Friday Update: Nineteen Nine Twenty-five…

Welcome to Friday and another opportunity to wander through this weeks workbench. Get yourself a drink, possibly a biscuit and let’s begin… 

Coalbridge Street seems to feature a lot this week, at least as a stage set! Its proximity to the workbench certainly helps but the warmth of the autumnal sunshine is inviting too - between times I’ve enjoyed switching the new B&M box car as well as these new Moriarty and Lumberton pulpwood cars. However, a strange load pictured here! I’ve finally, after more years than I care to remember, have finished my Narrow Planet RNAD crew van - seen here just before glazing and final assembly - more on that next week.

More 009! This time a Peco bowsider reassembled after a repaint into Ffestiniog 1930s livery. You’ll also note a pair of old friends, the two green coaches were from a commission last year - all are back, along with a Bachmann Baldwin, for a little weathering as a set. More on these next week as I will finish them off today. 

The big Baldwin has received a coat of satin lacquer, glazing, coal and Modelu crew. Weathering and some etched works plates are now all that stands between this and my customer. Again, posed on Coalbridge Street, showing the flexibility of this slice of New England!

Back on the shelf and a selection of N! With the departure of the 03 and 08 last week I had a little spending money - I’ve picked up another Kernow 08 (to become Haymarket’s 08710 in BR blue) and an EFE clay tiger. I’ve owned one of these before but sold it when I got rid of my Cornish stock - this time it’s a Scottish theme - as they were seen at Thornton yard and tripped down the Auchmuty branch to Tullis Russell. However, whilst the 08 has been an easy rework and is already detailed and paint removed in IPA the long white bogie wagon was noticeably warped along its length. After stripping it right down to parts I have had some heavy weights sat on the centre of the frame - it’s having some effect, and it will be easier to weather the parts individually too! More on both these projects next week. You can also see the ISIS link steel wagon, good progress made on this last week but now waiting for revised container prints - and the donor tank left over from the conversion. I have a mind to use this for a Croxton and Garry calcium carbonate tank…

I don’t offer North American commissions but this is a favour for a friend. A repaint of his rather lovely Alco S4 (an Atlas Master) is on the cards, but I was curious how it would feel on Coalbridge Street… the answer is…

Sadly too big,

However it makes a good photo! A few projects in mind for this weekend. I’ve got to build a fiddlestick for Gerald Road that is being collected a week tomorrow - but if the woods out, perhaps I could cut a base for another Mosslanda or even the coal layout? It would be nice to have something else beginning as Denton Road finishes… we’ll see… diesels out on the railway this weekend too - might try for a ride. If you’re about let me know. Otherwise, enjoy your weekend wherever you are, and until next time, more soon…

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