iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 09/03/2026

'Edward Thomas' and a Tasker B2 Traction Engine at Wharf last night!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 18/01/2026

Wow I should really post here more.

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 12/06/2025

Slinging coal on the red one today!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

This is only the beginning though, lots to do on him beyond these test runs! First things first though, time to get a name on him!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

This was ordered brand new from Roundhouse and was done in a custom colour for me, that being Rover Russet Brown - I tried to find a shade as close as possible to the original illustrations and I *think* I got it spot on.

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Ran absolutely beautifully straight out of the box - literally only arrived today and I was straight down the garden with it after work!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

I'm a very happy Luke today - my first ever Roundhouse loco... Of course it had to be Granpuff himself!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

but there's a good chance Wilbert might have sanded away the banjo part of one with the thing style as in the picture above. The same model appears in another photograph, lined up with the other "main" engines at the time and I reckon it was repainted.

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 25/04/2025

It's defo not Triang, I reckon it's a Trix one. Now, the image I have here obviously has a banjo dome rather than the regular A1 dome, but an earlier version of the Trix A3 was available with this style of dome. I'm trying to find evidence of one of these slightly later ones with an A1 dome.

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 06/04/2025

Had the pleasure of riding behind 'Russell' up to Beddgelert on the WHR yesterday morning. Pictured is the afternoon service passing through the iconic Aberglaslyn Pass!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 27/03/2025

Enjoying a relaxed day firing No.2 for some filming with local University students - great way to spend a random Thursday in March!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 13/02/2025

Looking back on the HRA Awards last week, thank you all so much for the kind messages of support. To even be shortlisted is such an honour, but I couldn't do it without my rock @keirathesleepymage.bsky.social ❤️ 📸 Jack Boskett

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 22/01/2025

Hello I'm still alive - haven't been massively active on here or over on the bad place, but definitely going to be using BlueSky as the base of operations from now on I reckon... Anyhow, here's one of my favourite photographs I took just before Christmas!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 23/12/2024

No better way to spend my birthday - firing Talyllyn on a Santa Special with @keirathesleepymage.bsky.social on the footplate too!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

I should probably have said that the base model is an Accucraft Baldwin 10-12-D I bought it back in April last year at the National Garden Railway Show, and my intention was always to make it into our favourite de-railing yank!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

But yeah, there he is! If you're wondering why he's not red, there's some notes from the Rev where he says that Stanley is unlined black - so I'm going with that. He also says that 'Stanley' is just a nickname. Probably why Duke never calls him by name, just "No.2" I'll post more updates soon!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

I modified the buffer beams to have the Corris style couplings used on the MSR - soldering brackets on for the loop and an eye for the wagon chain. Also a handy visual way to show people how these couplings worked - loop for the carriages, chain for the wagons.

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

The MSR lettering on the tank has been hand painted by my wonderful girlfriend @keirathesleepymage.bsky.social - a huge thank you to her for going along with my mad schemes. I painted the name underneath, which is meant to be as if one of the loco crew has chalked it on the side!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 03/12/2024

I was gonna wait until he was done but I'm way too excited with how this is turning out. Here's my 16mm live-steam 'Stanley'! Still needs a '2' on the cab side, lamp irons and vacuum pipes, but he's so close now - I can't wait to fire him up soon.

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 19/11/2024

Given Accurascale's track record with Railway Series references, it wouldn't surprise me if they've chosen this livery for their new Austerity tanks as a little nod to 16... www.accurascale.com/blogs/news/b...

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 05/11/2024

A nice, if misty, morning at Pendre

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 25/10/2024

All set up and ready to go at the Vale of Rheidol's model railway exhibition - doors open at 9:30am tomorrow!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 23/10/2024

We're taking 'Ffarquhar Branch' out to the Vale of Rheidol's Model Railway Exhibition this Saturday only! Come and say hi if you're coming along, I'll be operating the layout over the day!

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Luke Ryan @explcookie.bsky.social · 22/10/2024

Well this is fun - thought I'd finally make the jump, not sure how active I'll be on here but will certainly try to be! Let's see how long the hellscape on the other site will last.

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