Friday Update: Seventeen Seven Twenty-six…

Funny old week here, it seems much longer than it has been despite it being shorter! I was travelling back from Bath and last weekends wonderful holiday on Monday, and since have been finishing off a number of commissions. I suppose the throughput has made it feel busier than normal - grab a drink and a biscuit and let’s take a look…

00-12, my idea to use the new Hornby TT train set chassis under a 4mm body, has been around for several months. I’m still not quite there with release, the Manning Wardle (right above) needs some adjustment as I won’t easily ne able to supply some of the 3rd party parts so will draw up my own versions - and quite possibly replace the cab for production. Whilst this has been occupying my thoughts I’ve churned out a Townsend Hook from the EDM Models print - this turned into a bit of a chore, to adjust the resin to fit. Lots of breakage and repair but now, looking at her with etched plates, the work seems strangely worth it.

Elsewhere on the bench the NGG16 chassis multiplying. Of course, the 08 is actually too long a wheelbase for the prototype, but the Michael Tucker kit uses this reliable and currently fairly readily available chassis. I’ve gone further by adding RT models valve gear. I have plans to look at options to bring some of this in house and do a Narrow Planet kit for both the 08 and the Percy, with all metal parts. Time as always will be the deciding factor. This quartet have been batch built, and when I look at each one I remember the effort involved! I hope they’ll looo good under the bodywork I’ll start next week.

The Rapido wagons from Light Railway Stores arrived on Saturday with a personal delivery from friend and business partner Steve. They look rather sweet, I’m especially taken with the opens - I think we might look to do another number on both of these in a second batch. Coaches too look just right - and the good news is the locomotive has sold out. We have news on more GWR items to follow, for now though I must pester Steve to repair the turnout on our project layout as I’m itching to run trains!

Whilst down at The Titfield Thunderbolt / Wild Swan HQ on Sunday I was kindly gifted this book by Simon. I’ve always had a soft spot for the early years of the DRS story. Blog readers who’ve been here since the start may remember my 33207 model in OO many moons ago… anyhow it’s not a long read but lots of inspiration. If only Farish 20s weren’t like Hens teeth (at least for reasonable money) I’d be looking at my options. It would be neat to do a pair of the 20/3s…

Cwmbach hasn’t progressed as such this week (although the new 08 has, see yesterday’s blog) but I’ve been running the new arrival - a second F7 - up and down. I’ve replaced the Microtrains couplers on the inner ends with a modified Dapol fixed knuckle which has closed up the gap between them nicely. One thing leads to another and I’ve mocked up a cameo scene with the grain elevator and am wondering what might be possible on a shelf ‘for now’… 

Missing from this weeks update is the slippery slope of a new Dapol 142 Pacer and the abandoning of my OO ambitions - but I am yet to form an opinion on that yet, so I’ll let it stew a bit longer. For now, I have managed to avoid any rash decisions. This weekend, who knows - the grass is dead, but the weeds have grown (go figure) so a buzz over with the mower might be needed. A quieter weekend but good luck to George at Chatham - do say hello to him from me if you’re going - and I’ll be out and about again soon enough. Until next time, more soon…

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