Flower of the Forest - at last!

It is 13 years since I completed my first 'scale' locomotive in O9, constructed from drawings  of the Ravenglass-built tram locomotive 'Flower of the Forest'. These were published in the only copy of the 'Ratty Modeller' newsletter I ever got my hands on, obtained when Owen Ryder exhibited his 'Boot' layout at Wakefield many moons ago. It's all his fault...

Construction and finishing are covered here - the basic finish was all I felt I could achieve at the time and the name 'Cumbria' chosen as I had the plates and it seemed appropriate. As I reached one of those round number birthdays this year I decided to investigate what might be possible to commission re-finishing the loco to more closely resemble the real thing.

She arrived back on shed at Shifting Sands this morning, seen here raising steam with 'St Edwin'.

The model has been expertly re-finished by James Hilton Custom Model Railways with the green repainted to a more appropriate shade, and custom lettering on the sides and "smokebox" end.

I chose James for this work as I needed someone who could not only refinish the locomotive in the desired colour, but also to create the artwork for the lettering and plates as a one-stop shop. James took great care working from my reference photographs to get the lettering to look right, especially as the real thing is hand-lettered to no standard font.

Whilst the etched plates are not legible they do have the correct pattern of lettering, the real locomotive is dedicated to the memory of Ian Fraser, the Ratty supporter who commissioned the real locomotive to run in his garden.

Having the model in this condition is a great reminder of the time the real thing spent running at Cleethorpes, and the influence it must have had on Shifting Sands!

Some readers may be wondering why I chose to take the unusual (for me) step of contracting this work out. Well, my own time is presently quite limited and quite frankly I decided to treat myself!

I'm really pleased with the outcome and can recommend the service James provides, even working around existing paint finishes and details is no obstacle....

Colin

The ones that got away... No.7 'Cumbria'?

Well, it seems the nameplates have at least...

As for the rest? Watch this space!

Colin

Low Cost Inspiration

I've always been of the belief that seaside shops selling all manner of cheap toys ought to be a source  of low cost modelling opportunities. I think this belief was instilled in me many years ago on an early trip to Cleethorpes whilst I was deep in bus modelling territory. Ironically it took me many years to actually find a usable toy bus!

Having toured numerous establishments on the Lincolnshire coast in the last week or so I have been disappointed that nothing remotely train shaped has sprung out at me. However, these days we live in an international market and before going away a member of the NGRM Online forum posted about some very cheap narrow gauge outline items available on eBay. I was curious enough to make a couple of purchases....

These models are very similar to the Del Prado series of world locomotives in N gauge, but are perhaps not quite so well detailed or proportioned. They are both slightly smaller than 009 in scale. However, they are locomotive shaped and as they come apart into component pieces offer all sorts of potential projects, such as using the Garratt boiler as a shed area piece of junk, maybe even a small 009 diesel from the Garratt cab and front bunker. There are some useful parts on the Darjeeling tank such as the headlights and I can see the bunker and cab moulding used as more shed decor for that O9 workshop scene I aim to build one day (representing 10 1/4" gauge locomotive parts).

These models cost me £6 in total for a pair of each, I'm not sure the seaside novelty shops can compete...

Colin

Inspirations on the Lincolnshire Coast

A week away in Lincolnshire proved very refreshing (and warm!) and it was interesting to note a few details whilst out and about that might prove useful for modelling projects.

Modellers are well supplied with models of ice cream vans courtesy of Oxford Diecast, I'm guilty of owning a 1/43rd Bedford myself... For some reason ice cream vans seem to outlast other commercial vehicles of the same model, perhaps it is all the slow speed travel and being stationary a lot of the time? This example was found grounded in our holiday park, plying an admittedly limited range of ices at less than favourable prices!

I've no idea who Bertie might be but co-incidentally Haven's owners started trading in 1964.

A trip to a farm park in Ingoldmells found this delightful structure that looks to have come straight from the 1960s. In fact I'm sure it had a supporting roll in 'Carry on Camping', it certainly has the caravan park clubhouse look.

Looking beyond its present use as a indoor play area it would make a great station structure for an O9 miniature railway layout. In fact, as every farm park should have a miniature railway...

Whilst in Ingoldmells it was a short hop to Winthorpe to the Skegness Water Leisure Park to visit the Lincolnshire Coast Light Railway. Here we found Peckett 0-6-0ST 'Jurassic' in steam, something that when I last saw her in 2013 seemed a long way off. The railway is picking up lots of visitors to ride in an ex-Ashover coach and ex-WD open wagon over the recently (slightly) extended railway.

It is perhaps a good job that Bachmann are not making a Peckett 0-6-0ST to go with the WD wagons and forthcoming Ashover coaches....

A lovely way to spend a Saturday afternoon.

Colin