Paternosterrow

I thought the second photo was a picture of the prototype!

Despite knowing the truth of the matter, I still do.

 

Re the yellow: the “official” paint didn’t hold up that well in service, and several major depots used to send a lad down to Woolworths to get a can of Dulux for a quick weekend touch up. Nothing to worry about on your model.

I thought the second photo was a picture of the prototype! Despite knowing the truth of the matter, I still do. Re the yellow: the “official” paint didn’t hold up that well in service, and several major depots used to send a lad down to Woolworths to get a can of Dulux for a quick weekend touch up. Nothing to worry about on your model.

Hi Regularity,

 

Very high praise indeed - thankyou.  I come from the old 'make do and mend' generation so find your story about the fetching of the Dulux brilliant.  It's how GB was run at one time - we didn't sit around waiting for brand new stuff, we just got with things and made stuff work.  I'm afraid that world is lost now.  Thanks again for the kind comments.

Hi Mike, I agree, to my eyes they look really good, great work on what sounds like a difficult kit. The difference between the two paintjobs is remarkable though, Humbrol have had a lot to answer for over the years I think!

 

I'm intrigued by your boss's windfall, can't you convince him to spend it on model railways instead? :-)

 

 

Hi Mike, I agree, to my eyes they look really good, great work on what sounds like a difficult kit. The difference between the two paintjobs is remarkable though, Humbrol have had a lot to answer for over the years I think!   I'm intrigued by your boss's windfall, can't you convince him to spend it on model railways instead? :-)

Cheers Mikkel After attempting this first brass kit my admiration for all kit builders has grown exponentially. Patience is a real virtue and a must for all finescalers I think. Humbrol paint is usually good, but there are one or two colours that are useless and warning yellow is definitely one of them - I’ve chucked out the couple of pots I had! I’ve tried my best with the Boss to persuade him about model railways, but to no avail. Like many he dismisses it all as child’s play! I’ve often dreamed of laying out an 0 gauge scheme at the site - what a visitor attraction it would make. Unfortunately, dream is all I can do because he wont budge! Alas, not everyone shares our love for the hobby - we must persevere in our own private spaces!

Terrific stuff Mike.

 

Thanks for your very honest break down and even photographs of things you are clearly not happy with. That said, well done for completing it - overall it looks great and fits very well with your layout.

 

I have only dabbled a little with kits such as this and some of the remain at the perspex sides and roof shell and get no further so hat duly doffed to you for completing it.

 

Always happy to see pics and rolling stock from this layout

Terrific stuff Mike.

Thanks for your very honest break down and even photographs of things you are clearly not happy with. That said, well done for completing it - overall it looks great and fits very well with your layout.

I have only dabbled a little with kits such as this and some of the remain at the perspex sides and roof shell and get no further so hat duly doffed to you for completing it.

Always happy to see pics and rolling stock from this layout

 

Thanks very much Pete.

 

Think it’s important to show that we learn by mistake on the forum - might encourage others to give things like this a go if they’re dithering. Mind you, I’d have never had a go at at it if WCML EMUs were available from Hornby/Bachman etc. It’s too much like hard work.

 

I should imagine that if these kits are hard to do in 4mm then they’d be nigh on impossible in 2mmFS! Don’t know about you, but my eyesight is failing a bit now so I used a Jewellers loop for detailing work and with all the time this kit has taken me I’ve developed a bit of a Patrick Moore squint!

Lovely realistic toned down and blended colours. Loving the weeds in the platoform too, that's a very convincing effect we hardly see in modelling. Bravo!

Lovely realistic toned down and blended colours. Loving the weeds in the platoform too, that's a very convincing effect we hardly see in modelling. Bravo!

 

Thanks very much for the kind comments. Sometimes, there are gaps and the weeds make for a handy filler!! But I do love this BR era for that - the network looked rather run down back then with its dirty, oily ballast and weed festooned embankments etc.

In 1977 a school friend and I had an officially sanctioned visit to Northampton No. 1 Signal Box*, and from what I can recall, 2G33 would be a Euston-Birmingham via Northampton service (2B33 for the up service, possibly 2A33).

We didn’t get the 304s very often: usually the 310s, but they were not unknown, in fact a 304 was my first “cabbed” unit - the driver was also a member of the local Model railway club! Although the headcodes were no longer displayed, they were in use - still are, I suppose - on the train described displays on the track diagram.

 

* When our teacher found out, he insisted that we write it up! Turned out he was a railway enthusiast.

In 1977 a school friend and I had an officially sanctioned visit to Northampton No. 1 Signal Box*, and from what I can recall, 2G33 would be a Euston-Birmingham via Northampton service (2B33 for the up service, possibly 2A33).

We didn’t get the 304s very often: usually the 310s, but they were not unknown, in fact a 304 was my first “cabbed” unit - the driver was also a member of the local Model railway club! Although the headcodes were no longer displayed, they were in use - still are, I suppose - on the train described displays on the track diagram.

* When our teacher found out, he insisted that we write it up! Turned out he was a railway enthusiast.

 

Cheers Regularity,

 

You’re dead right about the code - I’m pretty sure the B’ham to Walsall was 2G50 - not sure about the other way. I just used what was available from a preprinted tacky back sheet of codes I had spare. Whilst I spent many a happy hour watching trains I was no spotter and this reflects in all my layouts - a lack of accuracy etc. It was my mate Brendon that made notes etc. However, I’ve lost contact with him over the years. I know the 304’s ran some pretty long distance services initially, but as the bigger locos became abundant they were reserved for suburban duties.

 

Thanks for the info - always welcome and noted for future reference.