Friday Update: Seventeen Ten Twenty-five…

Welcome to Friday and what a week! Three commissions across the finish line, some new design work making progress and an autumnal trip to Porthmadog. Oh, and we’ve some customer photos and a review of one or two of my own current projects. Get comfortable and read on…

The first completed model this week was the subject of Monday’s blog - the industrial behemoth from Bagnall… the other two models that by the end of today will have crossed the line are the etched Alan Gibson kit of the LSWR ‘02’ (above) and the GER ‘Claud Hamilton’ that I designed using a Hornby mechanism. 

The Isle of Wight model has been weathered using prototype photos and my usual approach of washes, dry brushing and airbrushed hand mixed enamel shades. The patina this has added to the finish is almost palpable. Just a few last jobs before this can be called ‘done’.

Claud Hamilton (above) has been lined this week - a mix of Fox (for the tender and boiler bands plus the bottom edge of the loco frames) and custom (the main lining in the cab and splashers). I’ve never worked on a pre-grouping livery before and this was quite something - but the results were worth all the pain and the etched name on the splashers has come out beautifully. Fox GER markings are the finishing, if expensive, touch. This will be given a slightly duller protective lacquer but still have a good contrast between the smokebox and the rest of the model.

A surprise visitor this week was one of the 7/8ths Ruston’s I built earlier this year. There had been some problem with the wiring for the LED lighting caused by over exuberant handling - a simple repair was made and this will be heading back to my customer shortly. A lifetime warranty for my models is provided, excluding parts and postage. This means you can be sure of many years of enjoyment of whatever you commission from me.

Model and photo by Richard Elton.

Next we have a few customer submissions! Earlier in the year I created some decals to allow the re-naming of Dapol’s ‘WHISTON’ O gauge model to ‘ROBERT’. These are sized to just cover the existing markings and printed with a white undercoat to ensure good colour density. The sheet also includes the number - if you replace this on the bunker too… I did a few spare sheets and there is one set left for sale at Light Railway Stores should you wish to follow Richard’s lead. 

Locomotive by James Hilton, layout and photo Alan Sewell.

Alan has also shared a photo of Andrews Lumber 600, that featured a few weeks ago on he Monday Commission post. Shown switching the mill on Alan’s HO scale lumber themed layout, my repaint and weathering have matched in well with Alan’s own work. Thank you to both of you for sharing these projects with me - it’s always a pleasure to see my creations in their new homes! 

Now, I’m not sure if you noticed but I was very excited when the Revolution 66 arrived at the weekend. Since then I’ve had the stock for the ‘Modern Goods’ project out on the shelf in the workshop. Looking at it, things are more compact than I had realised, the beauty I suppose of N. I theoretically could fit the whole thing on a Lack shelf if I straightened it out… but as friend James mentioned, this looses something of the character of the scheme and prototype… so current muse is considerations for a traverser design. The layout will be DCC so it needn’t be concerns over wiring, but how to index 3-4 tracks, with lightweight N models and it be so intuitive that you don’t even need to look at it… it’s a good one to mull over!

Two more personal N projects - I received my custom etched headcodes from Light Railway Stores and have soldered some tiny U channel to their rear, so they can fit on locomotive lamp irons! These are so so tiny, but equally, rather lovely. Below, a Ford lorry from Copper Mine Miniatures has been transformed into the Minilink example - the full story needs telling at some point, I just haven’t had long enough to sit down and write a proper blog about this curious and certainly distinctive rabbit hole.

Finally, as I often share, I’m lucky enough to live close enough to Porthmadog that an impromptu trip is always feasible. I noticed the Victorian was running this week - so booked tickets on Tuesday night to head up to Tan-y-bwlch on Wednesday morning. I travelled in the Ashbury 2 axle coach, right behind Taliesin and it was magic. Back at Porthmadog the sun came out as four engines were in steam and I enjoyed a coffee and cake in my own version of heaven! I did do a sound recording, so I must add this (and the last 104 run from Llangollen) to Railscapes this weekend.

I reflected recently just how much creative time goes in here - it is a great shop window, of course, and a soap box for my own ideas. If you’re one of the hundreds of people who come and read every day, to the same rhythm as me, writing each day, then thank you. A gentle reminder of the low-cost ways you support my blog with a donation of any amount via ‘Donate’ (and PayPal) or a one off or regular contribution through ‘Buymeacoffee’. Thank you to those who already do ‘tip their hats’ and throw something in my tip jar!

The weekend approaches, and it looks dry. That means at least some time spent in the garden, not unpleasant and the passing steam locomotive across the valley will certainly be nice… I’m sure some modelling can be squeezed in - we shall see. I hope wherever you are you’ll find something for yourselves too and until next time, more soon…

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