Friday Update: Ten Six Twenty-two…

Back to work and back to school and back to the Ruston LB project this week…

The last pair of models, 45mm gauge (2ft prototypes) sit perched on my 32 PMam gauged tramway in the afternoon sun pretty much complete, their weathering now hardening up and a picture that feels real because it is - these are chunky models with a sense of purpose, pictured in the same light that we see the world and their prototypes in, natural. The way light and shadow play over the surface detail and the effect of a hand weathered paint job using artistic methods to suggest decay and wear on an otherwise plastic flat surface allow the miniatures to breathe life. Switch them on and they can do real work. These models live. As the LB program comes to an end, I’m offering places in a small batch for next year at the 2022 pricing (£1330) for just a £130 deposit. Next up is an older and larger Ruston prototype, of which I’ll share more another time.

Speaking of Ruston’s a customer enquired as to could the Hornby Sentinel chassis be used under a Planet Industrials Ruston 165. A quick check suggests not without significant modification! Ruston did offer some of these models as narrow gauge with outside rod drive, however I’ve not looked at the possibility of designing a kit chassis for this style of drive.

As well as Ruston LB, I’ve had this 7/8ths scale Bole Laser Craft kit in for a commission build. Nothing fancy, just out of the box but this model has a few visible tabs in its design, these have been filled and sanded. A little more finishing work is required to bring it to life, but it’s nearly there and was a well thought out model to assemble.

I’ve had my Prince Edward Island CN stock back out for some more photos for an article I’m writing at the moment, and it is lovely to look back at these and continue to be happy with their appearance and finish. They still evoke the emotional response to the original photos I saw of the railway in the late 1970s whilst the GE70t roamed the eastern extremities of the system. When I can share more on where these models will be featured, I’ll write about it here.

Finally, the next step in the N scale project is progressing and I’m writing a longer post on the journey to date. This tease shows the assembled shadow box cameo presentation with integral LED lighting and 12v DC supplied Gaugemaster W for train control. This scheme has moved through it’s genesis quite quickly and will be exciting to work on over the summer. I hope you have a relaxing weekend planned, until next time, more soon…