Monthly Archives: June 2023

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Earl of Merioneth – Introduction

So word has leaked out I’m doing another Double Fairlie kit. Specifically, Earl of Merioneth (EofM), aka The Square and, more than that, the first version will be the f’ugly original 1979 version.

WHY? Well, because I can and because no one else has.

There is more to it than that though. Just for now sticking to the prototype, it and I have quite a bit of previous.

When I left school I did an apprenticeship with British Rail Engineering Ltd which resulted in me, at the age of 17, in 1977 doing work experience at Boston Lodge and chain drilling four lots of holes in the then incomplete EofM and then rotary filing them round so pipes could be fitted for the drain cock operating rods to pass through. During that same visit I blagged the footplate ride that started my steam loco career.

Just a few years later I was regularly firing FR loco’s but hadn’t been on Double Engines. Back then they weren’t in everyday use. I arrived for one two week visit and was terrified to see the roster as EofM, EMD & Me two trips a day for the entire two weeks. EMD, Evan Davies, its regular driver had a bit of a reputation for being a fiery and difficult to get on with character and as a not yet very good fireman the prospect of two weeks of it was not something I was looking forward to. At this point I’d never been on a Double Fairlie.

Luckily, Merddin Emrys came to the partial rescue. EofM was broken as it often was back then (valve gear made out of steel they were given for free?) and I had a day with someone I already knew on Merddin before going in the deep end with Evan.

It probably was a bit kill or cure but I survived and must have made the right impression as from then on for the next few years if I was at the railway I was firing for Evan. It was more than that though. Working with Evan I became a much better fireman and also learnt how to do things like lift the loco and remove a bogie (because it broke itself so often in the early days), how to mend other bits of it. I had my first goes at driving a Fairlie with Evan albeit just moving it around the yard or going home across the cob. It was so much Evan’s engine that not many others drove it and more than once I was sent to fire for a driver going on it the first time to show them its quirks of which it had plenty when new.  When I qualified as a driver it was Evan that assessed me and passed me out.

Fag Packet Fairlie

Over the years I drove it a lot. Whilst my favourite to drive has always been Merddin I’d rather have The Square over Soupy (David Lloyd George). I hope that one day it comes back to life.

I’ll get on to the model in the next episode but for now I’ll just point out that this isn’t the first model of the Earl I have made.

The fag packet fairlie was made in Minffordd hostel and presented on a 30mph sign we `acquired’. Drink may have been involved. We were terrified of what Evan would think and got caught red handed by him trying to sneak it into Boston Lodge. He loved it and it spent many years on display in the den (mess room) at the works.

I’ll get on to the model in the next episode

 

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Chelfham Buildings in 7mm Scale

Chelfham Buildings in 7mm Scale

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Dapol, under the Kitmaster brand, have released the first three Lynton & Barnstaple Railway building kits to complement to imminent Lionheart L&B Loco’s and Coaches.

The first three buildings, The Small Station, Signal Cabin and Toilet Block are all based on those at Chelfham. The kits are shown below along with pictures of the prototype below. The prices shown are good for June 2023.

This article is in the process of being updated. Scroll down for detail of the kits, links to buying them, links to instructions and then a detailed look at the Station Building Kit

List Price is £150 Our Price £127.50

List Price is £25 Our Price £21.25

List Price is £40 Our Price £34

If you are interested in buying or finding more out about these kits follow this link

If you are interested in buying or finding more out about the L&B rolling stock follow this link

Instructions

The links below will take you to PDF’s of the instructions within this blog. Before building a kit I’d recommend following the link in the kits to the Dapol location for them to make sure you have the latest version

Station Building 7B-003-002_Instructions_Part_1

7B-003-002_Instructions_Part_2
Signal Cabin 7B-003-003_Instructions
Gents Toilet 7B-003-004_Instructions

Chelfham Station Today

Just as I was preparing this piece a selection of photos of Chelfham today in glorious sunshine appeared on Facebook. Simon Ellery and Rich Philpot have very graciously allowed me to share them here so you have a reference to work from.

 

Chelfham Station Building Kit

Sorry the pictures on the right aren’t the greatest but the should expand if clicked on. If I do get round to building one of these (resisting – too much to do) I will write it up with clearer images.

 

The kits consists of many layers of laser cut parts that laminate up to produce each side and end with as many as six layers in places. This gives the model a lot of depth.

The sheets are all textured (stone) and pre-coloured where appropriate. The laminations go together such that the outside is stone whilst the inside and the partitions are wooden panelling.

The inner room divide is modelled.

As with most buildings they evolve during their life. A major change with this building was the porch being rebuilt. Both versions are catered for in the kit.

The roof is modelled realistically with trusses, panelling and the basic roof layer to which tiles are then added.  Whilst I haven’t tried this I think you could probably build the roof as a lift off structure to allow detailing of the interior.

Also in the kit are some 3D printed details. These compromise the gutters, down pipes and the essential post box that gets set in to the side of the porch.

This building is not a simple box and the kit doesn’t try to make it one using multiple layers to give parts depth, colour and texture. Its very detailed but leaves the modeller lots of scope to add detail. You only have to look at the photo of the station to see how you could go to town with a model.

The instruction recommend a watered down PVA to allow some adjustment time rather than using instant glues. I’d be tempted to use VeloSet modelling PVA as a compromise as its designed for doing building in that it allows adjustment time but then gets a `grab’ relatively quickly allowing you to move on to the next joint.

When it comes to modelling I can be a butterfly no matter how much I try to constrain myself to concentrate on finishing some current projects. Right now I am visualising a diorama of Chelfham station just as a result of this kit.

When I first mentioned it on one of the forums there was a cry of “Ow Much!!!” for just a box. This isn’t just a box. A lot of thought and detail has gone into producing this kit and comparing it to what you get in other building kits I sell I’d say it represents good value and gets you a finished model on your layout with only the addition of glue. MUST RESIST, MUST RESIST

Over the next few days I hope to add similar exposes for the toilet block and signal cabin. As these three kits are 7B-003-002/3/4 and Chelfham is described as the small station kit 001 should be the large station.

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