Captain Kernow

Some very nice buildings there, Iain. I particularly like the large scratchbuilt warehouse.

I've temporarily suspended all work in P4 for the time being, including work on 'Callow Lane', in order to get a few things done in OO. 'Engine Wood' is appearing at Railex this May, and there are a few loco and rolling stock projects I've been wanting to get done for a little while in time for the show. I also need to make a minor adjustment to the curve coming out of the main fiddle yard and into the tunnel. This may need a baseboard spacing piece of (say) 6" in width inserting between the fiddle yard board and the main scenic board, in order to ease the curve, although I am hoping that I can achieve the same result without having to do that. Currently on the workbench is a black Bachmann BR Standard Class 3 2-6-2T. I think it was 82019, but can't tell now, because some Microsol has helped me remove the bunker numbers and lining and the early BR crest from the tank sides. It will be renumbered as 82044, which from 1963 had a unique livery, in that the numbers were on the cab sides inside the cab/side tank lining, and the bunker sides were plain. My very grateful thanks to Tim Easter for the useful tip about how easy it is to get modern Bachmann and Hornby lining off by soaking the area concerned in Microsol for a short time. I've also replaced the Bachmann bogie wheels with Ultrascale equivilents and have thinned down the guard irons. Also waiting are some R-T-R coaches to be weathered - a pair of Bachmann Mark 1s in maroon and a pair of Hornby Maunsells in Southern Region green.

It looks really great, Robin. I don't really understand what 'anodes' and 'cathodes' are, but perhaps I can have a closer look in a few weeks time at Taunton?

I find other people's modelling and layouts inspires me to go on and produce models of my own. I see stuff that I like, techniques that I haven't tried etc., and that gives me motivation to carry on and produce more stuff of my own. I would agree that inspiration is a very personal thing, and for me some individuals or groups that have played a key role in how I approach the hobby would be: - Pendon Museum - Tim Venton (who I knew in his early pre-P4 & pre-Clutton days, but who even then would frequently badger me to 'up my game') - Martyn Welch - his weathering book was a revelation and I will admit to taking the occasional 'rather long' lunch hour in the days when he had his shop in Plymouth....

Good to know another area group has started up. Of course, we know we're not alone when we come on RMWeb, there's always someone with the answer on here, too!

This looks very interesting...! I didn't realise the barrel diameter on these models was wrong? Given the time period I'm planning to operate on Callow Lane, I've realised that I could probably get away with one or two being shunted in to the yard, now and then....

Yep, this is gonna be g o o d!

Robin - I agree with Bristolian - it's looking wonderful. Lino was very common on Western boxes too, and 10+ years into nationalisation and then the take-over of the ex-M.R. parts of Bristol by the W.R. would have seen a gradual increase in 'Western' habits, as some boxes acquired new floor coverings or an internal repaint. I'm also giving Callow Lane box a lino floor covering. Train Register desks next to windows were not uncommon on Western boxes, where there are more windows than wall space - Par is an example of a still-open box like that.

Completely and utterly agree with you! I now tend to take not just the Friday before off work (for obvious reasons), but also the following Monday. Given the increased rate at which this uses up my Annual Leave allocation, I tend to do fewer shows these days.

Bah! That's probably just some groovy 1960s-style tower with a rotating restaurant on the top, staffed by waitresses with outrageous bee-hive hairstyles!

This is one of the most atmospheric model photos I've ever seen on RMWeb - it just shouts 'Last train to xxxx in 1965' to you! Absolutely convincing!

That's very nice, Pete, seems a bit outside of your normal sphere of activities - what's the prototype please?

Very nice Robin, and the advantages of modelling an actual location amply demonstrated! I have yet to decide what goes on my block shelf, not totally sure to be honest, given that the double track in one direction would have been Permissive Block, whilst in the other direction it is electric token (which will probably generate a scratchbuilt W.R. token instrument)... I see that your block shelf was the kind supported from the floor - presumably the supports went through the frame? At least, that's how others appear to have been supported from what I can tell in photos. Some other M.R. boxes did appear to be suspended from the ceiling or roof beams, as many Western boxes were.

I do like the gates, Chris, from what you describe, it sounds a bit like what I've got on both BHR and CL... And, as for forgetting to open them to rail movements - well, just don'! (forget, that is...). One of my operators once forgot on BHR, and we saw the results of a whitemetal loco footplate hitting the delicate innards of a semi-scratchbuilt gate - it wasn't pretty, nor was my language when I found out!!

Steady,... steady! Yes, an Official Spokesman will be making an Official Announcement about the line-up for Taunton next April, but as you can see, someone has leaked something to the press!

I would have found the dust extremely annoying on the layout. Pity they couldn't have been more careful?

And I organised exactly the same thing to a Class 50 on the Up Penzance to Bristol 'Perishables' at Taunton one night, when the driver would otherwise have failed the loco, due to lack of coolant. A bucket chain from the upside gents to the loco solved the problem!

My comments on the earlier thread refer. I am glad that Robin has demonstrated that the Masokits etch is versatile enough to represent frames other than that which was originally intended. Indeed, by sinking the frame into the floor of a box, so that only the top shows, I suspect that a passable imitation of a typical GW frame could be achieved (although for that, I would still prefer the Smiths etches, if they can still be found!).

This is looking very good indeed, Robin, and full marks to you for the research and clever adaptation of the Masokits product. I would no doubt have been very tempted to use this product for my Callow Lane box, had I been aware of it's existence when I started!! Glad to see that Mr Seal is giving satisfaction!!