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Well it's not every day you have the excuse to use the word triumvirate but today I'm feeling lucky! These three are a bit late for my own layout, but never too late for the glass cabinet screwed to my living room wall. The Beadle wagon is a recent addition to the range, crisp masters by Simon Turner, lettering transfers by POW sides. The Lime wagon and Booth Bros. wagons are revivals of excellent Woodham Wagon Works kits, masters by Burgundy many moons ago, but I made a new mould for the Lime Wagon and intend doing the same for the Booth Bros. at some point in the not too distant future. Lettering by my own fists of ham.

I am awaiting some parts for the engine, so I thought I would push on with the tender. The kit does provide all the spacers and a basic compensation beam for the tender chassis. But as usual I have odd ideas about these things. So the chassis sides are adapted for High Level hornblocks and then connected by a length of double sided copperclad. This gives two large lands on the top for pickups and suppression components. The semi circular compensation beam would be visible through the tender cutouts, so I fabricated this one . Good steel pivots to reduce friction and adjustable for ride height by means of an easily accessible screw underneath. Yep, completely lockdown madness, but why not. A pic of the chassis made up with wheels and brakegear. The pickups are gold tips from scrapped relays soldered to 12 thou spring steel guitar wire. Hopefully this will produce a low drag 6 wheel pickup to aid good running. Might need a bit of a tweek, but all seems to meet the pushing round the track and through points test. The tender body went together fairly smoothly. This class of engine ran with a bewildering array of tenders during their lives, so I have tried to work closely to a known period photo, some slight variations from the kit. Forming the top flare with its flared corners is a time consuming task, but I think I got it about right. Probably a bit of filling will be needed along the joint, but that will be easier to see after a coat of primer. As ever I see things on photos I missed before, a few bits of tidying up needed. For a while the CR used a strange style of handbrake with a vertical capstan wheel geared to a vertical shaft. I can only assume the gearing gave some mechanical advantage, but having a finer pitch on the threaded end might have been simpler. Anyway I have a tin of watch gears. So I had a go at fabricating the mechanism. The horizontal shaft is actually a tube so you can spin the handwheel round. Did I mention lockdown madness? Hope everyone is keeping well.

Over the weekend I managed to get some filler wiped into the mortar courses and a couple of coats of Vallejo grey wash wiped in and wiped off. I was trying to achieve the look of worn old work-a-day goods shed and not the sand-blasted cleanliness of the preserved building in the country park. I still need to weather the roof, obviously make the windows and fasten on the stone capping stones. The office isn't actually stuck on at the moment, hence the slight difference in angle and the gap in the wall. Lots more to do but it is coming on nicely. David

As an experiment, I thought I would try to convert a Cooper Craft 4-planker into a Lot 441 4-planker, of 1888 vintage. First, it needed grease boxes... This evening's task was to sort the transfers. To try and keep things central, I worked in from either edge... With mixed successes. Naturally, I blame the age of the transfers... But I had a model with oil boxes in need of transfers, and no idea of what number to use... until I found a cheat... This photo of Calne station, probably c.1903 (Open source, from https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/e5/Calne_station_(46631306172).jpg). The conveniently placed log meant I was free to assume 65815 had oil boxes... And before long, things started to stack up... Things are a bit wonky, and components remain to be added, but as a first go with transfers, I can live with the errors. A modeler's licence, and all that...

The photo at the top made me think about GWR diagram numbers. Why? You might ask. It is because of their diagrams Diagram O8 Diagram O8 How's that? The Tube (or Open C) wagon is in the wagon index and the Siphon C is in the Passenger index. Each index has letters and numbers. The letter is a category or vehicle and the number is just a unique identifier. The GWR set these indices up in early 20th century. Generally, the higher the number, the newer the design. I think there was some logic - opens were O# Vans V# Crocodiles C#. Other similar types were in similar letters. N Mineral O Open merchandise P Ballast Q Hay R Manure S Fish T Engineering U Stone were all open types (fish wagons were open at the time). V Van merchandise W Cattle trucks X Meat vans Y Fruit vans Z Gunpowder vans AA Brake vans BB Stores vans CC Tool vans All roofed types. All the other types were at the beginning of the alphabet or tacked onto the end. So if someone is quoting a GWR diagram number, you can get an idea of what the wagon might be by looking at the letter. The same is true for the carriage index (where O is Milk). More diagrams for locos and containers and probably most things made in Swindon works. For more detail on wagon diagrams, my go to book is Atkins, Beard and Tourret. Have a safe week Will

To recap, the object of this exercise was to check platform clearances before finally fixing them down. The County is one of only 2 outside cylinder locos that will run my pre-WW1 layout so it was the prime candidate for the job. The good news is that it clears, just, with about a fag paper to spare. It does hit on leaving the fiddle yard on the down line but as this is under the bridge clearance can easily be remedied by some filing in what is not a visible scenic area The chassis is complete and running apart from the brakes and the footplate assembled. The boiler is just plonked on for the pic. I had to remove a lot of metal to clear the crankpins on the rear drivers as can be seen:

Except for the additions in the previous post, which will be done once this is fixed, this is almost ready to go into place now. The awful seam down the end is covered, not an ideal but it does add a bit of interest to a blank wall, doors and shutters are now in place, the loading platform was build from several layers of card before gluing scrap textures onto it. All the roofing and tiles are done, along with some leading work. Barge boards are on now, some bits of glue and weathering to do, and a couple of seams to hide, but I’m mostly done here. Time to move further on.... Thanks for looking. Charlie

Time for another piece of Armour - this time it's Russian (albeit in Polish Markings)... The Box Art Decals & Colour/Markings Call out (it's green lol) The Sprues (or Frames), etc. The build - fairly straightforward - it's Tamiya after all Lower hull and tracks painted (and fitted). Important to follow the instructions at this point as the tracks are different on either side - due to offset road wheels. Upper hull and turret painted and fitted.. Last bits of detail fitted.. Decals added (all 4 of them) Tracks initially weathered. All weathered and ready for her big reveal... In the great outdoors.. And the important cameo... TTFN James

One of my all time favourite models is Mainline locomotive Mars. I kept my original purchase from 1983 and a couple of years ago I upgraded the model with a Bachmann mechanism. I think it is still an attractive engine with its Fowler Tender. The Mainline model of Mars was relatively expensive, I am guessing to cover the cost of the ‘new’ improved Fowler Tender which I think was all new tooling – that despite Mainline getting access to the older Airfix 4F / 2P designs. 45698 Mars – Mainline model with Bachmann mechanism I have been taking an interest in the reported sightings of Jubilees on the Port Road as discussed on Dan’s RMweb thread about his model of Stranraer Harbour. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/140736-building-the-station-stranraer-‘themed’-loft-layout-1959-64/ During the 1960s Mars was frequently recorded at Carlisle – with a Stanier Tender! Thank you Pete (Courtesy ‘Fairburn 42244’ https://flic.kr/p/cuXpsw) Where did Mainline’s Fowler Tender come from? A further search of people’s images confirms that back in LMS days Mars was paired with a Fowler Tender which it kept until the late ‘50s. Thank you David (Courtesy ‘davids pix’ https://flic.kr/p/bwbHo2) Other pictures indicate that Mars received its Stanier Tender and Late Crest as early as 1959. Therefore Mars as portrayed by the Mainline model would not be correct for the Port Road and Stranraer in the 1960s. One Jubilee model that is recorded as being at Stranraer in the 60s was Orion. I bought my original Mainline model new in 1981 for £17.95 only to sell it in 2007 to raise funds to buy one of Bachmann’s new unrebuilt Patriots. Moving forward I have purchased another Mainline Orion. It has been given a Bachmann mechanism, cab glazing and brass safety valves. I think a good model. 45691 Orion –Mainline model with Bachmann mechanism, cab glazing and brass safety valves I need to share a couple more images of Orion number two. First there is a view taken from the sales details and then a view immediately upon receipt. It would seem that Orion owners should have an Aga! Mainline Orion – advertising detail Mainline Orion – on receipt Jubilee Amethyst is another of my original Jubilees that I kept from new. Bought in 1985 it was given a Bachmann mechanism around 2013. As time goes by I am beginning to think the 1950s BR livery scheme with lined black engines and red and cream coaches was actually very smart. I think I now prefer it to the all maroon coaches and Brunswick green engines. 45700 Amethyst - Mainline model with Bachmann mechanism After the demise of Mainline Palitoy, Bachmann reintroduced the Jubilee fitted with a ‘can motor’. One of these early models that interested me was Invincible which I had photographed at Carlisle Citadel in 1962. 45715 Invincible at Carlisle Citadel August 1962 The first Bachmann Jubilees came with cylinders fitted with plastic slide bars. Other will confirm but I suspect the wheels were also over wide and chunky. I gave my model of Invincible a new mechanism and some black coloured ‘247’ etched plates. Bachmann Jubilee 45715 Invincible with upgraded mechanism and 247 etched plates There was one other ‘old’ Bachmann model with a Fowler Tender that had eluded me. That was 45568, Western Australia. 45568 Western Australia- Bachmann model with refurbished cab windows The Bachmann model that I tracked down turned out to be a bit of an oddity. It was little used and had bright wheel rims and motion. However it had bright metal slide bars and thin profile wheels. As a result I haven’t upgraded the chassis – although I have replaced the nylon gear to the centre drivers. Furthermore all the chassis fixing screws for both the tender and the engine are cadmium plated cheese head screws. In all the years I have been playing with Mainline and Bachmann models the chassis fixing screws have always been blackened counter sunk screws. Bachmann 31-152 aka 45568 Western Australia – the odd cheese head body fixing screws Bachmann 31-152 aka 45568 Western Australia – the odd bright metal slide bars For comparison I have included a picture of an early Bachmann Jubilee / Patriot chassis with black plastic slide bars. (The early Scot chassis was similar but the wheel balance weights were crescent shaped.) Early Bachmann Chassis for Jubilee or Patriot At a first glance the old Mainline and Bachmann locomotive bodyshells are identical. However when the Mainline bodyshell is fitted with a Bachmann mechanism the cab sits too low and a packing washer is needed beneath the cab. Packing beneath the Mainline cab when fitted to Bachmann chassis The need for the washer becomes clearer when the Mainline and Bachmann mechanisms are compared – the Mainline mechanism is made to sit 1mm higher (why?). Mainline versus Bachmann chassis The cab glazing can be another issue with these old models. Most frequently the clear plastic for the right hand side (the side that lies in contact with the polystyrene tray) becomes stained yellow. The yellow colouring is Bromine which was added to the plastic during manufacture and which with ageing leaches to the surface of the plastic. (I would say the plastic lenses in my spectacles are beginning to show the same issue!) A trick that I have successfully used to remove the discolouration is to immerse the stained item in hydrogen peroxide solution and leave to stand in bright sunlight – you do need some good ultra violet radiation. My bottle of peroxide solution was bought at the local chemists as a weak disinfectant / mouth wash and is marked ‘20 VOLS available oxygen’. Two days of immersion with bright sunlight works wonders. I did notice here in Scotland that with poor sunlight I had left the bits in the solution for nearly a week and thought the clear plastic became slightly smokey. Cab glazing after one day in hydrogen peroxide solution – still some residual yellow colouring. (Note the flower arranging glass nugget to hold the plastic below the surface.) All clear glazing after two days treatment in bright sunshine One other issue that affects all Bachmann Jubilees, Patriots and Scots, and probably the Mainline and Replica versions is that the chassis fixings for the top motion bracket can break. Broken Bachmann chassis fixing The key to gaining access is to remove the circlip on the centre driver. I used one of my wife’s fine brass dress making pins. Dismantling With the motion detached the plastic moulding for the support bracket can usually be pulled out from the mazac chassis. This allows access to the tiny screws that hold the metal parts to the plastic and to the chassis fixing holes which can be cleaned of residual glue and broken plastic. For the cleaning I used the blade of a tiny instrument maker’s screwdriver. Cleaned I replaced the broken fixing pins with a short piece of copper cut from the earth wire of some surplus domestic mains cable. Ready for reassembly I guess the clever part is drilling out a hole in the plastic moulding to accept the copper wire. The Bachmann plastic is very soft and a suitable size hole can be created using the same instrument maker’s small screwdriver as I used to clean out the holes in the chassis. Nearly 40 years difference, Mainline Mars from 1983 and Bachmann Baroda from 2012 I do like my Jubilees! Acknowledgements Many thanks to 'Fairburn 42244' and 'davids pix' on Flickr for allowing me use of their historic images of 45698 Mars.

Some may remember a while ago I made a kit for Hunslet 22hp 4wDM 1786, also known as 'Courage' or 'Sweet Pea'. However, the Mk1 was a bit too fast to really be usable, and eventually got broken while trying to modify it to reduce the speed. Now I've worked up the 'Courage' to have another go at it (sorry), and the Mk2 is underway, and works! The pickups are a bit crude, but work, and it's much slower than last time, although I've only managed to test it with a 9v battery so far. Time to get the controller out...

I got back from work at 3am this morning, so naturally, not a lot of modelling got done. All I really have to show is the Hunslet chassis running in. It's held upside down from a 9v battery, still a little bit noisy after about an hour each way, but considering the gears I've used, I don't think it's too bad. A couple of the wheels are a tad wonky, but I think that's mainly due to them being assembled and disassembled so many times by now, as they're re-used from the Mk1.

Whilst I am waiting for the weathering paint on the 74XX chassis to harden off, together with the matt varnish on the loco body, I've set up my circle of Lima track again, to run a few RTR offerings in. Yesterday I gave a Hornby W4 Peckett (PoLA blue livery) and a Model Rail Sentinel (WD livery) a good few hours stretch each. Both are destined to be 'military' locos on 'Bethesda Sidings', making occasional trips down the light railway to Bethesda yard. New nameplates were obtained from Narrow Planet some time ago. Currently on the circuit is this B2 Peckett (sorry for poor focus): I'm not sure what to do with this one. I had originally planned to keep it as an OO model and run it on both 'Bethesda Sidings' and 'Bleakhouse Road', but I have a feeling that the flanges on the B2 are (for some reason) very slighly larger than on the W4. The reason for saying this, is that the W4s all run very happily through my 'OO-SF' A5 crossover on 'Bethesda Sidings', whereas the B2 doesn't seem to like it as much and I get flanges impacting on the chaired track. If I'm right about this (I haven't measured the flanges as yet or compared them in close up), then it's likely that the B2 will have to be converted to P4 and used on 'Callow Lane' as an NCB loco. Whether that involves waiting for a replacement chassis kit or perhaps scratchbuilding a chassis, I don't know either, although quite possibly the former, given that converting it to P4 isn't very high on the priority list (pity, as it runs rather sweetly on the Lima circle of track). Next up after the B2 will be a Hornby 'Terrier', on which I suspect the slightly larger flanges are also present. This one didn't run quite as sweetly as the B2, so if running in doesn't improve it, a replacement chassis might be the order of the day.

If this doesn’t fit in with the forum, sorry, I can delete it if needed. I’ve always liked steamships, specifically cargo ships from the turn of the century. And I’ve scratch built my fare share of ships, mostly none than 3 inches long. Then a year ago I made a half hull model of a the first Blue Funnel ship, Agamemnon of 1865. It was all wood and brass, but I still wanted to do a full hull model. Something very much like the Bassett-Lowke ship pictured below. So today I began that endeavor, and two and 1/2 hours in, here we are. The hull has been shaped, but is to tall, this will hopefully be rectified by the removal of the raised bits on the bow and stern, (called islands) and then the shaded area will be cut away, lowering the appearance, and some more material will come off the keel. I’m open to suggestions as to what shipping line to paint it. It will be completely made from wood and metal, no plastic allowed.

First shot after leaving the paint shop today. Not my finest of paint finishes but I`m pleased she now looks like a Stanier loco.

Despite the kits shorcomings I have now completed the superstructure replacing or adding parts from either Laurie Griffin or Peter Roles. I `m generally pleased with the outcome and also decided to model her as a push-pull variant. The boiler stays have not been fettled to fit yet..........................................................................................