Darius43

Back in 2002 I took part in a big defence trial at Woomera in South Australia. On a few days off a group of us travelled on the Pichi Richi Railway from Port Augusta to Quorn and back - including a trip on the “Coffee Pot”. When Ixion Models brought out an On30 version several years ago I couldn’t resist… The model is oob apart from my painting the roofs and adding “staining”to the carriage side timber panelling. Cheers Darius

Hattons have recently been selling their O Gauge Gresley Pacifics at approx. half price. I purchased Union of South Africa partly because of the “bargain” price and partly because a friend and I rode behind her on the Bluebell a few years ago. The detail pack was supplied, minus coal load and fall plate so I made replacements. Really pleased although the 3ft length of O gauge track in the photos is all I possess do it’s going to be display cabinet material. Next task is to add the missing cab handrails. Cheers Darius

Fantastic news. Orders placed for 3-car and 6-car units. Cheers Darius

They are for the double cab MPDs - nos 63/64/65. Cheers Darius

Personally commissioned etched sides and ends just arrived from Allen. Cheers Darius

Yes it’s a shame what had happened to Michelin UK - both factories in Northern Ireland are gone now, Mallusk in 1982 and Ballymena more recently.

Small world. Before we moved to Belfast in 1978, we lived in Newcastle-under-Lyme. Dad worked for Michelin in Stoke. Cheers Darius

I had an interview for a civil engineering “sandwich” job with BR in 1983 whilst studying for my A levels in Belfast. They posted a small cardboard return ticket from Belfast York Road to Euston via the Larne-Stranraer ferry. The NIR and Ferry parts of the journey were fine, as was the train from Stranraer to Carlisle. On arrival at Carlisle the London train was delayed due to the wires being down but I spotted a reasonably express-like train on an adjacent platform and asked the platform staff if it was going to London. They confirmed it was so I jumped aboard and it left soon after, heading south. Rather than the route through Penrith we took the Carlisle to Settle line. The winter’s day was clear with blue skies and the snow-covered scenery was spectacular. After two interviews with BR I didn’t get the job but I have no regrets and things turned out ok career-wise. I still have that cardboard ticket and vivid memories of a spectacular journey. Cheers Darius

In a way it’s a nostalgic reminder of the photos in 1970s MRC and Railway Modeller magazines. Cheers Darius

Whilst perusing the November 2022 Hornby Magazine I noticed the photographic backscene that been used on an OO gauge BR blue era layout:- Looks somewhat familiar… Cheers Darius

Roof details in the wrong place on one side, not enough nose grilles on the other side, numbers in the wrong place on one side etc. The thread on RMWeb has more details should you be desperate enough to read it. To paraphrase the late Eric Morecambe, it has all the right details but not necessarily in the right places… Cheers Darius

New arrival… The model has a nice feel to it and is about as quirky as you can get in rtr form. However it has its share of inaccuracies which has caused a veritable surfeit of mouth foaming amongst the illuminati on RMWeb. Anyway, I like it. Nil desperandum. Cheers Darius

Agreed, does look odd. Cheers Darius

So it was. Couldn’t find it in the box so I made a replacement. Cheers Darius

Arrived today The thing is, I model in OO gauge It is rather nice, though, Cheers Darius

Painting completed. Cheers Darius

Started yesterday - work in progress on the Isinglass Models Gresley OO gauge TPO Sorting Van kit. Cheers Darius

Oxford Diecast Commer Walk Thru vans. Same treatment as the Leyland FG vans. Cheers Darius

Three Base Toys Leyland FG vans improved (I hope) by painting the edges of the window openings with matt black enamel. This disguises the thickness of the plastic body - especially around the cab. I completely disassembled each van to paint the windows, also painting the cab interior, the bumpers and the insides of the wheel arches. The main windows on the crew bus had their sides painted black to reduce the prismatic effect of the thick clear plastic The whole body was sprayed with matt varnish before re-fitting the glazing and reassembly. Cheers Darius

Repainted and detailed Hornby (ex Lima) model. Cheers Darius

Protective mesh panel for Test Coach Mentor observation windows made from brass wire and “N Gauge” steel mesh. Cheers Darius

Bring me four fried chickens and a coke… Cheers Darius

Two of the remaining few bits in the box were these cable drums. I built a “timber” support cradle using cardboard and fine chain to create a wagon load. And installed in a wagon (Parkside Kit). Cheers Darius

I looked at photos of NR Class 73s and they don’t appear that dirty even around the exhausts. The NVA is used as a brake force runner. Cheers Darius

Additional painting, details and weathering to complete the NVA (apart from couplings). Cheers Darius