Saturday Film Club: Toton Yard Hump-shunting 1950

An interesting film, made up of a lot of clips I think, showing Toton hump shunting yard in operation. A really fascinating thing to watch. 

Paint on the VER car

 

A quick update on the Volks Car - painting has started using the closest colours I have to hand. Precision Paints LNER coach cream for the top, and Humbrol 73 (Wine) for the lower section. 

Looking at photos, they aren't a bad match for the current colours. Yes, I know Car 2 never made it into this livery, but I'm keeping things simple so the model actually gets finished. 

A dirty little hut in Spring's BRM

 

It's been a busy time, so I've only a single practical in the Spring issue of BRM magazine - weathering the little metal hut that I built in the last issue. 

I have been out with the camera again though. 

First, we have Canalside in OO.

The simply stunning Clyre Valley Railway in 009. 

 Finally, Barnwood in N. 

 You'll notice that two of these layouts have boats on them - happy Phil!

Warehouse Wednesday: City of Birmingham Electric Supply 1920

 

Head up to road level from Bournville station, and this is what you find. A 1920s substation, from the days when "The Corporation" handled electricity. 

What a beauty it is too. OK, the various extensions don't add anything to the look, but at least the building is still doing the same job it was built for - even being upgraded a few years ago.  

Younger readers may not understand just how widely the tentacles of the local authority once spread. Nowadays, everything is chopped up, and sold off, but once, the council was seen as a benevolent body that looked after the local area. People actually cared who their local representatives were. When this place was built, people were proud of their construction, and intended it to last a very long while. I wonder if they expected it to be doing the job a century later, though. 

From a modelling perspective, putting the name of your fictional council on the end of a building like this would help the viewer form an idea of where the layout is set. This isn't a complicated building either, as the view on Streetview shows. 

This is why my collegues think I'm weird

Sometimes, work post for me goes to the office, and has to be forwarded on. At Doncaster, my boss handed me a jiffy bag that had just arrived in sunny Bourne. 

Inside the packet was this. A Beatties carrier bag, and a postcard.  

On the back of the postcard, it just says "Phil. One for your collection" - so I don't know who to thank, but I really appreciate anyone taking the time to pack a bag up, and pop it in the post. Even if the people I work with think I'm odd. 

It was not the only bag from the show though. I couldn't resist Anorak's Anonymous's new one. 

 

I know someone is going to shout "AI slop", but I think it's fun. Now, where's my bobble hat...