I was hoping to be discussing some actual modelling but studying and trips have got in the way.

Some weeks ago I saw the T gauge etched signal box kit reviewed in Railway Modeller. An N gauge modelling colleague and I thought it would be fun to order one each and try to build it. £8 inc P&P is no dramas. Having painted the moulded glazing window frames, I moved onto the etch. The first thing is to make the T gauge signal levers. Several hours in to folding truly minute bits of brass I am about 1/4 of the way through one set of levers. With the entire signal box being about the height of a 5 pence it is quite fiddly. And this was my first attempt at etched brass kits! I will continue once my studies are complete and post the result. A great but tiny project that is smaller than the OO gauge laser cut garden shed from 4Ground I completed recently.

Another project pending finding a suitable wagon is replicating the Romford MHA. South of the infamous 'Shenfield Shark', still sat off Platform 1 is the less well known 'Romford MHA' - an abandoned and loaded EWS MHA. Despite beign right outside the brand new Train Operating Centre and upgrade to the PW depot for Crossrail etc, this old MHA is still sat at the headshunt by the Down Fast line, just south of Romford. Indeed you can see it from space! Well, Google Earth anyway.

https://www.google.co.uk/maps/place/Romford,+Greater+London/@51.5727686,0.1752456,154m/data=!3m1!1e3!4m5!3m4!1s0x47d8a23174b37231:0x932de78a76329f31!8m2!3d51.577076!4d0.178319?hl=en

It is full of old ballast and spoil and has things growing in it like a big rusty flowerbed! Great little modelling project. Its location makes its hard to photograph, but I've included a moving shot. As its right next to the Fast lines getting a good shot is almost impossible. When I track down a decent Hornby MHA I will apply some landscaping techniques to replicate it. If anyone has one spare at realistic price let me know.

More excitingly, I caught a 68 on the GE mainline the other day, working what I assume is a Abellio GA Mk3 to Wabtec for a refurb. It had been checked at a signal and I had to run over the bridge and along the platform to get some photos on my phone. It sounds very different from the 66's and 70's we normally get. It was 68017 'Hornet'. Result on seeing my 1st 68. Nice short train to model once Dapol release their model hopefully later in the year.