Friday Update: Thirteen Twelve Twenty-four...

Looks like we made it! It's Friday, you're here, it must be coffee time again and a chance to review the last week of commissions on the bench in 2024...

I am so very tired - those of you who know me will recognise how much has been going on 'beyond the blog' this year. I get up each day, putting one foot in front of the other and looking back have churned out another bumper year of work for you all - and on the whole, I've enjoyed every moment. That said, I'm tired - not just physically but emotionally too... Christmas is always a difficult time of year for me, not helped by the un-ending gloom of the valley so I like to take an extra week of holiday and spend some time, well, a lot of time, on my own projects in the run up to the children's holiday. This week then, the last of commissions for the year, but actually, not a lot to show here as it's already pretty much gone out the door!

However, we'll start with mention once more of the generosity of Simon with the TTA - and as well, a few other items - the first pair of his donation are above, now ready for weathering. The TTA has been forward dated to a 'generic' loco fuel tanker - yes, the hazchem code is wrong but I'm not going to sweat it. I like the way the old markings blend with the patches and the new decals - and of course it has had the spring conversion I shared mid week. Alongside is a TPM body with Farish Poole era parts to make a VBA van that I have finished in Railfreight red - despite it's years, with thinned buffers and a little material removed from a few parts on the under frame (oh and new wheels) I think it will look ok weathered up, in the Speedlink rake!

Expensive week here too - because the Ruston 44/48 batch have seen the digital control systems ordered - these are the biggest outlay on the build but well worth it for the play factor they bring to this beefy models! You can see her I've mocked up all the bits constructed so far - I've just ordered the cab and some 'skeleton' parts for the bonnet so I can make a start on the bodywork in anger... and good news, I've just been able to add a fourth model to the batch - which certainly improves the return on the design and development work. 

The last job of the year will hopefully be building the front radiator covers, and if there is time, the bonnet tops for these three Hudson GoGo tractors. I did swear I'd build no more but have recently been asked to do another one - so if there is anyone else out there who fancies one in 16mm then this is your last call, because I am unlikely to tackle these again in the future! The 'final' batch will be build next summer - get in touch to reserve one.

A fairly straight forward job has been assembling painting and finishing a batch of sugar bins and modifying some Minitrains wagons to carry them for the same customer who commissioned the trio of green 009 steam locomotives earlier in the year. These have real presence. The smaller bins are resin castings but the larger ones were flat kits, built up from 3D printed parts - not straight forward really as the design probably exceeded the ability of the printer, but we got there with them! There is more on this journey to come, I'm expecting to do a few diesels in the new year for the same project - possibly even a layout towards the end of 2025.

Ian Holmes has kindly mentioned my influence in his video this week - suggesting he might try both N and 16mm on a Mosslanda shelf!! This one is for you Ian, I've posed my 7/8ths G-series and skip on my own Mosslanda... don't give me ideas!

Finally, I have been ummmming and ahhhhing for a week or so about doing another diesel in N. I've already got a 37/0 under the tree to re-do as a Inverness example for the Lochdubh project but with the flurry of activity with my HEAs I have spent too long looking at photos of Railfreight Coal liveried examples out of Canton... having always quite liked the 37/5s and /7s with the former split head code conversion I picked up a Loadhaul example for a reasonable price from Rainbow Railways this week... as I type this the model has already been stripped down, the paint removed and work started on modifying the bodywork for the 37/7 model and some Fox decals should be here before Christmas! I think, lowered, this model in the classic Railfreight three tone grey livery is going to look stunning, so heavy and purposeful - and really challenge our perceptions of N scale - it's exciting.

So it's the Manchester exhibition this weekend, perhaps I should make the effort to get along and spend some time on myself, enjoying the show as a punter rather than being on display myself. That said, there is always a good reason NOT to travel to Manchester, especially on a Saturday, especially on a Saturday shortly before Christmas! Next week is going to be a breath of fresh air as I begin to tick off jobs on my own layout projects that I have put off because of lack of headspace. I have no pre-conceptions about what will be possible, just the aim to enjoy whatever comes. Of course, blogging will continue, as much for own sanity as anyone else's! However, I hope in the meantime you have a good weekend and manage a bit of hobby indulgence. Until next time, more soon...

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