Wheat Bags and "Potato" Sacks

Following the modification of the LGB van for "Shaw's Market Produce", the empty wagon was crying out for some trade. The sewing machine was dug out, some old cloth found and some very primitive sacks/bags resulted. One was left open at the top and some green wool inserted to give the impression of green produce being held inside. 

Railway Carriage Construction

Over the last day or so, much progress has been made on the carriage that I commenced several weeks ago, following obtaining a balsa stripper (imagine a table saw, but with an exacto blade instead) the strip for the panel lines on the carriage was cut, from balsa. Cheap and cheerful, it actually worked! Below is a closeup of the 'panel work' and illustrations of gluing the various sides together, with final examining on the chassis.

Summer Sun

Over the past few weeks, Sydney has been cooking, Queensland being covered with flood water, and more recently been blown about by cyclone Yasi. Closer to home several plants on the railway have dried out, and they look rather dead. Occasionally the trains come out for a run, several Garden Railway afternoon tea's being arranged, providing the perfect opportunity (and excuse) to bring out most of our rolling stock at once, a rare event.

Also a few additions to the "set" have been made, such as this building and another Mini Cooper, not sure whether the place is going to be a shop, a house or something else yet...it needs a sign of some sort.

Also, following some hunting on ebay.....some plans were dug up of Isle of Man rolling stock, guards van construction progresses, however I am still a bit stumped (or stopped) for how I am going to bend the carriage sides to the contour illustrated by the ends in the picture above, a jig will probably be employed.