So here I am again… writing a new blog, thinking of things to say about what I’ve done. At the moment I totally shattered from work. But I felt as though I should share with you that I’ve finished two of the train I’m planning to exhibit on our club layout “Hartburn Junctionâ€.

Unfortunately I forgot to take a picture of the full rakes… d’oh!

Anyway I’ll start with the coal train. As you may remember they were made up of a variety of models both RTR and kits. I’ve finally added coal and given them a brake van.

First off I’ll mention the fitted one. I’ve added brass tie bars to some of them and guitar strings to represent piping. These two were pretty much straight out of the box Bachmann save the aforementioned improvements. Followed by some weathering.

Next I bought some unboxed Bachmann “MCOâ€s from the digital starter set. Removing all of the lettering and repainting with Halfords primer and humbrol “bauxite†type paints.

I wanted a tatty rake of wagons so I bought some seven plankers both PO and BR.

Some unfitted Bachmann 16 tonners again straight from the box pretty much save the obligatory weathering and coal.

This was another standard Bachmann wagon but was stripped of all writing, repainted and weathered.

These wagons are Parkside Dundas models.

Finally a Dapol kit, I’m not too happy with the end result but running with the other it doesn’t look too bad.

Finally the brake van I tend to run them with. A standard Wachy Bachy model weathered and one coupling removed from one side along with tail lamps.

Next up is the bolster rake

I have used again a mixture of kits and Bachmann models. These two are your pretty standard Bachmann bolsters. Weathered.

These were again Bachmann but I wanted to add something different so I turned them into BR made example with higher bolsters and BR brake gear (A nightmare to maintain!)

These two littlums are parkside dundas 21t bolsters. General built straight out of the box save for the brake loops built from staples.

I have also built two NER quads. Most had probably been scrapped by the period we’ve aimed for but they give a nice uniform individuality. I must thank Wordsell Forever for supplying new bogie after I had got into a bit of a radge and broke the original two. At first I didn’t think they would fit but they work a treat and again add a slightly unique flavour to these models.

Finally a BR(M) brake van. This was a Hornby model. With brass hand rails, a ballast box added to the underframes and a full repaint. The same coupling & lamps treatment as before.

Oh, and before I go, there is a couple of new members to the Area 51 family. I’m going to really p*** the collectors off updating her (where ever possible) and weathering her.

I have no name for her yet but I am going to base her on a Stockton WD, 90155 heads the ideas list. Here she is with 43073.

Cya all later folks.

For more information on our club exhibition layout currently bring worked upon, hopefully to be complete in 2013/14, please visit http://www.stocktonmrc.co.uk/