Matthew Cousins

Good progress!

After about 5 years, the build of this David Andrews A1 kit has been completed by Peter Relf for me and a very nice job too. Will require a little fettling to put up with the vagaries of my outdoor track (it is compensated/sprung) but the wait has been worth it! We had a debate about the BR Express blue and I found a BS colour called 'Roundel Blue' that I think looks good, but this livery is always one for debate as regards the blue. The next stage will be very light weathering as apart from ex-works locos got grubby quickly at this time in the early 1950's. So for these pics on the set of Peter Cowling Pullmans it's in pristine condition, just ex-works.

Beautiful model of a beautiful loco, well done.

The B12 has now been finish painted by Colin Tyler and weathered by the local chap The Weathering Service. The E 4 has been lettered and lined by Colin Tyler, after basic painting by me (Halfords Satin Black) but will not be weathered as the prototype was kept as a pet by Cambridge shed as station pilot in the 1930's. Both taken on the inside part of the layout when the evening sun shines in.

Yes, but that was dress up Saturday!

The garden railway in winter doesn't see any use outdoors, but when the sun comes out it is tempting to use the low angle of the sun to get a winter pic and think of the summer to come. Roedeer is particularly photogenic, I had thought of LNER green for the livery, buy with this being my favourite name for a B1 this loco was always a black one, but lined in red it is attractive and nicely weathered by Neil Podbery.

After owning the DMR kit for a year Mike Russell offered to add it to his build of a batch of B1's from his kit and here about 18 months later (while I saved up!) is the result. Expertly built, with added roller bearings at my request and after livery by Mikes painter and fine light weathering by Neil Podbery I'm now the lucky owner of the loco! The Reading found E4 has now got as far as receiving a coat of black and red buffers from yours truly and will now be finished as 7490 the Cambridge Pilot pet.

Hi Jon, Good to meet you the other day at the Bluebell, many thanks for posting the spare signal arm, which arrived safely and very quickly, I seem to have lost your email from my address book so hope that you pick this message up. Cheers, Matthew Cousins.

The pre-Christmas Reading Trade show, did me in again, as I couldn't resist buying this part made E4 from a friendly trader. It has been very nicely made, but needs the loco chassis assembling - a task that friend Colin has undertaken to help me with! He assures me that the Alan Gibson cast wheels can be made useable even though the insulated wheels are turning on their axles. The E4 had always been on my long term list to get, so I felt that this was very opportune! I managed to sell a surplus tank loco to fund half of the purchase, so not too far out of pocket. Also friend Peter came along to show me how far the A1 (that he's building me from a David Andrews kit) is coming along. Hopefully this will be finished in spring 2016 - I can't wait!

Well done, a great result with a difficult build.

You're right Pete, the photo that I was looking at of 393 was post war, taken in 1946.

Just one minor point, which after such good work on this build is really very minor, is that the numbers were usually larger than the lettering on the LNER livery. Sorry about that, as this build is so much better than the poor job done for me on a similar kit, which is a tricky build I understand. Well done for all the rest of it!

Nice piece of building, well done, wish mine looked as good! As for Black paint, I've found that Halfords Satin black aerosol works pretty well and I was pleased with the finish, but I know that other more serious model painters don't use it (but not sure why?)

Very good job on the valve gear, particularly with the components in the kit. Wish mine looked this good!