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Ever since failing my driving test for the second time, in a Land Rover in Cyprus (exotic lifestyle!), I have had a soft spot for the machines. When at Railex in 2017 I found an Oxford Diecast 1/43rd version and decided to use it for a minimum cost weathering exercise. The idea was to spend as little as possible to weather this model, but end up with the wherewithal to continue weathering as many more models as possible with the materials purchased. My purchases were: Testor's Dullcote - £5.50 AK Interactive Dark Earth pigment - £4.45 AMMO by Mig Tracks Wash - £4.00 Daler Rowney System 3 Filbert brush - £2.50 Daler Rowney System 3 Round brush - £2.50 Wickes white spirit - £2.50 I used some items already in the tool box, so haven't included them in the cost: Cocktail sticks Cotton buds I didn't take step-by-step photographs of the process(es) at the time, but will endeavour to explain how each aspect of the model was done. Here's the starting point:

Yesterday while visiting the East Somerset Railway, I picked up a Parkside kit for a W7 diagram prize cattle van. Its been a fun build, all be it not Parkside's finest work. The floor is rather below what you would expect (with no location marks for the gas tank or breaks) and lots of parts for the break gear are missing. I have worked from a prototype photo from 1947 in which the groom's compartment has been replaced (so instead of the 1907 panneling it has flat doors), so I have modified the parts accordingly. It is now out in the garage ready for a coat of GWR brown when I do my next batch of spraying... I have not glued the roof on yet, both for ease of painting and more importantly to enable glazing after painting. Eventually I need to confirm were horse boxes and cattle vans loaded in the cattle docks, on the platform, or on the raised platform in the goods yard. My suspicion is the other (where the van and a hosebox are posed below. Eventually I will need to add a tweed clad peer, his pig man and a very large pig awaiting collection...… I have also been doing some spraying, First up the ex LNWR diagram 138 composite has now been primed, I picked up a tin of Phoenix LMS coach paint back at Scaleforum (and there is no masking) so I am ready to go. If (and its a big if) the weather is ok tomorrow, I will try and get it painted in the afternoon once my parents have picked up the girls for half term. Next the first of my Toplights, again this has been primed as I had hoped I would be able to spray the cream. Speaking of cream, I have completed some testing on the Centenary break third, after applying masking to the chocolate and leaving for the whole time I was in the garage, I managed to remove it without damage. So I sanded back the damaged paint area and gave it a coat of primer. Unfortunately I have now ran out of decent masking tape so no more complex painting until a new batch arrives. Next time I will order a couple of rolls! Finally something a little different, I cobbled together this fictional loco a long time ago using some Triang Blue Pullman ends (left over from adding replacement ends to my BP) fitted to a modified Class 31 shell with a pair of Class 56 roof grills. It has been given a coat of GWR green, it has a Bachmann 37 chassis with D600 bogie frames (which may eventually get recommissioned into a 37). In the mean time it will get some GWR branding as if the GWRs gas turbine experiments had born more fruit.

Here's another contribution to the RMweb "Horse Drawn Weekly" as Dave calls it. My efforts don't even get close to his superb models, but a horse is a horse as they say in Farthing. Today's subject is a wagon from Ratkin & Son, makers of finest jams and marmalades (or so they claim). The build was inspired by scenes such as this one, showing the GWR sidings at Henley and Sons cyder works (sic) in Newton Abbot, October 1908. Source: Getty Images. Embedding permitted. The wagon is a straightforward build of a Dart Castings kit. As usual I modified the parts lightly to allow the front axle to rotate freely, which adds a bit of flexibility when positioning the wagon. I don't know whether trade/industry wagons followed the local styles of farm wagons. If so I'm in trouble, as my model isn't a Wiltshire type, where Farthing is located. An excuse could be that it was acquired secondhand from elsewhere, or built to the standard design of a large manufacturer. The example above was built by the Gloucester Wagon & Carriage works (who also made horse drawn vehicles). The style of the wagon didn't allow for lettering directly on the sides, so I made a sign. Whilst browsing a discussion of marmalade on CK's Bethesda Sidings thread, I realized that I had used the Danish spelling. It's the little details that reveal who we are, as Poirot would have said! Anyway, a new sign was made, and I took the opportunity to modify the name. If you're wondering about the point of the name, there's a clue in this photo. The rear flap was detailed with interior bracing and chain from Cambrian models. An Andrew Stadden figure was added, and some of those nice bulky sacks from Dart Castings. The horse is also from Dart Castings. I thought I'd have a lighthearted go at a nosebag, made from ordinary printing paper, rolled and glued. Getting a decent fit and fold was surprisingly tricky. As this delightful photo shows, I really ought to add a strap to hold it in place. Source: Wikipedia. Embedding permitted. Wagon done. It is manned by D. Woods, formerly of the GWR and His Majesty's Prisons, now happily employed at Ratkin & Son. So here we are in one of the mileage sidings at Farthing Old Yard. Obviously there is work going on - but, er, what exactly? Ah, an unloading procedure of sorts. The work seems to be all done. The loco crew must be very impatient, as they are already removing the goods wagon. Quite unusual. The siding has been cleared and we get a better view. A delivery of low grade oranges has been received, soon to be recycled as Ratkin's Finest Quality Marmalade.

Well I don`t mind admitting ....it`s been a bit of a sod to get these coaches this far.... And they don`t have the livery finish I was hoping for........ I invested in some Fox lining transfers and despite adding a gloss finish to the coach sides I just could`nt get them to fix adequately... I even tried Micro set and sol but Fox transfers don`t like either. So I was forced to use HMRS Pressfix lining which of course if you are a GWR affectionado is wrong........ Anyhow I`ll have to live with it as I`m crap at lining with my Bob Moores pen. So just the Droplights/glazing and interior detailing and they will be complete......

I have just got back from seeing the premier screening of Peter Jackson's new film in conjunction with the Imperial War Museum and as the title suggests my astonishment knows no limits! I actually only found out about this at the weekend but obviously wasn't a complete secret as I certainly wasn't alone in the cinema. Unfortunately I wasn't invited to the real premier but went along to one of the two hundred odd simultaneous screenings across the country. The film is made up entirely of original movie footage from the IWM collection but beautifully restored and colourised in a most convincing fashion. Perhaps the most astounding thing is that with a bit of computer wizardry it has been made to run smoothly and at a realistic speed. I have not previously been a fan of colourised film but as the director himself said in the Q&A afterwards this is usually because they have been done on a very small budget which was certainly not the case here. There is no narration except for audio library recordings of veterans telling of their experiences in their own words. Sound has been added in a most convincing fashion and even using the exact words spoken in some clips that have been analysed from lip reading. There is a short section on narrow gauge railways, all clips I am familiar with but looking very different in colour. One interesting point is that the artists has gone with grey or plain wood wagon bodies with white letters. One of the few things I disagree with though is that there is a well known still shot of a Hunslet included and it has been rather badly colored in green - quite out of sync with the overall standard and in a colour of which there is no evidence I know of whereas there is evidence of them being black. Possibly the most useful thing to the WDLR modeler is the wealth of detail scenes that are just waiting to be recreated. I admit that the colours used are the artists interpretations but I would say that they have been researched very well and such things as the colours of shells are spot on. To be very picky I do think that the colours are sometimes a bit too intense particularly where grass or other greenery is concerned but overall very, very impressive. Unfortunately it was a one night only screening but I believe that it has been taken up by the BBC and I for one would buy a copy if the IWM make it available. A glimpse can be seen here though https://www.iwm.org.uk/events/peter-jackson-they-shall-not-grow-old To get the full impact of the film however, I did something I have been meaning to do for a long time and properly visit the Regal in Tenbury Wells. I was not disappointed - I superbly restored small traditional building run on a semi volunteer basis. Look at the link below but maybe scroll down to the gallery section at the but first. http://regaltenbury.co.uk/RegalCinemaTenbury.dll/Page?PageID=4&SubListID=1&SubPageID=0

You all know the usual excuses about how long it is since the last post so won't repeat them here! There are things going on but at an admittedly slower rate than previously. One thing that I have been meaning to do for ages is an educational aid - something to more adequately explain what all the stuff going past on the trucks is for. Some of it is rather too obvious but trench building materials...... So here it is - my mini, cutaway trench showing A frames, duck boards, revetments and associated wiring. I have a horrible feeling that it may be three years since I started, and quite quickly, almost finished the Alco 2-6-2. It has appeared on the layout many times but only as an otherwise little known 0-6-0 version. Well, at long last I have managed to fit the missing wheels and what is more they seem to be staying on the track. One of the other things that is helping the Alco stay on the track is that I removed the lead that I rather over enthusiastically put in the coal bunker thus unbalancing it . This was not then helped by the white metal figure in the cab. I had picked up some Modelu 3d printed figures at ScaleForum the other day and it was time to paint them as they will be so much lighter. Once again I seem to be much better at painting the backs than the fronts! There is much action behind the scenes and excitement as a joint project with Simon, building on Mike's coupling design should shortly be coming to fruition hopefully VERY soon as want them in place for next show in Welshpool October 27th, and then perfectly fettled for our biggest adventure yet to Belfast November 10th and then to biggest show at Warley, NEC November 24th and 25th. More on this when I am sure they work and if they don't you must forget I ever mentioned them. In other slow burning news. The pantograph milling machine which I have had for nearly a year has taken a massive leap forward. Having finally reconstructed it a couple of months ago (it is REALLY heavy!), I have now worked out how to turn it on! How was I to know there was a master switch on the fuse box? I know have some suitable cutters and engraving brass but only have to work out how to fit the drive belt. The induction soldering iron I got four months ago is still unused - I have to make a return plate first which isn't difficult but but must admit to being a bit intimidated by the rather imposing box. Have not really really had any projects on the go which have required either yet but all that will change soon - just as soon as I manage to create a bit more time!

Couple more shots of the BP under moonlight, this time on the winter module. Looking at this model now, I'm thinking how great a full HST set with lighting would be...