The last UFO report I did was in January so I guess it is worth updating what has happened and what projects are on the work bench at the moment (incidentally I need a new work bench as well...).

A few completions have been made to the Autorail fleet. Starting with the X3900:

This Autorail now has a DCC chip installed on the Tomix Chassis, I used a 6 pin decoder socket so that if a sound unit becomes available then it can be installed later.

I have also completed the X5800 and the X5600 (FNC):

These Autorails have both been converted to DCC but I think that the FNC will be problematic on the track work as it has a short wheel base. One solution I am considering is running them as a permanently coupled pair.

There are also a few works in progress. Starting with the ADX:

The chassis has been extended from a Tomix TM08 and has a DCC chip installed with a 6 pin socket. There is a sound module that I have my eye on but at £100 it is eye wateringly expensive. This needs painting, the details need adding and then it needs glazing. I need to get a small part for my airbrush to get this one sorted. Next month will see work progress on this (I hope).

The X2400:

A bit of a step back with this in that the primer is not that well applied and a new chassis needs to be converted from a Tomix one.

The X2800 fleet:

I now have 3 X2800 units in various stages of completion. The older style unrefurbished version just requires painting and glazing. The refurbished resin shell needs to be given a coat of primer and then painted + glazed. The brass model needs starting, however it looks like it could be quite a challenge so I will start that once the ADX is completed. All three require a new chassis and I expect to convert Tomix chassis' for the job since they are easy to convert to DCC as well as extend in size. Added to this, I find them reliable and relatively quiet in operation.

Some newer projects have commenced but need a fair bit of work:

X2200:

This is a resin shell, very kindly obtained by Kintbury Jon for me. I am going to paint it in the modern blue and grey TER livery and make some bespoke transfers for the Limousin region. I am really looking forward to getting this one done and it might be one of the big priorities for the next few months.

A few DU65 Draisines:

I wanted to have a few of the DU65 Draisines made up and looking nice so I can run them around the layout. I am hand painting them which will be tricky but hopefully they will look ok.

So that is the UFO report, here are some of my recent purchases for the layout:

The 72000 is to replace the older versions of this loco that I am getting rid of as they are just too difficult to convert to DCC. This version is made by Minitrix and is numbered 72073 in the spaghetti logo blue livery. It is a lovely model with nice features including NEM couplers. The 67000 is a Minitrix model too and it helps to close a gap in my loco fleet for this particular location.

Just before I finish this post here is a quick picture of part of the main module of the layout:

Over the past two weeks I have been raising the terrain around the edge of the unitrack to make it look better as well as starting work on ballasting it. Before that I added the island platform and stuck the platform sides in place. It is coming together quite nicely (it even has a small patch of grass on it now...).