Hampshire Hog

Hi Pete how many pictures do you have of 47's? - in particular Tinsleys distribution 47 156 - another repaint this one started as inter-city swallow liveried "Fire Fly", somehow I managed to end up with two when they first came out! Thanks Kevin.

Thanks Paul for bringing your 450 in today, it was good to compare the weathered version against my non-weathered one, and also thanks to Ian for your company and chat. Anyway the saga of the errant class 37 continues with my re-numbering of 37047 to 37055, and Pete if you have a photo of the latter then please keep it to yourself! lol, seriously Pete it was good to see the pictures you posted, brought back some good memories. See you soon. Kevin

Yes indeed Rob, the Molly J is based on a radio control kit called the Timrex and is by Deans Marine - although I have modified the holds positioning (to take the Langley RB22) and in some cases to make a more scale like appearance, and yes, it was well over £200 quid, a lot of money for it to simply sit in its position - do I regret it, Naah! And to Pete, yes time certainly does fly and I did enjoy your visit and the meet with the other lads, hopefully it will fly again to the next time you can come over. I would welcome any pictures that you may have of 37047 and 37068 and equally 37278 (pictured below) I have just finished, according to Temeraire's Motive Power Book 1990 this loco was allocated to Cardiffs FMAK Metals sector pool - but other information leads me to think it still displayed its coal sector branding, a bit of a bu**er when I have changed to Metals branding from Coal! still mange tout! mange tout! and the bogies and underframe look a bit grey in the picture, they look fine for real. See you soon. Kevin

Another of Tinsley's FDET Distribution pool this time Class 37 37068 "Grainflow" in the busy yard at Leaford Town. See you soon. Kevin.

Hi Jamie I am no Photographer I used to use a little Kodak Easyshare camera for taking the pictures used on RM Web, but unfortunately I lost the cable that connects it to the computor, so now I use my I-Phone camera, in either case I just shoot loads of pictures and if one takes my eye that is the one that gets used. The best pictures taken (and occasionally video) are those taken by friends when they come to visit, namely Melangoose, PaulRHB amongst others for which I am very grateful. And talking of pictures here is another of re-painted and weathered Tinsley's Railfreight Distribution Class 37 37047 backing on to its Eastleigh bound train at Leaford Town. Best regards. Kevin

Yes Dan, they are all Walthers exept the main blue warehouse at Leaford Jct that is an American Pikestuff kit. and for Jamie a couple more pictures. Railfreight Distributions 37 047 arrives at the "Kremlin" with some grain hoppers, this loco is a recent re-paint of mine starting out in Banger Blue. Dapol Class 73 73105 arrives at Leaford Town Yard with a engineers train. See you soon. Kevin

Yes my clay wagons are still pristine, it a job to know where to start with the weathering! anyway have a good weekend with Tidworth. Best regards Kevin.

That sounds a good idea, are you free next Tuesday by any chance?

Many thanks Jamie, it is good to hear from you again, a couple of photos of some more modern stock for Leaford - I hope that you like them. Kevin.

Princess Cruises "Caribbean Princess" waits to unload her cargo early in the morning at Southampton a couple of weeks ago as most won't be awake yet?, picture taken from inside Cowes bound ferry because of the rain, hence poor picture. Best Regards, Kevin

Sorry more cruise ships. P&O Sister Ships moored together in Antigua. Best Regards Kevin.

I agree the prices are getting scary, but if you look at all of the seperately fitted pipes and bits and pieces on the Tigers and Polybulks for instance - and then just park them on a siding somewhere that they can be easily seen and admired, or perhaps couple them up to your favourite loco, it is easy to convince yourself that they are good value and it all makes sence, I personally make savings on other luxuries like food and stuff. Anyway to continue with some older pickies, Locos are stabled at Leaford Town waiting thier next turn of duty, Best regards. Kevin.

Many thanks. Best Regards.

They are lovely wagons Pete, I am sure you will not be disappointed, I have to be honest looking around Leaford and seeing all of the recent wagons introduced over the last few years including Bachmann Polybulks, Dapol Silver Bullets, Cambrian Sturgeons, Hornby Freightliner - and then consider what was available 20 years ago we really are not doing too badly are we, and we still do not know what the future may bring, Bachmann early Freightliners etc. Best regards. Kevin

Crumbs Paul, this layout takes the biscuit. Best regards. Kevin.

Many thanks for your comments, I look forward to your visits. Best regards, Kevin.

The replacement crane has returned to the layout courtesy of my good mate Nigel Leadbetter now completed, and a fantastic job he has made of it as I am sure the pictures below will demonstrate. Other new arrivals have been Hattons Warwells Kernows Tiger wagons. and Oxford Diecasts Car Flats. It certainly has been a busy month, I am feeling exhausted. Best regards Kevin.

I have received my two excellent Hattons Warwells and have loaded them with Airfix Bedford MK kits which have been modified to be "in guage" when riding on the wagons, the strapping is made from ordinary vehicle re-spray masking tape cut into very thin strips (2mm) the Shackels have been made from unused staples suitably bent up using snipe nosed plyers and then mounted in suitably sized holes drilled in the undersides of the Bedfords, and in the apropriate position on the Warwells (please see photo below),Be warned it is a very fiddly job bearing in mind the self-adhesive qualities of the very thin masking tape and its desire to stick to anything and everything when you dont want it to, and refusing to stick to something when you do!! Good luck. Best regards Kevin.

Congratulations on your first anniversary Graham, it is nice to have a local model shop to visit for a chat, and purchase those things the internet boys cannot allways provide easily, all at a reasonable price, plus there's a good caf around the corner for an excellent breakfast, wishing you many more successful years. Best regards, Kevin (no connection just a happy customer)

Cheers Pete, I am not sure about a tug but I have already thought about a small Bunkers Barge, unfortunately I cant show the picture I would like to because of copyright, but I will show another which will give an idea although mine will be a lot smaller and will not be pushed around by tugs. To Temeraire, Melangoose and Pitbull, thankyou for your welcome comments and as you all know you are welcome to visit. Kevin.

I was having a chat with a good friend of 30 years Nigel Leadbetter (amongst others) about finding a crane to replace the ageing Airfix now Dapol dockside crane that lives in Leaford Docks, a couple of weeks ago he called into visit and he brought with him a crane for me to see, he had done much research and had come up with a crane based on an old Stottard & Pitt design of similar type that frequents under preserved status Southampton Docks, I fell in love with it immediately but sadly had to give it back as it still needs to be completed, it uses parts from both the Airfix/Dapol and also a Pola 705 dockside cranes with a lot of scratchbuilding to blend the two together, I cant wait for its return. I managed to get a picture before it had to be returned, Many thanks Nigel. Also the postman visited bringing a must have newcomer to the loco fleet, from those fine people in Cornwall at Kernow Model Centre. It is good. Best regards, Kevin.

A couple of pickies to show how work has continued on the Docks with the Molly J now in her proper waterline sliding position, and some more detailing work. See you soon. Kevin

Melangoose looks as good as ever, so I am sure you'll have a good show Nige. Kevin

I shall look forward to seeing the XR3i Paul, what engine will you use? Another Volkswagon Van. And the latest aquisition to Leafords shunter fleet, Hornbys 08 834. Its nice to hear from you Pete, more wagons still to come. Cheerio for now. Kevin

Hello Owen, yes I have put metal wheels on my car transporter (9mm dia Jackson Evans? from Mainly Trains) but as they are the best part of thirty years old (goodness me!!) I have the same problem as yourself, I think metal wheels sets are still available from Gibson and also Marcits but I am not sure that 9mm dia will be available, they have to be 9mm dia to reduce the overall height of the Hornby model to a more in-gauge appearance especially when loaded. Also I have attached to this post a couple of pictures of some modified Oxford Diecast models after being inspired by the Ford Transits done by PaulRHB, many thanks Paul. See you soon. Kevin