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.

So as mentioned in my last post I was working on re-painting an Austrains 80 class into Coote Industrial green.
Well that has been finished, or at least up to decal stage.
I am hoping to get the decals at the Epping show this June long weekend.
First task was to obtain a second hand 80 class.
I got it through the an Aussie model train buy swap and sell page on facebook.
With the 80 I also got a 442 for a re-paint project as well.

Both locos turned up looking very good in their freight rail blue. It seemed a shame to paint them.

 But the first victim on the block was 8005.  So window glass removed and off she went to the paint shop

 My first attempt resulted in a very drab olive colour using Tamiya mat green. The photo makes it look brighter than it was.

 So cleaned up and second attempt was tamiya park green. this one being way too bright I thought.

 Finally third try I used an old bottle of green acrylic paint I had sitting around and would you believe it looks bang on.

Same photo this time with out the flash.

 With the green settled at long last i masked off and applied the yellow. Tamiya yellow was about right.

 With the coote 80 always seeming a little glossy rather than the usual mat colour of most locos I sealed it with a coat of Tamiya semi gloss.
After that I set to work with my brushes and blacked over all the vents and grills. re-fitting the hand rails.

 Adding the little things like black number board, marker lights and MU sockets.
This is the currently how it looks.

 With any luck I will find the decals at Epping to finish it off. Then on to my next challenge turning 44228 in freight rail blue into CFCLA 44208.

Heritage locos taking over Goulburn for an afternoon.
With the CFCLA S class locos returning from a tour train and change of motive power at Goulburn to return the 3801 Limited coaching stock freshly restored 42101 was due to haul the train for the last leg of the journey. Due to an ICE radio failure 4464 was brought in to run as lead unit.

CFCLA S300 and 311 looked wonderful back to back as they arrived.

 42101 sitting in the yard waiting for the S classes to remove the sleeping, power and private cars from the train.

 With green trains RL class, Coote 80class and ex independent rail 14 class on the sidelines.

 The Coote green scheme 80class is a modeling project currently underway for the Argyle layout.

 3801 LTD coaching stock ready at platform one.

 4464 at the ready to provide the ICE radio as the lead unit

 42101 and 4464 paired and moving to the head of the train.

 Was great to see these wonderful locos back in there old stomping ground with a heritage service.
Now with Auscisions upcoming release of the 421's perhaps 42101 should be added to Argyle's heritage roster.....

A new post at last!
I do apologize for being so slack.
Sadly Argyle is still sitting in storage, but hopefully space should be made by the end of the year.

I have added a few new locos to the fleet, the Kaleen exhibition saw to that lol.
The Goulburn model rail club attended Kaleen again this year with there layout of Binabeen.
With other commitments I sadly was not available to help as an exhibitor with them.
Sadly Binabeen suffered some damage in transport and as a result was only operating at half its capacity. It has been put back up at the club and will spend quite a while undergoing major repairs.

As well as this the local hobby store here in Goulburn  Morton Brothers Jaycar and hobbys (formally toyworld) located on Auburn Street opposite Belmore park is now stocking Austrians products.
Making it the closest retailer to the ACT stocking any Aussie HO scale trains. If business goes well with this the store owners have mentioned they may look to expand beyond just Austrains. So support is greatly encouraged. The more interest in the trains they get the more they will stock.

Now on to what you all want to see, the new additions.

Adding more to the electric fleet with two new 46 class. As everyone knows you can't just have one.

Also the pride jewel of the NSW railway the big green girl herself 3801. 

 A great find at Kaleen From Austrains, 35class on sale! how could I resist.
As well as yet another Austrains 81, making 3 now. With more to come no doubt.
Always a pleasure dealing with John Essy.

 Ron Cunningham had me sold the moment I found R707. While not a NSW loco still an amazing model. Besides it will keep the streamlined S class company for my  growing VR loco fleet.

Lastly the way and works set, one of the first products our local shop brought in. With every yard needing a works train it was a must have for the Argyle layout.

With the pockets now empty I will have to start saving for the Exhibition at Thornlee in a few months. I will have to make sure I am not so slack and make another entry again soon.