brianthesnail96

Found some more... Unfinished Peckett (bottom half still clean!) but in better light, and posing with the Fowler. And the Dapol wagons, bought to boost the stock a bit for the exhibition (and because they look nice).

Couple of slightly blurry photos, now photobucket has decided it wants to play again. Should be pretty self- explanatory! Not completely happy with the Peckett but it looks much better than it did... the MW has come out better than I expected, just needs some worksplates to finish. Both are dirtier than intended; it has been said that I lack subtlety (not just relating to model railways...) The hybar is the Dapol one by the way- looks alright to me. There's one of the "unpainted" opens knocking about somewhere too but I don't think I have a photo. Had a good day at Hardwicke, layout ran well almost from the off (slightly dodgy joint in the fiddle yard cured by an application of a croc clip- luckily Amberly Services had a well stocked stand so we didn't have to resort to shoving stuff out the yard!). Sustained a bit of damage to the concrete apron and pipe bridge on the way home, nothing serious but we might use it as an opportunity to rejig some things slightly.

It's supposed to be an "old" BT&S livery. I'll be sticking a set of nameplates removed from one of Dave's engines on tomorrow to give it some form of identity! The honest reason is I couldn't find a shade of sand/ tan close enough to brush paint it, so I went for something I had on the shelf. The paint was actually left over from that bought for a 16mm/ ft loco.

All gone quiet over here... Layout will be at Hardwicke mini 0 gauge exhibition on the 19th of this month, along with Mike Bragg's most recently completed layout (the name of which currently escapes me), the test track and possibly one other. Plus a few traders. Hopefully have the very unsubtle Peckett finished by then. The sand paint is LOUD on an engine of that size...

Note that in the photos I put up a couple of posts back, the bar does have a definite downwards bend (probably not unrealistic!)- in the picture looking down onto the wagon this is the most obvious "horizontal" to compare the sides to, the major flaw being that it's not in fact horizontal. This makes the sides look much more bowed than they are- which is very slight on my example but it's a long way from being upsetting to me (and no worse than a couple of my kit built ones, which is of course a reflection on the quality of my building and not the kits themselves...). Not sure that you can complain that the detail appears too fragile- it's there, if it wasn't people would complain it's missing, if it was overscale to reduce the fragility then obviously that would be a crime too... I'd rather have it, knock it off and have to get the superglue out or make a more durable/ scale compromise repair as appropriate than not have it in the first place.

Looks good to me. I'm not in the game of studying prototype photos and drawings playing spot the difference, I'll leave that for someone else. Compared a van to a Slaters kitbuilt one as well, certainly wouldn't have a problem running the two side by side- some details are probably better on the kit and some on the RTR so swings and roundabouts really.

Having just dug my copy of the aforementioned book out the MSC did indeed have three Austerities, Nos 85, 86, and 87, all pretty much "out of the box" examples (as much as there is such a thing with an Austerity) so very viable modelling prospects. Wooden cab floors and replacement steps (three steps instead of the standard two) seem to be the main deviations from standard according to the text in the book, although the accompanying photo shows the standard steps still.

I think Modelu have an 08 driver in their range, albeit in modern garb- no other than Big Jim of this parish. Scanned in his 08 driving pose so it's accurate for at least one driver! Edit: Here!

Bit of progress on the Manly Waddle- probably about half done but it's the more obvious half. This was brush painted as I wasn't brave enough to take it apart... Sorry some of the pics are a bit carp- the lighting is a bit all or nothing. Looks like it's painted in camo in that one- doesn't look so patchy in reality.

Ahh, suspicions confirmed. Excellent! So much for "I have enough locos"...

Not a lot I'm afraid, I've run it a few times but that's about it! The next jobs are weathering and personally I like to sit and get on with it instead of doing a bit here and a bit there, unfortunately I've either not had the time and/ or inclination to do so. The fact that the "railway room" is in an extension with electric heaters, and I have to go through the living room with the woodburner in order to get there, has absolutely no bearing on the latter- honest!

Just about recovered from the NEC! You get a bit fed up with it after three and a half days... Despite being tucked out of the way at the back of Hall 4 we were pretty busy all weekend and had lots of positive comments on the cars, made it worth the effort. Seems to be more and more moderns (and less variety, in the main halls) creeping in every year though. I know not everyone is a fan of BL tat but it's a bit galling to see the likes of the Princess club stripped of their stand to seemingly be replaced with newish German executive saloons...

That's ace!

SE5 & 5a Scimitars have steel reinforcing in the sills sandwiched inside the fibreglass (separate from the chassis sill rails, althought though they like rust as well). Should that steel manage to get damp the results are predictable. It's a similar story with the integral roll hoop unfortunately. Still wouldn't mind another one though- would have to be a manual with overdrive though this time. Nice work on the Series 2 Dave, coming together very nicely.

I've seen a few Bolfs, but not a Gora... "Ran Over" is fairly common on Range Rover bonnets. Not technically classic cars, but had a run out with the Fowler last weekend (a bit of practice for a couple of us who are hoping to do our Category G license next year) and were briefly joined by another local engine, a rather lovely 1893 Mclaren single. The owner of this one has a bit of a collection, but only has a couple in ticket at any given time- this one has been back out this season for the first time in about 7 years and despite only living a few miles apart the two engines have managed to not cross paths all summer so it was nice to get them back together.

I've no idea if it was true, but I was told that the original Series 2 Land Rovers had one fuse, unless you bought a factory Station Wagon in which case you got the extravagance of two- the second being for the interior lights.

Same colour as the others now but in half a dozen pieces in a box- I've painted the cab interior but need to decide what I want to do with the red moulded plastic, and the rods- debating red rods on the loco, or painting the rest out steel. The MW is green but there's one tank side that needs flatting back and another coat of paint- I polished through the paint and when I repainted it it didn't come out quite the same colour so I obviously didn't do a good enough job of mixing the paint. Still, at least I've got rid of the pink bufferbeams at last... I need to finish the Terrier as well but I'm still considering putting a keep alive in (although it runs pretty well), so I'm putting off doing the underframe until I've made up my mind.

Thanks Corbs. I'll have to let you know if I get any exhibition invites down your way! Struggling for motivation a bit at the moment, need to make a few hours clear to sit down and throw some weathering powders at the Peckett & MW. Quite pleased with the paint on the Peckett so don't want to make a hash of the weathering now...

Relayed and fitted halogens to the Dolomite, well worth doing. Fitting halogens with uprated bulbs but without relays runs the risk of melting the switch too (found that out the hard way...).

All 1-tons were 6cyl (officially anyway!) but not all 6cyl Land Rovers are 1-tons There were only 170 2a and 300 and something series 3 built, for the home market at least. I only really found out about them after buying mine, although I did know what it was at the time (it's chassis #146). Remembered there's a website for them- http://www.onetonlandrover.co.uk which is run by one of guys I bought the red one with. MFO was owned by the bloke who used to run the OLLR forum- he's on here as well, I bought one of his layouts too! It was therefore fairly well known in Series LR circles at the time. The chap that owns the 1-ton (which is much better known as Dougal) also posts on several forums. This is another interesting one- it belongs to a friend's Uncle and has been out of it's shed once in the last 15 years or so- when I took these photos. We took it to one steam rally about 10 years ago, parked it back up and there it's stayed. Despite this Oxford Diecast have seen fit to make a 00 model of it! I posted a couple of these pics on a Land Rover forum at the time and I can only assume they found them and decided to model it, as I've not managed to find any other pictures of it. Was something of a surprise to find it in miniature when browsing the models in the gift shop at the British Motor Museum the other week. I like to give that one an airing every now and again NHN- one of my favourites

At risk of showing my anorak... I don't think that's a 1-ton (civvy bonneted control was termed 1 ton, whereas the military 101 FC was the 1 tonne). Should have 900x16 tyres on wide wheels, drop shackle suspension with heavy duty leaf springs, and either Sailsbury or ENV axles (or more likely a combination thereof) along with the lower ratio gearbox out of the civvy FC. They were only available with the 2.6cyl, but that was also available on the standard 109" (Sailsbury rear axle was an option and later standard too). Like these (although the red one had lost the oversize wheels and tyres by the time we got it). The green one was the first car I had on the road- had to sell it when I went to uni but it was a fantastic couple of years with it- nothing I've had since quite compares, first love and all that! You can see the extended front spring mounts in that one. Green one was bought and further modified (it already had a Nissan patrol engine and gearbox) by a very enthusiastic bloke known as Stig who has driven it all over Europe. Currently mid rebuild onto a new chassis. Red one is still in bits as far as I'm aware- I helped rescue it from a Welsh scrapyard but gave up my share in it years ago. Might have posted some of these here before but we'll go again... This is my actual first Land Rover, sold just before I passed my test. This one is still with the lad I sold it to but has been rechassised since after it was written off by someone struggling with the concept of "give way to the right" on roundabouts. Caught up with it again a few years later: Had a brief fling with this one at uni, but realised I really couldn't run a 2.25p on a student loan. Had a good summer with it though! The girlie lasted a bit longer, 8 years and counting... not sure what became of the Land Rover, it's SORN and has only been MOTd once after I sold it. Bought this one later, when I had a job. 2.25d, overdrive, galvanised chassis. Brilliant little thing that I should have kept- sold it when I fancied a change and was old enough to insure something a bit sillier. Just before prices skyrocketed- ahh well. Was much better than it looks- probably still is, lost touch but it's still on the road. The interesting (and topical) one here is the one on the trailer... (and yours truly in the daft hat) This is the current daily driver and it's a keeper- never welded underneath, it's really quite straight and very unmessed with. Standard 1986 military spec except for retro fitted power steering and comfy seats, still with the 2.5d so it's comically slow, especially when hills are involved. It, me and the folding camper are all within a few years of each other. The Landy is ageing better than the other two- if you thought 80's British cars were poorly built, don't buy an 80's Conway... Laura hiding in this one too, she's quite fond of Land Rovers as well. Hasn't had much choice but to be! Apologies to the non Landy enthusiasts for this gratuitous trip into my vehicular past!

Mini on the roof- reminds me of Goodbody's cafe in Plymouth, which had 4 of them on the roof at one point, of various ages. I seem to recall one may have been a van. Last time I was there I think there was only one left, I wonder if the others escaped to be restored. At least one was fairly early. Never actually been in to the cafe but I lived just a bit further up Mutley for a while, on the road running parallel to the railway (used to frequent the Mutley Crown instead...). As with most things you see all the time I never actually paid it that much attention! Anyhoo- we made it round the country OK, about 2020 miles (we got lost on a diversion around the A1 where it was closed at Scotch Corner) in 49hrs, almost to the minute. Made every Control within the hour time window, albeit about 45mins in to the last one. Pretty pleased with that. Car was great except for the exhaust, which fell off behind the axle just shy of JOG and was a pain for the rest of the trip, ending up chained to the axle to catch it should it fall off again! Crew struggled a bit, mostly 'cos I was ill on the Saturday and wasn't in a fit state to contribute much- which meant the other two had to make up. I did try and pay it back a bit by spending most of Saturday night in the navigator's seat- Tebay to Oakhampton, via Gledrid and Sugar Loaf. Still enjoyed it, although obviously not as much as 2014- not sure if we'll be back for more in 2018! Couple of cracking cars on the run- a Dove TR4 and a Del Lines Stag estate were particularly noteworthy, and I totally failed to photograph both! Kinda in love with the big 6cyl saloons- they really prove how capable they are on these runs- blummin' quick, effortless cruisers yet still really capable on the twisty bits. Nice looking cars too in my opinion, and the sound...

Do you like Triumphs? We've got lots!

Yup, that's part of the appeal! Both my companions on the RBRR have owned Spitfires in the past, I remember Adam's being about the easiest thing possible to work on for the most part. Adrian sold his before I knew him but he turned it into a "Gitfire" the hard way, sticking GT6 running gear into a Spit instead of simply plonking the Spitfire tub onto a GT6 (well, relatively simple anyway). The 2l 6 was my preference and, having driven the Dolly a fair bit, the overdrive 'box is a given. I wanted to put one in the Marina (the gearboxes are all but identical) but the extra lump of the overdrive won't fit without some pretty drasric surgery to the (intergral) transmission tunnel. It has been done but since so much rust is being cut out as part of the rebuild I'd rather not have to cut a solid bit too! If I start with a Herald I'll obviously upgrade the front suspension and brakes, and more than likely fit a swing spring at the back. Dolomite is all stickered up, loaded with a few choice tools and spares, fluid levels checked and pretty much ready to head for London (ish) in the morning. Wish us luck!

Good call. Bohemian Rhapsody is brilliant.