kirtleypete

I reckon I could justify one Marc - I'll see you at Bristol, Cheers, Peter

Mine arrived this morning; it was a bit too clean for my liking! I'm hugely impressed with it, well worth the long wait. Peter

Have you any idea how long they ran in LBSC service Marc? I'd love one but 1888 might be too late to include on in a passenger train. Brilliant 'Digest' as usual, Peter

I've just heard that my sound fitted limited edition from DCC Supplies will be posted tomorrow; presumably it's being delivered by sleigh! Peter

The overall roof is about finished; all I need to do now is fill in the gaps around the station building. It's removable for obvious reasons which means it has had to be made strong enough to put up with being moved. It looked lovely when all the cream paint was bright and shiny but west Yorkshire in the 1930's meant it needed to be covered in sh........sorry, heavily weathered. I must kill the shine on the platform surface. Peter

I've done the replacement overall roof thanks to York Modelmaking producing a second set of girders for me. This roof is a bit longer and much more open at the sides so it should be a lot more user friendly. Now that the artwork is done, of course, anyone can order the roof girders from York Modelmaking. The are cut in 1.5mm acrylic which I stick with Evostick. Peter

Made my day! Peter

Yes, it's the Ruston - there was a basic model in white plastic on the stand which has got me hooked - it's the only standard gauge engine I've ever driven. I think it's a really clever choice for the next model, and probably one that few would have predicted, including me. The chap on the stand - presumably Steve though I don't know him - said he was going to fit full DCC sound inside the bonnet so the cab would be completely clear. Bring it on! The Class 15 looked superb, a really top quality product. Peter KIRTLEY MODEL BUILDINGS

I've decided that it isn't going to be possible to open up the side of the exisiting model so I'm going to begin again - new roof spans are on order. In the meantime I'll be at the Reading 0 gauge trade show on Saturday, with some new books among other goodies. Peter

My customer and I have agreed that the side walls need opening up; although what I have done follows the real thing it's no use on a model as you can't see what's going on inside. It's going to be an interesting challenge altering it! Watch this space........................ Peter

I've finished the structure of the overall roof now, based on the one at Adolphus Street in Bradford like the station building. The spans were laser cut for me by York Modelmaking, and a superb job they've made of them. This is the real roof, much larger as it spans a much wider area but hopefully I've captured some of the same look. The model roof measures 285mm side to side. There will be a glazed screen across the end, but that will be added after painting the main structure. Peter

At the NEC this weekend we exhibited John Smith's new 0 gauge layout 'North Foreland' for the first time. The NEC isn't the ideal place for taking pictures but hopefully these will give some idea of how the layout looks. Those with long memories will recall that John had a layout of the same name which was built in 1996 but that was broken up after being retired in 2003 and this layout is entirely new. The concept is the same, a terminus of the Southern Railway on the Kent coast in the Summer of 1947. The layout is 7mm scale finescale and uses Lenz DCC for control. The layout will be at York next Easter by which time it will be fully signalled and I'll take some more pictures there hopefully in better light. Full details of the layout can be found at www.smithslayouts.com . The end of the line, high on the chalk cliffs overlooking the English Channel. The station building was based loosely on Whitstable. John's 'Schools' class 'Ardingly' on the turntable with the 'Terrier' station pilot in the background. The chalk cliffs were modelled using 'Sculptamould'. The line from the turntable runs behind the signal box. The loco was built by Andy Beaton of Ragstone Models and was only delivered on Friday which explains the lack of coal and crew. The 'Dehydrated Rambler' pub with the main line behind it. The pub is owned by the mythical 'Estuary Ales' of Whitstable (The taste of the Thames!) and a couple of their PO vans run on the layout. On Sunday we saw a chap looking very intently at the brewery name on the pub; we're sure he went home to look it up in the Good Beer Guide! North Foreland's very own coal wagon, which seems to have escaped the pooling of PO wagons during the war. A link with the original layout is John's Battle of Britain class pacific 'Spitfire' which has been given a new lease of life with DCC sound. A train from London via Dover runs into the station behind the loco yard. A busy scene in the station. My 'Schools' is 'Stowe' and is in wartime black and original condition with the small chimney. A parcels train departs for Dover behind no. 917. H Class tank No 1263 stands at the platform end ready to depart; both platforms are bi-directional. This is currently the only loco still carrying the pre war olive green livery. 'Stowe' pulls to a stop with another arrival from London. John also took some pictures; if some of the other engines feature in his I'll post some here in due course. We also have a 'WD' 2-8-0 and two Terriers and by York there should be some new additions...things were a bit tight at the NEC but we managed. Peter

I've begun work on a large 4mm scale layout based on ex GNR lines in Yorkshire in 1937 - some pictures of the first section are below. I'll keep posting as work progresses. The terminus is based on Bradford Adolphus Street station. The track is the new Legacy product from DCC Concepts which seems to be excellent; I'll be using Peco finescale points with it. Peter

On my loco's the firebox glow is 4. The problem is that the fireman can be heard shovelling energetically, but on my engines he's standing leaning on his shovel at the cab door! ​Peter

The DCC Supplies limited edition is now delayed until mid December. Then they've got to fit the sound.................... Peter

It's a lot better than I could build from a kit. Peter

Goes well with no one driving, doesn't it!! ​Peter

It's like Orwell's 1984....'in stock' should mean they've got the damn things sitting in front of them on the table!! ​Peter

Good - come and say hello. Peter

DCC Supplies are doing a green loco with wasp stripes and the early BR emblem....very few ran like that but as long as one did that's fine with me! Peter

Saltdean will be at Spalding exhibition next weekend, at the Springfields Centre Spalding. Peter

The DCC Supplies website says the limited edition green loco is in stock with delivery in mid November so presumably they were part of the first batch to arrive. I image the sound fitted ones will take longer; when someone has one I'd be very interested to see a picture, the DCC Supplies site just has the drawing that's been there all along. Peter

I use my own brick papers (www.kirtleymodels.com) but my customer has used Redutex sheets and I must admit they look better than I'd expected. They're self adhesive which I don't like because it doesn't give you any adjustment time. If I'm honest it's probably just professional jealousy!! ​Peter

I've been doing more scenery on a Welshpool and Llanfair layout I've been working on for three or four years now and it's nearly finished at last. I didn't do the track, just the scenery and some of the buildings. My customer built these two structures and he's made a lovely job of them. He did the two Llanfair buildings too. It's unusual to see a narrow gauge station given plenty of space like this. I'll be going back for one more visit once all the ground cover has dried. Peter

There'll be no stopping you in that case! Peter