Friday Update: Twenty-seven Six Twenty-five…

They seem to be speeding up as we hurtle towards the school holidays, each week passing faster than the last and we’re here again, contemplating another Friday Update…

You’d be forgiven for thinking my love of 80/90s Speedlink Railfreight inspired Paxton Road was waning with recent projects focused upon Denton Road, Gerald Road, Penpont Dries and the Burry Port and Gwendraeth… but despite this myriad of inspiration and distraction the lure of its two parallel sidings remains… the blue 31 resting between trip workings above and some news on a new wagon, later!

A few commissions finished this week, as I took a bit of a break from Lametton (apart from some minor tree surgery). These will be described in the coming weeks with the usual photos but I’m quite pleased with how this pair of old 3D printed diesels have come out for a customers sugar cane narrow gauge tramway. The surface finish of that on the right not as bad as I had feared, both lightly sprinkled with details and windscreen wipers over a lightly weathered finish. If you have a model or kit you’d like me to breathe some life into I can work in all scales and gauges and can work to match the scope to your budget.

Staying with a narrow gauge theme the Boot Lane Kerr Stuart has received a gloss coat ahead of decals - this one is almost there now but as with a few models in the works list here, waiting on etched plates to finish off… also pictured, and yes, also of the same scale! (16mm/ft) is the LocoRemote Motor Rail 10hp - I have smoothed, primed, smoothed and primed some more and even with hours of this there is still a touch of the layering from the filament printed parts visible. Hoping this becomes less obvious under a satin lacquer and some weathering, but it’s streets ahead of where we started where the base of the bonnet and top of the bonnet are printed in different orientations leading to visible ‘striping’ in different directions! 

Seeing these two models reminds me of the vastly different ways we can call enjoy the hobby - even in the same scale and gauge.

Last weekend I took the opportunity to take another ride on the Llangollen Railway, rather enjoyably behind the Class 31. It put me in mind of the Rail-scape audio sound scape I recorded on board the same locomotive a few weeks previously. This workman-like locomotive is very well looked after and sounds rather wonderful in the valley, always a pleasure to take a trip with her…

 

Finally, to end where we started with Paxton Road - and a new wagon taking shape. This is a pre-production sample of the next Coventry Railworks model - the Procor PAA/PAB covered hopper, built for Lime but some more infamously converted for alumina. There was a flow from the Peak District that was moved by Speedlink so I felt justified in adding one to the stock box. Pretty much a one piece print (the top is a seperate part so Will can offer the lime / alumina option) it is exceptionally neat and well designed. I’ve painted and applied the decals which were supplied with my example, not sure if these will be included in the final product… weathering will likely be two stages… General dirt and then some white lime deposits, but certainly full of character.

I’ve taken advantage of the milder dry but not scorching weather this week - and have cut the grass, the hedge and washed the cars already - so that means a weekend without chores ahead! Perhaps some model making, definitely some reading, possibly some train spotting… a chance to rest too… and catch up with myself. I ran Beaverbrook again last night, which was the first time since Rail-ex really, and it was a great deal of fun so I suspect that will take some part of the weekend too… Anyhow, I hope you’re all well, thank you once again for reading and taking part - have a great weekend and until next time more soon…

Support my work

I love writing and creating material for the blog. If you enjoy what you read and engage with I would be appreciative of any donation, large or small, to help me keep it advert and restriction free. Alternatively, feel free to buy me a coffee.