Introducing the Mark IV, or was it Mark III (er... anyway) version of my quest to make an N Gauge People Mover, or Class 139 to give it its full title! I have been very much inspired by Missy's Flying Banana model, I suppose I just need to decide on a shorter fruit with more green and grey bits for a nickname, answers on a postcard......

It will be appearing, complete with side graphics that I must get and print... on Wyre Forest MRC's 'Kinlet Wharf' layout at the Leamington and Warwick show this weekend at Stoneleigh. The 'Wharf' is a four track N gauge slice of electrified WCML, set from the 90s to the present day, with a quiet branch line weaving in and out of the scene, a perfect habitat for this little device.

This pic (below) shows progress since the last, rather mis-shapen version that appeared on the layout at the Blackburn show last year. It has been quite a learning curve, but hopefully you can see that progress is going steeply in the right sort of direction. (the pictures don't show it very well, but the new painted version is transparent, but with a dark, prototypical 'tint' which also helps to disguise the internal gubbins)

The casting process is also improving to give better, more consistently transparent results, thanks to my resin casting accomplice, thanks Peter!

My recent attempts at designing an etch have also benefited the detail parts, such as the distinctive red couplers and door surrounds.

(etching of design done by Grainge and Hodder, Birmingham)

AND FINALLY

Developing a more and more cunning plan for a T Gauge Cornish branch line, these anonymous looking boxes (shaped from the basic clear, rectangular shells available from tgauge.co.uk) will soon be lavishly decorated to become a single car Sprinter (the big, boxy one) and bubble car (the slightly too curvy one!) to deal with passengers. Next, some china clay related micro-freight! Watch this space B)