Leaderboard

Last year I built and painted one of the Masterclass models dia 210 twins. Having acquired a another kit, I'm currently building a second twin, that will form a four carriage set with the first. They will represent the 12.03 pm Leicester Rugby ordinary passenger train working. Below is the BT (6) showing it's underbelly, still to is the vac pipe that runs down the solebar on the far side under the underframe and the steam heat pipe. Critical to any twin, is that the two carriages align horizontally. The steel ruler is taped to the sides for the purposes of the photograph. The articulated bogie is the 8'6'' HD type and the vac pie run is now fitted to both carriages. The new build also matches up with last years build. Most of the detail work such as the brake end fittings are now complete. Silly me ran out of suitable roofs. Completion awaits a delivery of a recent order.

A tea break plonk.

Good morning. Quite bright here, so things may get done in a while. Another look at the 9F first, this time in black and white. and then another look at the tower, but from a different angle.

Some trains this afternoon, this time on the Newcastle to Carlisle line. Note, some are "going away photos". Derwentheugh 142020 Newcastle to Hexham 1st July 95 C20310.jpg Dilston 143023 Newcastle to Hexham 5th July 87 C8602.jpg Fourstones Class 156 Carlisle to Newcastle 12th April 95 C20090.jpg Fourstones Class 5 5305 SRPS Falkirk to Glasgow via Newcastle and G&SW Mar 87 J8796.jpg Greenhead Class 156 Glasgow C to Newcastle 31st May 95 C20234.jpg David

HST at speed. N gauge.

I had an interesting experience a couple of hours ago. There was a LOUD knocking at my front door; after it was repeated, I got up to answer it (note that since I moved here, this is about the fifth {or less} time that there has been an unexpected knock) and standing out there was the sheriff! "I didn't do it!" It turns out that SC election laws require the the occupation of the donors has to be reported and his election website donation form did not have a spot for it (or I missed it) so he stopped by to get the information.

Morning. Damp but not raining, bloody dog next door is barking its head off, presumably they out and left it in the garden. It is loud as it is a big dog, very annoying. Debs had a miserable round at archery yesterday, makes up for the run of good shoots recently! She's not sure why things went poorly yet, there is to be an investigation! Today will see housework and a walk if the rain stays off, oh what an exciting life I now lead, however my blood pressure is certainly better without the stress of the business. Breakfast now, back later.

Rats, 25054 & 25285 on the Fuel Roads at Seven Mills Sidings.

Greetings all from the boring borough. A c*ntpuffin free week as I'm on course again. Yippee. I can handle the boring drone of the instructor over zoom far better than the constant interruption by people who should have been drowned at birth. We both have our charities to give to. Most are smaller ones with no paid staff or other unnecessary expenses. The difference between some of the bigger ones is frightening. For example Red Cross uses 80% of their income on charitable activities, while Oxfam is below 55%. Apart from the constant shredder fodder of begging letters, some of our old and trusted ones are becoming pests. The newest fund raisers seem to be lotteries. Every bloody charity seems to be running one now. Ok, so they need to keep raising money, they need to increase their income as expenses increase, but there is a point where the constant begging becomes counter productive and starts turning off existing supporters. Autumn has really arrived now. Cool and damp in the morning despite no rain over the past 2 days. <sigh> Popped to the garden centre the other day and they're already setting up the Christmas displays. One observation I made yesterday around "stuff" being repairable and what can be disassembled. I was doing a deep cleaning of the espresso machine. It is obvious that it was designed by someone who had never made a cup of coffee in their lives. Lots of edges and corners inside that make cleaning difficult. Torx-h screws that the average person doesn't have. The list goes on. You can tell it was designed to be quickly assembled and with the minimum material practical for things like the grinds bucket, water tank, and drip tray. When the seal and or pump finally goes, it will be easier and cheaper to replace than repair. A new one of the same model is £12 less including shipping than a replacement seal & pump set. I've run into the same issue with my ancient Radio Shack (made by Braun under the Portasol brand) butane soldering iron. They've change the tip on later models and the new ones are incompatible with the original design. I can still find the old style but at a price only £1 or £2 less than a whole new unit. Enough b!tching for a moanday morning. Time for class. Coffee to the rescue. Enjoy the day.

All too easy alas Rick because you managed a photo of our now late, and much lamented, regular holiday venue since 2012 and which we should have been aboard on two occasions this year (both cancelled due to Covid). And future passenger seasons have now also been cancelled because it would be impossible to arrange any sort of social distancing and, very sensibly, they don't want passengers infecting the crew. So you are looking at the Trinity House buoy tender THV Patricia, now 38 years on from the year of her launch. And not only that but you've achieved the double feat of getting our preferred cabin in your view although you can't really make it out - aft end of the main bridge area superstructure on the boat deck (the deck immediately above the blue painted hull). If the photo was taken in fairly recent days she was almost certainly on her way to St.ives where she has spent several days servicing the buoys on the wave hub trial site before returning to Swansea Here's a picture of the port side of the ship taken from a work boat on our way back from visiting the lighthouse where Grace Darling had lived on the Farne Islands

A few more images captured today, but in dodgy light. We have another 9F hauled load of coal for London. and a look at a footbridge tower.

Afternoon all, Charlie cat has done it again - no not chucked up his breakfast due to eating it too fast (he did that anyway but we're used to it so it doesn't count as unusual) but the little s*d has brought in an effin mouse and the ruddy thing has hidden behind the fridgamd freezer. A humane trap has been baited with chocolate so we'll await developments although mum cat Poppy has also been sniffing round. very interesting table of rip off merchants heading up charities (mainly for themselves it would appear.. I reckon the Sally Army has got the right idea so maybe their percentage should be set as the national norm? Most of these so called Chief executives probably do very little to bring value to the work of the charity so perhaps it's an area where payment by results should be introduced as well? No other major, or minor, news but as it sn't raining I might have a go at the front hedge if there's room in the relevant dustbin for the clippings. in the meanwhile it's time to bin the recycling mountain hillock that is currently occupying the utility room worktop. Have a good day one and all and stay safe. PS could Baz please let us know what he'll be doing with his £6.50 if his area goes to Tier 3

I’ve solved the ‘trick or treat’ v coronavirus conundrum for this year. I’m hiring a chocolate vending machine and placing it in front of the front door Cash or credit card, I don’t mind.

Good morning all, Still a bit dull here but there is a sign of brightness in the East. A dry, hazy, sunny day with some southerly winds is forecast. As you would expect I sampled tested the single malt last night and very nice it was too. I'm pleased to report that I'm still here so I think it's OK to drink but to be safe further testing is required to make sure. Today I'm hoping that a box will arrive from Sheffield. I had been told that I would be allowed to test the contents but it would then be removed and put away until 1st December. Management has now decreed that this is a bit silly at our age so I will be allowed to keep it!. Hopefully, after saying this for the last couple of days, I will get to The Shed and start painting and ballasting the track. This will take quite some time and I haven't got enough paint or ballast but another parcel is due that should rectify the problem. Before that some medication then breakfast in the form of porridge followed by coffee is required. Have a good one, Bob.

Greetings one and all Yesterday I found myself drafting the round robin letter that goes in with my seasonal greetings cards, after inspiration struck. It will come as no surprise that I am finding it very difficult to be positive, given that everything I do and everywhere I go were knocked off the agenda at a stroke back in March. The finished product will go out at the end of November, assuming of course that the cards go on sale in the near future. I last looked a week ago and there were none to be had. Why, I hear you cry, do I do them so early? It stems from 1979 when I had my wisdom teeth out and was off work for a week and a half with nothing to do. I found it good discipline and have kept up the practice ever since. What I will be doing over the festive season and where I will be doing it are still unknown but I should know more at the beginning of next week. The odds must be stacked against Switzerland and it will be small comfort not to lay out the four-figure sum that it would cost me. I must remember to listen to Radio 4 this afternoon. Sir Michael Morpurgo, author of "War Horse", is starting a series of folk journeys which looks interesting. Later in the week I will be staring at the laptop screen on two successive evenings for Zoom meetings. They are not ideal but a good way of keeping in touch in these troubled times. Sometime this week I need to stroll round to the blood test place ahead of my appoinment with Professor Oncologist next month. It might not be a bad idea to try and wake up BT, whose handling of my complaint about the disappearance of all my 'sent' e-mails has been very poor indeed. Best wishes to all Chris

Peterborough North views, the photos were taken by Gilbert Barnett, all 4mm scale. track work & Stock, not my work. the terraces in the far background were made half relief but based on actual buildings in there setting.

Good morning. Up fairly early today as I'm off to have my hair cut by the fair Veronique. That's a good thought. We did get our photos taken yesterday, eventually in Beth's case. The market was visited and we sat outside and enjoyed thecmorni g sun under a cloudless sky whilst having a coffee. Eyelid inspection after lunch then a cluck bird was roasted and eaten. Over an hour on a video call to Martin and Katie then ensued and a good catch up was had. Not a lot on the agenda for today apart from programming a bedroom heater. Regards to all. Jamie

Ey up! I await an email from the Mary Celeste regarding my incorrect prescription..pah! @chrisf, her indoors bought some cards at the Sue Ryder shop she volunteers in last Friday. Yes, we too try to get these done around half term...which should also be the Leeds Exhibition..bugggrrriittt Informed yesterday that if you go into Tier 3 you get, as an area ££6.50 per head of population...who worked that one out?? Not a lot on my "todo" sheet today..except going for my daily walk. Have as good a day as you can! Positive thoughts to all ERs especially the "missing" ones Baz

Three wagons lettered today, 2 diagram A16 implement wagons and an A2 machine wagon, all connoisseur kits. One of the A16s I built many years ago and was probably my first etched wagon. The other was bought built. The A2 was built a couple of years ago. All three need a few more jobs doing, they need the rings for ropes/chains adding then couplings.

Summer, early evening. Heading home.

Freightliner 90043 waiting for its repaint is parked up at Squirrels End stabling point.

During the interview Paul said that he gets a nosebleed if he "goes north of Bromley". Being Irish we didnt know where Bromley was at the time. We assumed it was a Glaswegian suburb. Then we went on Google maps....

To me, the hobby has always been about seeing what I can do, rather than seeing how good my models could be if somebody better than me did some of it for me. The modellers I have always admired most are the "all rounders" who have been as self reliant as they can possibly be. The present trend towards using technology represents a huge advance for many but to me, it represents a diminishing in traditional craftsmanship skills. The number of "I drew it and had it laser cut/3Dprinted" articles appearing now show how much things have moved on but I will stay at my workbench with my saws, knives and files. I don't want to see how straight and square a laser cutter can cut out a building. I want to know how straight I can cut it. The same comes with painting. There are many people better at painting and lining than I am but I still do it for myself as it is all about seeing what I can do and finding out if I can get any better at it. Having seen Tony W's painting and lining close up, if that isn't good enough, the bar must be set very high!

Mooring Awl, Inner Temple Hare, A good nights sleep, although I struggled to find a comfortable position in the first place as my neck was somewhat painful, I don't remember doing anything to upset it.. Eventually I got 4 + 3 hours sleep all in bed!! As for Halloween it was never celebrated in England where I lived in the sixties , neither in the Outer Hebrides or Inverness in the 70's. I suspect the "Wee Frees" had something to do with that, the Free Church of Scotland being extremely strict about pagan celebrations, many do not even celebrate Christmas nor Easter.. Halloween seems to be winning over Guido Fawkes night, I suggest because there are less selling opportunities for the supermarkets for celebrating 1605. Until 1859 it was law that the saving of James the 1st / 6th and parliament was celebrated.. I'm betting it's now even up to the 30 year olds maybe even some 40 years olds who have never repaired anything... That used to be the preserve the rich.. But they had staff to repair things.. With the general demise of technical / practical subjects at school, metal work / wood work etc All consumed into CDT then that has got changed into some other subject. They seem to learn a lot of very little of anything useful.. I'll bet there is very very few who have darned socks or repaired split seams in trousers as I have.. Our main charities, Hembsy Independant lifeboat, http://www.hemsbylifeboat.com/. Rough and smooth Collie Rescue, https://www.collielife.com/rescue/roughcollierescuepage.html I don't think either has full time paid staff, in fact I think they both operate on expenses only basis.. It's bus time... yep as I have one Temperature meter in, another turns up, having had none for months. I can only do one at a time, and there is some more important work to do between. As two current shunts that were away at NPL for their calibration are back. So anything on extended cal periods, because they were away, has to be done first.. Time to change the leads again, 8 measurements dome during the typing of this.

Nearing its destination

I think that the “school prom”, along with Halloween and some of the more distasteful aspects of the so-called “culture wars“ are imports and part of the gradual Americanisation of British life. I truly fear, sir, that you are misreading their body language. That’s a contemplative “Hmmm, rip out the throat or disembowel??? Decisions, Decisions“ look if I’ve ever seen one. Cats used to be worshipped as gods in Ancient Egypt and they haven’t forgotten... The younger, moralising, generation (“can’t do this, mustn’t do that”) could do well to learn from the wartime and immediate post-war generations and their maintain, repair, retain approach to life. When did you last hear of someone under 50 (or so) darning a sock or sewing leather patches on a jacket? Many decades ago, I read something that was quite influential on my life: although the details are now hazy, I recall that it was an interview with someone who had gone from “rags to riches” (as they say) a couple of times in their life. That person said “when you don’t have any money, then you can only afford the very best”. At first glance it seems a paradoxical statement, but when you think about it, it makes sense. So, to illustrate: If you buy a cheap, plastic “essential household item” for £1 it lasts a year, whilst the £5 all metal “essential household item” will last 10. So in ten years you’ll be £5 out of pocket if you buy the cheap item, replacing it yearly... So, the lesson is to avoid instant gratification – as in the long run it is costly – and to be patient and save up your pennies and buy quality that lasts. IKEA is all very well and good, but there’s a lot to be said for buying timeless, classic, design and high quality items that you invest in and retain. At Schloss iD the youngest piece of furniture that we have is my bespoke leather Chesterfield high-back wing chair (12 years old), whilst most of our lamps are design classics from Artemide and O Luce (25+ years...) etc. It’s a pity that you can’t “name and shame“, because I think paying such obscenely bloated salaries to so-called “executives“ in these charities makes a mockery of what these charities were established to do. And should people really know the extent to which these “executives” are plundering the donations that people made in good faith to the charity for their own salaries, many charities would see a significant drop in donations. As I have posted before, the best way to support your charity of choice without paying for the inflated salaries of those who make a career on the backs of the charity’s volunteers, is to donate items - wherever possible - instead of money. As for the perverted rationale that they have to “attract the right people“ by paying these ludicrous amounts of money, a line from Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar always comes to mind: “yond Cassius, he has a lean and hungry luck“. In other words, for every Caesar there is an ambitious, younger Cassius who could do the role as well (if not better) and for less reward and is just aching to step into the role. Perhaps, legislation should be introduced that pegs the salary of a charity’s CEO to that of the Prime Minister and should the CEOs salary go above that sum, then the charity would lose its charity status. That would certainly put the cat amongst the pigeons! Have a great week guys! iD

We make "a lot". They're rather fun to make, and it helps that the Mrs works tutoring the disabled young woman/daughter of the family who own the Nordicware company, inventors of the Bundt pan, headquartered a mere 3 miles from here! We have a large variety of their Bundt pan designs as the lady the Mrs works for often asks us to test their new designs tough duty but we manage to force down a cake or three when required, there's always plenty of friends and family willing to help us "TEST" Moanday, morning all Very busy weekend, although pretty much isolated! Friday evening a delightful Indian meal and vino with our friends... continuing or second pass through "Schitt's Creek". Saturday started in earnest wiring the shed, SEVERAL trips to the hardware store for various components - seems it's just like working on the model railway, never manage to determine the right parts list first, second or THIRD attempt! Trevor and Meagan stopped by Saturday afternoon, mostly just to say hi. I think they and Jemma/Brendan seem to think we need a more regular watch now that we're "OLDER", even though we've not managed anything "GDB" recently (sorry GDB!!!). Nice to know they're thinking of us, but at the same time I don't FEEL that I'm that old to need checking up on, oh well <sigh> Sunday lots more work installing shed wiring, lighting et al. All works wonderfully now, even installing a cheap Amazon Flex/motion detector (on sale TOO CHEAP TO NOT BUY) so that the lights come on/off when the door is opened without having to wire switching etc., I love the automation in spite of most folks not seeing the point Rewarded with bangers and mash for dinner - yum! Sodding -3 first thing here and overcast, though the entire weekend was dry. Threatened with light snow possible today and MEASURABLE 4-7 inches almost guaranteed tomorrow! Chaarrgggeee......

Eeeeup. Couple of miles walked around the village, but it is getting a bit windy now and not too pleasant so that is enough for today. Just been on the phone (on hold for ages first of course) trying to sort out insurance for my car, they sent all the bumph but it has sections which appear (to a normal human) to be incorrect or missing. All explained in insurance speak as being OK, but it is worrying as they don't like to pay out if they can find the slightest thing wrong in your declaration. The young man on the other end was very helpful, but it would appear the documentation is written or at least interpreted in a different language to the one I use. Also trying to get them to accept we don't pay insurance tax here was 'fun', but we got there in the end. That California Dreamin' was nice, Stewart, fine voices.

From ‘Beyond the Farside’. I hope the language does not offend anyone. A car full of Irish nuns is sitting at a traffic light in downtown Dublin, when a bunch of rowdy drunks pull up alongside of them. "Hey, show us yer tits, ya bl**dy penguins!" shouts one of the drunks. Quite shocked, Mother Superior turns to Sister Mary Immaculata and says, "I don't think they know who we are; show them your cross." Sister Mary Immaculata rolls down her window and shouts, "P*ss off, ya f**kin' little w**kers, before I come over there and rip yer balls off!" Sister Mary Immaculata then rolls up her window, looks back at Mother Superior, quite innocently, and asks, "Did that sound cross enough?"

Must go to bed ,working from home again this week then half term, then who knows? Good night all.

I can't quite tell if that's Benny Hill or not.

Thought I'd drop another couple of photos of Blakeney in, showing how the layout has progressed from when i took the photos for the article in this months BRM. Figures have been added all four are Modelu my reward for winning a couple of the Photo of the month competition on the GOG forum. The show a Slaters Vanwide (built and weathered by me), a Radley's kit of a Dodge Kew built, painted and weathered by me and the said Modelu figures, painted by me.

Some from today, thought I’d got away with dodging the RHTT but have ended up with a week of it starting out of kings norton this year as opposed to bescot ready to go It then runs to landor st, across Sutton park, Walsall, Aston, stetchford, Coventry to rugby where it changes ends on the goods line It then runs to stafford where I put it in the tamper sidings for the next driver and I head off home, I’ll try and get some pics of that bit tomorrow As I’ve got it until Thursday now but the rest of the week I pick it up from bescot earlier on and take it up to kings norton too

So no obituary you will be pleased to know, just some pics of the weathered canopy. Hopefully will soon have some pics with trains in the platform.

A few from North Wales. Portmadoc, Oct 1977. Portmadoc, June 1979 Portmadoc, Dec 1983 Criccieth, Aug 1984 Graham

I got Aditi’s car ready for the MoT test tomorrow. It took about 30 seconds and most of that was moving shopping bags from the boot to clear it. I don’t think the car has done more than 30 miles since it was serviced a couple of months ago. Even the shopping bags were pre first lockdown. We had a nice chat with a neighbour, we did our good deed for the day as she had locked herself out. We have lots of keys for neighbours (and they have ours too). I cut the grass yesterday, the distance walked wasn’t quite as much as my local exercise amble but it probably was better exercise. I must be improving as going up a flight of stairs is no longer cardiovascular exercise! It is a pleasant afternoon here. Aditi is out in the garden pruning. The Covid situation in Switzerland has affected my nephew who works in Zurich. He is returning to Germany to work, it doesn’t actually matter where he is (well as long as he has broadband access) but his girlfriend needs to be in Germany in person once a week for her job and quarantine rules for entering Germany from Switzerland means staying in Germany together. My other nephew (in Sussex) phoned last night to tell us he had got engaged. Getting families together (India, Italy, Romania, England, and so on) is probably going to take a while due to Covid but they will look for a house first. Tony

The roof went on the E95 yesterday. Today I hope the sides will go on, then it's just a case of adding the door furniture and the curved handrails on the coach ends. What could possibly go wrong? Loads. Meanwhile, views of a quiet moment in the yard between trains. John C.

As you've recognised Mark this is another hybrid build from an old PC kit but using brass sides. It's an E95 van composite, which in my alternative reality will form the daily Paddington - Earlsbridge through coach, alternating with the Bachmann model of a later Collett brake compo. The sides are from an old Blacksmith kit acquired in 2012 when I returned to the hobby knowing little about what kits were available and what they involved. I have to confess that it was one of those where I opened the box, had a quick look at the instructions and took fright. Since then it's languished in the 'too difficult' drawer. From what I've read it seems that Worsley Works might have done sides for this diagram in the past, but it doesn't feature on their list at present. Here are a couple of pics of the new coach build under test, checking gangways, uncoupling etc. John C.

I helped someone sort out car insurance once, for a Toyota Aygo (i.e. Group 1 insurance - lowest of the low). The premium was hiked noticeably from the previous car, a Starlett (higher group). I queried this, and was told that because Aygo's are very, very cheap to run a lot of young people (who have accidents...) run them - hence the high price. I responded: "But you're SAGA Insurance - you don't insure anyone under fifty!" The silence was deafening..... Bear 1, Tw@t Nil.

I did consider dipping pickled onions in chocolate ans leaving them out for the little blight er imean darlings out of sheer devilment

Good afternoon. A quick update before I head out to give the grass a final cut for the year. It's going to start raining tomorrow. We are at Colton Junction in early 2006 probably February. It turned out to be a busy afternoon. Firstly a Freightliner 66 went south towards Church Fenton, Light Engine. Probably heading to Midland Road depot in Leeds. Shortly after two trains arrived together. A EWS coal train with York built hoppers and a 158 heading south for Leeds and beyond. Then a Freightliner set of coal hoppers. And a lonely light engine heading north up the Selby diversion. Then another 158 heading south. And finally a 325 heading north. Quite a variety in a short space of time. I doubt that I would see so many coal trains now. Jamie

Oswestry 7mm

Bear just entered the following into Google: "Salaries of charity bosses uk" A tip: Don't do it when eating your Rice Crispies, as you'll pebbledash the kitchen..... As for pegging the salaries - a first class idea . Might I go further and suggest that those little "benefits" that often go with the job are included as well? Having the CEO of the local cat's home riding around in Bentley doesn't sit well with this Bear. edit: The following makes interesting reading, although small print suggests it dates from 2011: https://www.theguardian.com/society/salarysurvey/table/0,12406,1042677,00.html

Yes that is possible but obviously only if the charity is big enough to be VAT registered. Jamie

A couple from Edale, Sep 1981. I was walking on the Mam Tor-Lose Hill ridge. Graham

Morning all from Estuary-Land. It seems like Guy Fawkes has already begun, there were some fireworks going off locally on Saturday night. Tess Coes have only just put fireworks on sale, perhaps the two are connected. A little snippet, Guy Fawkes himself cheated his torturers, he like his fellow plotters was sentenced to be hung drawn and quartered. As the rope was placed around his neck he leapt from the scaffold breaking his neck. Thats it for now, be back later.

Morning all I always try to repair things first but now a lot of times you are defeated by silly screws. Take the iron for example how easy it was to replace a frayed cord now unless you have the appropriate screwdriver you cant fo it if you can find replacement braided flex that is cheaper thsn buying a new iron. As kids we were allowed either fireworks OR a trip to the fair which always used to come at a similar time. So me and my brother used to choose the fair then go out trick or treating to get money to get fireworks (we gave the money to parents)

Good morning everyone It’s been a busy weekend oneway or another and I just didn’t find the time to log in and read until later in the day. No really big jobs were done, just lots of little ones and the constant job of sweeping up the fallen leaves. I think the biggest jobs I’ve done have been to clean the French windows in both the dining room and cellar, those two combined took a couple of hours. I would normally spend the weekend in the workshop, but the long range weather forecast is for rain most of the week. So I took advantage of the dry weather over the weekend to do the jobs planned for the week, which rain would have prevented. So plans for today are to spend it and tomorrow (and possibly the rest of the week) in the workshop, I’m hoping to get my paints out and make a start on the turntable well. Stay safe, stay sane, enjoy whatever you have planned for the day, back later. Brian

Some of Retford's locos now carry lamps! This is a modified Hornby A4, though its plastic lamp brackets had long since gone the way of all flesh. All I've done is to drill holes in the base of the lamps to take a piece of brass wire, drilled holes in the plastic footplate to take them and fixed them in place (permanently) with superglue (a sort of reverse lamp bracket). This A4 (SILVER LINK) is rostered for 'The Flying Scotsman', so won't need to change lamps. In the same way that this 'Brit' will always work the boat train (only one bracket had gone from this modified Hornby BR Standard 7MT). This time, the lamps are held in place with Blak Tak (far superior to the blue equivalent, though I've probably got the spelling wrong). The lamps are Dave Franks' wonderful Lanarkshire Models' LNER ones (thanks again Dave), and they're not even painted! Even so, what a difference with regard to realism. I fitted several more today (with Blak Tak), especially suitable for locos with no lamp brackets (of which there are many). I think this magnificent layout's locos deserve to carry lamps.