The Bachmann Wickham Trolley is a brilliant model and certainly offers up a quick detailing project.
In this instance I've added light lenses courtesy of Paragon Kits having drilled the light houses out. I think some very clever folk have added working lamps.
The weak point with this model is the trailer which is motorised. The faux ballast load does not look right in my eyes. Once more modellers have resort
A welcome return to my 009 blog and an enjoyable build of one of Matt's 3D printed loco bodies.
In this instance a Kerr Stuart Sirdar tramway version designed to run on the ever reliable Kato 109 chassis.
It's a nice 'Old School' 3D print build with no surprises and the print cleans up really nicely.
The kit also comes with a selection of thoughtful accessories as well and is nicely packaged in a protective box.
Unfortunately I manag
Recently I've been experimenting with static grass and scenic effects on the photo plank. Having been successful I'll use the same techniques on the W&LLR/Blue Bell Knoll. On top of the hanging basket liner I've used a selection of static grass fibres from Auhagen and Jarvis along with Noch leaves and Bachmann Woodland Scenics materials. All fixed with cheap Co-op extra hold hairspray....Because I'm worth it! Kes 1 by Mark Branson, on Flickr Here's Kestrel with my recently renovated Joue
In 1967 Featherstone Rovers won the Rugby League Challenge Cup Final beating Barrow 17-12.....
Recently I've been working a few projects. One is building a OO/OO9 photo plank which can be seen in the pictures. It was made from an Ikea Lack shelf and some foam insulation board painted with brown emulsion paint. Ancient PECO Code 100 track was resurrected and a piece of OO9 crazy track made up the NG spur. Hanging basket liner has been used for the grass base layer and static grass will be add
Since I bought one of the Bachmann USA 009 Skarloey's when they first came about the intention had been to create a fictitious loco acquired by the W&LLR and named Captain Fisher after the gentleman responsible for being instrumental in opening the railway. The project has sat in a box for a while in pieces but a few days off saw it sprayed with Halfords satin black and reassembled: P4181340 by Mark Branson, on Flickr As you can see a replacement bufferbeam has been made from sheet plastic
Recently I've managed to finish of the EuroNG kit for the LKM NS2 diesel. Here's Kestrel with some repainted and detailed PECO L&BR coaches:
Finally just as a size comparison Kestrel is seen with the Narrow Planet kit for the O&K 40hp finished in black and named 'Linnet':
Both of these kits run on Minitrains chassis that are readily available and come with a can motor and fly wheel for excellent slow speed running qualities. Nameplates via Narrow Planet. Crew figures by
The prototype NS2 was build in great numbers after the end of WW2 in Germany by Lokomotiv Karl Marx (LKM). A number of variants were built including some of the later designs with outside cranks.
The kit I'm building here is by Euro Narrow Gauge having been designed by James Hilton and is available through the Narrow Planet website:
https://narrowplanet.myshopify.com/collections/frontpage/products/eng-003
It represents one of the earlier chain driven examples and is powered by the M
Courtesy of Bachmann USA we now have a 009 version of Skarloey based on character from the Rev.Awdry books for their Thomas range.
skarloey by Mark Branson, on Flickr
Skarloey is based on the Talyllyn Railway's 'Talyllyn' built by Fletcher Jennings but in this case it will be finished in a fictitious livery.
The model itself is excellent and runs superbly. The smokebox, saddle tanks and coal bunkers are cast from metal. The cab is a plastic moulding.
The plan is to remove the fac
Having had a modelling spurt I've completed a number of projects one being the Narrow Planet O&K 40HP seen below:
I gave the model a coat of Halfords grey primer then sprayed it with Halfords satin black.
Detail painting was with the usual mix of Valejo German Grey, Hull Red and Gun Metal applied in either washes or dry brushing.
To add a bit of interest I've added sheeting to the cab sides made from a Smiths wagon sheet and crew are from Dapol.
Here's the loco
Ninelines sell a number of 009 scale kits including several wagons from the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway.
I have built a number of these in the past and they are lovely to make. Here's two I've made previously that need a few tweaks to finish off:
L&B Find.... 2-10-15 001 by Mark Branson, on Flickr
L&B Find.... 2-10-15 002 by Mark Branson, on Flickr
Recently I've started work on three more. An original L&B bogie open which represents number 12/13 (SR numbers 283
Last night I managed to almost complete the pipework.
O&K 40HP Part 2 30.9.15 002 by Mark Branson, on Flickr
I also curved the roof ready for fitting once painted by rolling it with a bottle on some paper which worked a treat. I'd previously drilled holes for the whistle. Also I added rain gutters from Microstrip and cleaned everything up with a glass fibre abrasive pen:
O&K 40HP Part 2 30.9.15 003 by Mark Branson, on Flickr
The steam pipes where also bent up and fitted
In between messing around with other projects I've started work on one of the Narrow Planet (NP) O&K 40HP contractor loco kits designed by James Hilton.
http://shop.narrowplanet.co.uk/collections/loco-kits/products/npl-003
The kit is designed to go on a Minitrains Kraus chassis and does so easily. The quality of the 3D print is superb and with a soak in white spirit to remove any residue left from the printing process as well as a clean up of the sides with wet and dry paper a lovely
Bit of an update on the Coble front I've made from the Zvedza 'Medieval Boat' kit. It was given a coat of Halfords grey primer and then dry brushed with Valejo German grey, On top of this it has received a coat of Valejo dark earth. More dry brushing to complete as well as name and registration lettering for a Scarborough registered boat. I'm told fishing boats in the 1950's carried registration details painted on their hull's.
Around the Coble can be seen a number of myster
Modelling has taken a bit of a back seat recently with the real world getting in the way.
Saying that-there's plans afoot to address this and a few little projects are on the go at present. One of them is to build a number of Coble fishing boats as found on the North East Coast-especially around Flamborough-Whitby coastline.
These vessels have a well defined keel and hull. For my project the the boats will be set in the 1950's as per this photo:
No kits exist of a 4mm scale Cobl
Blimey! It's been a while since the last entry.
Woodwork and electrics have taken over recently and modelling has been put to the side. Last night I thought I'd actually try to finish off the three Ninelines L&B wagons I have sat on the workbench.
Thanks to Jaymz he was able to help me clarify the positioning of the lettering on the brake van. Also the purchase of a second hand copy of Chris Leigh's book on the L&B recently and a loan copy of the Prideaux et al book helped to spe
In 1898 the Lynton & Barnstaple Railway purchased two brake vans from the Bristol Wagon & Carriage Co. The vans initially came with open verandahs until they were enclosed during 1908 and a 'Dog Box' which was also later removed. They were numbered No:5 and No: 14 but on grouping and the railway coming under control of the Southern Railway became 56039-56040.
The Nine Lines kit represents one of these brake vans in as built condition and is a very crisply moulded kit. With this build
As an aside from other projects that are ongoing I've just finished building two of the excellent Narrow Planet (NP) RNAD Baguley-Drewery loco kits. Here's the link:
http://narrowplanet.co.uk/products/NPL-001
These kits are 3D printed and supplied with a lovely nickel silver etch for the cab roof, bonnet access doors, window frames and other details. The build is really straight forward and kits are well designed. They run on a slightly modified KATO 11-104 tram chassis which easily clip
