grahame

Great idea - I'd not thought of them. But I've now looked through their Farish spares listing and unfortunately they don't have a mk1 coach roof on it. G.

One of my many long term ongoing outstanding projects is an un-motorised 4-VEP in blue/grey to run with another powered unit. Today I've been working a little on it almost completing the underframes with Ultima etched truss rods and BHE cast details. However, I'm short of a couple of underslung fuses and, more importantly, one mk1 Farish coach roof. Does anyone have a spare or know how/where I can get one cheaply and easily? G.

Just like the real thing then - as they get older they lose their shine and get grubbier. B) G.

Cheers for the comments. Now I'm back from the lunchtime pub session I'll try and quickly answer the queries; I'm not aware that the Shawplan etches are new - just what they had available for a N/2mm class 50; cab windscreen frames, headcode box fronts, buffer beam steps, and windscreen wipers. The panelled example is a Gresley full brake which is available as a kit from the NGS. The GUVs are both Farish - they look out of sorts due to me rushing to set up the photo (before going to the pub) and not having them siting exactly flat and in line - they're not on track. And, yep, I've got a couple of mk1 BGs, upgraded similarly to the GUVs with Ultima underframes, etc., but they're in blue/grey livery. I couldn't find any suitable transfers but there's not much required and they're very small. I thought I might get away with a bit of white paint/ink carefully hand scribbed on. G.

Despite being quiet on updating this blog I have been fiddling with a few modelling projects, including making a 2001: moon bus plastic kit, and have a few railway things on the go...... The coaling tower is complete and I now need to decide what to do with it. Keep it, sell it...... umm, err, I've acquired some etched bits from Shawplan for the class 50 upgrade so a little work has been done on that. But I now realise that I need a new chassis as I can't find the original and have been trying to bid for a suitable one on ebay. If I can't get one there at an acceptable price then perhaps I can pick up a bargain at TINGS. I've been doing some research for the London Bridge project and have found some superb aeriel photos. However, this has been taking up quite a bit of time. I've also been considering putting together a blue mixed van 1970s/80s type parcels/newspaper train rake and have repainted a Dapol CCT I had in to BR blue. The collection is looking pretty motley but I've read almost any van-thing goes; G.

Interesting thread, great layout, and super modelling. I like the art deco style look and atmosphere. Keep up the good work and keep on regularly updating this forum. G.

They probably will, but if not you can always make one - I'm making one out of cardboard. See my blog; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/blog/94/entry-4225-progress-on-the-coaling-tower/ G.

Here's a little progress on the coaling tower which I'm starting to be pleased with. Snag is that I've got absolutely no need or use for it so I'll probably give it away. G.

..... is a lot of junk and many half started and half finished projects including some not exactly railway related modelling. However, one is the scratch building of an N gauge coaling tower based on the OO Hornby one that is curently featured in all the commercial magazine reviews and question threads here. As I actually posed a question on the question thread about it, I thought I'd post up a picture showing progress so far; there's still plenty to do including adding steps and railings, making the ramp, coal truck lift platforn and hoist mechanism. G.

I've just found this thread - and I'm glad I did; it looks great. I like how it's developing and look forward to seeing more. What brick plasticard are you using? G.

Are the horizontal window bars on the main body-side windows a tad low? The proportion of main glazing to vent top-light doesn't look quite right to me. G.

I pleased to report that the second issue of my exclusive magazine has come back from the printers. I'm impressed and pleased with the quality and finish, although there is one little problem - some reversed out text on two small coloured panels didn't come out. Fortunately they're small and don't detract from the content; one was about ordering the first issue (on page 2) and the other is a photo caption (on page 19). I've reported it to the printers but to be quite honest there's little they can do now and it is only a very minor and almost insignificant issue. Probably no worse than my spelling mistakes still in it and besides most publications seem to have some errors in them. Anyway, overall it looks good and is a fitting (well at least I think so) follow up to the first issue. I wouldn't mind some feedback though. For further info and details about how to order see the magazine section; http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/topic/17693-nspirations2/page__pid__169231__st__0entry169231 The contents list is; I'm hoping to be on the DEMU stand at the 2mm Anniversary Expo in Oxford on Saturday so will be taking copies along for the traders who sell it for me. However, I understand that DEMU are still looking for member volunteers to help man the stand on Sunday so if you're up for that then do get in contact with them. G.

Great pictures, excellent modelling, superb layout. And I echo the comment 'shame this won't be at the expo'. G.

I’m conscious that I’ve not updated my blog for some time now. I have been undertaking a number of modelling projects but they’re not particularly appropriate to write up here. One bit of news is that the second issue of my magazine - N’spirations - is currently at the printers and hopefully will be available shortly. I’ll post up news as soon as I receive them back with details of how to obtain a copy. I’m also hoping to be at the 2mm SA anniversary expo in Oxford (first weekend in July) probably helping out on the DEmU stand. Drop by and say hello. G.

Yep, they're very very shiny - sunglasses advised But very very nice. Mine also arrived in todays post; G

Up earlyish this morning to get ready for the long trek to DEmU showcase. Looks like it's gonna be a very nice day down here, dunno about ooop tut north. G.

I've just noticed this relatively recent post on an old thread. I ordered them from a supplier as 'buy now' options on ebay - but can't remember the name of the company, but try searching for "1/150 bus" on ebay. G.

Wednesday I took a train trip out to the Lymington Branch to take a few snaps and changed at Eastleigh on the way home; G.

Yesterday I quickly knocked up a warehouse facade and assembled a Knightwing portacabin for my little photo diorama. They’re both rush jobs as I wanted to get the diorama nearer completion and neither have been fixed down, finished, detailed or weathered. I’d also recently managed to get some ‘grass’ laid on it. However, I doubt I’ll be able to get it finished in time for the NGS AGm due to a lack of time and other commitments (including the looking after of Aussie relative visitors, the Ely exhibition and a Spring break to France). Still, I have started looking for a house so I can move and start the ‘Last Big Project’, and have been putting together the second issue of N’spirations, but other than that modelling has been on a back burner recently. G.

Looks the part. Top class modelling. Well done. G.

The nearest to that type (horizontal upper vents and vertical boarding for lower body side) is here; http://gallery6801.fotopic.net/p10370431.html Not quite sure what size of bogies are fitted though. G.

I attended the Crawley Club's exhibition at Horsham over the weekend with my layout and have to report that I had a super time. It was a very good exhibition, the club were friendly and helpful and my layout won the Bill Avery/Plus Daughters award for 'best in show'. Plus I was able to pick up a few second-hand goodies including a Lima Enparts Siphon G which now that I've changed the bogies/wheels for those from a Dapol Siphon and given it a dusting of matt varnish looks pretty acceptable to my untrained eye; And I was fortunate enough to purchase a hand-built Croydon tram by Bill Avery. It's cleverly articulated and the body is fully scratch built from plasticard. We had it running on SLD over the weekend. It probably needs a little renovation but really looks the part; I also picked up a rake of built Seacow NGS kits. Again some work is required to lift them but they were excellent value and aren't exactly badly put together; G.

Yep, there's a lot of transfers but most are in Japanese. Also there's an odd collection of things on the plastic moulded sprues - road work signs, dustbins, road cones, etc. G.

I went to the BGS Berks Area Group open day this morning and picked up a Greenmax kit for £3 of what is claimed on the side of the box to be "Japanese Buses & cars for N gauge" dispite the picture showing council refuse/cleaning vehicles. The kit contained two each of a dust cart and a strange, presumably sludge gulper, tank thing with hoses. Both have Mitubishi cabs with the dust cart a more British/International looking body. The other vehicle is very much Japanese so they hae been consigned to my 'to be sold as secondhand box'. This afternoon I made them (all four vehicles) up - the first time for a while that I've put together an Airfix type plastic kit and I did also by a Revell kit of a 1:144 SA 330 Puma. Below is a pic of the box with contents and another of the state I reached before givng up for the night. The main outstanding things to do are add reg plates, matt varnish amd weather. Some local council transfers would also be nice. G.

The bottom section white/red/white/grey are a Fox transfer. The top of the white (against the blue) lines up with the centre/top of the marker lights and is probaby about half a mil too high. I wanted to get it lower but was very concerned that would push the lower grey stripe off the scale and leave it almost non existant at the bottom of the skirt. I also think the red band is too thin. To add a line of paint/ink over the white to lower it would not only be beyond my capabilities but would probably leave an obvious odd stripe - I think I'll give it a miss, but acknowledge your comments. Perhaps next time I'll trim the transfer before adding it. G.