JZ

And the bonus. 2017 2018

Just sprayed the B-17 cockpit and other glazing using masks. Why I hadn't considered using them before eludes me.

Made a start on the building that will represent the Smiths Arms. Windows and doorways have been made a bit smaller so I can use Tichy Trains products. Although HO, they are large enough for OO. Not intending for it to be an exact copy, just trying to give a flavour of the original. The end wall, below has to have some openings added, which will be done when I get my Dremel back from my daughter's partner tomorrow. Once these are cut out and the wall fixed in place, I will cover it in craft paper to give the texture of rendering, before adding the windows and doors. I shall also add an upper floor bay window between the windows on the righthand end. For the station building, I am going to use the Peco LK-200 kit as a base.

I've had the mask for the Zero cockpit a couple of weeks and today decided it was time to use them. I gave it a coat of grey primer before the green. So much better than doing it freehand, or even using masking tape and/or liquid mask. I have now ordered masks for some of the other kits I have. Next will be to get on and finish the B-17

It got there on it's own. Nothing to do with me.

Part 4.

Part 3. The feed mill i s only here temporarily, as I wanted it in for our depot magazine, Bristol Temple Reads. Smaller industrial units will replace it and the background buildings.

Part 2. Taken as I finished and removed the bridge section across the doorway.

First operating session of the year today. Part 1.

Exploring the house bit by bit and yesterday she found a bit of sun in my store room.

Slowly but surely we are getting there. Her medication is half what it was when she arrived. She is happy to wait next to me while I put her food out, but still resists me touching her. I have been letting her explore the house bit by bit, but I need to keep her away from the back door and the cat flap. Today she made a run for it while I put her food down and as much as I tried could not get her back to her room. Needing to get to work, I decided to stack some boxes against the door from the hallway to living room and hence kitchen and back door, as Oreo can get these open. This gave her the run of all upstairs. Still need to shut her in her at night for Oreo to have access as she sleeps on my bed. And she has at last started getting a bit vocal if I am late to feed her. As for meeting between the two, Venus is curious, but Oreo is meh, it's another cat in the house, so what.

This cat spends a lot of time at Romsey station. Regulars have been giving it treats. The ticket office staff say it belongs to someone who live close to the station. Last week it boarded a train to Portsmouth Harbour and got off on the return.

Don't suppose you know what colour the seats were on the buses? I have a Leyland which could be repainted into West Mon colours, but the seats are bright green, so need toning down. I image a similar colour to the bus livery, but you can never be sure.

That photo.

Game on - Catatonia

Not seen an adder around here for years and grass snakes are quite rare here. Occasionally see adders warming themselves on the cable trunking around Maiden Newton station and I did nearly stap on one when I was being shown how to set the points there.

While I wait for Vol 1 of the Brecon & Merthyr books, do you know what the building was in front of Smiths, that was pre the 1935 station building? It appear that the gable end remained after demolition, next to the posters in some of the pictures.

The tabby from my youth had a habit of bringing in slow worms. Never killed them, just brought them in and leave them by the kitchen boiler, it may have always been the same one. Mum or myself would take them out before my dad saw it, he had a phobia about snakes, which dated back to his National Service spent in India, when a large King Cobra was found in his barracks when he got up one morning. He would never visit the reptile house when we went to the zoo.

On the OS 7th Series map from 1956, it still shows the station in the position of the original, pre 1935 one. Did they not survey it for many years, or is this one of the deliberate errors built in so they can check for copying? Jus checked the National Library of Scotland site and large scale maps show it correctly.