Friday Update: Twenty Twelve Twenty-four...

Welcome to the first of the seasons’s holiday ‘Friday Update’ - whilst I can’t promise the format will continue next week or the one after, normal service will resume in 2025. However, we do have things to discuss today, so let’s grab a coffee and get right to it…

We’ll kick things off with how it started this week… Coalbridge Street. I had progressed the right hand ‘yard’ area several weeks ago but kept putting off the road and scenery on the left. With the dedicated focus that ‘holiday’ brought I found that one thing follows another so mock-ups from paper were mapped to 1mm mounting card. Glued in place the ground was built up with filler, painted, track ballasted, grass grown and trees planted.

Whilst there is still some way to go the scene is quite pleasing - the mix of tree products work well, although I think I will need a bit more sea moss to soften the leafless birch. I was worried about the juncture of back scene and road but you know, I’m just going to leave it. I think our eyes will sort it out! Once I’m happy with the trees and undergrowth at the back I’ll paint the road, so for now things are very bright… trains running again which is the main thing.

Elsewhere in the workshop a second Class 37 is on the bench. This was a Mainline blue example and the plan is to convert this to represent one of the 97/3s, specifically 304 - the one I witnessed last weekend. Yes, the experience was so strong that it was less than 12 hours later before I picked up a cheap example from Rails. The current quandary is now to tackle the Talyllyn plate - I think I could probably just have the ‘logo’ from the website printed as a decal, but maybe it needs re-drawing. We shall see… 

From Coalbridge Street to Denton Road - there is a lot to share about this one too, but I’ll do a proper post about progress, suffice to say that my least favourite part of the project is pretty much done. Just one last light to wire up, but that sits under the road bridge which isn’t built yet - guess what the next job is! This view here was taken to check clearances on the platform, and shows promise doesn’t it! Can’t wait to move this one along during the holidays as well!

Finally a dog update. We’re not there yet but big progress with the new puppy (on the right). We’ve gone from lots of trouble to enjoying her becoming part of the family. Pecking order ensures Bronwen is higher up on me than she is, but this was the other night when I was watching the QNS&L on YouTube!

Anyway, I digress! It’s been a good start to the holidays, the kids finish today so it won’t be quite so quiet next week or the one after, but that’s ok. I don’t find this time of year particularly easy but remembering all I’ve learnt, especially this year, about myself it’s ok to find some quiet time for myself, it’s ok to enjoy moments playing a game or sharing a meal - yet recognising that is isn’t all fairy tales and happily ever after. Regular blog service should continue over the holidays, I hope you enjoy the occasional distraction. For now though, until next time, more soon… 

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