Slightly

[peak]

Good to hear from you as well Geoff.

The shed roof is holding up well.
The layout is running quite well with a few hiccups here and there.

I seem to have drifted into a steam presence on the layout which I am currently enjoying (must be going mad).
Buying cheap old model loco's and seeing if I can make them better.

[GeraldH]

Great work on the Britannia, it's nice to see older models being restored and updated, rather than being dumped into landfill .

[peak]

Here is a link to one of my remotored locos.

https://youtu.be/VeesEQIC-kY

[Ex-Pat]

That's smoothness personified - very impressive.

(70021 brings back memories of it working the Midland Main Line when they also imported 70014 and 70042 (and I think 70004) to work the St. Pancras - Manchesters.)

[peak]

Thanks Mr Ex-Pat.
I'll do a video of 70021 when I'm happy with the smoke deflector handrails.

[luckymucklebackit]

Ah! the joy of the car boot find, we used to have a local monthly indoor car boot here in Troon but COVID has put paid to that, I found a few pugs but nothing main line. Locos are looking like great finds.

Jim

[peak]

I have now removed the moulded handrails and added some brass ones.
Just needs a lick of paint now (isn't it funny that you prefer the brass finish but just know you've got to paint it!)
I also note that I keep bending the front steps every time I touch it.





I also added a driver.
Note the lack of daylight below the cab.

[peak]

Slightly still exists and is in full working order.
Thought I'd add a few video's.

https://youtu.be/h9zugPShxZ0

https://youtu.be/zAjWOtGXr5U

[Bigmet]

...I have always thought that the gap between loco and tender was far to big on model steam engines (and quite dangerous for the crew).
Much modifying of the loco chassis and tender I reduced the gap by about 4mm while still allowing it to go round curves.

Remains a problem on many more recently produced locos, I too end up regularly performing surgery to close up loco to tender spacing.

Hornby actually 'built in' the oversize gap on their tender drive Brit and 9F tender mouldings. The forward frame extension that goes under the loco cab is near 5mm over scale length, a quick look at a side on photo of either class will show the effect. Cut off the front of the model's tender frames flush behind the footsteps, and then make a recess inside the footsteps to take the side frames, and a strong and invisible joint can be made, while reducing the overall tender frame length to correct size.

...If any one wants to have a go at modifying loco's you can't beat a cheap buy from a car boot sale!

Consider yourself lucky if you still have such events. Between a 50 mile round trip and a parking/admission fee, on the off chance of something good at a low price turning up - increasingly rarely - I don't bother any more. Hopefully when the MR shows get going again there will be a 2 year+ accumulation of s/h on offer, with some good items on the tables, and the pressure on to shift this heap.

BTW, I love your pun on Saltley. For some reason I had never previously encountered this thread.