Friday Update: Seventeen Four Twenty-six…

Welcome to another week and another Friday update. Fresh models and commissions and progress on personal projects as well as another interesting side project to share with you all today…

Now this is different isn’t it! A few years ago I built Bishopsbourne as a commission. The large WW1 gun that was stabled in the tunnel was accompanied by an ex-GWR Dean Goods locomotive - fitted with condensing gear and pannier tanks. My customer has purchased the Oxford model but wanted to recreate the distinctive look of these, so I have worked up a commission to match his budget creating these in styrene with scratchbuilt detail and a few bits from the scrap box thrown in for good measure. The result captures the look without the expense of design and prototyping 3D and etched parts. Next up some paint and weathering - I’m really excited about this!

The second new project on the bench this week is this Fourdees Bagnall saddle tank with valve gear conversion. These resin kits are well detailed and usually work ok, but I find the resin is often a little sticky and the moving parts require careful and gentle work to function reliably. The result is worth the effort never the less - here the plates were just posed in place for my customer to see progress, as I like to share regular photo/video updates through a build. This too is heading for some in-service weathering once the painting is complete.

The third (and final) new project is another pair of IoW Alan Gibson etched 02 tanks - and hopefully by the end of the day I’ll have made solid progress on finishing the chassis on them. Pictured here with both completed basic frame and footplate alongside completed gearboxes and prepped wheels and axles. 

If you have a kit languishing in a box why not get in touch and explore the possibility of me bringing it to life for you? 

I mentioned a new ‘side project’ - Layout Club is a new Narrow Planet project, but I suggested to Steve that it would work as a model railway clothing brand. In the world of other hobbies you’ll find clothing brands that become ‘part’ of the scene - be it skate, bmx, surf… even paddle boarding apparently…

We don’t have one - until now…

This pair are prototypes but I think I’ve convinced Steve it’s worth a punt - so watch this space. If you’d like one, I’m doing black tees with yellow print, let me know (and your size) and I’ll be in touch with prices once I’ve spoken to some UK based screen printers…

I had some black paint in the airbrush so it seemed a good idea to move the PXA project another step forwards, I’ll do a second update on this when it’s finished but here she is looking a lot more like a finished wagon than she did in primer a week or so ago… it has turned out well and my thoughts turn to what wagon to tackle next in N… the PRA perhaps?

Alongside a few other bits and pieces I’ve finally added some filth to the HMLX RS1 - pictured here switching on Beaverbrook. This unit was saved from scrap, and I’ve lovingly restored and repaired her adding DCC sound and the whole thing has cost me around a third of a new DCC sound locomotive. A great deal of fun and pleasure, but also, the potential to go travelling. HMLX are a terminal, shortline and leasing operation. If you’d like her to visit your HO scale model railway get in touch and we can discuss arrangements as I’m hoping to post her around various models and get the story documented in photos, here on the blog.

The Llanfyllin and Llangynog Light Railway station building has become something of a hospital job, ticking along whilst I need a distraction or waiting for paint to dry on another commission. It is beginning to show how it will look in its GWR colours, I’m planning a faded and weathered but not decrepit finish. This will be on display at Narrow Gauge South on the Light Railway Stores stand as we promote the L&LLR range of ready to run items.

In closing a glimpse of the latest Farish make-over, a 37/0 has become 37242 circa 1991, sans headlight. This will be weathered and finished in the coming evenings and I’m sure you’ll get a more detailed glimpse soon.

Narrow Gauge South is creeping up on us and I’m hoping to see some of you at the show next weekend where we should have Ribbons 2 on sale alongside the usual kits and now books too - we’ll also have a few prototypes on the stand. I’m visiting the Isle of Wight on Sunday and riding the steam railway, so it has become an opportunity for a mini-break. This weekend is the last before that and I’ve a few little jobs to tackle before then (as well as cutting the grass). I hope you have a relaxing weekend, and until next time, more soon…

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