Bluemonkey presents....

Nice brake van Martin, looks like a familiar type lol. Masking tape will help, I have never got on with maskol liquid. Worth waiting a couple of days for any colour coats to really harden off before putting masking tape on them just in case (if you can wait). I think rattle cans tend to spray heavy and I have experienced paint creeping under the masking. A tip I picked up from the BRM mags and Phil Parker is to use the making tape in conjunction with kitchen foil. Stick the half the tape where you need to mask and the foil under the other half so it can wrap the rest of the model rather than taping everything from waist down. Something like this (although I used cling film here);

Hi Martin, Those a great coaches are they the ones we discussed? You are certainly are flying with your whole project.

Beautiful layout. Some stunning pictures. Mark I saw this stand earlier this year at my local exhibition and was very impressed with their offerings. I am not yet in the position to make a purchase as construction is yet to start but in terms of ballast appearance and grades they seem to my eye perfect.

The Phoenix will rise again my friend. Good luck with your move.

Truly awesome. Thank you for sharing.

Nice work Martin. Your layout plans and ideas are very detailed and full of fun. Good luck with your build, hopefully starting soon on my idea which is curiously totally the opposite to yours! Matt

Hi KNP, There is a new book released tomorrow ref GWR Goods Cartage; Atkins. I am hoping to get a copy very soon so may have something regarding allocations. Finish my wagon, although not weathered that will happen as the rest of my stock gets weathered, some years down the line. I'll PM you some shoots.

Beautiful scene, really stunning.

Cracking! Excellent use of natural light and shade. Been sidetracked with my wagon but will never have it looking as good as yours. Great work.

In my haste and naivety I sold the three complete Steam Railmotor brass kits to place reservations a couple of years ago. Thinking that I would never be able to line very well and would not do the kits justice. I certainly hope the model is produced as was looking forward to running a couple.

Beautiful. The whole scene is fantastic but those horses and cart are truly stunning.

Funny, that sounds like a normal day for me when it goes wrong the wheels really fall off. I will start my layout one of these days.

OK, thanks have recycled them.

I have a few odd copies of backdated BRM magazines if anyone is interested? Collection from north Wiltshire or just pay the postage (approx £2.22 2nd class). They are all in very good/excellent read condition. April 2012 June 2012 July 2012 August 2012 September 2012 October 2012 September 2013 October 2013 Please PM me if you are interested. I am not always online so please be patient for a reply. I will reply to everyone even to confirm an issue has already been sent. Thanks.

Had a mad panic a few weeks ago thought I had missed this brilliant exhibition. Got my online ticket. Great value for a great exhibition. Thank you for continuing to organise it in such a great venue.

Thank you Sir, some excellent demonstrations and advice.

Mikkel - Fantastic work as always. I have read your article regarding your build and livery of some early GWR red wagons, superb on many levels. You use specific paints for the wagons. Please can you tell me if these are brush applied or airbrushed? Is this the range you commonly use for your work or do you have other 'go to' brands for specific areas i.e. locos, coach stock and buildings? I am trying to build a base supply of paint colours in preparation for my layout and future wagon/loco builds. I have used Railmatch rattle cans and acrylics for my previous projects with the addition of some old Games Workshop acrylics. There is now so much choice it is difficult to know where to start. Thank you for any pointers.

Thank you Bundeena2230 for your posts. I find your 'real life' experiences with this kit very informative and reassuring that we can all have a go regardless of experience and/or skill level. I am not the teenager you talk about but I am relatively new to the hobby after an exile of 20+years. It is always interesting to read other people's views and see demonstration of skills, there is always something to learn or an idea of a different way to try. I have a couple of build threads on RMWeb and try to encourage others to input on my builds to help others reading and myself. Feel free to have a look and comment if you like, the more the merrier. The kit does look particularly tricky in places. I have a few brass wagon and loco kits to build but have been going mad on plastic kits recently hoping that the 'lessons learnt' there will benefit me later when building etched kits. Thank you for your posts, keep them coming.

Loving this, as with your other two! I found a stranded van body and seeing your idea being totally inspired. I then realised it was the exact same van! I have put a ratio chassis underneath and wow that door takes some serious cutting to remove cleanly, my poor scalpel! Your layout Little Muddle is a beautiful model. Thank you for sharing your layout and projects.

This is truly a very special day out for anyone with any sort of interest in railways and especially the Great Western Railway, (is there any other?! ). Castle makes the tour a very interesting, making time for everyone's questions and specific interests whilst giving the opportunity for some special requests to photograph stock that normally you would not be able to either see or get close enough to. I went along last year and seriously the entire day is awesome. Thank you again Mr Castle.

Achy Breaky Heart - Billy Ray Cyrus

Lovely build, was tempted by this one myself. Luckily I checked the 'to do' cupboard and found a Falcon Brass 47xx, so far getting very motivated by your efforts. Keep it up.

Hi Jeff, Sorry I can not help but I have a similar issue with my 0-6-0 chassis. It was perfectly fine under testing but once fitted binds slightly. I look on with interest. Hopefully someone will be able to 'kill two birds with one stone' here. Matt

Nice job Stu. Looks like you are very handy with the base boards and the shed lining as well as a cracking build on the viaduct, very impressive. I watch with interest.