Grampus

Evening all. I am interested in two grounded van bodies that used to reside at Salisbury, in the vicinity of the station, until at least the mid-1980s, seemingly used as buffer stops on the ends of sidings. One was in Fisherton East Yard, immediately beyond the BRSA club building; the other was at the western end, beyond the platforms and close to what I believe was the old cattle dock and the old western loco shed site. The one in East yard is visible in the picture below, painted grey, just to the left of the 09 Shunter, behind the fence posts and the oil (?) drums: I had thought previously that both were formerly gunpowder vans (best guess) - I am not by any stretch of the imagination a wagon identification expert - but a picture on a recent thread elsewhere on RMweb suggested that they might instead be ex-iron minks, filled with concrete; or, were they something else entirely? I would like to model one as a change from the usual rail or sleeper-built alternatives, particularly given their connection with my former locale. To that end, does anybody for sure what wagon type they really were (are?), please? TVM. Best wishes, Paul

It didn't show - everybody seemed to be masters of their brief. I was particularly impressed with the 'switchery' on the panel near the signal box (which was also very nice) - I wouldn't have exchanged places with your 'bobby' for the world, thanks very much! Only the obligatory yellow duster was missing, I felt. Will look forward to seeing further progress in due course. Best wishes, Paul

Evening all, I enjoyed a couple of hours at Hull this morning (the steer on the website about parking in West Park was a good one, thank you - took all the pain out of it!) I was particularly taken with Cayton Bay: GriffGriff and I spent some considerable time watching operations there. It is already impressive and I think it will be really something when finished. I especially liked the road overbridges, which really looked as if they were supposed to be there, rather than just plonked in situ. Barrowfleet always catches my eye as well: for me it captures the 'feel' of that part of Lincolnshire wonderfully. Well done, all: hope all goes well tomorrow. Best wishes, Paul

Thanks very much indeed: much appreciated. It was soooo much easier when they were in large logo with big numbers!! Best wishes, Paul

Afternoon all, I wondered if anybody could help me with the identity of the two COLAS Class 56s top and tailing an RHTT, sighted in Lincoln Station this afternoon, please? They were stopped in the main westbound through platform ( - I really should know the platform number by now, should't I?) when I crossed Pelham Bridge at around about 1300 today, Friday 26 October. Grateful for any information, please. Many thanks. Hopefully, Paul

Evening all, thought I would share a few images of a couple of the slightly more unusual military loads for warwells that I have been working on. Firstly, an ex-JB, latterly Airfix, Saracen, heavily reworked and up-armoured to Mk V Ambulance configuration. I confess I have been working on this one for a very long time ( - last active work, 2003!!! - it's a long story...) - however, the advent of the warwells caused me to go digging in the cupboard... And of a rather more recent vintage, the S&M Models Mk II Alvis Stalwart. I am (mostly) enjoying the build, barring a schoolboy error of my own making, though it certainly does not just drop together - however, that's part of the fun of modelling, I guess. Some aspects, such as moulding the cab panels in transparent plastic to achieve the flush glazing, are really nice. In any event, I think it looks the part and it certainly drags up memories of seeing them in and around Salisbury when I was rather younger: As you will see, the front bulkhead in the cargo area needs some detailing, easily resolved; and I modified the exhaust area to the rear offside to better resemble most of images I found of later examples. I think it will come out okay: I certainly hope so, because I have another one in the stash! Green paint and mud will also hide a multitude of sins :-) It will also look better - and taller - with the wheels on... Sorry about the picture quality, but if these are of interest I will post more in due course as they reach the paint shop and beyond. Happy modelling all, Paul

Great show today, with lots to keep me interested and duly inspired. Also came home with the wallet a little lighter and a bag of books - oooops! I thought the venue was excellent and the parking entirely painless. Thanks to all concerned and hope all goes well for tomorrow's reprise: highly recommended. Best wishes, Paul

A couple from the flypast rehearsal at RAF College Cranwell last Tuesday. Per Ardua ad Astra. Paul

Can't work out whether its a recycled deck chair or a humbug wrapper??? Probably a good time to admit that I also possess something vaguely similar... I even wear it occasionally. Best wishes, Paul

Really? Surely not...

A couple from the Model Railway event today. Some seriously impressive large steam power - not often I can truthfully say that I like the rain, but it certainly help with the atmospherics this morning: Best wishes, Paul

Here's another thank you for a thoroughly good time at the show today. Managed to arrive early enough to park at Loughborough and then take some highly atmospheric snaps of the big steamers making their final preparations on shed in light rainy conditions, which added to the atmosphere. Some great layouts: personal favourites included 'Appledore' ( - never seen quite so many '22s on a single layout, though none of them looked out of place) and the still inspirational 'Tonbridge West', which looks better now than the first time I saw it. Though I didn't make a note of the name I was also quite taken with the small industrial diesel-worked coal sidings, which just oozed atmosphere - very good indeed, I thought! Tents were busy but not rammed; the temperatures were comfortable; plenty of trade; and the whole atmosphere pleasant. Hope anybody venturing over there tomorrow has a good day: well worth the trip. Best wishes, Paul

Mark, thanks for your reply: knew I kept the bits for a reason _now where did I put them?! I, too, am resurrecting a Cambrian SPA I built many years ago and even painted, but never quite got around to finishing. It runs extremely sweetly ( - I had loads of time to fettle everything to within an inch of its life: there wasn't a great deal else - productive - to do in the Falklands when not working!) and still holds its own extremely well. As you say, starting with the FTG one will save some time - always a precious commodity - but no reason to bin the Cambrian rendition, which is rather nice. Happy modelling and best wishes, Paul

Wayne, thank you. Result! For once, I have the right set of spares lying around instead of having to go out and purchase another kit - oh wait, I need two sets!..... Much appreciated. Best wishes, Paul

OAA looks really good. May I ask which Cambrian solebars you have used, please? I have a number of spares and am keen to do something similar, but want to make sure I use the right set. Many thanks. Paul

I know this is probably a long shot but I am looking for a couple of Cromwell Models 1/76th contemporary AFVs to populate some lonely warwells and warflats. I would ideally like to obtain a couple of CVRTs (any of Spartan, Samson, Striker, Samaritan or Sultan); and/or FV432 APCs (any variant). I wondered if anybody has any surplus models lurking in their unbuilt kit stash, or which are now no longer required, that they might be prepared to sell me, please? I would obviously pay P&P as well. Hoping somebody will come up trumps. Hopefully, Paul

Brilliant - thanks Paul. What smashing pictures - Lots of modelling potential there. Thanks again all. I could not have asked for better. Happy modelling and best wishes, Paul

Thank you everyone for all your help; very much appreciated. I can now proceed to cutting and sticking with confidence - pictures in due course. Very best wishes, Paul

Evening all, perhaps a bit of a niche question, but here goes. Prompted by some photos on Paul Bartlett's excellent site of Pike wagons (formerly SPAs) loaded with concrete sleepers, I decided to have a go at loading up my Cambrian SPA, so duly bought all the goodies from C&L yesterday at the DEMU 'bash'. However, on going back to the pictures, what is not immediately clear to me is how the sleepers were stacked up? In several of the pictures, the sleepers are clearly visible just above the top edge of the wagon side (or rather, the chairs/baseplates are). From that I would guess that the sleepers are stacked at least two high, and perhaps three? My question though is, how were they stacked? If the sleepers are just piled up one on top of another, would the chairs on the ones at the bottom of the pile not get damaged? Or, is there something in between them - perhaps timber? - to stop such damage occurring? If I am going to go to the trouble of sticking individual baseplates to sleepers, I must as well spend time doing the job properly! Hopefully somebody out there will know: I would be most grateful for any advice, please. Many thanks, Paul

Enjoyed my visit first thing this morning: picked up a few useful bits and bobs, whilst enjoying other peoples' modelling ( - note to self: really must try harder to do some of that occasionally!) Thanks to all concerned, particularly given how hot it was in the halls when I was there. Hope tomorrow is equally successful - and cooler! Best wishes, Paul

Brilliant. Thanks, Beast : much appreciated. I don't get to lineside too often so this is the first COLAS example I've seen. Cheers, Paul

Evening all, I dropped in at Barnetby yesterday lunchtime (Saturday 19 May) on the way back from Immingham show and 'found' a Colas CL70 sat in the sidings. Unfortunately the greenery had grown to sufficient height to foil my usual trick of photographing on max zoom and then enlarging the picture to read the number - all I got was very detailed greenery! Just wondered if anybody could help with the identity of the loco, please? I was there at about 1245ish. Grateful for any help received, please. TVM. Paul

Evening all, had a fun couple of hours at the show yesterday. I thought it a well-balanced show with something for everybody and plenty of room to stand and watch the trains. I hope it was sufficiently well supported for there to be a sequel next year. Particular thanks to Steve1 for trusting to me have a little play in North West Germany yesterday morning; and for explaining the finer points of sector plate construction! Well done and 'thank you' to all concerned. Best wishes, Paul

The contrast was certainly pretty marked. '035 looked as though it had just been through Eastleigh works. Nevertheless they both sounded great. P

And one more for luck - 'cos you can never have enough Cromptons... '035 running round its train at Leicester North on the Saturday morning. Paul