Adrian Stevenson

Hi Guys, thanks for the cat photos. Always been a cat lover. The cabin is now painted, bar the doors. But this afternoon I worked on Patch's cabin. Made a new roof from some off cuts of the insulated chipboard and used some spare roof shingles to finish it off. Just needs another coat of brown paint to complete. Cheers, Ade.

Hi Ian, here you go. He is doing a tour of inspection this morning. Cheers, Ade.

Hi Guys, another good day working on the cabin. The windows now have been painted and the trims fitted but the 4th one is crooked and needed redoing otherwise it will drive me mad. The rear panel, side and front have now have the second top coat. So 5 coats of paint and primer/preservative in total. I am hoping this will put me in good stead for the long term. Just the window wall and door to do now tomorrow. Hopefully the photos will show how much richer the colour is now outside? Patch the Cat has an outdoor house which is rather like a Signal Box, so Lez has decided he should have a matching colour scheme. So today she began doing a rub down and repaint into chocolate and cream. I am going to do him a new roof too. On the railway front, a mixed train of Minks and Gunpowder vans await pick up. Cheers, Ade.

Hi Martin, oh no I have been rumbled.... Hi Guys, I have spend the whole day working on the shed. All six storm braces are now in place. You can fit them internally or externally. I chose to fit them inside. These tie the gable end timbers to the lower logs via a floating fitting to allow for expansion/contraction. I have also gone around and painted all the window frames and fascia boards again, so these are now finished. Added the floating bolts to the top of the window frames and added the makers plates over them. Also started fitting the trim pieces inside between the roof and walls. All these small finishing jobs take up a surprising amount of time. Done some measuring up for the station platform. I was hoping to use some of the spare insulation foam from the floor or ceiling. The ceiling foam on the chipboard backing though is too high, so I will be using the floor foam, but this is too shallow and will require some backing, maybe cork, to bring it up to the correct height. I am making the most of my time, as Lez has got wallpaper and paint coming for the house.... Cheers, Ade.

Hi Guys, the auction house has now closed down for the lock down. In fact, we closed down yesterday, but I was out on business..... So time to do more work on the cabin in the sunshine! Today I have painted the rest of the windows in brown paint, along with the fascia boards and a second coat of brown to the doors. Also had time to put my first picture up, a limited edition print "Duchess on Camden Bank" by Barry Price. Even had time for a little running session. Tomorrow I plan on doing more painting and fitting the six storm braces and the last three window trims. Cheers, Ade.

That looks excellent.

Put some easing oil on the shaft of the wheel. Repeat after a few days then try and move it. You can get lamp oil or paraffin from hardware stores. You may be able to get a wick too from a garden centre as similar are used in greenhouse heaters. Cheers, Ade.

Speaking as someone in the antiques auction business, you will kill the value by "restoring" ie repainting this. Get it up and running, gently clean it but don't repaint. Cheers, Ade.

Hi Andy, you read my mind. Yes, that is going to be my next task. Cheers, Ade.

The ballast is now glued down. So I am happy with what I have achieved today. Cheers, Ade.

Here is today's progress. Having already got a smoke alarm in place I have now fitted a Co2 Fire Extinguisher in the cabin. For non electrical fire hazards, I will have water on hand.

Hi Mike, I thought that is was a very good buy for someone. Hi Paul, I do get these in from time to time. I will bear you in mind. Cheers, Ade.

This superb group sold on Friday for £2500. I think it was worth every penny. Cheers, Ade.

The sword sold on Friday for £260. Cheers, Ade.

This great group sold on Friday for £920. I was pleased with the result. Cheers, Ade.

Hi Rod, just picked up RM yesterday and I have enjoyed reading the article about Ramchester. Well done! Cheers, Ade.

Hi Julian, thanks. It was made from two different thicknesses of coffee stirrers. I will add some photos later today of the progress. But helping a friend and neighbour put up a metal store shed this morning. Cheers, Ade.

Hope everyone is doing OK in these strange times? Last weekend I added the rest of the ballast to the track. It is all in place now, but not glued down yet, so that is my task for tomorrow. I have run out of Woodland scenics ballast, so I will need another tub once I go on to complete baseboard 4. We are unsure if work will be open or not next week? I had my militaria sale yesterday which was unaffected and actually did very well with 100% of all items sold! But if we do close, I have plenty of tasks at home to be getting on with. Cheers, Ade.

Great progress! Well done. Cheers, Ade.

Already looking good just in the primer. Cheers, Ade.

Tonight's progress. The other two support rails soldered on. Not done a clean up yet but here are the first three gas tanks dropped into place. Cheers, Ade.

Given all the talk of brass kits, tonight I got back to doing the Cordon Gas Wagon. When I last showed this it was just folded up and dry fitted. Got the basic chassis frame done now. Cheers, Ade.

Fantastic!

I had missed your last couple of updates: this is looking really great. Cheers, Ade.