This is the first picture of the new Planet in Maroon with cream lining! what do you think?

Hello Any update on the Planet loco's arrival? Just curious.

While I have been waiting for mine I have built a new piece of rolling stock for it to pull. The flat car was built using correct scale wood and metal parts and prototypical construction practices. It is a model of a wooden flat car that is preserved here in California. Thanks.



The maroon version looks quite nice by the way-- makes for a difficult decision!!

Regards,

Eric

You're not wrong there. I was all set for the green one until I saw the photo of the maroon version. For some reason I didn't think it would appeal to me so much. I was wrong.

Nice flat car model Eric. Are you going to weather your Planet to match? If you get a green one, you could paint the wheels yellow to match the John Deere tractor.
Or perhaps not.

Yer looks good Eric! i like the chap sitting on the edge! yes there is news the planets are currently being shipped and should be arriving here on or about the 15th April so we should start getting them out to customers soon after that!

Al

Great news Al! I am really looking forward to receiving my Planet. Over here in Northern California we have many of these small "critter" locomotives for logging, mining etc. In fact, less than 20 miles from my home is the former site of Leslie Salt who used an extensive 2' gauge line to harvest salt from the waters of San Francisco Bay. Here is a a bit of info about two little lokies built for them by Caterpillar:
http://www.petersonholding.com/about/LeslieSalt_Locomotive.htm

I am still on the fence about the whole maroon or green deal but I will make up my mind when the time comes. I most likely will weather and detail up the Planet a bit when it comes. I like my stuff to look as realistic as possible.

So approx. April 15? I guess mine will take a few days longer for you gents to convert it to 4 3/4" gauge for U.S. tracks-- and then however long it takes for it to swim to California. Thanks for the update.

Regards,

Eric

I'm in Australia, so I'll have a longer wait too. If I'm lucky, it will arrive in time for my club's April run day (25th), but if not, they've added an extra day in May in conjunction with a full-size steam special arriving at the nearby station.
I just tested my new riding wagon (bogie well wagon from RoR), so I'm all set.

How do you like the RoR well wagon? I was eyeing their v-dump skips. I would like some nice 2 axle rolling stock for the Planet. In the end, I will probably make my own though. I am lucky to be located near Golden Gate Live Steamers.
http://www.ggls.org/default.aspx

I'll definitely head up to their track when the Planet arrives.

Regards,
Eric

The well wagon rides very, umm, well. I needed something that didn't require the "knee in chin" riding position and felt the well wagon chassis was the ideal base on which to build. Turns out I was right. I've put a "shipping crate" in the well, with a seat on top.

GGLS looks good. Nothing quite that advanced near me, but we still manage to enjoy ourselves at GMES. Most of the photos on the site are mine.

Hmmm! We'd better stop all this off-topic chit-chat or Alex will crack the whip at us.

It's after April 15 and things have gone rather quiet here regarding the Planet. Must be too busy unloading them all and sending them out.

Mind you, even if they have arrived, I'm anticipating that those of us outside UK can expect further delays thanks to volcanic ash.

I have been wondering about this also. I have been thinking about the additional rolling stock I want to build but I hesitate to start on it until I hear something solid about the Planet. So Alex, at the risk of being a pest, is there anything you can tell us yet?

Best regards,

Eric