Blanche, I'm ashamed to say, is still languishing at the back of the workbench awaiting a new coupling rod. I've not been very busy in a modelling-related way recently, but I've not been particularly idle either.

A stalling point in starting to ballast and lay scenery on my Hafod Las layout has been uncertainty of where to bury the permanent magnets for the Sprat & Winkle couplings that I've decided to make a go of... this is mainly because I have nothing fitted with the couplings yet, and so can only guesstimate maximum train length at best. So, with Blanche on the back burner, I've embarked on making some new stock and fitting it with couplings... although so far, I've only fitted two and a half slate wagons with couplings! Still, it's a start:

All of the kits are Knightswork from Mercian, in etched nickel, and go together very nicely. If anyone's interested in a step-by-step, I still have two slate wagons and a gunpowder van to make. The 2-ton coal wagon shown with the door open is going to be sat at the end of the headshunt for the loco shed, where I'm planning to have a loco boiler powering the works machinery (possibly an 'Alice' class boiler, á la Dinorwic). I've not decided on a load (or otherwise) for the 1-plank open.

As the slate wagons are as light as a feather when unloaded, I've also chosen to add some weight to the undersides in the form of chunks of lead flashing. Top tip: if you get a chunk of lead stuck between the blades of the secateurs that you're using as tin snips, don't try to get it out with your fingers: blood's a b*gger to get out of clothing Below can be seen the progression of fitting weights, mounts, and finally couplings (filed down to give clearance for the wheels as the wagons are rather short).

Other work done has included fitting bogies to the two Worsley Works vans (11 and 12), though I'm not happy with the mounting method yet - the pillar of washers used for the bogie mount causes a rather pronounced rolling motion, and so will be likely replaced with something with a touch more support - probably brass strips soldered to the bogie to give some lateral support. Couplings may be interesting to fit to these, but will come shortly after the slate wagons are so fitted. More on that anon!