Still sticky and taken in the kitchen under the flu work lights on my stock thing against a big cloud photo is my 1982 vintage Airfix Midland 4F 0-6-0. It's Repainted with Humbrol and finished with Krylon Matte Medium, detailed with lamp irons, separate handrails and renumbered as Bath Green Park's 44417 by me. The chassis and tender frames are Comet built by Philip Hall and are fully compensated, ditto on the tender whose weight bears on the rear dragbeam, with pickups on all wheels. The running quality is way beyond anything that could be achieved ready to run.

PH Design etched palisade. www.phd-design.co.uk

PH Design etched palisade. www.phd-design.co.uk

PH Design etched palisade. www.phd-design.co.uk

A 2004 vintage Hornby Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 'Pug' 0-4-0. This little loco will be entering the workshops and re-emerging as Radstock's 51202 in due course.

Driver and trailer cars from a Triang Blue Pullman from the mid 1960's. The motor bogie was a generic type used on several models.

Owning several 'end to end' layouts, nothing ever really gets run in, so late last week I bought a circle of Peco number 4 curve setrack to run loco's in on. Fleur a daft British Short Hair is amused by the sight of a Pannier tank going around in circles.

Here's one that Phil Hall has just this week Comet chassied for me (full compensated, all wheel pick up etc - runs a dream). I'm seriously crap when it comes to chassis construction so thought I'd treat myself to the skills of an expert in this field. hil has left me to do it up, paint and weather the loco - that's the bit I enjoy. I've had this loco since 1982 so well overdue upgrade. The odd missing bit under the boiler has be filled in by Phil. The splashers do look a little big here, building a new kit body would probably be easier than replacing them, so it ain't going to happen. Pic courtesy Philip Hall.

Picked up this book last week . . . I do like Paul's illustration which is such a change from the more common computer graphics so often seen. Oh yes the pic, that's what you can do with the envelope if you order by mail - well my wife thought it funny enough to get the camera out.....

3206 propels an ex GWR 'Python' into the siding at Catcott.

Next, a kit that has been on my 'kit pile' for about 6 or 7 years (until I finally started it week before last) - a Parkside Dundas GWR 'Python'. The glazing still needs a beige wash to cloud it a little (thinned emulsion which I'll then wipe off just leaving the 'dirt' in the corners). The BR lettering is guess work and probably wrong (it's not 'tare 17', but I'm damned whether I'm going to starting messing about with transfers that are 1mm high) - life's too short The stock number is too widly spaced too, I was rather dictated by the deep grooved planking, it looks better to the eye than it does here.

Next, a kit that has been on my 'kit pile' for about 6 or 7 years (until I finally started it week before last) - a Parkside Dundas GWR 'Python'. The glazing still needs a beige wash to cloud it a little (thinned emulsion which I'll then wipe off just leaving the 'dirt' in the corners). The BR lettering is guess work and probably wrong (it's not 'tare 17', but I'm damned whether I'm going to starting messing about with transfers that are 1mm high) - life's too short The stock number is too widly spaced too, I was rather dictated by the deep grooved planking, it looks better to the eye than it does here.

Next, a kit that has been on my 'kit pile' for about 6 or 7 years (until I finally started it week before last) - a Parkside Dundas GWR 'Python'. The glazing still needs a beige wash to cloud it a little (thinned emulsion which I'll then wipe off just leaving the 'dirt' in the corners). The BR lettering is guess work and probably wrong (it's not 'tare 17', but I'm damned whether I'm going to starting messing about with transfers that are 1mm high) - life's too short The stock number is too widly spaced too, I was rather dictated by the deep grooved planking, it looks better to the eye than it does here.

THIS IS A SPOOF!!! Go back to the index page and read my blog if you like though...

An Oxford Diecast Jowatt Javelin after respraying with matt varnish to lose the toy like sheen.

A Classix Morris Traveller after a coat of matt varnish to kill the toy like shine.

An Oxford Diecast Jowatt Javelin after respraying with matt varnish to lose the toy like sheen. The gate behind the car is new too - c/o MSE!

Two BRM subs Hornby private owner wagons weathered up to represent the early BR period. Numbers still need to be added.

Here's how the shot of the 14xx was made up - nothing clever, just some light coming in through the window. The camera was placed on the tiny beanbag in the foreground and fired off with the self timer. The kitchen foil was there to bounce a little light back into the shadows.

Back in 1982 I bought this little loco, I recall back then this highly regarded little Airfix 14xx was right there at the cutting edge of ready to run manufacturing. Airfix at the time more well known for its ancient plastic kits and 1/72nd scale model aeroplanes, for the early 1980's was the era of self coloured plastic and missing flanges for anything that had more than 4 wheels. I renumbered this pretty little locomotive as 1451, why this particular number I have no idea, but I guess through looking at the etched replacement plates on the cabsides, that the number was simple available from one of the 'men in sheds' manufacturers that tickled my fancy at the time. I recall the weathering, was something I was very proud of, for back in the early 1980's people didn't tend to do such things other than maybe splash a dose of 'dirty thinners' over everything, though even that was frowned upon by the mildew ridden, adenoidal thermos touting brigade! I rediscovered this little locomotive last night whilst having a rummage through the garage looking for some stock to use for a shoot I'm doing for Catcott Burtle. The loco hasn't run in years (20 plus I guess), with the sparks and ozone emitted from it when some volts passed through its heavy flanges suggested a generation of storage in various dank locations was not to going provide the phoenix I had hoped! Hopefully you'll forgive the missing couplings and ground in dust!

Back in 1982 I bought this little loco, I recall back then this highly regarded little Airfix 14xx was right there at the cutting edge of ready to run manufacturing. Airfix at the time more well known for its ancient plastic kits and 1/72nd scale model aeroplanes, for the early 1980's was the era of self coloured plastic and missing flanges for anything that had more than 4 wheels. I renumbered this pretty little locomotive as 1451, why this particular number I have no idea, but I guess through looking at the etched replacement plates on the cabsides, that the number was simple available from one of the 'men in sheds' manufacturers that tickled my fancy at the time. I recall the weathering, was something I was very proud of, for back in the early 1980's people didn't tend to do such things other than maybe splash a dose of 'dirty thinners' over everything, though even that was frowned upon by the mildew ridden, adenoidal thermos touting brigade! I rediscovered this little locomotive last night whilst having a rummage through the garage looking for some stock to use for a shoot I'm doing for Catcott Burtle. The loco hasn't run in years (20 plus I guess), with the sparks and ozone emitted from it when some volts passed through its heavy flanges suggested a generation of storage in various dank locations was not to going provide the phoenix I had hoped! Hopefully you'll forgive the missing couplings and ground in dust!

Some fresh scenery on Mike Wild's Bay Street Mk2 - read more about this in Hornby Magazine, or see the layout at the Bristol Show first weekend of May 2009.

OK, here we go, most mornings after breakfast during the week I fibreglass pen'd off more lining and numbers etc (should have bought a plain black LMS liveried one - duh!). Renumbered as Bath Shed's 43017 (was there from 1950-53) and drybrushed on grime with enamels and washed on black and beige matt emulsion. All was sealed in Krylon Matte (which still gives a light sheen - like grease?). Just screw couplings, crew and pipes to add. These were shot under Catcott's new flu/energy saver mix lighting (the same as Cement Quay) which I'm quite pleased with (flu's were too cold, energy savers too warm - this strikes a balance). I may add the Brassmaster's pony truck and Gibson pony wheel set, though having looked at the fret on their website I might build another layout in the time it would take for me to fathom it out. I can see why George Dent in Model Rail did his hybrid conversion - and unlike me he knows what he's doing!

On the workbench, a Bachmann Ivatt 2-6-0 4MT. Here it is in 'out of the box' condition, but with the tender gap closed right up as tight as I dare (it only has to get around B8 pointwork). To achieve this I had to drill an additional hole through the connecting bar, then cut and shove the doors at 60 deg as per George Dent's excellent article in March '09 Model Rail Magazine. The next job will be to strip the lining off, spray plain black and renumber as Bath Green Park's 43017. The 'Lion on the wheel' logo will be replaced with 'BRITISH RAILWAYS' in cream Gill Sans. Then of course the engine will be weathered.

On the workbench, a Bachmann Ivatt 2-6-0 4MT. Here it is in 'out of the box' condition, but with the tender gap closed right up as tight as I dare (it only has to get around B8 pointwork). To achieve this I had to drill an additional hole through the connecting bar, then cut and shove the doors at 60 deg as per George Dent's excellent article in March '09 Model Rail Magazine. The next job will be to strip the lining off, spray plain black and renumber as Bath Green Park's 43017. The 'Lion on the wheel' logo will be replaced with 'BRITISH RAILWAYS' in cream Gill Sans. Then of course the engine will be weathered.

A Heljan Dogfish retro converted and weathered up.

A Model Signal Engineering LSWR Upper Quadrant kit halfway through contruction is captured here posed on Catcott Burtle. This is one of two signal that will protect the level crossing.

A close up of the upper quadrant arm.

On the workbench, a Model Signal Engineering brass kit for a LSWR Upper Quadrant Lattice Post Signal.

A Bachmann Class 20 with recesses for a tablet exchanger. The model here has been renumbered as Barrow Hill's 20119, which despite being in preservation sports a faded BR Blue. The weathering was achieved by dry brushing on pale blue and grey, the beige and rust brown colour washes sealed with Krylon Matte aerosol.

A Bachmann Class 20 with recesses for a tablet exchanger. The model here has been renumbered as Barrow Hill's 20119, which despite being in preservation sports a faded BR Blue. The weathering was achieved by dry brushing on pale blue and grey, the beige and rust brown colour washes sealed with Krylon Matte aerosol.

A Bachmann Class 20 with recesses for a tablet exchanger. The model here has been renumbered as Barrow Hill's 20119, which despite being in preservation sports a faded BR Blue. The weathering was achieved by dry brushing on pale blue and grey, the beige and rust brown colour washes sealed with Krylon Matte aerosol.

Before I totally write this one off, a 3D sketch of Carter's Siding. This is not at all to scale or in proportion (the loading dock is too high - in model form I'd like it to be around 2

Just a bit of messing about to see what could be plonked on a sheet of 3x1. 'Carters' Siding was a clay pit off the truncated Corfe Mullen to Wimborne line on the former S&D, the route being severed in 1933. The remaining 1 mile long siding from Corfe Mullen Junction served the clay pits until 1959, and then wagon storage until 1965 - the rails finally being lifted in 1968. The truncated line ends on the left. The bridge on the right could be double track width with a new extra portal for the siding. In reality AFIK there was no loop, the loop here is just to jazz it up a tad. As I say, this is only a bit of armchair pontification (but so was Catcott)!

Just a bit of messing about to see what could be plonked on a sheet of 3x1. 'Carters' Siding was a clay pit off the truncated Corfe Mullen to Wimborne line on the former S&D, the route being severed in 1933. The remaining 1 mile long siding from Corfe Mullen Junction served the clay pits until 1959, and then wagon storage until 1965 - the rails finally being lifted in 1968. This quicky was knocked up in MS Paint, in reality it will be on a curve (which is rather beyond MS Paint). The truncated line ends on the left. The bridge on the right could be double track width with a new extra portal for the siding. In reality AFIK there was no loop, the loop here is just to jazz it up a tad. As I say, this is only a bit of armchair pontification (but so was Catcott)!

On Cement Quay, 47145 shunts a Bachmann 'Limpet' and OCA.

On Cement Quay, a Bachmann 'Limpet' after a bit of weathering.

On Cement Quay, a Bachmann OCA after a bit of weathering.

On Cement Quay, a Bachmann 'Limpet' after a bit of weathering.

On Cement Quay, a Bachmann OCA after a bit of weathering.

Catcott Burtle

Catcott Burtle

A Hornby APT posed on Mike Wild's Bay Street Mk1

Fresh off the modelling bench, is this resin based kit from the Isle of Wight based 'Smallbrook Studio' depicting a 10 ton LSWR brake van. I'll be covering the contruction of this in a future edition of Hornby Magazine.

Fresh off the modelling bench, is this resin based kit from the Isle of Wight based 'Smallbrook Studio' depicting a 10 ton LSWR brake van. I'll be covering the contruction of this in a future edition of Hornby Magazine.

An ancient Ratio (plastic kit) ex GWR Bogie Bolster after a refurb. Red primer was used to represent, well, red primer on the iron girders!

Close up of the 'rust' ......

I was given these two departmental Jidenco (kits) SR diagram 1774 hoppers several years ago. They're brass and were painted in bauxite by the previous owner (which may well for wrong for such stock - I imagine black would be more correct for 1950's? No worry, they can stay as they are!). All I've done is weather them up using washes and airbrush to extent that they look like they've just been lifted off the sea bed after many decades - just like in that current TV advert for Smirnoff Vodka!

I was given these two departmental Jidenco (kits) SR diagram 1774 hoppers several years ago. They're brass and were painted in bauxite by the previous owner (which may well for wrong for such stock - I imagine black would be more correct for 1950's? No worry, they can stay as they are!). All I've done is weather them up using washes and airbrush to extent that they look like they've just been lifted off the sea bed after many decades - just like in that current TV advert for Smirnoff Vodka!

Yawn, the Ian Kirk aka Coopercraft LNER 51' 1-1/2" Full Brake with a little additional weathering. I often think it's better to do such in stages, taking time to reflect and gauge what's really needed rather than doing it all in one go?

The Ian Kirk, aka Coopercraft LNER 51' 1-1/2

Here we go - after a couple of days blasting around the country snapping trainsets and a few beers with mates in the northwest, this afternoon at home, the Ian Kirk 51' LNER full brake received a coat of 'Carmine' (British Leyland MG Metro Cinnabar Red), some numbers, weathering (dry brush and washes - not too much for this) and a top coat 'Krylon Matte Finish' via aerosol (Search Ebay for a good supplier). To be added: vacuum pipes, scratch built fom some brass wire wound with a single fine strand of stripped layout electrical wire are drying on the workbench after their top coat of matt black. That will just leave screw couplings to source next time I find a proper model railway shop.

Here we are so far awaiting a few more additional bits in the neither regions. The lower detailing was all a bit of guesswork, the instructions being more like a secret quiz that only the writer/designer understands. Anyway, got there in the end even, if I did replace the battery boxes with something more useable (block of foamboard)! The body will be lined maroon (Halfords British Leyland Damask). Sourcing pics has been a tad tricky despite looking all over the place (bar actually buying the recommended book 'LNER Gresley Carriages' which is unlikley to see much further use).

OK, moving on, in my quest to improve, introduce and upgrade some of my steam era stock before Catcott Burtle' s next outing at RAILEX next May......Here we have coffee table job (note the hot pepper sauce for the boy and handcream for her indoors on the left) bought last weekend at WycRail, an Ian Kirk, aka Coopercraft LNER 51' 1-1/2

An out of the box Hornby Shark ballast brake. In due course this will be re-numbered and so on. I'll open the doors too, nearly all pictures of these I've seen have at least one of them open!

I wandered as lonely as a cloud........

Time machine.........

Whilst I did start flush-glazing it cutting out individual windows, I wasn't doing too good a job as well as taking forever, so simply opted for the quick fix with the glazing stuck on behind. At last I can move onto other projects, a Comet Hawksworth Brake Compo, an Ian Kirk LNER panelled bogie full break/luggage van and a Smallbrook Works LSWR brakevan.

Last night finished off a very much on and off project of converting a Ratio Midland Sub into a crew vehicle for engineering trains etc (bar couplings and vac pipes which I need to source next time I find a proper model shop). A little muck on the windows won't go amiss either (matt varnish, painted on then removed with a cotton bud so the 'dirt' remains in the corners).

I have a job next week to photograph 60 or so OO gauge locos. So, rather than use a bit of Peco on some curled up white paper, a sheet or two of foamboard, a length of C&L and some spare Silfor, carpet underlay, hanging basket liner and various dyed sawdust resulted in a niftly display photo platform. It also gave me a chance to mess about testing out some autumnal looking scenics. In total you see the result of about 6 hours work. Oh yes, the print is one of my skies run off to 20x30 inches at Photobox online lab, which means I won't need to mess about with jiggery pokery adding skies and such 'cos everything can be donein camera - result?

Diorama test shot. A Triang SR scenery van with the addition of a Roxey Mouldings detail kit with next bogies

Diorama test shot. Weathered Bachmann 16 tonner.

Diorama test shot. Craftsman Johnson Midland 1P (brass kits).

Diorama test shot. Renumbered and weathered bachmann 32xx.

Diorama test shot. Bachmann Class 66.

The Midland Railway suburban carriage (from a Ratio kit) now all painted up and weathered with some dry brushing of pale grey (Humbrol matt enamel) and washes of muddy earthy colours (household emulsion). All this was sealed into place with 'Krylon Matte Finish' from an aerosol (Google for a supplier). It still needs screw couplings, vacuum pipes and glazing. The glazing will be a bit of a chore, because I'll have to cut out each window separately due to the rather thick sides.

The Midland Railway suburban carriage (from a Ratio kit) now all painted up and weathered with some dry brushing of pale grey (Humbrol matt enamel) and washes of muddy earthy colours (household emulsion). All this was sealed into place with 'Krylon Matte Finish' from an aerosol (Google for a supplier). It still needs screw couplings, vacuum pipes and glazing. The glazing will be a bit of a chore, because I'll have to cut out each window separately due to the rather thick sides.

I was looking through some stock boxes in the garage (building new stock boxes so I can junk the old ones) the other day and came across this. As teanager I recall building the body from scratch using card in about 1981 from some plans in one of the mags. I presume it's a Midland Railway van. I'm tempted to give it a refurb and to put it into departmental use. The rust on the wheels is real BTW!

I was looking through some stock boxes in the garage (building new stock boxes so I can junk the old ones) the other day and came across this. As teanager I recall building the body from scratch using card in about 1981 from some plans in one of the mags. I presume it's a Midland Railway van. I'm tempted to give it a refurb and to put it into departmental use. The rust on the wheels is real BTW!

In progress: the Ratio Midland sub is now in 'engineering red' (MG Metro Cinnabar red). Some way to go yet with glazing, more painting (black ends?) and the all important weathering (to try to represent red which faded pale and matt very quickly). The carriage number is in yellow (the DM395 bit is accurate, the last 3 digits fiction...LOL), pictures suggest that both this colour and white are acceptable, I chose the former because that's what I have to hand! Quite what a Midland region carriage is doing in deepest Somerset we'll never know!!

Looking at the deep mouldings it looks like I'll need to glaze each window separately - do I have the patience? No, but I guess it will be worth it! The roof line looks a little wonky too, something I've only noticed since posting these pics just now. As a consist this might make a nice lookng train with some ballast hoppers, Shark and maybe an ex Midland 4F (My old Aifix 44417 is currently in Philip Hall's workshop having a Comet chassis added).

This one I'm purely posting for novelty value, has been sitting on Combwich's fiddle yard for ages, is something I was given at the Southampton MRS back in the mid 1980's when they were having a clearout. I think it might be Kays or maybe Gem? It was originally in GWR chocolate and in a rather sorry state. I few years ago I repainted it into maroon and dirtied it up (just needs some vacuum pipes to finish it). These I gather didn't last into BR days though in my rose tinted Titfield Thunderboltesque parallel universe maybe it did...

This one has been in a box in the garage for the last 5 years, it's a Ratio Midland Sub - seen here in red primer......For Catcott Burtle and Combwich my 50/60's steam era layouts this stock really is too early, however if I blocked some of the windows in and painted it 'engineering red' (or black)? and make it look like it was on it's last legs, I guess it could look the part as a crew/stores carriage on a PW or engineering train? Thoughts?

An old Triang SR Bogie Scenery van with the addition of the excellent Roxey Mouldings '4A250 Detailing Kit for Triang/Hornby Bogie Utility Van'. The kit includes replacement bogies too. The slight bowing appears to be a feature of these old 1960's mouldings - still the real thing no doubt bowed all over the place! The light here is reflecting off the 'Flushglazed' windows. From a different viewing angle the replacement grills can be seen through the dusty grime. The next bogie van along is the well known Ratio kit, in turn hauled by Templecombe's 80043.

One of the first electric Metoropolitan Railway Loco's called a 'Camel Back' loco, this was the forerunner of the Met Bo-Bo which takes its power from the 3rd rail. Radley Models are shortly doing a run of 25 kits.

OK, so now you know what I look like! You sure you want to click on that 'contact' link now?

Here are a couple of Bachmann 16 tonners picked up the other day. 'Before' and after about 90 mins work with 'sleeper grime' and some matt emulsion washes. I didn't renumber - basically because that's not something I care about or notice in real life and more importantly couldn't be ar@@d

Here are a couple of Bachmann 16 tonners picked up the other day. 'Before' and after about 90 mins work with 'sleeper grime' and some matt emulsion washes. I didn't renumber - basically because that's not something I care about or notice in real life and more importantly couldn't be ar@@d

Here are a couple of Bachmann 16 tonners picked up the other day. 'Before' and after about 90 mins work with 'sleeper grime' and some matt emulsion washes. I didn't renumber - basically because that's not something I care about or notice in real life and more importantly couldn't be ar@@d

This is the result with glazing removed with just one coat (will need 2 or 3). The underframe will need to be 'less fairground' in colour before the whole lot is rusted and dirtied up. A few of these former German wartime narrow gauge units made it to the UK for industrial use after the war.

I'm so taken with Humbrol Matt 109 as used in the mechanical 'orse, the previously out of the box Bemo HOe locotractor above, is also being painted in 'Eclipse Peat Co of Catcott' corporate blue.

The Fleischmann 'Piccolo' chassis is a very worthwhile replacement for the ancient Bachmann Docksider chassis recommended for many 009 loco kits. It runs a dream too.

The Fleischmann 'Piccolo' chassis is a very worthwhile replacement for the ancient Bachmann Docksider chassis recommended for many 009 loco kits. It runs a dream too.

The Coopercraft AEC Monarch Lorry with dropside body kit (plastic) is posed on Cement Quay, the modern diesels making way for Templecombe's 3206 with some Radstock coal for the furnaces. 'Starkeys' (Starkey Knight & Ford Ltd) used to be a well known brewery from the Bridgwater and Tiverton areas (correct me if I'm wrong) - now sadly long gone!

Austin A30 Countryman Van (Springside white metal kit) on Arne Wharf. This is quite a blow up, the estate car being about 1 inch long. It's painted in the same BL Carmine red as our MGBGT. May not be authentic but works OK!

Modified Hornby 'Shark', for more info, pick up a copy of July 2008 Hornby Magazine.

Modified Hornby 'Shark', for more info, pick up a copy of July 2008 Hornby Magazine.

Modified Hornby 'Shark', for more info, pick up a copy of July 2008 Hornby Magazine.

Triang's 1960's vintage D6830 is seen here posing next to 37422, a recent offering from the Italian Vi-Trains.

Triang's 1960's vintage D6830 is seen here posing next to 37422, a recent offering from the Italian Vi-Trains.

The front end of D6830, a Triang release from the late 1960's. In this era, Triang and later Hornby, would use self coloured plastic, rather than paint to depict the main body colour.

A BR Blue Triang release from the late 1960's. In this era, Triang and later Hornby, would use self coloured plastic, rather than paint to depict the main body colour.

Vi-Train 37422 with optional detailing pack added. Note the glowing headlamps.

Vi-Train 37422 with optional detailing pack added. Note the glowing headlamps.

Vi-Train 37422 with optional detailing pack added. Note the glowing headlamps.

37403 in out of the box condition.

Bachmann Jinty at Combwich

Bachmann Jinty at Combwich

Bachmann Jinty at Combwich