Friday Update: Twenty-eight Two Twenty...

Where has this week gone, flown by again, and it seems like only yesterday I was writing last weeks blog update! Oh well, it's been wet, very wet here again in the Dee Valley, but making the most of the weather when possible taking the dog out in the dry spells and airbrushing between showers...

The tramway has survived the winter so far, and looks to have settled in nicely - some repairs in the spring to make to retaining walls and some of the fencing, but nothing too major. Plans still are just plans for the structures, but I am committing to having some buildings in place by the end of 2020!

It also still serves as an excellent background for taking photos - the Campagne Auto-tracteur in 7/8ths is nearly finished, here seen part way through weathering. It's a devil of a job bringing a large scale model to life, the subtlety you need to work into the finish is rewarding but time consuming, however it's even harder with grey! It just looks like primer if you're not careful - so this has taken many hours to get a subtle variation in the tone, before washes and weathering. I hope to share photos of the finished model next week.

More large scale, this time a GVT coach in 7/8ths as a scratch aid kit. This model is based upon some of the CAD I used when building the 1/12 coaches last summer, but has been re-worked to reflect a Glyn Valley coach by adding a second door and making the ends plain - it's a nice size, I look forward to seeing what the purchaser does with the parts!

Last weekend I did manage to get out and about and enjoyed a trip to Beddgelert and back to Porthmadog on the WHR - so travelled behind both green 143 and newly out shopped SAR liveried 87, which looked splendid in it's accurate colours - lovely to see in North Wales, and the round trip is well recommended if you haven't time for the whole line.

There has also been progress on the large scale 7/8ths Tin-turtles, now the second model, the armoured version, has received it's camoflage markings - these have been hand painted and somewhat of a labour of love, marking out, painting, repainting and then edging in black. This will provide a base for quite a heavy weathering in the coming weeks.

Also this week I've been working on some new projects, which I can share soon, as well as preparing other commissions for work, drawing CAD, sourcing materials. I've also managed a bit of time on some of my own models. We've got a few releases planned in March and April in the 6point5 and Planet Industrials ranges so keep your eyes peeled - and then a larger 009 project for release later in the year based upon a 0-6-2st - but I'll say no more for now...

Have a good weekend! More soon...