Jon Fitness

Ooh, who's the etchers? I'm just about to fire some artwork off to PPD... JF

Still very much got my stabilisers on regarding CAD! I seem to be fighting with it due to my lack of skills. It sometimes feels like computer hindered rather than aided design! JF

Thanks Jim. Still at the track only stage at the moment but I'll post a few pix up later. Not sure if it'll be on this page as the layout has no signals on it! JF

Finally got my GW 1942 style bracket test etch finished, fitted out and painted today. As previously stated, all that is etched is my own work and if I can persuade Nanocad to actually do what I tell it to and not alter my work as it sees fit, I might actually get these etches into production soon. I hope to produce about 4 different configurations of this style of bracket along with a few other previously unavailable GW bracket styles. More soon JF

You are right I think. Most of my signals are from the BR period where white predominated but the LMS list the doll Ironwork under the "paint it black" instruction! I presume that includes backblinders JF

Still needing that 104! JF

Still the most handsome passenger tank loco ever designed (my opinion and I won't be swayed!) and your job on the kit has definitely done it justice. JF

The vast majority were painted white as was most of the iron work. I have spotted one or two local variations, especially where maintenance has transferred to a different region. Don't forget, upper quadrants were used across all regions (yes even the Western inherited a few!) and all stamped their personalities on them. SR painted theirs mid grey and I think ER ones were black. Even the LMR in later years started painting bits of signal structures and fittings grey too. JF

Many thanks for those! All are now in the signal pictures files

Messy? My work doesn't look that good after I've spent ages cleaning it all up! That pipework looks really convincing as well. Beautiful work. JF

Looks very thoroughly restored.

Ah, thanks for that Steve. Good enough for me JF

Good point. I'll have to investigate that. Maybe, as you suggest, it was a later BR development. It's one of those things where I'm sure I've seen a picture of it but if I go off and look, it simply won't be there... JF

The boards are .8mm ply strips. I stained them with a thinned wash of my usual humbrol 33/62 mix. This then had a hint of Matt green drybrushed sparingly over it. JF

I think the boards get bleached in the sun but get a bit green in the damp. They'll change as the weather changes...