Tuesday, 12 August 2025

"Ramsdale" a new small O9 layout.

 

From the company's history : 

"The hope of building or extending the railway to Baytown was never far from Willis’s (the Director) mind. Waiting patiently for a few years brought an opportunity to buy some land to strike out in Baytown’s direction.  Part of “Fyling Park”, once hunting grounds, and subsequently owned by Whitby Abbey, came onto the market.  This appealed to Willis as the area is very scenic and also has ruins of an old (but never strategically important) castle on high land at an area called “Ramsdale”.  After agreeing a quick sale - probably influenced by Willis himself - one and a half miles of track could possibly be laid on new track bed"


The baseboard for "Ramsdale".  It is 36" x 20" and will have a siding with a tail back, and a fiddle-loop at the rear left-hand corner hidden by some ruined castle walls.

The castle walls under construction, made using Slaters 7mm Dressed Stone sheet and 5mm foamboard, supported with wooden blocks.

The painted walls, using several tints of Humbrol.

The walls being glued into position.
 

After scenic treatment has been added.

After scenic treatment.

The layout will have just two buildings, scenics, and a few small features.

Wednesday, 19 February 2025

Loco Roll Call


I had an enjoyable time photographing my completed locos built over the last six years for the O9 Modelling Facebook page.  When looking at the photos it's amazing how you notice some painting defects and locos that need more detailing, I will have to tidy them up I think.  

All run on 4-wheeled Kato chassis unless mentioned.

Here are the pictures:- 

"Oread", Unit Models O-081 Diesel Loco (2019)

"Wyvern", Tebee Models from Shapeways, Side Tank with half cab. (2019)

"Drake", Tebee Models from Shapeways, Side Tank with open back cab (modified). (2019)

"Satyr", Minimum Gauge Models CL001 (2020)

"Pyralis", Avalon Line ALS1-9 Steam Tram, Farish 1109 chassis, (2020)

"Leviathan", Avalon Line ALS1-9 Steam Tram, Farish 1109 chassis, (2020)

"Orthus", Narrow Rails LOC002 Freelance Diesel. (2020)

 "Alerion", Minimum Gauge Models XX002 Lister Auto Truck (2021)

"Tiamat", Dapol Pug conversion and plasticard (2021)

"Griffin", Narrow Rails LOC003 Full Cab Freelance Diesel (2022)

"Knucker", Floyd Kraemer (FK3D print)  Ransomes Rapier (2022)

"Mindi", Minimum Gauge Models RHDR "Scooter" loco RH001 (2022)

"Hydra", Floyd Kraemer (FK3D print) Side Tank Steam Tram (2022)

"Kelpie", Minimum Gauge Models MO-012 Toby Style Tram (2023)

"Hyena", Avalon Line ALD2-9 Freelance Full Cab Diesel (2023)

"Ladon", Avalon Line ALD1-9 Freelance Open Cab Diesel (2023)

"Kur", Floyd Kraemer (FK3D print) Hudson Hunslet (2024)

"Scylla", Pankot Models Diesel Tram (2024)

"Siren", Avalon Line ALR1-9 Railbus, Tomytec TM-TR01 chassis (2024)

"Kappa", Black Dog LC02 Orenstein & Koppel Diesel, N-Drive Productions chassis (2024)

"Minotaur", Avalon Line ALS2 Closed Steam Tram, Bachmann Plymouth Diesel chassis (2024)

"Typhon", Floyd Kraemer (FK3D print) Saddle Tank Steam Tram (2025)

"Nimbus", De Winton style Vertical Boiler scratch build (2025)

Tuesday, 21 January 2025

Update January 2025

January 2025 

A couple of new (old loco kits) have appeared this month plus an attempted scratch-build going on.

First "Minotaur" seen test running at "Drawley".  This was a part- built second-hand purchase, an Avalon Line ALS-2 running on a Bachmann 6w Plymouth Diesel chassis which runs quite well, so it was retained.  I have some matching coaches for it in the un-built kits box, so I must build a couple of them.

"Kappa". Another part-built purchase was this Black Dog LC02 Orenstein & Koppel running on an N-Drive Productions 4w chassis which also runs well. 

This is a vertical boilered loco based on a De Winton.  It is being built as an entry into our Norfolk & Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers (Norfolk & Suffolk Narrow Gauge Modellers) "2025 Challenge" competition for our show on Saturday 3rd May.  I am working on the rivet detail and couplings at the moment, but it is scratch built from plasticard with odd mouldings from the "bits box".  Underneath is a Kato 11-103, picked because the motor is lower than a "109".