Achilles Report No42: Off to the Show...

Hi guys. This afternoon after leaving work I was driving up the Fosseway bound for the Midlands Model Engineering Exhibition near Leamington. The 2014 show will open tomorrow and will run until Sunday. As they do every year, CMES has a stand there and "Achilles" is one of the few 'complete' locomotives to be displayed on that stand. The locomotive has been cleaned from front to back, top to bottom. The bottom end has been paraffin-washed, the black paint has been done in an oily mixture and the tanks have been polished. The brass had a light (2 hour!) buff up to get it ready for display at the show. Though the engine's cosmetic condition is now showing its age (over 20 years old) I do try my best to keep her as clean as possible. The brass dome atop the barrel has become a bit of a talking point for the engine and the several jokes about the overwhelming amount of elbow grease required to achieve it do float around! In truth, the dome is professionally polished now and again to keep it in that 'blinding' condition. My attempt to keep her brass shining is a kind of feeble attempt to avert viewers eyes from her dented boiler cladding which I hope to replace this winter. Standing between two fabulous models (Emma's Caribou and Eric's General), I hope that "Achilles" will help to fly the CMES flag on the stand for the weekend. Its a pleasure to have an engine to put in to MMEE. Best Regards, Sam...