With a new computer to get to know, modelling's taken a bit of a back seat. Until now that is.
I've been flush glazing the 03, adding a new horn (!) transfers etc and getting things pretty much ready for the final weathering. Just the AJ's to fit and lamp lenses to add from epoxy or PVA. Photos attached now that I've sussed the down load on the mac (which I have to say is being an absolute pleasure - I can see why people love them so much). Not pictured are a couple of Grampuses (Grampii?) w
Because it's a lot less stressful than playing with computers! New Mac purchased after patience finally snapped with my old PC. Now I'm on that horrible learning curve whilst I try and unlearn all those years of learned behaviour. Still, e-mail and internet configured this evening. Considering I'm way out of my comfort zone, I'm quite happy.
Back home after a cracking day at Portsmouth playing with Weston. Everything behaved itself and the layout performed well (in my opinion). Managed to acquire Christmas presents from Kevin Robertson as always, the rather splendid Lightmoor Press book on the Cheddar Valley and East Somerset railways. I've always thought there are some potential layouts in there, Congresbury with the junction for the Wrington Vale Light Railway, Sandford with its quarry connection and Cheddar with its overall roof.
A little progress today saw the 03 get its first coat of paint and the chassis a bit of treatment. Still some way to go yet but things are starting to come together nicely.
The Ruston is all but ready for a good clean up and primer. I'm debating whether to put the handrails on yet. I probably will but I'm going to sleep on it.
I had to make some adjustments on the Ruston chassis as having fitted my preferred wiper pick ups, I found that it conflicted with the inside hanging brake gear. O
Had a very enjoyable day with the Ruston, completing the bodywork. Only managed to put the window surrounds on the inside (doh) didn't I? Everything else pretty much fell together though having the RSU certainly helped some of the overlays.
The chassis is very basic, compared with the 03! I'll go and have a play with that later but in the meantime, some photos are attached.
Decided to open the Impetus R&H 165DE kit that's been lurking in the cupboard as it's too cold to start spraying the 03 just yet.
This kit is my best ever bargain, ??8 on a second hand stall at a local show including wheels. I thinks there's a couple of bits missing but nothing insurmountable.
Spent yesterday evening soldering - it's nice to build an etched brass kit body again. I can't think but just about everything I've done recently has been whitemetal or plastic. After the compl
OK, so it's 4 in the morning and I'm wide awake. Maybe some inane ramblings might help. Of course it's dangerous writing anything at this time of day or is it night as I'm liable to start waffling. Look I'm doing it now.
As I'm coming towards the end of another project, the 03 in this case, thoughts turn towards the what's next catagory. Usually this means staring for hours at the cupboard which houses my contribution to the EU unmade kit mountain before closing the door with a 'nah, maybe t
Photos attached from the latest tweaks. Some of the grab rails are going to need tweaking with the pliers. Funny how it takes a photo to notice these things.
...and I'm pleased to say it trundled up and down the test track quite happily once the pick ups had been wired in (36swg phosphor bronze).
Body work detailed ongoing including replacing the original Mainline front lamps with Western Region brackets.
Overall, I'm extremely pleased with the way this is going.
Those boffins at CERN have just confirmed the smallest known element. No it's not the Boson-Higgs particle, it's the distance between the jackshaft and the rear of the step assembly on the High Level Kit if you're building in P4...
The important bit is however small, it is enough.
Wheels quartered up and trial assembly photos attached. All well so far and it doesn't bind when I push it up and down the workbench! Have gone past the point of no return and loctited the final gear wheel onto
As promised, I've finally got round to taking a few photos.
Dogfish, Crab and Ling in glossy post transfer application but pre-weathering from Cambrian and Chivers kits.
Also a pic of the Conflat Clay in the same state and one of the excellent High Level 03 kit. It's moved on since I took this and I've now done both step assemblies. A joy to build. Fiddly, yes but very rewarding.
Title kinda gives it away really. I've been struck down with the dreaded lurgy for a couple of weeks now (pretty much since Cheltenham) and haven't been doing too much. In between bouts of coughing, sneezing and sleeping I have managed to make a little progress with the class 03, finishing off the idler and jackshaft assemblies. Tried it under power the other evening and all was well. I'm expecting a few problems when I finally add the rods though as I'm not convinced the wheels are totally circ
Have been playing with my High Level Class 03 chassis kit, which I started on my old RM web workbench thread. Have been fitting the brake gear and rodding. I have to say it's been an absolute pleasure, the kit has clearly been designed by someone who knows what they're doing. No fettling is required, other than opening out holes marginally to the sizes required. Photos attached. Doesn't come commended highly enough.
Have made a start on a conflat clay for Wheal Elizabeth. Before anyone asks, they were a Boplate E conversion with a couple of cut down ISO 20ft containers with sheets over. I don't know when they were created exactly, but I found a photo of one in Larkin's 'Working Wagons Vol 2 1974-79'. Apparently they ran to Avonmouth which was news to me. I didn't think they exported clay from there. I'll try and post progress. Should look very nice behind a hydraulic...
Back from Cheltenham. Great little show and a number of RMWebbers evident. I've really enjoyed playing with Weston this weekend and on the whole, the layout behaved itself. Just one non functioning electromagnet to sort out before we're out and about at Expo EM South in a month's time. I didn't take any pictures of the show but some folks did. Have a look on the Cheltenham show exhibition page for updates.
Retail therapy was limited to a Chivers MDV 20T mineral and a nearly new Ratio Van B.
2 weeks to go to Cheltenham (24/25 Oct)and it's time to start the preparations for Weston WCPR. I shall be putting the layout up this weekend, dusting, cleaning & generally tidying things up a bit....oh and yes removing any more spider poo that looks like woodworm (details and therapy on the old RMWEB). Then it's just the matter of cleaning stock, checking back to backs and cleaning wheels, adjusting AJ's.
It's at this point I usually do something stupid like deciding to build something
Photos attached to my gallery of the WC&PR layout. Really starting to think about next major station up the line, Clevedon.
I am looking forward to doing a real place again. I can get the station at Clevedon and the 8 road loco/carriage shed into 9ft without compression. I'll also be able to finish the rolling stock list namely Manning Wardle No 5 and the Taff Vale Coach.
It's been a strange week. I left Scaleforum feeling a but ambivalent about the whole modelling thing. Activity th
lovely day for photographing models today, no direct sun but bright. Put Wheal Elizabeth up in the garden and spent a happy hour snapping away. It's amazing what the public doesn't normally see from the front. I now have a list of things to attend to before the next show, which isn't until January.
Looking forward to going to Scaleforum tomorrow. Hope to see a few of you there.
Cheers
...was the word. And that word was attached in an e-mail from the Moderator who spake thus: 'go forth my son and speak unto all modellers about whatever takes thy fancy'.
And there was a great hush amoungst the multitudes and lo, there was an intake of breath and verily there was followed a clearing of the throat and the word was:
'Erm'
(look I'm having a hard time starting this OK?)
Hi
my name is Ullypug (ok so it isn't really) and you may know me from such forums as RMWeb 1
