Unicorn1

Thanks for the comments about the layout. We've done India a few times - once by train for three weeks! We were very lucky this year to get right down to the south of Goa, no electricity - no TV - no mobile phone signal - sensational beaches! Anyway, a picture taken at Bishopscombe Jnc Shed, can't remember the year, but I think it was taken in early April

Well there's you answer - I must confess I wasn't entirely sure either! Thanks Mike. A couple of shots at Bishopscombe Junction Shed with a more typical level of activity! 2277 and loco coal 2277 again, awaiting attention to the front coupling! Regards, Les

York Station

Well, I should have been doing some work on the basebord today, but the weather has meant doing some work in the garden! But I did have some time to play trains, and in between train movements I took some shots of Bishopscombe, including some 'nooks and crannies'. The milk churns go to the station Down the track to the canal They're comming to take me away! A couple of shots of Bishopscombe's pet Mink, used as ad-hoc storage Regards, Les

That 38xx is very very good, just the perfect amount of grime, I'm still toying with the idea of doing my 28xx! Les

Thanks to evryone for thier comments while we've been away - 2 weeks in India. So now refreshed - and with more daylight at home too, it's time to get back to the layout, hopefully with some new ideas! Regaeds , Les

Well, Bishpscombe is shutting down for a couple if weeks to enable me and the wife to escape to warmer climbs, and to get some well earned relief from our presently very stressful jobs. So I expect the PW dept to have the track perfect when I return, and that the Western National replacement bus service runs OK. In the meantime the branch's excessive amount of motive power - including a stray Std4 in the shed - takes a well earned rest too! Thanks to everyone for thier encouraging comments, and we'll be back in two weeks. Regards, Les

Thanks Gordon, you're quite right It didn't stay put with handle up, but when painted I'll give it a tweek so it does. Regards, Les

Hi Alan Lovely photos, 2258 looks just right, a brilliant job. Once again you have given me an idea - that Hornby crane looks good....................... Regards, Les

Hello The local enthusiast has been out with his camera to record Bishopscombe's latest allocations. A second pannier has been drafted in to help with the passenger duties. Panniers change over at Bishopscombe Jnc Shed as 9736 comes in and 5766 waits to leave. The fireman looks out as 5766 gets the road from the shed. The 'hanging' fire irons are an experiment, if I decide I like thm I'll paint them a suitable colour. At the station, having backed onto its train Menwhile in the yard a collett does some routeen shunting. On the way home we see the pannier passing Bishopscombe Brewery. (has that fireman actually done any shovelling?) Regards, Les

Thanks very much Stephen. I am currently detailing Bishopscomb's loco stud, and I think I might open a galley for the loco portraits such as this one. Regards, Les

A few more recent pics. 5358, possibly Bishpscombe's most photographed loco...... A break in the shunting for 2259 "when was the last time you saw one of those round here....?" Coke wagon gets some remarks from the 'lads', A different roll of film a few days later to record the loading of the 'as required' meat vans. Regards, Les

Hi Alan It's suprising how different the colour looks to me in the two pictures. They both look good, although I think some of the original details you put in - the tufts etc - don't show up as well on camera with the new grass. Anyway, it's still miles better than my old scatter! Regards, Les

This looks like it could be very good indeed, I can see some more picture frames being required in the railway room!

It's bigger than you think, and going pretty quick too. (from ground level!) RHDR No 3, Dungeness

Well, I went to the Tonbridge show last week to get some scenic items, but only came back with this - another Collett Goods! In the process of weathering and detailing at the moment. Having looked at the photo I see I need to move that lamp. Here she is with Bishopscombe's other Colletts, in various states of cleanliness! Regards, Les

Hi Jules, I do think the Jinty looks good - in fact I ran one on Bishopscombe once to test for a friend. Some nice scenes here. Regards, Les

Thanks Mike. The backscenes behind the station area are the 9" ones, but they are 6" above the base board - i.e. they 'start' at the tops of the relief buildings. The others are all the 16" ones starting at baseboard level. Hope that makes sense! Regards, Les

A few more picture from Bishopscombe. I've used a mirror to get some different angles; although the plastic mirror tends to loose a bit of focus, and some light, it has meant that I can get focus stacked shots from angles where I wouldn't be able to see through the viewfinder on the SLR A down train takles the curve over the canal on a bright summers day. A view along the lane, complete with cliche! Coal stage and Hawksworth tender in use as sludge tank. The Mogul departs with an up train as a 56xx shunts in the yard. Regards, Les

Thanks Mike glad you like the pictures. The backscenes are from someone called 'I D Backscenes', and I bought some online via good old ebay, and some from Faversham Model Shop (just a stisfied customer ete etc). They come in different sizes -9" and 16" height wise - and in 2 x five foot sections which join together. there are about 6 different styles. A 10' section of 9" hight backscene should set you back about £11. But don't use glue like I did - the glue will shrink and take the paper with it - use those sticky/velcro pads for hanging pictures. Sorry but not much good at web links! Regards, Les

A few more pictures taken at Bishopscombe. A proper 'daylight' lighting boom is now on my shopping list, just looking for the right type to enable some better shots using a compact camera - for the nooks and crannies! Anway before that there's the Tonbridge show - so pocket money gone for now I suspect! A quiet period at Bishopscombe as a down train arrives and a Collett Goods shunts in the distance. My shot of dodgy looking track in another thread may come back to haunt me! As busy as it gets. The up passenger is ready to depart (is that a SPAD!) as an empty mineral train comes into the station to reverse up to Bishopscombe Quarry, and a the Collett stands waiting for its crew to return when all the fuss dies down. 2244 returns to Bishopscombe Junction Shed looking like she could do with a litte tlc. Having reversed the 28xx takes the empty minerals past Bishopscombe Jnc Shed towards the quarries. Regards, Les

A few more shots from Bishopscombe. I hope to get some materials and ideas for the quarry extention at the Tonbridge show this week! With the suburbans berthed in the bay till Monday morning, the mogul prepares to leave with a Sunday service. The train leaves - note the rapid reaction of the signalman! An extraordinarily busy day at Bishopscombe Jnc. Shed Newly overhauled 28xx performs a lighht running in turn towards Bishopscombe Jcn. It's shift change time at the shed. Regrds, Les

The camera can be cruel to trackwork! Entrance to New Romney Shed, RHDR.

Good Morning, A few more pics from Bishopscombe. A while ago I purchased some fine steel wool - greenish in colour - don't know how they do that! - from Realistic Modelling of Folkestine (usual disclaimer - just a satisfied customer). This can be teased out into almost any shape and then using neat PVA and some flock can turn out some good looking shrubs etc. This is my first attempt; A 28xx passes Bishopscombe Jnc Shed - presumably 'running in'! Vans everywhere in the goods yard at harvest time. Two identical Hornby vans both given slighltly different treatments. Both weathered with built up layers of Humbrol enamal washes.

Often other photographers I know don't take pictures of the RHDR, because they say it looks too twee!! No 6 at Dungeness.