Hi all. I trust everyone had a happy Christmas and that the big guy was good to them. Hands up all those who got a lump of coal. As I've said previously, rail modellers are a lucky lot. If we're good, we get what we want for Christmas and if we're bad, we get a lump of coal which we could use anyway so it's a win win situation.

I must have been very good as I received an apple watch for Christmas along with some very interesting materials that could be used on the model railway when the time comes.

Now that we've got Christmas, New year and my birthday out of the way, it's time to get back to the story.

The story so far is this. The grounded coach body seems to have ground to a halt for the minute while I contemplate the next move. I can say it may involve a base and possibly a couple of trees that I have made. I did mount it on a piece of styrofoam but I wasn't too keen on how that reacted to the spray paint so I have swapped that out for a piece of MDF I had around. I also plan to try out some of the aforementioned materials that I received for Christmas to see how they look in a scene.

Another rummage through the boxes has turned up a part built Ratio 4 wheeled GWR coach that I seemed to have inherited from somewhere. As the previous owner had gone to the trouble of fitting metal wheels and three link couplings to it, It seemed silly not to finish it. I have built three of these myself (also with three link couplings), so it isn't much of a challenge to do these. I did however, think about fitting an interior to this one as I was never quite happy with previous ones not having one. A quick look in the spares box produced two double platform seats which, by a happy chance, are just the right length to fit in the carriage. Problem is, to make the 4 compartment interiors, I need 4 of them. 3 to be left whole and 1 to be cut in half length ways to for the end seats. Guess I need to go shopping. To make the compartments, I flattened off the top of the seats with an emery board (Formerly from Mrs Milkmans nail care box) and glued a piece of plasticard to each one. After painting, they look very much like a single wall with a seat either side. Hopefully, I can find a couple more seats to finish this off and maybe build more of them. Aside from the seat availability issue, the is also the matter of a bend in one of the sides to be sorted. Seems the kit was exposed to some high temperature t one point and has a lovely wave shape to it.

Those of you who have read my previous post, would know of my passion for collecting old Tri-ang trains. It seems that, lately, the Tri-ang gods are smiling on me as I have picked up several items off Ebay at what I would consider to be reasonable prices. First off was a "TransAustralia" double ended diesel for $45Au which came from a seller in the next town from me. He was kind enough to drop it off to my door so I saved on postage there. Next came a 1957/8 Dock shunter in excellent condition which cost me $60Au including shipping from the U.K. I have since seen several more examples in worse condition being sold for almost double that. Last but by no means least, I have managed to pick up a R4DA TransAustralia set dating from about 1965-7 for a shade under $200Au which I consider a good buy as these sets don't come up all that often.

Well, that's all I have for you now my friends so I'll bid you adieu until my next installment. Until that time, take care and happy modelling.

The materials I received from my beloved for Christmas. Found them in one of our large fabric chain stores.

The part built Ratio Coach I found in a box at the back of a cupboard.

Looking along the distorted side of the carriage.

The Station seats in situ as carriage seats.

Flattening the tops of the seats.

Pieces of plasticard added to form the compartment partitions.

Two of my recent purchases from E-bay.