Phil Bullock

One of this winters projects has been a rake of Parkside Dundas Vanwides Heres the finished rake Dave's buffers and coupling hooks plus Modelmasters transfers have finished them nicely... The observant may notice we have lost one - and sods law that was the one with the translucent roof, sorry Brian! What happened? Internal weighting is liquid lead set in superglue - didn't realise it hadn't set when I turned van upside down, subsequently needed to remove roof, wouldn't come off due to glue etc - ruined roof and sides trying to get it off GRRRR Next project is scabby 16 ton minerals for some very specific traffic yet to be revealed - got the weathering finished on them yesterday, now just waiting their loads... All will be revealed shortly! Phil

Henry Williamson penned a story - The Bottle Birds, its in The Peregrine's saga and other Country Tales - about long tailed tits. Captures the life of these charming little birds perfectly. Williamson - author of Tarka the Otter - is an under-publicised author IMHO - his Salar the Salmon has been with me as a favourite book since I was at primary school. Cheers Phil

Toads do well under our decking! Phil

No date on bacchy web site yet At least another 12 months I reckon - and my wallet hopes! Phil

Went to rugby match in Cardiff today En route this rather dapper chap seemed very happy to pose for a photo - taken from no more than 5 yards away! Phil

Gets a vote from me too - the name alone would do it of course but we used to do overnights at Stafford until 2/3 am in the early noughties. One night 37114 turned up on a northbound freight - it was a still morning (1 am ish!) and the thrash as she left northbound was pure hellfire - I am sure we could still hear her as she passed Norton Bridge. But then of course there is D6992.... http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/80301-d6992-from-Bachmann-37254/ There are links to prototype photos within the thread - and I reckon one PJKing wont mind if I donate his vote for her too, see http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/82334-dirty-diesels/ Phil

Get some crew in those cabs!!! Hee hee Phil

Cheers brian - Any suggestions as to material for that? Or just a paint job? Phil

"Sir Brian Robertson" Anyone? Phil

And the same to you Marcus - thanks for dropping by and for kind words. Are any of the shows - Melksham, Stow, Gaydon, Eastcombe - in your vicinity? Kind regards Phil

Vanwide progress! These super little packs courtesy of DaveFRK of this parish are a great incentive! Arrived yesterday so last nights progress Couplings are short cranked version - mounting block needed a bit of packing with styrene strip to get to the correct height Heres the fleet Transfers arrived from Modelmaster today, getting the paintbrush out now... See http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/11898-Hornby-class-31-modifications/page-3&do=findComment&comment=1733118for progress with 5528 Phil

Excellent news John will look forwards to that Kind regards Phil

Well...... Vanwides 5528 BGs and guards vans by then I reckon Phil

Oh and theres some gaurds vans to put some more of Daves buffers on - and a couple of BGs to get the full end vehicle treatment. Never ends! Phil

That'll be when the sun is shining again then! May perhaps???? More new motive power and stock by then - Vanwides are coming along nicely, 6 of them just waiting for buffers from DaveF, then transfers and weathering. Bet Bachmann do them this year! 2 more conflats to chain the containers to and weather, plus 6 x 16 ton minerals to add scrap loads to, have something very specific in mind for them, watch this space..... Also APC built from Gramkits model - is now finished - to chain to Lowmac Another 6 Mk1 end vehicles have been detailed over Xmas including working tail lamps, just waiting for transfers from Modelmaster to renumber coaches in rakes before weathering 5528 - paintwork now done, needs a coat of gloss varnish before transfers and weathering 5230 next in to works, Bacchy base model 25245 needs nose end doors adding and boiler filler footsteps plating over before touching up and renumbering D6506 arrived via Santa - Hurrah many thanks - needs a sound chip plus speaker, I reckon that's in line for a Legobiffoman super duper fuel tank installation, already have the tanks to do 5410 and 5382, awaiting the speakers from DCC supplies Then theres layout tidying and some track repairs to do Plus another 6 signal arms to get working.... Keeps me off the street!!! Oh plus there will be the Bacchy class 43 warships at some stage.... If I get that lot finished by Trainwest I shall be a happy bunny. Phil

Youtube videos have passed 300,000 views today! Sounds like a landmark - but 250,000 of them are on the "When model Railways go wrong video"! Never mind, at least the other 50,000 have better tastes. Cheers Phil

Smashing photos Chris I was there We were pleased to see the nice new 66s - not sure that still applies! Kind regards Phil

Old lines are fascinating! The Mid Wales from Moat Lane to Talgarth is an expedition I have persuaded SWMBO we must do this summer - as I fish both the Upper Wye and Severn for trout and grayling I know the area well but in some parts - eg the Marteg valley - I cant visualise how the railway coped with the topography, Will update with some photos when we make the trip Phil

I reckon if you are going to try and sell an older model at inflated new prices then its probably a good idea to remove the old price tag first.... http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bachmann-39-025B-BR-Mk1-SK-2nd-class-corridor-Blue-Grey-E26033-Brand-New-/291281401367?pt=UK_Trains_Railway_Models&hash=item43d1b97617 Phil

Posted Today, 22:58 Smashing photos Chris This was a few years earlier but the weathering is similar! Different locos but they still probably haven't been cleaned in the intervening years.... http://www.rmweb.co....46290_thumb.jpg Kind regards Phil

Hi Paul Post 1764 of Dave F's super photos at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/85326-dave-fs-photos-ongoing-more-added-26th-december/page-71may be of interest re TTGFYE Deltic! Cheers Phil

Hardwicke was a main line loco at that time - had her (Him?) on a railtour to Sellafield in May double heading with (6)1306 Smashing photos Dave Phil

And all those luvverly 27s too!!! Phil

Xmas caption competition!!! Picture 2 - "Just take the photo will you so I can get out of this crazy outfit!" Or "What do you mean - its Minnie Mouse ears tomorrow?" Phil

Hope you can make a return visit in 2015 Paul You have a great Christmas too Phil