Friday Update: Sixteen One Twenty-five…

I began this week with a thought it might be a little slower or quieter. A mix of seasonal low mood and the way the workbench was looking, instead I’ve made good progress on a range of models and projects. Read on to find out more…

The main job this week was the continuation of the 16mm projects. The Hudson a GoGo (above) is in primer and will shortly leave for its new home. This turned out to be a little more involved and my customer and I went back and forth on motor selection to balance a realistic speed with the time it would take to do a circuit of his garden line! That resolved I quickly completed the bodywork shown last week and for now, I hope, the last die-cast tractor I need to chop up for some time! Still, joking aside, it’s a wonderfully characterful prototype and the die-cast parts add a great deal of weight. I love the balance of kit bash, 2D and 3D design and scratch-built detail.

The Ruston hasn’t moved quite as quickly but the radio control system should arrive today so I can push on with the mechanics whilst waiting for the etched brass body panels and grills to arrive. I noticed, after I took the photo, I’d glued the buffers on too high - these have now been corrected. 

Note, after the photo was taken I noticed the front truck is tucked up behind the frame and the rear front pony truck under the smokebox has its screw a little loose! Such is life! Both now corrected… 

Whilst the 16mm was moving forwards so too was this 009 Backwoods NGG16. The black paint has had the holidays to harden so this week saw detail painting and decals (for the boiler bands) being added. The transformation is amazing, this thing just looks fabulous and I’m so honoured to have played a part in bringing the kit to life. If you recall, the basic bodywork and some details had been added but the chassis were dismantled and the valve gear un started, we’ve come a long way! I’m waiting for the etched llares now, due in the next week I think, to push her over the line. Later this year I’ve another two NGG16 to work on, but these are based upon the 3D printed kit I did last year, rather than the Backwoods model. Whilst they’re much better runners they do lack something of the character of a hand made brass example. More on all that soon enough…

Evenings this week have seen the uncoupling magnets made for Cwmbach and a much progress on the next pair of 08/09 (above). These have a weathered finish built in already with faded blue and yellow before even the gloss coat is applied pre-transfers. Two very different machines but as always, a joy to work upon. I really do love the Farish model. For those interested, the 03 is in Precision rail blue with warning yellow ends. The left hand 08 (will be 09001) is in Precision weathered rail blue with hand mixed lemony yellow ends (69 with a touch of 28), the right hand 08 (will be 08202) is in a faded Precision weathered rail blue (added Humbrol 28) with faded yellow (24 and 28). These are a lovely distraction from what I should be doing, which is cutting the baseboard now, for Cwmbach! Perhaps this weekend!

I do enjoy a dog walk this time of year when it’s cold and crisp, frosty and clear. Pausing I take a look at the bare trees and their twisted forms, mentally noticing their shapes, recognising the beauty in the evolved and lived experience, branches and twigs reaching up and out. Occasionally I might take a photo… thoughts turn to perhaps setting Cwmbach in winter?

This week I put a second set of greetings cards into stock at Light Railway Stores. This new collection features Wrecsam Canolog, Beaverbrook, Penpont Dries, Inside Out, Denton Road and Paxton Road. One of each,  so 6 cards, no envelopes, gloss finish outside, satin inside, lovely quality and blank for your own message, £8 includes UK delivery. I still have two sets of the original 6 cards in stock here too, if you’d like all 12.

In other news, I closed orders for Compendium 4 on Monday morning and ordered the run from Blurb. These are due next Monday, I’ll then work as quickly as possible to get them printed and out in the post to you all. As hoped, this has then given me the nudge to press on with a second issue of Ribbons. Some great material coming in now and I’m grateful to all who have got in touch with articles or offers of support. If you’re on the fence and nervous about contributing, just drop me an email with your thoughts and we can move on from there - I’m happy to help you through the process… 

The day ahead should see preparations for some new commissions to start next week - but we’ll leave that for a future update, and then a batch if 00 weathering to follow (if you’ve anything in that vein, getting in touch now would short cut a wait until the next batch of similar work in a few months time). At home this weekend I believe the Aber logs are running, so I might get out in Saturday morning to watch them on the bank again, he weather looks acceptable and I’ve not given the Up a long run for a time since Mum moved to Cardiff. Oh, and that Cwmbach baseboard needs to happen! Whatever your plans I hope you have a relaxing weekend, until next time though, more soon…

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