30368

I remember them well. I raced a KTM 495cc Enduro bike back in the 1980s and early 90's. Great fun if you didnt fall off too often. Kind regards, 30368

Yes indeed Mr Davies,really fine quality. It seems to me that UK RTR, whilst very good and a huge improvement on 10-20 years ago still look a little toy like. With some weathering on these superb models there is no suggestion of this toy like quality. Whilst I still have a lot to learn, like you, I will continue to build locos from kits and from scratch. Kind regards, 30368

What a truely amazing piece of machinery - both prototype and the model. Fabulous, thanks for sharing with us Maico. Kind regards, 30368 PS Maico - after the off road German motor cycle maker? Sorry if I have the wrong end of the stick.

I have checked my PDK MN kit box but no instructions full of original MN! Have you spoken to Paul at PDK? He usually can help. 07732 213251 pdkmodels@hotmail.co.uk Kind regards, 30368

Some images of the station area with particular reference to the water tower sidings. Looking across from the shed bike shed! And a view from the business end of the shed. Kind regards, Richard B

Really nice job Mick and I take your point regards the inside valve gear. Your builds just get better and better. Kind regards, 30368

Lovely job Mike, it was probably due an overhaul anyway being still in the earliest BR livery. Kind regards, 30368

Work continues along the "Water Tower" sidings area. It is drying out following painting and when the magic grass machine has done its work I shall post some pictures. Meanwhile I could not resist the setting sun (remember that?) picking out a few of Basingstoke's residents simmering in the setting sun. 30368 pokes its smokebox out of the shed. One of the fitters has finished his jobs for the day and stares out to the setting sun before he washes up and returns home. The sun is so bright he notices that he has become a blur of light. Kind regards, Richard B

She probably will Gilbert, based on my memories of those far off days. Kind regards, 30368

Fine, but not as lovely as the black Alfa Sud opposite or for that matter the 2CV further along the row. Kind regards, 30368

Another view of the shed and station. The backscene boards added. I will have to paint the lower part showing the 4 main lines and the GWR line disappearing into the distance. No one seems to make such a backscene. On the R/H side I have some suitable backscenes, the area adjacent to the water tower should have the goods shed and then the rows of back to back houses at a lower level. As you may know, Basingstoke station and yards were built on a hill above the town. Further to the west, in steam days, the town fairly quickly goes to open farmland with hills and trees in the distance. Wiring continues and I have just started building platform canopies. Kind regards, Richard B

I have not been idle. Wiring from newly installed point motors to control boards has been started but also some scenic work. I have re-jigged the bay platform by adding the short platform section behind the buffer stops and then cut down a resin building to represent some of the station buildings in that location. After much photographic research I have now started to add the various fencing/bridges etc that run along the bay siding including adding the water tower and a few other features. The much shortened Basingstoke platforms and the added fencing and trees along the side of the bay platform. The Water tower, a modified Bachmann (I think) item have been added. The water tower is much too small but I have had to compromise. The structure to the right of the tower could be an old air raid shelter but I have assumed (Imiges are not clear) it is a coal store. A close up - some cleaning up required. Another view of the fence - next to the fence is a girder bridge section. Kind regards, Richard B

I know next to nothing about the H&BR locomotive stock - what is the story behind these 0-6-2T? Looks a bit like a conversion of an 0-6-0 tender loco? Kind regards, 30368

Agree, really interesting prototype Darius. A very long time ago I was a member of the Southern House Rolling Stock Development Team. Within the team there was a small group of people, no more than two, who spent their time working out how they could meet operational and maintenence needs by, we would now call it, repurposing, old rolling stock. This would be one of their efforts I suspect. Once the drawings had been prepared it would be off, usually to Stewarts Lane Depot, where the work would be carried out in the old repair shop. I became involved, as part of my training, in the early 1970s. At the time, the SR CM&EE team were very independent of BRB Derby and probably did more design and development in house than any of the other regions. Kind regards, 30368

Wow, I see what you mean! Really detailed instructions. I shall take a look at the website. Kind regards, 30368