Just Playing Trains

 Here are two shots to record progress with Coales Mill in 2mm scale. The larger block is now stuck onto the base and may have to stay there, I overlooked some unset glue when I did a fit check and its set while in place. This will make the detailing a little more complex, but I don't want to wreck anything trying to unglue it. Progress is travelling left to right in theses shots, and the track needs to be glued down and wired correctly before “ballasting” - its almost completely covered over to form a roadway in most photos. The next building along has some giant ducts at the back, making it look far more modern than the current Victorian styling. Stay tuned….

 A great tool with all the same uses as the traditional Sharpie (no connection by the way, just share the name),monkey 0.3mm and therefore very much finer.  I find it particularly useful for 2mm scale window frames. ScaleGlaze sell them only in white, but now we can reverse that. The rather poor photos - sorry - also show some progress to Coales Mill, which is the current focus of work here.

 An LMS design clasp brake underframe for a fruit van. The kit is by Rumney Models and I'm using the guitar string wire springing as supplied. Overview - or rather underview? Brake rigging in construction  Parts so far Highly recommended kits these, just take your time and make sure you understand the instructions.

 Its coming on nicely.  A great kit with very many parts, a lot of which will be in the “I know they are there” category once building is complete. I've had a few issues of my own doing, failing to read and/or comprehend the instructions properly, a and of course, I have snapped a couple of delicate parts, including the exhaust, which is actually the worst illustrated part in the overwise excellent booklet. The part is first shown as attached in the early engine block build section, without including it in the exploded view. It is actually attached very near the end of the build, but he part is angled such that it appears to be a straight rod in the exploded diagram. Anyway I had to fashion one out of brass rod in the end. The jib lowering gear Rear of chassis Chassis rear with winching detail Exhasut Cab interior Overview

 And the award goes to….. These micro drills which came very cheaply from eBay and have become very regularly used.  They are easy to use hand, or rather finger, held, and are easier to chuck up in a minidrill or mandrell than a regular pin drill. I also have a stack of 0.3mm size as these are the most regularly used.

 Doesn’t look like much, but the turnout is built and the wiring has been added. The next stage is to glue the assembly down, but before then I need to think hard about how to control the turnout.  The general idea is to use wire in tube, so I need to ponder the run of the tube because the fiddle yard extension cantilevers under the turnout. Anyway distractions have had the better of me this last well or so… The Scammell is progressing well, and something else arrived too - a Lodekka.