New GWR book

This is fully out now and doing quite nicely on the Amazon ratings.
Looking at it slightly fresh after the publication gap I'm suitably pleased with it. Regulars will appreciate that it comes at the subject from a cheeky angle, much like what is here, with a definite slant toward making things yourself and shying away from the chequebook modelling style. As far as I'm concerned, the real fun is to be had from taking something and a) personalising it somewhat and b) not just paying someone else to do the modelling for you. Each to his own of course, but I do se a rapid drop in quite basic skills (blame who you wish here). I was discussing the layout's lighting on Sunday and said that I'd planed off a piece of battening at angle to get the LED strip in the right place. 'Planed?' Was the response. As though I'd gone to the dark side. Yes, did it in woodwork at school. Do they still do woodwork at school?
So yes it's out now with lots of hole drilling, sticking, and chopping of plastic. With all the bog paper and string modelling that you're used to.

MDF baseboard

And as the last couple of touches are added to one project, through a door another one grows. This is a small roundy roundy in 009 which is a demo for the Welsh book. I pottered through several plan options and then decided upon a straight rip off of Ted Polet's Nixnie: loop and one on one side and one on the other, with a possible off on the short edge. Nothing remarkable, but then it doesn't need to be.

Bergen line

An abundance of baking powder. There are questions here. If the NSB can do this...?

Wills coal office rejigged

The first of the structures for the future small 009 demo layout. This was supposed to be the easy one, but there's quite a bit in it. Most will spot the root as a Wills coal office. The doors was sliced of and set at just ajar. New window bars, feathered roof pieces and added bargeboards, Gravett style gutters and a bit of Wills downpipe. And the thing that changes it the most, a proper chimney replacing the stove pipe.

Dury's Gap Class 03

Burma Mines

The pros'arch

I'd said yes to doing the WGR show (see previous post) with a vague idea that I might get Dury's Gap ready in time. By Christmas this was looking unlikely for one reason or another and I'd mentally substituted Orne - same one-board-wonder format. Last weekend it suddenly seemed possible. This shouldn't be a surprise; let's face it the board was done and it's only four points and some flock. Last night the pros'arch went up: one length of 4" deep MDF and a sandwich of two pieces behind at each end to form a 6mm slot enabling it to drop over the side wings. The name plate is still under discussion as the usual vinyl sign man that appears at exhibitions seems to have vanished.  The pros'arch is now painted and the rigging of some LEDs along the back is underway - more new things to try. Sunday morning set up now seems more likely.

WRG show

Dury's Gap

Dury's Gap, first exhibition at Steyning 10th March 19.

Festiniog coach

Quick shot of No23 ex Dundas VoR kit perched on Orne. Basically done, but a few tidy-ups to complete.
There's been about 3mm taken off the body height and another 1mm lost by moving the floor upward. New grabs and door handles, scribed sides and raised footboards. Other than that it's exactly as the kit came. In other words I've altered every single part. the stepped Bemos to be replaced by higher Greenwich couplings at a later date.