Friday Update: Eight Ten Twenty-one…

I’m sat writing this wondering where the week has gone! It’s been a busy week with my aging ‘modern classic’ hot hatch in for its service and several errands and deliveries, however I’ve pushed forwards with several projects so go and get yourself a drink and sit down for a read though your coffee break…

Ruston LB in 7/8ths, prototype progressed to working model.

After last weeks excitement (and video) of getting the gearbox and chassis assembled and wired I’ve pushed forwards and wired up the Ruston LB prototype. Shown here with the buffer beams tacked in place and a Model-earth driver sat on board, along with a paper mock up of the bonnet side etched brass door gives a feel of where things are heading.

I’m currently looking into the option of having Si Harris do a custom sculpt for me, specifically for this model which would be included in the price, but I’d be selling the surplus figures on, price would be around £40. Do get in touch if you’re interested…

I’m driving the 05 on Renfrew Wharf.

The driver figure for the Heljan 05 arrived, and yes, it’s a mini-me… my customer and I decided it would be a fun touch if I lived on in miniature on Renfrew wharf. The layout will be off to its new home this weekend. I’ve got a few more photos to share on this shortly, of a ‘later’ period, and I hope to get some input from him for a joint blog post alongside these photos.

The layout design and build has been a wonderfully collaborative experience, I’ve genuinely enjoyed every step of the journey. If you’ve got a layout idea you’d like to explore then get in touch, you’d be looking at Spring 2022 before I can start construction however that gives us plenty of time to work through design in the meantime. The new contact form is on the home page (click the blog title) and then the ‘=‘ menu on the top left. Alternately the Facebook page also works, I look forward to hearing from you.

009 Lyd2 in gloss white and a rolling Barclay chassis in P4.

Other commissions are ticking along… the Lyd2 has been smoothed and prepped, and now is in gloss white, hardening off before I mask it for the blue. The High Level Andrew Barclay 0-6-0t chassis is in P4, and I’ve now got a rolling chassis. Because it’s fully compensated it’s tricky to adjust the quartering, and I do hate these Gibson wheels, but once the front axle pivot bar is in place I can make any final tweaks, at present I’m 99% happy with it. Next up will be the brake gear I think, it’s gone together without too much drama so far, but reminds me of why I don’t work in P4 myself. The level of precision in finish isn’t difficult to achieve, but takes a great deal of concentration and patience…

U18B, GP9RM and SW1500 all in TerraTransport green, line up on Beaverbrook.

On the home bench in evenings during the week, my TerraTransport U18B, the model that ‘started it all’, along with the Dartmouth Terminal SW1500 have gained ditch lights. These are castings from Kaslo shops, fitted with cheap ‘nail art’ 2mm jewels. A few touch ups and adjustments to make, but the addition brings these models into my time period, by the 1990s any unit that regularly crossed public roads was required to have these fitted…

My next H0 project, the BC Rail CRS20.

…also from Canada, the RS18 pilots arrived from Kaslo too, fitted to my BCR Shops CRS20 model. These have saved me a lot of scratch building. The Canadian RS18’s front pilot was significantly different to its Alco RS11 counterpart, and in my case, to the RS32 chassis I was using from the donor Atlas model. I med to drill a few more holes in the shell before I can begin to add parts like the horn, bell, wiring conduits, lift rings, pipe work and handrails. I will add handrails and door handles after painting though, to save heart ache whilst masking and applying decals!

Despite being surrounded by new projects, both my own and customer commissions, it’s a real tonic to soak in the atmosphere provided by Pont-y-dulais. Always on display and lit at the flick of a switch, this week it’s the late 1980s, and it appears the shunter is more interested in the Escort in this moment… 

I hope you have a relaxing weekend. I’m planning on wiring up the engine shed tracks on my new 009 micro layout and getting out for a longer walk if possible. Until next time more soon…