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About this blog

Tales from my workbench and progress on my layouts.

Entries in this blog

Coming in from the cold! Otherwise know as 'O' Gauge figure painting

Well it's been a while since I posted on here,   Real life has certainly had a profound effect on my modelling escapades of late.   However, in between things a good friend of mine has taken up 7mm modelling. As a gesture of kindness I thought I'd paint a few Monty's 7mm figures for him.   Here's the finished result:   Loco crew and guard 11-14 001 by kettering15b, on Flickr   Finished with Vallejo/Revell acryllics. I built up layers using washes to obtain the effects on the figures. M
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LNER/BR B17/6 61633 Kimbolton Castle

I'm not normally an Eastern Region modeller although a few classes do stand out. The big Pacifics don't interest me as such and it's the more humble classes like a J15 that appeal to me more. One class that I've always thought had really graceful lines was Gresley's LNER B17 with a short GE tender.   Earlier on in the year I brought a BR version and I really must say this is a beautiful model that Hornby have produced and captures the protype welll. It doesn't have the robustness of a Bachm
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Manning-Wardle 'H' Class. Part 3 of a Pug Bash

Over the past few days I've managed to get the component parts together and we're now at this stage.     I painted the inside of the cab before assembly with a Revell green acrylic applying washes and dry brushes to finish. This was masked off with tissue paper when I sprayed the loco.     As you can see various bits of wire have been used for detailing along with parts from the Pug including the reversing lever. One thing I did do is remove the sandboxes from the chassis. Luckily i
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8

YMR BR MK1 SK. A quick project.

Yesterday I managed to pick up two of these Your Model Railway £3.99 MK1 SK coaches from ASDA in Rushden for a friend of mine. He asked if I'd put numbers on them and weather them for him too.   Thanks to David I was able to source a suitable number for an Eastern Region example. Here's the link to David's in depth posting on the SK number series:   http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/75546-br-mk-1-sk-coach-number-series/&do=findComment&comment=1143408   If you've got
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Manning Wardle 'H' Class. Part 2 of a Pug bash.

Managed to do a few more bits on the 'H' Class over the past few days including fitting the cut section of tubing under the saddle tank to represent the boiler. Thank's to Ruston's measurements of his Ixion 7mm version I was able to work out a rough figure for the depth between the bottom of the saddle tank and the running plate. The photos below show the model held together once more with Blu-tac.       Thankfully, I managed to make up the smokebox door straps fairly successfully with M
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Manning Wardle 'H' Class. Or a Pug Bash. Part 1

Last year in the August edition of Hornby Magazine Phil Parker converted an Hornby Lancashire and Yorkshire 'Pug' into a resemblance of a Manning Wardle 'H' Class. I thought this would be a nice little conversion to undertake that I could use on my layout Juniper Hill based on a Northamptonshire ironstone line. It could also be used on my proposed Teign Valley project as well.   Here's the link to Phil's website with plans and pictures of his completed model:   http://pagenumberone.co.uk/dow
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Hornby BR Southern Region BY. A few tweaks.

A while back I was given one of those excellent Hornby Southern Railway BY's in olive green and decided to repaint it into BR (SR) green. Paul Bartlett's excellent site came up trumps with this photo:   http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/srby/h3317da13#h399adca5   The thing I liked about this photo of 'S764S' is didn't appear to have the full data panel on the right hand ends this making application of decals easier.   The model itself breaks down really easily into its component parts. Th
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Conversion of Dapol BR 20T brake van kit to earlier LNER version

One project that has sat on the work bench for a while are a couple of the old Airfix/Dapol BR 20T brake van kits I've been been detailing. One of them I decided to back date as an earlier LNER version which I've now completed.   This particular kit had banana shape sole bars so a bit of manipulation was required to try and staighten them. I cut off the concrete end weight mouldings and made new ones up from plastic sheet. The moulded handrails were removed and replaced with brass wire and
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Dapol Stanier Coach Detailing Part 2

Following on my my previous entry about detailing these Dapol/Airfix Stanier coaches here they are near enough completed. Both are running on Romford 14mm wheels I had to hand.   First up is the D1905 Brake 3rd which has come out the better of the two.     I've added flush glazing to the rear windows and new rear hand rails. The corridor connection board is a spare from a Hornby Stanier coach. The non-brake end has received separate water tank filler pipes although I've kept the moulded p
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Revisiting a Nu-Cast J15

As some of you may know my main interest in railway modelling is the Kettering-Cambridge line. This interesting line ran for 32 miles and was known as the Varsity Line. In later years the main motive power from the Midland/Eastern Regions was the Ivatt 2MT Mogul and its BR Standard version from Kettering and Cambridge sheds respectively. Nevertheless old timers did make an appearance with Kettering providing Midland 2F's and Cambridge the GER J15.   If you want to model a J15 in 4mm scale ther
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Preshading using Tamiya Acrylics

Recently on my blog entries and also on my layout thread for Juniper Hill a number of folk have asked about a technique I use call preshading which has its origins in military/aircraft modelling. I used to model aircraft so was familiar the process. The idea is that preshading gives a faded effect to the centre of panels whilst the panel lines appear to have collected dirt etc.   Below is a photograph of the Tamiya acrylic paints I've used thinned with car windscreen washer fluid     I've
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Dapol Stanier Coach Detailing-Part 1

One of those projects I've had sat on the workbench for a while were a couple of those Dapol Stanier coach kits which I wanted to detail. The composite offers the missing link in Hornby's range of Stanier coaches. I'm no expert on LMS coaches but hopefully these modification will bring these 1970's models up to date.   I think I'm right in saying that Airfix/Dapol got the battery box on the wrong side of the Brake 3rd so I modified this as per one of Coachman's threads on modifying/using the
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8

Resurection of Lima BR brake van completed.

Here's a couple of shots of the completed Lima BR brake van from my previous blog entry seen at the buffer stops on Juniper Hill.   The brake was finished and weathered with Tamiya acrylics. Again the pre-shading technique was used. Decals are Fox or HMRS and the bodywork was given a coat of Kleer. As you can see I've replaced the huge Lima tension lock coupling with a Parkside NEM coupling pocket and Bachmann coupling.   The veranda glazing is made from microscope slide glass. The door and
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5

Plastic surgery or how to renovate a Lima BR Brake Van

It's been a weird week on the modelling front. From the excitement and adrenaline rush of getting Juniper Hill ready for the Rushden show and then exhibiting come Monday I felt like some modelling . There are bits to do on Juniper Hill and repairs required on the layout and some of the rolling stock but I wanted something quick and easy to do which in my case always turns into a major project.   Here's the link to Juniper Hill:   http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70516-junipe
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Juniper Hill Stock. Stewarts & Lloyds wagons and a visiting Pug

A good friend of mine in his 70's who worked on the railways told me of a story where a L & Y Pug was brought down from Derby to take a large piece of equipment up one of the ironstone quarry lines around Wellinborough. The rationale being that it's short wheelbase would be suitable for the job and once completed the loco was returned to Derby shed.   In homage to this story I've taken a few shots of my Pug which isn't Derby allocated I know.   One of the reasons for these photos is to i
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Following Halfwit's advice and completing an Hornby J94 industrial conversion

In one one of my last post's concerning stock for Juniper Hill-my Northamptonshire Ironstone micro-layout I posted some pictures of the Hornby J94/Hunslet I'm working on called 'Cranford'.   Paul (Halfwit) suggested I could improve around the injectors by cutting and drilling away excess plastic as he had done. I think he mentioned Chris Nevard had done something similiar.   The easy way out would be to just cut them off and use some RT cast injectors but I went with Paul's advice and was im
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What a Wonderfull Wagon! First build of an O Gauge Kit

Whilst in Devon recently I popped into Express Way Models at the South Devon Railway. Being a member of the SDR you get a discount in the shop. Pauline the shop manager is very helpful too. Having a browse around the shop I saw one of the PECO O Gauge 16T Mineral wagon kits for sale and treated myself.   On getting home and opening the kit up I was impressed. Everything you need bar glue and paint is included. In this instance some PC Transfers so I've a feeling this is an old kit-though I may
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12

Juniper Hill Road Vehicles

Before I start thanks to Andy Y for his words of wisdom re: altering image sizes. I wish I'd have asked earlier!   This is my first entry for a while now. I've been working on bits for Juniper Hill, my layout based around the ironstone lines of East Northamptonshire. Hopefully, with the spring coming-believe it or not I hope to get into the garage for some track laying and soldering.   Fred the bus driver has known Doris his conductress for a number of years now. Doris had started working fo
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11

Sentinel resting at Juniper Hill and Corby's finest.

Afternoon.   A few photos taken this afternoon of bits I've been working on.   Here's the Model Rail Sentinel weathered and completed on my photo plank. Nameplates by the excellent 'Narrow Planet'     The wagon behind is a Cambrian kit and builds up very nicely as an internal user.     I've all most finished the Hunslet/J94. Needs final weathering and the Hunslet works plate from NP. I'll post some photos when I've finished it.   Here's something totally different. I couldn't re
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Motive Power for Juniper Hill-A micro layout based around a Northamptonshire ironstone quarry line

Evening,   After my 009 diversional therapy (see previous entry) I thought I better get back to the micro-layout I'm building called Juniper Hill (JH) which is based on the ironstone quarry lines of Northamptonshire around Kettering/Corby.   I really need to get in the garage and start the track laying and wiring. Once this is done I can at least start playing trains   However, there were a few bits on the workbench to finish including these two locos that will form part of the motive pow
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Hornby Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0. Finished!

Here's a few shots of the Hornby Ivatt finished except the crew insitu.   Alex (Wiggoforgold) came up trumps with a Comet chimney. I was going to do Cambridge shed's 46466 in unlined black with late crest but had a change of heart.   Instead I finished this loco as 46483 another Cambridge engine in lined black with early crest.   The model was primed with Halfords grey primer then Halfords satin black. Tamiya NATO black was then sprayed on the smokebox and roof. Lining and decals are fro
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Hornby Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 rebuild-Finescale it is not!

As some of you may be aware a mate of mine was given a box of tat-namely old 1970's/80's Hornby and Lima stuff. One of the locos was a badly repainted Hornby Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0. Now I'm fully aware of the misproportions of this model and it can never be compared to the current Bachmann RTR offering or the Comet kit but I thought using some bits and pieces I had to hand a few cosmetic adjustments could improve the look of this loco.   Also I have a real soft spot for these little Moguls and the
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Silver Machine (Once upon a time!) The story of a resurrected Airfix Brake Van

Well fans of Ozzy and Hawkwind will be familiar with the title. Once more this has nothing to do this 1970's rock outfit. (He says listening to this song )   Recently a mate of mine was given a box of old Hornby/Lima locos and rolling stock (Tat )including a Hornby Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 and a Lima GWR Railcar which had seen better days. More of these in future instalments . Some of the tat was kit built including few Cooper Craft GWR wagons and a rare SILVER and BLACK Airfix BR Brake van. It looked
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Strict (Low) Machine (Wagon)-An Airfix Lowmac gets a make over.

With apologies to Alison Goldfrapp for the title of this entry   Been sorting quite a lot of bits on the workbench of late and making space for other bits and pieces. I've been off for just over a week and have fired up the airbrush for the first time in ages. Next week I need to get on with completing the fiddle yard for Juniper Hill.   Here's a few photographs and descriptions of some of the stock that will be seen running on Juniper Hill.   First up is the ready to run Airfix/GMR Low M
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Juniper Hill

As some of you may be aware Juniper Hill lays of the A43 south of Brackley-unfortunately this entry has no relevance to this Oxfordshire village. I drive down the A43 to Oxford on a regular basis and pass the sign for Juniper Hill and am always enchanted by the name. Infact I've decided to call my latest project after the village although it's not set in Oxfordshire.   Infact it is set no where in particular and could almost be generic. Ideas have centred around ironstone quarrying in Northam
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