ANZAC Day

ANZAC Day is when New Zealanders (and Australians) remember the men who have fallen serving in all wars. We should not forget them.

It somehow seemed appropriate for me to revisit my drawing of Ab608 Passchendaele. One of my early sales of this print was to Des Jolly who wrote:

I was a young fireman (17) based in Christchurch - I turned up for duties one afternoon and there she was - all painted up with the white handrails, wheels and red siderods. It even had the Passchendaele Plaque attached on the running board each side of her. I was that excited before booking on duty I went and climbed up into the cab for a look, etc. Well, when I finally did book on duty you could not imagine my delight when I found that she was booked out to me and my mate as our loco for our shift that very day.

Des was kind enough to send me some photos and illustrations, including a badge facsimile of the plaque. I have 'corrected' my original drawing to depict Ab608 closer to how she was in reality. My deep thanks to Des for his interest and kindness.

I see DC

Just me today - Brett is gallivanting around the South Island with his true love (the iPad) & wife. Unfortunately, it sounds like the weather hasn't been kind to him at Omaka but I hope he's managed some photos of the air show. Being alone, I decided on a rather nice Monteith's hearty Black to offset the last crumbs of the Wensleydale - a sweet and heavy beer with a dry, crumbly, bitter cheese. And the background music? Not ACDC (as suggested by the title of this post) but some classic Santana. Very enjoyable.

DC4156 is progressing - most of the superstructure is now complete:

Darker. It needs to be darker.

Today's esurience was curtailed by a wedge of Kaimai Brie and Tuxford & Tebbutt's Wensleydale washed down by a glass of Morland's 'Old Speckled Hen' ale.

Brett's catch phrase (the title of this posting), often directed at my work, could've been applied to his. The Beamer is not black, but made up of many dark shades. Rendering metal surfaces in pencil, be it the 635 or 1211, is similar to the process necessary to paint show cars - many layers of different colours blended by an expert hand with a discerning eye.

The taste of Yorkshire & Shropshire

Te Mata camembert (smooth and creamy) and Tuxford & Tebbutt's Wensleydale (bitter and crumbly) washed down with Black Sheep Brewery's Monty Pythons Holy Grail (yeasty but light). Accompanied with some drawing. Not a bad Sunday morning.

Brett has started a new drawing - Jim Richard's BMW 635:


And DC4156 has been fleshed out a little more...

Melling arrival

The final version of ET3148 - I've added some ballast and the edge of the Melling platform to help anchor the unit in the landscape. Recent 'trains' from Melling have included a big red London double-decker bus - a novelty for Brett and recollections of my days spent commuting around 'old London town'.

The Metalman cometh...

well Ive finished the commission and have sold both the original AND 10 prints!!
awesome sale... very nervous about sending the original through the mail but I guess it will be OK..

and to cap off a great day I sold a framed print from the local barber shop of the Vulcan!!

and then I blew it on Pete Lyons wonderful new Canam book about the cars in detail.

Here's the finished Metalman. This is a currently run car from a stable of 4 or 5 cars and the owner wanted the prints for gifts to sponsors... its all good!

Stout fellows

Continuing the newly established tradition, we partook of a Green Man Stout (chosen because of it's depiction of the Kingston Flyer on the label), gouda, emmental and the blue (from last week). The stout was jolly good but we might have to settle on something a little less alcoholic! Still it was a good session.

The Escort is nearing completion - one of Brett's better efforts, I think - the commissioner should be very pleased with it:


I have finally finished ET3148,


and started NZR DC4156.

Striking Oil

spent most nights this week attacking the Skyhawk oil.
Managed to tidy most of the front fuselage, very pleasing but gotta get back to the escort now...