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Hi James, I was wondering where you start with painting Executive Dark Grey? I've tried adding black to various greys but can't seem to get the mix right, there seems to be another colour in there? I guess I could get some railmatch ready mixed but fancied trying your approach. Cheers, Steve.

Love that! I see foxes pretty regularly where I live, more so in the autumn/winter. Did you put the egg out for him?

Roofs all done, just got to decide what liveries to paint them and what to do about the wheels as I have no replacements at the moment.

I guess it depends on what you're storing, I've got small drawer units for small bits, margarine tubs for senic stuff and kit parts and a few Really usefull boxes as well. I've also got compartment organisers for other stuff, over the years I've collected just about anything and everything!

I filed down the "vents" until there was just a strip of plastic left and gave the roofs an undercoat. I tried Vallajo acrylic and over thinned the first one! A bit more sanding to do on some. I was going to paint one wagon with a white roof as per the Rowntrees VDA's so after a bit more sanding I might give it another coat and leave that one.

Nice photo's 👍 Been a good year in my garden too, loads of Red Admirals, White and Gatekeeper Butterflies plus my first Dragonfly and Hummingbird Hawk Moth, must be doing something right 🙂 Still got plenty of flowers on some Asters, Nasturtiums and Helianthus. Been digging out a new pond this morning, still a bit to do, I'll make it a bit bigger with a shallow end for a "beach" .

I've had the Dremmel out and removed the bit that the wheel truck sits on. Having removed the couplings from the wheel truck too, the truck was then glued back on using Araldite Metal. This takes the height down to something a bit more prototypical, not perfect I know, but ok for me. They all run fine and the longer, now fixed wheelbase isn't a problem on my small layouts. Next will be removing the vent thing.

Thanks Stu, the vent thingy will def go! I'll leave one in the light grey livery but the others I'm not too sure about. I've been looking for a match for the dark grey some were painted and also any departmental variants to base them on.

After the various bits of weathering I' now 'upgrading' some old Hornby VDA Vans. I know they are light years away from the Bachamnn version but I've got them and, after upgrading the OAA's I thought I would see what I can do. I'm not exactly sure what to represent, they will all probably get a respray and I might paint a white roof on one and I would like a departmental version. I experimented on a paint fade on one so I might leave that one. I'm aiming for vans around in the late 80's-90's. First up reducing the ride height and fixing the wheel trucks.

Thanks James, I've got 3 or 4 VDA's I want to re paint to late 80's early 90's condition and I'm not sure what to paint them. I'd like 1 to be a departmental wagon.

A Red Admiral enjoying the sun on a Buddleia this morning, I've seen loads this year, along with a lot of Gatekeepers in my garden.

Hello James, I've been looking at your posts about weathering VDA/VAA wagons, apologies if I've missed it but what colours did you use for the Railfreight red/grey livery? Cheers. Steve.

Very nice work, I like the use of the muslin for wire mesh, I'd never of thought of that.

Thanks Tim, hope you find something of interest ☺️

40 063 looks superb! The weathering is spot on 👍

I've long been a fan of your layout. You're right about loco stabling points, I love the way you've taken a recognizable, main line station and turned it into a micro layout! and without compromising the crediblity at all.

Have you seen this layout? http://www.cheltmodrail.org.uk/layout.php?LKey=364 Based on Liverpool St but could easily be another region, fantastic micro layout.

Thanks for the photo, I haven't seen any updates for a while, very inspirational layout, wonder if there are any more shows planned for it? I like the fiddle yard entrance and the lack of a bridge, something I struggle with when layout planning!

Sounds interesting, is it specific paint or gloss varnish? I've seen so many paints you can get, oil spills, grease effects, fuel stains etc.

Looking forward to seeing the class 40 weathered, love the texture you've got on the bogies. 👍

@Kevin Johnson Thank you 👍

So Ruston Sidings is back home safe and sound and suitably adorned with it's badge, I thoroughly enjoyed the show, massive thanks to Tim for helping me out, he made it a lot easier. It was a great show with some fine layouts and modelling on show. The layout performed well as did the Rustons and the operating method worked out too, although most of the time I was just shuffling wagons around. I managed to get a few photo's later in the day when it was quieter.

Thank you so much for posting those photo's, I enjoyed myself and it was a pleasure to be in such esteemed company as yourself and Dave Tailby and to be opposite Dave Farmer, all inspirational layout builders. I liked the way you presented Novo Mesto and the research you've put into it, and the way you transported it!

Trackwork looks good, look forward to seeing it painted and weathered David. 👍

So Ruston sidings is all packed up and ready to go, looking forward to my first show, it's always a good show and this year looks no different. If anyone from here is going come and say hi, although the layout is so small it's prob easy to miss! Lol thanks Dave, look forward to seeing Top Yard, if I can get away from the layout and I think I am opposite Hillport so hopefully I'll get to see that. 😀