Gypsy

Take a step back, chill, and don't let the b******s get you down. Very best wishes from another victim of the hound.

100% Pretty much my experience on exercises though to be fair to them the Crab Chinook ERT/MERT crews clearly thought they were matelots and I was once hooked from a very hairy situation by a Puma, much to our surprise. That said, they'd dropped us there in the first place.

Many happy memories of seeing a Jungly coming in several parts of the world... Good memories of jumping out of a few too. Good luck with the move.

Thank you very much indeed! Figure painting is something I quite enjoy - and am getting better at - so I'll do them myself! Loco weathering on the other hand needs a lot more practice, but practice makes perfect(ish), or at least good enough! Thanks again and best wishes, Gyp

Thanks Tom - I understand... I thought they might be Modelu - not sure what search terms to use though - can you remember how they're described?! Many thanks and best wishes, Gyp

I've said it before but its such a shame that Tom has felt unable to post outside Facebook (which I don't use, probably for similar reasons to his stopping posting elsewhere). Does anyone know, or could someone who does use his Facebook group ask, where the seated figure in the guard's van is from? Many thanks, Gyp

Maybe, but there is no resulting blast/flash damage to the paintwork. Appologies for the off topic, but of relevance (to the weathering) is that fact that there would be charring/smoke damage in the event of a fuel fire as well as considerably more rust. Your point about empty is very true though. I've seen a burst of tracer go straight through a fuel (petrol) bowser with the only result being several streams of petrol pouring out of the resulting holes.

Petrol, in my experience of warzones, tends to burn not explode. Certainly the Hollywood trope of a car exploding when a bullet hits it is BS. Petroleum vapour on the other hand does explode, but even that is surprisingly hard to do. The tank on the left has been hit by something that penetrated from the outside, though the creasing at the bottom of the hole does suggest a decent sized blast. The one one the right shows something either went bang inside or went straight through it. But the shrapnel holes don't fit with a fuel explosion so I would go with the latter. The lack of blast/flash scorching to the paintwork of both wagons also suggests that the damage is unrelated to any former contents. Knowing a little about Beirut, I would hazzard a guess at target practice or merely bored militiamen with access to too many dangerous toys.

Don't push things too hard and get better soon Rob

On the contrary, the more modern Almaza hoardings look nothing like that. Its one of the things that generated an instant recollection.

Stunning. The only time I visited Beirut was a fair bit after the period you're modelling but you have definitely captured the mashaeir ('vibe') that I remember.

Yes - just found this... Does Kato still do (what I presume is) the old style Portram chassis and if so where can I get one?!!!

Does anyone know if there are plans for a new run of any of the Quarry Hunslets?!

Merry Christmas Rob, thanks for the inspiration and here's to a quick recovery - all the best for 2024, Gyp

Merry Christmas - and thanks for the inspiration!!!