Glad you liked that Martin, in the comments someone said Ebony sounds like Annie Haslem of Renaissance, I think she sounds more like Jane Relf of Renaissance Mk.1.

Cheers,

Tim

Thanks Tim.
Yes, we are now happily settling in.

That is a beautiful track with very tasteful vocals.

Cheers
Martin

Sad news today of the passing of Richard Tandy (76) keyboards and musical director of Electric Light Orchestra.
Apart from the superb writing of Jeff Lynne, Richard was responsible for the 'sound of ELO'.
Seen them in concert a few times.
Very sadly missed.

Chris

Sylvie's laughter dances in the air. "So, Eli", she says, "when we step into that ballroom, remember—we carry not only our own dreams but the wishes of Lady Trevelver herself. Our spells intertwine as the stars conspire to align destiny with desire."

"I see, Sylvie!" exclaims her intimate friend with a delighted laugh. "For tonight, we dance... a celestial waltz!"

"Yes! First, Eli, your 'Stardust Constellation' clutch. Within its midnight blue silk lies a mirror—an oracle of self-discovery. Gaze into it, Eli, and see not just your reflection but the constellations of your soul—the hunter's courage, the queen's grace, and the dragon's fire. The silver beading forms Orion, Cassiopeia, and Draco—the very constellations that adorned the sky on the night of your spirit's birth. Each twinkling bead whispers guidance—a map to your destiny. Click it shut, Eli, and seal your intentions. The falling star becomes your pact with the universe—a promise that your desires will streak across the night, leaving trails of enchantment."

"Thank you, Mademoiselle Élise and Lady Penelope, of course", Eli begins, her breathless voice a blend of wonder and anticipation. "This clutch—it's more than exquisite craftsmanship." Her fingers trace the delicate silver beading, each bead a tiny constellation. "Orion", she murmurs, her eyes lifting to the unseen sky above. "The hunter's courage—the drive to pursue what lies beyond."

Her gaze shifts to the mirror nestled within the silk folds. "And Cassiopeia", Eli continues, voice hushed. "The queen's grace—the elegance to lead life's celestial dance."

Finally, her fingers brush Draco—the dragon's fire. "The fire within", Eli whispers. "Passion, determination—the very essence of my being."

"And when I click it shut", Eli adds, her voice steady, "I seal my intentions. The falling star—a promise to the universe. My desires streaking across the night sky, leaving trails of enchantment."

"Remember, Eli", Sylvie says softly with a gentle smile, "tonight, the stars conspire in our favour. Destiny awaits us."

With that, Eli clutches the 'Stardust Constellation,' feeling the weight of possibility. "And what about yours, Sylvie?"

"Yes, my 'Dazzling Star'", she sighs. "Celestial threads weave through its silver—the very fabric of fate. Each thread shimmers like distant stars, carrying wishes—love, adventure, transformation. When I hold it, Eli, I become a conduit—a beacon irresistibly drawing Jeremy's gaze. Those tiny hand-sewn crystals—they're more than adornments. They catch the light, refracting it into a thousand futures."

Sylvie's words resonate with cosmic enchantment, and Eli softly responds, "A tapestry of destiny indeed".

"When we whisper our desires to our clutches, they'll release those wishes into the ether. Mademoiselle Élise's creations listen. As we step into the ballroom, they will weave our whispered dreams into destiny's tapestry. Our men, your Giles and my Jeremy, will find themselves delightfully and irresistibly ensnared—a dance orchestrated by Mademoiselle Élise herself."

Eli clinked her glass against Sylvie's. "To love, desire, and the Grand Christmas Ball."

As the champagne kisses their lips, they sense destiny stirring. The night shimmers with promise—the curves of their beautifully adorned bodies, the echo of flirtatious laughter, the power of shared secrets. Jeremy and Giles are the unsuspecting pawns in the oldest game.

But Sylvie and Eli? They are poised to rewrite their stories as symphonies of desire woven beneath the bunches of mistletoe in secluded shaded corners. Under the chandeliers' glow, their magical clutches in hand, with whispered confessions, their lovers will be ensnared by female allure, spellbound by male desire.

In the theatre of Sylvie's mind, the Great Hall unfolds—a grand stage where her entrance awaits. She imagines Jeremy's reaction—the subtle catch of breath, the widening of his eyes—as she steps into the spotlight. At 5 feet 10 inches, Sylvie stands tall, her spine straight, shoulders squared. She owns her height, a regal presence that commands attention.

All eyes turn toward her. Her dark brown hair flows in waves tumbling down her back, catching glimmers of candlelight. Jeremy's fingers itch to touch those waves—to unravel the mystery woven within each strand. Sylvie's eyes—big, brown, and infinitely deep—shimmer with confidence and sensuality. When she looks at Jeremy, her gaze whispers, "I know you". And he knows it. And so, in Sylvie's imagination, she steps forward, heart racing, vulnerability masked by allure.

She pictures herself moving with grace, each step of her long legs leaving an imprint on her admirer. But it is her curves that will truly mesmerise him—an exquisite figure fashioned by the goddess of love herself. Her 36C bust is exquisitely rounded, combining softness with firmness. Her stomach is flat, while her slim 24-inch waist is cinched like an hourglass. And then there are her 35-inch hips—curvaceous, inviting. Her figure will leave Jeremy's heart racing and imagination spinning as the Great Hall of Trevelver Castle buzzes with anticipation. The air alive with celestial magic and the promise of clandestine encounters.

Quote from: Carmont on Yesterday at 08:28:31 PMNBL Type 2 Class 21/29
MK1 TPO Stowage Van & TPO Stowage Brake
Oakbank Oil Co./BP 40 Ton bogie tank wagon

Good shout, I would love a 21/29. Sadly I think that when RevolutioN proposed it as a crowdfunded initiative back in 2015 it was maybe a bit too early in their existence and the crowdfunding model not well proven.
 
Also probably fair to say that back then it was proposed as an outsourced model produced by Dapol whereas today it would be one where RevolutioN would likely be much more "hands on" with spec, design, choice of factory.

If not made by RevolutioN then sadly I can't personally see anyone else picking it up which is a shame, because if Dapol can make a 22 viable as an N product then the 21/29 would surely be equally so and they have made one in OO (very nice too)

TPO stowage van - makes perfect sense too  .

Quote from: Newportnobby on Today at 12:10:43 PMThe 3 steamers crying out for re-tooling are the V2, Crab and 94xx and I'd take one of each for sure. I have the black V2 from the set but the front bogie seems to have a mind of its own and the motor growls a lot. In fact, I do ask visitors "Have you seen my Growler?"

A retooled Crab is one loco I had hoped/expected to see, not least because the tooling already exists for the Fowler tender, more recently even with Next 18 and speaker upgrade. I recall that when the original Farish Crab came about back in 1992/3 it was because it was the most popular choice as voted on by NGS members and I feel pretty confident a model to current standards would be just as popular today. I know I would jump at a BR one should it ever become available (In fact still have my old Poole model bought when they were originally released and I was a whole lot younger  ).

Loco: un-rebuilt Patriot
Coach: ex-L.M.S. Push-Pull driving coach.
Wagon: (?) Brake Tender.

Chris

Love those locos Mick. Glad you have am HST

My V2 is more of a whiner than a growler. And yes, the front pony truck can be troublesome, although I sorted mine out by taking the front coupling off. It's been fine ever since.
Meanwhile I take Roy's points about the model's limitations, particularly regarding DCC. But then, if you don't use DCC then that isn't an issue. And to be fair, Union Mills models had exactly the same shortcomings and people never seemed too bothered.
I don't suppose we will ever see a re-run of the old V2, let alone at any kind of bargain price. But I still reckon they'd sell...
PW

Haarrrumph!!
Back here in Blighty a 'splitter' is someone who grasses on another.
Perchance you mean 'turncoat', in which case I say "Guilty, M'lud"
How can you not like those 2 blue locos with their window surrounds and SYP? Much better than full blue and fully custard dipped! Oh, and I have a full HST 2 + 7 in blue/grey as well, as that was such an iconic train and resulted in a TV prog entitled "HST - The train that saved the railways"