Unicorn1

After a while looking for a cattle lorry for the layout I decided to build / kit bash one. There is the option of a Road Transport Images one, but that's outside my budget just now. So here's the kit bashed Cooper Craft AEC, with scratch built body. And the back end. I mentioned in my last post that the buildings need updating, so here's the first effort under construction, some railway workers cottages. Shamelessly cribbed from Geoff Taylor's book! More buildings to follow, and perhaps some trains! Les

Hi Jules Always good to see updates from Mayshill. Is the grain wagon a new addition? I like the look of these, but don't think one would ever have ended up at the end of my BLT. Still rule 1 and all that! Regards Les

Since my last post I decided to lose the fuel depot - i never really liked it - I came by a second hand Ratio Cattle Dock kit to replace it. Here it is in situ, still needs some weathering, and the fence has obviously just been give a fresh coat of the cream paint Swindon keep sending down! The railings are made from florist wire and not the plastic rod in the kit, that will used for downpipes on future buildings. I've built a new Beetle, the old one may well be restored, this one has obviously been recently overhauled and carries its new maroon livery. The 'scenic' area between the junction and Bisopscombe Junction Shed has received some attention - a field of barley, or something - is being harvested. After several experiments I ended up taking the easy option of using a doormat for the crop. That choir took some cutting! It's better that the bare area that was there before. Some new grass has been added, now the cows have some better grazing! My old Dapol Fruit D has re-entered service, and here it arrives with the parcels at the head of the branch passenger train. I'm slowely replacing the lineside fencing, but haven't got to this bit yet! More new rolling stock, in the form of a short rake of Dogfish wagons, along with a Shark brakevan, has arrived. These are Cambrian kits. I initially only wanted one Dogfish, but ended up building three to use up some of the transfers I'd ordered! A rare visitor to the branch is this Monster, an Ian Kirk kit. This was a challenging build, especially the roof! (the van is actually relatively clean - the 'mark' on the side is actually light reflecting off the van) Finally a helicopter shot of 9015. The buildings in the road are the next project - most of them will be replaced with something more original. So the layout is getting a few updates, so will update the thread soon. Les Edited to make more sense.

Placed my first order with Trackshack on Tuesday thinking it'll be here for the weekend - it arrived Wednesday lunchtime! Excellent service, at a good price too. Les

Just received my first order from Rails, some Romford coach wheels, very impressed with their service. Les

Hi Chris Good to see you posting again - and it sounds as if life is better since you moved. Les

OK I'll start with one often used our household. Wen tidying up reading material we often encounter a 'disaster' of catalogues. Les

Another hero of mine gone. I last saw Eddie Clarke at the Shepherds Bush Empire last year - where Fastway and Girlschool were supporting Saxon. It was Mrs Unicorn who really wanted to see Saxon, but when the support was announced how could I say no! I first saw him with Motorhead on the Bomber tour. RIP Eddie Les edited to change font size

Here's to a speedy recovery Andy. Best wishes Les

Hi NorthBrit I like the concentration of buildings, and also the thought you have put into your freight traffic. have you thought about using transfer/decal paper for you private owner wagons? May look better, just a thought. Regards Les

When Rolls Royce cars still had 'proper' radiator grills the tops were made slightly convex - if they were flat the human eye would perceive them as being concave. Les

Hi Jules Nice to see some more pics from Mayshill. I like the tarpaulins on your wagons, they look like Smiths ones? I find them a bit small, but yours look OK. Any tips for getting them to fit? Les

Signed Les

Hi Scott, thanks. A Cruel close up of the coach ends. The old underframes were cut along the red line in my rather naff drawing. But only cut off the sole bars and the ends - not the floor. The centre of the bow end of the coach should just overhang the centre of the new flat headstock, These were made up of plasticard, you can make out the plastic strip on the left hand coach, and this is what sits up against the floor. The same was done for the outer ends. The old Mainline buffers were then re used on the inner ends of the coaches. Hope this helps. Les

A few new pictures from the 'Combe. I managed to acquire not one but two S6 fish van kits via a well known auction site. I always supposed that Bishopscombe was on the coast, so I thought it was time the local fishermen had a chance to send their catch up to town. Here are the two finished vans. They're both Ian Kirk kits. The furthest one is from the more 'basic' kit, and had a roof that wasn't brilliant, and once made square lost a bit of coverage. I guessed the position of the vents (Dart Castings) on this one, so it's numbered as a S12 diagram van - there appears to be no photographs of the prototype! The nearer van is from, I think, a newer kit with a better roof. I found a photo of an S6, so the vents on this one are more prototypical. Both vans were finished with Dart castings shell vents and lamp irons, Lanarkshire Models vac pipes and buffers and CCTS transfers. Also on the workbench has been a B-Set modification. These have been 'cobbled' together from a pair of old Mainline coaches. They were stripped using Bio-Strip - just the most reliable paint remover I've ever used - (no connection etc). The 'extra' windows were filled in and Ford Rosso Red applied over red primer. Roof is Humbrol RC412. The molded underframe 'detail' on the Mainline coaches was removed, and new trusses made up from brass l section, new battery boxes, vacuum cylinders and V hangers an dynamos put in the right (?) places. The regulator boxes are scratch built. Making the headstocks square meant better coupling distance between the coaches, and simple plastic rod connects the two using the old Mainline coupling set up. They now couple nice and close, but can still negotiate the the 24" radius curve that is off scene. The bodies still need a little adjustment to reduce height differences! They may not be perfect, but I think they give a fair impression of an early BR livery B Set. So here is the branch pannier collecting the first load of fish for attaching to the early passenger departure. the layout at Bishopscombe isn't contusive to tail traffic in the up direction, so the van goes at the front. Lets hope its well insulated! So that's the latest news from the 'Combe. I hope to have some more scenery developments next time. Les

This may have appeared on RM web before so apologies if it has. RHDR No7 near Pilot Crossing, Dungeness.

There is also Ashford Model Supplies - they stock a lot of OO British outline, as well as a good range of tools and raw materials. And they're not far from the tunnel. Les

Keith, you will be pleased to know that Harvey's new shop is directly opposite Furlongs! I have suggested to Mrs Unicorn that a day trip to Faversham by train should be made soon........ Les

More great photos Chris Nice to see 1592 - it was always a treat to see this turn up on one of my journeys. Regards Les

Chris, I have really enjoyed your EMU pics - all taken at places I know very well. I commuted from Canterbury to Deal (via Ramsgate) for eleven years, so clocked up lots of miles on CEPs, VEPs ,and CIGs. I must confess I don't miss the three car CEPs too much, especially when they were busy - and many had seats missing! We once owned a house near Canterbury West, and for a while I really missed the sound of the train doors slamming, as well as listening out for a CEP to blow a fuse just before St Dunstans Crossing! Again, super photos, thanks for posting. Les

That's great, thank you. Les

Good Evening I am just finishing a couple of S6 ex GWR fish vans to run on Bishopscombe. As these would run as tail traffic on up trains I have assumed they would be fitted with lamp irons, but can find no photographic evidence. So, my question is, would they have been fitted with one or more lamp irons at each end (the Churchwood type most probably) and where would they be positioned? Les

I too like to look out for the old motors on old TV programmes, and Mrs Unicorn is quite used to my complaining about the wrong vehicles in 'period' dramas and the like. OLD666 by the way belonged to ex LT RTL1557, which also appeared in a couple of Mont Python sketches. IIRC it was owned by famous bus dealer Ted Braklel (sic) of Cheam. In those days you couldn't use a real London Transport bus for filming, so the few, then, privately owned ones were in demand for just such work. Les

I have left instructions for Motorhead's 'Stone dead Forever' to be played when I go! Les

Bid on this awhile ago at the starting price of £6.99 - and there it stayed till the end! Getting rarer now, these Garrick kits are well cast, and this one still has its transfer sheet. The contents were still wrapped in the page of a 1980's telephone directory. Casting cleaning up nice - the major hurdle with this will be where the rear dome meets the roof - lots of 'gap'! Les