In something of a welcome surprise, Bachmann have just (January 2008) announced the immediate availability of ready to run brass Class 03 diesel shunters in 1/32 scale. The initial releases are fully finished in either BR green or BR blue liveries and their list price is £635.00 with unpainted brass examples to follow at a slightly lower price.

I have only seen the pictures on Bachmann's website but based upon these and experiences with their earlier models I should say that it is going to be very well received. For the record the models so far produced in brass by Bachmann have been the "Austerity", "Jinty" and 57XX Pannier tank. I look forward to hearing and seeing more about the new 03, and sincerely hope that some of the superb modellers associated with Rob Mabbett and Steve Harrod get working on a few.

As if this weren't enough, John Dale has completed the instructions for his superb Manning Wardle kit and the kit is now available to purchase. The price is £265.00 and in addition to the kit you will need to purchase wheels, motor and gearbox. To go with this kit, and to cover some future plans of their own, Slaters have come up trumps and produced a correct Manning Wardle driving wheel to 1/32nd scale G1 fine standards, which makes completing this kit an eminently practical proposition. I haven't (yet) built a kit made by John, but based upon completed models I have seen and the quality of thought that has obviously gone into the instructions (which I have read) I would judge that this model might even be a pleasure to build.

The kit is based on the Manning Wardle L class 0-6-0ST that was supplied to various contracting firms and features a nickel silver, beam compensated chassis with dummy slidebars and a etched brass body with fittings cast in white metal and brass.Suitable finescale wheels are available from Slaters Plastikard utilising a 3/16" axle which will take various O gauge motor/gearbox units.

The completed model is seen below on my "Pomparles Siding" layout under construction at the Fosse in June 2007. For further information or to order please contact John Dale on 01509 829257.

Cliff Barker's new scale track is available and is beautiful, see his website for full details. I will be buying lots in November for my garden line. Pictured below, it 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 now have Peckett wheels available and are about to release Peckett locomotive buffers. They continue to sell their Charles Roberts 1907 spec RCH Private Owner wagon and are re-doing the etches for their previously announced Midland Railway Kirtley 0-6-0 goods locomotive. They are also planning to start work on a resin kit for the Midland box van to follow up the excellent PO wagon, in addition to another later spec. RCH PO wagon.

Here is a picture of one of the Slaters PO wagons built by Adrian Marks to ScaleOne32 standards, a superb piece of modelmaking and painting and hopefully the precursor to a small Great Eastern layout from Adrian.

The new 1/32 wheels are fine standard but set with a back to back of 41mm rather than 42mm in order to allow Peco track to be used. A sensible commercial decision, but a bit of a nuisance for users of "Fine" track standards, the back to back will need pushing out. On the other hand, these wheels may run through "Standard" Gauge 1 track. If so then Slaters might have created a new "de facto" set of standards for Gauge 1! We shall have to wait and see.

On the personal modelling front, "Pomparles Siding" continues to take shape, I might even finish it one day....

I am still going to leave the below picture of Simon Dunkley's superbly painted BR 5plank wagon as an example of how good finishing should look. Simon has started work on a BR standard brake van to go with the by now sound equipped Class 22 that he is half way through building.

In a similar vein, here is Steve Harrod's superb"Worcester Road" - a shed scene like no other. Take a glimpse through the shed doors one evening - utterly magical

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