Grampus

Great pictures, Peter. Particularly like the one of the 40 sticking it's nose out of the Shed. Somehow reminiscent of covers of the Ian Allen 'Locoshed' books many of us carried. Really liked the backstory, too - adds colour and credibility. Best wishes, Paul

Have to admit to having bought another wagon myself last weekend when i realised how many vehicles i need to accommodate. I was also accummulating a small stash of Airfix scorpions prior to the pandemic to go with a set of scimitars my talented younger brother had built and painted for me. I think i remember which box they're in!!!!

Lovely job. That really lifts the model. Almost a shame to load it up!

The wagon feature will be particularly welcome, to me and to many others, I'm sure. Best wishes, Paul

A really enjoyable edition again. I was especially interested in the UKF article; I don't think, till now, I really appreciated just how comprehensive the service was since all I really ever saw of it at the time were the Andover and Gillingham portions whilst they were being rearranged at Salisbury. I was quite surprised to see just how many locations saw traffic. Looking forward to the next part. Best wishes, Paul

Thoroughly enjoying my copy - thank you, Kevin (Rivercider) for a really interesting volume. Freight trains as I remember them during my early spotting years; really good to learn a bit more about the nature of the trains and the traffic, too. I particularly like some of the shots showing everyday activity, rather than just the sometimes clinical imagery of locomotives and wagons that we are used to: one of my favourites so far is the picture on page 55 of the two gentlemen unloading sackloads of beet, by hand, from a VDA onto the back of a flatbed lorry. Seems a bit incongruous somehow; images of a bygone railway, despite the relatively young (at the time) air braked van. Great stuff - glad it wasn't me helping with the unloading! Best wishes, Paul

Thanks, Rob. It's a really satisfying build and fits beautifully, if perhaps a bit over-fiddly around the under-gubbins. I have three, though whether i have the patience to build all of them straight off the bat is another issue! Best wishes, Paul

Great pictures of the '432s, thank you. Some really useful detail on there, which will help me with the kit version (S&M models) I am wrangling with at the moment; might be a while till I attempt the second one for a full load, though! Great Kit but quite fiddly. Good to see the Trains4u chocks will come in useful, too! Thanks again - best wishes, Paul

Andypops, thanks for the gen on CMSC et al. I thought your Sabre looked particularly impressive. The ex-Fox turret gives the vehicle a whole different 'sit' and the extra stowage also makes it look extremely purposeful, though I understand they weren't very well liked by crews? Would look very good on a KFA though. Cheers - happy modelling, Paul

Good evening all, thank you to everyone who offered help and advice with my question. I have now sourced the necessary items from John Talbot and I am beginning to get quite excited at the prospect of actually finishing a wagon I started (and painted) in 1998; that has to be some sort of record, surely? A very, very long player... Best wishes and stay safe, Paul

Steve, thank you - it might well do. I will start with the AME route as suggested later in the thread, but I will keep you in mind - wasn't aware of your service previously. Cheers, Paul

Good afternoon all, I am repurposing an SPA open wagon for engineering use and looking for a decal for the fishkind 'PIKE' name these wagons acquired whilst in that role. Does anybody know of a suitable source, please? Don't mind whether its rubdown or waterslide. I am quite happy to mask and paint the surrounding yellow background panel, but I think hand-painting the lettering these days is a bit beyond my hands and my eyes! :-) (NB. I have considered hand-writing it with a Sharpie marker, which trials indicated was okay but not great). Grateful for any advice, please. Many thanks, Paul

LOL - I'm still within acceptable parameters then?! Cheers, Paul

I keep telling myself that about Cromptons, but how many is enough??? Don't need a 25 at all in my case, but never say never... Best wishes, Paul

Very nice. That definitely looks the part - workaday and understated. Nice job. Paul

Nice crabs. Deceptively simple-looking wagon and an easy build. I have a couple on the go currently, one the prototype with additional external strapping. Considering having a go at a clasp-fitted one too. Yours look very good. Cheers, Paul

Thanks Peter. I had not clocked it was the same rakes! That explains a lot. Cheers, Paul

Lovely vid, particularly with the sound from the Crompton. With the NSE-branded Mk1s and one eye closed, it could be a Bristol-Pompey service

Loved the video! Great to see decent length trains at speed, with proper traction up front!

That sounds rather more manageable!

Sounds great but struggling a mite with the notion of a 56 and 10 plus TEAs as a micro! Been a while since I saw that though!

If only the oil terminal could have come a bit closer! :-) Not something I ever imagined I might need to say... P

Lovely layout: just oozes character. Must confess I had never noticed the railway in Scothern, let alone the canal! I really must pay more attention when I'm out and about! The pipe bridge looks fantastic too. Best wishes, Paul

Love the signal box. Good skills - very nice indeed, as is the rest of it. Best wishes, Paul

'For a while now whenever I looked at the layout I found that I only saw its faults. Tackling a little job like this to rectify one of those faults has made a big difference to how I feel about the layout'. That resonates. So often I have found myself 85% of the way through a project, only to become dissatisfied or disappointed with whatever aspect I have been concentrating on, only to come back some time later with fresh eyes and go again. Little victories: it's a journey, not a destination! Keep doing what you're doing...I am looking forward to seeing more pictures, as and when. Best wishes, Paul