As well as getting Wheal Elizabeth ready for the Cheltenham show this weekend, this week I've been building a 51L kit for a Castle Cement air braked hopper. This will be added to the modern image fleet for occasional use. Nothing to do with china clay at all as far as I know, but there were workings to Chacewater, so maybe an excuse for a diverted working? The real reason is it was on the bring and buy a couple of years ago at Scaleforum.

I'd kind of hoped it'd be ready for the show, but I've only got to the undercoating stage. Still it may get a run out.

The kit's built as per the instructions, some sketches would have helped but otherwise it went together ok. The pressure gauges on either side were missing from the kit, but I'm not sure I'm that bothered about it.

I took a few pictures before I packed the layout up this afternoon, including one of the new platform and additional bridge. I think it needs a bit of detail yet, but as I run 1958-1988 I don't want to put anything on there which dates it at the detriment of other periods. Maybe a pagoda style shelter would help, though I've not modelled the whole of the platform surface obviously.

The first outing for the end to end format with passenger working will be at Manchester this October for those who are interested.