Friday Update: Twenty-six Six Twenty-six…

Hopefully, by this evening, we’ll all have seen the worst of the heat wave. It has been so unbearably hot here in the valley, last night the worst. I’m tired - exhausted from the day then not sleeping, roll on next week; I’m sure many of you feel the same…

Whilst that is an almost breathless introduction, there has been some uplifting news this week as my copy of the re-release of Iain Rice’s ‘Creating Cameo Layouts’ has arrived. As I’ve spoken about previously, I had a hand in making this a reality in the design and layout - as well as working closely with Simon on the new material. The result, in print, is magical. You can get a copy now from Simon’s book shop but otherwise I expect the usual places will have it soon enough - I’ll do a ‘video’ with my thoughts and feelings once things cool down here and I can find some peace and quiet.

Whilst it may look quiet here on the commission front quite a few projects have left the bench this week and will feature in a Commission a Monday this summer. Painting and lining continues to be the strong theme with the Alan Gibson O2 kits looking much closer to completion (above) and the first of the ‘re-works’ in hand. Plenty more of these, and I’ve been asked to build another two next year! Getting to be a dab hand at these now!

Not a great deal of progress on not a lot on the bench either. Beyond weathering my 158 (which featured this week) I’ve made progress renumbering and weathering my Transport for Wales 150 - but that can wait for its own blog shortly. The Accurascale Class 60 is still delightful- this week, late to the party I expect, I discovered some of the myriad of extra functions like interior lights - even the control stand! Here she is parked up on Beaverbrook with yard lights, cab light and radiator room lights on whilst thrum thrum thrumming away. Magic!

Yesterday I shared some ideas and new models as I ponder and explore my desire to build a Canadian Prairies scene. Since then I’ve made a start on an add-on storage bin, using the roof of the store building provided in the Walthers kit and some 40thou styrene. I’m still no clearer on layout form, location, design yet - but getting to know the shapes and sizes of the structures, the rolling stock, thinking about the space around these elements too - it is a useful and enjoyable exercise.

We’ll wrap things up there for today, normal service will resume when the temperatures gets back under 25 degrees! I’m off to the Oxfordshire 009 narrow gauge show tomorrow helping George with Nant Gwernol - and Sunday perhaps a ride behind the Class 26 on the railway. Tuesday should see a trip to the Isle of Stoner and then the weekend after is the Classic Transport Weekend here, so the bar is open once more ar the village station so I’ll be soaking up the atmosphere there, if you’re around. In the meantime, until next time, more soon… 

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