That was quick

Well my little diversion is virtually finished. Amazing how fast I can build a small project while prevaricating. I painted the rocks and earth with the usual acrylic paints and coloured the mdf paving/platform with acrylic paint pens. I also used these for the rail colour. The rail would rust heavily in a position where the sea might break over the track. 

Next was ballast and greenery. 

I fitted the LED lights while the paint and glue set and then slid the baseboard into the box. I haven’t fixed it in as there are a few extras to add such as a running in board and some people. 

A close up of the building and the static Fourdees loco restored from cat vandalism. 

A slight diversion - not just any diversion

 I’m very good at not doing what I should be doing and doing something else. Even when it’s just a hobby. So rather than getting on with Port Lucy, more on this later, I decided to make a little diorama that I’ve had in mind for a while.

Some good friends visited a month or so ago and by way of thanks they sent us some wine from M&S; it was very nice and came in a lovely wooden box. I immediately thought that it was too good for kindling and I’ve been toying with the idea of a model of the legendary but never built Portmerion branch of the Festiniog. I don’t have room or the inclination to build a whole layout so this box is ideal.

I got a lovely little resin model of the Minffordd down platform shelter off evilbay, it was a bargain but I had no need of it. 

The diorama represents a halt along the headland called Dolphin and the building is ideal. 

So far I’ve glued the sky paper into the box and cut the divider that was in the box to fit as a baseboard. Platform, track and fence are glued in place. I have some battery powered LED lights to fit and some plaster ballast and minimal scenery to do then it will be done. 

Progress and a possible problem

 I've done a bit more woodwork and it has left me scratching my head somewhat. The area of the new bit is pretty big; obviously I knew that when I 'designed' it but it's all very well scribbling in a note book but when the full size of the thing emerges it is quite another.

The plywood sheets aren't attached but I wanted to get an idea if my track plan would vaguely fit in the space available. I think it pretty much will for the station and the wharf but carriage sheds and loco works might be a step too far.

The main issue is that I can't reach the back of the layout and this is causing problems already. Hmmm. Some thought needed before I go too much further. In the words of Macbeth (I think) 'Vaulting ambition o'er leaps itself.'

The train on the left of the picture is the Diesel set which will be in use on the 'mainline'; ie disappear into a tunnel representing the rest of the island.

The boy is back

 It’s been ages since I’ve done any modelling but today I have made a leap forward. I tidied the workshop. 

This meant that I had room to start on the woodwork which will form the basis of Port Lucy the terminus of the Underhill branch and the Isle of Stoner Railway mainline. 

I’ve had a plan in my head and on paper but as ever reality is slightly different. However I re drew the basic idea tonight and I think it should fit. 

It will be interesting to see how it turns out. My Facebook memory today was completing the trackwork on Underhill, seven years ago. Underhill has two half dead point motors so that will need sorting to but one thing at a time.