Friday Update: Nineteen Six Twenty-six…

Welcome to another Friday Update and a chance for me to pause, step back and acknowledge the prodigious output in these past few weeks. No let up today, grab a drink, take a seat and let’s take a look…

It is interesting to look back to last week’s update and see the progress on these models, I’ll take a few in turn…

The 009 NG15 models, both based around the Avontuur models kit have been progressed to near completion with the application of a liberal amount of extra detailing before priming and painting. Despite their shortcomings due to the lack of an easily modified outside framed 8 coupled chassis - they capture the character of these impressive two foot gauge prototypes. NG134 above has been finished in a pseudo improved engine green - and I’ve got some custom ‘WELSH HIGHLAND’ decals coming for the tender. The black one, below, is just waiting on etched number plates and is in SAR/SAS condition. Couplings and coal still to fit, but these are nearly there…

Next up, the Australian Drewry. This should be a narrow gauge model but we’re making do with the OO, as my customer already has a large collection. I’ve painted and finished the body with custom decals - and am just waiting on some etched number plates for the buffer beams to finish her off… I decided to ‘paint’ the wheels to look like the balance weights of the prototype, and this subterfuge has actually worked really well. An unusual commission but one that I’ve enjoyed.

A small, well massive interlude. This week a humoungous box arrived - not with the stock for a Canadian N gauge prairie based layout, no, just a single OO gauge model - a DCC sound fitted Accurascale 60. This is an impressive model, a lovely mass, fine detail and boy, that sound. The sound setup of this model really captures the base and character of the prototype, quite unlike the American interlopers. In time she’ll be lightly weathered and act as a view block on Pacing Yourself… in the meantime, she is idling away on Beaverbrook and putting a smile on my face.

A few projects beyond the NG15s have reached the point of ‘just’ waiting for the finishing touch, etched plates. The Fletcher Jennings in 00-12 looks fantastic with its maroon livery. I’m glad I went to the trouble of adding the red lining to the lower black edged panels. This has really lifted the finish of what was already, a very pretty little model.

The North Korean diesel is now reassembled, and this too is just waiting for etched number plates. That means, to those with a good memory, that the rest of the N gauge repaints have been finished? Yes, they’re heading back to Spain as I type this - and will feature on a Commission Monday post in the coming weeks… 

The weekend is nearly upon on and I’m hoping to be up to visiting the Buxton exhibition, it’s a fair old trek from North Wales but my good friend Charlie is exhibiting - and there is the opportunity to bump into a Ribbons contributor too and say hello in person. We’ll see, I’ve got an airport run to fit in the early hours of Saturday morning, and I’m already tired - fingers crossed.

Otherwise the Class 26 is out in the valley again this weekend on the second and fourth trains of the day, so there may be an opportunity for a train ride, if not to Buxton. Reflecting, it’s amazing how much is crossing my bench at present… there is even work not pictured in this weeks update that I’ll share soon - how I can keep this up without a holiday continues to somewhat amaze me - and for that, I’m grateful. Thank you all for the support. If I can help with your project, your dream model or your layout design then do get in touch, I’m still accepting commissions and desire all of this, have some capacity left for this year. In the meantime though, as always, more soon…

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