cleaner to replace the broken one, so I am now able to continue with the static grass.

This is an experiment, I have glued down some patches of hopefully what will represent daisies in the cow field before applying the static grass. Will be interesting to see if this works.

Keith.

Wednesday, 21 August 2019

Seated Passengers Part 2

This morning I completed fixing the newly painted seated passengers in the toast rack carriages.

Keith.

Tuesday, 20 August 2019

Seated Passengers.

It is difficult to see them, but I have fixed some of the seated passengers I have been painting over the last couple of days inside these carriages, but I know they are in there.

Keith.

Monday, 19 August 2019

People Painting

This is the seated passengers that I started painting yesterday.

The completed passengers ready to go into some of the railway carriages.

Keith.