First a bit of a catch up. Since my last post Underhill has had an outing as has Arnold Lane Wharf. Arnold lane came along for the ride to Wigan as part of a very successful F&WHR trade stand. It is such an easy layout to set up and despite being small, provides hours of shunting fun.
As an extra bit of the F&WHR stand
Wigan is a nice show so I was very happy to be invited back
I bought a couple of Colin Ashby coach kits at the show
Here are the finished items with a couple of others
The next new thing is a Tomix Percy bash called Fred. I've had one of these chassis before but sold it on, but when I saw one for sale on Plaza Japan I couldn't resist. At first I wasn't sure what to do with it but eventually I just got the big box of bits out and had a rummage to see what might fit.
This is how he ended up
The metal chassis block is quite a big lump and so whatever you do with this chassis it ends up rather tall. I'm pleased with how he came out in the end and I've decided that it was made by Hunslet as the cab windows have that sort of look, however it could just as easily be a Manning Wardle...
Complete with lining. (The chimney looks bent but it's an optical illusion)
The first big outing of the year for Underhill was all the way down South at Swanley and ExPong, what a long way down the country but again a cracking show which I was flattered to be a part of.
A couple of nights before the show I decided that Underhill Town needed a cattle unloading ramp so I knocked one up out of bits of plasticard etc.
It looks the part and should there be any sheep or cattle to unload it will make things easier.
The show went very well and the layout attracted some very nice comments and seemed to attract quite a crowd. As ever the fountain in the town square seemed to be one of the most popular features.
The trainee operator, Chris Parry
One thing that transporting and setting up this layout has taught me, is that it is too big and too heavy so after its next booking at Manchester (2nd and 3rd December) I will be retiring Underhill. I have a few ideas about what to do with it but in a lot of ways a fresh start might be the best idea. watch this space.
Black is the new black
Fred awaits the right of way
The silly small carriage set, they made a few runs
Narrow Planet launched a new kit at ExPong for a very pretty little Bagnall based on the locos at the Rye and Camber tramway. It fits on the Minitrains Porter chassis which is an 0-6-0 so the kit isn't an exact model. It comes with parts to modify the valve gear but the less buggering around with chassis the better. It follows their usual paradigm of a 3D printed carcass with etched overlays.
It went together very easily and I spent a couple of happy evenings adding some details, a waft of primer revealed a few little things which needed some filler and then he was ready for the paint shop. It has been noticed that I've put the tank etches on upside down... doh. Too late now.
Jim, just waiting for his name plates
While looking for something else I happened across a bright yellow Bachmann 04 that I bought a year or so ago. It didn't run properly so I put it away for later attention. As with many of these 03s, 04s and 08s if the pick ups aren't adjusted properly they don't run well, this was all that was needed to get this one to run as nicely as the others I have. The next question was what to do with it? The very first one of these chassis I bought I just took the cab off, added a few bits and turned it into a freelance cabless shunter. I now have two, a dirty green one and an alarmingly bright yellow one.
The new one under construction
The old and the new
It will definitely get some weathering to tone it down a bit and it probably is rather too modern for the IoSR's 1960s setting but my layout, my rules. It will live in the Town Quarry sidings for now.
The last thing I needed was another loco right now, especially in the lead up to Christmas but those nice German folk at Minitrains have finally launched their two French locos; The Decauville Progres and the Schneider Locotracteur. Both are superb little models and both items of desire, however I have opted for just a black Decauville... for now.
My one
Some visitors having their photos taken. The red Progres is very pretty too.
Anyway, that just about catches up with that and now it's off to Warley with the F&WHR stand this weekend and then Manchester with Underhill the weekend after. My first visit to Manchester so fingers crossed.
