In between working on the scenic features, I've been enjoying giving some of my older S&D-related models a run.

44422 was an S&D 4F and this model was renumbered about a decade ago, It's an old Hornby 4F with the Airfix-style tender drive. Although beyond the pale in certain quarters, my experience with these particular mechanisms is that they respond incredibly well to DCC. There's a bog-standard Hornby chip in this one and the running is quite superb, with impeccable slow stop/starts and the ability to creep around the layout at a dead crawl without interruption. About the only downside to it is that it's a little noisy at passenger train speeds, and from a low angle you can see the gears in the tender, but regarded as a rugged goods loco, with the three feet rule, it's more than enough for my needs. Other than shortening the loco-tender gap, adjusting the back to backs of the main drivers, and some weathering, lamps and crew, it's as it came - a testament to the basically sound Airfix model from the 70s.

Rather more up to date is this Bachmann 7F. This is one of several 7Fs available for the layout, including a DJH one, but as yet the only one fitted with a decoder. I believe this one came with factory weathering. Other than crew and lamps, it's as it came. These are superb models and a boon for the S&D. Note how the 7F handily conceals the fact that I haven't yet renamed the Shillingstone signal box!

Finally, for now, the same loco from a slightly different angle. Although I didn't mention it last time, one of the things I was most keen to achieve with Stourpayne was to model the rear of a station, in contrast to the front-of-platform view on King's Hintock. I'm sure it's a case of grass-is-greener, but I'd been missing the ambience of the station forecourt, with tantalising glimpses through fences and the opportunity to pose cars and buses.

More to come in a few days. Thanks for reading.