P.C.M

Thanks Lee, I have had a look in my bits boxes today as I though I might have had some, what I did find was some 13" metal heads which I have glued into the Parkside plastic mould. I had a look at some pics of VEAs and the Parkside moulding really isn't too bad plus it didn't cost me anything. 37284 is now back in one peice and my 37/6 is now getting the same treatment. Cheers Peter.

I have been working on these Parkside VEAs, but before I carry on can anyone tell me if there are suitable whitemetal buffers for these wagons. I have a few in the bits box but none look like the right type. Also on the workbench for some mods is 37284. I noticed my 37428 was sitting a bit high while next to the MK1 stock. As 37284 was already in bits for wheel cleaning I decided to have a go at lowering the loco by filing some plastic off the gear towers. It now sits at the right height, problem is I raised the bogies when I did the model so these need to be pulled apart and re glued and the original height. Cheers Peter.

Thanks Cav, Weathering is something I try and get right, I normally find a few pics of the actual loco and weather what I see. There seems to be too many models out there now which have a quick blow over with an airbrush and look like they have been off road. I find adding a few paint chips rust spots and a bit of fading can make a loco look well used but not over done. 37428 is quite clean I think it could do with a touch more grime but during 86-7 it was fairly clean as it was cleaned up when it was named sometime in 86. Cheers Peter.

One way to find out Paul, Put it up for sell, if you get a good price all well and good if not use it for parts. Pretty sure you will sell it though it's a great model. All the best with going EM. Cheers Peter.

Stabled class 40.

Nice pics Rick, I noticed the buses in the pic, never seen any there before. Nice to see the 07 getting some use. I wouldn't mind a pound for everytime I have stood on Campbell Road bridge. I must admit I didn't mind earlies or lates but nights don't miss them unless I was Depot groundframe I could always get a few hours sleep. Cheers Peter.

A quiet Sunday afternoon at Llanbourne. A Sundays only working of a class 128 and van waits to depart to Chester. 37428 has arrived on a service from Crewe, the loco has already run round and pushed back ready to depart. Sundays normally means a few loco's on shed and today is no different. Cheers Peter.

Hi Ken, Thanks for the info on what you did. I will let my mate know. You class 26 looks great and I notice the early Highland Stag too, very nice. Looks like a class 27 in the woks too. I would love to see a pic when it's all weathered up. Cheers Peter.

Thanks. Yes the camera was resting on the platform, my Iphone might get a better view. I will give it a go. Cheers Peter.

Hi Rick, Well that went quick, and straight back into it too. Hope you are enjoying the new job. Glad the N gauge worked well and was that an open day at Eastleigh? or a look round the works. Cheers Peter.

Thanks Ken, Feel free to post up a pic of the finished beast. I have a class 25 with Bifs sound but will eventually get one for one of my class 26s. Do tell how you have managed to get the ScR car headlights to work as my mate wants to do his. He asked one of the companies Express Models I think, if they would do a lighting kit but has no no joy. Cheers Peter.

Class 26 on vans.

Hi Andy, I am sure at your rate you will have things running in no time. I will still be faffing around with stock and you will be on to your next layout. Cheers Peter.

I like the way you have photo shopped a real lathe into your layout board Alex. Post up a pic of the model when you get a chance, you nearly had me fooled. Cheers Peter.

Thanks Pugsley & F-Unitmad, I have a Model Express kit of a VAA so I might just keep that and look at getting a Dogfish wagon when they are out. I am not in any hurry so the Heljan VAA price might come down in time. Cheers Peter.

Thanks David, You are right it's not the best kit. My mate has spent a lot of time adding his own detail parts, but it looks very good now and just needs some transfers to finish it off. Cheers Peter.

Thanks Marcus, I really need to crack on with a few jobs on Llanbourne but the layouts running really well at the moment so I just keep running trains. I will look out for some pics on your thread it's coming together very well. Cheers Peter.

Thanks Lee, It's funny you mention the class 40s the owner of the blue one which sounded really good after I sorted the pick ups remembers them really well and used to Bash the north Wales coast back in the early 80s so had plenty of haulage on them, and has a few very nicely detailed models. D200 belongs to another as it turns out class 40 fan. Though Jim is a bit younger than me he still has good memories of seeing them around Manchester. The McRats didn't look out of place on Llanbourne, when two were sat in the station it made me think of Inverness back in the day. Cheers Peter.

Good on you Daz, It looks like a great layout. Pete has done a top job. looking forwards to seeing some of your stock on there. Hi Pete, that NSE HST looks really cool. Pity they didn't do one. Cheers Peter.

A few friends came over yesterday for a bit of a running session. Here are a few pics of the visiting loco's and my friends DC kits crane. Both class 26s had Bifs sound and sounded superb. Cheers Peter.

Hi Andy, I like it, a nice flowing traclplan with plenty of shunting options. Looking forwards to seeing this develop. Cheers Peter.

Thanks Mate, I do like the old class 31 even though they were a bit underpowered. Cheers Peter.

Thanks Simon. Cheers Peter.

Thanks Rick, Are you back from the UK yet? Hope you are having/had a good trip. Will have to catch up sometime. Cheers Peter.

Hi Simon, The layout is looking good, I like the new loco's too the triple grey class 86 is a real beast. Cheers Peter.