46444

I've started adding the detail pack to the Rapido LT 'E' Class this weekend ready for weathering. The trip cocks being brass are very nice and robust. I'll take some photos this week all being well. In the meantime a quiet moment captured at JHT. Not a Pannier in sight. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Pete...👍 With regards to the Class 09 perhaps a reflection of too much time spent at Clapham Junction in the early 80's. Of course those BR Blue Class 73's were in residence leaving a lasting impression. A couple of Dapol BR Blue examples have been purchased in recent sales at a good price. Wimbledon engineers yard always looked interesting from a modelling point of view....😉 Cheers, Mark

Hi Tony, Another Southern intruder on Little Bytham in the form of LSWR 02 Class with LSWR Gate Stock Callington branch disc headcode insitu. Cheers, Mark

Likewise, I spoke to Robert T last week regarding an order I placed in January 2023 for a number of sets of Berry Wiggins bitumen tank wagon transfers. Previous emails had gone unanswered. He supplied the same information to me as Andy had received above. It sounds as if things may slowly start to resolve all being well. Cheers, Mark.

Very nicely finished Paul. You have certainly captured the 'grime & shine' look of the LT Panniers. Steve at Railtec has done a fantastic job with the 3D printed reporting numbers. They certainly provide that additional interest and detail seen on the LT Panniers in later years. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Tony, Now you come to mention it, fuse wire at the ready for donning of wiggly pipes. Watch this space. Cheers, Mark

Lurking on the shelf in my modelling room for a number of month's has been an Hornby ex-Mainline-Class 09 which was previously finished in aircraft blue with silver logos. The logos had been removed previously with Humbrol thinners. More difficult areas were removed with fine grade sandpaper and a glass fibre pen. Using Tamiya masking tape, the wasp stripes on each end were covered over along with cabside windows and doors. Halfords grey primer gave a blank canvas. Today, I sprayed the bodyshell with Precision Paints BR Blue. This went on nicely giving a smooth finish. Number wise I have gone for 09020, a Selhurst allocated example. On Chris Terise's Smugmug photo library there is a nice picture of it at work. Steve at Railtec kindly made me up a set of transfers for 09020. These will be donned shortly. Thankfully, the Tamiya masking tape worked well, and the wasp stripes remained intact with no overspray present. The buffer beams need painting yellow yellow and underframe areas need touching in. A Modelu crew will also be added to the cab. Another Hornby shunting locomotive comes in the form of R&H 0-4-0 number 20 of Reading Signal Works fame, which was eventually under TOPS renumbered to 97020. Once more Steve at Railtec made up the numbers set and supplied 3mm scale BR arrows. The smaller version is correct for 97020 at this stage of its career. Most pictures of 97020 appear to show the bonnet side engine panels removed in service. So perhaps my take on 97020 may be non-prototypicle? Either way, both projects have been a nice sideline. Thanks to Steve at Railtec for providing an excellent service and product. Cheers, Mark

Hi Tony, If you remember from my visit earlier this year, I brought down a Bachmann A1, 60157 'Great Eastern' I had started to work on. This included the addition of roller bearing axleboxes appropriate for this loco. Also a set of Fox nameplates graces the smoke deflectors. I have modified the lubricators, removing one and repositioning the remaining lubrictor. I hope it is in the right position? I was never keen on the Bachmann cabside numbers and have replaced these with Fox numerals. Removing the body/tender bodyshells the cab windows were masked off with Tamiya tape and the cab blanked off with a piece of foam. The loco and tender had previously received a brush applied coat of Johnsons Kleer. Today, I sprayed them with two coats of Tamiya matt varnish, followed by a coat of Tamiya satin varnish. The Bachmann BR green has certainly changed shade. A further coat of Kleer should help to lift the flatness of the finish, before weathering. A couple of Dapol Grampus I am working on have become transporter bogies. Compared to your kit built version of 60157, my Bachmann version could not manage a full length train on Little Bytham. More soon. Thanks, Mark

Brilliant snaps Rob. Looks like a great time away and good to recharge those batteries. Some cracking locomotives and units to boot. The name of the haulage company on the trailers in the 15th snap down sounds interesting however! Cheers, Mark

More meanderings down on the Wadenhoe & Lilford Light Railway. Here is 'Skylark' seen at Stoke Doyle Goods on a service to Oundle from Wadenhoe, having previously called at Wadenhoe Road, Pilton. A van awaits to be unloaded in the goods yard. No doubt it's contents are due to be delivered to the nearby Shuckburgh Arms. A good night always awaits at the Shuck!

Down on the Wadenhoe & Lilford Light Railway, Captain Fisher an ex-WDLR Baldwin, minus nameplates is seen in action at Stoke Doyle Goods. A couple observe proceedings. Their Messerschmitt three wheeler can be glimpsed behind.

Hi Tony, here's a couple of mine from my LT inspired layout Juniper Hill Tip. Weathered Bachmann Pannier tanks using acrylics. The Pannier tanks have been detailed including RT Models etched sanding rod levers. Also on St. Oswalds, my layout based on a branchline off the Port Road, in Galloway. A detailed and weathed Bachmann Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 with a Comet Models Darlington narrow chimney. The brakevan is a Dapol BR kit converted to an earlier LNER example. A Bachmann/Rails Caley 512 Class in action with detailed/weathered Hornby 6 wheeled coach. Weathered Hornby LMS horsebox below. Both the Ivatt 2MT and Caley 812 Class have stretched their legs on Little Bytham. Here's 46468 on the M&GN line. Cheers, Mark

More Paneer capers at Juniper Hill Tip. L90 in charge of proceedings

Good evening Tony. I am considering purchasing a temperature controlled soldering iron for etched brass and whitemetal working. I am thinking of purchasing this Antex model: https://www.antex.co.uk/store/p/m12-w9wdk-mg96e-7bnxp-hke3z-ndrtm-cjw7g-cws4k-56tfy-djrm2 Would more knowledgable modellers be able to comment on its suitability. I am not planning on competing with Tony on his level of producing completed kits by the way. As a starter and introduction into etched brass kit building I am considering buiding this RT Models LT Hurst-Nelson brake van kit. https://www.rtmodels.co.uk/london transport hurst nelson brake van kit.jpg I currently have a general purpose 18W Antex iron by the way. Cheers, Mark

It's all gone a bit Berry Wiggins..