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The brake vans progress, although I seems to be making more cock-ups than usual - how did I get the underframe the wrong way up? I seemd to have resolved that and the differences between early LNER and BR vehicles are becoming more apparent. The LNER van has a vac cylinder and open frame 'W' irons. The new solid door has also been fitted. More differences underneath, I should have modified the 'W' irons before putting them on! Some bits I havn't bothered putting underneath as they won't be seen, but the visible stuff is there... I havn't worked out how to represent the BR axleboxes on the later vehicle yet, but I am enjoying the kits.

Thanks Rob - the Fairburn is currently awaiting parts, Dikitriki has led the way in working out what to do with the motion. So once they arrive, work will recommence... In the meantime I'm building wagons to complete trains... Regards Tony

Things have not been quiet on the Derby Line, with background electrical work taking place for Heyside. I have been working on a JLTRT 4F, which is now awaiting running in trials. I hope to write it up for one of the Magazines. Latest on the stocks are two Slaters BR brake vans. One will be BR version, the other an LNER one with the follwoing detail differences from the BR standard:- Spoked wheels Vacuum Cylinder No windows in the cabin door Different lamp iron arrangements Short steps No trussing under the solebar Among other things! Just out of interest if anyone else has one of these to build. I found that I had to just tack the underframe and solebar parts in place at the centre with solvent to make sure everything, including buffer beams was square. Once checked - everything could be cemented in place. I also found it was best to put the cabin sides in place and the fettle the end mouldings to fit. A certain amount of carving had to take place in the chamfered joins at the top and bottom. Once there is a tidy fit the end can be cemented in place. More to follow between house renovations...

Thanks Herbert. Apologies for the poor photos as well - I couldn't get my eye in this morning, must do better. And I could'nt delet the second caoch pic. Took a guess on the 6 wheeler interior in the end. Cheers

And does anyone know how to change the title of this thread? As it's plainly not GN 6 wheeler now!

Having at last finished off a load of the ongoing projects, I decided to carry out some planned re-furbs. My 15 year old ( or is it mor?e ) Oakville WD was built with Walsall Models wheels and they don't like the 31.5mm turnouts on Heyside. I also took the opportunity to add the cab roof ventilator, and change the beading on the tender which was horribly coarse and has been bugging me for , well 15 years! So here it is awaiting some running trials before patching up the paintwork. Dikitriki has overtaken me with the Fairburn, now its time to start catching up. I lengthened the Sanspariel bogie, but drilled and pinned the frames to attach them to the central block. My workmanship is not as tidy as his, but ultimately it will be covered in crud! I also drilled some strip to act as the mounting place for the bearing retaining rods. Coachmann look away now! The LMS coaches were finally finished after many trials and tribulations, pity about that overspray from the roof colour..I'll have to do something about that. I need to build the other two now to make the 4 coach set.

Thanks BertieDog/ Stephen - that is very usefull!

Good idea Ozzyo I have just aquired a Hobbymat MD 65. Where would be a good source to obtain cutting tools etc? Thanks! Tony

Hi Dan - the shackles are seperate - Slaters part number M7022. The Conflat takes some work as it has over 130 parts! Great kit, but having done four - no more. Hi Mike - I've done one Parkside Grampus, with 3 more to follow. the engineers train will consist of those, the GN six wheeler, an Ex LMS dropside wagon and an SR brake van.. The Grampus initially goes together quickly. Then there is all the additional detailing to add! Cheers Tony

And at last I finally got those containers finished! As well as the Ivatt

Crumbs mate - you've got your work cut out! But I can see you are getting there, following progress with interest... Regards Tony

Whilst waiting for Dikitriki to lead the way on the Fairburn - I've had time ( between gardening ) to start finishing stuff off. The six wheeler is nearly finished, despite airbrush problems:-

Lol! I'll tell him that - it's about time he got back in touch with reality! I know it's not true modelling, but it shows what some of us are prepared to do to build our railways...I thought having some machinery would make it easy, but it's been 4 days hard graft!

The good weather has put paid to any significant modelling, however work on the Derby Line extension has begun ( despite the Derby line not being built yet! ). Having had the loan of a mini digger and dumper truck for 4 days, we've been busy removing a spoil tip from the vegetable garden, pulling out tree stumps and knocking down our stables to be replaced with a double garage - but most importantly a foundation has been dug to potentially extent the railway room to 40 feet by 16'. All I need now is 48 hours a day!

My signature engine makes an appearance at Lesterby on a DCC demo train! Lettering departmental vehicles always seems tricky, there is a mixture of Pressfix wagon ( numbers and 'Ballast Brake', Parkside (nottingham cut from individual letters on the NE fruit van sheet ) and Fox ( MP from 4mm diesel headcodecharacters ) to make up the various markings - work very much in progress...

I'm sure you'll be pleased with teh flux gaf2u - I certainly am. After a massive 3 day spraying session in the workshop which saw 2 loco's and 3 coaches varnished, 16 wagons, 3 containers, 7mm signals and the GN 6 wheeler sprayed, I can finally get on with some finishing off. So 3 coach interiors to finish and paint - don't they take an age. The detail finishing of loco's also takes a long time, with the window fitting being the most tedious. The study stinks of paint! One side of the 6 wheeler went horribly wrong, the second can of JLTRT maroon wasn't warm enough, so it went orange peely. After leaving it overnight, and thinking about it ( and the leak in the roof ) I gently used a half inch brush and cellulose thinners to strip the bad side, being careful not to get any on the plastic roof! One succesful respray later it looks ok. Now to fit out the interior, I already have fitted a rickity table and Slaters brake van stove. It is sen in company with an ABS ex LMS unfitted medfit in engineers black. Next, to number the 16 wagons, then on to the good bit weathering everything!

I've always used PP Satin varnish! Its' great! Different things work for different people I guess..

It's a great little kit this D&S coach, it went together well. I just have to work out some of the final details. The floating axle carriers negotiated a test on Heyside with no problem. I'm still researching interior details, one photo I have shows all the blokes jackets hanging up inside!

Whilst we are awaiting parts for the Fairburn, I decided to make a start on my Ballast Brake, for my engineers train. This is based on a Great Northern 6 wheeler. I have photos of 2 different vehicles of the same diagram performing this role at Woodford and Annesley. This is a D&S kit, which is going together nicely. It makes an interesting change to do a vintage piece of rolling stock. I have used the water based flux throughout, which gives a good clean finish. If anyone knows what should be inside, I'd be most gratefull. The partitions were obviously taken out, and a stove among other things added. Some sort of layout would be most interesting. Otherwise I'll have to make something up!

Front end Detail , a result of Saturdays work:- The lubricators have been moved forward 2.5 mm. Sides of the steam pipes ahve been 'flattened' to give a more squarish shape. The Griffin buffer beam brackets ( you can only see a bit of the upper gusset ) have been hacked to make the lower strengthening gusset slope upwards towards the back of the loco. Griffin Ivatt front steps. Ribs on the steamchest front bit below the smokebox. Griffin lamp brackets. Scratch coupling strengthener. DMR Heating pipe. Thats enough to be going on with, I really need the chassis bits now!