Not much happening.
have made some progress on GMS1 flush glaze is in. undercoated and base coat applied just missing lining and decals. The vents are on the roof and whole thing is primed just waiting final paint. Started a new project.
I had an old American observation car sitting around so I set to work cutting it down in length and a few other things.
Now after a rough paint it is starting to resemble something like one of the early VR parlor cars.

The current state of GMS1 all finer detail work to do now.

 Now on to the VR version. the body and under frame was shortened by about 5cm.
out of annoyance of seeing in grey primer I gave it a quick paint to see how it would come up.
it looks nice. still have all the railings and lattice work to do on the platform end and under carriage details.
 I know the windows and doors are technically incorrect but it is just a look a like. my skills aren't good enough to go that far. It was more making use of something I had laying around and turning it into something I will use. It will look good on a VR heritage train with the R class up front. Now I just have to wait for the re-run of Auscisions E cars.

A new entry at last! Not much to update sadly. The Liverpool expo was good and we had steam shuttles all October long weekend here in Goulburn. A few new locos my Eureka 50 class has arrived as well as a Trainorama S class in VR blue and a tuscan 45 class from Ausicion.
Goulburn has had some interesting trains as well. The Indian Pacific has been diverted through here several times as well as the Melbourne cup southern Aurora.
I have started work on another GMS1 as well as repainting some VR red S cars into blue and gold for my Spirit of Progress. Working hard at saving my money to buy an Auscicion XPT in corporate colours for now. With more expenses to come Auscision's Aurora set and V set, Berg's S set suburban and Trainorama 47 and 49 re-runs just to name a few.
Now on to the photos.

Firstly the beautiful Victorian Railways S class Diesel locomotive. This beauty will look good on the Aurora.

 A good find at Liverpool a dummy 45 class. I will see how I go I may put a motor in it yet.

 The NSW standard goods locomotive no steam layout would be complete without it.

 Whilst not "HO" I did receive this static model of the Kurranda secneic railway diesels it is a very striking engine

 I have begun work on some Atlas intermodal well wagons seeing if i an Aussie them up a bit

 The start of another GMS1 this time with Austrains bogies.

 The only one of the VR red S cars to not be repainted. thought I should keep one. it is a nice colour.

 The first class car painted and finished with gold lining tape in place of gold paint.

 The buffet having received the same treatment.

 A interesting find was a con-cor parlour car had the same rounded end as the Spirit parlour car so this one was painted up to see how it would turn out. the raised roofing and window layout is incorrect but the end of the car would work well for a kit-bashing project.

The X200 rail tractor on demonstration at Liverpool.

 The sample of Berg's S set cars.

 Auscision's V set samples.

Now a few samples of whats been around of late.
HL203 and FL220 hauling the Melbourne cup train.

3016 on the October long weekend steam shuttles to Marulan with 4403 on the back.

3016 departing for Marulan

The Indian running through Goulburn.

A short entry this time.
With being in the process of moving everything now packed up for transport.
Space has been made to set up the smaller version of Argyle.
So with luck that should be up and operable by the end of September.
Although even while moving I still managed to get another loco for the collection.
S312 in VR blue and gold, so when the cabinet is moved and set up it will join the rest of my VR fleet.
Adjustments will be made to the Argyle layout to incorporate the new sections still under construction. On a different note the Saturday down Indian Pacific for the 12th of September was diverted on the south line and by fluke I was at the level crossing when it came through. The usual motive power of NR and DL at the head, unusually the locos were back to back. NR18 on lead this time. A standard length consist coming through complete with a single platinum car. Sadly I was there without my camera.
So I have to start saving my money for the upcoming Liverpool show and the arrival of Auscicion's XPT and Southern Aurora sets. As well as their announcement of the 422 class re-run with all the modern paint schemes there is at least 4 i will want. So I have the feeling I will be very broke for then next few months.
Next post I will make will be of Argyle going together. I will make sure to include photos.

With the arrival of my Spirit of Progress parlor car a new job arrives filling out the rest of the train.
I have recently attained an original powerline 3 car pack. Sadly the only ones I could get were in the red colour scheme and not the blue. So off to get re-painted they will go.
This will give me an 8 out of the 11 cars for the train when done.
With the air brush out I put some dirt and grime onto the roof of NR74. Turning it from bright Ghan red to matt black.

The parlor car fresh out of the box

 NR 74 with dirty roof.

 A comparison with NR's 84 and 90. I darken all the grills and exhausts of all my NR's I find it makes a huge difference in appearance. NR84 is as newly painted, NR90 with a general coat of overall grime and 74 with clean sides and filthy roof.

 My new parlor car with the S class for a test run.

It's been too long since I made a post.
No excuses just laziness and that's not good enough.
Had the Malkara model rail show in early August. As expected I spent far more than I should have. The show was a lot of good finds. Two X classes X37 in VR blue I got from casula hobbies while the best find was at Johns pre loved collections  with X54 in QR and two packs of NHFF coal hoppers one in freight rail the other in freight corp. The NHFF's were both brand new and still in shrink wrap. They were an absolute bargain at $170 a pack! I couldn't leave them there for that price.
Made a stop at Eureka and had a talk to Ron, He had a some 50 class locos sent over just in time for the show. Sadly they were all non sound. I asked him to justify to me why I should get a 50 class. It didn't take much at all. His response was blunt honest and true "If  you are modeling steam you need at least one because they were the back bone of freight all across NSW for half a century."  Ordering and paying for my Eureka 50 class and then paying a Spirit of Progress parlor car from Trainbuilder were the two biggest budget killers. Now the job of waiting for them.
Auscision's release of the 421's saw me get 42103 in QR. Lucky for my wallet I cant justify an LDP. Alas my poor worn out card will cop a killer hit in October with the Aurora set from Auscision.
The buy swap and sell Australian model trains page of facebook has gotten me a few good bits too.
A powerline H class in VR blue, some atlas intermodal wagons to paint up and add to my freight fleet and lastly a 3 pack of VR S set carriages. They are red but I will re-paint them into blue to extend my Spirit of Progress. 

Been keeping busy with all things model rail. Have been helping the local hobby shop with suggestions of locos, stock and other brands of Australian model trains. Fingers crossed the customer interest keeps coming. The more they sell the more they will invest into it.
So with Fathers day around the corner I built a small display for them. So they could show customers what could be made using products they had available. This display is now in their front window!
With this bit of creativity I have dug out an old layout module I made Years ago and have begun to re-build as well as starting two new new sections.
Now on to some of the photos.

 So firstly this is the display I made for Morton Bros Toys and Hobbies here in Goulburn.

 This is what I handed to them looking a lot better with the finishing touches.
And below that is it in their front window. The loco and wagons they put on there from there second hand collection.

 So on to the module I pulled out after collecting dust for A few years.
I pulled up and re laid all the track and in a new layout, this is what I have now with more work to be done.

 The small branch line yard under construction as well.

 The other half of the passing loop leading into the yard.

 I had two small dioramas for display I made a while ago. I will look to work them into a branch line off Argyle when it is up and running. 

 These two small sections were my first real attempts at scenery work and detail. I was quite pleased with how they came up.

 My two new locos for my QR fleet

 The ever growing collection of VR blue engines continues with the X and H

 Lastly the two bargain packs of coal hoppers.

 More photos will come with the arrival of the Spirit parlor car and Eureka 50!

So the show at Thornlee was quite interesting. Found a few good buys, was surprised at the lack of exhibitions.

First find was a proto 1000 budd car, while too big to be accurate for the NSW version it serves its purpose as a look alike. I removed the lettering, sprayed the underframe black, added the gangway connections, turned the inward door access steps into body mounted ladder style steps, blackened the grills and painted the cowling red.

 As it looks now.

 My best stop was with Austrains. They would have to be my favorite company to purchase from.
Its always great to talk to John and the Boys.
I was lucky enough to find 3526 to add to my preserved steam loco fleet.

 Austrains had air freighted in a few boxes of their newest run of NR class. I just couldn't help my self i ended up with 4 one in each scheme they did. I regret nothing!

 AR kits was another good stop for me, I inquired about the Coote Industrial decals.
They should be available in the up coming months. My 80 class will be complete soon.
I did pick up a few flush glaze windows and a LIV car. I have since added the vents and flush glaze windows to it.

 Ran into a good friend of mine at the show. He was down sizing some of his collection. So I picked up a VR F class from him.

 With all the new editions my display case was over crowded so 4 new shelves had to be added.
to save money I opted for plywood not glass like the others.
this is how it looks at the moment. More shelves will be needed soon.....

 The view of my current steam fleet.

 The growing fleet of NR's

Still more work to go. The shed is slowly getting there so Argyle/Goulburn layout should start in the up coming months.
Until then with chilly weather keeping me indoors two boards were attained to build a small branch terminus. Will post more as work progresses.