More News From Llangunllo...

In truth not much has been happening on the modelling front, and that's been down to a major DIY project, gardening duties and a holiday. However the goods inwards department has been busy, a recent arrival being a supply of Silflor which I ordered directly from the manufacturer in Germany.

This is 1:87 scale 'Late fall pasture', which is ideal for creating dried grass, the sort that you come across towards the end of summer.  I've also purchased some of the same material in 1:45 scale, to represent taller overgrown grasses.

I also took a punt with what is described as 1:87 'Early fall proliferation area'.  Both landscape mats will be torn into clumps and mixed with other materials.  Thus giving a variety of textures, colours and height.  These mats don't come cheap, but then quality never does.

I have managed a little modelling in, and around the goods yard.  I felt that a small coal office and store might fit into the scene.  So Henry Stephens now has a new, more humble premises from which to ply his trade.

I was never really happy with the original building, and felt it let the old layout down.  In fact the best part was the sign that my good friend Iain Robinson produced for me.  So I salvaged that along with the etched window frames, and looked for something more suitable.  Coal was stored in the old Llangunllo yard, but I decided not to provide any such facilities in the new one.  For it was common practice for coal merchants to bag and weigh their wares on site.  Our local merchant would park his ex army Austin K2, or in latter years his brand new Bedford TK, beside the coal wagons, and shovel coal directly from rail wagon to truck platform.  He would then bag and weigh his wares in one go, either delivering his orders straight away, or taking the bagged coal to his secure storage area, which was behind his cottage.  A right eyesore that was, but fortunately he had no near neighbours to complain.

Heaven knows what Henry thinks of his new office, or should I say shed.  Its a simple 40 thou styrene structure, well braced internally to prevent any chance of warping, and overlaid with Slaters 2mm embossed planking.  The windows, doors and fittings are from the excellent Brassmasters range.  With a corrugated iron roof, and rainwater goods from the Wills range of material packs, but slightly refined to give a finer look.  The sign, salvaged from the old building has found a new home, and is braced by two wire stays.  The shed was first primed in grey acrylic, then the wooden planking, door and windows were picked out in cream and green enamels.  Once dry a few strokes of the old glass fibre pencil removed some of the paint, revealing the grey primer beneath.  Then washes of dirty grey, and green to represent weathered wood, and mould stains were applied.  A little talc, brushed over the wood work gave it a more faded look.  Shades of rust weathering powders were applied to the rainwater goods, and roof, to give it some texture.  Plenty of long unkempt grass was planted, in hope of everything blending together to give an air of neglect.  A simple corrugated iron shed,  which is nothing more than a cut down Wills lamp hut, which first saw light of day at Penhydd, provides a place to store the shovels, pick axe, and other tools.  The coal man probably takes shelter there, when the near horizontal rain is whipping across the exposed landscape.

You will have to excuse the lack of couplings on the 16 tonner, its one of several that are waiting to be fitted with smaller, coupling mounts and loops.


Inspiration for the office came from within the pages of 'The New Radnor Branch' by Nicholas de Courtais.  The real office was a little too grand for a backwater like Llangunllo, so my model is based on it, rather than being faithfully modelled.  This is an early view prior to the shed being tidied up, weathered and glazing installed.

Another view of the shed, clearly showing the door handle, letterbox and signage.

Moving on, earlier in the year I took advantage of the warm weather and primed my A44 driving trailer.  The body and underframe were not screwed together when this photo was taken, hence the gap and misalignment between the two.  To the best of my knowledge all of these coaches were painted in BR maroon and fully lined.  But I'm hoping to find an example in unlined crimson, which should make for a pleasant winter research project, something to keep me occupied during the long winter nights.  I think the A44 makes a pleasant change from the usual detailed Airfix auto-coach, or the latest Bachmann Hawksworth version, both of which are all too common.

Well that just about brings everything up to date, later this week I expect to put the Silflor to good use, and all being well the backscene will finally be installed.