Lost & Found

I've had a River Mite key ring on my house keys since I visited the Ravenglass & Eskdale railway a couple of years ago. Last week however it feel off my keys as I got them out of my bag walking home. To my surprise, serval days later, I found it sat at the side of the road as I walked home for the first time in daylight.

Needs a bit of a clean though...

Jumping Ship

Rather than finishing one project, I've jumped ship from the Ashbury to another item that's been sat on my workbench for many a month.

An IP Engineering Ezee railcar. I bought a selection of part built IP kits of eBay a while for a ridiculous low price and have started to try and finish them. This one has had a coat of Humbrol LNER Garter blue (!) and some red buffer beams along with some white whiskers. I've also modified the seating to a central bench, ala Wickham trolley, compared to the bench seats provided. Whether this stays or is sold once finished is another question...

Been a real Adult.

Its difficult been an adult, that's why I spent this afternoon watching Marvel's Incredible Hulk and starting a Lego set...

Watching the film was all part of #RoadtoInfinity, watching all the Marvel cinematic universe films before the release of Infinity War, which I'm slightly excited for! Oh, and the Lego, that was a Christmas present...

Throwback Thursday: Yellow Peril

Some people thought I was mad, others genius. Ever since Roundhouse Engineering introduced yellow as a standard colour with the introduction of battery locos I just knew I needed to buy a steam loco in it! So nearly three years ago I took the plunge and went for it. Some people must have thought it was alright as others have been ordered since and Dream Steam have even had one as 'stock'! The video above is one of the yellows Bertie's (to be named Neptune) first run, they do run well straight from the box these Roundhouse Locos.

Interior Design

I little bit of more progress this evening. With the interior now finished I'm getting dangerously close to having a runnable vehicle, although there is still the roof to go*.

*Roofs are my known mortal enemies.

Take a Seat.

An exciting photo I know. A little more progress on the Ashbury has seen the seating painted And the centre unit built up. Still managed to loose (typical!) one of the supports for the end seats however, so will need to fabricate a new one from scrap ply,

Eventually...

Inspired by my visit to the Yorkshire Groups New Year steam up I've picked up a project that's been sat on my bench for well over 12 months!

Been built from a Lineside Hut kit, I've slowly been painting all the beading, slow process when brush painted, the next one will defiantly be sprayed! I'm almost on the home straight now, with just the seats, roof and chassis to go. Oh, and I need to sort out some transfers...

Steaming into the New Year

Today saw the Yorkshire 16mm Groups New Year steam, where they erect two of their layouts in a hall for members to play trains on, there's bacon sandwiches too... I took two of my steam locos, my Yellow Bertie and the Baby Garratt.

I stole my friends beautifully built Timpdon coaches for a run with my Bertie. The finish he's achieved on these is fantastic.

Another good friend brought along his Bertie 'Firefly' along, which successfully puts my to shame with all the extra detailing added. He also brought along his growing rake of Ffestiniog coaches in 'what if' livery.

Catching my eye was this new build 7/8ths loco, which I believe is loco builder  Peter Angus' latest and based on the Horwich works loco from the looks of it. An excellent piece of work.

A Colin Binnie DeWinton was also pottering around, a lovely sight.

Been Single.

Just sharing a picture today:

I make no apologies for claiming the Ffestiniog & Welsh Highland is my favourite railway and make less apologies for sharing this photo of 'Taliesin' at Tan-y-Bwlch with the vintage train, defiantly the railway at its best.

Nodding Donkey's

We all make them don't we, models we don't need but still buy... One such purchase was made recently at my model railways club open day:

A Hornby Pacer in Northern Spirit livery. I didn't need it, it doesn't fit in with any of our group layouts but I still bought it. The reasoning behind this is that its what I 'remember' from childhood. While many people remember the days of steam of blue diesel from their childhoods, I remember bouncy along in a Pacer to Morecambe with a day out with my family. It still might get detailed and EM'ed as I quite fancy modelling the 2003-7 period of the railways...

Playing Trains

Another night at the clubrooms this evening, with not anything practical done other than playing some trains and doing lots of talking! I engaged in a bit of shunting in the goods yard on Cowgill, an EM model of the Settle & Carlisle railway. A kit built Black 5 took did the honours.

A 4F with a steel train also sits in the passing siding waiting for an express.

A more unusual visitor for Cowgill was this Hornby HST. Recently purchased and EM'ed by a group member it will hopefully soon be full length! Its a lovely model and runs extremely well. 

Till tomorrow! 

Going Vertical

Over the Christmas period I made progress on a project that's been on the workbench for far too long!

I picked up this Slater's DeWinton months ago in a very sad condition, but at a price I could not turn down. Stripping it back, including some awful wooden boiler lagging, showed some hope. Over Christmas saw me finally get some paint on the thing, and so far I'm quite happy with how its turn out, especially compared what it looked like when it arrived. Sadly some parts are missing meaning the valve gear will have to be stationary, but it's something I'm willing to accept for the price I paid.

Now just to try and finish it in reasonable time, oh, and deal with the different sized wheels fitted in the chassis...

Day 2!

So I've made it to day two, quite some dedication! Tuesday nights usual see me attend my local model railway club*, and today was no different. Not much was done tonight other than play a few trains before we crack on with the new layout again. One group member brought down a recently revived Stanier tank which now runs lovely:

Till tomorrow! (Where I might even show some of my own modelling...)

* Keighley Model Railway Club

That Awkward first Post...

Well what to say! I intended to start a blog last January, and now, a year later I finally got around to it...
I myself am a 20 something year old railway enthusiast who ultimately plays too many video games rather than doing anything productive. Mainly into my model railways, I build items primarily in EM and 16mm scales. Completing any models is quite a rarity though!
And that where this blog comes in, I hope to post something everyday if I can, in the hope it will inspire me to complete more models. I'll also post anything interesting I might do, well interesting to me..
As a parting gift here's IP Engineering Jane 'P.Windle' in the quarry section of our garden railway, the Parkwood & Damems Railway.

Till Tomorrow!