Between photography, we also put in a little canalside walking. This mandarin was probably the most exciting thing we saw all day. During our 4 hour venture, we witnessed 28 trains. A 350 unit, and 27 PendoZZZZZZzzzzzzzz.......................

Anyway, I hope the new section will be of interest to some of you out there. I was going to create an online guide to modelling Overhead Catenary, but Model Rail seem to be doing a feature for their next magazine, so I shall probably wait and see what they come up with first.

On a final note, thanks to those who have contacted us with regard to catenary, especially the person who mentioned the JV range available from Marnos. This is being looked into.

On my Stereo: Pink Floyd - A Momentary Lapse of Reason

Not much modeling has been accomplished over the last few days, but work has had to take priority. Now the new tax year is upon us, there should be less rushing about like a headless chicken for a while, and more time to dedicate to modeling.
However, that may not necessarily be the case. There are a few other jobs that must be done in early April:

Lift and divide primulas and polyanthas after they have finished flowering.

Dead-head spring flowering bulbs.

Lift, divide and replant chives.

Divide rampant perenials in borders.

April is the best time to plant lavender.....

Carry out lawn repairs.

Begin regular cutting of lawns. Start off with a high cut, followed by a lower cut.

Carry out pond maintenance.

Tidy up any remaining leaves and bits of conifer

Clean patios and pathways with jet-wash.

Plant onions, and plan for the rest of vegetable patch.

Clean bird feeders and bird bath.

Tidy nature pond area.

Set up at least 20 wasp traps!

Tidy sheds.....

Sort out garden furniture........

Who knows, when we`ve managed to do all of that, I may get round to finishing the class 84, 86`s, and 92`s that I am currently working on.
When these have been completed, some of my other 86`s and 87`s along with my 83 and 85 are to be recalled for some finer tuning, something I`ve been meaning to do for quite some time!

On my Stereo: Ian Brown - Unfinished Monkey Business

All quiet the modelling front this weekend. However, some locos have been summoned for weathering treatment. I had intended to weather a few last weekend, but supplies of paint were drastically lower than I had thought, so I have had to wait to get some more. New pots of paint have arrived, so I shall make a start early in the week.....
I`m still waiting patiently for some new Hurst Pantos, but for the time being I am still using the excellent Sommerfeldt pantographs for certain AC electrics. I prefer to utilise the older style Hornby panto bases, but have now obtained some castings that are cheaper than buying lots of second hand 86`s for just spare parts!
These new castings are being used on the seven Class 86`s I am currently working on, all of which need Stone-Faively pantographs.
Finally, after several requests, I have finally started to add details of Steam locomotives in my collection. These can be found under the 'locofleet' section. Some of these have not been run for several years, but a few have had a test run before being put back in their boxes.

On my Stereo: Gary Numan - Jagged

Or should that be getting cross with my wires??
One area of the layout I haven`t really touched on yet is the overhead catenary. This is a feature of the layout that will be very prominent, and there will be lots of it. I thought I had better spend some time doing some research so I can hopefully get things right the first time round.

The task has already caused a lot of head scratching. Getting things like spacing, catering for curves, turnouts and different types of mast for different locations seems very confusing to begin with!

I figure the best approach for this is to know excatly 'what' is going 'where' before any erecting begins. The picture above shows several sections of Sommerfeldt wire which will be used. Some sections will require sections made from scratch, which actually becomes quite easy with a little practice and a little more patience!

The biggest problem I foresee is the actual catenary masts themselves. The UK market is very poorly provided for when it comes to Catenary systems. Many, many years ago, Tri-ang introduced some overhead gantries which are pictured above. These are quite crude and flimsy, but if worked on may prove to be of some use. With the exception of a few kits available, all other UK efforts can be eliminated immediately....

Manufacturers such as Sommerfeldt, however, produce some fantastic products. These lattice masts are a great example. A shame they don`t look even remotely British....... These cannot and will not be used on the layout.

Looking quite dated now are these masts by Lima, Marklin and Electrotren respectively. Compared to other offerings at the time, I always thought that the Lima masts looked more British than most, were quite effective and did not cost a fortune to set up. However, that was once upon a time.....

The masts which are closest to a British example are these Sommerfeldt examples pictured above. Considerable amounts of these will be used, along with some kits from N Brass Locomotives.
Also pictured are various pieces of plastic section which are for scratch building purposes. I can see that a lot of scratchbuilding will need to be done. Here`s to more grey hairs!!

On my Stereo: Ian Brown - Golden Greats

Monday afternoon - 27th March 2006

First view of hybrid 92

If you`ve been reading the piffle on here lately, you`ll know that I am currently upgrading my fleet of class 92s. A couple of weeks ago, they were all in 'out of the box' condition, or were a collection of spare parts! Some have been renamed and renumbered, but all of them are undergoing major detailing work.
The first to be completed is 92030 Ashford, which is a Lima/Hornby hybrid. The loco is pictured before being extensively weathered. This model now features full buffer-beam detailing, correct cowling, etched logos and plates, sun-visors, along with a host of other small touches.....

However, I cannot perform miracles, and only a few of the numerous faults on the Hornby half of this loco can be rectified. I hadn`t realised how bad the Hornby 92 was until it was too late and I`d already purchased a handful. This loco is fitted with the 'slightly' incorrect pantograph from their class 90`s / more recent class 86`s. Their plastic effort as supplied with more recent 92`s, although an improvement aesthetically, is just too frail to cope with a catenary system, so something slightly 'beefier' was required. The plastic pantograph is still overscale, thus creating lots of extra errors on the roof!

When I have completed these models, Hornby will re-release the Lima model, although incorporating Hornby`s 5-pole motor. Hurst models will also release their 92 pantos at the same time on a buy one, get one free offer! Maybe not....

I made a recent visit to Nigel Burkins site, and was reminded how important it is to have a clutter free working environment. Less mess, less stress! Although organised after a fashion, my workbench is seemingly full of clutter at the moment, and could certainly do with a spring clean! Let`s see what exactly IS on my workbench at the moment:

No we`ve not been living on takeaways over the last week, but these containers do come in handy. These particular ones are containing various loose parts for different projects I`m currently working on. Clearly labelled for easy identification. Good boy....

Some more 92`s being detailed up..... The transfer folder is out. I always keep my transfers in individual wallets, kept orderly together in a ring binder.

Some 86`s and a 90 looking a little worse for wear..... Some of these are to eventually make their way to a new home.

Recently completed 81009 awaits weathering treatment. It is in the company of a couple of locos that require a little oiling.

Oh dear, this is my in-tray! This junk should perhaps now be filed under 'B'!!
So there you have it, certainly lots going on! That`s not to mention half completed projects cluttering the desk in the spare room, or the workbench in the loft!!! A little tidy up is in order methinks, before finishing another 92 or two......

On my Stereo: Stiff Little Fingers - Inflammable Material

Wednesday lunchtime - 22nd March 2006

Becoming 'Can'tankerous?

AC locomotives seem to be theme of the month once more, with several currently going through the 'works' for repaints and detailing.
The next batch which will receieve attention are pictured above. These are still in 'out-of-the box' condition. These locos are going to have a lot of work done to them to bring them upto scratch. Electric Blue 86233 is going to have to be repainted in the proper shade of blue. It`s annoying that Hornby finished the model in a totally incorrect shade.

Equally annoying is Hornby`s attempt at class 92 decals as can be seen below. The bottom loco in the picture is a Lima effort, showing the correct size and positioning of letters

Another Hornby horror is their made up and poorly spaced typeface for Victor Hugo! Just check the prototytpe.... Enamel thinners are being used in the picture below to gently remove the lettering and numbers.

Anyway, I have more important things to do than moan about silly inaccuracies, so I shall get on with some more modelling.....

On my Stereo: David Bowie - The Man Who Sold The World

Thursday evening - 16th March 2006

Transfer market.....

I have been producing some transfers for the class 92`s I am currently working on. I needed some SNCF logos, Some class 92 names, and some large EWS 'Beastie' logos. Fox have recently produced the latter, but I was not keen on paying over a fiver when I only needed one pair so I decided to print my own. That`s a couple of pints of guest ale saved!

I spent considerable time looking for individual letters to produce the names. I found the right font, the right size, the right colour, but alas, was unable to find any which catered for lower case letters. I had no choice but to make my own transfers. It then took me even longer trying to get the exact shade of grey for the red letters to go onto, when my wife suggested printing on a white background on clear transfer paper. Of course, printers cannot print white. Honestly, how simple!

After these problems were solved, I set about printing a test-sheet of transfers. These were then applied to some spare body shells (as can be seen above.) I have since made a couple of minor adjustments, and everything is now ready for my next modelling session.

For those of you who were wondering, I came up with an idea that would perhaps make more use of the aplication of vinyls than the latest trend employed by EWS...... Can`t see it taking off though?

On my Stereo: Judas Priest - Painkiller

Wednesday afternoon - 15th March 2006

Devenions gris.....

Un homme dans une gare isolée
Une valise à ses côtés
Deux yeux fixes et froids
Montrent de la peur lorsqu'il se tourne pour se cacher

Anyway, enough of that! However, it does seem that everything is 'fading' to grey at the moment.
Pictured above are several projects which have been sprayed in primer in my 'Spray-station'. The latter is a glorified amalgamation of large boxes, which is always in very close vicinity to a powerful air filter system!

Currently, everything seems drab and boring when all said and done, but we`ll soon see a splash of colour on these models which will brighten things up a little.

On a more interesting note, my replacement 81009 is virtually finished, and work has progressed well with my batch of class 92`s I`m currently working on. So as always, watch this space....

On my Stereo: Placebo - Meds

Thursday afternoon - 9th March 2006

Body swapping...............

Leading on from my previous entry, an extra class 92 is being put together from spare parts.
We had a spare Lima class 92 which was almost complete, but was missing too many 'difficult to source' parts to justify resurrection! We also had a bundle of Hornby 92 bodies all with various parts missing. Ideally, I would have preffered to make the Lima model complete again, as although I`ve never liked the pantographs, and the front light clusters possibly slightly too big, I think the model scores over the Hornby effort in every other area.

However, if I can put a complete model together from what I`ve already got, then I`ve got myself an extra loco for 'free' as far as I`m concerned. Above we can see Limas 92015 resting on its old chasis. The white marks are to simply highlight the new securing holes I have made to enable it to hold a Hornby bodyshell.

Here we can see the same, only now the bodyshell is Hornby`s 92020. In order for a good fit, it was essential to file down part of the roof (on the inside - just under the pantograph / above the lima pancake motor.)

With the addition of spare parts from the other redundant shells, cast buffers, buffer-beam detailing, transfers, etched nameplates and portals, we should have our '92030 Ashford' for next to nothing! Watch this space.....

On my Stereo: Home Video - Citizen

Monday evening - 6th March 2006

Scrapheap challenge!

When it comes to modelling class 92 locomotives, I have to say I`ve been guilty of neglect. The five members of the class currently in my collection are currently boxed up in storage, and are basically in the RTR state they were when I bought them. I feel now is the time to put something else right!
Pictured above is a second hand Lima model, surrounded by Hornby bodyshells purchased a while back for spare parts. It shouldn`t take too much effort to make a complete loco out of these, and my many other boxes of bits and bobs!

I am looking forward to getting my hands on the new Hursts models pantographs which I`ve recently ordered. Depending how I get on with the numerous Faiveley and Becknell-Willis high speed pantograph kits, a further order for pantos for the 92`s could be next in line.

Above we have a couple more 92`s which are yet to see service. I already have a Victor Higo, so this loco is going for a body swap. I`m also planning to rename and number some of these locos. These are going to include:

92002 H.G.Wells
92006 Louis Armand (with SNCF logos)
92030 Ashford (with the seemingly unpopular EWS Beastie vinyls)
92039 Johann Strauss.

This exercise will require some 'DIY' transfers producing, and a lot of detailing work to bring the models up to scratch. (As if I haven`t already got enough on my plate!)

On my Stereo: Morrissey - Southpaw Grammar

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