Having spent yesterday at the Nottingham show, I've finally got stocked up on some new projects to get cracking on.

First up the bargain of the day, a slightly damaged Hornby 1928 pullman bodyshell for £1. This is going to be rebuilt with some new etched sides in order to model Ibis for my VSOE rake. Will need to scratchbuild a new interior, and try and get hold of a cheap chassis to go under it (else scratch build one) along with the underframe and bogie modifications which were described in my earlier VSOE blog posts. This means that the only coaches for which I do not currently have a donor for are the pair of ex Brighton Bell coaches.

Sticking with the VSOE, a visit to Comet has supplied me with new etched sides and underframe bits for the mk1 RKB coach which will be used at one end of the rake. The plan is to use these sides along with a Bachmann mk1.

As is usually the case I have come away with another batch of parts from Shawplan, including a set of Class 50 windscreens, some BR Arrows (which it turns out I dont have anything suitable to fit them to right now...) Nameplates and depot plaques for 33116 (Which I really should get on and order from Hattons!) Some of their new laser cut glazing for a 37 (so that I can finally get 37675 finished). A set of Class 47 boiler port plates for 47709 and finally a set of lifting brackets for a peak,

The final area of buying is some bits for the layout, I figured even if I cant build the layout yet there's no reason not to keep making structures for it...

Anyway, lots of big sheets of South Eastern Finecast's embossed brick sheets means that the signal box and bridge can now be finished, along with blocks to clad the retail park. Also came away with a ratio footbridge which with a bit of modification should look the part.