John Dale has launched his "Manning Wardle" and, suitably encouraged, is now considering further 1/32 projects. He is also working on his 1/32 layout which will make its debut at the Shepshed show near Loughborough on the 11th and 12th October 2008. I am flattered to have been invited to take "Pomparles Siding" to this show and look forward to making the journey north and taking part in a first meeting of small 1/32 G1 layouts.

Talking of layouts, Steve Harrod's very atmospheric "Worcester Road" is scheduled to appear at the model railway exhibition at "Steam" at Swindon on the 13th and 14th September.

Here are some recent pictures of this truly breathtaking piece of work.

Bob Hunter has been busy working on the rather larger layout he bought from Trevor Hale sometime ago. Now called Hatherleigh Junction it is really rather lovely - here is a picture of it married to an appropriate photographic background.

Bob hopes to exhibit it one day.......

Cliff Barker's new scale track is selling well, and as from June 2008 the code 180 rail is now available in nickel silver in either one or two yard lengths, in addition to the original semi stainless steel (illustrated). See his website for full details. This track has properly modelled offset wooden keys in the chairs and is a replica of Great Eastern Railway track practice. The sleepers are moulded at a scale 9'0" but with moulded guides underneath for cutting down to an 8'6" length to represent later installations.

Slaters are still working on the test build of the Kirtley 0-6-0 in 1/32 scale and are alo considering future wagon productions. They have in the meantime made available a Fine standard driving wheel which is suitable for John Dale's maning Wardle kit. The Peckett wheels are now available but the buffers are currently held up in production.

I at last finished building my AA20 "Toad" model, finished in BR grey as W68740 as it appeared in the "Titfield Thunderbolt" film in 1952.

I can now muster a complete BR goods train, albeit an extremely short one, seen below circulating the test track at the club one Thursday evening...

Here are a few pictures of "Pomparles Siding", work continues on its scenic development.

Here we see father and son coming to terms with three link couplings in a confined space...

A few weeks earlier the view up the line was quite different...

Having built up one of John Dale's excellent RCH wagon chassis kits, I set about making a pattern to cast a body for it. Based upon a very early GWR 2 plank general merchandise wagon, here it is before painting sitting on the completed chassis kit.

I have since painted the whole thing in grey paint and the body is awaiting the making of a mould, here it is sitting in my shed amongst other unfinished wagon projects.

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