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So far this 'bargain' £99 2nd Kerr Stuart Victory and etches (for 666/667) that PI have tempted me with has cost me another £250 .... firstly a book on railways in the Newport area ... a 2nd hand 42xx ... and very shortly a 15xx from my local model shop .... and I've seen 2 others that I'd like ... what's worse is I don't really model in 4mm .... I'm supposed to be building a West Highland layout in N and an S&DJR layout in 3mm !!!! Think I'll be glad when they've all gone ! LoL

This scenic section is looking very interesting ! I hope that you are now enjoying it's development as much as we are, Rob ? Regards, Ian. (PS - Not having a Bachmann 37 myself ... have you tried the body on the other way around or is it 'handed' ?)

Possibly OCAs but my first impression was that they were the lower profiled SPAs, would need to compare a few other photos to confirm one way or the other. I think that wagon 6 may be an OCA.

Hope that you don't mind Ian, a final post from me regarding the 1986 Belgian ferry van as I came across this colour image of the train previously shown as it left Crianlarich, posted as a link in respect to the photographer's request, Don Gatehouse. https://www.flickr.com/photos/lickeybanker/53137581897/in/photolist-2oXzZP8-2ajrA39-PQsoXz-2m2JNUt-9RAZ7e-2gzPgYj-29ty7Cv-jPhYtt-2iuTSEW-Ur4sFg-oMNAsF-2nsh7Qn-qtB9XE-TA6p83-FbGE4N-v88ZEG-rbxurw-2om7y8Q-wq1Kvx-2oPtYGz-f7qfPT-2nRgR2i-QhsfsE-YhV7vk-TZqu4T-q3J6Qx-29uZLr5-vttVV6-2gCPMsX-pMBXBF-2o9oSre-2n2qJRn-S9NhMJ-Px8g3h-Se9FoG-pS19QU-EtXG8T-cLvtiq-28J3vhb-UP9R7N-2ng3MmL-Xt17w6-2brUV9b-2bkSpfG-2o5iZ11-Wpp6xw-aWGpK2-djncij-9FCaVU-2jXjpQc I couldn't find the George Woods photo in any of his Flickr albums I'm afraid. Regards, Ian.

To answer my own dilemma ... I bought now ... will worry about it later !! LoL

The Belgian ferry van is possible in 4mm as seen in the 2nd to last photo on this groups website : https://www.emgauge70s.co.uk/project_vans.html I hope to emulate this in N gauge using a newly available chassis from the N gauge society having decided that it would be easier to scratchbuild the body rather than butcher one of the superb new rtr models. Liking the Cl 37/4 builds but why have you had to exchange the nose ends ? Regards, Ian.

I feel your pain Rob, I already have a Black one but the thought of having a loco with 'the number of the beast' on it is feeling irresistable ... but what do I do with it ?? ?.... Hmmm.

The black numberplate background looks a lot darker than the body sides, which possibly points more towards it being in green livery (he says ... very cautiously !)

... And I thought that this level of 'micro management' was a thing of the computer age ! Regards, Ian.

There is a colour photo by George Woods of this loco and (probably) the first 2 wagons of this June 1986 train passing through Loch Awe in the Short Trains section of Modelling British Railways Diesel Locomotives bookazine which I believe was a 2013 WH Smith's exclusive, edited by Phil Parker. I agree that it is a Belgian Ferry van but have never managed to find out it's purpose, ie was it in commercial service or just being used as a barrier wagon which has been previously discussed in @young37215's WHL v.4 thread without conclusion. It (they, as I've previously posted a picture of 2 of these vans together) seemed to only work through to Oban. Regards, Ian.

Already available from Modelu in ... ahem ... a range of different poses ! (Tee-hee) https://www.modelu3d.co.uk/product/31200/

Some great shots there Dave, your layout certainly seems to be springing into life now and has certainly captured the look and feel of the British Oak site without being a direct copy of it. I love the end on view of D2049 approaching the road crossing .... marvellous ! Regards, Ian.

"To chew .... or not to chew, chew ?"

In a similar vein, I've just got this pack from Hobbycraft for £1, they have quite a variety of different packs available all for under £2.50, some more 'dazzling' than others so I went for a slightly more subdued 'glass' look. At approx. 2 and 3mm dia they may or may not still be too big for my N gauge locos, I will have to see but for a quid it seemed silly not to buy them to at least try.

I've also dabbled a little with sound (though not in N) and came to similar conclusions that it didn't enthrall me like I had hoped ... what could be nicer than listening to a Class 25 idling away in the background, thought I ... in reality it just annoyed me as it spoilt the nice peaceful ambience of my modelling room ! I may give it another go sometime in an '0' gauge shunter for a 'small' shunting layout that I hope to build one day but won't be bothering on my WHL N gauge layout. Best wishes, Ian.

I think that the jewelled light looks to be a very good solution for the locos that you wish to retro fit with 'headlights' (I'd already decided that this would be my approach in 'N' gauge, or maybe even a pin head will suffice.) As you already have several locos fitted with working headlights I'm sure that they can be rostered into any night time or misty day photos that you may wish to take. Can I ask where the 'jewels' came from, please Rob ? ..... hopefully not from Mrs @young37215 's wedding ring !! Regards, Ian.

https://www.staffordrailwaycircle.org.uk/exhibbition-2023/whitcliff-quarry-branch/

My order should now finally be with you Grahame at the 4th attempt as I've found out that my old tablet can no longer cope with the Ebay system and also as I use my wife's account I can no longer order without her receiving the passcode to her phone .... oh well, that will save me some money in the future ! LoL. No rush to post, I'll just be happy to receive it as and when. Many thanks for your efforts in producing these magazines, I for one count them as a 'quality' product to be kept as an inspiration to try and improve my modelling abillities and techniques for when I finally get my (err) a##e back in forward gear ! Kind regards, Ian.

Yes, probably, Stephen. I will have borrowed it from the Leeds MRC club most likely and photocopied the relevant pages. Regards, Ian.

Yes, I have at the least photocopies of an A5 ish sized book which had listings of S&DJR carriages that transferred to the Southern region which contains a small number of photos of them in Southern livery ... however I can neither remember the publication's title or currently get to them in my room (of doom) but if you can bear with me I should be able to from Weds after my latest batch of 12hr shifts finishes. I think though that they were by Casserley ? Another 'potential' photo springs to mind but I have no idea as to which book it is in and may also be wrongly identifying the carriages in that photo. I'll see what I can find later on in the week. Regards, Ian.

I'd be long gone before I'd even had time to read an 'Option 3' !!

The Cassowaries certainly look like the 1/2 way stage between the dinosaurs and modern birds. The Mopoke (Tawny Frogmouth) is just fascinating, thanks for sharing. Regards, Ian. (Just off to look up Black Cockatoos ... carefully ! LoL)

No ... not that one , I'm scared of snakes !! My comment was in jest but I do get a 'prime-evil' sense of fear when I see even an image like that; even when I knew that it was there I had to go back and sneak a peak .... just to scare myself again !! LoL Great photos ... all of them. Cheers, Ian.

Thanks for that middle photo @monkeysarefun .... I nearly spilt my coffee all over me as I casually scrolled down past the nice cuddly Koalas and Wombat !!

I'm here and reading with interest Stephen, although I may have to re-read this after I've finished my night shifts on Friday in order to fully understand it (ie when I'm back on Planet Earth !) Thanks for sharing your work, I intend to print out the relevant posts and keep them with my Garner's book to help me in my choice of kit builds and purchases. Kind regards, Ian.