brianthesnail96

Pretty sure it's "AS-2 Light Gray (IJN)" that I used on the 16T.

Thanks Simon. I'll look up which it was tonight!

Haven't updated this for a while- mainly 'cos, after a frantic few weeks trying to get enough stock finished for Yate show, I've been ignoring the layout and getting on with other things. Show went really well (well, I think so anyway)- except for the Peckett not wanting to make any noise everything behaved itself (including the operators) and it seemed to be well recieved. However, I completely failed to take any photos. So I took a couple of quick ones of some of the more recently finished wagons this afternoon. The 16 tonner is actually slightly noteworthy as it's the first 7mm wagon kit I built- it's been built but unpainted for several years now, I was dreading weathering it but I must admit I'm dead pleased with how it's turned out. The base coats are Tamiya military ones, I tried a couple- the 16t is pretty much spot on but the cupboard door is too blue, I couldn't be bothered repainting it. It doesn't look too bad running on the layout.

Nearly ready (ish) for Yate on Saturday. Now have the second handset set up so operation should hopefully be a little slicker and we'll be running "two engine in steam" operation. Should probably invest in some flagmen... Have been busy on the wagon fleet these last few weeks, and have a couple more to add to the fleet (once I've retransferred a couple that disappeared in weathering). Will try and get some photos at the weekend. Visitors to the Bristol 0 gauge show the other week may have spotted a couple of BTS bits and pieces too.

Boing! Morning all. Grey but dry here so far. Don't think it's going to stay that way though... Starting to keep an eye on the forecast as we're approaching holiday time- have a long weekend in Plymouth starting a week Sunday, looking forward to it regardless of what the weather chooses to do. Having lived there for three years I'd learnt to take the forecast with a pinch of salt anyway, it's one of those places where if you don't like the weather wait a little while and it'll be doing something else (generally something even less agreeable). Still love it there though, we would both liked to have stayed but there wasn't any work down there when I graduated, a city with a strong Naval presence is no place to be job hunting when they are cutting defence budgets left right and centre. To clarify my comment on Jubilees, only in red- they look a bit drab in green. Despite my GWR affiliation I'm one of those strange types that thought Olton Hall suited Hogwarts red (unlike the Bulleid Pacific). I like lined black "Manors" with red backed name and number plates too- I've never been known for my taste. My real interest is in industrials though. Should be POETS here, I was supposed to be heading for the tip after work but I forgot to book the car in (it's a commercial vehicle in the eyes of the council so needs booking a day in advance). Laura is on her occasional late Friday finish so I'll get on with dirtying some wagons instead, I'll have to brave the tip at the weekend. Have a good one all!

Time for bed "Boing"! Doh, that would explain why it looks a little different to the plastic one then NHN, especially around the cab. is it a 15" or a 16"? LMS locos... Hmm, always liked the Jubilees, despite being a GWR man (I blame the parents). I'd love to see Galatea- when I was young I used to pinch Dad's steam railways to read and an article on her stuck in my mind- I remember being saddened that such a loco could be "preserved" just as a parts donor and was another restoration project impossible. Needless to say I was pleased to find out many years later that she was under restoration. Of course there are plenty of similar stories with GW 4-6-0s and Southern Pacifics but somehow Galatea seemed different- probably just 'cos I saw it in print really! Must admit I've normally got the emotional range of a teaspoon but watching Duke of Gloucester lift a good rake of Mk1s out of Plymouth and up into Mutley tunnel a few years back (erm, 8 now I think about it- where did that go?) bought a bit of a lump to the throat- another engine that made it against all the odds. My first student house was right on the railway (opposite the eye hospital on the other side of the railway for those who know the area) and I only saw that one steam special in the year I was there- was a bit disappointed with that. Goodnight folks!

Boing! After a year and a bit on placement of doing nothing but paperwork, today I have been paid to hit something hard with a hammer and very satisfying it was too. Admittedly it would have been preferable if the (fairly expensive) bit of machine guarding had been specified correctly and didn't need the services of the precision adjuster but it's still been a good morning (not) in the office. NHN, the joyrider altercation clearly dates that back to your time in Geordieland- I can't imagine there's much vehicle theft on Fraggle. The one I had was all plastic- presumably a later one. Ironically I sold it to Dave and he built it for BT&S! He's kept it as it's well suited to the colliery line he's building now. Yours doesn't look to have suffered too badly all things considered. Bit of a conundrum as to keep it "as is" as a bit of history or rebuild and detail it to what you'd do now I suppose. I guess the lack of anywhere to run it answers the question; it's a shame the L&L isn't sewage works gauge really! I'm not fussy about my tea, teabags are just fine- same applies to coffee, my inherent laziness means instant is just fine. A friend has one of the Dolce Gusto capsule type machines and I do rather like that as a special treat, might acquire one myself at some point (when I've build the rest of the kitchen probably!) We do have a spare kettle in case of emergencies though... And there ends lunchtime- have a good afternoon folks.

Boing! Morning all. Quiet so far today. Chippy tea thoroughly enjoyed last night, although we passed what must the least subtle drugs deal on the way home- behatted youth shuffles across the road the a parked car, hand through the window then scuttles back the way he came, passing us but very pointedly not looking at us. Clearly not big time as they were driving a Yaris. Probably his Mum's, to look at him. Happy Anniversary to Jock and his good lady! On a less happy note, condolences to Don of course. NHN, the Hunslet has come out of hibernation I see... it's always welcome to visit a railway of the correct gauge if you are ever passing! Time to go and bodge the test rig some more now, my machining job was finished yesterday so time to carry on putting it back together. Apparently there's no Haynes book of Lies or equivalent ("assembly is the opposite of disassembly") and I have to rely on my memory; we may be some time... Have a good one all.

If anything deserves a "supportive" it's the failure of a kettle... Being as I don't drink, smoke or gamble (beyond the very occasional lottery ticket) my main vice is tea. Well, that and inferior British cars. So very rock n' roll... Going back to a conversation of some weeks ago, had yet another phone call with a cheery and helpful Co- Op energy employee last night, my refund that I was promised within 14 days 3 weeks ago should be with me in the next 7. Good job I'm not desperate for the money really isn't it! Actually I might put it towards something vaguely productive- I quite fancy doing my HGV license at some stage. Other than that, not much doing here. Laura is finally back to her usual self after this lingering cold so I'm informed that we're having a chippy tea, faggots and gravy from the local chip shop it is (for me at least, scampi for Laura). No complaints here! Enjoy your day all.

Morning all, thanks to Stewart and everyone else for the condolences. I must admit I'm perhaps not as sad as maybe I should be- he went quickly and relatively painlessly after a good long life, and before he'd lost too much of his independence and quality of life (although he was starting to head down that road and I think he would have been housebound in the fairly near future). That's certainly how I would want to go. I would have liked to have said goodbye I admit, but we had a nice meal together as a family a week ago so at least our last meeting was on a high- plenty of good times to remember, a highlight of young Thesnail's summer holidays was a trip to Bristol Parkway to meet Granddad on an inbound HST from Paddington- I'd then be whisked onto a London bound train with him, to stay for a week. As Granddad was a retired tube train driver quite a lot of this week was spent either on or watching trains, which young Thesnail enjoyed very much. Jock, I don't think planning such things is macabre at all. While I share your thoughts on how much you will actually know about it, there's no doubt that it's important to friends and family that one's life is celebrated in a manner that they would have appreciated and as such it seems an entirely sensible and indeed thoughtful course of action. You've already managed to avoid the main gripe I have with funerals, which is songs that at best only half those attending know the words/ tune to, and only a fraction of those can actually sing... Coffee drunk, suppose I'd better work out what the plan is for the day. Have a good one all!

Cheers for the thoughts folks. Bedtime now- g'night all!

Boing! Caught up at last, seems to have taken most of the evening but I'm pleased to note that there's been plenty of opportunity to use the "like" and "funny" buttons. Particularly glad to hear that Jock is starting to feel more like himself again. Oldddudders meanwhile appears to be living in the French version of Emmerdale! Mixed weekend here- was at the Brizzle "0" gauge show, helping set up a test track or two and the club stand Saturday afternoon and then generally getting in the way on the Sunday. The club (sort of- our host's wife actually paid for it so I'm told!) has acquired a small circular test track which is great for those of us with little engines- since I only have a 12ft end to end it was a good opportunity to run in one of the more reluctant of the "home fleet" in between running visitor's locos. Most visitor's locos went on the main track so we had an easy time of it really on the little one. Brought a few bits to display on the club stand too which I'm told were well received. Was well behaved and didn't spend too much money either. Sorry to talk about trains... The sad news was that my Granddad was rushed into hospital early Saturday with what transpired to be a bleed on the brain. He finally passed away this afternoon but by all accounts was essentially gone from Saturday morning, it was just a matter of waiting for his body to catch up with events. Sad to not have the opportunity to say goodbye but pleased that- so far as he was concerned at least- it was quick and relatively painless; I must admit I'm fairly pragmatic about such things, he'd not had a bad innings all things considered and unfortunately these things happen once you reach a certain time of life. Tough on my Aunt who has lived with my grandparents all her life, especially since we've lost them both in quick succession. Three funerals in four months is going to be a bit dismal though, my suit is starting to feel overworked. First day back in my new (old) job today, back at my old desk too but with two monitors now, woo! Unfortunately I'm not hidden in the corner so will have to be more subtle when dropping into ERs with the morning brew. My new (old!) boss is on holiday for ten days so it's just as well I'm vaguely familiar with what I'm doing, although it's not the same as I was doing before. Waiting on a machining job* and then I have a test rig to reassemble, which I'm mostly looking forward to and partially dreading as I took it apart with someone quite familiar with it and will be putting it back together myself- pass the spanners, and the GA drawing... Enjoy what's left of the evening all. Now I've caught up after a busy weekend I should be able to drop in with my morning coffee tomorrow. *In a brilliant display of corporate joined up thinking they send a load of us youngsters on a basic machining course and then promptly banned everyone from the machine shop on our return except for a small number of experienced machinists- not sure how they are expecting to have new ones without giving us the chance to gain experience under the wing of the older chaps but there you are, grumble grumble...

It was on the Lionheart stand, so yes it's a Lionheart autocoach behind it. Can confirm the 08 runs very nicely too!

Good to see you again too Mike, and Paul of course. Hope you had a good trip back, wasn't really the weather for it but at least it wasn't snowing...

Nice job Mike. Just surprised you didn't do GHW first!

... back home, warming up. Definitely windy out- 50mph flat out again and that was downhill. Early night tonight, we're both tired- g'night all.

Sat outside a village hall while Laura is yogaing. Offered to taxi since her car is in the shops. She is insured on the Landy but she's never actually driven it. Quite nice actually to sit with some music on, reading by the maplight (only interior light in the military ones). Bit chilly though, after a reasonable day it's gone a bit dismal here. Slightly amused that the car next to me has a sticker in the window with words to the effect of "This isn't a parking space, do not park here again" that has clearly resisted any removal attempts. It obviously hasn't worked as, although he's in the vicinity of a parking space I think it'd be stretching the truth to say he's in it... Hope Jock has made progress with the oncologist and everyone else ailing is on the mend (those aleing, do carry on as you are). Also hope that's Bill's funeral goes as well as such things can tomorrow Mister Neil. One imagines it'll be fond reminiscences and celebration of a life well lived (any life including playing with steam is one well lived in my book) rather than the more miserable alternatives; not that that makes it any less sad, but certainly nicer. Edit, blummin' phone double posts!

Still the standard alarm clock I believe, or at least it was when I was in the Cadets 13- odd years ago (crikey, is it really that long?).

Boing. And it actually is time for bed near enough too. Training course was rather better than expected (and was all day). Apparently I'm now sort of qualified to do risk assessments on things that contain things liable to go boom, which is a little worrying. DSEAR, in case you were wondering. Doesn't really affect us too much in our place as we only really work with variations on the diesel theme, which takes quite a lot of enthusiasm to get it to do anything too dramatic. Car dropped off OK and without getting too windswept, good to catch up with the bodyshop guy- tried to sell me an Allegro and an XJS while we were there, so he's clearly got a good handle on me. His bread and butter seems to be 80's Lotuses (Lotii?) and 70's Aston Martins, as usual the workshop was full of both- the Astons are a particular favourite of mine so I'm always happy to drop in. He enjoyed working on the Dolomite as something a bit different- and no doubt a bit easier! Quiet evening catching up with washing up and paperwork- no modelling tonight. Laura's cold is still lingering and she's had a bad head- not ill enough to not do anything while feeling grotty enough to not want to. Still, she's had the decency not to share it at least. Have a good evening all, what's left of it.

Thanks folks. Giles, in case you hadn't guessed it was done in pieces and then put together- hence missing grubbying the joint between boiler tanks. I'll have to attend to that. I did attempt to dust the top of the boiler but I couldn't get anything I was happy with and polished it off. I'll try again with a softer brush as it's a little too shiny now! It actually looks slightly pinkish in those photos, it doesn't in reality. Was pleased with how the lettering came out though- although it is a bit heavy. Peckett next (once I've finished the vans, and repainted the cupboard door mineral that I've inadvertently painted blue...). Same treatment, lots of nice rivet detail to snag dirt on

Getting there... Frames and bufferbeams are still untouched and a few detail bits missing, most obviously the smokebox handrail. Not completely happy with it but it looks the part when viewed on the layout even if it doesn't bear close scrutiny.

Bit of progress on the Terrier- bufferbeams and frame weathering still to do. Nowhere near as pleased as I am with the Fowler, but it looks more in keeping than it did and provides a useful extra locomotive. This is my first attempt at weathering a steam locomotive. The Fowler was much easier! Think I might clean the tank front slightly looking at that (possibly the cab front too although access is a pain, which probably makes it a bit more excusable).

Boing! Morning all. Tailwind this morning (outside...), positively flew up the hill. Unfortunately got a longer than normal run South tonight as Laura is dropping her car in at a bodyshop just this side of Bristol for some welding. The shop was responsible for the respray on a friend's Dolomite, he did a cracking job of that so we know the car is in good hands. Training this morning- explosive atmospheres and chemical awareness I think. No comment! Sorry to hear that Jayne seems to be going backwards not forwards NHN. As with Dom, can't really offer any suggestions not already mentioned. If she won't accept professional help then keeping being there is all you can really do. All this talk of commuting makes me glad I live in the sticks- OK, so if I wanted to get the train to work it'd be an hour's walk and probably an hour and a half on the train (I've not looked, but I'd have to go through Stonehouse to Gloucester on the Midland and then back to Stonehouse on the GWR so it wouldn't be quick), but the roads are relatively quiet at least. Good luck in advance to Flavio! Hope folks aren't being too badly affected by snow/ wet (depending on where you are in the world). Certainly damp here! UJs on propshafts- always put them at 90deg. to each other but never really thought about why- assumed it was just for balancing. Have a good one all, time to get educated.

BT&S will be appearing at Yate Model Railway Show on the 13th of Feb- see here for details. Feel free to say hello if you are visiting, bring something (small) to run etc. I'm the one in dire need of a haircut (unless I have, in fact, had a haircut by then)... Hoping to get the Terrier "done" by then, frantically painting and weathering wagons at the moment. The Peckett will be running in it's out of the box state as I've run out of time to repaint it, but it's too good fun to not play with!

Boing! Erm, not a lot doing here really. Fairly quiet weekend, didn't get as much done as hoped but did have a nice roast dinner at my parents for my Granddad's Birthday. Must admit I don't always see eye to eye with Mum (and indeed moved out under a rather large cloud) but we get on much better now we only cross paths once a month or so. My brother and his girlfriend were there too- he's very much Mum's son and I never used to get on with him either (possibly the common denominator was the one at fault, but I always got on fine with my Dad (and the dog)) but he's grown up into a thoroughly agreeable and hard working young man now. Think his Emily has had quite a say in that mind! We're having an unofficial contest to see who can put off the m- word as long as possible. I suspect they'll win as they have getting on for a year's head start on us, and don't officially live together yet (despite being together nearly 8 years). They normally stay with Emily's parents, I think mostly because they don't make them do the washing up... Anyway, Granddad has had a rough few months with losing people close to him & various medical issues so it was nice to get us all together under cheerful circumstances for a change. Decided to service the Land Rover Sunday morning while it was dry and warm and have concluded that it was last serviced by a poorly trained gorilla (or possibly just a squaddie). It shouldn't take half an hour, a selection of screwdrivers and a large hammer just to change the oil filter. Must get a oil filter spanner thingy, the chain type removal tool just started crushing it! Got there in the end, albeit with a good soaking of oil. Harrumph. Managed to make a bit more progress on my Dapol Terrier last night, hopefully put the body back together tonight. Has proved a bit frustrating but seems to be getting there now- next project is to fit noise, soldering is not my strong suite. Have a good one all. Best wishes to those with ailments, ills, and families! Edit, and those dealing with HMRC too...