Helston Revisited

[Pete Haitch]

I'd go for the sheep - some people may suggest that they may not have been on that quality of grazing; but, the original was not as good as the model, and they could have been brought on to better ground to improve their condition prior to heading for the abattoir, going on the train to a show and sale, getting ready for the tups, having footrot treated etc etc. It would certainly add interest and longwools would be different from run of the mill sheep - you could even mention the SW serge industry if anyone asked about the wool. 

 

Having given up on the current layout, one of the areas I'm considering modelling is the loop of track just after leaving Helston - simple track plan but rolling stock that ranges from 1890 to 1936 - hence my interest in your thread.  

 

Re PO wagons. I think Mr Fowler's modified LNWR cattle wagons may well have visited Helston either delivering or collecting the finest of Channel Island cattle.  I intend to add roof water tanks to the Wessex Wagon models and use them as place holders. I can't find it, but I think the LNWR Study Group may have a webpage about them and it looks like they are mention in this book https://wildswanbooks.co.uk/Books/LNWR-Wagons1.htm.

 

 

There were quite a few Plymouth / Devon PO wagons that wandered across into the border shires but I doubt they came much further.  I'm working on the principle that any that reached Pydershire or Powdershire could just as easily run on to Kerrier.  I know that for some reason there is view that all non-railway coal for Cornwall came by ship; however coal may have been one of the sources of PO wagons.  Obviously there was Helston Gas Co., but, at times of peak demand, their wagon fleet may have needed strengthening. Then I imagine there would be other customers for coal as well.

 

Renwick & Wilton / Renwick Wilton & Dobson Ltd were coal factors (?) that are reputed to have supplied all across Cornwall. There was a picture on here at one point that showed one of their wagons and a New Rock one at Bodmin (GWR). I have examples by Replica, Bachmann, Dapol and POW Sides and they are readily available second hand. 

 

East Somerset Models and also the Burnham MRC released a number of ltd eds of the New Rock wagon but every time I've seen them for sale its been for silly money so I'm waiting for POW Sides to stabilise and will get a couple from them. I guess it was a fairly easy run from the Somerset coal field down to Cornwall, which is why I've included the Dunkerton, Coal Factors wagon, although its currently hiding from me.

 

My thinking for including the Cambrian, Gloucester and Marcroft wagons was that they could have been supplied if a wagon factor had been used to strengthen an existing fleet.

 

The photo of the Trimsaran Anthracite wagon at Redruth has had me searching. The Hornby one appears to be on too squidley a wagon. The Slaters kit was rather better but has a slightly different livery as does the David Dacey Ltd Edition.

 

That leaves Rowe of Camborne. There were plenty of Rowes in the area; a general merchant, butcher and meat supplier, baker and pasty maker, fruit and veg merchant - and Bachmann have a 'Rowe' wagon in its Cornish Coal Merchants set. I could easily see one of these vehicle making an occasional visit to Helston, perhaps with Flora day supplies. I have two of the early Dapol model of this wagon but one may lose its coal load for something else.

Edited September 9 by Pete Haitch

[Mikkel]

22 hours ago, Andy Keane said:

The latest addition to my horse-drawn fleet is this etched brass Victoria - there is a photo of one of these outside Helston station pre first world-war. It was a bit tricky to solder up but in the end I got there with some burnt fingers. Getting paint to stick to the edges, even after a Q8 etch primer coat is proving harder. I am also wondering about colour schemes for the (folded down) hood, leather seats, footplates and wheels. I plan a grey gelding to pull it. Maybe an austere black for everything (matt on the seats and footplates) and dark grey on the hood would be best, but I am tempted by red wheel spokes!

Andy

 

Ah, that is lovely! And neatly built, looks delicate yet not too fragile. Is it from the Scale-Link kit? 

 

I personally like the idea of a sombre colour scheme. Alternatively, @MikeOxon went for a colourful look. See his post here:

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/blogs/entry/13938-gilding-victoria/

 

Edited September 9 by Mikkel

[Andy Keane]

8 hours ago, Pete Haitch said:

I'd go for the sheep - some people may suggest that they may not have been on that quality of grazing; but, the original was not as good as the model, and they could have been brought on to better ground to improve their condition prior to heading for the abattoir, going on the train to a show and sale, getting ready for the tups, having footrot treated etc etc. It would certainly add interest and longwools would be different from run of the mill sheep - you could even mention the SW serge industry if anyone asked about the wool. 

 

Having given up on the current layout, one of the areas I'm considering modelling is the loop of track just after leaving Helston - simple track plan but rolling stock that ranges from 1890 to 1936 - hence my interest in your thread.  

 

Re PO wagons. I think Mr Fowler's modified LNWR cattle may well have visited Helston either delivering or collecting the finest of Channel Island cattle.  I intend to add roof water tanks to the Wessex Wagon models and use them as place holders. I can't find it, but I think the LNWR Study Group may have a webpage about it and it looks like it is mention in this book https://wildswanbooks.co.uk/Books/LNWR-Wagons1.htm.

 

 

There were quite a few Plymouth / Devon PO wagons that wandered across into the border shires but I doubt they came much further.  I'm working on the principle that any that reached Pydershire or Powdershire could just as easily run on to Kerrier.  I know that for some reason there is view that all non-railway coal for Cornwall came by ship; however coal may have been one of the sources of PO wagons.  Obviously there was Helston Gas Co., but, at times of peak demand, their wagon fleet may have needed strengthening. Then I imagine there would be other customers for coal as well.

 

Renwick & Wilton / Renwick Wilton & Dobson Ltd were coal factors (?) that are reputed to have supplied all across Cornwall. There was a picture on here at one point that showed one of their wagons and a New Rock one at Bodmin (GWR). I have examples by Replica, Bachmann, Dapol and POW Sides and they are readily available second hand. 

 

East Somerset Models and also the Burnham MRC released a number of ltd eds of the New Rock wagon but every time I've seen them for sale its been for silly money so I'm waiting for POW Sides to stabilise and will get a couple from them. I guess it was a fairly easy run from the Somerset coal field down to Cornwall, which is why I've included the Dunkerton, Coal Factors wagon, although its currently hiding from me.

 

My thinking for including the Cambrian, Gloucester and Marcroft wagons was that they could have been supplied if a wagon factor had been used to strengthen an existing fleet.

 

The photo of the Trimsaran Anthracite wagon at Redruth has had me searching. The Hornby one appears to be on too squidley a wagon. The Slaters kit was rather better but has a slightly different livery as does the David Dacey Ltd Edition.

 

That leaves Rowe of Camborne. There were plenty of Rowes in the area; a general merchant, butcher and meat supplier, baker and pasty maker, fruit and veg merchant - and Bachmann have a 'Rowe' wagon in its Cornish Coal Merchants set. I could easily see one of these vehicle making an occasional visit to Helston, perhaps with Flora day supplies. I have two of the early Dapol model of this wagon but one may lose its coal load for something else.

Pete, many thanks for this really informative post. I have a good fleet of GWR wagons and have been thinking now about other railways and PO ones. I have Helston Gas of course and also some Renwick plus a couple of LMS and SR vans, but your list is very helpful indeed as I start to tackle this area. I will post on this thread how it goes.

 

The bend you plan contains the viaduct of course and it’s a lovely valley. It would make a super model and then we could couple the two together perhaps! If I had more room I would have included it but my loft is stuffed as it stands.

Andy

[Andy Keane]

30 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

 

Ah, that is lovely! And neatly built, looks delicate yet not too fragile. Is it from the Scale-Link kit? 

 

I personally like the idea of a sombre colour scheme. Alternatively, @MikeOxon went for a colourful look. See his post here:

 

https://www.rmweb.co.uk/blogs/entry/13938-gilding-victoria/

 

Thanks, very kind of you to say so. And yes it’s the ScaleLink kit. And wow Mike’s version is colourful! Mine just needs the reins and traces adding plus a driver and it will be finished. I have stayed very plain and dark but added brass hubs plus a little brass on the harness. Picture to follow later today.

Andy

[MikeOxon]

7 hours ago, Andy Keane said:

Thanks, very kind of you to say so. And yes it’s the ScaleLink kit. And wow Mike’s version is colourful! Mine just needs the reins and traces adding plus a driver and it will be finished. I have stayed very plain and dark but added brass hubs plus a little brass on the harness. Picture to follow later today.

Andy

Your construction is a lot neater than mine (I've restored the images in my post) and you managed not to bend the delicate wheels.  I keep meaning to make new wheels for mine - in the 'pending' tray 🙂

Mike

[Andy Keane]

This is where I have gotten to with a bit of weathering plus the driver, horse, reins and traces:

[Andy Keane]

Found this on the bay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226337047407

Will anyone really pay that much for a set of Genesis coaches? Amazing.

[Gilbert]

10 minutes ago, Andy Keane said:

Found this on the bay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226337047407

Will anyone really pay that much for a set of Genesis coaches? Amazing.

I suggest we get some popcorn.....

[gwrrob]

12 minutes ago, Andy Keane said:

Found this on the bay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226337047407

Will anyone really pay that much for a set of Genesis coaches? Amazing.

 

Mine are weathered so I'll be asking more for mine ......

[MikeOxon]

18 minutes ago, Andy Keane said:

Found this on the bay: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/226337047407

Will anyone really pay that much for a set of Genesis coaches? Amazing.

Nothing unusual - see the thread: https://www.rmweb.co.uk/forums/topic/5197-ebay-madness/

 

[MrWolf]

9 minutes ago, gwrrob said:

 

Mine are weathered so I'll be asking more for mine ......

 

If you do put them on flea bay don't forget to describe them as PRO WEATHERED!!! 

 

It's a thing apparently...😉

[gwrrob]

4 minutes ago, MrWolf said:

 

If you do put them on flea bay don't forget to describe them as PRO WEATHERED!!! 

 

It's a thing apparently...😉

@toboldlygo just might have brought my retirement forward slightly 😀

[Pete Haitch]

There is this for £60.00 (inc Post) 

[Andy Keane]

1 minute ago, Pete Haitch said:

There is this for £60.00 (inc Post) 

Fortunately I have a box of those or my Helston madness might have got the better of me!

[Andy Keane]

Now here is a conundrum for the weathering experts, @Gilbert, @toboldlygo, et al.

I am planning a small flock of Cornish Longwool sheep (https://www.rbst.org.uk/devon-and-cornwall-longwool) to go in one of the fields off Helston's Station Road. These will be based on these 3D printed characters which are the closest models I can find:

So having given them an off-white / cream mix enamel base coat I now need to introduce the darker colours into their fleeces.

So what to do? What about waiting for this coat to go really hard followed by a pinwash of very thin track dirt wiped off after a short wait? Or what about reaching for the powders?

I will also have to paint in mouths, snouts, eyes and hooves but that is easy if a slog.

All thought most welcome.

Andy

[Gilbert]

Well....

In this image (to me)  they look a bit creamier than your base coat Andy?

I'd go for a revised base coat followed by a dark pin (almost black but with some brown )wash (which may also find any features) and then some dry brushing to highlight...try one and see? They look slightly grubbier near ground level - and a further thought - a lot of photos seem to be of show animals which would no doubt be cleaner...

 

or would this be easier?

Chris

 

 

Edited September 10 by Gilbert

[Andy Keane]

Yes I think a slightly yellow tint would help.

By the way how long do you allow between enamel base coats and pin washing and how long do you leave the pin wash on before wiping over?

thanks

Andy

[Gilbert]

5 minutes ago, Andy Keane said:

By the way how long do you allow between enamel base coats and pin washing and how long do you leave the pin wash on before wiping over?

thanks

Andy

With a pin wash delivered with a rigger brush not very long as I don't tend to wipe off apart from removing any unwanted staining with a moist (white spirit or sansodor) micro brush.

 

With a paint on/wipe off wash I'd leave it at least 24 hours and usually longer TBH. The wash itself can be removed after about 15 minutes with a moist bud or similar.

 

Belt and braces I'd use a gloss coat suitably dry/cured after the base colour as washes perform better on gloss surfaces and then matt coat when finished.....these sheep are being made quite a fuss of.......

C

[Andy Keane]

19 minutes ago, Gilbert said:

these sheep are being made quite a fuss of

Well we wouldn't just fluffy white blobs would we! 

[Gilbert]

20 minutes ago, Andy Keane said:

Well we wouldn't just fluffy white blobs would we! 

I couldn't possibly comment.....

[57xx]

22 hours ago, MrWolf said:

 

If you do put them on flea bay don't forget to describe them as PRO WEATHERED!!! 

 

It's a thing apparently...😉

 

Pah, amateurs! *PRO WEATHERED LOOK* is where i'ts at!

[Gilbert]

3 minutes ago, 57xx said:

 

Pah, amateurs! *PRO WEATHERED LOOK* is where i'ts at!

PRO WEATHERED LEWEK  surely?

[toboldlygo]

7 hours ago, Andy Keane said:

Now here is a conundrum for the weathering experts, @Gilbert, @toboldlygo, et al.

I am planning a small flock of Cornish Longwool sheep (https://www.rbst.org.uk/devon-and-cornwall-longwool) to go in one of the fields off Helston's Station Road. These will be based on these 3D printed characters which are the closest models I can find:

So having given them an off-white / cream mix enamel base coat I now need to introduce the darker colours into their fleeces.

So what to do? What about waiting for this coat to go really hard followed by a pinwash of very thin track dirt wiped off after a short wait? Or what about reaching for the powders?

I will also have to paint in mouths, snouts, eyes and hooves but that is easy if a slog.

All thought most welcome.

Andy

Baarmy if you ask me - I think the easiest way is to spray them black, the spray them white from above (zenithal highlighting it's called) then with a filter coat spray all over in a of white.

[Andy Keane]

Have just spent 30 minutes reading old magazines in my local tyre depot while getting a couple fitted. There was an interesting article on rabbits and historic rabbit shoots. The key point though was the annual harvest of rabbits in England in the 1930's was typically around 40 million! no wonder Helston had a specialist van - I bet there were many others dotted around the country for similar traffic.

[BWsTrains]

21 hours ago, Andy Keane said:

Now here is a conundrum for the weathering experts, @Gilbert, @toboldlygo, et al.

I am planning a small flock of Cornish Longwool sheep (https://www.rbst.org.uk/devon-and-cornwall-longwool) to go in one of the fields off Helston's Station Road. These will be based on these 3D printed characters which are the closest models I can find:

So having given them an off-white / cream mix enamel base coat I now need to introduce the darker colours into their fleeces.

So what to do? What about waiting for this coat to go really hard followed by a pinwash of very thin track dirt wiped off after a short wait? Or what about reaching for the powders?

I will also have to paint in mouths, snouts, eyes and hooves but that is easy if a slog.

All thought most welcome.

Andy

 

Lots of $hit coloured light brown around the rear end and down the back legs. I used to do research which involved sheep and I never saw a clean one in all my time out at the farm. As they spend much of their time with fleeces longer rather than shorter, the dirtier the better TBH.

Edited September 11 by BWsTrains
typo