Mark C

Here's a couple of Parkside (now Peco) 4mm examples (far too long in the work-in-progress siding)...the first by and large as per the kit (with added vacuum pipes and steel bufferheads); the second a mix of Parkside's body and their LNER hopper underframe. Regards

Just an observation - no more - as an eagerly expectant recipient of two and based only on the photographs posted so far...the cab side and front window fit looks better on the green than the Rail Blue version... Tin hat on...

x40 - that's a pallet load of it!!

Ditto with Kernow MRC....

Ah, the domain of 31s, 47s and even 40s and 46s in the good old days!!

How did you manage that?!! I tightened down my Firefox security settings but all that managed to do was block the ads' content and just leave that irritating blank white advert bar across the top that takes up a quarter of the screen...

I particularly like the variation in ballast appearance and colour in the nearest track in the final photo. It very realistically and subtly recognises that ballast is not uniform in either and is affected by dripping water, steam and oil etc etc. How did you achieve that? Thanks Mark

Back in the day I used to travel long distances just to see Ray's Gedney Drove and still have the magazine article featuring the layout from all those years ago. It was that that finally persuaded me to model the M&GN. Regards Mark

This might have been mentioned before, but 45 103 at some time had oval buffers (at one end at least) (September/October Traction page 12)... Mark

I've just had a clear out of most of my old versions (similarly, there's only three left) but - particularly the original blue box release - they are/were attracting good prices on eBay... This first release will be followed by others - neither of the two the schemes from the box use the squared off fin top, but the components are there on the sprues. My station/yard baseboard will rapidly become a dispersal area!!

Next in line - but they might take a while...

Hello, yes that's very helpful - thanks. I've just added both paints to my current Hannants order. Regards Mark

I do like your treatment of the van's steel ends! For the (Southern-style?) van which acrylic did you use to get that subtle difference to the enamel paint? Mark

Alan - yes, you're right about the Wymondley bypass and the electrification works to a lot of the bridges....the angle in the photo just doesn't look right, but it could be a trick on the eye.... Don't worry - she's used to sitting in seemingly random places close to railway lines....!! Regards Mark

I'm with PupCam - I'm not entirely convinced: the A1(M) bridge has quite a skew and nowhere near at a right angle to the railway; I would lean towards the A602 Stevenage-Hitchin road instead ie the one from which the view over the parapet was taken. I live just off the edge of the Google map - I'll try and take a trip out to the Chantry Lane bridge and from there compare its' construction; it's a bit more difficult to get a better view of the A1 bridge. Zoom in closer and you might see my wife's car at the riding stables...!! Mark

...Sun Castle should be here tomorrow, courtesy of Bure Valley Models...

...me too, from Hertfordshire (pre-lockdown, of course!)...

Thanks Brian That is likely to equate to a Tuesday arrival here - their (post-free) delivery is invariably via a 24-hour service (me photographing it will probably take longer...). Mark

Take a peek at Bure Valley Models for Sun Castle and Steady Aim...(now one less in stock of the former)...they have also become/are becoming an Accurascale retailer too (no attachment etc)... Mark

Either way, it's a Long Road out of Eden (fear not, I'm Already Gone....) Mark

I like those too. I'm particularly interested in the wagon in the second photo - were the cranks, compensators etc. along the longitudinal centre line put together by you? I have a template of how they look from a Slater's O Gauge wagon, but (other than Rumney Models) haven't found 4mm equivalents. Mark

Excellent rendition!! Isn't it always the way...you wait ages for one to come along and then... I have purposely opted for Airfix's kit - 50+ years on, their's is still the best 9ft underframe - brakegear from Red Panda's underframe kit, Lanarkshire Models' Oleo buffers and Modelmaster transfers...I just need some time now to begin construction...

Two of these beauties arrived today via Lowestoft, so this will be my non-railway modelling project until three Vulcans land...so, hurry up after market: I need paint masks, cockpits and more RAF options please!!

Hello Gordon I've finally been able to give my loco a run on a rolling road (very smooth) and to check the footplate - yes there is a very small wave in the vicinity of the sandbox backing plate on the left hand side. It's not particularly pronounced, but I will look at easing the component whose fit looks to be causing the distortion. If you do yours first let us know how you get on... Sun Castle next, I think, especially if it's suitable for renumbering/naming as Owen Tudor (or is that one of those minefields?)... Regards Mark

You're very welcome. I think the model's appearance just oozes power... Regards Mark