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Bonus picture tonight of the complete Olympia bus fleet......for the moment. I'm thinking of using the spare Leyland National body to do one with the doors open, as I pinched the other set to dual door its sister. The National is still awaiting blinds as is the RT driver trainer.

Some TTA 45 ton oil tanks.......................

It’s been far to nice, over the last few days, to do anything in doors so I’ve had to resort to drinking Gin and Tonic and the bottles of Proper Job that Sainsbury’s delivered on Friday. In between this I’ve been weathering my 45ton TTA tanks. I managed to get six brand new ones for £35 at the Brighton MRC Exhibition which brought my total up to 19. 15 have been weathered so far which I managed to do out in the garden. The last 4 have had the first run through on the underframes but bodies untouched other than lightly sanding the BP and Shell logos to show wear and tear. Pictures to follow.

You would need a new chassis as there were only five boiler fitted class 25/3s.....having just converted a 25/2 into 25083 one of the five. You need to remove a large chunk of metal to make any of the rest........I’d still want one or two!

I'll have another go at the Interfrigo decals later...well maybe....its too nice to be indoors on a PC.

...and so to to 25083. Loco will need some weathering and then a satin varnish.....otherwise its finished, pleased with the results. Shame that any further conversions to a 25/3 will involve chopping the frame as there were only five boiler equipped class 25/3. Come on Farish you know you NEED to make one.

Don’t worry Jeremy, current Vauxhall’s all seem very plasticky, the Mokka was so gutless even with a 1.6 litre engine.

Thank you.....We’re back home already went Tuesday back Friday! My first cars were all Vauxhall’s 1973 Viva HC 1979 Viva HC 1981 Opel Kadett (Mk1 Astra) 1982 Astra 1986 Mk2 Cavalier CDi..... .....then two Rover 200 series one of each shape great to drive but p### poor reliability...... They were followed by..... two Honda HRV,s they were very reliable, great fun to drive but the Vtec especially very thirsty. Keeping up the 4x4 trend was a 2010 Mk1 Ford Kuga Titanium and our current 2015 Mk2 Kuga......the Mk1 was the better drive but both have been excellent. The hire people offered us a Merc for “just” £50 a day extra instead of the Mokka.

A few days away at Carbis Bay in Cornwall, flew Leeds to Newquay took us 4 hrs home to Hotel including check in, flight and picking up the hire car. I don’t recommend a Vauxhall Mokka(ry).....awful to drive, hopelessly under powered and a sat-nav that took two days off in the middle of our break refusing to work. A few Cornish beers sampled while we were away, Boiler from St Ives, nice. Harbour IPA always good and Tribute another favourite. No Proper Job but that came with the Sainsbury’s order when we got back. My decals had arrived from Railtec whilst we were away and have now been added to 25083 which is looking very smart. 8 inch TOPS numbers great job by Steve. Photos to follow.

That was a wasted opportunity by me.......

What kind of price would they be if available new £50?

It was a Bombardier Q400-8 both ways, glad my experience with class 377’s wasn’t needed.

Pictures taken from the Internet.....http://www.railalbum.co.uk/railway-wagons/ferry/italy-interfrigo-van-1.htm Then cropped in Corel Draw X4 and cut and pasted into a word document to make a sheet up to print. The adverts were done in word. Canon inkjet printer can’t remember what model but will print very good A4 pictures and will go pretty small fonts I think I’ve printed from 2 but the transfer paper is not very absorbent.

Noticed on the picture above the Pan Am advert seems to have had a mind of its own and come out in two versions when printed....all are wrong but the middle one is least wrong! I went mount the Interfrigo decals this morning and apart from being too thick as usual the ink pigments haven’t dried well and are a bit thin. The decals also didn’t bond to the wagon side and the larger Interfrigo one actually rolled up! Back to the drawing board.

Further Chevette research shows the recessed headlight version was built until 1979 then the flush headlamp version like the Cavalier came after a facelift. The Chevette was even exported to Germany unbranded after the Kadett C ceased production. I think I will ask RailNscale to do the Chevette as pre 1979 in Hatchback, four door saloon and Estate and the Kadett C in Coupe and 2 door saloon......unless anyone has other options / opinions.

....and a 1977/8 UK brochure showing all four body styles https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Opel-Kadett-C-1977-78-UK-Market-Sales-Brochure-Saloon-City-Coupe-Estate-/172150788108

Found several Kadett C pictures but all the coupe.....so far.

I emailed RailNscale regarding the Kadett and this is the reply Hello Andy, Thank you for your mail and your kind words. Yes, I am considering to make some conversions of the Opel Kadett into the Vauxhall Chevette. I was thinking of the original version with the recessed headlamps in the 3-door hatchback and 2-door saloon, as I assume these where the more popular versions. Apparently you would also favour the Opel Kadett in 1/148th. I didn't know those models were sold in the UK. But I can make them of course. Which of the current types and sets we offer now, would you like? In all cases I will make the 1/148th versions in RHD-version. Best regards, Maurice So what versions would we like...three door hatch, I’d have thought four door saloon and the estate which could be turned into a Chevanne! I’m sure I remember the Chevette shaped Kadett in the UK can anyone confirm that? Did Eire get the Opel or the Vauxhall versions?

First up the Interfrigo ferry van alongside the Transfesa and BR ferry vans. All Scratchbuilt apart from the BR one which is a Mill Lane sidings kit, now discontinued I think. And the sheet of decals, prior to a spray with Halfords clear lacquer. The Typoo put the T in Britain one has not printed at all well due to the dark background so I won't use them. Rather ironic Pan Am advert with the TWA building on the layout..........

The Modelmasters decals strangely do not have enough route numbers for even one RM as there should be four, they only come with three. The destination blinds are also a bit to big, but not by much, nothing suitable for the LS and only one West London route. My inkjet won’t print clearly that small, but there looks like a market to produce decals and redo the blinds on the ODC buses. Mmmmm would a Laserjet printer print small enough. I’ve produced some advert decals for the RMs and the logos etc for the Interfrigo wagon. I’ll post a photo later.

Sorry didn’t look at the photo, they are going to do a Commer Walkthru...might be that. On checking the photo it isn’t the Walkthru does look like a standard height LD, the yellow van?

Might have got away with it if we had been staying longer. Think this our 5th visit to The Boskerris. A walk is on the cards, either Carbis Bay to Zenner or Hayle. Went to the Mevagissey railway probably 10 years ago.....kept us dry as it was pouring!

Just discovered that Modelmasters don’t do the 2mm bus destination blind decals anymore....or any other 2mm bus stufff.......luckily I found an old packet in my decal stash. The Mabex destinations I’d ordered are huge , more like OO. Hopefully should have time to finish the buses off tomorrow.

Boskerris Hotel which is above the station. https://www.boskerrishotel.co.uk Hire car from Newquay airport....might manage a detour via Kernow Models, but we are with friends which is why we are flying rather than all day on the train.

We are off to Carbis Bay next week flying from Leeds/ Bradford to Newquay....think that’s in a Shackleton!