SR71

One of the better websites to navigate I find. The only issue I've had is not all the oo9 couplings are in the coupling section. Now I know some are in loco accessories it's not an issue. While I'm posting do you know of a DeWinton build thread? I'm considering one but not sure if it's beyond my current skills.

Browsing the web - while waiting between marking Christmas cards - I came across this; https://www.brightontoymuseum.co.uk/index/File:DC_Converter,_Hornby_Dublo_(HBoT_1939).jpg Clearly it would be solely a museum piece for display now but were any actually made? I don't think I've ever seen one though I'm not sure I would have realised what it was if I had!

It did and is on the shelves. Mrs SR-71 (a vegetarian) showed me an ad for it the other night to ask if it was something I'd want... No! Hornby have always announced stuff they then never made. It's hard to Google stuff that didn't exist to refresh my memory but I think a triang lord nelson possibly? The battle space q car. Although of the latter a couple have appeared in recent years I believe. I'm surprised they haven't ventured into oo-9. What for me will be more telling is if there is an absence of new tooling tt-120.

Absolutely. Their work is so good and yet they mostly use CAD (Cardboard Aided Design) rather than anything too fancy until the later episodes. Definitely inspiring rather than the current prevailing attitude that you must get a professional to do everything.

Get the funk out!

Does 11 qualify you as a stockist rather than a consumer? Glad of the email, just as this offer went up the car went phut and I'm waiting for the bill. The left over balance, if any, may go on a victory, in both senses.

I'm building a vintage neverwasser and need some transfers for it. Fox or HMRS are lovely but look wrong. Does anyone have in their stash some rejected Southern transfers that are useable but a bit basic? I'm thinking perhaps of the Dapol (ex Airfix) Malachite schools or similar. I'd consider Maunsell green era too. Thanks, SR71.

Not as good a photo as Saturday; Sounded good though!

Pondering this evening has resulted in the conclusion that the donor Plymouth chassis for the Kerr Stuart isn't going to easily fit. The height works but the stock open frame motor is the width needed for the whole motor and mount unless it fills the cab. Annoying but I've found that Tramfabriek on eBay do a corless motor that should put the shaft at the same height but being round is less wide (in the picture the motor is on its side). To not loose momentum like I have with couplings I've ordered one this evening and I guess once it comes I'll work out how to mount it.

Returning this evening;

Outbound trip this morning outside Chichester.

Sand boxes in progress. I will get back to the track plan but, while I'm still thinking on it, I've had lots of aborted ideas that haven't gotten as far as being posted.

Updated to 44871 Black Five not Dutchess of Sutherland on rail advent too now.

Well no more word on the causes etc but I see Britannia has a date in the diary for next year; https://www.lancashiretelegraph.co.uk/news/23900654.east-lancashire-railways-legends-steam-coming-town/ Hopefully that means it'll be out again before long. Good news.

HH 07:48 & 21:21 here; https://www.railwaytouring.net/newpageed843a47 It's sitting there or Preston Park for a long time

That means I'll absolutely be heading in that direction to see it before the south downs stages at Goodwood. With no other trains they should be going at a decent lick. Trouble with south coast route is steam is usually routed behind stoppers.

Rail advent suggesting we will get a proper engine through Sussex on Saturday. The tour's own page says it will be a black 5 but here it's listed as a Dutchess. Someone with better internet skills than me thought it looked like the posted details were possibly overweight for a black 5. https://www.railadvent.co.uk/events/the-bath-bristol-christmas-express-three-bridges-bristol Either way I'll be out for a dose of Stanier 'Oooter. Black 5 also running next Wednesday hopefully but going East not West.

Getting a prototype from Europe always seems appealing but when you get it home and put it amongst the OO stuff the size difference of HO becomes too apparent.

If paradise is half as nice - Amen Corner

Exhaust done. And non-exhaust hole plugged thanks to @Nearholmer 's research.

Thank you for looking that up and taking the time to write it out. I'm doing the single exhaust so I'll have to find a way to fill the second hole. I guess we will see in a year or two how smokey it is.

After talking to sheepbloke at Uckfield about this I think he has discovered why they are usually on the left. Uncoupling with the left hand isn't easy.

Took this last night to show a friend with a £1 for scale but serves as an update here too. First exhaust added.

O, that's a good point. I knew there was a second engine but hadn't considered it's exhaust. I'm trying to resist buying more books as my reference shelves are already bursting with books for current/planned projects.

Start made on an exhaust this evening.