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Nicely composed shot Robin with an eye of an artist... A GWR railcar never offends by the way... * Cheers, Mark * Not in my eyes anyway... 😉

Lovely to see the Top Banana.... Can we have some more shots please. Perhaps with an artistic flair..... Cheers, Mark

Resistance is futile Mr Duck...... 😉

Is there a TR7 or Allagro on display?

Please can you ask Mr Kohler about the progress on the new GWR 10xx County Class? 😉

Is that young Robin's? Didn't 4564 work on the Kingsbridge branch? Or am I mistaken and have eaten too much Blue Vinny? Cheers, Mark

I was looking for a secondhand J27 for a good friend on eBay and came up with a load of faulty ones from a seller called Eloise Davies. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/165409135560?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=NgViQ2nRSTi&sssrc=2349624&ssuid=MNMqJGNPSxi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY Looking further into what she has for sale it includes N7's, Dean Goods and Adam's Radial tanks. I presume these are returns to Oxford Rail. Looking at the listings it does not appear to list the faults specifically so it looks like a bit of a gamble. Could be a good source of spare parts mind. Has anyone on here taken the bait and actually purchased one of these items listed by Eloise Davies? Cheers, Mark

Leaving Bittaford is always advisable..😉 Avoiding the House of Doom (Horse and Groom) was well recommended too. 😁

Just had an email from KR Models saying my order from October 2021 is being processed. Make what you like of that but hopefully they will be with us soon.. Cheers, Mark

Very sad news indeed. I saw Iain in action a few times operating his layouts at exhibitions but never got to speak to him. His layouts and writing were and still will be a source of inspiration. His enthusiastic writing style and wonderful illustrations certainly enabled me to develop as a modeller. Condolences to his family and friends. Mark

I'm not sure how many H diagram Siphons were made? 🤔 Never say never with Accurascale though...😉 I thought you had used the Dean bogies on one of your projects. Like you say highly recommended. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Robin, I planning on painting the Siphon in BR crimson. Is there a Siphon H on ANTB by the way? I need to put an order with MJT for gas tanks, vacuum cylinders and 'V' hangers. With a bit of scratch building of the trussing (Not Liz!!) on the underframe it should lift this venerable old model nicely. I will look at the brake gear as well for a representation. I think you've used these 3D printed bogies previously as well on some of your stock. Out of interest does any have a diagram of the underframe or a Siphon H to hand? Cheers, Mark

Like many of us we often have numerous projects on the go. From a personal point of view I have the BR Clan's and Dapol BR Manor Class to complete. See my previous blog postings. All being well these should soon be completed. I have had an old Airfix Siphon H in my 'to do box' for a while. A quick strip down and prototype research reveled that Airfix had fitted the wrong bogies which on a Siphon H should be 9ft American Style. The existing bogies where put to one side. Then I removed the buffers, vacuum tanks and gas tanks with a pair of Xuron track cutters. These areas were made good with a scalpel, sand paper and files. I ordered the correct 9ft American bogies as a pair, 3D printed from Shapeway. I believe these are designed by Stafford Road Modelworks. https://www.shapeways.com/product/CT854ECA7/gwr-9-american-bogie-airfix-Hornby-fit?productConfiguration=60118509&etId=202691468&utm_source=automated-contact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=order-shipped&utm_content=5 The bogie prints are a bit rough and the detail is ill defined however from normal viewing distance the correct impression is given. The bogies were cleaned up with a soak in white spirit and also a fibreglass brush. Then Romford brass axle bearings were fitted and masked off. A quick blast of Halfords grey primer and satin black finished the job. Using the existing mounting pins the bogies are a direct replacement. Bachmann coach wheels fit nicely. Buffers were replaced with Slater's GWR coach buffers. LMS Models provide the coupling hooks. That's play for today with more planned including replacing the gas tanks and vacuum cylinders with MJT components and scratch building a few underframe elements. Another Airfix build has involved a 10ft RCH chassis in the stock of spares. Armed with plastic sheet a basic Conflat was built. I have Cambridge Custom Tranfers to hand so as to finish in early BR colours I made the fixing rings from fuse wire. Buffers and coupling hooks from LMS Models as previous. Tie bar is also from Microstrip. Thanks for looking. More soon. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Peter. Very kind words. The backscene is a stock ID Back Scene which I've managed to lower for a better scale effect. Cheers, Mark

Hi Chris, That's the lot. It's all on one 110cm Lack. Nice and compact. When I operated it at the Filey Show although it is the most basic of track layouts I was entertained enough during the 6 hours of the show whilst talking to the punters. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Chris, I think Stoke Doyle flew under the radar 😉 With regards to the dimensions of Stoke Doyle it is a standard IKEA Lack 110cm x 26cm shelf. There's actually a few jobs to finish on the layout so there will be a few more updates shortly. Thanks once again. Mark

As Rudy Reyes, Chief Instructor from Ch4's Celebrity SAS would say.... "Gooood job!!'.. Cheers, Mark

I recently placed an order from Dartmoor Model Services for a couple of GWR Lamp Huts and some Milk Churns. Today I received the excellent prints that have winged their way from South Devon all the way to the West Riding. Wonderful prints that are crisp and capture the prototypes nicely. I am looking forwards to getting some paint on them. I will post a blog entry shortly. Great service from Matt and Nick and well recommended. As an aside can I suggest an LMS brick built platelayers hut. I am sure a model version does not exist in 4mm scale. Cheers, Mark

Lovely work Alex. The time taken with the weathering has brought out the detail nicely in the print. As it happens I am awaiting the arrival of my order from Dartmoor Model Services with one of these huts. Matt and Nick have turned things around quickly. Think CK's case for the Berry Wiggins tankers sounds very plausible. Cheers, Mark

Just caught up with this Alex. A cracking start and the scene is set! That Model Rail/Rapido 16xx is weathered nicely. It looks like you attended to the troublesome bunker seam as well. Will there be any Bradley (Berry) Wiggins representation on Lydbrook Dean? If you are after some more Forest reading material Ben Ashworth's 'BR Steam in Dean' is well worth a read as is Neil Parkhouse's 'Forest of Dean Lines and the Severn Bridge. Plenty of Forest inspiration. If your after a BR Class 14 Heljan are about to release a Forest themed set with four Dogfish ballast hoppers. https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/72015/1420-Heljan-Class-14-Train-Pack-BR-green-D9505-4-Dogfish. Look forwards to further updates. Cheers, Mark

Rails let me know mine had been posted today. It's winging it's way to an old Wellingborough (15A) fireman who remembers the prototype in action or not as the case may be. It was often seen on skates having failed on it's way back to Derby... Must say it will be good to hear what he thinks off it and eventually see it running on his layout. Cheers, Mark

Recenty I've been working on my two EFE Class 17's addressing the headcode lettering/numbers and also the excessive ride height of the models. Steve (Pixie of this parish) has previously posted his modifications he had carried out on his Class 17 on here rectifying the issues. Sadly, I think his snaps have been lost from the thread due to technical issues earlier in the year. I was fortunate enough to catch up with Steve at the 2mm Fine Scale Derby bash earlier this year. I was able to discuss his modifications and see his Class 17 in the flesh so to speak. Armed with Steve's words of wisdom I started work on my pair. The bogies were gently pulled off and the excessive gear greasing was removed with cotton buds. Using Xuron track cutters the vertical pick up prongs were reduced in height. Using Graham Farish coupling springs on each pick up prong the ride height is suitably reduced. Strips of suitably cut to size black insulating tape covered over the headcode boxes. I also took the liberty of removing the bodyshells and isolating the headcode lighting using insulating tape. Fox Transfers 2mm Scale headcode blind lettering/numbers were applied using headcodes from the North Eastern Region. Owing to the incorrect size of the headcode boxes the lettering/numbers were applied in an uneven manner to give a prototype resemblance. DG Couplings to be fitted and parts of the detail pack have been added. I am trying to work out how to fit the front steps without fouling the bogie swing. The headcode modifications are certainly worth it for lifting the appearance of this model. My pair will be the workhorses on a layout based on Ford Works paper mill siding. For those interested in the prototype the book on the Class 17's by John Hooper; An Illustated Historical Review: Clayton Type 1-Class 17 published by Book Law Publications is a recommended read. Cheers, Mark

I popped into TMC to pick up a few bits on Thursday afternoon. Always worth a visit and a good day out on the Moor. I saw these G5's in the display case next to the till area. I must say they do look superb with lovely detail and finish. I did ask about the chances of a BR/GER example appearing in the future. The answer understandably was possibly in the future but no confirmed plans yet. Out of the BR versions to be produced would it be possible to renumber one as as an BR/GER example? Or is it a case of patiently waiting? Cheers, Mark

That's the one... 😎

Someone say Bradley Wiggins...😛 (4F-059-005) Class B Berry Wiggins Black 101 Brilliant news. Think Dapol are on a roll... Thanks for the heads up Robin. Cheers, Mark