Jesse Sim

Are what?

Tell Mo to answer the phone in 5 minutes

Sooooo I can’t bring two locos I’ve worked on over in March to help get them going?

Is that the P2 that you soldered the motion back to front, followed by many swear words, on the very first night I stayed with you back in 2016?

Or a “my wife’s watching” answer to click.

That’s exactly why I was uneasy about weathering her as Geoff has done such a fantastic job but I prefer her to be as close to the real thing over “oh she’s pretty like that, I’ll leave it”. Not enough models are weathered these days, I feel models are far to clean even layouts themselves. I feel like I just started another debate by accident….. Yes 2576 & 2580 were the two that received the ACFI gear, SHOTOVER was done by Jonathan. I decided to use White Knight as it sounds like a good name and so I’m also not copying JW.

I’m afraid she’s a much dirtier looking A2 now. I was worried about weathering her but decided on just getting stuck into it. Considering for my timeline she was at the end of her working life she still looks almost presentable but definitely tired. If you can’t tell I’m trying to work out where the best position for lights behind a camera are….. I also carried out a conversation of sort to an A1 using Al Turner of Niu Models brilliant ACFI Gear. She just needs a weather and it too will be ready for service on Woolmer Green.

Isn’t this technically trafficking?

Dad joke level upgrade

All I need is a torch

Woah woah no one said anything about unloading and loading? No, I understand what needs to be done and am looking forward to the challenge.

Ahhh I see you’ve played knifey spooney before!

We haven’t discussed payment yet for two days work…..

Come to think of it, I am friends with a lot of 50+ year old grumpy guts 🤣

No, thankyou Tony, the signal box is situated in the centre of the layout so I think getting Bob Dawson to build it was a no brainer! I’m glad I chose to model LNER, the BR numbers nearly sent me mad! I don’t think I’ll be able to do another BR wagon now that I’ve quit smoking (coming on 40 days now smoke free). I could say the same about being friends with a 70-odd year old grumpy git! Worth it though, forget the modelling, look how far my grammar has come along….. I don’t think I’ve ever stressed as much between finding out the A2 arrived damaged and Auspost accepting responsibility and paying out. 2401 is now put her through paces on Woolmer Green hauling a parcels train! Considering she’s at the end of her life I really want to weather her but I’m hesitant….

I found using the Smiths range would become quite expensive so I opted for brass coupling hooks from Wizards that come in a fret. The bonus is the shank part is smaller than the smiths one, so I just drill a hole and super glue them in or if it’s a kit solder them in. I found this to be much stronger than slicing out the bottom of the solebar.

How do you know?

Well keep it down in March, some of us need our beauty sleep.

Ah yes, I’ve been asked this a few times.

Option one was better, LB not being to scale has ruined it for me.

Finally got around to watching it this afternoon Tony, it’s fantastic. I’m honoured for me being mentioned at the end of the video, however I’m confused as I haven’t contributed much to LB. But thankyou anyway. Can’t wait to play actual trains in March!!

Oooh are we back on the DCC sound debate? What about gearboxes? Ill see myself out

We are going to be left high and dry if Wizards stop stocking the mainly trains etch!

With my masters permission I’d like to post some things I’ve been working on…. First up, a rescue attempt in the shape of a DS Sheldon Crane. This came to me 75% complete, in EM, with no instructions and half the remaining parts missing from a deceased estate. I re-gauged the wheel set frames by eye, un-soldering and then re-soldering where I wanted them- my fingers were burnt to a crisp for a week. It was then a matter of working out what went where from photographs, thankfully Jonathan Wealleans sent me some photos of the instructions and I was able to piece everything together. There are some parts missing and I had to scratchbuilt a couple of things but it’ll do. It certainly looks the part, especially with the scratchbuilt runner wagon next to her. The crane just needs a weather and she’s finished. The inside of the runner wagon has all kinds of bits and pieces, even coal to fire the crane itself. I picked up this DJH C2 over a year ago for about 100 quid, it was part completed with a motor and wheels. I finally got it running this afternoon, so I finished off some bits and pieces, mostly building the tender. Hopefully she’ll be getting finished off soon. It’s not as good as yours Tony, but she’ll do!!

I’ve been a bit quiet lately which was due to a commission of Australian Rolling stock that needed weathering. I’m now back working on my own stock. First up, a rescue attempt in the shape of a DS Sheldon Crane. This came to me 75% complete, in EM, with no instructions and half the remaining parts missing from a deceased estate. I re-gauged the wheel set frames by eye, un-soldering and then re-soldering where I wanted them- my fingers were burnt to a crisp for a week. It was then a matter of working out what went where from photographs, thankfully Jonathan Wealleans sent me some photos of the instructions and I was able to piece everything together. There are some parts missing and I had to scratchbuilt a couple of things but it’ll do. It certainly looks the part, especially with the scratchbuilt runner wagon next to her. The crane just needs a weather and she’s finished. The inside of the runner wagon has all kinds of bits and pieces, even coal to fire the crane itself. Next we have a couple of simple Oxford and Bachman wagons with various loads and tied down. I have a thing for the weird and wonderful wagons. From L to R: A redundant McGowan GCR tender pressed into the service as sludge carrier. Next is an oil wagon for the LNER sheds I believe, I seen the photo in Tatlows and decided to model it from an Oxford wagon, it’s not 100% accurate but looks the part all the same. The differences are it should have a timber underframe and a support around the bottom of the tank itself. I’m happy to live with the irregularities. Lastly a LNER gas wagon, not sure whose kit it is but I got it years ago, built it using glue and hid it from the world. Found it whilst doing some cleaning so decided to rebuild it and here she is. This trio of wagons will probably go into a Pick up goods. I picked up this DJH C2 over a year ago for about 100 quid, it was part completed with a motor and wheels. I finally got it running this afternoon, so she’ll be getting finished off hopefully soon.