I know I have a lot of unfinished kits in the cupboard, but when I saw these wagons on social media, I was gripped and just had to know a bit more about them. These model wagons really do demonstrate that you can make almost anything if you have a bit (well a lot!) of know-how and the right equipment.
And so after quite a bit of work by Rob Law, I am now the proud owner of three (3d printed) bogie ballast hopper wagons. These Seacow/Sealion wagons are likely to be finished in an olive green livery and weathered to a work stained condition. I am aware that Railtec produce transfers for these wagons. They will also run loaded with ballast for added interest.
All the other detailing parts have been supplied and these will be added after the main body has been painted. Sprat and Winkle couplings will also be added to enable them to use the already installed under track magnets.
My unfinished Easy Build Class 105 DMU
Kelvin is keen for me to get back to the DMU project so it might be a while before the seacow wagons are completed!
Well it’s been a great year for our modelling group. We’ve attended lots of shows, spoken to lots of people and exhibited many of our layouts. My own layout Winkle’s Yard had quite a few outings and my current project Prince’s Street has got two bookings for 2020.
What have I learned this year? We’ll I need to make a bit of Winkle’s Yard more resilient and robust. I have had a few problems with a short piece of track that goes under the bridge and joins the layout to the fiddle yard – this will be a job for the winter season.
Last weekend we were pleased to be at the Wensum Valley Golf Course in Taverham, Norwich. The setting is really lovely with an amazing view of thr Wensum valley.
Once again, Winkle’s Yard recieved some delightful comments about the amount of detail in the small pace. A lot of comments were made about my lights which are actually fishing tank lights. They were actually vital given the lack of natural light in some of the rooms.
Here are a few pictures taken on the day.
A class 25 waits for its next instructions.
These coal wagons will need to be emptied before they can leave
These wagons won’t be emptied here but will be put with others for their next trip.
A regular delivery of fuel is needed for the engines that run to the yard.
This is the view from under the bridge
A bird’s eye view
I don’t want you to think I was there by myself because I wasn’t. I was able to enjoy the company of the rest of our group – The Norfolk Railway Modelling Syndicate. We had Kelvin and his wife Audrey, his son John and Graham. Whilst I spent most of my time operating Winkle’s Yard, some of my trusty colleagues spent time operating one of our group’s other layouts – 4000 Yards – a history lesson in model railway format. This layout features SM 32 scale narrow gauge trains and sound effects from world war one.
Here’s a few pictures taken from 4000 Yard’s appearance at the Taverham show.
COMING IN 2020…
Prince’s Street will be making its exhibition debut next year. While I may try to organise a shake down session somewhere in Norwich, it’s debut has been brought forward to August 2020 so it now has two outings planned before it’s even finished. That mean’s I need to get on with the rolling stock additions and the DMU project which appears to have stalled recently while I’ve focused the scenery and electrical work.
Princes Street Station 