Friday Update: Seven Two Twenty-five…

Welcome to another Friday Update and a wrap up of the weeks happenings in and around the studio. It's a bumper issue today, so make sure you've refilled that drink and let me guide you through some exciting developments...

Kicking things off this week is the news that my 'test' laser glazing for the N gauge Dapol Class 26 has arrived! Good news, as a concept it works... and on the whole the fit isn't bad for a first try - but there are a few tweaks to geometry to improve things, especially those cab front windows. Matt Nunn of Harecroft very kindly did these on 0.5mm acrylic for me and they've come out a treat. I'm not sure they offer a massive benefit over 'standard' but in my case, they're a repair - and a very nice one at that! Sadly now a wait for a week or so for the second test ones to arrive - but it feels wonderful to make a flying visit to Lochdubh, it's good to be progressing the Scottish N again.

This week the bench has been full of larger scale commissions with a batch of GVT wagons in 16mm. The four opens are crafted from re-worked Binnie kits. I've finessed the fit of parts, replaced some of the body detailing, carved in wood grain where it's missing and most importantly, replaced the brake gear. We have a pair here with the standard single lever and a pair with the V hanger. These require a careful modification of the Binnie brake shoe moulding - all this effort will be worth it - these are going to be hand finished to a high standard - I'm looking forward to paint - but first, some parts from Trenarron Models need to be fitted next... 

Staying on the Glyn Valley theme I have also been assembling a 'Perfect World' kit of the brake van. This isn't a quick job as it's an assembly of part of wood that need gluing carefully - and this requires time and weights! We're getting there now, but there is a lot more to do before I can even consider appraising the raw model for potential improvements to match the finish on the wagons.

The Hudson GoGo are in the paint shop - but meanwhile I've a fourth Ruston 44/48 to progress - a recent addition to the batch! That means cutting and shaping 40 more louvres and sanding and smoothing a Dean Goods gearbox casting - two less than enjoyable tasks made better by BBC Sounds, a good radio play and some mindful relaxation techniques.

On the home front - I mentioned the dissappointment of the poor running Heljan Class 25 last week - its replacement, the Bachmann equivalent arrived and is absolutely superb. The extra 60 notes definitely worth the detail and finesse - plus the buttery smooth running. You will also notice a third JIA has arrived (and had the clay markings removed) this will be weathered to match my existing pair (I thought a third was worth adding for the Modern Goods scheme - planned for later this year). Behind that a Revolution 'Zander' for the civil engineers fleet I promised myself I'd not indulge...

You see though, my childhood memories of Chester really are only muddy until the 90s - and by then Speedlink was gone. Sidings were not filled with vans and such, but now ballast and spoil wagons plus some exotic looking track equipment - all shuffled about by Class 31 and 37. This felt like it needed representing, so beyond my initial 'kit' Rudd - the Zander adds a second vac braked spoil wagon... but what is that beyond?

This was a beautiful rendition of Jerome K Jerome by Farish. After confirming it ran it was dunked in IPA and stripped back to bare plastic. I've owned a couple of 31s previously, so why have I bought another? One, this was only £107. Two, they were everywhere. Three, I wanted another locomotive to work on.

I plan to finish it as 31467 in BR blue with cantrail stripe - well weathered, as she was from 93 onwards until withdrawal. I'm not sure if I saw her in Chester, but I saw ones like her - she matches the body style of the donor model - but I will be adding wire handrails on the nose as I find the 31, whilst a good model, suffered visually from the very low relief moulded examples. More when my new drill bits turn up and I can make some holes!

As well as the laser cut glazing, Matt sent a few samples of his kits - I'd not seen these in the flesh, its the parts for one half of a Crewe Works cast iron 'bolster' set. The prototypes 18" well represented in 7/8ths on 32mm track. Matt has some lovely kits in his Harecroft range, I've always fancied putting one together, I've even helped with CAD on some parts in the past - this then is a great chance and a kind gift. Thanks Matt.

 

I got out on Wednesday late afternoon - we've had some good weather on and off, and friend Ben (who worked for GBRf) confirmed which cement trains would be running this week. Chirk is a tricky place to get a good photo - but I thought I'd try with the winter trees allowing more viewing, and the low sun hi-lighting the outline of the rail vehicles as they crossed the viaduct. Two photos, taken on my basic iPhone, cropped, show the potential of this location, but I need a better camera to exploit it really.

Dog update - the puppy is well and truly settled now, and her Bronwen have become much friendlier in recent weeks which is a great comfort. Seeing them 'catching the rays' in the hall mid week, just before I headed out to Chirk, was a lovely tonic.

A week tomorrow will see the first trains of the year on the railway - and whilst it's lovely to just 'visit' the level crossing and imagine a train it's even better to enjoy a real one! DMU service on the 15th and 16th, 3 return trains from Llangollen (2 return from Corwen) with a mid-week service too IIRC. I can't wait! This weekend I've got plenty of my own projects to work on, and with Mchowisko complete I can re-focus on one of the longer term layouts here in the studio. Until next time though, more soon...

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