queensquare

The Portsmouth show is consistently one of the best of the year and this years was no exception. A superb range of exhibits and traders, well done to all involved. We were kept vey busy on the 2mm demo and Roadshow, helped greatly by the fact that there were two of the best 2FS layouts on the circuit in attendance. Looking forward to next year already, Jerry

Well what do you do on a wet, miserable Sunday in November - you go to the workshop and make a mess - and carving Celotex landscapes certainly does that!! The track has been down a few weeks and the scenics roughed out thanks to some suitable offcuts from a successful skip dipping trip. Celotex, a hot glue gun and an old rip saw make for rapid progress but boy does it make a mess! Once the mess was cleaned up I roughly masked the track and flashed a coat of red oxide primer over it followed by some sleeper grime. The tunnel mouths, road bridge and card road surface were then loosely put in place. The basic landform needs a bit more tweaking before it gets covered in plaster bandage but overall I’m happy with how it’s looking. The view of the colliery from the south, left hand side will be greatly improved by moving the backscene five feet away. Time for a glass of something red I think! Jerry

I think it’s one that went to the family but not sure - Tim will know. It was indeed a lovely little model. Jerry

I meant to post this snap some while ago but for various reasons didn’t get around to it. At RailWells this year Neil Kirby introduced himself to me and showed me some of his superb 4mm SDJR 3D prints - better still he very kindly offered to have a go at printing them in 2mm to see how they came out. A few weeks later I came home to find a little parcel containing a selection of his prints which have come out beautifully. On the wagons the body and chassis are thankfully separate as, beautiful as it is, I’m not sure how much handling the incredibly fine brake gear would take in 2mm . Thankfully the Association is very well catered for regarding etched underframes so this won’t be a problem. The little Sentinel is exquisite. Again I’m not sure how robust fine details like the lamp irons would be but , again, easily replace with metal substitutes. Neil kindly gave me a couple of spares of the Sentinels so the plan is to build one as a free rolling model which can be included in an occasional freight. I have pictures of them at both Bath and Barrow road (admittedly not in my period) where they were towed for maintenance and repairs. I would like to motorise the other aided by a permanently attached model of the low Radstock brake van. I reckon there’s just enough room to shoehorn everything in!! They've all been added to the not insubstantial ‘round toit’ list!! Jerry

Will sent me this snap of ‘Robert’ in the exchange sidings at Foxcote. The wheels are the originals, turned down and fitted with 2mm Association rims. The coupling rods are just blanks which still need filing to shape but it ran very well. Jerry

My mood was greatly lifted today with a visit from friends and the first official run of a proper train over the new Windsor Hill extension - Simon Grands superb Jubilee, ‘Hawkins’ on an excursion made up of Southern stock. John ,‘Doncaster Green’ also brought along a green 25 and his bashed Farish austerity which now has a coat of satin black and ran very well on the DC test track. Will, Tapdieuk, also brought his EFE austerity along which has 2FS wheel rims fitted to the original wheels which also performed really well but I neglected to point my camera at it. A cracking day, just what I needed, many thanks gents. jerry

Great work Geraint although that trailer does have the look of a caravan!😊 Jerry

‘Les Caves du Roy’ gets my vote. Great progress Jerry

One of the sleeper car bodies ended up on the platform at Bath though post war pictures show it having been replaced by an arc roof body. I’ve always assumed the switch was due to bomb damage - a number fell very close to Queensquare/Green Park. Rather scarily, a painted note on the bottom of my 2mm scale plasticard model says July 1997 - it’s been a long project! Jerry Edit; Good job its not yet fixed down because its the wrong way round in my snaps!

It’s not been the most productive week in the workshop but I’m home alone this weekend so have been giving some thought to what might be a good project to get me going again. The track on the Windsor Hill extension is down and awaiting droppers for wiring and a bit of skip dipping has resulted in a few sizeable lumps of celotex so I may start roughing out the contours. I’m quite looking forward to seeing the colliery given room to breathe in the landscape without the mainline across the front immediately diving through a hole in the sky. Jerry

Home but cream crackered after an emotional (for various reasons) but hugely rewarding and enjoyable weekend at Uckfield. Many thanks to the organising team,but particularly Adrian who, as usual, just dealt with whatever was thrown at him in a calm and measured way - a great exhibition manager. A couple of snaps of the North Cornwall Minerals and East Suffolk Light - more tomorrow when I’ve had a descent Kip! 😊 Jerry

Many thanks to everyone for your kind comments both on here and by pm. I know this is a toy train site but I’ve always kept my threads as a diary of sorts and our various animals, which anyone who knows or visits us will know are a huge part of our lives, have always featured. Yesterday was a really difficult day but I’m exhibiting with friends this weekend which has helped take my mind off things. Its not Bath, or even 2mm, but I’m at Uckfield with Mick Simpson and Simon deSuza operating Trerice this weekend as part of the Rice Extravaganza - five Rice layouts plus displays at one show. Whilst looking for Rice pictures to bring along I came across this one of Iain in our garden along with John Greenwood and Simon Castens. led on Iain’s feet is Jazz - Iain was another soft touch with dogs and Jazz knew where titbits might be proffered!! Normal 2mm layout progress reports will resume soon. Jerry

Today I had to say goodbye to my beautiful Jazz. She was born in the workshop and spent most days of her fourteen years there with me. We will miss her terribly. Jerry

Set up and ready to go Jerry

Cheers John, kim had her favourite blue Ibanez. For those interested we did numbers from Tom Waits, Dylan, J J Cale and Johnny Cash. Jerry

Very little has been achieved over the last week or two thanks to trips away, birthdays and a big party last weekend - where kim and I did a few numbers in our sixties for 60 outfits - check out those flairs! To be fair, we were very tame compared to some of the other outfits on display ……..!! The other job that has taken up any spare time recently has been getting the late Iain Rice’s Trerice ready for Uckfield next weekend. I did, however, take advantage of a few hours in front of the England Italy game last night to paint the new bridge and tunnel mouths. The two outer tunnels are for Windsor Hill, the middle one is for Devonshire tunnel at the other end of the room. Jerry

Judging by progress so far I don’t see that being a problem! Jerry

Simon gave me the heads up that you were documenting this on RMWeb. Fantastic stuff - a fascinating subject and if it’s anything like as good as your Cuban adventure then it’s going to be a real show stopper - be great to have it at Larkrail 2024 - July 13, get it in your diary. Love the Kim Philly touch Jerry

Trerice lives! A few dry joints, a new section switch, new controller socket, plus, most importantly, new bog chain to support the fiddle yard (no you’ve not misread that!), and we’re in business. Locos run over the entire layout, through the big dipper across the front and out onto the cassettes. Hoorah!! As well as Trerice, we will also have a small display of some of the stock from Iain Rice’s seminal Tregarrick and the North Cornwall Minerals, the East Suffolk Light and other Rice ephemera. Jerry

A few days on the Gower to celebrate our birthdays, (mine and Kims, not the dogs!), saw lots of walks, plenty of wine and some plasticard whittling in the evenings. Came home refreshed and with the basic carcass of the underbridge for the Windsor hill extension completed. The etched girders I already had in stock, picked up pre-loved, ready made but damaged at a 2mm event. The origins are unknown but they’re rather nice and easily repaired However, having set them up I felt they were far too wide for a country lane so I got out the slitting disc and did a cut and shut which looked much better. This evening, whilst listening to Scotland being battered by the Irish in the rugby, I added the remaining plasticard bits and trial fitted it on the layout. Next up painting - but not tomorrow as it’s my birthday!! Jerry

I’m away ( on the Gower) at the moment so haven’t got access to my photos but the 3500 tender fitted to the Armstrongs was very different in appearance to the Johnson 3250, other than having the Johnson like flare on the sides. It had no beading, very prominent rivets and a completely different arrangement of handrails at the front. I’ve attached a picture but will add a couple more for comparison when I’m home later in the week. Jerry

Unfortunately Rob it’s not quite that simple as the Bachmann model also has the wrong tender. The Armstrongs, along with a large proportion of the Midland 4Fs had the Johnson style, Deeley 3500 riveted tender. My knowledge of what’s available in 4mm isn’t good enough to suggest where you could get one of these Jerry

Great stuff John, look forward to seeing progress next time we meet up. We’ve had all sorts in Bath but never a Deltic….. yet! Jerry

Too modern for me but honoured to have them photographed on Tucking Mill. These really are stunning models. Jerry

The Armstrongs haven’t got a Fowler tender, it’s the Johnson style 3500 riveted tender. I’m not sure anyone does one of those RTR in 4mm Jerry