Friday Update: Ten Three Twenty-six…

Welcome to Friday! It has been a week of contrast, but all the better for it. CAD design for a 1/24 scale commission to assembling OO gearboxes - get yourself comfortable and let’s take a look…

Headlining this time are a pair of 009 coaches - the same coach at different periods! The models are nearly finished now, their weathered appearance matching my customers period photos and desire for something a little less pristine. The lettering are custom decals I designed and had made, they really life the finish as do the wire grabs which add a bit of something to the otherwise long plain sides. These should be done today, all being well, as there are quite a few new projects arriving next week!

Leaving the workshop this weekend is the 16mm Ruston 30DL. This will have its etched ‘Ruston’ plate fitted today, before some studio shots and then she can begin to earn some work for my customer in his quarry! It has been fun working on a larger model once more, interesting too, that it is 16mm and not 7/8ths. I’d consider doing a batch of something similar in 16mm if anyone is interested - let me know - would be 2027, and perhaps the shorter bonneted 20DL in the same style?

On the home front we have the Wills chapel / station again - I’ve begun to add some colour to this and the coming weeks should see this painted in some GWR ‘Stone’ shades as if my light railway has been taken over by the larger company. Matt 70 forms a basis for further brick work and 33/98 started to layer up colour on the tin roof. These things evolve, and it’s nice to be working on something a little different.

A few items sold and money from adverts and magazine features have come together to allow a second wonderful Revolution Class 66 to arrive. I see these red ones quite frequently here, as they’re the mainstay of the Marches Shotton to Llanwern traffic. This example runs as beautifully as the first and will be detailed and weathered in due course, she rounds out the ‘Modern Goods’ fleet, my planned N scale exhibition layout… that is next in line once Cwmbach is finished this year.

Mike Pinder’s Ruston seen running on York Model Engineer’s new outdoor 45mm track. Photo: Hugh McLellan

Always lovely to receive photos from customers of their models ‘in action’ and I was delighted to see Mike’s Ruston LBU finding service on his clubs new 45mm outdoor setup. It is a long time since I assembled these models and Mike reports she is still running nicely. Perhaps a return to a 7/8ths project would be welcomed? Let me know what you think - these projects take a lot of time and I’ve been busy with books and other scales in recent years.

We’ve had some beautiful weather here this week in the valley, which sadly is not forecast to continue. The railway has its gala on this weekend and I’ll be about all weekend, riding today and at Glyn tomorrow and Sunday on and off - it has been fun finding some new ways to take photos of familiar (and visiting) trains this week - yesterday I witnessed the small 1369 Pannier on a freight too - so if you’re close enough visit I’m sure you won’t be disappointed.

Some prototpe etches arrive too this week but I’ve not had time to assemble them but with a prevailing wind next week will see the new Pi kit and 0012 models receive their own posts and news on progress and planned availability. Have a good weekend wherever you are, and until next time more soon…

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