Mad McCann

Not sure I've seen this particular image of '375 before. http://www.semaphoresandsteam.com/img/s9/v87/p1507735496-3.jpg Dave.

Couldn't find any likely subjects among Scottish or Northern English fleets. It seems a genuine oddball. Dave.

Are you going to tell Chard or will I..?

A Stanier 3MT would be well received here. For some reason, these reportedly disappointing locos found a niche on ex-Caledonian routes in Glasgow and its southern hinterland. That'll ding dang do for me! :-) Dave.

Don't waste your money on the 4mm smokebox sets. You'll be better with Fox's 2mm scale cabside numbers. I find in practice that these are pretty much spot on for correctly-sized 4mm smokebox numbers. Not sure why Fox have never addressed this. Admittedly they do, pre-made smokebox numbers for entire classes but is this a justified purchase when all you need is two locos. Dave.

I'm happy to advise on such matters, Dom. It is, after all, my forte. Or party piece, some might argue!

Glad your works visit went well BoD. Hope you're feeling much better now. Dave.

Compared to the job I have getting decent bogies for the I think I can live with the previous issue! Still, no harm done in pointing it out. You just need to decide whether you can live with it or not. Otherwise, this coach is a 'looker'. :-) Dave.

I've got to admit, when I first heard of the Hatton Garden blag, I was immediately taken back to a movie I watched a few years back called 'The Bank Job'. The MO is very similar and the nature of the job seems anachronistic in the 21st century - more akin to some of the more colourful crimes of the 1960s and 70s. It does make me wonder though if the robbery was a front for something else, as in the movie. Was there something in one of those vaults that somebody really badly wanted? Like 'missing' police files perhaps..? ;-) I guess we're never going to find out now but it makes for interesting speculation. BTW Jock, I've drawn a blank with that grounded van body on the PPW thread. None of the usual suspects appear to fit the bill. This could keep me digging for a while. Anyway, it's been a very good day. Walked to the paper shop and back three times, been active round the house all day and I feel fine. One of the knock on effects of the surgery I had concerns the trouser dept. I'm delighted on my own behalf to say that the skill of the surgeon and a little chemical boost have combined to gift me equipment that still functions as intended. To say I'm relieved and happy is something of an understatement! All the best folks! Dave.

Cheers Jock. I was at the Freeman and a more caring professional bunch you'd be hard-pressed to encounter. First time I've been hospitalised in my life and hopefully the last for a long time I hope, excellent staff notwithstanding! Anyway. Just had dinner and enjoying the evening sun in the conservatory. About to nip out to the shed now and make some more progress on the meat van and consider my options with the 2MT. She's getting converted to EM to boot! Anyway gents/ladies, have a peaceful evening and I'll report in tomorrow!

Happy Birthday Sherry. First night without the drain cock and I've slept like a bl**dy log; that'll do just fine. Kinda uncomfortable having to balance your leg on the edge of the bed with the 'retention tank' hanging over of a night! :-). Anyway that's all history now; on goes the process of recovery. As it happens, feeling very good considering it's only 8 days since the surgery. Heading back to my own place today from the outlaws and as about 6-7 weeks of convalescing lie ahead now there really is no excuse for not getting involved in some gratuitous modelling! I think my Bachmann 'Wee Ivatt' will undergo 'prototype reassignment' surgery first. I'm rather keen to have a BR 78xxx so the Judith Edge conversion etches are ready and waiting. :-) The donor loco told me it had always felt like a Standard since the day it left the factory anyway...

Glad it went OK Pete. Had the auxiliary drain cock removed at 52B this morning. Now awaiting the light engine move back to 12A. :-)

Found this lovely horde of Dumfries area subjects on the Cumbrian RA site http://cumbrianrailways.zenfolio.com/p328179906

Expressway to your heart - Soul Survivors.

Some pretty weird stuff going on with the Pacific seaboard weather patterns this year it seems. I remember seeing the Montgomery offshore from Southend. I'm advised that the whole lot going off in a one-er would deliver a blast force of several kilotons, akin to a small A-Bomb! It would certainly keep the Estuary's glaziers in gainful employment for a good while. Had a visit from three old friends from 'up the road' this afternoon too. One of them I've not seen since 1998!

Good morning folks! Time I put in an appearance again. Six days out of works now and feeling much better with every day that passes. Admittedly, having a catheter in has been a little awkward but I'm getting it out tomorrow. Looking forward to a proper nights sleep after that. A few weeks of modelling beckon now before getting back to work. I have a couple of private commissions to work on and stuff of my own. Abi is being looked after at the outlaws until I'm a little fitter but I'm hoping to be match fit again by July! :-)

Absolutely delighted for you both, Dom. I hope you both have a long and happy time together! :-)

From the same timeframe, this shot of Newton Stewart shows lots of interesting S&T detail. ww.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=27410

Melancholy image of Wigtown from April '65. http://www.railbrit.co.uk/imageenlarge/imagecomplete.php?id=27486

Very, very impressed with these creations. Dare I hope for a Scottish prototype or two? :-)