Leaderboard

nevard_110511_LBSCR-8-tons-van-DSC_2157_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia. I've had this kit of a LBSCR 8 Ton Van in the 'kits to be done one day before I die box' since ExpoNG 2010, having bought it direct from the manufacturer Smallbrook Studios who are more well known for delightful resin based narrow gauge kits. However, in addition to their more well known items, they also produce a small range of ex-LSWR and LBSCR prototypes in 4mm scale designed around the Dapol 10ft wheel base ready to run chassis, the kit prototypes being wagons that ended up on the Isle of Wight in their later years. Without going into too much detail, after all that's what the supplied instruction are for, here is the completed wagon after an afternoon's work. My depiction here, is a 'what if' should one of these wagons ended back on the main land in private ownership after finally running out of puff in the engineering section of the Southern Region. The numbering might horrify the purists, but they were simply home printed out onto self-adhesive label and stuck on rather than messing about with transfers (what is all this 'decal thing'? I'm English so 'transfers' it is - so there!). In real life, which will not be nearly as big as you see on your screen here, the paper numbering looks quite respectable. For the neurotics which I'm sure there are plenty, I'll just tell them that the wood was so rotten that some plywood was used as a base for the numbering. The wagon here is in quite a heavily weathered state, after its last overhaul it would have been pale grey or possibly even bare wood with the white numbering on black. A few colour washes and much dry-brushing has produced the excessive exposed to the elements look I wanted.

Somehow I thought there was something missing when I was putting the chassis together - the kit doesn't include sandboxes. To get the size and shape right I went to visit the Heritage Shunters Trust who are at Rowsley behind Peak Rail. They have a very nicely restored 05 and after asking permission and giving a donation I was allowed to photograph and measure the 05's 'boxes. The H.S.T. are really nice people and the site is worth a visit. To make up the 'boxes I first laminated 3 strips of plasticard together (2 x .060" and 1 x .040") to give the required width then after it had set cut the strip into 4 pieces for the 4 'boxes. Then the 'boxes were filed to the overall size before being finished shaped with a file; From the top, the laminated strip, 'boxes filed to size, and the final shape. Note the 2 different sizes of box, smaller ones are at the rear as the 'box sits partly in the cab. For the bottom flange where the pipe joins the 'box I cut a sliver from some 2mm round plastic scrap from a kit and cemented them in place, they still need drilling for the sandpipes; And the 'boxes placed temporarily on the frame side; Some of you might rightly think that this is perhaps a bit overkill measuring and scratchbuilding something like sandboxes for a kit that is as inaccurate as this, especially as I'm building it as a 'freelance' industrial, however the experience of measuring up a prototype and working from your own drawings is a skill that I think worth developing.

I bloody love these water mixable oil paints that I've been using! I thought gouache was the wonder stuff, well it still is really, but these oils are even better and much more versatile. It's taken a while to figure out how to use them effectively, it requires a slightly different technique to gouache, but I'm now glad that I've persevered with them after the initial disappointment that I had. I've used them quite successfully, I think, on a couple of the TTA wagons that have graced the bench of late. Exhibit A: The inspiration: http://paulbartlett....b08c1#h303b08c1 The model: Before: After: Pretty much all of the barrel weathering, with the exception of the streaking from the filling hatch, has been done with the oils on this one. The streaking is gouache, which is still the best method of achieving this kind of effect. The underframe is a mix of the oils and powder/hairspray, with additional powder used dry on top for variation. The powder/hairspray mix was usd on all the black bits of the underframe, with highlights and other colours added as required. The oils are great for adding subtle variation of colour, as they can be added sparingly and spread around, quite a long way, using a stiff-ish flat brush. They do dry pretty permanently, unlike gouache, after a period of time but the finish is still relatively fragile. They need to be sealed with varnish if the models that they're used on are going to handled regularly. They can also be used in wash form, with either white spirit, or water with a drop of screenwash in the case of these particular paints. They can also be used in a form of dry brushing to add very subtle highlights. Exhibit B: The inspiration: http://paulbartlett....17179#h2d017179 The model: Before: After: Again, the barrel weathering is exclusively oils, including the spillage stains. So far, I've not found anything quite as good for doing subtle weathering as these, especially with the ability to add extremely subtle variations in colour. The oils aren't as opaque as gouache, so they're no use for the heavier effects, for example I tried them on the truly filthy ex Esso tanker, as seen a few posts ago, and the oils wouldn't cover the original livery, even brushed on neat. I ended up using the gouache for that particular model, which reminds me that I must finish the other side of it! This is probably going to sound a bit pretentious, but I think these materials allow the boundary between modelling and art to be blurred a bit. To explain, part of producing a painting of a wagon would be adding the highlights, shadows and other subtle variations to bring the subject to life. In a way, weathering a model of wagon works the same way, except that the wagon itself is the canvas, if you see what I mean. I am definitely no artist, but am using these paints in almost the same way as one would, I guess. Still, whichever way you look at it, I'm pleased with the results so far, and look forward to seeing what else I can do with this stuff. More soon!

What he said. Perservere, brother, that's coming on tidily.

Hello All I have been wiring the track for DCC, this I though was a simple task, but when I checked my work with a multimeter the rails were shorted. After disconnecting various wire I discovered that one of the pre-cut sleepers was not cut properly. This corrected and the wires reconnected the short has been corrected. Three of the sections of track are held in position using two screws. This is to allow them to be removed to allow a cross over to be installed later. Next I ran a locomotive, which I recorder using my camera phone. 1st_Train.mov I could not get the locomotive to go round the 78mm radius curve, but this is caused because of a problem with the baseboard join, and the track currently has a hump in the track. Lisa