Practical Procrastination

Layout progress has been minimal of late. Have removed the narrow gauge track off the boards and looking at how I can tweak the track plan to suit my needs. There’s things like wanting to use a traverser for the fiddle yard rather than cassettes, but the track doesn’t line up for that, which is one disadvantage of using modular baseboards.

There is also the voice niggling in the back of my mind to rip it all up, plan it properly and start again as my late friend Neil did. At the time I thought it was unwise, but it proved to be the best approach as Neil ended up creating the lovely ‘Elsbridge’ layout as a result. Proper planning within a restricted space also worked well for ‘Wheal Ponder’ too. We shall see.

In the meantime, there has been a positivity about my procrastination, who knew such a thing could exist?!! After completing the carriages, I’d been playing about with stock and track to see what would work and the temptation to do something with my Minerva Manning Wardle proved too great to resist.

As produced, it’s a superb model, but like all rtr products, benefits from some personalisation.

The smokebox door has been modified to the lift up style as fitted to so many of these locos. 

Secondly, the cab has been cut and shut to come down in front of the coal bunker and not behind it. A modification fitted to ‘Morous’ of the Selsey Tramway and something which in my opinion improves the look of these little locos.

Thirdly, Westinghouse air brake equipment has been fitted. Using a North Eastern air pump casting and air pipes from Laurie Griffin, a spare NG7 clack valve from my bits box (a little large but it’s what I had to hand) and some pipe work bent up from brass rod. All hopefully giving the impression of a latter addition to a second hand loco. Though seeing the shape of the steam supply pipe to the pump, think I’d be wanting to stand well clear of it whilst the condensation from that nasty dip cleared!

Real coal was added to the bunker and a loco crew from my stash of figures, these ones being S&D examples. 

Continuing my Shipping Forecast theme, ‘Heligoland’ nameplates and Mannjng Wardle worksplates from Light Railway Stores were fitted before I set to work on the paintwork with my now usual acrylics.

Quite pleased with how this little project has turned out. Now I really must get on with the layout…

The current MVR fleet posed on Elsbridge, ‘Fair Isle’ and ‘Malin’ at the rear from Ixion and ‘Heligoland’ at the front.