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Just out of curiosity, how has it been removed? Presume dismantled on site via gas axe etc but presume it needed some sort of access to do so/remove the scrap?

It does indeed make a good theme and agree re needing more space: #

Thanks Jo, yep Keeping the can warm works well, agree re aerosol Varnish, I actually got rid of my air brush a while ago!

The transfers arrived earlier this week so I managed to get a few of them on today as the rolling chassis is finished for both the tractor and the trailer. This project is the first time I had used Tamiya Acrylic sprays so was grateful Jo @Steadfast had included a few spares in case of issues but they all went on perfectly first time. The chassis now have the appropriate number plates, long vehicle warning plates and badges for the tractor unit chassis. The cab and trailer body have received their first coat of grey so all being well, the rest of the transfers should be on within the week on the tractor unit at least. The trailer will be a bit longer as I need to spray the roof and paint the buckles on the curtains.

Great article Nick, I don't normally buy Model rail but am on hols this week so a bit of extra reading time. Some fantastic photos in the article.

A handy model from IXO for O gauge modellers, BR had loads of them https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/156051184896?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=h8Tp5QOJTni&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=g0qs3FR7TzK&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Rail Express Parcels variant. https://www.flickr.com/photos/135720044@N02/26203069594/in/photolist-29ZhYZj-2ntjZc5-2n7GzQF-29ZhZ6G-2neDjba-29YALr3-28Ydst3-21gJP66-2oc4R3R-4Y6tR9-FVtzFY-GFrwRs-FBJ7tX-SWQRm1-2bn24Wj-2h3KHKV-nnko7U-7QgUP6-2h3LpxB-61xdQr-2mZt2Cv-2neADyL-2kHg25K-2mtTy83-93D4Rn-4Y6tRL-cky9fE-PG7eGP-4Y6tNW-2eExxf1-4Y2dRK-2ntcfQn-2khtSXb-2nBji49-Vi1vDz-4Y2dTD-AG1Kqt-61BpuC-B1y4YE-qciMES-PBj8jG-NDzjrG-wE54Nm-dz4J83-dyYx42-obJnKR-2jPmWEt-kUFBkx-4Y6tQh-dz51nC

Welcome to the O gauge bug! Quite a few nice small O Gauge layouts on here to give you ideas, @Nick GNick Gurney's Cripple Corner is one of my favourites and is v compact .

Already been spoken to! Sods law I noticed it as soon as I had taken the photo.

The livery of the truck is relatively simple but there is still plenty of bits that require paint. Now the rolling chassis of the tractor unit is complete I have been able to make a start on painting the smaller details. Despite being only 4 years old when I am modeling it, the lorry had been repainted as it was on it's second owner and by the looks of it things like fuel tank, air filter and mudguards which are usually removed when a truck is painted were left in place, hence there aren't that many bits to paint. The obvious ones are the lights and also the battery box cover. The lights were done first and are the very typical 1990s light clusters used across many UK truck and trailer builders at the time On the tractor the mudflaps were painted (Jo has some Seddon Atkinson transfers for these) as well as the fifth wheel plate which would be covered in grease. A bit out of sequence but earlier on I the day I masked up some bits requiring black paint including the windscreen surround and the bottom bumper. Again out of sequence but prior to painting the second coat of black I assembled the truck. The trailer side guards have been removed for spraying and I still need to do the grey on the bottom of the cab and trailer front. The trailer is a little bit behind as I need to do the buckles and also am having problems with some pen marks on the rear door which I stupidly didn't remove before spraying.

Bit late to the party but I have used Woodland scenics realistic water on both my layouts with streams in and found it gave great results. I made sure the abandoned streams/canals I was modelling had a suitably painted bottom to create the murkiness then slowly added it in thin layers each night. This meant that any leaks were effectively "self sealed" as it is the consistency of thick double cream when poured and it also meant that things like weeds or a half submerged tyre were absorbed into the water which isn't possible with mirrors etc. At close distance it looks clear (which to be fair all bar the muddies puddle are) but at further distance it was murky but with a shine on the top.

Thanks Jo, am looking forward to seeing these on the lorry, this project has definitely been a labour of love.

Both those thoughts came into my mind as well.

I thought that, but his previous deal ran until the end of 2025 so wouldn't have been an option anyway?

Looks nice! I was tempted by 55022 when one came up on ebay recently. Is anyone able to advise if the cantrail silver grilles are separately fitted or part of the body moulding please? If I bought one, I would want to back date it without the bling...

I was massively surprised to read this, feels a big risk for LH but as Fernando Alonso once said when he left Ferrari for Mclaren "If you are not winning then it doesn't matter if you are 2nd or 10th" and I suspect Lewis has decided that Ferrari is worth a gamble. The reality is Red Bull will probably win this year again and 2025. Moving to Ferrari for 2025 is really a stepping stone ahead of the major changes in 2026, one presumes that Vasseur etc have shown him a vision of what 2026 will look like, how they are planning to trounce the field etc, just like Niki Lauda did in 2012 to get him away from Mclaren. As to who replaces him, I guess the team are looking for someone who can work with George but be as close as possible to a championship winning driver: - Sainz is obvious candidate who would be a solid driver looking to support the team in the long term. - Ricciardo - Has the popularity vote with the fans but how close back to his peak is he? - Fernando might be banging on Toto's door for that final crack at the 3rd championship but I can see him and Russell creating fireworks and Fernando has at most 2 years in him? - Albon - Hmm not sure, he seems to be rated but is he potential champion material Other wilder options - Norris - Maybe Merc would have the pockets to buy him out of their Engine customer - Bottas - "Valteri, it is Toto.. We need you back"

I have had a few non modelling bits and pieces on at home at the moment and coupled with some cold weather which doesn't lend itself to spraying, however Jo sent me the latest artwork to test fit today before the transfers go to print so I have some impetus now! As the transfers are custom made drawn from photos, Jo always sends me a PDF before hand so I can check the artwork fits and I have all the bits I need; these are printed at home on my printer to size which I then cut out and let Jo know any tweaks to be made. We have an issue with our home printer so the artwork in the images below are nowhere near the quality of the transfers but that is not important at the moment. Jo has picked up on a couple of bits I had missed such as the "Conqueour" name on the cab door and I have asked him to add some duplicate copies of the tax discs and O licence disc which are missing from some of my other models. Trailer logo is spot on, I counted the curtain buckles to check it was the right size Cab artwork, again mostly spot on The front grille is nearly there are brings the front to life. It is slightly oversize but Jo will fix that before it goes to print Now the weather is better I will crack on with the spraying.

I am sure it will be excellent as usual Chris!

I did the same when I was a student in 1996. They had conductors if I recall as a hang over from some competition with Southampton citybus who had bought some Routemasters.

Great news re Lando contract extension, moving to Red Bull would have been a bad move for him while Verstappen is there. If Max throws in the towel in 2028 and Lando hasn't sealed the championship in the Mclaren by then he can still jump ship if Red Bull are the leading team.

Just watched a simulation of Madrid track and I can't see an obvious overtaking place on it at all sadly...

Nice models, never knew you could go direct from Cheltenham to Weston, that would be a long trip in an Olympian!

I got a spray can of enamel made up for my 1/43 Leyland National using the BS numbers so thanks for sharing: Pretty sure Model Masters do them in 1:76, https://modelmaster.uk/447-4mm-scale-bus-and-lt-decals-waterslide-transfers but if not the ones in the pics above were a custom job for me in 1/43 by Steadfast Models who may be able to help @Steadfast

Agree the model of 20223 is very nice

Looks lovely, very nicely weathered!

Re the cuts to the fairings, if you look closely the fairing around the buffers is removable as it is in effect 2 c shaped plates which wrap round the shank of the buffer. These need to be removable in the event of a buffer needing to be changed as otherwise it would be impossible to access the securing bolts. Looking at pics of the loco over the years it seems these were missing for a bit no doubt after repair so the presence of the plates does not provide a pointer to whichever livery it will emerge, potentially either blue or green will be correct. Of note it still retains the plate above the coupling which was retro fitted to all centre box class 37's early in their career, When 37248 was restored as D948 this plate was removed so the loco could be restored to true as new condition.