Hampshire Hog

Hi Peter, it is good to hear that you are all ok, and we will keep our fingers crossed for another visit. Keep safe. Kevin.

Thanks Peter, its crazy really over the last couple of months my head as been filled with moving house, getting our new place as we wish, building the shed, etc. now we are getting near the end - my head is blank when it comes to thinking of what to do now. Here's hoping you are all fit and well, and looking forward to a time when you may be able to visit a layout in my nice new shed. Regards Kevin

Right that’s better, ok yes I have room for expansion but I am struggling to decide with wot, at present I have three thoughts:- 1. Extend Millway Dock in several ways. 2. Re-create a previous layout of mine which I did not like (the track plan was good) but some of the scenics were rubbish, in its original condition it was better, but I cocked it up with to many modifications. 3. Leave every thing as it is. Best regards Kevin

Isn’t that always the case, anyway Millway Dock is lost in it’s new surroundings.

I wonder if a plan has come together for your legal problems yet Steve?

Oh yes definitely the A team, I have suggested to them they take the job up full time - but they were not impressed. Some more examples of their work:-

Well it finally happened, we have moved!!!! And Millway Dock has a new home, generally known as “the SHED” which roughly translates to Second Home which Ends in Divorce. I have to say this would not have been possible if it had not been for Ian (Temeraire) and Paul (PaulRHB) who kindly erected, insulated, lined and painted this 6mx3m building, and all of the time having me getting in their way and generally being a PITA, this is one of these occasions when the words thank you are simply not enough.

Many thanks for your kind comments Steve, and I do agree with your words, and I do sympathise with your situation, I just hope both of our circumstances change for the better soon. On the subject of Molly J she measures 1m in length and 150mm across the beam it is a r/c model by Deansmarine and it is known as the MV Timrex, I have modified her to be more scale like and to be able to fit the Langley RB 22 midships to be between the holds, I would like to add more detail to her in the future, hopefully. Kevin

Happy New Year to you Steve, unfortunately we are still waiting to move - I am sure we could have built a new house in the time it has taken for all of the soliciters etc to sort things out, so far approx 4-5 months. Anyway to attempt to answer your questions the pictures you have shown are actually of my former layout Leaford (now sold) and the ships were mounted on a piece of 6mm Ply cut to the appriate size and mounted along slots cut in the mooring posts on the face of the dock, and some 1"X 1" softwood screwed onto the rear of the middle baseboard as shown housing what became Leaford Jct in the panoramic view. (you can just see these slotted mooring posts in some of the above pictures when zoomed in) the purpose being to be able to slide the ships back and forth between the 2 baseboards in order to gain access for cleaning track and other maintenance. The mooring posts mounted on the dockface were positioned a max of 8" apart and it was surprising how stable the whole arrangement was, and no ships were harmed by this method of construction. About 90% of the dockside buildings the ships and crane were not sold with Leaford and were subsequently mounted on some purpose made baseboards which has now become Millway Dock. Many thanks for your interest and I wish you the very best of luck with moving your Ferry, I will look forward to seeing your efforts in the future, I hope that I can be of further assistance. Kevin. Leaford itself is being rebuilt and made much larger and is now known as Leighford

When I heard that Dapol announced that their forthcoming B4’s were to be fitted with “firebox glow” I very sceptical, having the memories of a Triang/Hornby M7 fitted with the same, I shouldn’t have worried the end result cheered me up considerably. See you soon. Kevin

Early morning at Millway Dock, with no ships in things are quiet, crew of B4 30084 are off to do a bit of fishing, whilst Stotherd & Pitt crane dwarfs their lonely steed.

USA dock tanks 30064 and 30067 team up for a particularly heavy train movement. Interestingly the first vehicle is a BR standard GUV containing luggage for the P&O Canberra visiting this morning. See you soon. Kevin

Nigel I share your sadness - I can't believe it, how disrepectful is that, to repaint a loco when it has been especially prepared and named to commemorate the fallen and decorated with the message "We will remember them". They were not remembered for very long were they. See you soon Kevin.