Bae Ceredigion: The next chapter (N part 44)…

I've hinted for a few weeks that my original 'Bae Ceredigion' scene was a statement of intent for something larger. Since before Christmas plans have been discussed with friend George about building an N gauge exhibition layout together...

Attending the Manchester exhibition sealed the deal and our shared love of the Cambrian line from Shrewsbury to Pwllheli and Aberystwyth the setting. Knowing this would be on the way fuelled the building of Nant Geseiliog farmhouse, and this week the over bridge, lightly inspired by the occupation bridge at Ynys-hir and constructed using a 40thou core overlaid with various Slaters embossed textures, carefully prepared and tweaked to hide joins and disguise straight cut edges - painted in my usual palette colours which seem to sit well with the farmhouse.

Rather than concern ourselves with the pressing issue of baseboard George and I are working through the structures required first, and so I've prepared a sketch of the halt shelter which I plan to build from clear styrene and paint the windows on directly - although not sure what to use for the planking and corrugated sheeting yet. Using the template and jigs designed for the original Bae Ceredigion bridge I've built 8 trestles for the slightly larger bridge we're including on the layout.

What's this yellow peril? George is focusing on a 'today' for a collection of suitable stock and has begun his N gauge journey with this Network Rail 97/3 (Class 37) from a Farish model - so far weathered and lowered, he's planning a short rake of ballast wagons to accompany this model and in time add a Transport for Wales 158. Not only his first locomotive, but also his first scratchbuild, he has taken on building the crossing keepers cottage. This is 'inspired' by an example between Llandre and Bow Street on the Aberystwyth line, I'll let him explain...

Modelling and photography here and pair below, George Williamson

The base of the line-side cottage was made from plastikard, and the end tiled with scribed card. The walls were covered with textured paint but the effect was too strong for the scale, so it was sanded back a bit, before the base paint went on. Windows are clear plastic with the frames masked and sprayed on… fiddly work!

 

One of the challenges we're both enjoying already is combining our different artistic hands to create a holistic scene. Regular conversations on textures, colours and method are resulting in me learning more, and thinking often, having to interrogate my own choices and decisions and explain those is a great experience. 

So exciting times - and my new (to me) Farish 25 is seen peeping out of the bridge, here with the farmhouse (remember both of these structures will be buried 1-2mm in the ground, and the locomotive is on the deck, not on rails - so will sit higher in the opening) and looking 'at one' with each other. I have found on the N scale journey a lot of modelling in this scale is about subtlety. Techniques from the larger scales can be very effective, but their use toned down. Working now with a fellow modeller who is a little behind on the journey is fascinating and good fun to watch and I hope in time George and I will be able to share a little more of what we're hoping to create. Any exhibition managers out there interested in 6-8ft long scenic Cambrian based layout you know where to find us! In the meantime, more soon...

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