Ding-ding diddle-ing ding ding, ding ding ding ding. I had my head shaved. By a

Jumbo jet. It wasn't easy. But nothing is-eh. The first verse of a tune you've all

heard countless times on the telly; the classic Song 2 by Blur, all of two minutes

long if I recall. And Blur is this week's tenuous connection to my life over the past

few weeks! There's a bit of activity to report as a result.

Firstly, more raw materials have been obtained after another private session at the ELR.

The original plan was to record one of the 37's, the 47 and 117 but at the last

minute we were told that one 37 had flat batteries and the other was going away.

Fortunately the railway gave us an offer we couldn't refuse so in the end we got

the 37 a day early before it went away, then the 47 & 108, and the 40 thrown in for

our trouble on the second day! Apart from a quick listen I haven't assessed the

suitability of anything yet but I'd like to do a better 47 and a different 37.

The 33 fans will be pleased to hear that I have just put the finishing touches to a

completely new set of engine sounds, recorded from 33109 on the last visit to the

ELR. I'm much happier with them than my first set. They've got a really nice

chuggy, rolling idle, and the greater variety of recordings enabled some really

nice departures and coasts. An upgraded project is available now.

Progress continues on my own GNER 225 set for Warren Lane in its new roundy-roundy

guise. I'm in the process of fitting chip, pick-ups and speaker to the Mk4 DVT and

detailing all of the coaches. The 91 now has a new Heljan 86 mech, v4 chip and bass

reflex speaker in the tanks and sounds really good. Once the DVT is up and running

I need to update the sound project with the odds & ends of new material recorded at

Crown Point last year.

No progress to report on the Deltic other than to say that demos of the 7mm

test-bed loco at Derby and Aylesbury shows went down well with those that heard it.

I've also borrowed a sound-fitted Bachmann model to use as a 4mm test bed. I'll

bring the Heljan loco to Wigan where I'll be on Charlie's stand all weekend with

this and plenty of 4mm stock to listen to.

In the photo, the Summer theme continues with a vintage scene at Nuneaton on a

Summer Saturday circa 1979. Other photos from the day show throngs on spotters on

every platform. Most of them are still there on sunny days but they are now wearing

flat caps, sitting on folding seats and have no kids, jobs or mortgages to worry

about!