Friday Update: Twenty-three Five Twenty-five…

It doesn’t seem just two weeks ago I was loading the car for a trip down to Bath, but here we are, and I’m loading the car again, this time for a trip to Aylesbury. The week has been excitingly varied, so before I finish putting a weekend bag together, let’s wrap things up here…

Commissions large and small, design through to scratch building. Let’s kick things off with the large GWR 2-10-2t is emerging in paint and looking vaguely plausible which is something of a miracle considering the Frankenstein construction! I wouldn’t say the results are elegant, but certainly feel very GWR.

This week has also seen first cuts on Lametton Halt, my next layout build commission. The cameo box features a slice of the Looe Branch, inspired by St Keynes but with flavours of elsewhere too…

In the same scale, but a narrower gauge and on the bench after primer last week are this rake of Talyllyn coaches (along with another ubiquitous Dolgoch). Working my way through the paint finish on these - next step is decals. I’ve previously used Endon for these, but I am thinking I’m going to draw up my own - Endon are great in larger scales but the carrier film is a little thicker than my usual supplier and whilst they’re perfect scale, often the models in 4mm are slightly compromised so the decals don’t fit!

Staying with a Talyllyn theme, but moving up a few scales I’m working on a Boot Lane Works ‘Sir Crispin’ in 16mm/ft. A laser cut and 3D printed kit that is neatly designed, but a word of caution… the acrylic frames have a weak point where the motor cut outs are - mine snapped here and has been repaired and strengthened on the inside. Acrylic will snap to sharp(ish) inset corners and because the frame stretcher has a hole in this part too, there isn’t a lot of strength. It’s fine until you start adding parts and details and it becomes much heavier and then more fragile too… bodywork next week.

As well as finishing off the U23B that features top, and below, I’ve added some initial weathering to the cut down 03. I appreciate many of you will notice and comment upon the wheels and rods being ‘over scale’ but as I’ve said before, there is something rather magical about these tiny models. The tell tales in this case only serving to remind me of how tiny they are… 

The weekend is going to be tiring I’m surely but enjoyable. I’m exhibiting with Paul Marshall-Potter again, he is taking his Maple River layout and I will be taking some 90s stock to contrast to the earlier periods… the U23B will be attending too - as will 1751, the ex Bay Colony GP7. Do come along and say hello if you’re attending, it’s always lovely to see old friends and meet new ones, especially blog readers. I believe Bill Hudson books will be hosting Simon of Wild Swan, and James will have stock of all my books - as I’m sure other book sellers will as well - happy to sign any copies if you pop over… 

Enjoyable yes, but tiring. I’ll be looking forward to a more leisurely Monday before another week at the bench. I hope you have a good weekend and manage some hobby or railway interest. Maybe I’ll see you at Rail-ex, but if not, until next time, more soon…

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