Friday Update: Fifteen Eight Twenty-five…

Every week these updates provide a punctuation mark, a sense of pace and marker as time passes. Sometimes they seem a week apart, as you’d expect. This time it only seems yesterday I was writing last Friday…

Down on Beaverbrook not much has been happening... but I couldn't resist the chance to pick up this lovely orange box car from a friend who was moving his North American collection on - so as to make space for a British N diversion!! This is a car he commissioned from Smokebox Graphics, in the US. It's an Atlas car that has been patched and weathered... all very nice, but it does make me realise just how well my own weathered and patched cars stand muster - I'd say, as good, if not surpassing this 'trade' finish... 

Something a little different, commission wise, is this Roco 4 car passenger express unit I am reworking to represent an example running in Poland at the end of its life. This has involved removing existing markings and drawing up some custom decals - it is going to be a fun project - and something to brighten up the bench here for a few weeks! This model, made in Austria, is a wonderful thing - it has me wondering why it's possible for the Europeans to support a properly domestic manufactured RTR model business, but not us Brits?

With two other commissions finished off, and more to start next week, the next part of Claud Hamilton was polished off this week with the revised body shell a success the etch artwork could be developed. There is a long way to go on this involved commission but it will be spectacular when complete.

To round out my own fleet of 16t mineral wagons, which until now have all been MCO, I picked up a MCV. I faded the brown a touch as I did with the OBA recently and then weathered her in the usual manner. This brings the ‘finished’ number to 11 - with one in the box to be weathered for my new book at some point. I must get on with the coal layout now!

Last Sunday (and for all the Sundays in August) the Class 14 is operating a Glyndyfrdwy shuttle. For a reduced fair, aimed primarily at families, this shorter journey brings passengers from Llangollen to the village where the cafe and bar are open along with the park and play area in the village. We will see how it does, but it was nice to watch a few extra trains and grab a beer before lunchtime last weekend!

Finally, a bit of a favour for Alan and Will - I’m working on a WW2 airfield diorama to show my model railway methods to a different audience. These models here were finished as I weather wagons and paint figures for my layouts - and show that model making skills are transferable - but don’t worry, I have no interest in war machines and this is not a regular occurrence! The idea is to show a subtle and effective ‘cameo box’ presentation to display the model and how that can be used at home for those who do enjoy this sort of thing…

This weekend should see a friend visiting to see the workshop and ride some trains tomorrow and then, I might take a run down to Llangollen on the shuttle on Sunday - or just have another beer! The weather has cooled down significantly but it’s still very busy here - which is good to report. I’m tired and worn out, but at least feel on the mend after whatever has hit me this week. I hope you all have a good one, and as always, 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.