Minerva GWR Pannier Tank 7711

 I finally got around to finishing my Minerva 57xx Pannier Tank.  Details added per instructions, number & builders plates are from Narrow Planet.   As this is the riveted tank version,  I decided on number 7711,  which was built by Kerr Stuart in 1930.   This will be the most "modern" loco I have for the layout.  It's really too late for my era,  but how can you not have at least one Pannier on a railway in Somerset !  After all in my fantasy world the GWR runs into Windrush Junction to connect with the Boxer Bay Railway.

 Weathering is my usual easy way of acrylic washes and chalk powders.  Not too bad,  however I might revisit the weathering again on this loco in the near future.  Fireman / Driver  figures are by AC Stadden and very nice too !

Merry Christmas

For the Festive Season The Colonel had a special delivery sent for all the Staff at the BBR.   The Col. is seen here tending to it personally, with the staff eagerly awaiting the wagon door to be flung open.

The staff looks pretty contented with what has arrived from Burton On Trent !    "Great Stuff This Bass"  indeed.  Please Note I have no connection with BASS brewery,  outside of a very satisfied customer !   :)

Merry Christmas all,  hope everyone has a nice day with family & friends,  and a healthy happy 2019 !
Cheers
Felix

Video # 4 - Brief Running Session

  I felt in the mood to shoot a short video,  and run some trains.  After all that is what I'm building the railway for !   After reviewing the video,  a couple things seem very apparent.

1.  Need additional layout lighting -  apologies for the low light

2.  Realization that not that much has been accomplished on the layout this year,  mainly due to time being spent on equipment.  Construction of the Slaters 4 wheel coach,  couple wagons,  and work on a couple locomotives certainly took some time away from the layout.  Life also was busy.

Hoping 2019 will be a bit more productive in terms of the scenery and overall layout appearance.

 

Vintage Thursday

 Time for another trip down the track that heads to what was before.  Inspiration comes in many forms,  sometimes it's visiting a layout,  sometimes seeing a model in person,  sometimes vintage film of your favorite prototype, or a favorite photograph.  This week's vintage Thursday is a few photographs,  from a generic book titled "Model And Miniature Railways" by Patrick Whitehouse and John Adams.  A very large format book I've looked through hundreds of times from childhood to today,  some 25+ odd years.  The series of photographs below is one reason I've always had an interest in Victorian Steam Railways,  and a desire to build a model of them in some small way.

(Two others being Thomas The Tank Engine , and Ivo Peter's superb colour films).  

 The Layout is Dean Bridge,  and was built by Anthony Murray.  You don't see many model railways depicting the earlier periods of pre-grouping much these days.  Fantastic,  and the colour Photographs taken by B. Monaghan really brings it to life.  Enjoy !   (Oh,  and of course,  it's O gauge :)

 (Click On Photo for Full Size)

Windrush Junction Signal Box

 With the days getting shorter and the weather getting colder,  I've been finding more time to relax at my workbench with a nice cup of tea,  and a fun project. 

 This one was very enjoyable,  the signal box located at Windrush Junction.   The kit was made by Lcut ,  the second model I've built from them. (Kit # B70-07L Medium Signal Box Left Stairs).  Made in Great Britain.  Price was £17.99,  which I find to be very good value for money.   The kit went together like the engine shed,  very easy and everything fit well.  I did add a Skytrex interior kit.  In O scale,  the interiors of buildings are very visible,  especially ones with large windows,  so it's a must.   While adding the interior,  I made the decision to add interior LED lighting too,  as I thought it would show up well, factoring in where the signal box would be placed on the layout.  I don't plan on operating my railway too much in the dark,  but it will be nice to switch the interior lights on once and awhile in dim room lighting,  adding a bit of atmosphere to the scene.  Fun to photograph.

 The other modification made from the kit was changing the position of the stairs.  It was going to eat up too much space by having the stairs go straight.  So I added a few pieces and now have them coming down the side of the building,  more pleasing to my eye too.   

Overall I'm very happy how this particular scene is developing.  I try to picture the entire layout as a series of specific scenes all linked together to paint a portrait of a small railway in 1920s Somerset.

Next up is more track ballasting,  and more scenic projects.  Never a dull moment on the BBR !

 (Click on photos for full size)

Happy Birthday Col. Stephens

  Happy 150th Birthday to Colonel Holman Fred Stephens. (31 October 1868) For those who do not know the life of Col. Stephens (SHAME ON YOU !),  here is a brief summary from Wikipedia .   There is also a society dedicated to the Colonel,  check it out.

 My fictional O scale model railway is of course inspired by the many light railways that the Colonel either built,  or saved from total abandonment, and operated on a shoe string budget to keep them going.  For more info on his railways and some great photographs,  I highly recommend the book "The Colonel Stephens' Railways - View From The Past"  by John Scott Morgan.  

A brief note about the figure in the photos.  It's a really nice casting from Andrew Stadden,  very nicely detailed and fun to paint.  It's my first attempt at painting a proper 7mm figure.  They have other famous railway personalities too.

 For his Birthday,  the Colonel decided to inspect his latest project,  the construction of the Boxer Bay Railway.  So far so good, he's contented with the progress.  

May his life story continue to inspire many model railways into the future !

 Here he is inspecting the loco shed at Windrush Junction.  (click on photos to enlarge)