brian daniels

When we got to Hasselfelde earlier last week they had the shed doors open so could see 99.7244 inside. And 99.6001 was in Westerntor for repairs. We too had a rail replacement bus when we were going from Wernigerode to Quedlinburg. The train was 10 late to Halberstadt and they let the branch train go. No probs as we had plenty of time. But the next branch train was cancelled and a bus that never made the steam turn by 25 minutes which put a spanner in the works as the next HSB train was 3 hours later! So we ended up doing the branches by unit, oh well will just have to go back and do them again with steam.

We stayed at the Altora, wonder if they have cleaned the carpet after walking round the shed at night! The white towels weren't much better after riding on an open wagon behind a 2-10-2 up from Eisfelder Talmuhle to Drei Annen Hohne.

Just had this out of Nordhausen bunker first and it went up the Brocken at Drei Annen Hohne.

Blimey is everyone on the Harz at the moment? I was there the beginning of this week and I see Olddudders has been there the last 3 days as well. Does get busy on the shed at night.

We were there Sunday to Tuesday. We had 99.222 99.234 99.235 99.236 99.239 99.240 99.241 99.247 99.234 must have went on Westerntor Depot after we had it towards Brocken I guess.

Just had 3 lovely days on the Harz Narrow Gauge Railway but could not believe the action of this idiot just to get a picture. He stayed there until it was halfway between himself and where it is now before moving and still standing where it would clout him. God knows what the crew thought. We did bellow at him but probably could not hear due to the approaching train. By the look of his attire he must be from over the pond! We all want nice pictures but keep clear of the running line.

So much for waiting to do this 86, I only bent it up so it would go in the box! Not an easy model to form up where the curves have been half etch away it just wants to bend either end of the etched away area. When I did fold up the bottom curves I added a piece of brass rod inside the crease to strengthen it and something to support the small inserts I made to fill the hole where the flexicoil springs would be. I will us filler and a bit of rubbing down to get a nice curve on here. I cut the cab sides off the main etch as they would be flapping about whilst bending up the curves. I added some U channel to the back of the handrail cutouts to give them some depth. I also cut the side windows off the sides as it was easier to put the reverse curve in it and keep the windows straight. Had to open out a bit in the floor to take the handrail cover now. On the rear bulkheads I cut out the flat etched bits where a fire extinguisher sits and a cooker in the larger one. I kept looking at the top of the sides and was not happy with the turn over at the top so I removed the turned down bit by opening it up and folding it back until it snapped off. Then I flattened out the top crease and soldered the broken off bit back vertically. First attempt at fold. Second attempt, much better. Because the roof curve is half etched at the back between some uprights it sinks in when bending, don't know if I can fill them and rub down flush.

They have been hollowed out and a resin chassis now so you can pull a train of them with just one loco now!

I got this pic of a load of wood at Temple Mills.

I would like to know whether it will be fitted with the standard round high intensity headlight for 56070-56135 or the later style square headlight as I have seen pictures of some of this batch carrying both styles (not at the same time). Also, I am guessing 56077 is not going to be a general release with the MGR Working Yellow Belisha Beacon Warning lights. So, will this be produced as an optional extra by a kit manufacturer or will someone produce 56077 as a Special Edition? It will have the standard flat headlight. It was 56073+074 that had the flashing lights by the way.

Had a good time at Telford and a big thanks to everyone that came by to say hello and a chat. The only things I bought were a set of bogies for my Warwell with the warrior on it and an 86 kit from PRMRP. Should finish some other projects first before starting this. It will be 86015 with an original pantograph from Judith Edge.

You caught my best side! Nice pics, I never did see the competition entries, the shunter look great.

Had a day down Southampton yesterday ship spotting. Independance of the Seas Azamara Pursuit Seaspan Zambezi CMA CGM Zheng He Apex Bakken Lady Eco Nemesis Fredericia Tiger Independance of the Seas Queen Elizabeth Red Funnel trying to thread it's way to Cowes Track could do with a bit of straightening on Hythe Pier

CPL are still about but the couplings I used are from C&L as they are wagon style and not loco heavy duty ones on a PWM.

Yes Martin it is me I don't know why but since I retired I think my productivity has gone down!

Got a good flock of Tit's, Goldfinches and Sparrows doing the rounds at the moment with a lot of young ones in amongst them.

Finished the Mercian Models PWM, well apart from the cab interior. The cab roof is only a tight fit so I can get in easily for detailing later. Had to put the chevron on the cab end on in 5 parts to get round the windows. The cadside numbers and red arrows were done by Railtec and very nice they are too. Railtec also did the worksplate but there is an etched one supplied in the kit. A couple of thing I used to improve the kit were JLTRT self contained buffers, sandboxes from a peak and their windscreen wipers, MMP horns, 08 marker lights and Günther HO cast headlight and C&L screw couplings and apart from the MMP bits you can't get any of the other stuff now which is a right pain now!

I just filled in the get in touch form and asked if he could do the transfers for me. He did reply fairly promptly so maybe he's got a quiet period? Are those vehicles from the Honourable Lead Boilersuit Company?

Thought it about time I did an update! I have been getting on with my Mercian Models PWM Shunter. I have added horns from MMP, Marker lights from MMP 08 Detailing Pack, Headlight from Günther (HO part!), Windscreen wipers from JLTRT. I have also narrowed the cab roof as it overhung the sides by too much. I also added the L shaped lifeguard under the bufferbeam by attaching it to the chassis with a piece of U Chanel. If you soldered this to the bufferbeam you wont get the chassis past it to dismantle the modelThe model was supplied short of handrail knobs so I am waiting to see if Mercian will supply the missing handrail knobs so I can finish off the handrails. I am going to paint this yellow as PWM 97651 and I am getting Railtec to do the transfers for this.

PH Designs have done his own miniature snowploughs that have a little finger on the top that locates over the lip under his etched class 37 replacement bufferbeams. If you don't need this fixing method you can file these down and then have a flat top to fix under a bufferbeam via a 8 ba sized hole. Here they are just hanging under the bufferbeam of 37057 above. I could not solder them on properly unfortunately as 37057 did not have them. When making these you have to solder the supporting frame onto the rear of the plough. To do this I solder one leg on first then screw it onto a jig via an 8 ba screw then looking to check the outside edge is at 90 degrees with the piece I soldered on the bar, solder up the other leg. This jig was made a while back for JLTRT ploughs that come right up to the face I soldered on at 90 degrees, but as the support frame is in a slightly different place on these hence there is a little gap between plough outer edge and bracket.

To hot to do much these days but I did get Heljans forthcoming 34/7 37407 finished. Also converted an old split headcode 37 to the cutaway bufferbeam version with a PH Designs etched bufferbeam. The buffers are very old ones from Walsal Wheels I believe. All the pipes are still Heljan's. Had to fill a couple of steps in on the bodyside.

Made one many moons ago, don't recall anything too bad with it. Must have been ok as this was my first steam loco kit to make and it's got all the drivers sprung!

Some new cabs in Derby Works waiting for the call.

Yes I will have it with me and might have 37057 that I have cut the bufferbeam away and generally tarted it up for L/L livery.

I do believe this body is the final shot at it.