M.I.B

A journey of a thousand miles starts with one step, so here goes with mine. There isn't a piece of track laid (P4 and EM fans have just left the room because I have not mentioned "built") All of the track has been purchased - Set-track, by Hornby in OO. Over a hundred points at the last count - just to make sure that the right amounts match the trackplan. There isn't even a baseboard or a room for North Cranford.....yet......... But there are 40 locos in states of readiness. 70 pieces of coaching stock (Permanent Way, NPCCS and passenger) and a few hundred items of freight and Departmental stock. Hope that's made you want to read further. I'm open to criticism - you have to be to post on a forum like this, but my aim is to entertain and perhaps inspire (hahaha) someone, in the way that I have been inspired by the works of John Dew, GWRRob, Castle, NickWood just to name my most frequently "visited" posts. As well as some photos (which I need to get better at taking), I hope to also cover odd things such as: Where North Cranford is and why I chose it. A novel method of track planning when you have no computer. My take on weathering, RTR and RTR improvements. My standard for a "finished" loco, carriage and wagon. Some of the kits I have built. Why I operate modified RTR, but also (sometimes) box fresh RTR, some very very old Ks kits and some stunning handpainted coaches from the late 60s.

. Blogs are for P4 types. WE are true grit on here....go for it.....now. (Hits AGREE button until it breaks.............)

Great - normal service has been resumed.

I will dig them out, and re-arrange the display cabinet as a form of repayment for the dozens of inspirational shots you have shared with us. Sadly North Cranford is still in boxes awaiting the move to what should be the last house before I go in a Home in 30 years time...........In the meantime I have a 7 road tall 4 foot long glass display cabinet made out of an old SR glass front notice board from Exmouth Junction shed.

I have a complete teak pigeon train - 2 Gresley brakes in teak, a Thompson brake third ( for the Club's selected travelling attendants) another teak Gresley brake and a wartime Thompson brake full brake in the grubby beige colour. They all look great behind a Grange or a Manor in green.

Love the plastered wall/missing terrace on the end house. Perfect.

I have heard it said that Rod has a large layout which he plays with when Ms Lancaster isn't entertaining him........... Not sure which side of the Pond it's on, or whether it's OO or HO. Penny Lancaster and OO - I've set the double entendre merchants of ANTB off again.........

And sooty on the arm of the water crane? (as in dirt: not the puppet before I start someone off on a mad tangent.............)

I ditched the jib runner and a Stokes Bogie and added in a MACAW with tool bins instead. I chickened out when it came to detailing the "gear" and just covered the "gear" with a tarp. Getting rid of the chains is a must - I used thick thread and some pulleys/blocks from a marine modelling ship.

Like! What's providing the braking effort? One of your nice full brakes?

A black 2251 with a ROD tender.......... (waits for hate mail....)

I'm up for doing one - I have a "small PW train worth" on order. I was going to build them after I've done some carriage side work, but I know that there are a few people interested, particularly because these are new kits. I was reticent to do such a build in public, but I have faith in their products and in my modelling skills, so I revise my reticence accordingly.

Not if there is a bus replacement service from Clapham Jcn...........

Shame it's Shirtbutton. I might have been interested otherwise.............

Nice weathering on both engines.

Nice new angles on those SR engine thingy photos..... Nothing wrong with the usual photos, but a new pair of eyes made a new viewpoint or two "work". Many thanks.

I've got a nice 2004 late harvest Tokai on the go already, so a glass is raised to all of the ANTB regulars and to our (very patient host) Robin.

Beautiful finish to the 97XX. I have a Ks one made by MIB Snr when the world was seen in black and white on two channels. So out of respect, it and the Ks Dean, will be left and run as made, applying Rule1 of course.

Beautiful work as always. Especially the Mk IV. My great uncle and other from his crew were taken out of his land ship in Oct 1918. They were each given a rifle to make up the numbers in one of the many depleted American infantry companies. He never came Home.

My replacement Grange arrived this week. Like your Dukedog it was a "cycling lion" version and so underwent similar surgery. I also had a "G" issue which was rectified with weathering. I over weathered it, then cut back the weathering around all 6 of the letters to make it look like the tender lettering had had a cursory "lick and a promise". It has turned out OK.

Who was it that was asking for 28XXs with coaching stock not that long ago........? Lovely detail shots - I'm just weathering my black 28XX and these have given me a couple of ideas. Thanks.

1. Friday - was probably a running in turn out of the Works. 2. Saturday - usual work for 47XXs on a saturday. 3. Work as intended for 47XXs.

I live in a village with a postcode that sends prat-navs into Town to Sainsburys for some reason. So I offer to meet at the McDs just outside town to save folk getting lost. It's never been queried. I always ask in advance for the make/model of car and a mobile number in case of delays etc........ When they show up, I get them to sign a copy of the ebay advert, as a receipt with their car reg number and mobile phone number written on it. I give them a duplicate of the advert with a signature for the cash received. Never had the "I never collected it" scam attempted.....