Alas Alan it is in the as built form with a wooden buffer plank and that gorgeous Ramsbottom sloping smokebox so it needs to be bright and glossy all over. Keep your eyes peeled for it next year where I hope to be a lot further along (and no doubt with lots more shoddy workmanship). One of the interesting bits of taking over from Bert is to see how he tackled some problems in a different way from how Chris Rayward (aka Hotspur the designer) did it and how I would have done it. I'm a bit like Bert's Father Confessor as there are one or two secrets known only to him and me (and the very very close observer) which I'm not letting on about to anyone but he did a fine fine job. BTW I don't take any of the ME periodicals so if anyone sees a report of the loco in them would they let me know as it sounds as though Bert's very significant contribution is not acknowledged on the MDSME stand. I would not want that to be perpetuated in the printed record. Bert is a very fine engineer and what is more my son (to misquote Kipling [Do you like Kipling? I don't know I've never kippled.]) a nice chap and he deserves credit for what he has done. >From: "alanjstepney" <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> >Sorry Tim, wrong tank! > >From memory, to make it authentic, just add loads of grease and dirt. So >much that the engine almost disappears under it, then it will look like >they >did in the 50's ! > >Didn't notice any shoddy workmanship. Perhaps you forgot to add that ! > >Alan MODEL ENGINEERING DISCUSSION LIST. To UNSUBSCRIBE from this list, send a blank email to, modeleng-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with the word "unsubscribe" in the subject line.