Inspiration comes in lots of forms, who would think the humble shed - the engine that marked the beginning of the end of heritage traction in regular revenue earning service with EWS - would fall into this category!
Add to that huge potential in the lovely Bachmann model it seemed a no brainer for Paxton Road. Then it happened - Martin (Pugsley) showed photos of his Class 59 project and the decision was made... one day I'd do a 66! Tony's beautiful SD50 build showed a fabulous range of
I've always had a thing about Class 08s and 09s - and when younger rememeber seeing the Bachmann model appear as a pre-production sample in every years catalog and the model never make it to my local shop. [
When I returned to the hobby two years ago the Bachmann and Hornby models were available, with pro's and con's to both. I personally prefer the shape of the Bachmann model and they run very well on Paxton Road. I recently chose to model 09007 based on the Bachmann model of 09006. This re
I've had two of the Bachmann PNA wagons (a 5 and a 7 rib) for nearly 18 months and they've never before appeared on my workbench!
These are good quality, value for money models of a nice mundane prototype. Perfect for Paxton Road - which is endeavouring to permeate averageness and mundane in it's environs, scenery and rolling stock (if not in quality of finish and modelling!). The Bachmann model uses their TTA underframe, as did a batch of the prototype wagons. Unfortunately it does not accu
I've finally 'taken the plunge' in 009 after many years in 4mm (both OO and a toe dipping in P4) and more recently a G scale (Austrian narrow gauge) project in the garden. The draw of British narrow gauge, in particular the L&B, the L&M and the W&L - big(ish) locos and English (or Welsh!) countryside, rolling hills, trees and not a bit of slate in sight... I have to admit I've been slowly drawn back into smaller scale modelling and have been browsing this site for many months...
So about 6 months into my 009 modelling career and the first two models are finished...
Both the diesel (a Schoema prototype, currently based on the Isle of Man Steam Railway) and the railbus (a Baguley Drewry prototype, initially an admiralty vehicle I believe, currently on the Welshpool and Llanfair) are built from etched brass Worsley Works 'scratch-aid' kits. What does 'scratch-aid' mean? Basically you get an etched brass kit with some detailing but you need to source a chassis, detail
I've been keeping a project under my hat since Members Day this year where I picked up a model of 09006 from the Bachmann trade stand for a bargain price...
Over the following 8 weeks I transformed her into a model of 09007, complete with my trademark step modification and scratchbuilt hi-level brake pipes. I faded and weathered the bodywork and took step by step photos. After I approached Ben Jones at Model Rail, I wrote it all up for an article and today, I finally saw the fruit of my labo
Where to go after building a pair of Worsley Works scratch aid kits?
I was looking for a natural progression, but also a nice kit of an attractive prototype...
I wanted to find something that used a proprietary N gauge chassis but perhaps needed valve gear...
I stumbled upon the Neil Sayer La Meuse quite by accident. It ticked all the boxes, exquisite design, clean etches, based on the GF 08 chassis, quite complicated valve gear, and available direct from Neil with a chassis as well.
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Well it's been a few weeks now since I first posted my intentions to modify a Hornby Pacer up to more modern standards and after a stint on my rake of PNAs and some structures for Paxton Road a parcel arrived from Mainly Trains...
Handrail wire and short handrail knobs! Just what I had been waiting for - and an excuse to get the Pacer back out.
I've removed all the plastic handrails and replaced with wire on one unit so far, it really does lift the model. I've also tidied up the doors with
Well, despite 'Wasp' not being finished yet (it needs priming and painting before I can fit an interior) I've started my second 009 project...
My other modelling at the moment is in G-gauge, as some of you know, and in particular Austrian prototypes. Whilst searching around for a second 009 project I stumbled across the Worsley Works kit for the IOMR Schoema diesel.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/df/IMR-Loco-17.jpg?uselang=en-gb
A funny and odd looking prototype, bu
Paxton Yard? You've never heard of it?
My OO gauge photo plank was getting on a bit and I wanted to try out some ballast, scenic and weathering techniques on some track work so came up with the idea of laying a couple of tracks to give a different sort of photo plank. I was inspired a few months ago by both Exactoscale's Fast-track and the P4 Diesel Depot, Weston Road, that used coaches as a scenic back drop.
I'm pretty pleased - obviously this is still a work in progress! It's built on 2
My G-scale journey continues and I'm beginning to really really enjoy working in this scale. It feels much more liberating and the bulk and familiarity of the materials you can use is really refreshing. So the EJ&KLR (read my blog - much more regular updates than on here) needs a shed.
This project is very emotional because although these plans were discussed with my father, I never had a chance to show him the plans before he passed away on the 10th, earlier this month. Buildings and s
A cold wet windy day and a trip over to my parents in Chester gave an excuse to head down to the docks to 'soak up the atmosphere' of the former Manchester Ship Canal railway line at Ellesmere Port Docks.
I do plan to go back on a sunny summer weekend, take a proper stroll around and get a better selection of snaps but with cold weather and a busy dock entrance I didn't hang about yesterday.
Compare these shots with those I posted about the Manchester Ship Canal earlier as a comment on
I've just got back from a lovely week in the Forest of Dean with the family.
Of course we visited the railway (and rode behind City of Truro - a real treat!) and that's where my fascination started... two books, six sketches and lots of doodling later and I've not worked up a suitable track plan, decided on a location, period or anything really but I was inspired and it's another layout plan on my 'one day' plan.
I've always had a soft spot for the GWR and in particular the Collet cab 57xx pan
Well I don't seem to have posted on here for a very long time indeed and several large scale projects have come and gone in the last 10 months. On top of those (all detailed on my G-scale blog: http://ejklr.blogspot.co.uk) I have also been working on a variety of 009 kits (most featured on my 4mm scale blog: http://paxton-road.blogspot.co.uk)...
However for those of you regular readers of my infrequent blog who have not seen what I've been up to, and inspired a touch by Jon's magnus opus entry
Well my parallel modelling in G-gauge (http://ejklr.blogspot.co.uk) and 009 continues (http://paxton-road.blogspot.co.uk), albeit at a reduced pace with a busy time at work and an even busier time at home (my second child is due in about 4 weeks)…
It does seem a long time since I wrote on RMweb so in the style of Jon020 here is a bumper update. The Worsley Works (WW) kits are cheap, well designed but really are ‘scratch aids’ in that you get a body, possibly a roof, possibly a chassis
I took my daughter for a trip out this afternoon to our local preserved railway, the Churnett Valley Railway at Cheddleton near Leek.
We spent many happy days there earlier this year and were hauled on numerous occasions by the lines resident Class 37 due to a steam engine failure for a lot of the summer.
The line is 'closed' during January but I thought we'd see something today, and since my daughter really wanted to see some trains it was worth a punt. Cheddleton was pretty busy and
A trip to the Great Central Railway last weekend has spurred progress on my model of 37411.
First up - Lostock and some Smoking Barrels and the GCR itself - what a wonderful railway and a great achievement to have 8 locomotives in steam on the Sunday! From the Jinty through to Oliver Cromwell, my daughter and I were very impressed. My favourite was the BR Std 2 tender engine, Elly's was the LMS red Leander.
Some shots from the weekend - my favourite all weekend is the second one of Olive
In just four hours modelling time the flat pack Worsley Works kit has become a diesel...
It's gone together really easily actually, and I am pleased with the result. It's not perfect, but it's close enough and what a well proportioned, detailed and designed kit - it basically just falls together. You don't need instructions when something is as self explanatory as this!
I always use 145degC low melt solder - it means you don't have to worry about damaging components from excessive h
I've a peculiar habit - nothing like that! No I mean I've a habit of revisiting older models and bringing them up to my recent standards.
This is most evident when I have more than one of a locomotive type - actually that's nearly all my stock (3 08/09s, 2 33s, 3 37s and just one 58). I find working on a newer model makes me re-evaluate a previous effort and look to improve it. I guess this progression is pretty natural and is a good way for a beginner to progress - so guys, don't be afraid
The Hornby Pacer is an aging model with an appalling mechanism. However despite it's age and mechanical inadequacies I think it really captures the look of the prototype really really well, and am interested to see how it will respond to some gentle improvements.
Rose Hill is a slow burn project - and I've settled on no specific stock purchases (although if successful I may splash out on a 101 and 150!!) and so my original Pacer was dug out from Mum and Dad's a few weeks ago for evaluation
When I started the LGB project a few weeks ago I wasn't sure if it was going to lead here...
But it has - so this first blog entry charts my first steps in transfering my 4mm detailing, painting and weathering skills to the larger G-scale. For those who aren't familiar with garden railways LGB is approximately 1:20ish, running on 45mm track with mainly European prototypes.
This project is based upon the ubiquitous LGB post van that has been in the range for 30 years. Today I have str
Welcome (back) to part 4 of my Class 66 project...
The last entry was about 9 months ago (http://www.rmweb.co....he-under-belly/) and in that time a whole lot of life has happened, and a fun, energising and exciting new project, scale and prototype has inspired me (http://ejklr.blogspot.com).
But for some reason I found myself picking up the dusty Class 66 this evening and getting further than just a casual inspection of the work completed so far...
Actually if I'm honest I suspect I
I really ought to start a seperate blog for this project, but for fear of duplication I'll stick to this one for now.
So the large scale bug has well and truly bitten - so much so that I'm sat here contemplating selling some of my OO stock to make it pay it's way - however, in the short term at least I'm all spent up having no more disposable/savings before my birthday in August. So what's been happening in the last few weeks?
It all started with the repainting of my LGB 2-axle coaches int
Paxton Road has been going over 2 years now and after a recent spurt of activity I find myself lagging a little in enthusiasm. Paxton Road is a ficticious location based in 1998-2000, depicting a small MOD depot north of Winchester on the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway. I really enjoy modelling modern image (well modern-ish) and modifying RTR OO equipment and I also love Class 33s and Mainline freight livery which led me to the Southern location. One thing I miss though is the abili
I was pretty excited to get parcels from the US (Cannon and Co direct) and Eileen's Emporium so I've got everything to start the project now Here's a quick shot of the raw materials...
In no particular order...
Bachmann EWS Class 66/0
0.31mm brass rod
0.45mm brass rod
0.7mm brass rod
0.9mm brass rod
28swg copper wire (coil)
1.5mm x 0.5mm brass section
Cannon and Co EMD Fuel tank detailing kit
Cannon and Co EMD Chain tensioner
New tools...
Soldering iron tip
Tip tinner
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