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Thanks Robert but I'd rather not see one of these kits again....didn't do much for my sanity

Hello Rod, Go straight to the manufacturer on https://shop.ferro-train.com/hallingShop/ Their mail order is great and you can do a transfer from your bank. You'll also get it cheaper going straight to them rather than through the other shop. Bob

Also on the workbench (although not at the same time as the baseboards ) is this GW Diag A31 autotrailer. The 3mm Society kit dates from way back in 1974 when the late Stewart Hine came up with the etches. This was back in the early days of etched-kit technology and things have come on a long way since then. This is not criticism of Stewart's excellent work but merely pointing out that things evolve and the kit was very much state-of-the-art in it's day. Whoever did the etches though didn't clean off the acid sufficiently and these kits are often found with tiny holes in the roof. Thankfully this one wasn't too bad and I didn't use the roof anyway, opting to use an extruded aluminium one from Worsley Works. The roof profile is therefore slightly out but is far better than my efforts had I tried to form the very flimsy etched one supplied. As other's have reported, parts of the kit are a bit of a pig, I'm used to the logic of building coaches the Comet/Worsley way with the roof being firmly attached to the body and this folds up from the floor. Here's a shot of the etch partly cleaned. The whole etch consumed 3 scratch brush refills! It now looks like this. Quite some way to go with a couple of gaps to be filled and other delicate bits like stirrup steps to be added after painting.

I'm tempted to start a new layout thread but feel it's not worthwhile yet as I'm only just building the baseboards. I've bought 2 laser-cut boards from Grainge and Hodder. They came to my attention at the recent Stafford show and having been put off by other makes which were way too heavy and somewhat over-engineered for this small scale I was immediately taken by this range. I've had mine made to custom dimensions purely because I have an existing layout cradle in my workshop and also that although Grainge and Hodder do traversers etc I wanted to do one to fit my requirements. Besides, the exact alignment of tracks entering it will only be determined once construction of the layout commences. As a consequence of this one boards is 5mm lower than the rest.

Ah well, this is annoying. I've just composed a nice piece on Minsterley and Peter, uploaded some nice photos and somewhere the forum chucked me out after a short break involving much swearing, here we go again.... The following photos were all taken at the last showing of Minsterley (so far) at Peter's house back in 2013 when Peter's son Martin and his family hosted a final gathering of his friends who came from far and wide to honour Peter's memory with Minsterley and his incredible shed layout. Incidentally, BRM back in September 1995 had a nice article on Minsterley with far better photographs taken by Tony Wright, well worth getting hold of! Peter was a great modeller, a true gentleman and a modelling mentor to myself and many others. Forget books, Peter taught me how to make buildings and I still use his methods but can never come near to his standard of work. He had also modelled for Pendon. More to follow if you want them

Hello Robert, Glad it's in safe hands. I have quite a few of it taken over a few decades. Here are a couple to be going on with. They were taken at a special gathering following Peter's passing.

Tonight at my local Morrisons....FFS people get a grip!

Brilliant! Thanks for finding that. It's certainly appreciated It's such a delightful view of a lovely stretch of line and local to me. I was a little out with the issue date though wasn't I! Thanks again.

Thanks for looking folks, That's odd. I was sure it was either 1960/61. I used to have a complete run from issue 1 to 1977 but moving house 18 months ago I decided to give them to the local railway to sell.....I should have kept some .

Hi folks, I'm trying to track down which edition of Railway Modeller in 1960/1961 contained a splendid photo of an ex-SR Mogul at Chedworth on the old MSWJR line. I'm sure the caption referred to the line's imminent closure (which was of course, in 1961). I've not seen the photo reproduced elsewhere and when you see it you'll agree it's a cracking photo. I'm not after a scan or spare copy as one will sure to be on ebay but any help in ascertaining which edition it's in would be much appreciated. Thanks, Bob.

I thought about including it on my last layout (Chipping Compton) but didn't in the end. Some rodding stools in whitemetal might be nice for the new project. But then again perhaps it's one of those things that is best left off if it doesn't look perfect ?

The signal box is now complete and nameplate attached. The full name of the station is Totleigh in the Wold which is straight out of the Jeeves and Wooster stories by P G Wodehouse. It might be nice to include Totleigh Towers, the residence of Sir Watkyn Bassett on the layout backscene. The nameplate was etched for me (along with the station running-in board by my good friend Brian Golding.

OMG watched those videos and choked on my beer....unbelievably funny

The opinions on issue 275 at least show we all have varying tastes. I thought 274 was a cracking issue and 275 promises to be equally as good. As an unashamed GW/BR(W) branch line addict I'm always interested in seeing anything on Faringdon, one of my fave depictions of the genre and anything from the pen of messrs Kazer and Gravett or Trevor Pott has me hooked. That said I do have those rose-tinted memories of Christmas issues containing articles on Norris, Ahern or Keen. I agree with Rob, it matters not what the subject matter is, good modelling is well worth admiring and reading about.

Thanks for that, it must be the articles in MRN I recall. Really regret parting with the stack of MRN's I'd collected (a full run ftom 1950 to the end). Bob.

Very true and I've visited numerous superb home layouts over the years with a coating of dust and requiring much track cleaning before a train can be run. Exhibition layouts often spend their time at home boxed up and covered which is all well and good but if mine were anything to go by seldom got set up at home (except to be given the once over prior to an exhibition) as they either took up too much space or one simply couldn't be fagged to bother! Back to John Ahern though, I get the impression he simply loved building things with operation being a secondary concern. His writings will always be an inspiration to me. Does anybody know the issue numbers for the MRC's featuring his articles on Watlington by the way? I lost my copies years ago and whilsr his photos appear in various books (which I've got) his notes were very good. Bob.

I'm enjoying making a series of buildings for the new layout. Starting with the William Clarke station previously posted on here, followed by a William Clarke goods shed I'm now well advanced on Watlington signal box. Always liked this diminutive cabin and it's just the right size fof the layout. I usually prefer card for buildings but opted for styrene on this one and I'm rather enjoying it. Bob.

So nice to see those pictures of Eastbourne again. To add to my previous post though, how could I have left out dear old Buckingham? Takes me back to the MRJ show in 1990 where I spent most of my time watching Leighton Buzzard and John Charman's Charford. Seeing those layouts made my day.

The late John Flann's "Little Hintock" was (and indeed still is) hugely influential to me as is Charford. Another one was from an early 60's edition of RM was "Tetfield", I'd love to see a copy of that article again.

OMG....I'll need yet another book case at this rate! So many great books coming out. Bob.

Fair point Dave. The corrugated iron hut doesn't appear to be the one from the buffer stop end. I can only assume there was another one on site somewhere (will check Mike Fenton's book). According to the chap I spoke to at Blunsdon the parcels office itself was taken away for private use post-closure and does appear to have been modified. The photos were taken in 2005, not been back there since. Bob.

Photos as promised. The parcels office appears on page 164 of Mike Fenton's book. Not sure where the corrugated hut was sited but it's definitely from Malmesbury apparently. I'd always fancied modelling the station in 3mm scale...one day maybe. Hope these are of use to you. Bob.

I'll endeavour to dig them out and upload them tomorrow for you Adrian.

Thanks Nigel, I've always liked them too. How I wish I could have seen Barber's Bridge when it was in use. Thankfully the building at Rowden Mill is now a holiday let so might have to treat my other half to a short break away. Bob.

One of my favourite branch line termini Adrian and nice to see it modelled. Are you aware that a corrugated hut and a small wooden office from the station are in use at Blunsdon station on the Swindon - Cricklade railway? (Apologies if that's already been mentioned but simply didn't have time to read the whole thread). Can send pictures if you like. Best wishes, Bob.