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AVS1998

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Posts posted by AVS1998

  1. 32 minutes ago, Northroader said:

    Pre WW1, surely? Best route, from Paddington to Fishguard, then there’s an overnight boat to Waterford, not the Rosslare route, pretty run up the estuary to Adelphi Wharf, then direct to Tipperary.

    She will end up as “Becky” anyway.

     

    I was referring more to the original 1920s setting, with the social and political fallout of WWI settling down. And thank you for the route, I'll take a look into that! 

    • Like 2
  2. An update, entirely unrelated to my 'usual' modelling. Some of you may remember the novel I set out to write some years back, set in the early '20s and with dozens of non-sensical plot points. I've decided to mostly scrap the novel, strip it back to bare bones, and start afresh. Some details are being carried over (Blackstone being the main setting, the family Beauclerk, Irish fiancé), but a lot is being overhauled. I've been doing a lot of fiction writing recently anyway, and finally feel up to the task of trying to bring this project up to my current standards. 

     

    To start, I'm adjusting the time period to around 1910-12. I feel that's just as interesting as post-WWI, but gives more scope to explore the fear of the 'unknown', given world events (and those on a more national level); The third Home Rule Crisis, labour strikes and protests, transition from the Edwardian period, rumblings of war in Europe. On a more 'positive' note, 1911 saw the first celebration of International Women's Day, though I'm reluctant to rebrand Lady Beauclerk a suffragist or suffragette. It seems too paint-by-numbers and 'safe'. Whilst Rebecca* is a typical lady of her era (skilled in languages, writing, dance, painting/sketch etc), she's also attune to some social issues, assisting at the local hospice, attending events in her capacity as a landowner, and, as the eldest daughter, was also due to inherit the family house** (her father hasn't expressed any other wishes).  This particular branch of the Beauclerks are recusant, and have, through Rebecca's mother, family in Yorkshire and Northumberland. The fact she has been raised Catholic but is marrying an Ulster Protestant is a point of interest; he's still going to be a Nationalist (I'm trying to treat carefully with the use of republican/nationalist labels, as they're still complicated to navigate). 

     

    There will be a chapter or two set in Tipperary (the real Beauclerks held lands and an estate there,  Newtown Anner House) where the Blackstone Beauclerks visit, perhaps for a spring holiday. It's an opportunity to see Rebecca out of her natural habitat, to explore contemporary issues of religion, statehood and the anti-British movement, gender issues, etc. Making such a trip (and writing these themes!) will be a challenge;

     

    There's the obvious SECR - Liverpool route via the LNWR and connecting with a ferry there (to Antrim or Down, or south, to Dublin or Dún Laoghaire), or heading with the GWR to Fishguard for Rosslare. I've probably missed some options - there's a lot to sift through - but I'm trying to think whether it makes sense to spend more time on a train and be on a shorter sea crossing, or to have an even split and take rooms in an hotel overnight. The LNWR option seems to make the most sense, as there were direct trains from Kent/Sussex at the time, they operated ferries across the Irish Sea, and probably had through ticketing arrangements with some Irish railways. On the other hand, travelling via the GWR might also be a sensible option as there were some through coaches/trains to Birkenhead and Fishguard (possibly Plymouth, it's hard to tell from the mess of the timetables!) and it would be a more direct route south of Dublin. The jury's out. Then again, she may have travelled to Belfast or Dublin and met her fella there, then they travelled down with family as an entourage. So many options! There's a possibility that the family may have been visiting relatives in Yorkshire, also, and travelled via the L&YR, and taken the Fleetwood boat service to Belfast (if they weren't keen on Liverpool). Trains obviously follow thereafter - the GNRI and GSWR, I do believe? 

     

    Maunsell no longer features as a character. He's redundant. As is the nonsensical daft CIWL Conspiracy. I'm not sure if there will be a railway-related conflict anymore (it seems silly to try to force it). Instead, I'm swayed more toward a struggle of identity and agency for a titled lady of Catholic heritage navigating her adult, married life. It's also a story of disillusionment with the Empire narrative. I want to write a chapter (based initially on an idea I had of her attending the Imperial War Museum's opening in October 1920 at the Crystal Palace) of Rebecca's discomfort with displays at the 1911 Festival of Empire, and her unease at the 1911 Fleet Review (coinciding with confirmation of her pregnancy upon her return to the London house). 

     

    Seeing as how Rebecca won't have served as a nurse in a war, writing in the character of Peter Barnes-Bell (whose name I may change, I'm not so keen on the surname anymore), son of @sem34090's original character, the shadowy Missenden, is tad more difficult. He may be revised to instead be a longstanding pen-pal of Rebecca's that she made during a family holiday to Cromer (one of many popular Victorian resorts). He's still Missenden's son. They have maintained correspondence for over 15 years and met a few times in London - slowly generating rumours. This makes more sense to me, rather than the formulaic ''she's a nurse he never forgot'' plot I originally ran with. 

     

    Thus far, I'm happy with how the novel's threads seem to be coming together. I'll likely post an update on here when I've written a trial chapter again. When I'm back in England, and have an opportunity to do some modelling, I'll try to tie that in with the novel works, also. Some fictional stock may ensue (who am I kidding, of course it's going to happen... You should see my stock lists. Stuff of nightmares. Or dreams.)

     

    . . . . . . 

     

    *I'm still workshopping her name. Rebecca seems to fit for now. I did toy with Francesca, or Diana. She's a distant cousin of the fascinating Beatrix Beauclerk, Duchess of St Albans, who is around seven years her senior. Both have Irish connections through marriage, and Rebecca has fond memories of attending the wedding in 1897. 

     

    **Female inheritance, historically, is perceived to be 'messy', but still possible. If I've read this article properly, inheritance of property by a woman was perfectly acceptable and normal (if entails and such nonsense weren't in place), however, the transfer of titles which are frequently tied to the estate are less likely. Thus, while Rebecca can and will inherit her home, she will not be able to pass on the peerage of Blackstone. 

     

     

    • Like 3
    • Interesting/Thought-provoking 3
  3. I fly back to Belfast on Thursday, and was curious to see what stock I do still have, what I've amassed, and I was surprised at some projects/kits I'd forgotten about. To start with, we've got the fledgling SECR loco fleet;

     

    Bachmann C class (to be rebranded/renumbered)

    Kirtley B2 (I'm still toying with rebuilding the loco component with a Finecast loco and some brass or plasticard pieces)

    Golden Arrow O1 (the cab roof definitely needs some attention, and there's some filling to be done before detailing)

    Dapol D class (coal, weather, couplings? Trivago)

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    On the wagon front, I believe the two oxide opens are private owner wagons? I vaguely remember building them, they were kits bought in Edinburgh on one of my stays with Linny but I'm not sure what they are! To their right is an H. Syrus coal merchant wagon (I'd like some more of these). This needs weighting, a light weather, and couplings. Next is an round-ended wagon, I think LSWR or Brightonian in design? It's a Kenline kit, there's 3-plank open in a box to be finished as a companion. It'll probably run with a tarp for variety. 

     

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    Ah yes... The LBSCR. I'd forgotten I had a GAP J tank kit from some years back. I tried stripping the paint and it didn't go too well. A complete strip and rebuild is in order, I think. I need to decide which of the two it will represent, in time. As for the E4? The body is in decent shape, though the paint leaves much to be desired, but it needs some work. The mechanism works just fine. That paint mismatch is ridiculous!

     

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    Finally, just a demonstration of how dinky a Stroudley looks beside a Pullman behemoth. The umber needs patching up, as does the cream, the roof needs painting and the cable trunking repairing. I've built an interior for the Stroudley, and the underframe is more rigid now. It'll see buffers, battery boxes (unsure of positioning for this carriage - comparing with Billintons, they seemed to have the boxes either offset to one side or dead centre?) and some other gubbins. The Pullman... intimidates me, that's still a project I'm wrapping my head around!

     

    I'd like to finish at least one thing this year!

    • Like 13
    • Friendly/supportive 2
  4. image.png.eb19045571962f18b987ace2d5236319.png

     

    I must say, this kit falls together very nicely. My chosen prototype is SECR 390, rebuilt to an O1 in December 1915, so relatively early in my period (1910-30). As-built it appears to have had a tender weather sheet, and I'd like to try and represent that in time. The sandboxes were also mounted on the front splashers, along with a wingplate, which I should be able to replicate with some judicious filling. Photos look like tapered buffers are needed. I'm tempted to remake the cab roof in plastic sheet, only because I found while trying to tidy it with a file it was too easily cut into and taken out of square. 

    • Like 8
  5. The Stroudley bogie first now has an underframe, courtesy of a Ratio Midland underframe kit. It did need narrowing in the length by around 2mm, but otherwise it has been assembled as 'usual' for a Brighton conversion of these kits (side frames inverted, then sanded of detail, the trussing cut away etc). The buffer beams aren't perfect, but I think with some more tidying up, they'll look the part, especially as this is intended to be a mid-rake vehicle. It'll need a dynamo and some brake detailing, and V trusses mid-way, otherwise it will remain spartan. I'm undecided on the buffers - it may use the Ratio long buffers from the kit. Bogies will come, in time. 

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    The body shell did unfortunately split and required regluing (with a little overspill) but with cautious paint repair and maybe some internal reinforcement, it'll hold strong. 

     

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    Definitely looking the part to me, now!

     

    Also in the post for me during this visit was a Golden Arrow O1 kit. Now, I've preordered one of the Rapido models, but I've always fancied building one of the kits, and since Chris now has an O released, I'll give that a bash, too. I'll try to find my B2 bash and C class to do a comparison between the three. There was a lovely handwritten note in with my kit that I really ought to write a reply to. Much appreciated, Chris - it was nice to be remembered! 

    • Like 12
  6. Would anyone happen to have any more information on the Midland clerestory composite that found its way to the Isle of Wight Central? I'm just curious about the hows and the whys, it's such an odd item to cross the Solent (I say that, look at what else has made the crossing). There's scant information online aside from two photos and the odd tagline. I know it was numbered 6988, withdrawn in the 1930s and seems to have lost its clerestory at some point, also riding (eventually) on four-wheel bogies. 

    • Interesting/Thought-provoking 2
  7. It's far from the clearest mock-up drawing (I'm not au fait with the 'creative' side of things on my MacBook; should've dug out my Windows for all this cut/paste!), but a prototype Nelson Baltic? I've got a Hornby Nelson which I don't particularly want, have tried selling several times and it hasn't gathered much interest, so rather than it sitting in its box forever, I decided to make a little plan and propose an imaginary locomotive at the same time.

     

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    It's not terribly neat I'm afraid and I wasn't too sure about the placement of the rear bogie due to the depth of the ashpan, but I think it makes sense as a vague illustration. The cab is from a W tank (It had a slightly larger bunker than the K; typical max. coal cap. of British tanks seems to be around 3.5T, especially compared to other large tanks, Baltics in particular) and obviously the rear bogie just a copy of the leading. For the tanks, I tried to follow Maunsell's general plan on passenger tanks of having them run to just shy of the smokebox, and maybe 3/4 the height of the boiler (this may also be wrong. At the moment, it's just an idea). I'm glad the W had a Belpaire firebox, as it made marrying the lines (reasonably) easy, even if I am a bit clumsy on the laptop trackpad.

     

    Now, according to the SREmG page for the class, ''he [Maunsell] was set a tough challenge for this specification by the Chief Operating Manager because the future standard for main line express trains was to haul a load of 500 tons tare at a start-to-stop average speed of 55 m.p.h. on not only the South West section but also over the demanding to operate Eastern section. Maunsell set about this in a systematic fashion with development work and trials using modified locomotives, and evaluating and comparing the designs of other companies with the aim of producing what would be called today a "state of the art" locomotive. However first there was a pressing need for more express passenger locomotives for the expanded summer timetable of 1925 and this was met by construction of additional class N15 engines with an improved front end.''

     

    My imagining is that when the locomotive was being designed, consideration was being made of the various larger express locomotives already in service on express routes which could be relieved for other duties and replaced by standardised Nelsons, either Baltic or tender form. The Baltics in particular may have been used on the premier ex-Brighton and Continental expresses on the ex-SEC, replacing the (equally fictitious) inherited, non-standard Tilbury Baltics purchased in 1912. The Baltic Nelsons probably would never have been produced, I'm thinking mostly because of fuel capacity and also the lack of need for another Baltic class on the Southern - even if it was a 'standard' design. Besides, the Brighton Ls weren't too old, only really ousted by impending electrification and poor route availability. I imagine it would be much the same for the (fictional) SECR/Tilbury Baltics., With all that water weight on top of the drivers, they'd also probably never have got off the drawing board because of the overall weight. Likely fine outside of Kent, but in the county, it'd probably be a risky move. 

     

    Even so, it all fits neatly into my little 'fictional history' box for Blackstone as well as the wider remit (I hope) for an imaginary locomotive. Oh, and one final note: the name. Obviously the class were named for Royal Navy admirals. Now, who better than Lord Amelius Beauclerk, Duke of St Albans and distant cousin to the Blackstone Beauclerks? 

    • Like 4
  8. I caved in... And went for umber and cream (well, 'aged white'.) 

     

     

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    The Stroudley D. 36/43 bash from Hornby generics had been on my mind while I've been at home, and I decided, given it's an older survivor from the Brighton, it'd be nice to have it limp through Blackstone's pregroup period ( circa 1910 - 1924) in umber and cream. The cream itself is just Humbrol Pullman acrylic, thinned with a little £1 tube of cream acrylic from The Works, and some Tamiya thinners, also, to create a cream (how many times will I use that damned word) or milk-like consistency to flood the panels, as described by Mikkel.

     

    I'm still thinking about the underframe for this, and the easiest option (asides scratch building) still seems the Ratio Midland route. It'd give me another LBSC carriage to mess around with, too, depending on which kit I chose, and I could standardise on 8' Fox bogies then (these originally ran on unusual open-frame equalised jobs). That's also assuming that LBSC 48' carriages had fairly standard undergubbins; I'd have to check my volumes to be sure. Ultimately, if it makes my life easier and means all I have to do is swap a body if I want something different... But I'd prefer to have dedicated running gear for all my stock. I know Ratio used to sell chassis kits for the coaches separately, I don't know if that's still the case. While returning to this project, I did find some 'research' (if you can call it that) for creating a bashed D. 35 49' Stroudley First (originally running on a Cleminson arrangement), using Roxey Stroudley first 6W kits;

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    It's just an idea I keep floating (the prototype was withdrawn before my period, though one seems to have remained on the duplicate list), and it would be a very long way off... but you can see the attraction, I'm sure. 

     

    In other news, the K's Mataros are fast approaching priming time. The first is going to remain passenger-carrying, and will be downgraded to third. The third, on the other hand, has declined even further, and will be representing a general converted van, used for fruit, parcels, luggage, potentially tools. You name it, if it can be thrown in there, it'll be used for it. image.png.077fd63f83770ed40fc8cb629c9c0231.png

     

    The original end panelling and steps were filed away on the van, and planked plasticard fitted vertically instead (the SER and SECR did this on some vehicles, from what I've gathered). Footboards were all trimmed away, too. A false floor is fitted just to add some rigidity and I'll add a roof, likely before painting. The buffers are temporary, just there to ascertain ride height. Incidentally, every wheel set I fit to these seems to give the right and wrong height all at once. I know they're HO kits, but still! 12mm makes them positively tiddly, but 14mm makes them appear on stilts. I'll decide eventually. I'm thinking they'll both be in plain lake; it doesn't seem worth the energy of the company to repaint them if they're on their last legs? The only difference being some 'luggage' transfers to the van and reclassification markings on the carriage. I have to say, I quite like the repurposing of the original third as a van, it seems fairly plausible before final retirement. On that note, the Blackstone saloon - that's been retired. I was frustrated with trying to make it seem plausible in height, ride, styling etc, and I have far too many projects I'm trying to manage as-is. 

    • Like 7
    • Craftsmanship/clever 2
  9. One of the nicest Christmas presents I've had in a few years, a Dublo Coronation, three-rail. My brother knows I'm a railway modeller (doesn't take interest himself but whenever he sees something railway-related he buys it for me). I'm tempted to leave it as-is in terms of condition and have it as a shelf curio, but rebrand to either Princess Alexandra or City of Leeds. image.png.b356aaa2885a7ab6bc5c5dacbc7029cd.png

    • Like 10
    • Round of applause 1
    • Friendly/supportive 2
  10. I was doing a bit of work on one of the cleredtories last night, trying to straighten out the bodywork (I trimmed it too short and now I'm having to infill which is a pain). The side pieces are just temporarily holding it together; strength will come from the roof and floor primarily, though I'll add some side bracing to the (eventual) cosmetic sides. I think I've still got Linny's laser sides knocking around...

     

    I'm trying to fill in from underneath on the roof using thin card as a support for the filler, though I may switch to using a firm adhesive instead. I've also relocated the bogie mounts a smidge outboard, as, in a diagram, they're slightly further out than I'd placed them. I'm not sure if it looks right yet. Also taken off were the original American steps: UK Pullmans had conventional vertical steps rather than the stair type (if that makes sense). A ride bright comparison with an SECR car seems to confirm all's well. Buffer beams will come eventually, and buffers - this American car suffered a fall (along with me) on Saturday which wasn't fun. 

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    • Like 6
    • Friendly/supportive 5
  11. image.png.fb46d91cdc8c230a31691d6c59d0bf67.png

     

    Spotted at Ashford carriage workshops today, three former Blackstone Company carriages, accompanied by an SECR family saloon. Perhaps they're in for a repaint? Certainly the three antiquarians look in desperate need of further attention. 

     

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    And in another corner at Ashford, two break vans idling, awaiting duties. 

     

    - - - 

     

    Hello everyone, it's been quite a while, hasn't it? I'm back in Yorkshire for Christmas, just for a few days, but I'd like to try to do a little modelling while I'm here. Maybe just tidying up the Mataro carriages, possibly priming them. They're happily of a similar scale to the Frankenhornby saloon, which is just a little taller. Ideally they'd all be on similar underframes, so that's something to scratch build for the saloon at some point. I may also tweak the roof of the saloon to lower it further. I was going to further detail the SECR saloon and repaint it (I wasn't too happy with the colour).

    • Like 13
  12. Good evening all, 

     

    I've been thinking recently on the use of headboards by the SR, and its constituents, for special passenger traffic, including connecting ocean liner trains. When did such headboards become commonplace? This source  suggests sometime in the late 40s, early 50s, but I'm aware that they popped up here and there before then. 

     

    I mocked up some ocean liner headboards for the fun of it, to see what may have been, with some which are possibly a little outdated (namely Red Star Line and North German Lloyd calling at Dover).

     

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    A few years ago I posted a similar enquiry in the LBSC Email Group, having found a photograph of a Single wearing two headboards (a roundel on its smokebox and something more ornate on the chimney), which was identified as being for an excursion. I've read that some excursion headboards were crafted by the chartering group especially for the occasion. 

     

     

  13. I went along to the Ulster Model Railway Club show in Belfast today, nice little show with a variety of exhibits, and a fair few traders, too. There was more Irish modelling than I expected, plus a large-scale Mecano-esque setup, an N-gauge Japanese cityscape, absolutely all sorts. 

     

    There wasn't much to tempt me on the trader's stalls, but I did pick this pack up for £4, for future use; 

     

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    It'll come in handy at some point, I'm sure. 

    • Like 7
  14. I saw these in the model shop in town today, picked them up for about £25 together (a tad expensive, but hey, it's the only model shop near me). 

     

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    The Lima kit is ridiculously easy, and I can't wait to detail it further. 

     

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    And the two together don't look too bad. The Lima house is possibly a bit overscale (I took off the plastic base and it looks better, maybe it's just the attic room that makes it look huge), and the Airfix kit fell together, it was very easy, but will benefit from some detailing. I think there's some examples of detailed Airfix/Dapol houses on the forum that I'll look to. Just something small to fill a half hour. 

    • Like 3
  15. Popped into the model shop today while out running errands, and bought a couple of building kits, plus a wagon and some scenic mat. 

     

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    I didn't realise Lima had done scenic kits before, and I'm pretty happy with the Tudor style house, it'll detail up nicely and work well in either a street or country scene. The Airfix kit fell together in minutes, though it's got me wondering how overscale the Lima one is. I took that off its base which seems to have helped. Maybe a bit of forced perspective in time, careful positioning? I also notice it doesn't have a chimney, but that's easily put together in card. They're both nice little kits, though. IMG_20230815_145042.jpg.b6845c06159e36bcf3c49ffc8713ae22.jpg

     

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    I also picked up a PO wagon, Mark Williams and Co, contractors. EDIT: a real company, as it seems, from Cheltenham, according to Lightmoor

    • Like 6
  16. On 01/05/2023 at 14:26, AVS1998 said:

    I know I said I was toying with illuminating this carriage, and it's something I'm still toying with, but I'm leaning more toward 'no', mostly due to the construction type requiring a strong seal between the body and the roof, and I don't want to jeopardise that for a novelty feature.

     

    Re. the LSWR diner, I saw this feature on illuminating a Hornby Maunsell restaurant, and it's swaying me back toward considering the prospect. I wasn't too happy with how I left the interior of the car, and it'd be nice to have something 'special' about it.

    • Like 4
  17. 2 minutes ago, Compound2632 said:

     

    Really, the only such trains were those to Bournemouth over the S&DJR, other destinations (Southampton, Dover & Deal) being served by through carriages, without any dining carriages working off the Midland. The Dover & Deal carriages were detached from an up Manchester express at Kentish Town, then to the SE&CR via the Met Widened Lines; or possibly worked back to Kentish Town after arrival at St Pancras. This working used Midland and SE&CR carriages on alternate days. The Southampton carriage came off the Bournemouth train at Cheltenham, then over the M&SWJR. 

     

    The principal Bournemouth train had a kitchen first / open third dining carriage pair. Other trains working through to or from Bournemouth had a dining carriage attached for part of the journey, north of Bath. For many years and certainly in 1922, D499 kitchen third dining carriages - 60 ft 12-wheelers from the turn of the century - were used on these North & West trains, being treated as "common" or unclassed vehicles.

     

    That confirms what I had suspected, then, that there was no catering into the South. I suppose that makes sense, though, as if you'd wanted to eat anything, you'd likely have made use of the catering while still attached to the main express; or, depending on dwelling times while being detached/attached, bought something quick at that station. 

    • Like 4
  18. I have another question pertaining to cross-country/interregional trains circa 1900 - 1925ish (I feel that's long enough to encompass typical Midland practice) and the use of catering vehicles. How would catering be provided on, say, a Leeds or Midlands - South Coast through train? I imagine, depending on the route, time period, and other stock involved, that a D.574 Composite Dining Carriage might be used in a rake (judging by other companies' use of composite catering stock). 

     

    Or would something else be included, if at all? I feel like I've also read of dining hampers being provided in lieu of a proper actual kitchen/dining car, again depending on the period and time of year. It's a very big, open question! 

     

     

    • Like 1
    • Interesting/Thought-provoking 1
  19. image.png.eefe138009c086a9eb311a4f615d804c.png

     

    I'm reasonably happy with this simple plan for the photo plank/diorama. A single line (purple) with a short siding, a watering stop by the waterway, and a field to the right third of the board. I'm thinking a small farm cottage or possibly dilapidated chapel in the top left would be quite nice, too. 

     

    In the meantime, I've been working on the K's Mataros. They're fiddly as anything, and not a good fit. Lots of fettling and some bracing required (one of the first class sides snapped and needed bracing internally). I'll fit a false floor so I can add weights and inside bearings (I'm thinking of re-using the Hornby Mansells from my bashed six-wheelers). 

     

    Name ideas are possibly The Beck or The Water. 

     

    That's about all I have for now. 

    • Like 8
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