More alarmingly, it has been 28 months (Yes, TWENTY EIGHT months) since I purchased the model of 90016 and pointed out all of the modifications that need to be carried out. I think I shall work on these two locomotives next, and get this freightliner duo project put to bed once and for all!

I have to say it was nice to capture 86101 back in action just before our recent holiday. And as often happens to many of us, seeing something special gets us thinking of new projects!!! I`ve still to make some cosmetic tweaks to my model of 86103 'Andre Chapelon' but don`t be surprised to see a blue 86101 joining it in the near future!!!

The weather has already started to get slightly colder, and now that the clocks have gone back, there won`t be much more free time devoted to photography, so it looks like modelling sessions will be back in favour very soon!

Earlier in the year, I decided to 're-vamp' certain parts of this web-site, mainly the 'photos' and 'locofleet' sections. I started to delete certain parts of these sections, but haven`t yet found the time to introduce the newer format - I have to get my priorities right! However, this is still on my very big 'to-do' list, it just may take a few more months, and then some!

Despite recently setting myself new goals to complete various projects, things simply haven`t gone to plan, and to be honest, VERY little modelling has been done for the last month. Merely looking at various modelling aids and materials sitting on my many shelves has been the general order of the day just lately.

So why this update? Basically to let you know I am still here! Some of you may have noticed that the site had gone off-line for a few days, but this was an admin error which came about by changing domain name providers. Needless to say, this did not go as smoothly as envisaged, and I still have a few things to sort out, so there goes another modelling session flying out of the window......

Apart from working on the layout itself, most modelling work is carried out in my office. Unfortunately, my office has what must be the most annoyong carpet ever designed, at least when it comes to finding little parts that I am constantly dropping on the floor! I`m not even going to think about how many hours my wife and I have wasted on our hands and knees searching for vital modelling components!
The above picture demonstrates how difficult it can be to find various parts, although in this case I knew exactly where they were because they are all posing for the photograph, and are all in the same vicinity! But even so, can you see the Windscreen wiper, the vacuum pipe, the buffer, the self tapping screw, the spring, the cast arrow, the brass insulator, the plastic insulator, the piece of flush-glazing, and the wire handrail?

Updates on the layout, and indeed on these web-pages have been painfully slow over the past few weeks. Time simply hasn`t been available. I had lots of plans and projects lined up last weekend, but our PC decided to expire on Saturday morning - not the best of starts!! A week later, and things are only just about back to normal....... The PC has now been replaced, as has most of the other bits that went with it. The original broadband Modem not being compatible with Windows Vista did not go down too well!
However, it has been a good time to reflect on and prioritise all outstanding work, and to draw up a sensible timescale to get much of this overdue work completed.

*First up, is to complete all unfinished commission work. This will be completed within a week.

*Cosmetic improvements to several locomotives to recommence. I am aiming to complete at least 2 locomotives a week.

*To finally finish the Class 84 I started back in February 2006!!!

*To make a start on the Class 83 kit which is still tucked away in it`s box

*Resume construction of the Hurst High speed pantographs. To finish all these by Christmas!! (I still have lots of them to do!)

*To finally settle on a final plan for the depot area which has been ripped up.............

*Constuction of several dozen more trees, but this task will now be handed to my wife now that she is now on HOLIDAY for the next 6 weeks!!!

*Continue with the track ballasting................ (Then wake up and start something else!)

*Construct more catenary masts and gantries. (There is an awful lot of OHLE required, so I am perhaps being optimistic in saying that this will be completed by Christmas 2008!)

*Anything else can fit in between if time allows...........

So we have a new and revised schedule. Hopefully I`ll be able to stick to it, or better still, get myself ahead of schedule for once! Lets face it, with the dreadful weather we`re having just lately, I am more likely to be at my workbench, than standing by the lineside with a camera getting wet!
Mind you, those pesky hamsters can be quite distracting.............

On my Stereo: Bloc Party - A Weekend In The City

Friday evening - 6th July 2007

Animal cruelty???

A hamster, and plasticard..... This surely cannot be? "What on earth am I playing about at now?" is what you are probably thinking! However, do not worry, I haven`t gone TOTALLY mad! All will be revealed shortly, so keep your eyes open!

Do hamsters squeek?

On my Stereo: Billy Corgan - The Future Embrace

Sunday afternoon - 24th June 2007

Jumping someone else`s train..........

Apart from building a large overbridge, which users of our forum may have seen, not much has been done (as usual) on the modelling front. I Have fallen behind schedule by a few days (months??) on some commission work, so I thought I`d get their work finished for them. Above, we can see 87028 Lord President which is nearing completion. A few things like aerials, glazing, screen wipers, pantograph, and front grab rails are missing in the photo, but it was temporarily assembled purely for the photo.

87101 STEPHENSON isn`t far behind either, but I couldn`t be bothered to temporarily assemble this one.... Well, I`d only have to take it to bits again wouldn`t I??

I think I`ll give up altogether with my attempts to make improvements to my Voyager. Besides, I still don`t like them!

On my Stereo: Buzzcocks - Trade Test Transmissions

Tuesday morning - 12th June 2007

The missing decade? More like the missing entry!!!!!

Now, I knew it had been a couple of weeks or so since my last update (28th of May to be precise) but when I was scrolling through the pages, something didn`t quite add up - the previous entry says the 18th of May! Now, I`m not going insane (although some will say I`ve been there for a long time) but I KNOW I wrote an article since, and I`ve even received comments about it! Alas, I must have somehow deleted it by mistake.....

Basically, after reading the opening comment in the then 'just out' Rail Express Modeller, I thought I`d air some of my own views. If you read my original piece, then you may remember what I wrote, but to be honest, I`m not going to try and remember!

However, although tempted to switch entirely to the post privatisation era (simply due to the wider variety of models available) I`m still looking after the 1980`s for the time being. In the picture above, some of my 80`s stock is seen on the upper fiddle yard. These locos are basically having a little 'play' before they are 'withdrawn' pending cosmetic refurbishments!

One thing I did touch on in my 'original' article was the lack of 1980`s road vehicles available to 4mm modellers. There`s only so many Minis and Beetles you can have on your layout! You could always look at Hornby`s model Sierra. Hmmmmm.......... Perahaps the less said the better! How about a nice collection of Sunbeams? It`s just not on, is it?

My layout needs LOTS of cars, and there are some great models out there at the moment from the likes of Cararama, but these are mainly suited to the 'very' modern image, or of an earlier period!! Where are Morris Itals, the Ford Escorts, The old Rovers, The Saab 900, The 'square' Volvos, The Vauxhall Cavaliers, the Talbots.......... I could go on!

Many more kits like these above need to be assembeld, and then painted. This works out to be very expensive and time consuming..... Is it any wonder there aren`t so many 1980`s layouts?

Anyway, before I sign off, some of you may have noticed that certain pages are currently unavailable. I am the process of 'revamping' the site, so please be patient, and everything should be back up and running at some point in the future. Thanks for your continued interest.....

On my Stereo: Billy Corgan - The Future Embrace

Friday morning - 18th May 2007

Rainy days, part 56,917,605.............

It doesn`t seem like a day has gone by over the last week or so that hasn`t been dark, miserable and wet - far from motivating! As a direct result of this, railway photography has been greatly minimised, so more time has been available to work on the layout - or at least in theory....

However, during the few 'sunny intervals' we have been fortunate enough to have, a few reference photographs have been taken which should aid future modelling projects..........

..............and current projects, such as tree making! I have also borrowed some books from the library which have proved to be excellent reference material.

I am currently working on a group of silver birch trees. These trees can be very striking, especially when they are in a group such as this.... I will shortly do an article on how I`ve gone about making these trees. Perhaps on another rainy day??

Work has progressed well with both stations on the layout. All platforms are now complete, although Rugby St.Johns still requires some major weathering. The stage where finer details such as lamp-posts, station signs, and platform clutter is only a few days away now......
Pictured above are some signs I ordered from 'Signs of the times' many, many months ago. Sadly they are no longer producing such items, although Gaugemaster still offer various station insignia, which can also be seen above.

And yes, I do manage to escape every once in a while........ And sometimes, the sun even comes out tp play too!

On my Stereo: Placebo - Meds

Monday evening - 7th May 2007

Exactly what it doesn`t say on the tin?

I`ve thought this before, but after playing around with another pot of Railmatch 268 'GBRf yellow', I just couldn`t help but think it was too 'anemic'.... Again, using my own judgement, matters were rectified by mixing in some 204 'Rail red' Has anyone else found this shade to be far too pale?

On my Stereo: Meathook Seed - Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

Saturday afternoon - 5th May 2007

'Fur' trees?

I`ve probably mentioned over a dozen times within these pages that I`m not a fan of most model trees which are available from the shops. Samson is also far from impressed, as is evident in this picture! However, some will be used on the layout, but even then, only in well thought out positions. Most of the trees are to be hand-made.
Many trees have already been constructed, but we still require many, many more. To add a little variety, I have recently been experimenting with different types of trees, and different construction methods. Samson has kindly lent us some of his unwanted fur, which amazingly, has proved quite useful! But more on that later............. I will perhaps do an article in the very near future....

So what else have I been up to? Nothing exciting really, apart from putting unwanted 'Rugby Observers' to use........

And generally getting plastered........! Yes, some of the scenic sections have been rather neglected, or hadn`t even been started, so I have been sorting out the latter part over the last week or so.

This weekend should see all backscenes finally completed, more trees constructed, construction of an overbridge (Or at least make a start,) playing with some 87`s, and maybe a little more ballasting. Maybe.........

On my Stereo: The Stranglers - The Raven

Monday lunchtime - 23rd April 2007

Sitting on the fence......

While sorting through some of my many boxes of materials and parts, I came across a box full of fencing. As can be seen, several types of fencing have been acquired over time, as different types of fencing will more suitable for certain areas of the layout than others.
Most of the above fencing is readily available from most model shops, and included are 'Spear' fencing, concrete fencing, Security fencing (By both Ratio, and the slightly larger posts by S-Kits) Garden fencing panels, and lots of straight-forward field fencing....

But how straight-forward is fencing that you find in fields.....? Just look at the fencing arrangement above. Far from uniform, I`m sure you`d agree. Nice use of barbed wire too.....

Model fencing doesn`t come out of the packet in such an untidy fashion as this. Many simple alterations would produce more interesting (and convincing) results. Note the rusty coloured gate and fencing by the danger sign. The fence posts here are old rails!

And don`t forget gates, or even 'well-maintained' stiles!! Bushes also seem to end up growing through the middle of a fence, as is well illustrated here...... So please don`t take offence, 'take a fence' and with a little extra work, you could turn something that is often overlooked into something that may even be slightly interesting.....

On my Stereo: Stone Roses - Garage Flower

Monday afternoon - 16th April 2007

Street-lighting years......

On previous layouts, I`ve always liked to have a degree of lighting. Street lamps are an easy choice to help accomplish this. However, lighting on the layout at the moment is not a priority, although I do have some 'dioramic' sections all wired up and waiting to be installed.

I bought these simple lamps at a knock-down price a year or so ago. These will be given a quick spray of paint, then the lamp heads will be glued in place. For the time being at least, these should give a quick and easy representation of street lighting.

After an initial scare, our Forum is now back up and running. Click on the logo to join in......

And finally, 83009 (Which I scratch-built a few years ago) has been taken out of storage, and is currently having fun completing circuits on the layout. Cruel maybe, but this will be it`s final run before being dumped on my workbench after all this time. Don`t worry though, it is going to receive a few modifications to improve it`s appearance and performance. (This may alarm one of you out there, but don`t worry young sir, those 87`s will be the priority!)

On my Stereo: Simple Minds - I Travel - Hands up if you thought I was listening to 'Streetfighting years'!

Monday morning - 16th April 2007

Forumup? Forum down............

For those of you who regularly visit our Forum you may have noticed that over the weekend, the site went down. This appears to be due to some maintenance work being carried out on the server, so hopefully it will be back up and running soon. Many thanks for your patience.

On my Stereo: The Cult - Love

Sunday lunchtime - 15th April 2007

21 days later

It`s been THREE weeks since I last updated these pages. Sorry......... However, unlike previous lapses, I have actually been hard at work on the layout. Well, inbetween working for a living and having a recent short holiday......

Work has progressed very well with much of the backscene. We`ve taken time not to rush this part, and so far, it`s looking very nice.........
More ballasting has also been done. Very time consuming, but I don`t actually mind it. It`s the painting of the rails that drives me to drink. I`m already there? Sorry, it`s the painting of rails which drives me mad.... Hey - less cheek!

Much experimenting has taken place with various ballast types and from various suppliers. The appearance of the ballast will differ on different parts of the layout, just like on the real railway........ I`m still to find the perfect result though, which is the main reason that very little ballasting has actually been completed so far.....

Yes, more of that dreaded walling has been completed. This has taken much longer than I had originally envisaged. There is also much scrap material, as can be seen above......

The layouts resident vacuum cleaner has also been hard at work, but this is far from exciting, and does not warrant a photograph. Even less exciting are the contents of the hoover. But I`m really NOT going to photograph that. I REALLY am not going to do that......

After getting very hot and bothered working on the layout, it`s nice to get out and get some fresh air. Lineside photography beckons, of course!

On my Stereo: Therapy? - Infernal Love

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