Darius43

Only two more to go to complete the rake. Cheers Darius

Two more completed. Four more to go… Cheers Darius

The MGR train did several circuits after which the magnetic couplings began to fail as shown below. The couplings are from West Hill Wagon Works and are the latest of several failures I have had with their couplings. I am forced to conclude that they have a good concept but their execution and engineering is poor. Alas I won’t by buying anything else from them in future. I plan to make my own fixed bar couplings (like I did with the Freightliner Flats) and create permanently coupled rakes of 5 wagons with tension locks at each end. Cheers Darius

Watching the trains go by in the shed today Cheers Darius

Decals applied followed by some light weathering. Cheers Darius

A couple more of the 3D printed JGA cement wagons detailed up using brass rod, tube and electrical wire. Followed by a coat of grey primer, with air hoses and buffer’s picked out in black enamel paint. Cheers Darius

Finally got roundtuit and completed the Snow and Ice Treatment Train wagons (3D printed kit). Cheers Darius

Nope - hit “post” too early Cheers Darius

Running session in the shed today. Cheers Darius

Dummy (non-motorised) Class 66 made from spare bogies, chassis and body sourced from eBay. For running on trains that have a loco at each end. We tried running these trains on the layout with powered locos at each end but could not get them to match speeds over the full throttle range - resulting in the train being stretched or scrunched. Cheers Darius

Mk1 Pig completed. I remember queuing up with my Mum and sister in the street beside the Avenue Cinema in Belfast one evening back in 1978 to see the film Grease. We had just moved to Belfast (Dad worked for Michelin) and the street was fenced off down the middle as the Grand Central Hotel next door was being used by the Army. Vehicles like these were being prepared to go out on patrol. Both the cinema (a real flea pit as I recall) and the hotel are long gone and the Castle Court shopping centre occupies the space today. 1:48 scale Alvis Saracens - HLBS resin kits. 1:50 Alvis Stalwart Mk1 - modified Verem diecast model. Cheers Darius

Humber “Pig” Mk1. 1:48 scale 3D printed kit from eBay. The model as printed is fairly basic with little detail. The bull bars were fitted to the Mk2 so we’re not used. I added more details using bits of plasticard and brass rod. Cheers Darius

Some more 3D printed 1:48 scale AFVs cleaned up and painted. FV434 Ferret Mk2 Cheers Darius

Trojan AVRE completed. Cheers Darius

Some more 3D printed 1:48 armour. FV721 Fox Armoured Car FV214 Conqueror Tank Five generations of British Army MBTs. 1:48 scale kits from ASAM Models and Empress Miniatures - plus the 3D printed Conqueror. Cheers Darius

About 15-20 years ago. They were based on older MTK kits but sadly the proprietor of No Nonsense Kits passed away in 2010. Darius

No Nonsense Kits CIE A Class Kit Missed out on an IRM A Class and want to experience pain and despair*. Here’s the kit for you. Cheers Darius * A bit harsh I know as No Nonsense Kits are cleaned up and improved Modern Transport Kits.

Well spotted. Yes - a Mk2 in 1:48 scale from the same supplier as the Trojan AVRE. Cheers Darius

Trojan AVRE. 1:48 scale 3D printed resin kit with three parts - found on eBay. Basic painting completed. Finer detail painting plus registration and lights to be added. Cheers Darius

Sunstar 1:24 Diecast Routemaster with new home made number, destination and advertisement decals. Cheers Darius

For a second I thought you were at Goring-by-Sea, which is two stations down from me. It’s electrified as well but using a different method… Cheers Darius

Followed by a running session. Cheers Darius

Embankment slopes installed on the layout. Cheers Darius

There’s quite a variety as posted here. Have a few on order myself. If the GWR and GNR versions are anything to go by, these should be very nice indeed. Cheers Darius

On Royal Avenue in Belfast. It had a very comprehensive railway book section. Cheers Darius