Phil Bullock

Not a link to the Buffers ad! Thought we might try a proprietary stripper on a loco body that was otherwise scrap Hmmm - probably not a good idea.....!!!! Hee hee its definitely scrap now.... Phil

Far more so than any aussies Mike! Hee hee Phil

Like the way the Allegro is hiding in the bushes ..... best place for it !!! Hee hee Cracking shots again Neil.... Phil

Reckon so - had a call from Rails today re my order Phil

Was at a high powered professional meeting yesterday re 3 new regional networks defined by those in high places - Downendian will know what its about!!!! Two regions - Kent, Sussex and Surrey, together with Yorkshire and Humberside, had well defined geographically based descriptions of their locations The third was described as "The area surrounding the cities of Bristol and Bath". Its almost like those in Ivory towers have no idea of what is past Swindon on the M4! Here be Dragons.... Kingdom of Mercia or Wessex anyone? Phil

That sounds good Neil! Theres so much to do in life isn't there? Phil

'CIVITAS IN BELLO ET PACE FIDELIS' What were you up to on my home turf Mike? It still counts as the Midlands you know...the South doesn't start till Tewkesbury.... Phil P

SVR diesel gala...http://www.svr.co.uk/SEItem.aspx?a=621st/2nd/3rd October Unfortunately doesn't quite feature all Nidge's locos... Cheers Phil

See you there Nidge - am sure Downendian and Stationmaster will be along too..... Phil

D7076 is an old friend - D9531 also booked to attend too, yippee Phil

Also meant to say - heard some folks at Toddington Diesel Gala were looking for us, sorry we were not there this year! Next year perhaps if the organisers are kind enough to have us back again! Phil

Cheers Paul 37 still on list to lower.... Hope all is good with you Phil

Thanks for asking Andy - update on layout thread Phil

Layout damage assessment yesterday.... Now everything is thoroughly dry initial assessment is that the track bed is no worse than it ever was.... So leaving it alone pending next complete set up so its on with other jobs. Baseboard reinforcement, 6 years of ups and downs is taking its toll on the biggest scenic board with the bridge on so additional internal bracing added Started redoing the road, following Andy Y's method in latest BRM, foam looks good, just needs painting and verges relaying And solving problem with the rail overbridge railings which keep popping off due to expansion/contraction...so mounting on tiny split pins mounted in holes on bridge girders Phil

That's what I thought too Andy - made me feel better about the abbotswood subsidence/heave! Phil

J885 - TTGFYE suits Deltics best of all IMHO Then D278 plus Swindon coaches is a fantastic record - theres blue greys further back in the train, what a great formation! Phil

Oh dear - what a tangled web! I have manned up and told SWMBO about the 43s that are coming from Rails - but then theres the ones someone has ordered in my name from CMC.....!!!! And then theres the sound chips ....... Phil

Thanks Ian! Given the amount of work that has gone in to this model via this forum and also directly to Bachmann it would be somewhat disappointing if it doesn't hit the mark All the magazine reviews to date have been unfailingly positive and the only miniscule negatives I have picked up thus far are: Over size printed nameplates on blue version Cumbersome centre lamp bracket Difficult access in to cabs All of which should be easily dealt with by serious modellers if they cause offence Positive and optimistic ? Yes I have to be! I am a fisherman and you don't subject yourself to such tortures as wandering around the Welsh Countryside in the pitch dark of a summer night in the somewhat bizarre hope that a silver monster is going to take a fancy to those few bits of feather you have lovingly crafted in to a fly unless blind optimism rules But from the railway perspective for me these are THE locos - they are the ones that back in the late 60s really caught my imagination with their wonderful names and varied liveries. They are the missing piece of the motive power jigsaw as far as our layout is concerned and there will I am sure be many many more class 43 workings up to Brum in the Abbotswood parallel universe than ever really occurred. I also know that our blind optimism has stimulated a few others to build a railway having seen what we have done and if the 43s stimulate us further and drag a few more along with us then that has to be good for the hobby too Kind regards Phil

Now on Bacchy web site as due in next 60 days http://Bachmann.co.uk/new_arrivals.php?prod_selected=2 Yippee..... Phil

After you Sir! P

Cant see where the sound chip will go though! Phil

OK Weathering evolution... Have seen some nice work with oils on here so thought I would give it a try Final step in a multi step process - remove wheels, initial overspray with dirty black, excess removed and residue pushed to edges as it dries. Then a spray with matt varnish. Then the oils - a tiny amount of burnt umber applied on cocktail stick and then spread with downwards strokes with a turps wetted cotton bud until happy with result Paint and refit wheels - job done! Really like the way the density of the rust fades away from the spot to the solebar as if carried by water run off Only another 100 or so to finish! Cheers Phil

Nice view of the cab peak ventillators on 1052 Phil

Yes that report makes a good read - many thanks for sharing. Funny how certain locations have thrown up more than one accident over the years. Not surprising that footplate crew were confused. Seems basic principles were adhered to but fog was always dangerous and must be a trend in accidents over the years . Phil

Did an evening visit with Worcester Loco Society a few years back and had a ride around the system behind the 03. What are the visit rules these days? P