queensquare

The hall is booked, exhibitors have been contacted, cakes are being sourced and we have a poster (thanks to the clever Mr York). I will be starting a new thread very soon, Jerry

…. and I was not only very happy to bring Trerice but also got to see South Pelaw for the first time - particularly as it had been in one of the issues of MRJ when I was in the editorial chair! It didn’t disappoint, stunning track work and array of signals. I’m back at York next year with my more usual 2mm hat on with Tucking Mill. I’ve been a demonstrator there in the past and would be happy to do it again in the future. Pitching a demonstration is never easy. I’m not a fan of the heads down, look busy style and much prefer a heads up and make eye contact approach but do draw the line at hailing down passers by!! Jerry

My pleasure Jim, the windows for the shed at the big station have been painted - hopefully more progress soon over on the Bath thread. Im afraid the apple nectar is in 1:152 size barrels (not easy through the post!) but then so is the van!😊 Jerry

I’m aiming to be there on the Saturday and very much looking forward to seeing Templecombe. Jerry

The morning mixed has just headed back to Hallatrow leaving an SDJR roadvan opposite the goods store at Tucking Mill. Once Seth has finished his tea break he’ll be along with the boy to load the van with several barrels of best cider currently safely under lock and key. The cider is destined for Kirkallanmuir as a thank you to the local workers who did such a superb job of fabricating the cast iron window frames for the engine shed up at the big station. The local scrumpy will be very well received in Scotland and should arrive in a few days time - although it may be a couple of pints light by the time it leaves North Somerset…..! Jerry

Superb job Simon. They run as well as they look - even in the depths of Somerset! Jerry

Oops, sorry Kevin! Jerry

Hi Craig, there are a number of members in Oz. It would be worth joining in the ZAG Zoom area group which is run by Kevin Night of Oz and is open to any 2mm member Jerry

Welcome back to the Association Roy. We do bearings for Farish split axle locos such as the Jinty, 4F etc which is about as close as we are likely to get to drop in wheels but still involves soldering up etched coupling rods and quartering the wheels. The problem the Association always comes up against is that no sooner do we make parts to convert locos the manufacturer changes the way they do things. The EFE Austerity chassis is, in many ways, similar to the Farish ones but with different size bearings which means that I should be able to use Association wheels but the bearings will have to be modified or replaced. It would be great if the Association made bearings to suit but expecting the already stretched volunteer base to make bearings that are likely to sell in the tens at best is asking a bit much. 2mm modelling will always involve a bit of do it yourself. Steam, Im afraid, is always going to be more difficult than diesels to convert. Apologies, if this sounds a bit negative, I assure you its not meant to, just trying to be realistic. Are you anywhere near a 2mm area group? Personally, I'm very much looking forward to future EFE releases, particularly if its the diesel I rather hope it will be. Jerry

At one of our recent get togethers we had a line up of Austerities Between us we managed to muster half a dozen. The front three are the work of John ‘Doncaster Green’ - untouched Farish, heavily breathed on Farish with an Association chassis and EFE out of the box (though we did whip the couplings off!) The next three are mine - the EFE EP and production blue NCB models ( these will become Ted and Archie for my grandsons), and finally Highbury, P&D Marsh tanks and cab, scratch footplate and chassis etc Will, ‘Tapdieuk’, also brought his EFE green ‘Robert’ which has had the wheels skimmed and Association tyres fitted. This is a possibility for mine although I will first investigate the possibility of fitting Association wheels. Jerry

Not sure about drop in wheelsets but there will certainly be an article at some point on finescaling them in as straightforward a way as possible. Graham kindly let me have the EP sample to pull apart and I bought one so I'll be doing something and I know of at least a couple more that have been finescaled - using at least two different routes so far! Jerry

I think it’s something to do with having blue engines Jim! Jerry

Splendid, a very handsome train, Jerry

Gorgeous Jim. Any chance of a snap of it with the coaches you built recently. Jerry

An article on their construction will be in the next MRJ, issue 303. I will be chasing you up for captions in the next day or so Guy!😊 Jerry

Many thanks for your kind words. It was really gratifying that there was so much interest in Iain’s work, particularly the cast of Tregarick and the wonderful North Cornwall Minerals. You weren’t alone and I’ve almost talked myself horse discussing the work of the greatly missed ‘Riceickle’ …… and you needn’t have worried, I did manage have a look around the rest of the show! The journey for us up to York from the south west on a bank holiday weekend is invariably horrendous but always worth it which is why we come back year after year. Despite being one of the biggest and best annual Shows it somehow manages to maintain the feel of a local show. Many thanks again to John and the team for yet again putting together an excellent show and looking after us so well. We will be back next year with Tucking Mill, which should have been there in 2020! Jerry and Kim

Thoroughly enjoyable, if exhausting day with Trerice and the North Cornwall display. Loads of interest with people genuinely delighted to see Iain’s work at York. Jerry

We are opposite the Railway Modeller and EM gauge society - mezzanine 2! oh well, catch up soon. Jerry

I was told we’re in the vicinity - I thought you were avoiding me! 😊 Jerry

I think they are a very handsome loco Ben. No problem at all about a bit of N gauge in this thread …… as for that front coupling though ……!! Jerry

More than happy to host diesels - my version of the S&D didn’t close in 1966! We would have had 10000 here yesterday but Tom E unfortunately didn’t make it thanks to a pothole on the motorway which took out a tyre on route - next time hopefully! Jerry

Another very enjoyable 2mm get together yesterday, trains, chat a bowl of gruel and cake! I’d made very little progress since our last meeting but the rest brought along what they’d been up to. Will brought along one of the new Revolution 59s which is a magnificent thing. I was very tempted to get one of these only lack of finances at the time prevented it. They may not fit my 1920s time frame but are very much at home in the Mendips. I remember them arriving on the stone traffic and demonstrating their immense power on Upton Scudamore bank. I’m looking forward to it being finescaled and heading a full rake of hoppers. Will also brought his breakfast train - what it lacks in authenticity it more than makes up for in fun - marvellous! Andy Grand brought his Austerity and a 40 wagon rake of superbly weathered coal wagons. The loco ran beautifully and will look even better once Brother Simon has completed the painting and weathering. The J10 also got a run out, albeit with a much lighter load. stuff that evaded the camera included John ‘Doncaster Greens’ 4F which is now running superbly thanks to further tweaking and three GWR locos from Rich Brummit which hadn’t turned a wheel for some while but ran an awful lot better than we had been led to believe. I’m hoping to be able to report more progress myself by the time we next get together in a couple of months. Jerry

Its in 303, Jerry

They’re Armstrongs Stephen, Jerry

We very much hope it will be at Larkrail this year - July 13th. Details of this years Larkrail International Festival of railways and byways will be announced in the next couple of weeks! Jerry