Its been a few months since I last managed any modelling, but after finishing early yesterday afternoon I've managed to get a couple of hours sat out side with TMS on the radio and a beer in hand.

First up was some painting, I am determined to get my D95 breaks finished before the new Hornby model comes out (otherwise the temptation to just buy the better Hornby model and avoid the painting will be too much…) So out with a can of Games Workshop “Skull White” primer, and I now have 2 breaks, the H33 restaurant and an Airfix autocoach all ready for paint. The next challenge is going to be finding somewhere suitable to set up the Airbrush (not to mention remembering how to use the thing… I am certainly not looking forward to masking off the cream!

A few months back I bought a Kirk kit for a GWR “Monster” through the classifieds, looking for another quick project this was dug out and started. Given the kits age I was impressed with what you get, the sides and ends were well moulded, and the bogies were very easy to get together. It’s a shame it didn’t pass through to Parkside…

After cleaning up a minor amount of flash, I started by modifying the floor opening up the bogie mount holes to accept the bolts before gluing the nut in place on the floor. A small offcut of plasticard was glued in place to prevent the nut rotating.

Following the instructions I then glued the first end to side, followed by the floor, other end and the final side. The bogies were then screwed in place, before starting on the underframe. I have used the Kirk truss rods to model the post 1930 build of the van, the gas tanks were glued in place using the drawing in Russell as a guide, before cobbling together the vac break gear and V hangers etc. using various etches and mouldings out of my bits box.

I have added the window bars from the inside using an etch intended for some sort of Southern Region EMU, as the inside is now a sealed box I hope they are glued firmly in place as this is what is going to support the glazing……

The one part of the kit which was less than satisfactory was the roof, which was a very poor fit (as is usually the case with a plastic kit…) After some fettling I think I got it to fit correctly, though some pressure was required to hold it down while it dried. Having left it drying when I went to bed last night I am a little nervous as to what I will find this afternoon when I get home from work…

Hopefully should get it finished tonight (just break leavers etc. to add, then it can be painted at the same time as the coaches…