M.I.B

Not quite ready for "show-and-tell" time on the 6 wheeler because I am waiting on a delivery from Humberside.... a couple of battery boxes....... But a cautionary word on putting these back together - the body and chassis only fit together one way, and "almost" fit together the other way, so make sure you line up the holes and flanges and pressings. When you have the body and chassis in the right combination, they slip together with ease: there is no need to use the screws to draw them together - if you do - you're doing it wrong. I decided to put the roof on one side and then lower it down onto the other side. Worked perfectly. The other option is to get pairs of clips to seat and move down the length of the roof. But with a panel so thin, the scope for bending or creasing the roof is higher, so I went for the side to side option. Fitting Smiths couplings was not super simple because the beam is not deep underneath. I had to snip away a chassis web and slice a slot upwards to make room for the hook. There is zero chance of fitting the spring and pin in on this model so the hooks are to be fixed solid: 60 Second Superglue time... In order to glue these, I shortened the hook with snips and then put a 90 degree twist on the shank. therefore I could glue the shank to the remainder of the chassis web. Good solid unseen job.

If you have not seen or taken apart a Hattons "Genesis" 4 or 6 wheeler - here's how you do it, and what's inside........ The coach is made of three sections, a roof, a body and a chassis (for want of better terms) The roof is very thin so not advisable putting thin flat blade screwdrivers in to pop the clips - just persvere wth Mk1 fingers and thumbs. A screwdriver will undobtedly damage the edge: it does pop off eventually. The coaches come with instructions and a drawing of where the clips are under the roof. The body unscrews from the chassis - two tiny X head screws diagonally opposite each other in the centre. Between the body and the chassis are the electical pick ups, which are included in all versions - little tangs of brass strip popping out under the body. These rub unseen on the wheel tops. The wheels are very detailed too - painted in two colours. The glazing (on mine anyway) is incredibly firmy glued in place and would not budge when I tried to pop it out. the one you are looking at has a guards ducket and that is seperately glazed - looks to be small glazing sections popped into the side of the ducket. Interior seating is firmly glued into place as individual benches, not a complete "lift out" section like some manufacturers used to make. Luggage racks are a nice detail in a brass colour. I wanted a "non gas lamp" version but didn't want to pay the increased price for DCC electric lamps. So I bought the gas lit varsion. The gas lamp vents pull out easily with pliers and the gas pipe up one end comes off with the aid of snips. Beautifully made and decorated coaches. Time to monkey around with mine......

I'm working from home at the moment after a trip East. Today was a little quiet so I took the modelling tea-tray down to the office..... I'm not happy with the cab supports which need to be 1mm angle strip, but I only had 2mm Evergreen . I will get some 1mm and replace. I also need to fix the fireman's side foot plate which currently makes the rest of the cab look wonky, which it isn't. Only one of the tenders (the cab one) has brake hangers, so only one set of brake rods was made up (from Evergreen rod). Smiths Instanters were added as were 6 whitemetal GWR wagon buffers. Forgotten whose these were. (FourMostModels) The spraybar is folded back for transit and includes the deflectors which sit above the rails. Apart from paint, and decals (which are elusive), the jobs lefts are: 1. The joining hose along all three tank tops. I may end up using a metal guitar string. 2. Adding the mirrors - or at least I think they are mirrors - on posts mounted on the outside of the roof supports. They are clearly seen in one photo and the angle at which they are "adjusted" would give footplte operstors to look back down the train. But there are also two portholes in the front of the cab, so why need mirrors? Who knows? There has been a fair bit of assuming as I can only find three photos of the later "cabbed" spray tender. Have a good weekend whenever it arrives. Hope you have a Leave Pass in with the Sargeant Major, otherwise you might end up on a Sunday Guard......

I would definitely buy a 9044 in OO as well @rapidoandy

That's better....... Jobs list is now: Add a backhead of sorts, add spraybars Paint the cab interior add the retaining wall to the cab along with roof supports add Smiths couplings Add buffers to the drawbar ends add water pipe linking all 3 tender tops remove logos and prepare for paint. Brake rodding Finish grab handles and rails. I managed to find some steps, handbrake columns and winders, and some water scoop columns and winders. They have been added where missing. I checked ( as promosed) and I have a Mess Coach sorted out as well. It may not be a popular choice.... Unitl next week. Stay safe.

Cab sorted.......... but add to the jobs list: brake rodding grab handles and rails.....

With the aid of some Dapol offerings, which just show how chunky Mainline's wheel rims were...... Cab height is as thought - a little on the tall side, and also, as the camera is the best critic, it would seem that the "cab" is leaning forwards. These will be sored as part of Job 1 tonight.

MIB Snr tells me that they used to try and listen out for it transmitting.......back when he was in uniform and making clever things with valves and capacitors......... And so began the Space Race........

PROGRESS!!!! I did a session on the weedkilling train last night and I will do another tonight: (to recap) Three 3500 Gallon tenders - no two alike just like the real thing (ish). All from Ebay, some as single tenders and some with 2251s which got repaired, re-sold or broken for spares. At least one complete hybrid joined the roster at NC as well. Coal chopped out of the top, and on one I had to nibble away at the bottom of the moulded coal pile with a scalpel. Plastic card, pencil, steel ruler and scissors......... All stuck with Bostik 60 Second Superglue. There are some tiny gaps and some slight over hangs - will sort those tonight. There are not a lot of photos and drawings of these so some assumptions were made. The tenders had plating over the bunker, but I assume not one large sheet ( size is a bit big so it would be quite floppy unless it was very thick), so I creased the card in the centre to give the look of a central support spar and smaller thin sheets making up the cover. The later GWR units had a cab for crew weather protection, and this one was donated by a 2251 I think........ mouldings such as the window frames and riverts were carved and sanded off, and an over plate of plastic card used: JLTRT. The sequence for the cabbed tender was to cut each of the three over plate panels, drill the cab portholes and then glue the sides and cab front on. Once firm the cab was dropped into the tender and glued. The last step was to glue in the bunker over-plate. As well as trimming and filling tonight I need to: Double check the loading gauge of the cab top..... Add a backhead of sorts, add spraybars Paint the cab interior add the retaining wall to the cab along with roof supports add Smiths couplings Add buffers to the drawbar ends add water pipe linking all 3 tender tops find/make/replace at least one set of steps remove logos and prepare for paint. Black I think, looking at the photographs. Or I could be talked into incredibly dark Freight Grey.......... Logos - text is known but I need to find a maker......... Chemical tank, generator/pump van and two dedicated TOADs are complete. Not sure if I did a Mess coach or not - there is a Ratio kit in the projects box....will check. On the 65th Anniversary of Sputnik whizzing around overhead......I hope that you are all happy and healthy.

Thank you John. I am currently away, and have had a busy outdoor summer, but sadly itwas too hot to do many jobs which i am only just getting round to now. So the house is not finished: before the Planner signs it off I have to have all of the bathrooms working, and handrails and spindles on the stairs. So no permanent home for NC, hence all the table top modelling. I am revisiting the possibility of my "Shed 2" project...... the Weedkiller train is still the task on the go. Then I have some items from Australia to paint and decal..........and the dreaded brass sides failures to recover and finish. I am very very pleased with the finished brass sides projects like your K42, so my enthusiasm to do these is still there. I need to reconsider if I can put the railway cabinet up somewhere in the house and that will encourage me to do more modelling over the winter. Keep up the inspiring work.

Congratulations on 100 followers John. Your modelling continues to inspire and enthuse (even the signalling, which has rarely floated my boat in the past) . Keep up the good work.

Saddler's thread or leather thread, preferable in brown and then weathered a bit. Ends up looking like wire rope/cable. As for fixing it to the retaining wall behind - all depends what the wall is made from. If you can access behind the wall, simply draw the thread through the wall with a large eye needle and knot it.

I have found another reference to "Cream" as first livery. (not got the book to hand: its the huge grey GWR Wagon bible with three authours that remind me of "Atchison Topeka and Kansas".....) So two references to cream and a couple for "stone" lean me towards first livery being an off white/cream colour. Still a year or two too late for me tho. Thanks for your help and research.

Thanks Keith - I have never been able to use the search function properly on RM Web so I didn't bother this time......

I have just been pointed (very quickly) in the correct direction................... Like Hawksworth full brakes and 15XX heavy shunters, these were GWR fish vans that never made it out of the works in time for GW liveries. They were called INSIXFISH and had a weight of 10 tons (bottom plank far left hand side. First BR livery was cream with a grey roof - no idea on lettering colour.. I will leave this up on the bopard for completeness sake incase someone else needs to research for a BR(W) layout.

Good afternoon everyone. Some questions anbout the 6 wheel metal insulated fish vans: 1. What GWR colour scheme: Brown, White or Grey? I think Grey but want to be sure. 2. What was the telegraphic code for them? I did read INSIXFISH somewhere 3. Are there any accessible photos of how they were marked in terms of lettering location, weight etc? Thank you

I struggled to remember when I last had no engines on pre-order. It seems as if I have been waiting for one to arrive every day for the last ten years - or at least it feels like that. In a brief administration / financial session this morning I noted that I don't have one to pony up for! I have a LORIOT on order along with a 6 wheel coach for modification, and funds put aside and pre-orders in for toplights of both sorts. Quite a pleasant situation to be in going into a winter of belt tightening. Blackberries, raspberries and mulberries are picked and turned into jam. Apples are stewed and frozen. It's still very hot and dry here, and there has been so very little rain for 3 months in North Essex. Meterological autumn began yesterday so winter is on it's way - nights are drawing in, only one more motorcycle rally to attend, and thus more time for modelling. Weedkilling train has progressed a little. More next time. In the meantime, I hope the regulars and new visitors remain happy and healthy.

The RAF Kinloss MRC paint list comes from the days when people were less picky about "spectum accuraccy"..... I did the update of the old list ten years ago. Time has passed and manufacturers of motor vehicles have changed their car colours. Halfords will stock based on need and demand: as cars go off the road due to scrapping, lack of demand for cetain colours will see them comng off Halford's shelves. If I remember rightly there were a couple of Daewoo colours on the list - a cream and a plum - Daewoo was consigned to motoring history so quickly that most people will struggle to remember it. Some colours will always stay available - British Racing Green is one. However its a good match for British sports cars, but not for BR Green or GW green as the list suggests.

Have You Ever Fallen In Love - Buzzcocks (too slow) The Sun and The Rain - Madness

Horse boxes when laden were always placed behind the engine to give a smoother "snatch and jerk" free ride to the animals. The further down the train, the more noticable this is in any consist. It is always good practice to introduce the horse to the box when it has arrived and the ramp is down. And two people are usually used even with truck boxing these days. It makes leading in, and closing of doors and ramps much easier with two people. Some horses load easily and others are a nightmare - their daily disposition and attitude are no reflection on their likelihood to completely meltdown. Our old champion jumper (Foxmead Benjamin) was "highly strung" and unpredictable, but show him an open horsebox and he would load himself into it, even when he wasn't due to travel. The mare (Sophie) is placid, calm and cool as a cucumber until she is led to the box, and it is quite an exerience to see her coming backwards out of a box having taken 15 minutes to get her 3/4 of the way in........ When your brain is the size of a plum........... As always - lovely modelling and writing.

The Dapol manors have arrived. The only correction needed is the application of some matt varnish to the safety valve bonnet which is just too shiny. I had already bought Imperium chips and Modelmaster plates for Dunley and Anthony. Now time to find them........ I hope that you are healthy and happy - I have finally got to the ripe old age to get my Army Pension in full.......time to enjoy it.

I received my two Compton Manors at the end of last week. Apart from the over-shiney safety valve, which has already been mentioned, they are perfect out of the box. And wht a box it is! Another happy curstomer. Thank you Dapol. Saints please!

Thank you Rich. I knew someone on here had made one from a rare kit. I agree that to have one in a 6 wheel milk rake would look great and break it up visually, like the ROTANK does. Russell shows a twin tank wagon in BR days which looks like it's being used for noxious chemicals traffic - no markings on it though. HSSE and Chemlar Code free days! I have a whitemetal SIPHON ENPARTS 6 wheeler. It was a project a long time ago. I am fairly sure that the body came in a job lot. I clearly remember shortening a Hornby LMS 6 wheeler milk van chassis to slip under it because the chassis on the kit (and the centre axle arrangement) didn't like curves. I think there may also be a non ENPARTS 6 wheel SIPHON in the crates. It's not listed on my stock list, but the odd item has slipped through that net before......

All gone by my time period. I'll stick with a vote for a CORAL and perhaps a twin tank six-wheeler milk...... Or a MICA to replace the aged Wrenn ones...........

Amanda puts out some great stuff that I'm sure the major manufacturers would not find viable to make. Fingers crossed for a CORAL next....... My favourites so far have been the ROTANK and the CROCODILE L