westerner

slightly better

A bit more done. Photos do show up things one doesn't notice from a normal viewing distance ie that drivers window. As you can see the new flatbed has been painted and the only things to do are the wire bits, handrail, windscreen wipers and wing mirrors and sort that window out.

Let's hope I can get an equally as good wood finish this time

After much thought thanks to a PM from Phil (34006) plus comments and luckily a drawing on Western Thunder about the shortness of the overhang of the flatbed yesterday I tok the plunge and rebuilt ita scale 1ft 6ins. longer I must admit it looks much better. It also meant that the chassis was extended. Flatbed primed a few minutes ago and the chassis extension painted.

Still working at it. Cab now painted green so obviously not one of Frank Drake's fleet. Indeed it will owned by E & M Davies (myparents initials.) Noting yet stuck together and lots of details still to make and attach.

More work on the Bedford. The cab and the smaller bits primed and the flatbed very slightly modified with Everggreen strip and channel and then painted. The main bits sre still not gued together and there is sometouching up to do before finishing and weathering.

Progress on the Bedford has been slow due to the best part of a couple of weeks on the Norfolk and Suffolk Broads. So far chassis has been put together and flat bed made up and wheels painted. The bits were then placed on each other, not glued to seehaow it is coming on. Still no yet decided if it's an addition to Frank Drakes fleet of assorted vehicles or is owned by a rival.

I think the idea that if you want a different body you do what many of the hauliers did a buid one yourself or have one made to fit the chasis.

Dave there is a flat bed with it made from plasticard with plasticard precut strip for the chasis of the flatbed.

Just taken delivery a few days ago Of this kit A David Amias Bedford S. I'm not sure whether it will be become part of Frank Drakes mixed fleet or whether it will belong to a rival.

The sunset was painted a couple of hours after this one. An approaching squall which ended in the above sunset.

clearing out the loft the other day I found some old water colour paintings I'd painted many years ago, including this one of a December sunset at Heybridge Basin in Essex painted in about 5 mins flat before the colour show was over.

I see you're doing what I did a couple of years ago. I am enjoying O gauge I hope you do.

Ben's been visiting again, this time in the early morning about o watch 3775 run round its tarin ready to form the 9.00 am departure for Gloucester.

Back to the Forest it's 8.45 am and 3775 is about to run round its train to form the 9.00 departure for Gloucester

I mentioned in my last post that I had been writing and taking snaps. One of the pieces was for a local sailing class magazine with accompanying photos. It is a bout a regatta sailed on the Norfolk Broads normally at may bank holiday weekend but this year over the Jubillee weekend. I aont bore you with the article but here are some of the photos. The magazine is the River Cruiser Class mag. and is very proffesionally produced. the photos therefore are of the sailing cruiser verying in age from 3 years old to over 60 years old. By the way there were at least 20 boats ineach race split into four starts at 5 minute intervals. and just to show you in can get hectic

It is!

It suddenly occured to me I've not posted for sometime, It's the summer and I'mafraid i've been doing a fair bit of boating...................Oh and some writing and taking photographs, but more of that later.

Did the lights go out because of the comsumption of Hobgoblin?

The photo special eventually leaves.

Rob, it took me the best part of two weeks to get over my version of the lurgi.

D9502 running round its photographers special.

You know when a branch line is due for closure when the all brake van photographers special turns up.

The trip has come back from the colliery and D9502 has taken them as far as they can go under the bridge. After moving backwards 9502 is running round its train.

the layout covers the period from early sixties (steam) to near enough closure very late sixties (Diesels). So steam will reapear when I turn the clock back.