Model Railway Forum

Steve M wrote: ↑Tue Jul 08, 2025 10:56 am Those damned fingers of mine made this quite a painful project, but at least I got this far. I have a crew on order to complete the scene and then I can fix the cabin in place properly (don't look at the gap!)

Your layout and scenes look lovely.

Thanks MG.

I believe the 'official' Haynes policy was to produce a manual to coincide with a new model's third birthday. They would obtain a version of the car and document a full strip down and rebuild but as cars became more complex they clearly took the decision to move to fewer diagrams and descriptions. I've always worked on the theory that if a manual does not show a full strip and rebuild of a gearbox, then it's not a proper manual.

I actually have an original Haynes manual for every car I have owned over the past fifty (almost) years.

Anyway, the Spitfire diff is out of the car, sitting in a bowl draining the oil and not a manual in sight.......yet.

I love the smell of hypoid gear oil in the morning.

"I love the smell of hypoid gear oil in the morning."


Not if you are driving up a motorway though Steve.

Too true Brian, although my Spitfire hasn't been on a motorway for over twenty years. Other than on a trailer that is.

Stunning water scene Steve, even down to the light buoy tilting in the wake.

Looks like i have some painting to do.

It’ll take your mind off the Spitfire

Not that I’ll have a wake in the dock, but what did you use?

Three stage process.
Clear epoxy casting resin (slightly tinted with Humbrol weathering powder).
The wake is clear silicone - water effects by Woodside Scenics. I lay out blobs and lines on a sheet of glass then tease them to shape with a cocktail stick. When dry, peel them off the glass and lay them on the resin.
Then apply a generous helping of ModPodge which I blow into ripples with an empty airbrush. Dry brush the peaks with white once it's all dry.

Thank you, very, very effective.

I'll call this one done.