JustinDean

I’m pretty sure Rob was wearing a shirt that looked like this last year. Also it’s not far off the Middleton Top backscene at the moment. Jay

So far booked for the RMWeb SWAG get together in a couple of weeks then RailEx in Taunton towards the end of the year. Would be nice to do some more; closer to home would be great! Jay

Ah, my neck of the woods! Both in model form and where I live (Wirksworth). Hope you had an enjoyable break. Jay

So the psychedelic sky experiment isn’t going so well. I shouldn’t have used a second dye as this seems to have reacted with the first. I have another idea in an attempt to rescue it…. Meanwhile I’ve been planting weeds and bushes. There’s quite a large area of undergrowth behind the loco stores/grounded brake van so I’ve tried to get a variety of species in there: The bottom of the field barn needed bedding in and the track making a bit more muddy: More growth around the bases of stone walls: The backscene is currently drying. Hopefully I’ll get some time on that tomorrow! Jay

I was going more for The Levellers c1992 vibe mate.

Backscene development. Anyone tried this before? I’ve got some plain 100% cotton fabric, using cold dye (blue and grey) and deliberately doing a crap job of it so it remains patchy. I’ll post results up when it done! Jay

I bet @NHY 581’s Google history is quite something! Jay

For those who have recently joined us on this thread I'm organising a RMWeb Midland Area Group event in Derby on 22nd September this year. MAG will follow a similar format to SWAG in Taunton albeit a little more compact, but will give the opportunity for us Midlands types to get together in the real world and also check out some excellent modelling. The full line up and updates will be posted on MAG's thread (link below) - do give this a follow and hope to see you there! Jay

I hope everyone is having a good Easter? The line up for the 22nd September MAG event in Derby is now firmed up. I'm going to post details here once this month's SWAG event has passed as I don't want to detract from that, plus every spare moment is being used to prepare MIddleton Top for the event at the moment. I'm keeping this first event fairly simple to test the water but we have got some great modelling from a broad selection of scales featured. If it goes as planned I have some ideas for a larger 2025 event, so do spread the word and direct folk here for up dates. Thanks Jay

Hi Brian, Nothing in the inbox from you so I’d give it another go. Jay

I’ve returned from Fuerte Ventura nicely toasted and have had a productive couple of days finalizing the MAG members day in Derby (details to be announced post SWAG) and finally had a full day on Middleton Top. I have another two half days set aside this week with the hope of constructing the fiddle yard. Materials have also been ordered for the backscene and fascia but will be a couple of weeks before installation can happen as I have a gypsy punk album to record all next week. Feeling confident it’s all on track for SWAG now, which is nice. Jay

There are some excellent photos popping up on the Cromford and High Peak Facebook page from private collections at the moment. Such as this Deeley residing next to Sheep Pasture shed. The Deeley was a short term replacement for the Kitson that ended up in someone’s garden after a points mishap at Steeple Grange. The Final Push at Middleton Top will resume with two days put aside for modelling next week once I’m back from sunning myself in Fuerte Ventura! Jay

Thanks Rob! There may be wet bits on the layout. I’ve got a job/snag list as long as yer arm. On the next few weeks I’ve also got to squeeze in a holiday, moving out of my house and recording an album so definitely feeling the pressure! Jay

Nice collection. Should be worth thousands on EBay! Jay

Yes I thought of you and those etches when I saw this. Is there a current kit for the NLR tank? I bought the ACE kit a while back but haven’t built it up yet….not sure if that’s still an available.