Jump to content
 
  • entries
    15
  • comments
    94
  • views
    18,092

About this blog

A layout based on the Manchester Ship Canal Railway during it's decline in the 1970s/1980s, with inspiration from Mode Wheel, Weaste and Ellesmere Port.

Entries in this blog

The 80-20 rule - or why I never seem to 'finish' anything...

When I come towards the end of a project, a kit, wagon, loco, building or layout I never seem to be able to quite 'finish' it... Usually I've already started several other projects before getting this far, certainly a contributory factor, but why can I never just 'finish' something. This is a case in point - my Judith Edge Sentinel - and I'm pleased as punch (although hate the fact that the weathering looks better in real life then I can capture in photos, and the 'streaking' looks ropey in

James Hilton

James Hilton

Dirtying her up...

My first kit built locomotive, the P4 Judith Edge Sentinel for Meadow Lane is 'nearly' finished. I took her outside for a few 'natural light' shots to show the weathering process has started. I find taking photos at this stage invaluable as it really helps you spot where you've missed a bit, overdone it or where a subtle effect could be created with a touch more effort.   So far the effect is simply some very delicate washes brushed vertically with a dry wide flat brush, and some stipp

James Hilton

James Hilton

Tan lines...

Tan lines? Well kind of - with the masking removed we're nearly there - definitely on the home straight now... ...and I'm chuffed to bits! She looks superb and I'm really proud that 'I made this' What's new? Well the masking is done and the stripes are sprayed, the details are fitted (buffers, couplings, window frames, Sentinel plates) and transfers added (MSC and No, plus overhead warning flashes). I've test fitted a silver sword and one headlight lens too... So what do you think? Do

James Hilton

James Hilton

Yellow black and blue all over...

It's been a busy few weeks with work and mountainbiking but I've found time to progress my Judith Edge Sentinel - and couldn't resist 'semi finishing' one side to get a feel for what it would look like...   I often find that doing something like this (like with the Pacer) eggs me on in some way to finish... the end is in sight and it's looking good! So what steps to get us this far...   Well primed, then the yellow (which was faded with a touch of white), then masked, then the blue (again

James Hilton

James Hilton

Finishing details on the Sentinel

I've been tinkering over the last few evenings on my Judith Edge Sentinel shunter.   I aquired some lead sheet from a friend and have filled both bonnets - running performance is vastly improved! I've also added the end handrails from 0.45mm wire - and the fiddly sand pipes on the chassis.   Eagle eyed viewers will note I've done a 'halfwit' (sorry Paul!) and got one ends handrails inconsistently bent - this has now been corrected (photos are always good at showing up defects). I've also got

James Hilton

James Hilton

'Is that some made up diesel?'

What a quote - but yes a question I was asked at the weekend by an inquisitive brother! I spent this weekend with my two brothers helping out Mum with decorating. It was good fun but hard work - I did take over the Sentinel, hoping to grab an hour on the project after a hard day or between coats of paint - as well as show her off to my Dad. In the end I only grabbed 45 mins on Saturday night after painting near enough non stop from 9am to 5pm! I've fitted the roof ventilators, air filter and a

James Hilton

James Hilton

Teaser and cruel close up!

Progress does feel like it's been a little slow in the past few weeks... I've snatched a few hours here and there to progress my Judith Edge Sentinel P4 project! Never the less this evening saw another milestone as I fitted the cab glazing after painting the interior and adding some extra detail! Those who are regular readers will remember that I've got the kit with a Black Beetle bogie - this required some modification (read bodging) and that's why I've ended up in the off situation of havi

James Hilton

James Hilton

Can you tell what it is yet? Progress with the Sentinel!

Slow but steady progress, that's what wins the day (so they say)... It's been quite a while since I posted up photos of progress with my Judith Edge Sentinel kit. To be honest, despite what appears to be massive progress it's not really taken much time to build the body - it came together surprisingly quickly - and I must add very easily due to excellent kit design and well fitting parts - quality etches I guess!   The first stumbling block for me was mounting the Black Beetle - as the kit is

James Hilton

James Hilton

I made this... Sentinel chassis 'finished'

As you'll be aware Meadow Lane is about firsts for me - so including P4, track building and fully scratchbuilt buildings I'm also trying to build my own etched brass kit.   I've shown you guys the early progress but wanted to get a bit further before I posted anything else. I'm now in a position where the chassis is 'finished' for now - it's taken about 10 or so hours for me to get this far over a month or so and I can honestly say I'm chuffed to bits. To be honest it's one of the only things

James Hilton

James Hilton

Sunday supplement...

In today's lovely spring sunshine a fantastic excuse to nip down to Ellesmere Port presented itself...   My 2 year old daughter needed a nap and wouldn't settle at her grandparents - so I offered to take her out for a drive! She was off within the first 5 minutes! Anyway I headed down to Ellesmere Port docks first, to the location of the old MSC Railway engine shed. From here I traced the line up to Eastham before heading back on myself to Stanlow. These shots won't set the world on fire but s

James Hilton

James Hilton

Escorts and 'Beetles...

I was a little worried after reading some comments relating to fitting the Black Beetle to the Sentinel...   I knew it wasn't designed for the Black Beetle, however, I was a little confused because to me, looking at it, the modifications required didn't look difficult at all - although I suppose they are quite severe! The Judith Edge Sentinel is designed to use a Tenshodo Spud which has 10mm wheels so sits a lot lower than the 12.5mm wheels and the Black Beetle. As a result the mounting plate

James Hilton

James Hilton

Exciting parcels and burnt fingers!

After placing an order about a month ago a lovely little white box was waiting for me when I got home today.   Yes at last my Judith Edge 230hp Sentinel kit has arrived. 4 weeks seems a long time, but not when you consider Charlie at DC Kits kindly ordered a P4 Black Beetle especially for me for this project.     So after pulling out the etches, the Black Beetle and the instructions I was itching to start - but reigned in my enthusiasm. First things first I checked the contents (good job

James Hilton

James Hilton

The Concept

The Concept?   So now you've read the inspiration and learnt a little history. Logically I should share the concept before I get into the murky depths of random modelling blog posts!   I have an Ikea book shelf in my study. For a long time I've pondered about building a little diarama to sit on it - originally thinking OO and using it as a photo plank. I'm not quite sure what kicked off the interest in the MSC really, but this little foray in to P4 seemed to fit on the shelf top without havi

James Hilton

James Hilton

A potted history...

The end of the line?     The Manchester Ship Canal needs no introduction – and to those interested in industrial railways neither does it’s significant sprawling web of rails – not only dock side but real lines linking places and businesses to both the canal and the wider rail network.   http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Ship_Canal   By the early 1980s the system and the canal were in serious decline, and the small fleet of diesel hydraulic Sentinels and diesel mechanical

James Hilton

James Hilton

Inspiration?

Inspiration?   Now picture this, a warm balmy summer day. The air is warm but not sticky, comfortable t-shirt weather. Bright blue skies, windows down and the low burble of the exhaust of your brand new Escort XR3i. A light breeze is blowing across the meadow and a short horn blast sharpens your senses as a small 0-4-0 Sentinel shunter ambles across in front of you with a short train of work worn fuel tanks, reminding you that these days this is oil country.     As you rumble over the tra

James Hilton

James Hilton

×
×
  • Create New...