Here we go again into a New Year, to meet a new set of challenges and opportunities! I find that I have to be in the right 'mood' for scratch-building and it certainly cannot be rushed. Before Christmas, I had too many other things on my mind and, as a result, my first tasks this year have involved dismantling much of what I had done on GWR No.184 and re-doing it, to what I hope is a better standard!

There is no doubt that 'rolling your own' makes you appreciate how much effort most kit-designers have to put into their creations. My model is now reaching the stage where I have to think about sourcing all those extra fittings - springs, backhead, displacement lubricator, etc. It would be so nice to reach for a pre-packed little plastic bag, with all the right bits thoughtfully provided. So, may I offer a New Year toast to all kit designers!

There's really very little to show, in the way of loco-build progress, but I have filled in the space between the raised parts of the outside cosmetic frames and the driving wheel splashers. I used 'Milliput', carefully smoothed into position, by means of a combination of wax-carving chisels and my own wetted fingers. It will all be covered over when I add some thin brass sheeting, to 'finish' the top surface of the footplate and the splashers.

I've also been doing more reading about railway operations in the 19th-century. While a lot has changed out of all recognition, some features were established very early and have stayed much the same, ever since. For example, I was interested to see an illustration of level crossing gates in the 1852 book "Our Iron Roads" by Frederick S Williams.

[additional text taken from "Our Iron Roads", 7th edition 1888] : "The sketch represents a pair of such as are commonly used on the Great Northern Railway. They are massive, strengthened with iron, and hung on stout timbers deeply embedded in the earth. They are twenty-six feet and a half in length, and cost about £50. There are small wickets for foot-passengers. In the middle of each gate is a large round board, painted red, by means of which an approaching train may see the gates closed across the line. At night a red light is substituted."

So, my Airfix kit gates are possibly not too anachronistic in appearance after all. Here is another of Amy Wilcote's paintings, showing the crossing leading into North Leigh station yard, with the newly-built creamery buildings on the right and sidings and cattle dock beyond. Records suggest that the large Fowler Ploughing Engine had been brought in to supply steam to the creamery, following a failure of the new boiler.

Happy New Year to all my readers ,

Mike