Friday Update: Seventeen Five Twenty-four…

Welcome to another round up of the week, the reflection on projects big, small and all in between, of real and modelled and commissions and my own work. Welcome to the Friday Update…

Let’s mix things up this week and kick things off with a few personal projects before taking a look at commission work, and the header image this week is a good example of a modern kit bash! This N scale tank wagon combines a 3D printed chassis (in development from Will at Coventry Rail Works), a plastic kit tank (N gauge society), kit bashed details (N brass and hand made) and custom decals. The result is, I hope, a realistic intepretation of the prototype, a distinctive chemical tank wagon. Of course, it’s far too clean! The prototypes always seemed to be stained or bleached white with the acid, so that will follow in due course, as will some couplings, but for now, I’m really pleased with her! The last of my current N gauge rolling stock projects. 

On Beaverbrook two new arrivals! The obvious one being the Kaslo Shops GP11 kit - which followed the Sweep recently because I had enjoyed working on it so much, and the unique models possible when building your own. This is ‘box fresh’ with just a few small modifications to the donor Athearn Genesis GP9 chassis for the shell to fit, more soon. In the background, slightly less obvious but equally exciting, a set of etched windows I designed for the long warehouse and office building. I’d love to fit these, but I feel I need to get it painted and progressed before adding the frames, as they’ll be easier to paint when not in situ! Perhaps this weekend will be the one where the roof is made?!

In evenings this week I’ve been working on this signal for my Irish project. Constructed from a Studio a Scale Models kit it has been good fun to recreate the double sided level crossing signal. Note the two arms on one post, the modified arm with spectacles inside the arm… wonderfully characterful, it just had to be modelled…

But more than the model itself, I’m incredibly proud of this work. I’ve made plenty of fiddly working things over the years but after a bad experience with working signals many years ago I’ve always shied away from it. Not that I want a working lever frame and interlocked turnouts, but this crossing signal, the act of gently clearing it for passing trains, perhaps even working gates too, felt so part of the Loughrea branch video I shared at the start of the project that I really wanted to include the mindful action in the model. Now I can.

Rushcliffe, more visible progress this week! A road bridge, platforms, rationalised signal, ground frames and point rodding… all small steps forwards. I must get on and start the fiddle yards, if we get a dry spell! 

This scene is already coming to life, and I’m excited to receive the footbridge that forms the centrepiece of the story (if not the scene, as it is stage left) from York Modelmakers this week, that will really start to bring things to life.

Here we have another four Dapol HAA wagons in for back dating, weathering and coal loads. These will join the previous four together with the two tone green 47 I’ve previously completed (and another two HAA in the near future) to create a short but impressive rake! These models are lovely creations, if I had the space I’d be pondering how I could do something in the scale, but I’m glad I went the other way, to British N, which I feel, for me personally, suits my modelling style and approach… mind perhaps one day hey… perhaps a GE44 tonner and a salt hopper?

Harry Saville photo

I was excited to receive an email with some photos of the two narrow gauge carriages I finished recently on their new home. This is Harry’s first real layout and he’s clearly enjoying himself. Great stuff, and I’m pleased how well the models fit in to their surroundings. Remember if you’d like to work with me on your own dream model then do get in touch via the contact form in the menu or via email (link on the commissions page) or forum messaging.

Nothing was sold last Friday, so it’s all still available - help me clear some space here!

• Beaten Track Volume 2 - £20
• Ffestiniog Scenes through the Sixties - £10
• Slaters Ffestiniog 7/8ths wheels, unopened in packs - £10 per pair, £25 for all three sets

Post will be at cost, and extra.

We’ll wrap things up with a photo I took last Sunday of 47449 leaving Carrog with the 10:30 train from Llangollen. This was, for me, a new location to take a photo and worked well, I will consider coming back here and trying again when there is a gala on, as it’s a lovely spot beside the river too… the weekend approaches and as usual, thoughts turn to relaxation, modelling and chores! The grass won’t cut itself, the kitchen still needs a deep clean and the front door needs some repairs! The joys of home ownership. Aside from that my own needs require attention too - and I won’t neglect these either. I hope you all have a recharging weekend, until next time though, more soon…

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