Welsh dragon rail - north welsh coast layout united kingdom

[tomcook]

@Welsh Dragon Rai

That backdrop is amazing. I spent a year driving up and down that valley every weekend and can vouch for their accuracy in capturing the 'feel' Well done your inlaw

I look forward to seeing more.

[WP&P]

If there is interest in me continuing this blog...

Well, let's see. You post copious photos of a big layout with complex track work, a terrific backdrop, hints at stellar scenery that even includes a castle (<terrygilliamvoice> It's only a model... </terrygilliamvoice>), and I do believe I even see a steam loco in these last shots. @Moose2013 - what do you say, is there continued interest? Looking for a thumbs-up to join my own, but maybe a hoof up will suffice.

[badlandnp]

I agree with the above, the backdrop painting is most excellent! And the entirety of your project is a great exercise in railroading.

[tomcook]

@Welsh Dragon Rail Every thing WP&P says and more. No more sneaking off for a few years and not updating, you got that ?

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

Sorry to all as I think I have not posted for about 2 years. My laptop died a couple of years ago and so I lost the thread. I have been busy in the last 2 years with the mountain and much more. Photos to follow.

A small section of the mountain adjacent to Penmaenmawr in northern Wales. I have fitted it onto the layout at the top around the corner Penmaenmawr. I can only fit a the lower section onto the layout as I would well through the roof.
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The under side of the mountain showing wood supports, chicken wire and paper mache, strong but flexible and will not crack.
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The length of the mountain under construction. A rail and road viaduct are at the foot of the mountain sitting over the ocean.
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More photos in a subsequent post
Regards,

Anthony Ashley

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

Dear All,

More photos of the mountain creation.

I have added concrete dust to create the rubble effect on the actual mountain.


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I created a template in order to cut the road viaduct arches consistently.
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One side of the road viaduct marked and cut!
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I bought plasticard piers but they were not long enough. I have had to lengthen them by adding my own molded resin stone but fortunately it matched the bought material. It has been painted in the mortar colour.
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Gluing the road viaduct body together.
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Glue is dry, the underside of the viaduct ready to glue the piers.
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First pier in position.
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Pier with additional piece added for more height.
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Viaduct body being tested without the piers.
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Regards,

Anthony Ashley

[shider]

So glad to see this build continuing. This part of Wales, is one of my favorite places on the planet.

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

More photos of the mountain development.


Around the corner of the main mountain on the way to Penmaenmawr.
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Further development of the roads

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Rail avalanche shelter at the base of the mountain
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Paper mache applied to the curved area.
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Paper mache in this area completed and primed.
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A very unusual road section with walled areas inserted between the rock outcrops. I have had a rail modelling frind ask why I created such an odd effect, but he understood when I showed the photo below.
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Photo of the actual road
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Piers with my scrap built extension
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Piers in place on the layout
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Arches undersides added to the viaduct.
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More photos to follow.

Regards,
Anthony Ashley

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

Detailed view of the underside of the viaduct arches.
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Arches with stone capping above the arch.
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Road viaduct with road plastering completed
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Road viaduct nearly finished with traffic
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1st shot of the rail viaduct under construction
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Part of the hidden track under the layout which will eventually lead to the Chester storage yard.
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Plaster work forming a rock lined gully on the mountain.
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The vertical cliff face has been painted.
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Water based paint used on the gully
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I shall focus on the rail viaduct on the next post.

Regards,

Anthony Ashley

[peteGSX]

This is going to look amazing, thanks for sharing!

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

Pete thanks for the encouraging comment, as they provide real motivation to continue with the project.

Photos of the rail viaduct progress.

The fronts of the piers have rounded ends in stonework. Queen Bee resin will mold to a round surface if held in place.m Pegs are aused intil set.
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Back of the viaduct with square ends
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Adding the resin brickwork with brick capping
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Underside of the arch with brickwork in place.
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First of the pier fronts in place
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The back of the piers with ends covered.
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Walls in different brickwork and piers ends complete
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Ovrview
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More rail viaduct photos to follow.

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

See post above for initial Rail Viaduct pier construction photos.

The first front pier covered
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The front of the piers painted and affixed.
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On the layout with some locos
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Both the rail and road viaduct on the layout
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Scenery under the road viaduct arches
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Scenery under the rail viaduct
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Next will be the rest of the mountain with scenery added.

[OTFan]

Impressive work. Thanks for posting a picture of the actual mountain as well. That looks like a beautiful spot. You are certainly capturing the feel of it, and that wide angle shot in your last post proves it.

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

OTFan I hope you enjoy this series of photos which will focus on the overall mountain landscape. Thanks for your post.

Working on the lower scenery on the mountain. In 1960 there was little vegetation on the slopes with mainly rock scree and boulders. It has gradually become more vegetated over the years.
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Close up of the vegetation.
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The other side of the mountain with the rocky outcrops completed.
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Close up of the other side again with the area completed
Attachment 130256

Flowers in the wilds of Wales!
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Overview of the mountain with both viaducts and completed vegetation
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Next I shall focus on the Penmaenmawr side of the mountain and the development of the rial infrastructure in Penmaenmawr.

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

Double post later deleted

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

focussing on working around the corner of the layout back towards Penmaenmawr, including cliff faces, avalanche shelters, tunnel portals and a large gully.


The cliff face with additional plaster to fill in the gaps.
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Cliff face and gully completed and painted
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Moving around the layout with paper mache
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The paper mache has been finished and painted. I have no more gapped the gully with plaster rock faces to create the rocky gully.
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Have painted and added some scenic material to the gully and mountain. The mountain is covered in more crushed concrete.
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The start of the avalanche shelter construction with ribs showing to support the roof.
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The entrance and back has a metal beam now affixed prior to painting
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Next will be finishing the avalanche shelter and working on the cliff area and road tunnels.

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

Dear All,

More photos of the construction of the large avalanche shelter and the eastern end of the mountain close to Penmaenmawr.

The roof was placed atop the ribbing. Resin stonework on the exterior wall.
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The structure is curved to meet the mountain profile. Foam added to the top.
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Painted and completed structurally but with vegetation to be added.
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First stage of building the cliff face above the short road tunnel.
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Moulded plaster rocks added to the foam
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Other side of the tunnel
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Further around the cliff.
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Filling in the blanks.
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Cliff face above the rail lines with plaster rocks to be added.
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Next will be continuation of the cliff faces

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

Long avalanche shelter with paper mache completed above it
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Cliff face with road construction under way. I used ply as the base and a 3 ml foam board cut into thin strips to create an edging material. Then laid plaster cloloured with black concrete pigment to get the road colour.
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Next tunnel area for the road.
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Rail portal with plaster rocks in position using no ,ore gaps prior to painting with water based paints. The small avalanche shelter fits in front of the portal.
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Partially painted cliff face.
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The same portal area with the small avalanche shelter fitted.
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Vegetation added to the avalanche shelter.
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The road above the raill lines skirting the cliff is elevated in one area with pylon support.
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Nearly completed road portal
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Completed road portal from the other side. Rocks painted and vegetation added.
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Next I will provide photos of area completed.

[Scotian_Huntress]

Is the flat roof on your railway slide shelter prototypical? Normally, at least in North America they are angled, see for example at the 8 minute mark
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G9LDYGcUDG8

[Welsh Dragon Rail]

Scotian thanks for your question. The small avalanche shelter is flat as shown in the picture below.

Avalanch shelter.jpg

There is however a slight angle on the larger one replicated in the model. Both have very distinct roofs as compared to the video I watched, where the tunnels were cut more under the mountains. A difference from the UK and US. Thanks again for your comment as I enjoy the interaction generated by such discussion.