Those small changes have made a real but subtle difference. I think the most effective is the underframe treatment I look forward to seeing the other 2 and the 3 together... and then a loco weathered as well?

Thanks James - the underframe was definitely a bit of a pig's ear the first time around.

A loco is coming - promise! I have that half-done 60014, but I wanted to get my hand in first - it's a while since I've put brush to wagon. I want to do a pass on the roof and sides of that one, and get 08871 dirty as well. Although not very dirty since it's pretty well looked-after in the reference I've seen.

Excellent - can't wait! I love the way EWS maroon fades on the 08s, especially the vinyl lettering - you can get some good effects using a brush applied, slightly thinned varnish with a touch of white or just off white added.

I know what you mean I do have an EWS one which I'll take as a spare, but it wasn't used at Whitemoor so it's probably not going to get treated in time. EWS work trains to and from the yard, but it's run by GBRF who have tended to hire in shunters from places like Cotswold and RMS Locotec. 08871 is a Cotswold-liveried machine - the one I fitted sound to last year.

http://ttm-photography-archive.fotopic.net/p38509588.html

One interesting question - is the roof silver, or the same grey as the sides? It's really hard to tell from pictures because the cantrail stripe gets in the way. Hornby have it as grey all over.

I think that's a grey roof too - just a little work stained and then bleached out by the light in the photo! If Whitemoor is GBRf how come you've got some MOAs and MKAs in EWS? (forgive my ignorance - it's not a yard or traffic I'm familiar with). For the Cotswold Rail one I'd probably give the underframe a good gunking (whilst the paint is still wet 'flick' on some black weathering powder and stipple it a little), tone back the black buffer beams with a grey wash, give the body some washes very subtle to start to bring out the panel detail, then touch in specific things like grease/rust around hinges, fuel leakage and spillage, gronk grime on the cab roof, foot plate and top of tool cabinets and some exhaust staining. They're quite rewarding to weather I find - I'd love a BR blue specimen for Paxton Road

Thanks for the tips - that sounds about right. I've got your MR article somewhere too. The Cotswold one is probably easier than other 08s since it doesn't need paint fading.

I started with a handful of EWS bits when I got into the modern UK scene, and shifted focus to Whitemoor later when the layout seemed to fit the prototype - which partly explains the mismatch.

Luckily, while the yard is operated by GBRf on behalf of Network Rail, other operators do run workings in and out, including EWS (60s and 66s) and Freightliner (66s). I don't know if I've seen MOAs at Whitemoor, but I'm happy to believe they'd go there - plus they're lovely wagons EWS also have a depot at Peterborough which is not far away.

Thanks Mick! I looked at the handbrakes and decided not to do anything, but you're right, I should get them sorted out. It definitely makes sense to have them "off" for Whitemarsh, since stock doesn't rest on the layout - the main yard is off stage, the longest they'll be still is while the pilot takes over from the train loco before moving them into the yard proper.