The plans for the year were: to finish off the TPO rake, add doors to 37612, convert the remaining CDA fleet, paint the GWT intercity sleeper rake and to build a couple of nuclear flasks to run with the DRS locos.  Not of alot of which was actually managed....

First to hit the bench was the TPO, with enough components arriving from DC Kits to finish the other side of the NUA, along with components to build a large door and small door NSA.  Building new sides from the DC Kits parts and fitting them into heavily modified Bachmann mk1 coaches.  The whole rake then entered the paint shop where it experienced a few issues, the red paint has very poor coverage, and on the Bachmann conversion the filler still shows through as lighter red squares.  Likewise on the kit builds there are a few marks (labelling components etc) which show through the red.  It needs a touch up of primer and then respraying….  Then will come the fun task of lining / transfers (which still need to be procured.)

Next up the GWT sleeper, after research to confirm the formation (47/8 mk2d BSO, mk2d TSO (ex FO), Mk2e FO(t) and 3 sleepers.  A set of Airfix mk2d coaches went through the works having the tumblehome corrected and are now ready for painting.

Sticking with the GWT theme, after purchasing a pair of Hornby HST chassis + some extra coaches, I now have a second GWT HST going through the works.  The first job was to modify the Lima GWT powercars to fit the Hornby chassis (not overly difficult) along with minor detailing to the ends.  They are now awaiting the yellow respraying along with a coat of paint on the white areas (where the green is showing through).  The coaches all need various paint modifications (mostly adding the lower stripe) and transfers.  Not to mention needing new couplings / corridor connections.

Attending the Bristol show with DEMU saw the Virgin XC loco hauled rake completed, with a full passenger load, While at Scaleforum the focus was on the detailing of a Lima class 67 as 67003 with my own etched parts.  Finally at Warley I finished off the DRS 20302 with glazing / window frames and  made a lot of progress rebuilding a Bratchell class 456.

My class 37 refurbishment / repurposing project has been started, with 37412 in Large Logo livery now transposed into 37403 in BR Green.  The loco has been fitted with new end detail, Heljan snowploughs and an Extreme Etchings roof grill, and is now awaiting a confirmation from Railtec that they can do the transfers.  Preparation for the respray of 37230 into Transrail Dutch will be next, along with an upgrade of the roof grill and transfers on 37521…

Wheal Imogen made its exhibition debut at the RMWeb SWAG members day in April, but performance of the fiddleyard and stock left something to be desired in terms of running performance.  There wasn’t time to do much testing in advance of the show, and it relied on the previous proving session 3 months earlier…

Finally I made a start on the early stanges of the research for my next layout, compliing a working timetable of all services (freight and passenger) through the two potential locations in South Devon and Cornwall, and starting to scope out the potential fleet requirements.  It will be a long time coming, with a lot of imporntant decisions still to be made (the biggest being around track gauge).  In the mean time elements of the fleet will be reverting to OO in order that I can run Brent in 1998 mode...  With just the core fleet for Wheal Imogen staying in P4.

For next year my aim is:

Finally finish off 37612, scratch building the missing doors / replacing the window error on one side.  Add cantrail stripe to this and to 20302

Paint the GWT Sleeper rake

Paint 67003 into EWS

Build an Intercity Models kit for a JYA Yeoman box.  Maybe build bogies for the Yeoman PTAs, at the moment the JYA is my planned work for the Bristol show in May.

Finish the paint on the GWT HST, change couplings and add corridor connections

Transfers for the TPO

Finally I have a Fraggonset 33/2 which is missing a name on one side.  Again a decision needs making as to whether to search for the missing name so that it can be repaired and sold, or repaint it into Mainline triple grey circa 1998…