Going through something of a modellers block at the moment, the projects I have on the go either aren't capturing my interest, or are stuck awaiting components....

Clan Line is now once again hold up awaiting components, having realised that I dont have the right grade of wire for soldering up the con rods. I also havent managed to separate the long rod from the cylinder assembly, so will probably just live with the Hornby part there. I am also thinking about soldering some washers onto the Hornby con rods so that I can fit them for the testing, then go back and fit the Bedford bits once I know it all works (too many bad experiences with bent Class 08 rods...)

The Class 59 again has hit the blocks, a combination of the fact I really hate painting on one (particularly with the buffers getting in the way of masking) and the tedious task of removing materiel before fitting the triangles behind the headstock on the other. Will probably get on with the latter at Stafford and may try and get on with the paint tomorrow so I can have a finished loco at Stafford...

Bogies are on hold until I decide if I can be bothered with the casting...

Finally the PTAs, again this is a painting problem. It takes quite a while to carefully hand paint the black chassis and I just cant be bothered at the moment. Maybe once I have the bogies for them sorted I will be more inclined to get on and finish them.....

The only real modelling I have got done this week, has been building 3 pairs of ASF bogies for my Cambrian Salmon. Again they are now on the pile to be painted, although I am in no rush given the actual wagons are back in Devon...

I will be at the Stafford show on Saturday on the DEMU stand (though hopefully will be escaping early to get home/to a pub for the rugby). Hopefully this will motivate me to get going again.

Another thing I have just ordered is a new type of back to back testing device from a design by Tony Sissions (available from Scalefour Stores to members, or at S4 North), its basicly a tapered strip of steel with 2 lines forming a 'good' area. The wheel is rolled down its length and if it stops between the lines its back to back is ok, if not it needs correcting. The accompanying article mentioned very good results in terms of improved running as a result of this device, so rather looking forward to getting on with sorting out my fleet.

On top of this things are about to get a lot more busy, given that I've finally found an internship that is suitable so will be doing the 9-5 thing + coming home to study afterwards. On top of that its still a case of keep on applying for grad jobs for September... For some reason I suspect free time for modelling is going to be a lot less than it has been from now onwards..........