Zvezda 1:100 Opel Blitz.

 Another aquisition from Shrewsbury Model Centre, in the same package is this kit, an Opel Blitz. Also a snap together kit, this one is moulded in grey plastic and produced to a very high quality.
Again the instructions are in Russian, although the exploded diagram is universal. This will easily be converted into something a bit more British.
I have one more kit to come which will be usable from this range. That is unless you want an army of tanks which are also made in this scale.
Zvezda have a Facebook site which gives details of forthcoming releases so I have asked that more of this type of truck or indeed any civilian subject be considered.
Recommended without hesitation, will be interesting to hear any others building these kits and to what they converted them.
Since writing this, I have found out that these vehicles are available from Finney and Smith- try the related sites link on the left.

People

This set of Railway workers is L9 in the Society range. Four workers and a barrow are all cast in white metal.
Needing a bit of work before painting, they are also a bargain at the same price of the set seen a few days ago.

Zvezda 1;100 kits.

 I dicovered these kits by chance on, I believe, Hattons website. I posted on the 3mm Society e-group about them and whether any others were available. At West Byfleet, Dave Finney showed me samples of them so I obtained some for myself.
Those very nice people at Shrewsbury Model Centre had some on e-bay, cheque sent and they landed on the mat two days later. Excellent service from SMCand they are to be applauded for their attention.
So, what do we have? This set of pictures shows a six wheel Rocket Launcher BM-I3 'Katyush A'. I got it to look at the possibilities for Anglisisation-Spellcheck anyone?
Two sprues of well moulded components, an exploded assembly diagram and a game card for the expandable game system Art of Tactic ' Operation Barbarossa 1941'.
As can be seen, most writing is in ,I believe, Russian. The whole catalogue seems to be available through an Austrian Company.
However, I digress. I think this could be adapted into an acceptable British prototype.
I also obtained another kit from Shrewsbury Model Centre but will tell more about this at a later date.

People

Set L9 in the 3mm Society range is this set of Drivers and Firemen.
They will need a bit of work doing to them before painting but at £1.50 for the set of six, three drivers and three firemen they have to be a bargain.

Worsley Works Drewry 04 Diesel Shunter

Looking to add another layout, I have been looking
at a small single board effort which would be ideal for
one day shows.
As a result, I think a change in motive power may be in order so, with a Hymek already in assembly, I looked for a small shunter to complement .
Having aquired some small wheels and a motor/gearbox this seems to be the answer.
Etched in Nickle Silver, these two sheets are extremely well produced. There are numerous fold lines etched on the rear to aid bending the curved bonnet.
Shown below and cruelly enlarged is the rear of the cab choices- the one I will use is the one with the chevron lines already etched.

West Byfleet and Square Wheels

 West byfleet was an excellent day out. Reached in just under 90 minutes, bonus was that parking was free a short walk away from the venue, a Methodist Church Hall. This year more space was available to enable a couple of layouts, from Peter Bossum and the Solent group, to be displayed.
The usual Society Shops and Traders attended which made an interesting meeting, and relieved me of some hard earned!
I had to see what the fuss about the square holed wheels was all about so obtained a set of 13.5 Dia. for use on yet another Pannier.
You get two wheels, an axle and two bolts and four nuts for securing coupling rods.
They look well made and I will hopefully be able to
give a blow by blow account of making a chassis
with these.
I already have a motor and gearbox to complete, so all I need now is some time.

West Byfleet Today.

No pictures today as we're off to the 3mm Society meeting at West Byfleet. There will be self quartering wheels/ axles available plus we are promised a sample of a new coach side from Andy Shillito!
This is the pre-Christmas meeting which gives us all a chance to stock up on those bits we need for the winter Modelling Season.
Undecided yet on what I need, mostly done on impulse or a good bargain may be had.
Hope to report on a sucessful meeting-

Regauging wheels.

 Another member, Peter,  is experimenting with 14.2mm. To regauge is fairly simple, pull the wheels out on the axle. To make sure they are the correct space apart, a wheel gauge is needed. Shown here is the one supplied by 3SMR, made of brass with a handle. A slot in the length for the axle to drop into, all you have to do is get the same amount of pinpoint axle protruding at each end!

Narrow Gauge in 3MM Scale

 Worsley Works are very useful if you want something out of  the ordinary, In 3mm they have produced a scratch aid kit of a Donegall Railcar. Designed to run on 9mm track it has been motorised with a Farish motor bogie.
Built by Dave Westall, one of the group members, he is also slowly making progress on a section of Irish Narrow gauge as a layout.
As Alan of Worsley Works says- if you want it then tell me. Recommended.

Coupling Rods

The coupling rods on one of my 45XX Prarie Tanks broke. So, what to do? Try and fabricate some new ones from bullhead rail?
No- appeal to the membership of the 3mm Society and there is usually a solution. Very coincidenally, George Mitcheson was about to etch some rods for one of his projects, he asked for the measurements and a couple of days ago these excellent replacements arrived.
Just a matter of fitting them, will post the result.

Hennock Cider Company

A close up picture of this log lived building which has had some updating. The original windows have been replaced with some that are more realistic.
One of the mechanical Horse Trailers is parked in the lading bay with a fresh consignment of the  product.
Also visible is the entrance to one of the fiddle yards, this shows the method of aligning the tracks and the conduction of electricity.
The crossing gates are those produced by Peco, not glaringly overscale and just the right sive to span a single line crossing.

Unashamed Theft-Well with Permission!

 At Weymouth MRE I met Stu and Steve, fellow RMWebbers. Stu had a lovely 4mm small layout, Drury Lane. I have been looking for some time to make a small, single board shunting layout and I think I have finally found what I am looking for.
Stu has kindly agreed to my copying his ideas- permissable bare faced theft is what it's all about.
Honestly, I can truthfully say that most ideas have been copied from others and most layout owners will have at least a small part that has been 'borrowed'.
So, not 3mm this time but a good idea for a small layout.

New coaches get a run.

 The first opportunity to run the completed Collet coaches was at last Saturday and Sunday's Weymouth Model Railway Exhibition.
They ran well with no wobble or crabbing.
The effort seems worthwhile and some positive comments were recieved.
I couldn't resist a few new pictures of 'Hennock' and one is below.
Several new exhibition bookings were made and now 2012 is fully booked- just have to send off the forms.

Weymouth Exhibition.

It is some years since I stayed in a real guest House. The last time I was a lot younger and then single.
The one we were booked into by the Weymouth Exhibition organisers was superb.
Spotlessly clean and extremely comfortable and the breakfast would shame many more expensive establishments.
Dawn and her husband were very welcoming and friendly.
If anyone is considering some time in Weymouth, you could not do better than this excellent 3star accomodation.
I cannot recommend it too highly.
Very remiss of me to forget details:- Fosters Guest House, 3 Lennox St, Weymouth, DT4 7HB.
01305 771685. e-mail: stay@fostersguesthouse.co.uk