New arrival in the workshop, from @accurascale.com who currently have a discount spin on their website for in stock items - got this at a great price. I'm committing to ESU decoders for my American locomotives, most of my UK stock will be Hornby HM7000 for the time being. #bsmrguk #modelrailway

Massive thank you to Tom Cox @dj-acid-reflux.bsky.social for sending me two more books, signed and inscribed. Support independent bookshops, but buy direct from the author if you get the opportunity!

No better way to spend the hottest day of the year so far than assembling a field shelter in full sun. The ground screws were fun, but it's done. I just need to summon the energy to hammer in the ground anchors. Horses had better be grateful.

Dropped my daughter off at Thorpe Park yesterday, so had the opportunity to spend the day at Runnymede. It was a bit warm, but walked up Cooper's Hill to the JFK and Air Forces memorials, and spent some time sitting in a meadow reading. The cafe was shut, which was a bit unfortunate in the heat.

A very exciting arrival this week #lego #tintin #herge

Managed to catch the Death Star as it passed over this evening.

Now, this would look rather nice steaming round my garden. My wife seems less enthusiastic. Added to the watch list whilst I slowly introduce the concept of the earthworks. #modelrailway #modeltrains #bsmrguk #modelrailroading #railwaymodelling #SM32

Morristown and Erie 22 is complete! Just decals, horn and a couple of bits of tidying up to be done, but the bulk of the work is done and I'm super-happy with the outcome. #TE-47-4E #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading #railwaymodelling

I've removed the masking from my #TE-47-4E and I have to be honest, I don't think I could be much happier with it. The finish on the roof is spot on, and I'm incredibly pleased with what Ive achieved. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading #railwaymodelling

The final stage of the #TE-47-4E paint is to add the black. I've used Tamiya XF85 Rubber Black instead of pure black. I'm just hoping it's black enough. Fingers crossed the masking has worked! #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading #railwaymodelling

I've added grey to the footboards and short hood top, and am chuffed to bits with how it looks where I've removed some masking. Next step is to mask again for the black. #TE-47-4E #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading #railwaymodelling

Birthday present from my youngest daughter on 3rd May, and I completely forgot to pop it up on #starwarsday #may4th I'm looking forward to making time to build it.

I think having put rather a lot of yellow on has meant that the red is a shade or two lighter than I might have preferred, but definitely better than the dark on the GP15-1. Not perfect, but it's getting there and I'm happy so far. #TE-47-4E #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #187scale #bsmrguk

Progress! I've masked up the model, and the red is on. It's been masked in stages, so next job is the footboards and low hood top in grey. Much better finish than I got on my GP15-1. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading #railwaymodelling

After a bit of a hiatus I've got some yellow paint on number 22. The pink really does work well as a primer for the yellow. I sprayed far more of the short hood than I needed to! #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading #railwaymodelling

I have a very long trail of unfinished projects. Probably most significant to me is this scratchbuilt 7mm scale 3ft gauge Peckett that took months of work researching and taking measurements off the prototype, before scratchbuilding everything bar the boiler fittings. Still wheel-less in a box.

I've primed it in pink to give a good base for the yellow, of which there's quite a bit on this livery. It should also be good for the red. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading #railwaymodelling

A few days at work have slowed progress on the M&E GP9/TE-47-4E project, but tonight I've found some time to set the airbrush up to get some paint on the model. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading #railwaymodelling

With the lights working I turned my attention to the consist - thank you to @tachyoneddy.bsky.social for pointing me in the right direction. With CVs 21 and 22 set correctly its now working as it should. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroad #railwaymodelling

After last night's frustration with the SD40-2 consist I sat down today and took my time. The issue with the lights on 8256 was easy - it had bulbs despite being DCC ready. LEDs swapped from the RI donor loco. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroad #railwaymodelling

After congratulating myself on the SD40-2 decoder fit, I discovered tonight that it has no lights, and damaged it trying to fix it. The speed matching is good with 8909, bur there are issues. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroad #railwaymodelling

I love the Rock Island loco but I'd doesn't match with anything else I have. I'll probably fit it with a decoder again in the future. Now to pair the CSX locomotives. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroad

So this evening I've taken the Tsunami Econami board out of my Rock Island SD40 and fitted it in the CSX locomotive. The other one has the Econami board as well so hopefully they'll consist quite easily. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroad

A bit of a side project this evening. I picked up an Athearn Ready to Roll SD40-2 super cheap on Ebay to consist with the one I already have. It's DCC fitted but no sound, and I really want to get them working together. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroad

Now running perfectly again. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading

I decided to give the loco a run on the rolling road before painting. It quickly started to run rough, and that turned out to be split gears. Replacements ordered from the American Railroad Centre in Bodmin. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #kitbash #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading

I attended the London Festival of Railway Modelling at Alexandra Palace today. The walk up the hill from the station is always a joy, but was particularly impressive in the morning sun with a slight haze over the city. One of London's best spots.

In my present!

The current layout is bases on the Domtar Paper Mill at Port Huron, different elements used to create the scene. There's still a lot to do on this one, but now it's up I should be able to get on with it. #hoscale #modelrailway #modeltrains #scratchbuild #187scale #bsmrguk #modelrailroading

I'm not sure how long it will be up as I'm planning to replace it with a more permanent model of the Morristown and Erie Railway's Jefferson Road transload facility, which has been the plan for about five years now.