This evenings planned modelling has been effected somewhat by the foolish decision to go and get contact lenses (or repeatedly stick fingers in eyes until they barely work) net result is that I dont really want to be doing anything this evening that remotely requires concentration.

So I have got on with finishing off the body on 47709. Shawplan have just introduced a very handy etch of plates for plating over Class 47 boiler ports, the etch includes one of each of the common variations so with a bit of luck should be able to get a couple more locos done with the remainder. (of course the law of sod says that any other 47 I need to work on will also require the same large rectangular plate I needed to fit to 709...)

Given that 709 is painted, I have decided the best option is to paint the etch off model and then glue once it has dried (probably tomorrow), so said part is now sat drying on a radiator.....

I've also given in and brought another Vi Trains 47, this time it is 47828 in Virgin. Unfortunatly both of the Virgin releases that Vi Trains have done are no use to me (having been named post 2000), and given the not modeller friendly printing that Vi Trains use a respray will be required.

This got me thinking that 828 actually has the nose style I need for my GWT model of 813, which in turn got me thinking why not respray the intercity shell I already have into Virgin and paint the Virgin one into GWT. both need paint anyway, so it makes sense to save the effort of converting 813's ends.

Of course realisticly I shouldnt be doing either of them given they arnt the most layout useful locos in the world, and the Fraggonset loco I have (that I really shouldnt have done) is suitable for working both TOCs but what the hell.....

The other option is to part respray the Intercity loco and use that as a basis for modelling a Virgin loco which still carried the livery in 98/99, though would have to find one with sealed beams at one end and marker lights at the other.

Will upload some photos of the etch tomorrow.