Happy New Year everybody, and may our modelling in 2017 be even more enjoyable and successful than last year.

"Slow continuation" means that the trailing vehicle of this DMU now has correct (I think!) destination blinds. I have made negligible progress in two areas of research; namely, the actual wording on the blinds and an accurate set of vehicle numbers (cab numbers in steam terminology), for the Metro DMUs that worked on the Hayfield branch. Any input would be appreciated!

I have assumed that the accepted protocol of steam locos on the branch is likely to have followed through to DMU sets, so my powered car will be at the front when leaving Manchester Piccadilly (nee-London Rd) but of course trailing when in the opposite direction. In my view, this latter choice is of little importance but I would like to have a correctly numbered DMU on my version of the Hayfield Branch.

The fact that there was no need to 'run-round' at Hayfield does mean that the wording on the blinds never needs changing; - "Manchester" at London Rd end and "Hayfield" at the other. I make the research even more demanding in wanting my DMU to travel via Guidebridge and Hyde Junction and I'm pretty certain this was included on the destination blinds as "via Hyde".

If Lima got the size of the blinds correct then I'm absolutely certain there was insufficient space to include "via Hyde" but at Manchester it was vital information for some passengers, so I'm equally certain it would have been included some where.

My choice was to have a much smaller plaque quoting "via Hyde" and slipping into a clip such that the plaque was viewed through the driver's cab windows.

Production of my model versions were by using CorelDraw. I drew a black-filled rectangle sized to match Lima's destination blind moulding, and wrote on this in white Arial narrow font with font height of 1.27mm. The two main blinds were 7.6mm long by 1.5mm high and my estimated size for the subsidiary blind was 2.5mm by 2.3mm. printed on an A4 Sheet they looked like:

While still on the A4 sheet, each blind had two coats of gloss varnish and allowed 24 hour drying. Note all the spares; - I expected to loose some along the fitting stage! I did!!!!!!!!!!!

Four millimeter scale eyes may be able to read them; my aged 12" to the foot eyes certainly can't unless aided by an eye loupe, and this shows the slight damage to the black areas caused by manipulation with the point of a cocktail stick. Adhesive used was gloss varnish and a further top coat of same finished the job

I shall do the power coach but one has to wonder how sensible the whole operation was.

Dave