Popular Post Tom F Posted August 26, 2018 Popular Post Share Posted August 26, 2018 (edited) Well....where do I start! Cwm Prysor started life several years ago now, designed to be my first Exhibition layout. I have had a passing interest in the branch between Bala and Blaenau Ffestiniog for many years, and after researching into the line further, I fell in love! The idea of portraying something that was far from the twee Great Western Branch Line, with the mucky pannier tanks, single crimson coach in a wild, bleak landscape struck me as the perfect place to model. I had originally planned to model Trawsfynydd, but felt at the time it was too big of a task for me. So I settled on Cwm Prysor.....the station in the middle of nowhere. It has a single point which suited me as it was my first attempt at building track. The point represents a dead end siding which use to be part of a loop for Troop Trains to be held in the 1st and 2nd World Wars, but was removed in 1951. Work on Cwm Prysor had been steady, as well as working on stock and wagons .....however things came to a halt last Summer. My Dad (well actually Grandad as I was brought up by my Grandparents), passed away one year ago yesterday (25th). He was my best friend, and for the previous 2 years he had begun to struggle breathing and was diagnosed with Pulmonary Fibrosis. For those two years I cared for him, and while he was able to, I drove him down from North Yorkshire to Snowdonia for some lovely day trips. He knew how passionate I was about the line, and about modelling the branch. With his passing, my interest stopped completely in Cwm Prysor, and I've struggled to get my modelling mojo back. Back in the spring I posted about modelling something closer to home, but I felt I was forcing myself to get back into the hobby. Being his first anniversary yesterday, I thought it was going to be awful, but it wasn't as bad as I imagined. A voice in my head said 'do some modelling'....so I did. Jonathan Wealleans of this parish, had built me a coach as part of some horse trading, which was one of types specifically used on the branch, however no kit had every been produced. E157 Brake Composites were all too familiar to be seen on the branch in the mid to late 50s. I commissioned Worsley Works to produce the sides, and Jonathan made the kit up using Comet components. It sat untouched since Easter since Jonathan handed it back to me at York Show. Yesterday I weathered it....and once it was sat on the layout, the spark was back! Best of all? 6 months before Dad died, Alan Buttler of Modelu came all the way up from Mid Wales to scan Dad, and my Border Collie Lass. So now Dad is always there...waiting for a train to take him on his next big adventure. For informormation on how to get inside a Hattons 14XX/58XX body for the purpose of fitting an etched chassis, please see Captain Kernow’s detailed post here:http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/136923-cwm-prysor-capel-celyn-bala-blaenau-ffestiniog-branch/?p=3362903 Edited October 6, 2022 by Tom F 71 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium AdeMoore Posted August 26, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 26, 2018 Tom that’s a great story an emotional journey. The layout looks top drawer, from those glimpses in the photos above. Particularly interested in the water there, more pics of that and how it was achieved please. Cheers Ade Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold tomparryharry Posted August 26, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2018 That looks good. You're obviously depicting above the snowline! More picture when you can:- That's very inspirational. Cheers, Ian. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted August 26, 2018 Author Share Posted August 26, 2018 Tom that’s a great story an emotional journey. The layout looks top drawer, from those glimpses in the photos above. Particularly interested in the water there, more pics of that and how it was achieved please. Cheers Ade Thanks Ade. Yes, I'll post some more photos this evening and about how I did the lake. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Good to see you and the layout back. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold 5BarVT Posted August 26, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2018 Tom, That’s lovely having a scan of your ‘Dad’, thanks so much for sharing. I think time is a great healer, so here’s hoping I’m right. I’m so glad you are able to get back into modelling the same place too. Paul. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
brainh Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Tom, That’s lovely having a scan of your ‘Dad’, thanks so much for sharing. I think time is a great healer, so here’s hoping I’m right. I’m so glad you are able to get back into modelling the same place too. Paul. Hi tom, Agree with Martin on the healing process. Great to see you back and firing on all cylinders it appears, especially as the link to your old Modellers United pages no longer works so unable to see all the older photo's any more. Does this mean Askrigg is now on the back burner. BrainH Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
CazRail Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Looks very interesting looking forwards to more! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted August 26, 2018 Author Share Posted August 26, 2018 (edited) Hi tom, Agree with Martin on the healing process. Great to see you back and firing on all cylinders it appears, especially as the link to your old Modellers United pages no longer works so unable to see all the older photo's any more. Does this mean Askrigg is now on the back burner. BrainH Thanks Brian Yes, Askrigg is on the back burner. I was trying to force myself into something different to try and reengage myself. Didn't really work and fell flat sadly. Edited August 26, 2018 by 9793 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom F Posted August 26, 2018 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 26, 2018 (edited) Thanks for the kind comments guys!Today I weathered the second coach. This one had been built by me with help from Tony Wright, painted by Jonathan Wealleans yet again. This is a full 'Comet kit' of an E147 Brake Composite, very similar to the E157 except it only as the 1 first class compartment. Although photos do not show E147s on the branch, it's very similar looking to the E157, and as the earlier types worked in Mid Wales, it is possible one or two appeared on the branch. Ade, you asked about the water feature. I followed the method set out by Anthony Reeves in his super books on the topic of scenic work. I painted the bare wood a dark brown/blue colour. I then varnished it...but don't use a varnish that reacts with emulsion....I did and had to do it again. Once varnished with a none reactive paint I poor on PVA and stippled it as it dried which gave the nice rippled effect. The track is SMP, while the siding and point was made using timber sleepers and C&L components (should have said the layout is 4mm OO). The bridge depicted represents one that is shown on maps, but has long since gone as the A4212 trunk road now runs over the track bed at this point. I therefore used one near Capel Celyn which survives to this day. The buttresses were made from laser cut mdf (done by Tim Horn who also laser cut the layout). Geoff Taylor then advised me on covering with DAS modelling clay, scribbing and then dry brushing. The girder is plastistruct with etched railings produced by Geoff Taylor. The traffic has fascinated me on the branch, especially in the lines latter years. This is something you do not see everyday, but the photo can be found here in PGB fascinating thread. Presflos were being brought in for the building of Trawsfynydd Nuclear Power Station, and the Stwlan Dam at Tanygrisiau, clearly demand was so high that they were being added on to passenger services (I've found other photos similar). Edited August 27, 2018 by 9793 40 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Captain Kernow Posted August 26, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2018 This layout and everything about it is just superb and it's great to see you posting on here again. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted August 26, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 26, 2018 This layout and everything about it is just superb and it's great to see you posting on here again. Couldn't agree with you more Tim. I've always been a great fan of your layout and stock Tom. Best wishes, Nick. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
westerner Posted August 26, 2018 Share Posted August 26, 2018 Tom it's good to see you back and regaining your mojo. I think Cwm Prysor shows how effective a simple line can be. A good example of Less is More. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted August 26, 2018 Author Share Posted August 26, 2018 This layout and everything about it is just superb Thanks CK.....it will look better once we lose the soil look! That's the basis of the static grass work. I'm going with a combination of static grass, (different fibres) and then teddy bear fur for large clumps of long grass. Cwm Prysor taken back in 2015, you can see where the road now takes up the track bed. 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 (edited) As I'm 32 years of age, I never got to experience the steam age of the 1950's and 60's. Model railways were always about recreating the past the whole idea with Cwm Prysor, was that I could imagine I was sat there watching trains traverse the bleak landscape. When the plan was to exhibit Cwm Prysor, I devised a sequence off the working timetable. As the layout will be home operated, I'll probably just work off a the real working timetable. Here is an example of passenger services in 1959. I also have a copy of the 1954 timetable, which gives me a few more trains to run. Freight by 1959 was the one pick up goods each way, however from photographs and some rare video footage, there seems to have been the odd supplement of goods regarding the power station construction. For some superb footage of the line, check out the railway roundabout footage of the SLS special to Blaenau Ffestiniog, a week before closure. The branch is featured from 1.00- 6.45. The highlight for me is from 3.24 where the camera is mounted through the spectacle plate and we see the line from Arenig wandering across the moorland and through Cwm Prysor station itself. Edited August 27, 2018 by 9793 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold The Johnster Posted August 27, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 27, 2018 Superb stuff; you can almost feel the rain stinging your face! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Alex TM Posted August 27, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted August 27, 2018 Hi, This isn't the kind of layout that I would usually like simply because it's so simple. That said, I cannot help but like this. It oozes atmosphere, and has a sense of reality to it. Looking forward to seeing this develop. Regards, Alex. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 Superb stuff; you can almost feel the rain stinging your face! Thank you! That's exactly the look I'm going for. Tony Wright is going to be painting the back scene at some point, and I'm wanting him to do something similar as to what he did on Rob Kinsey's layout 'Merthyr Riverside'. copyright Tony Wright 6 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted August 27, 2018 Share Posted August 27, 2018 Very nice, living in North Wales and working regularly in that area as well as modelling Maentwrog Road its of special interest to me. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 (edited) It's been our village fete today, so the photos of the good stock will have to wait until tomorrow.I've got one of the Oxford Rail Bala AA3 Toads on the way. Disappointed with the errors, but at £12.50 it's a descent price to do some modelling with. The main alteration will be the filling of the planked end....which should of course be flush and made to represent a steal end. It will then in due course be repainted. Edited August 27, 2018 by 9793 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 (edited) Good to see you and the layout back. Hi Tim, most kind of you! Clutton has always been an inspiration with it's grubby tank engines and crimson coaches in the open landscape. When are you next out with the layout? Edited August 27, 2018 by 9793 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim V Posted August 27, 2018 Share Posted August 27, 2018 Hi Tim, most kind of you! Clutton has always been an inspiration with it's grubby tank engines and crimson coaches in the open landscape. When are you next out with the layout? Thanks for the kind comments. Clutton retired from public exhibitions at Railwells this year, it won't be coming out again. After 39 shows (would have been 40, but for snow), it was beginning to show its age. Plus, none of us are getting any younger, I was 34 when I started it back in 1989! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom F Posted August 27, 2018 Author Share Posted August 27, 2018 Thanks for the kind comments. Clutton retired from public exhibitions at Railwells this year, it won't be coming out again. After 39 shows (would have been 40, but for snow), it was beginning to show its age. Plus, none of us are getting any younger, I was 34 when I started it back in 1989! That's a fair age and a good amount of outings! I'm glad I've been lucky to see it on a couple of occasions! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Tom F Posted August 28, 2018 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 28, 2018 (edited) As promised, some photos/talk on good stock on Cwm Prysor. This also gave me a chance to try some photos from angles I've not tried before. Goods on the branch was primarily general merchandise mostly in vans, but also in open wagons. BR 16T and older ex PO wagons were used for Coal. As mentioned earlier, by the late 1950s, presflos had begun to appear along with bogie bolsters and other flat bed type wagons. The rolling stock on the layout is primarily a mix of RTR and Kit builds. I always wanted a fair representation of what appeared on the branch, and that is the reason that the wonderful mix of kits available was a must. Most are a mix of Parkside and Cambrian, built, painted and weathered by yours truly. I've several in the pre transfer/weathering stage that I really should get on with at some point. Brake Vans I'm currently using are BR standard types, which were used by the early 1960s. I've retired my Bachmann Toad and have a Hornby AA15 waiting in the wings. I intend to mildly modify into a representation of the Ruabon AA19 (primarily changing the buffers, plus the addition of plastic rod to give the additional footboard stanchions an AA19 look). I shall also be repainting.The Oxford Toad is going to need a little more work on filling the awful planked/steel end! I think as layout stock they will both be passable. Edited August 28, 2018 by 9793 34 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Brinkly Posted August 28, 2018 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 28, 2018 Lovely photos Tom. I do like the BR Standard brake van. Kind regards, Nick. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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