"BRWS Ltd Update #6: Empire of India, Talyllyn 150 and a new stockist joins the proceedings..."

So to start us off in this sixth update of the year, here's a few images of no.11 Empire of India which is nearing the finishing straight. A lucky find by a contributor has happily led to me getting the roof and tender painted correctly!

That is, with the tender painted black above the beading, and the roof painted black down to the edges.

 

 Overall I am really happy with her and she'll get a run out at the Erith Model Railway Club this week.

Now we move onto the big steam event of this year. Talyllyn 150. I was very gratified to be able to go with a couple of close friends (including one Ryan Hagan of the Sodor Island Forums) and we enjoyed seeing all of the different shades of red on offer!

Of course, the two guests from the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railway were Russell (making a first trip back, and a first trip in steam) and Prince. Both very handsome engines which I admire greatly. The compactness of Russell is astonishing towards the front end!

What's a trip to the Tayllyn without seeing one of the old ladies? Talyllyn herself looked resplendent in her new livery, which I personally thinks suits her the best of all the liveries I have seen. Much better than that lined black...!

Of course there was one engine who wasn't going to be in steam, and sadly Sir Haydn will have to wait a little longer for his overhaul...

I don't think I have ever admired a narrow gauge engine as much as I did Talyllyn that day. The vast majority of my photographs she's in somewhere! Looked fabulous. Nearest the camera is Douglas who I generally ignored the whole day. Sorry Douglas!

Russell is an astonishingly powerful locomotive for its size, but one of the quietest operators I've heard for a good long time. I doubt that'll be the case when she's running on her home railway!

Then of course, there is the other old lady, looking utterly resplendent in a matching livery to her sister.

Dolgoch really looked rather wonderful. It does beg the question, what livery will we see them in for Talyllyn 200...!!! (If I live that long!)

I did manage to sign a few of our books and generally meet and greet anyone who wanted an autograph. There was one chap named Lewis who made my day by recognising me sitting in one of the coaches! Thanks Lewis, you really cheered me up that morning :)

Finally, we have a new stockist! The Corris Railway has agreed to take ten books on and they will have them within the next week or two. 

This brings our number of stockists in the preserved railway world up to four. To that end, I am preparing a new part of the website giving links to these railways and advertising them a little better our end.

Until next time!

"Empire of India"

I just thought I'd share a few pictures of a project I have been working on, the London & North Eastern Railway's no.11 Empire of India. I sold my original Empire of India a few years ago and really regretted it.

Of course, this one was made in a completely different fashion to my current A4s, and I've turned the clock back on the livery chosen for my model, which will have the 1946-48 LNER stainless steel lettering and numerals fitted instead.

At the end of this month there'll big the now usual big update regarding my modelling for the month, but I just wanted to share a few pictures to garner some feedback on the garter blue livery.

You will remember that I have been formulating my own paint and methods of painting my models. Well, I think I've finally cracked it with this model, which requires a Tamiya light blue being applied onto grey primer, followed by my latest reformulated (and a bit expensive now!) garter blue shade.

And yes - the tender is the wrong type (it should be a 1928 corridor tender) but rest assured, no.11's tender is in hand (and currently drying after painting. This tender will be going behind no.8 Dwight D Eisenhower).

I'll go through the full build in some detail on the 30 June 2015.

Until next time!