Oh Mr. Porter!

It's been a while, hasn't it? Much has happened since my first post including a rather embarrassing appearance on the telly! However, as I've completed more and more of my O gauge to do list, I have found myself with a major lack of modelling projects. So, it is with a heavy heart, that I must admit that I have embarked on many a OO project. One such project is Maude. Maude was probably the first steam locomotive I ever saw and has been a firm favourite ever since. Over the past few years I've worked on three different models of her. The first was awful, the second was passable and the third? The third is still being worked on! I hope you will forgive the fact that the following pictures were taken on my O-16.5 layout as I don't have a OO one. There's still a way to go, but so far so good methinks! The model is, of course, a Hornby J36 (previously Haig). It is a very smooth runner even at slow speeds - if you want something reliable and Scottish on your layout and can't find an Edinburgh Traffic Warden, this is the model for you. I've pilfered some fire irons from my D11 just to give this model some extra character. Those who own a model of Haig will know that the sides of the cab interior are oddly bare. I've tried to rectify this, but I'm not sure if I've done a particularly good job. I don't like to blow my own trumpet but I'm very pleased with the weathering on this model. I think it's my best yet. Hopefully it won't be too long before my plates from Narrow Planet arrive which will please the purist in me (I must have Neilson worksplates!). Anyway, I'll leave you all in peace for now. I hope to post more, but I said that last time and look how long it took me to make another post! (P.S. isn't it odd that, as someone who wants to see the real Maude in anything other than BR black, I have modelled her in said livery?)

And I can only echo the echo! Despite the fact that our team got more help than it gave out, I do remember that a measly bag of ballast was slipped under the table The show was worth doing it for the friendly folk alone and, though I think it's safe to say that 'Fire And Ice' was a two horse race from the start, if the show gets another series (and we're not blacklisted!), I'd personally love a reunion/rematch with the other teams.

Thank you for your very kind words, Castle. Fawley Hill really is one of those rare magical places in the world that you have to see to believe. I'm yet to find a way of describing it to folk without sounding a bit barmy! In regards to the challenge, I don't know if we were brave or just very, very naive! We certainly couldn't have got as far as we did without help and guidance from the Fliers and Dynamos. I look forward to seeing the Fawley Fliers return in the finale and show folk how it's done! Just to keep the ball slowly rolling, here's another picture. They wanted each of us to bring a model for 'backstory filming' though, inevitably, this stuff didn't make it into the final cut. I brought my model of Weston, Clevedon & Portishead No. 4 and the crew from 'Oh, Mr. Porter!' due to the fact that I rarely model 4mm anymore. The fun fact for today is about our 'mountain'. Some of you may have picked up that the mountain is named 'Mt. Misery' and there's a very long and entertaining story about that... Well there isn't really, truth be told. I'd been reading up on the WL&WR and was inspired when I saw pictures of Waterford station just before the turn of the century. A quick Google search or a flick through 'The Waterford, Limerick & Western Railway' by Ernie Shepherd will reveal that this station is dwarfed by a huge intimidating rockface. I'm hardly an encyclopedia of railway facts, but this was something very different to your average station scenery! When the mountain crept into the layout plans, it seemed like a perfect name for something that we all knew would be a pain in the backside to build. It also furthered my agenda of slowly turning the layout into a mish mash of Irish railways

Here's a few pics of the Clyde Puffer I built for our layout. The U class is mine and it's weathered (I can't have spotless locos!). It was one of my first weathering jobs and isn't brilliant as a result, unfortunately. Here's a picture from May 2017:

Hullo! Another Railway child (or Toddler Modeller) here! As Captain Luke (ExplosiveCookie) has mentioned before, we originally wanted to make something much more traditional. Our first plan, I believe, was actually a slightly rejigged version of a station on the Garstang & Knot-end Railway. This fell to the wayside when the theme was revealed to us, however, so we considered making a wintry steelworks scene instead. This didn't go down too well with the TV folk for one reason or another and we eventually ended up with a plan for something that would've made a nice train set for kids (if pulled off). At the end of the day, it was all great fun to make - even if it was very stressful at times! I'd also like to mention that both the Diesel Dynamos and the Fawley Fliers were not only great modellers but were very encouraging, helpful and - above all - very very funny!

Sorry for the long overdue reply, David! The layout is currently set in the 1920s (vague, I know!) though this may change if I want to spruce things up later.

Thanks! I'd give the layout (or even just general model-y things) its own topic, but I'm not entirely sure how one does that yet! The K&ESR coach is an Alphagraphix brass kit. I think it's a fairly recent addition for the Colonel's 150th this year. The Ixion Hudswell Clarke is just brilliant, isn't it? It's such a smooth runner and can pull almost anything. Thanks John! I'll try and keep this blog updated fairly regularly, though there will inevitably be periods where nothing happens! Good to see you here, Linny! I've been following the progress of your layout for a wee while now. I'm very impressed and look forward to seeing more! Broadstone (well, the shelter at least) will hopefully be making a public appearance at the end of October for the Bo'ness Gauge O Group's light railway 'gala'. It's likely to be used as a temporary halt on the layout's branchline.

I'm new to this website...well...not new. I've just not posted anything on here before (I've only recently made this account to boot), so i'm a little unfamiliar with how this whole thing works. Hopefully this blog entry won't be too messy! Anyway... Oh! I'm Stuart, by the way. I model and play with O gauge trains. Here's my most recently completed model: K&ESR coach no. 10. I say 'completed', but it hasn't got transfers yet! I'll get round to it at some point. The layout in the picture isn't mine, it's the Bo'ness Gauge O Group's 'Glenauchter' - a very good layout that I have had the pleasure of operating many a time. This is my layout...or part of it anyway. I'm actually the fourth (or fifth) person to own this layout. It started out as a Great Western branch station but by the time acquired it, it was a Caledonian/North British junction with various buildings of Scottish pre-grouping design! It's slowly being transformed into Farthing Moor' station. You may have noticed that some local hooligans have removed the 'h'! If you haven't figured it out by now, I like light railways a lot! Especially those run by Colonel Stephens. I made a small diorama this year of Broadstone station on the 'Weston, Clevedon & Portishead Railway'. I'm quite pleased with how it turned out. Is it perfect? No. But it serves a purpose...but what purpose? To display one of my first O gauge locos, in fact. One of my first proper weathering jobs. Perhaps she's a little too mucky, but I like it. I also like the LB&SCR. I recently acquired a D1 which wasn't in the best condition. I've done my best to clean it up a bit and make it more presentable. It's also the first time I've painted a loco in more than just one solid colour! Unfortunately she still sports a Drummond chimney. Until I can find a Stroudley one, I'm afraid it'll have to stay. So there you have it. My first blog thing. Who knows? I may do more...