Steam comes to Merrytwit

My latest locomotive was delivered today, a Mamod 1351 in unused condition with a couple of driver figures thrown in. I havnt yet been able to run it (no gas) but hope to do so very soon.

My new loco that will eventually be number 3 and named 'Jane'

Another one bites the dust

I have now finished the Fendyke open wagon and have started on the next kit, a van. I had already made a start on it years ago so hopefully it will get finished soon. I have also found a couple of Slaters kits that I partly completed but which need couplings and painting.

Open wagon complete and ready for service

Van kit with semi completed sides

These need finishing, plus I need to buy another bolster wagon.

Fendyke Wagon Progress

My two Fendyke wagons are coming along nicely. A recent delivery of parts from Brandbright has seen couplings added to the open wagon. A small amount of painting and a load for the open wagon still nedds to be done olus lettering and numbering, then they will be ready for service and I can get on with the van kit.

The covered wagon with its hinge detail painted.

The open wagon with its nice new coupling

Its raining, lets make trains

More progress has been made on the open truck with the addition of hinge and lock detail. The same thing has been done on the covered wagon.

The wagons with detail added. Now just need to paint them.

Another of the Mr Jigstones kits has also been completed

The ice cream stall complete with umbrella and ice cream cones

I hope to get the station base ready for track sometime next weekend. My plans have been thwarted just recently by the weather and a distinct lack of cash!

Station base progress

I have had a nice 4 day weekend and I have been able to get the rest of the concrete into the station base. I now need a layer of fine cement mix to finish off to allow me to drill into it. I am toying with the ised of putting down wooden batons to fix the rail down but will decide tomorrow.

Concrete down and covered up to protect it from any overnight rain.

I have also started building some card kits that I downloaded from the website of Peter Chandler (mrjigstones.webs.com). they are for a market scene and have proved to be easy to build if a little time consuming. Obviously being made of thin card they are not suitable for leaving outdoors but will hopefully make a nice scenic feature when I have open days/running sessions.

The first of the market stalls. The boxes, fruit and veg & posters still need to be fitted.

Truck build progress

The open truck is now structural y complete with just the hinge and lock detail to be added.

The instructions say to use sanding sealer on the bare wood but I cannot find this in any DIY shop so will probably resort to using normal wood primer before applying the paint.

All that will be left once this is done is to add couplings which I will order off the internet.

The wagon completed with just details, paint and couplings to go.

I have now started on the van kit. I had previously done some work on this so not starting completely from scratch.

The van kit with the side drying under the weight.

Building a 16 year old kit

Whilst sorting out my shed contents including some very dusty boxes, I came across several un-made Fendyke kits that I have just realised are at least 16 years old.
I have started my way through building them starting with an open wagon and it is going together quite nicely.

My work bench with the sides of the wagon under weights to help them set. Note the dolls house tables found in the same box as the truck kits.

I have everything apart from couplings which I will order tomorrow.

The body completed

The chassis rails in place with just the axle boxes and wheels to fit.

I must say that it is probably a personal record for the longest time between buying a kit and building it, and I still have three others to build!