"Paint"

Recently I've discovered a new found passion for mixing paints, mostly acrylics. It all started with a model of 60163 Tornado I made some time ago, but decided to paint it in blue. That particular paint has become one I've mixed the most, trying to match the shade as close I can, from studying photographs of engines with the livery, and the modern day Sir Nigel Gresley locomotive as a study.

A few years ago, I met a wonderful chap called Malcolm Crawley, and he described to me his way of making proper LNER apple green paint, and how he'd rediscovered the exact shade, to his eye at least. I was fascinated by the research that went into it, so, deciding that what was available from many of the paint makers today wasn't good enough to me eye, I decided to mix up my own formula.

For the purposes of my stirling single repaint, soon to be completed physically with the handrails and splasher cut outs done, I've tried mixing up an acrylic, and enamel version of apple green paint. I've tried an enamel mix first, and here's a photograph of my current mix, sprayed onto a spare (and redundant) tender bodyshell:



I'm not sure on the shade myself - I think I need to add more yellow. Thoughts on the colour - which is intended to be Doncastor LNER apple green, would be much appreciated.

Until next time.

"The future's bright...the future's green"

This is the first of many shots with a green background. Needs ironing out the creases, both literally and in a literary sense!

Until next time.

After a very long hiatus - too long - I am pleased to be able to bring you all this short trailer, for the Episode numbered 17X of The British Railway Series.

Until next time - thanks for watching.

"It's a Siphon!"

Thanks to everyone who emailed in to help me identify the wagon. Pretty much everyone said it was a G.W.R. Siphon of some sort, and it turns out it is a type F. Now normally I'd groan - out of region and period, but have been doing some digging, and found one in a train of Thompson and Gresley vehicles...on the Eastern Region!

Prototype for everything it seems!

Until next time, thanks for all of your help chaps.

"What is it?"

Found this lovely bogie wagon for sale at the Keighley & Worth Valley Railway recently, and bought it on a whim. However...I have no idea what it is, and whether or not I can repaint it into a BR livery!



The original (and degrading) wheels fitted were too large, catching on the bottom of the body, so I replaced the disc wheels with the same type, but smaller diameter Bachmann versions. Overall, it's reduced the height of the model above the rails, and brought it into line with the height of the rest of my stock.



Answers on a postcard please. Have been rummaging through book after book, and still haven't found the prototype for this model yet.

Next time - Part 2 of my York Week photographs.

Until next time!