Well since the last update I have come to realise as few things, some more important than others but the major discoveries are.

1. Modelling time is still incredibly rare.
2. I found my box of tanks wagons and a couple of other things that will remain secret.
3. I think I have a bit of a collecting problem.

My last update highlighted a couple of bargain Shell Electrical Oils wagons I found in a local box shifters, I remembered that I already had maybe 4 or 5 of these and that they were in a box with a few other tanks wagons. A few years back when tank wagons could be found for £5-£6 each new (before you say it, it was still this century) I had a habit if I went anywhere that had a model shop of picking the occasional one up.

Working through the box I found 13in the collection, which means I have a nice string of 15 Shell tanks. As I was opening the boxes for the first I was amazed and the inconsistent build quality of these wagons. Of the 13 from the collection 8 of them have little defects that need a little attention, either before they could be used on the layout or weathered.

The lost common faults being

1 Brake levers either being attached at one end only, or completely lose.
2 Axle boxes being compressed so the wheels do not freely run.
3 Wheels not actually in the axle boxes
4 Tank securing wire not attached on one side (tiny predrilled holes for these but wires not located).

I suppose the plus side is fixing all the little faults will give me something to do, the disappointing thing is this will use up even more of my incredibly rare modelling time, I should be finishing projects not creating new ones.

As for my collecting problem..... well I always thought it was silly to accumulate stock and never use it, just for it to sit in boxes unopened. In fact I use to decry people who just collected stock and never used it, and I think maybe I have almost, nearly, almost become a collector.... What am I to do, should I hastily get rid of this excess of stock? OR SHOULD I BUILD A BIGGER LAYOUT???

Until the next time Happy Modelling.