Friday Update: Seven Three Twenty-five…

Good morning. The warm front has arrived a little earlier than expected here and I’m sat typing this in the gloom again, dark and overcast, damp and cold…

So it is nice to remember that only yesterday I had lunch outside but it was the day before when I enjoyed coffee, a biscuit and a book in the afternoon sunshine. What a difference the weather makes to our well-being, the idea of brighter skies and more winter sun certainly is beginning to appeal. What if the book? Another ‘Ian Allan’ A5 sized album, it’s lovely to discover new places, new engines… all of this is alien to me and so fuel for the fire… What of the biscuit? Plain chocolate digestive…

Work has focused on two big tasks this week - the first, the Ruston 44/48 in 7/8ths. The final 3D parts are ordered from Shapeways and the bodywork for a further two of the batch are largely complete. Components for the fourth (final and a late addition) are being worked up - I hope to complete the basics today - and possibly get into wiring. These are taking up quite the space now - and whilst I’m enjoying their progress I will be glad to see the back of them! 

The GVT wagons I’ve been building are now all primed and ready for paint - which is ordered but delayed, this is going to mean a chance to start on another etched brass commissiom next week - it will be nice to have some variety again. Whilst the to do list is growing nicely I’m still taking commissions for 2025, so get in touch if you’d like me to work with you on a project.

The big news this week is the progress of the second Model Railway Companion into print. This has leap frogged Small Layout Design Construction and is likely to be available first… another 80 pages of inspiring great model railways across the world, across the scales and across the gauges. Rumour has it we might make this a proper occasional - the first is about to sell out so if you’ve been sat on the fence now is the time to pick up a copy.

This re-working of the Dapol 26 into a representation of the Llangollen’s 5310 in 1984 has been on hold for a while as I damaged the original glazing when repainting - the first draft of laser cut replacement was good but not quite right… the revised set arrived this week and fitted well so I was able to finish her off, posed here on Lochdubh with the wrong side windows - now rectified.

A limited number of extra sets of the laser cut glazing were produced (thanks Matt) so these are now available through Light Railway Stores… 

On the personal bench this week there has been progress on a number of N scale projects. A repaint of the Kernow NSE 03 to represent D2112 in the early 90s inspired by too much viewing of Boston Docks videos on YouTube (this one in particular). Alongside the gifted Chivers fish van has received a few coats of paint. First Humbrol 72 (sadly discontinued) brushed whilst wet with 28. Once dry faded rail blue was applied as if the paint has peeled, and then some patches of un faded rail blue as if patch painted. Gloss lacquer applied ahead of decals… this is going to be a ‘barrier’ RBV van - about to be condemned. 

The weekend beckons but with it some brighter weather, for now I’ll turn the lights on, perhaps even the layout lights, put on some good radio and plough through the gloom. Until next time, more soon…

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