Hello again, well the weather is warming up nicely - and so is my loft, as a result things are moving once more. My latest acquisition being a Bachmann 64xx PT in BR green,number 6412 a very nice loco and runs sweetly, just needs something suitable to pull now! (the Hawksworth autocoach in BR maroon - come on Bachmann......The local coal merchant in Sproston has changed hands recently, it is now owned by Mr Trevor Richard Compton, and he has brought himself an additional lorry (Austin k2) -to go with his AEC Matador so business is obviously on the up!.The creamery also seems to have plenty of traffic.The latest project is to 'spruce up' the Hornby B set, so I have removed the incorrect additional 1st class compartment door markings from each coach- reasonably easy with care and a sharp knife..

I have also adjusted the ride height of the coaches as they seem low compared to my Bachmann Collets and Hornby Hawksworths. This was achieved using 20 thou plastic spacers inserted above the bogie pivots, a task explained by' Coachman' in his blog on RMWEB. I close - coupled them by using small Hornby tension locks cut short and glued into the NEM pockets, the outer couplings were also closed up.

Since I had the bodies off I painted the interiors. Humbrol enamel matt 29 (dark earth) for the floors, Humbrol matt enamel 110 (wood) for the compartment walls, and RevelL acrylic Blue(56) for the First class seats and Carmine Red(36) for the remaining standard class. Not sure if this is 100% correct but it looks o.k and the windows are small. Next will be to add some seated passengers HO scale (they await painting).

I am undecided yet on further work. options are: removing the moulded pipework from the inside (coupled ends) of the coaches that should not be there, and covering over the extra window next to the guards door (on one side only) that Hornby thoughtfully added to each coach -but did not exist on the real thing....

. Other alterations that could be done, but I probably won't tackle are the rounded bufferbeams, wrong buffers, and adding extra handrails, along with the incorrect battery and regulator boxes on the underframe.

The goods yard seems very busy,and at Hodges farm shop ,their lorry - an old AEC Monarch from the mid 1930's has just arrived, entering the site of the former WW2 searchlight battery.

The next project will be to install at least 10 pairs of magnets under the baseboard, and fit all of the lines rolling stock (about 60 items, including locos) with '.Brian Kirby' additions to their tension lock automatic couplings, to allow automatic uncoupling.

Finally, here are a couple of views of "The rest of the system" - AKA the hidden sidings/storage roads, even these are nearly full when all the stock is 'offscene'. Need a bigger railway......

Well there you go, that's it for the moment, comments (good or bad) are always welcome ,Regards.

SIGTECH(Steve).