Garden Railway Forum

philipy wrote: ↑Fri Feb 14, 2025 1:31 pm That looks very nice. The wooden wedges add to the realism as well.

Thanks! The wedges are a bit big but there is a surprisingly wide space to fill with slabs.

Next up is the 'Tie Rod' waggon from Aberllefenni Quarry, now preserved in the Museum at Corris. I was originally going to scratch build a pair of these, and had collected some bearings and brake gear from Dean Goods, together with suitable wheels and axles from Peter Binnie. However, in the meantime PS Models brought out a kit for these waggons so I purchased a pair at last years 16mm show at Stoneleigh.


Corris Railway by Stuart, on Flickr

From the PS Models website:


I'm not a fan of the 'inside bearings with fake outside bearings' method used by several 16mm manufacturers (including PS Models) so I have rearranged the PS Models MDF parts to give a more prototypical underframe, and mated them with the Dean Goods bearings and brake gear. (Note that the Dean Goods bearings are only half the depth they should be, so I have used pairs glued together). With the addition of styrene strapping and washers, together with lots of Cambrian boltheads, I'm happy with the result, but possibly a case of 'if I was going there I wouldn't start from here.'


PS Models/Dean Goods Corris Tie Rod Waggon by Stuart, on Flickr


PS Models/Dean Goods Corris Tie Rod Waggon by Stuart, on Flickr

Looks excellent. I quite like the date and "whodunnit" written underneath, a great idea.

Looks like a faithful representation.
Incidentally, the last time I was in Corris, I drove up the valley to Aberllefenni. I couldn't help thinking it was a shame the Corris can't extend its line in that direction. It's quite picturesque. I suppose getting running rights through the village is the main obstacle.

Rik

Old Man Aaron wrote: ↑Thu Mar 06, 2025 3:56 pm Looks excellent. I quite like the date and "whodunnit" written underneath, a great idea.

Thanks. The marking is partly for visiting other railways and partly to remind myself what and when I've built as opposed to bought secondhand.

ge_rik wrote: ↑Fri Mar 07, 2025 7:47 am Looks like a faithful representation.
Incidentally, the last time I was in Corris, I drove up the valley to Aberllefenni. I couldn't help thinking it was a shame the Corris can't extend its line in that direction. It's quite picturesque. I suppose getting running rights through the village is the main obstacle.

Rik

Thanks. Unfortunately the houses immediately above Corris station have been extended over the trackbed, and there are various obstruction further up too.

Now painted and with drawbar added. The frame is a little chunky compared to the trestle waggon but I'm happy overall.

I've also managed to bend up the cab for the Manning Wardle. The bends aren't quite in the right place (too high up) so it's come out taller and narrower than intended, but it fits, it's square and it didn't snap so I will run with it!


PS Models/Dean Goods Corris Tie Rod Waggon by Stuart, on Flickr


PS Models/Dean Goods Corris Tie Rod Waggon by Stuart, on Flickr

I have promised myself that I won't start another big project until I have finished the Manning Wardle (done) and finished or significantly progressed the tramcar coach, which has been sat on the shelf looking at me reproachfully for two years. A number of 30 minute challenges after work have led to the completion of the platforms:


Bachmann Streetcar conversion by Stuart, on Flickr

Bachmann Streetcar conversion by Stuart, on Flickr

I have some very delicate chain to go across the handrails (to be fitted after painting) but the jury's still out on whether to include the fall plates or not. I will contemplate this over the coming week as I walk past the shelf. The coupling clevis is a Mk.I design from model aircraft parts; I'm sure I can do better, probably with strip brass.

I'm very happy though, as suddenly the model looks like how I saw it in my mind; the clerestory is out of proportion to the rest of it (too big) but there's nothing I can do about that. Hopefully a coat of dark grey will diminish it.


Bachmann Streetcar conversion by Stuart, on Flickr

Plynlimon & Hafan Tramway by Stuart, on Flickr

Getting there!

That's looking really good Stuart.

StuartJ wrote: ↑Wed Aug 13, 2025 5:10 pm
the clerestory is out of proportion to the rest of it (too big) but there's nothing I can do about that. Hopefully a coat of dark grey will diminish it.

I think that an end piece as in the prototype picture would reduce the spidery look of the clerestorey. and make it look less big.

Beautiful! It evokes the spirit of the Plynlimon and Hafan.
Have you seen the latest edition of SMT? There's an interesting article about the ex P&H VoR Bagnall 2-4-0 loco?

Rik

philipy wrote: ↑Wed Aug 13, 2025 5:19 pm I think that an end piece as in the prototype picture would reduce the spidery look of the clerestorey. and make it look less big.

Thanks. An end piece is on the list, partly to make it look like the prototype and partly because the roof join is particularly bad in this area! I think the roof will probably be next after I finish the platforms.

ge_rik wrote: ↑Wed Aug 13, 2025 5:24 pm Beautiful! It evokes the spirit of the Plynlimon and Hafan.
Have you seen the latest edition of SMT? There's an interesting article about the ex P&H VoR Bagnall 2-4-0 loco?

Rik

Thanks. Due to the shape of the original Bachmann car I thought it was going to come out looking more like Manx Electric trailers 57/58 which are UEC rather than Milnes, but looking at the two photos side by side here it's looking more like a Milnes car now so I'm very happy with it. Putting the steps on actually made a huge difference to the proportions.

I have seen the article in SMT thanks, but I haven't had time to read it yet. There are also some more articles in The Narrow Gauge issues No. 132 Autumn 1991 and No.133 Winter 1991.

That looks good to me and I like the 'Tintin' figures.

Petersfield wrote: ↑Thu Aug 14, 2025 8:55 pm That looks good to me and I like the 'Tintin' figures.

Thanks - they are actually from McDonalds' happy meals! I got them from eBay a few years ago for not a lot of money. They are a little undersize for 16mm but most of my stock is on the small side anyway.

That's really coming together, nice work.

The mojo has been a bit lacking recently but I have made some progress; the fall plates have been made supported on some brass strip as per the prototype (my card mockups showed that anything wholly styrene would be knocked off pretty fast). The ends have also been added to the clerestory and the roof joint filled and sanded; a tissue paper 'canvas' layer will be added before painting:


Bachmann Streetcar Conversion by Stuart, on Flickr

Moving onto the main body, I have sanded the original 'fabric' texture off the seat mouldings and scored in some planks instead. They don't have the traditional UK curvy tram seat profile, so I have gone for wider planks for a more European square profile. I'm quite happy with the result:


Bachmann Streetcar Conversion by Stuart, on Flickr

The only other major items to make are the lamp boxes which will fit into the larger end windows. I decided to learn something new and had a go at drawing them up in TinkerCAD. Very different from traditional 2D CAD packages but I only needed to watch one YouTube video to understand it! They are being printed in resin for me and will also hide the mismatch at the top where the two end windows were merged into one.

Corr.... That's nice....

Rik

Brilliant Stuart! By some coinsidence I am also converting one of these (though to something more W and U) - if they have a duff motor they can be relatively cheap to pick up. Inspirational modelling.

Thanks both. I picked this one up very cheaply on another forum without the motor block as the seller had only wanted the motor block for another project. I have a long range need/desire for two crossbench cars to turn into trailers for a different project if anyone has a defunct one lying around (I already have an LGB Porter)...


Unidentified locomotive [n.d.] by Special Collections, on Flickr
The Sorrento Tramway, Victoria, Australia


Marion River Carry Railroad, NY, USA


Huntsville and Lake of Bays Railway, Canada

That must be one of the most laid-back drivers I've seen in a loco.

Rik