manna

G'day Folks Love those C2's, huge wheels and a small boiler, such character. manna

G'Day Folks Are we about to see Stockrington covered in 'White' stuff.............!!!!!!!! manna

G'Day Folks Love the desolation of your Layout ( bit like much of Oz) but it could get boring, with very little interesting operations, so yes you've done the right thing. manna

G'Day Folks After a bit more research, a LIMA horse box, is even closer to the GN Dia 358 CCT, the wheel base is very very close, the roof shape is a lot closer to. manna

G'Day Folks We tend to forget that in the mid 50's a lot of 16 ton mineral wagons would be brand new ! manna

G'Day Folks After a cold November, December has warmed up 33c today, which is perfect for me to get outside and work on the GN CCT. The Body has been painted a dirty brown/black. brass steps were soldered up today, needed a third hand but I managed, a hand brake was robbed from an old kit, handles and lamp brackets were added some from brass wire some from plastic strip. I have brake blocks to fit, but I want to change the wheels first. Not perfect, but looks the part. manna

G'Day Folks Like the conversion using a J15 chassis into a J52, I did the opposite, I made a J52 into a J15. manna PS. A new dome has been fitted since these pics were taken.

G'Day Folks Nice job on the N2. Another N2 69515, a Hitchin loco, was devoid of condensing gear, and was also devoid of lining, it went to the scrappers in 1959 in plain black. manna

G'Day Folks Nice to see a bit of Class at New St............... manna

G'Day Folks Great pity some of these kits only pop up for a few years only to disappear for ever. I can remember some GN six wheelers appearing in the mid 70's, (only a couple of Quid each) body only.......... never got a chance to buy any. manna

G'Day Folks If I tried putting 'Lolly' sticks upright on my layout, they wouldn't last 10 minutes. manna

Hi Jono It's a 358 Dia. Just worked it out that the Horsebox is a bit wider. The other 3 Diagrams, 360, (is closer) 362 &364, are also on my radar, just bought two more horseboxes. The roof on the Dia 358, needs to be a bit flatter. manna

G'Day Folks Yes both are mine, and both converted from Hornby GWR County class 4-4-0's, the D2 is actually a D3, but they are hard to tell apart, I'm looking for a cheap County chassis, next one will be a (LNER) D1, no rush I have plenty to do. manna

G'Day Folks Very cold here last week, so cold we had snow in the state, so out came a good book ( The one shown above) Historic Carriage Drawings, What did I find, GNR CCT's, interesting, anything GNR always peaks my interest, looking closely I was stuck by the similarity with Tri-ang's old red Horse box, I just so happened to have one in the van, from my sons latest parcel, the eye didn't lie, with the ruler dragged over the horse box, the body was just 2mm to long, the rest was very close, out came a large file, all the body detail was removed, filed, sanded and scrapped with a Stanley blade until smooth, the ends were filed down by about .75mm, the body is a fraction over length, I still wanted to use the original roof, but it wouldn't be to hard to cut the ends off and relocate them inside the body by 1mm, but then you'd have to fiddle with the roof......... I've started to add the strapping, the planking was scribed direct onto the body, but may need another go. Here's a few pics. manna

G'Day Folks Sorry for the slow reply, I've been going through my collection of pictures of my loco's and builds, I've been through 1500 pics, thought I had more pics of the E1, here's a couple. manna

G'Day Folks So glad you've invited (bought) me for your layout, the real me would only get a couple of circuits before I'd be out of Puff, the A3 should carry on for many hours. Congratulations of a discerning buy, you have great taste.........................LOL My Manna, below, wartime black. manna

G'Day Folks Looking forward to this winter's modelling blitz, do like that Midland 2-4-0, my E1, gets a lot of work. manna

G'Day Folks But people weren't so daft back then, they didn't glue their hands to the road to make a point. manna

G'Day Folks Thank you for that cautionary tale. I bought 4 or 5 A3/4 chassis 5 years ago for 10 pounds off of E-Bay. one of them is under Victor Wild, and runs perfect, the one to go under 10000 is a bare chassis +motor and gears, everything else has been bought new from Pete's Spares, even the tender wheels. If I can't get it under 10000, I have a few spare A4 bodies, crying out for chassis. I'm still going to buy some Romfords for the etched chassis. I think masochism is a model railway requirement !! manna

G'Day Folks Thanks for the pic of the W1, at least I know the Hornby chassis will fit. 😃 Have seen many loco's in the 'Blue' period of filthy loco's with spotless bogies and fueltanks. manna

G'Day Folks I'm in two minds over the chassis, I'll have to find some Romfords if I do go down that route. manna

G'Day Folks No change to the coaches, as Mike 84C said, there's always something to do, he's dead right, a lot of rain and low temperatures, have also stopped me working out in the annex (which is only canvas) I have managed to pick up a couple of loco kits, curtesy of 'Woodcock 29', he got them posted over from Sydney, and posted them on to me. ( I covered all expenses) but they were a very reasonable price and would be rude not to ! A book of coaches was also purchased from Andrew, which he also posted to me at the same time. First up is a 'South Eastern Finecast' W1 compete with etched chassis, I thought it was a 'Body' kit as I have a modern Hornby A3/4 chassis waiting on the workbench, complete with Red wheels valve gear Etc. Second, is a N7, quite a few of those saw usage in and around KX. that will have a Hornby chassis fitted under it. Going to be a fun time. manna

G'Day Folks Still like the Kirk coaches, been around for many years, perfect for the budget modeller. manna

G'Day Folks I little modelling, has one done......... Besides the all 3rd, another coach has been started, this one is from 7 Ian Kirk coaches bought off of 'Woodcock 29' of this parish last Tuesday, a Brake Composite, everything was going great, until after I'd glued all the sides on, fitted the compartments, then realised that the 1st class are supposed to be next to the brakevan, to well glued together to take it apart without totally wrecking it, so that's how it will end up, oh dear, never mind !! Painting has also been undertaken on the Buffet car and the all 3rd. I've fitted a table out to be my workbench in the annex of the caravan, stringing a Fluro light above it. I was going to have another go today building bogies for two of the coaches, but I woke feeling very dizzy (happens, once or twice a year, and not because of the booze.) Piccy time. manna

G'Day Folks Magnificent image. manna