Friday Update: Fifteen Five Twenty-six…

Started brighter this week but by yesterday was really feeling the post-viral drag of my recent illness, accentuated by the impact of the dreaded long Covid symptoms that always re-emerge in these situations - but it has been a good week. One of progress on large commissions and a chance to meet up with a good friend and ride the Ffestiniog…

Starting in the middle and Wednesday’s trip on the ‘Mountain Spirit’ from Porthmadog to Blaenau and back - I met Steve a few weeks ago when we did Narrow Gauge South and the Isle of Wight but a recent trip up north for him gave us the chance for another meet and a visit to a railway closer to home. Magical as always - yet strangely un-modellable for many of us, due to the sheer length of trains and size of the stations and infrastructure… this despite the magical and exciting models from Peco and Bachmann in 009…

I was pleased to see the Victorian out, the coaches looked absolutely incredible parked up at Minffordd awaiting the afternoon ‘Woodland Wanderer’ with Lyd in charge. This was my first ride of the year - I look forward to a few more!  

On the bench some visible progress on the Alan Gibson IoW O2 kits - above. These have assembled chassis with pickups and wiring all fitted. The bodies are assembled, boilers fitted and all detailing etched pieces fitted. Next up are handrails, and drilling holes in the boiler for knobs and chimney fitment - this is a nightmare job in the thick hard brass tube - such is the life of the commission model maker, there are no shortcuts! This pair represent 30 ‘Shorwell’ and 34 ‘Newport’ and are detailed accordingly, even at this stage.

The other kit on the bench this week has been the 16mm Simplex, which is now ready for the paint shop. Under that hood I’ve butchered the supplied details to fit a 6v battery and radio control including an onboard charging socket and switch - accessed by flipping the bonnet up! This has required omission of a lot of lovely detail parts and modification of a few others, but is the preferred route for my customer over track power. It’s a small model, yet supplied with a large motor. If I’d have designed and built it from scratch I’d have used a small 6v gear head drive with a 3.7v Lipo… but as a commission builder I have to try and balance my customers budget, needs and available kits/products in balancing these things, it certainly is a heavy and characterful model already and I’m sure will look great when finished.

The two ‘prototype’ kits shown at Narrow Gauge South are in the paint shop. The Sentinel is going to be finished as a Hilton and Fulljames liveried unit with wasp stripes on the buffer beams - the Manning Wardle is GWR green and will pick up some works plates I’m sure… these jobs fitted in between larger work.

The Llanfyllin and Llangynog station building has also been mildly adjusted - the white window frames were added after I consulted the ‘Great Western Way’ to confirm painting choices. Just a few little finishing touches before I can post it down to Steve who is assembling the L&LLR layout - but more on that another day…

Finally, I spotted two copies of Model Railway Companion at the Welsh Highland Heritage Railway shop on Wednesday. They don’t have a website so if you need to complete your set then give them a ring. I’m sure they can help you over the phone.

Today should see further progress on the O2s along with an initial primer coat on the Simplex and some personal projects I’ll share next week… the weekend, well, if I feel well enough I’ll try and get over to Porthmadog tomorrow for the show - otherwise, it’s Cwmbach and a bit of wiring to look forward to here! I hope you’re all well and in better health - I’d not wish this virus on my enemies! Until next time, more soon…

Support my work

I love writing and creating material for the blog. If you enjoy what you read and engage with I would be appreciative of any donation, large or small, to help me keep it advert and restriction free. Alternatively, feel free to buy me a coffee, where regular memberships start from just £1.