Having spent the weekend demonstrating modern modelling at Scaleforum, I have actually made some progress on a few projects this weekend.

First was 47813 in Great Western Trains, finally fitted with etched marker lights at one end and full GWT transfers (it does still need the yellow warning panels spraying which will be completed at Christmas.) Unfortunately didnt get a photo, but it was looking rather nice on Mike's mini Western Road test track. So much that it got me thinking how good Western Road would look with a set of GWT mk3s along the backscene, along with my GWT 47s & HSTs (though will have to get on and spray a Hornby powercar into GWT!) At some point in the future it will hopefully happen for the last hour of a show.....

Also with transfers I managed to get one side of my DRS 37612 finished, now really starting to look the part.

The main project for the weekend was a start on my Gunnel Project, more specifically the first two wagons 390607 and 390516 (a hg001b ex 1st batch pg006b and a hg001a ex pg006a respectively)

both wagons initial preparation was the same, first the cleats on the sides along with the air pipes were removed. on the ends the gap between the end supports and the hopper body was opened up, and the body was chopped down to leave approximately 2mm of body remaining.

390516 was a bit more work, the angled side of the hopper was approx 1mm longer than the other types, with the flat part of the side starting level with the bottom of the platform (whereas the normal gunnel/pga had the flat part of the side start about 1mm below the platform.) This was modelled by carefully cutting the bottom mm or so of the flat side to an angle which matches the lower side.

Chassis wise, the main work was removing the gears that are moulded on the door leaver panel, removing the coupling mounts, buffers and where necessary the Procor boards.

It was then time to start work on the new tops, these were fabricated from 20thou plasticard cut to match drawings (I think it was 8.5mm hight for 607 and 7.5mm for 516), each needed to be cut with an angle, which starts about 2mm (or 1mm for 516) above the bottom edge. These were glued into position, followed by the ends.

There is still a fair bit to go, it needs the internal ribs adding, some external rib details where required along with spill plates on the end. Still have 5 more different designs to build (along with a few repetitions), will make sure I get on and take some photos when I build the next one!