5&9Models' Blog

What a wonderful model!

This will probably seem a bit too geeky even for RMWeb, but I'm also very impressed with the ballast.

24 minutes ago, Ian Simpson said:

I'm also very impressed with the ballast.

Thanks Ian. 
I’m super pleased you like the ballast as I’ve fussed over it like Goldilocks and porridge! . I tried Woodland Scenics fine buff but didn’t get on with it - too coarse and uniform. I then had a go at a weird home brew of glue, ballast, and paint which was truly awful - I still wake at night in a cold sweat just thinking about the mess!

Finally I settled on glueing card (collected off the back of calendars at work) level with the sleepers. Then another layer To cover the sleepers and a strip down the middle of the track. This was then painted with a textured sandstone coloured masonry paint with extra sharp sand mixed in. Further weathering down with paints gave it a mottled appearance and we are where we are so to speak. My wife says it could do with some more weeds (and she’s probably right) but I’m so glad you approve. I never anticipated how hard it is to get right. I’ve yet to roll out the technique on a larger scale but I’m hopeful it will leave the point work refreshingly unclogged.

Hi there,

 

What an absolutely outstanding piece or work!  A really original choice of prototype, and so well executed.  Looking forward to seeing more.

 

Regards,

 

Alex.

8 hours ago, Alex TM said:

Looking forward to seeing more.

 

Thank you.

 

I’ve posted a lot of pics on the Facebook page ‘19th century railway enthusiasts’ if you’re on Facebook?

Great loco. Coffee Pots never disappoint, they always bring a smile to my face. I wonder how you powered this one?

 

15 hours ago, 5&9Models said:

Finally I settled on glueing card (collected off the back of calendars at work) 

 

I'm trying to picture the puzzled look of your co-workers as they arrive to find that their calendars have gone all soft and bendy 

Edited May 11, 2020 by Mikkel

44 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

Great loco. Coffee Pots never disappoint, they always bring a smile to my face. I wonder how you powered this one?

 

 

I'm trying to picture the puzzled look of your co-workers as they arrive to find that their calendars have gone all soft and bendy 

Thanks Mikkel, it has a tiny motor inside the upright boiler with a little scratch built gear train to the driving axle. Unfortunately I don't have any pictures of it under construction.

 

My card was actually 'harvested' from last years calendars. I haven't done this years yet, probably need to sneak in at the weekend and do it! 

I have to agree with  earlier comments, what a lovely little engine.  It's left me wondering how on earth you've managed to find the room to fit a motor and drive system inside ?.

5 hours ago, snitzl said:

It's left me wondering how on earth you've managed to find the room to fit a motor and drive system inside ?.

Thanks.
I’ve updated the information on this blog to correct a couple of errors and provide a bit more info.

I’ve also taken a couple of shots which show the internal ‘gubbins’. You can see the drive train underneath, and the top of the boiler lifts off (only held on with blu-tack) and the tiny motor lifts out if necessary. I think I bought it from Branchlines many years ago. Probably one of my over enthusiastic exhibition purchases on the back of the classic excuse: “it’ll be useful one day”!