Some projects just seem to take on a life of their own. The WC has been ongoing for a long, long time now and seems to have been one of those projects.
I'd decided that I was going to have to paint the loco. I wasn't expecting to have to do it twice.
First off was a Humbrol rattle can over Halfords plastic primer. The finish was awful so after much cussing it was stripped right back and second time round Precision BR loco green was airbrushed on.
Lining was achieved by Fox transfe
A very long time ago, some 10 years to be precise, I started a conversion of a Hornby West Country pacific to P4. At the time, I was trying to use the existing chassis and had modified the existing bogie and pony trucks. I was having all manner of problems with the slide bars though and despite trying everything I could think of just couldn’t get it to run properly. After a valiant effort I reached the point where I stopped and put it to one side for a proper think.
I decided to go down the
At the end of the last instalment, I'd managed to get a rolling chassis without too much difficulty.
The fun started when I tried to use a Markits single slide bar crosshead assembly. It just wouldn't fit. I couldn't adopt the usual dodge of widening the cylinders as their outside face is flush with the loco body. So another plan was hatched using the original Hornby slide bar and crosshead. I had to fit by trial and error, using epoxy to fix the cylinders and the slide bar assembly in plac
Glad to see the site is up and running again. I'm slowly adding back the lost images to my blogs so if there's anything anyone has a query on please ask.
During the site down time I finished off the engine and it's now released for traffic.
First up was a coat of Halfords etch primer, then Phoenix olive green through an airbrush.
I'm quite pleased with the paint job. I haven't tackled Southern livery before and I was a bit apprehensive about it but it seems to have turned out ok.
After quite a lengthy delay, the 1361 has been finished, painted and weathered this weekend. It was great to get the airbrush out, though my set up was a little rudimentary. I just need a name plate, crew and couplings. Oh and balance weights and coal...
But I'm quite happy how this has turned out. There are naff all clearances between the wheel rims and underside of footplate (that's why the Kernow one had splashers) so Ive lifted the body up slightly.
All runs well and the CSB's work
Happy to report the tinking table has been reinstated!
It’s been a quiet (by my standards anyway) couple of years on the modelling front. Primarily due to a divorce which thankfully is now all resolved. The house was sold in December and I moved into my new abode just after Christmas.
After sorting the essentials I was able to build a new modelling bench in the box room. This also houses the office desk on the opposite wall but I’m left with a 6ft bench to play with. It’s so nice to have
It's been a long time since I posted anything on here. Time doesn't seem to be what it was and a painfully slow divorce coupled with Covid restrictions has hampered modelling progress.
But in a rare alignment of planets, stars, work and other more domestic arrangements I've actually had a couple of days at the modelling bench. Must be a holiday or something...
I've been building a little Covid layout using the EMGS track and turnouts, details of which will follow I'm sure
Due to a senior moment, I forgot that I'd ordered one of these some time ago from Model Railways Direct. I duly ordered one from Kernow so imagine my surprise when two finally arrived. Hey ho.
As has been documented elsewhere, the colour of these vans looks a little on the light side. As I never saw one in service prior to 1923, I'm not qualified to say whether the LSWR brown is the wrong shade. The general opinion is that it is. Having a second model meant that I was prepared to have a go
I recently found a few photos of a recent conversion I did a while back of the Dapol B4 to EM for my Covid shunting layout.
I've been working quite a bit on Guernsey in the Channel Islands so this was originally an impulse purchase.
I decided the LSWR would have loaned it from Southampton Docks to work the Stonehouse branch in Plymouth in my universe anyway.
The B4 is a tricky thing to convert by the usual standards. I didn't want to change the wheels as there isn't a 100%
With the tinking table open again, I’m trying to get another loco finished before Stonehouse goes to Expo EM. It’s one of the ex PD&SWJR 0-6-2T’s built by Hawthorn Leslie. The origin of the model is a CSP kit and has been on my to do list for a while. The chassis will be compensated and I’ve got the body done. Frames are done with rods etc and next will be to fit the wheels. The high level gearbox is in the bench so hopefully not too far to go now.
Another bank holiday and a bit more time at the tinking table working on the 1361. The cylinders and slide bars are done, crossheads fettled and con rods added. CSBs are fitted and all runs smoothly.
The cab, roof, smokebox, bunker and tanks have been fashioned from about a million bits of brass. Everything has an overlay. Even the overlays. Thank goodness for my RSU. The kit is carefully thought out and any mistakes are mine. I can see a couple of things in the photos that are going to nee
I was doing a demo at the recent Railwells show and was pleased that I managed to do virtually no modelling. Always the sign of a successful 'demo' weekend.
I did get as far as dismantling an Oxford models AA3 ex GW Toad in BR livery.
Several people pointed out the errors in the model (apart from the chassis being supplied in the wrong scale as the wheels are too close together obviously), so I didn't do much more than take it apart and compensate one axle with a low profile MJT unit. The ax
Having just about got the hang of the new software and negotiated the family birthday fest between mid Jan and mid Feb, I've returned to the modelling bench. The 2MT detailing has been finished off. I've added injectors, ejectors, upjectors and downjectors, quite a few bits of wire that no doubt have very technical names. I cut out the original door recesses and replaced with a new set back one and added side hung handrails. I've fitted a new chimney (thanks Dave) and subjected the body and chas
One of my long standing 'round tuit' projects has been a Triang bogie luggage van that was given to me by the late Bob Haskins. As is the way, I was looking for something else in the modelling room when I came across a box containing a number of wagons he'd given me, some years ago now.
I knew I'd picked up a detailing conversion pack for it from Roxey Mouldings at a bring and buy so I thought why not?
I guess Bob had this coach from the early seventies and the Roxey kit was also in a suitab
Evening all
Nothing like a deadline or in my case a looming exhibition appearance to cause a general panic and frantic session of modelling activity.
Wheal Elizabeth's off to Uckfield next weekend and I really thought I should have the O2 ready for running.
So, a little bit of tweaking here and there, the fitting of the roof and application of smokebox number plate and crew and it's just about ready. Of course I'm not actually planning to have this hauling clay hoods, so I
Wheal Elizabeth is up at ally Pally this weekend.
Unusually we ran air brake stuff first thing, then gradually worked towards steam by the end of the day. Might do the opposite tomorrow. Do pop by and say hello if you're passing.
Finally got round to fitting a route disk to the 02 too.
Taking a break from the tedium that is painting rail sides for Clevedon (yawn), I've been playing with 'Highland Region', Vi trains cl 37 acquired from Kernow Models following 43179's guest appearance at Epsom. It should look very nice hauling a rake of bullets. Also have sprayed up my R&H (aren't photos great for find you've over-sprayed). I'll try and have the latter ready for Scaleforum - just need to find the roof now. It's on the workbench somewhere.
Wow. Just worked out this is post no 100.
It's been a while since the last one but that's just because it's taken so long to finish off the painting and lining. I've used Fox transfers again which I have to say are absolutely excellent just time consuming. Looking at the photos I've realised that the bottom of the splashers have a single red line to be added.
I really struggled to get the numbers straight for some reason. They're still not right and I'm probably going to have to take t
Evening all
With the T9 virtually complete, at least for now until I can buy some number plates, I've turned my attention to the next project. This is a Peckett 0-4-0ST E class, a couple of which were acquired by the GWR via the Swansea Harbour Trust. MIne's going to be an industrial version for use as the works shunter on Wheal Elizabeth (at least for now anyhow). Haven't decided on a name yet. Might be Munchkin, might be Minion.
The kit itself is from CSP Marketing and is going
As my son has had a friend over for a sleepover (curious expression that, very little sleep seemed to occur) I've spent the best part of the day in the modelling room listening to the mayhem downstairs and intervening as and when critical mass approached.
The outcome is some significant progress on the Peckett. I had done quite a bit since the last post, but things are moving along very nicely.
The wheels have been fitted and quartered. All works so happy days.
The t
Having a break from modelling this week and walking the Two Moors Way long distance footpath instead!
I've a non railway blog here:
http://twomoorswayadventure.wordpress.com
As Wheal Elizabeth is about to make an previously unplanned exhibition appearance at Scaleforum, I thought I'd better try and get the T9 ready for service. Have given it a light touch of weathering with the airbrush, applied smoke box number and route disks and given it a couple of coats of Dullcote. Just needs the crew, the front coupling (I had it here somewhere) and the shed code plate. I am rather pleased with how this has turned out. Oh and it runs too, though it hasn't pulled a train in an
Just a quick update. Crew fitted to the T9 and smoke box plate fitted from Fox. I also found the screw coupling and am quite happy with the end results as per the photos. It hauls 2 coaches just... I'll need to make sure layout is absolutely level though!
Have put Wheal Elizabeth up and tested it ready for Scaleforum next weekend. There were a couple of running repairs but these have been fixed. Do come and say hello if you're at the show.
Now, I can start to think about
After a very brief update the other day, I thought I'd post some progress photos of 'Munchkin'. I haven't quite decided how to work blue into the colour scheme. I like the idea of a blue background to the nameplate though.
I decided that I should at least try to stay vaguely in the land of semi-plausible, so decided to line out some of the panels using the rather excellent Fox lining transfers. I gave the initial coat of yellow a few coats of Klear first which has darkened the yellow down q
Two new engines were released to traffic at last week's Scaleforum show so I took a few pics.
We had a bit of a blast. I must spend less time preparing it for shows in the future as it ran better than normal. Hey ho...
30719 and Geof's Sentinel which was sporting some temporary nameplates.
We're still debating what colour might suit it best. Yellow?
Speaking of which, must go and see how Munchkin is doing.