1 - 1980 - Banwy Valley II

The Banwy Valley Mk 2 was my first attempt at a layout in 7mm narrow gauge. I used the two baseboards from Bowcester & Vayne Mk 2 joined end-to-end, so it measured 8' x 30" (roughly). The sunken section that formed the quay at Bowcester became the standard gauge siding here.

The layout was based on Corris Station, with a rather simplified track-plan. It was no longer a through station, and the carriage shed only had one road. I don't recall Corris having a standard gauge connection, either. The obligatory fiddle-yard was at the left-hand end.

A view of most of the layout, showing the simple track plan and spacious feel despite the larger scale. Buildings and walls were made from thick cardboard from packing cases, known as Triwall, painted with the textured ceiling paint, then slates were painted individually, leaving spaces between to represent mortar. Looking at it now, I think I should have made the mortar courses thinner.

A view of the right-hand end, showing the head-shunt with water tank and coal stage at top right, and the standard gauge siding in its entirety at the bottom. The raised scenery at the back and left end was formed from card contours and plaster bandage. The ground was built up to rail level with card and the trusty textured ceiling paint employed again - not so rough in the larger scale.

The narrow gauge trackwork was Peco 00 flexitrack, with matching small radius points. To hide the closely-spaced sleepers they were covered with ballast, while the points had grey plasticine pushed down between the sleepers to level with their tops, then alternating sleepers painted grey or brown - a technique I'd first tried on the IoM layout. Looking at the second photo, this seems to have disguised their origin surprisingly well, while allowing them to operate unimpeded. Point control was via Peco point motors under the board. I remembered to paint the sides of the rails this time.

The left end of the station building. It was based on photos of Corris Station, rather loosely interpreted. The glazed panels were made from the plastic sheet that used to be sold as secondary double glazing.

The other end of the station building. The roof slates were overlapping strips of card with gaps cut across half the width with a pair of Stanley knife blades mounted together - 2 cuts with each pass, removing a thin strip.

-o0o-

A move down from Lincolnshire to Suffolk, and the purchase of a house with much less space for modelling, meant that Banwy Valley Mk 2 was scrapped in 1982. The baseboards seem to have been scrapped too, as they don't appear in any subsequent layout. Family finances were obviously improving, if I could afford to build new ones

Page created 19 May 2011 Last edited 18 June 2011