ScottW

Sorry Simon, I have been neglecting my blog these last few months and missed your comment. Unfortunately the project has stalled again due to another project taking up my time. More on this later.... Scott

Just recently I continued on a project that has layed dormant for sometime. A few years ago I began scratchbuilding a Caledonian Railway class 439 0-4-4T in S Scale but due to an impending house move the project got put away in a box. The model at that point was still in a very early state of construction with only the bogie being built. Over the last few weeks I have manged to turn my attention to the chassis with the frames, coupling rods and compasation beams being cut out on the profile milling machine. A Plasticard template, either three or six times bigger than the original, was used to cut out the profiled parts. On this particular locomotive the frames were joggled towards the rear to allow a greater swing on the bogie. To represent this the frames were made in two halves with the rear portion being solderd to the inside of the front portion. The rear portion also includes the profile of the ashpan. It is my intention to make the chassis with split frames so brass U channel has been soldered to the inside of the frames to which double sided PCB will be secured. Brass U channel still needs to be positioned at the front end of the frames before the chassis can be erected. Scott

With regards to the lack of posts to my blog over this last year I stand guilty as charged. Sadly this has been mainly due to the fact I have not actually been doing much modelling. The dumb buffered wagons in my last post are still pritty much in the same state and other half finished projects still lie half finished. Having moved house almost a year ago I found myself going through a period of settling in and preparing the foundations for modelling. Because this house move was planned to be our last the property needed to fullfill certain criteria with regards to having a place to model and play trains. I am now in the fortunate position of having a spare room, within the comfort of the home, that I can call my own. And over this last year my modelling time has been devoted to preparing the garage for use as a layout room and the summer house as a workshop. I'll post pictures of the garage at a later date but for now here is the workshop. The workshop was originally a summer house with the added bonus of having it's own source of power. The previous owners used the space as a small gym .To make it more habitable during the winter months, and to help prevent my tools from rusting, I insulated the inside. Over this last week I have finally got the place in a position where it can be used. The Pillar Drill on the right I have had for a number of years, due to the workshop being fairly small I'm thinking about changing this for a Mill/Drill, which should give me more options. Scott

I have just picked up on this thread and all I can really say is "Superb". A true work of art, keep up the good work. Scott

Ian has kindly produced a number of 4 and 6 wheel coaches for me in S, along with a couple of NBR goods brake vans. Sadly I haven't managed to find the time to make a start on them. Scott

I recently had the pleasure of making an NBR 6 Wheel 5 compartment first in 4mm. The etches were produced by Ian Terrell of NBR 4mm Developments, Ian is currently in the process of developing a range of NBR 6 wheel coaches. This particular coach was from one of his test etches. I believe Ian has managed to find someone to produce the castings for his coaches so hopefully they will be on the market soon. Scott

Thanks for the comment. I also have a 52F kit for a J83 in S Scale, Peter kindly re-scaled his etches for me. My plan is to finish it in the earlier Holmes livery with NB crest. Once I finish my railway room I hope to draw-up some plans for a layout based on Bonnybridge Central, and will need to start looking at building some Caley stock.

A lovely looking wagon, Mikkel. If this is one of the wagons you hinted to be struggling with then you have made a wonderful job despite the little hic-ups along the way. You must be feeling very satisfied. Scott

That's a nice looking little beastie! Happy New Year.

Thanks, Mikkel. I enjoy scratch building wagons from Plasticard, it's a nice clean medium to work with. I'm sure we will all enjoy seeing your completed vans when the time comes.

June 2014 was my last post on RMweb, due to a house move back in August my modelling activities had to take a bit of a back seat. I am pleased to say that over the last couple of months I have managed to sort out a new dedicated modelling area and unpacked enough tools for me progress with some modelling. A little bit of progression has been made on the two Scottish Private Trader Wagons. These are currently being scratchbuilt in S Scale and are beginning to look a little more wagon like. Please ignore the cross bracing, these are only temporary and are placed in position to help prevent the wagon sides from bowing inwards whilst the glue cures. I normally leave these in position untill the wagon is completed.

The wonderful finish to the locomotive is the work of Ian Rathbone. I would certainly recommend his work.

At the request of Simon Dunkley here are some pictures of my NBR 0-6-0T Class 'D'. I have included some pictures taken during it's construction as well as some of the completed model taken by Barry Norman. Scott.

Thanks Mark. I have consulted a friend who knows more about these things than I and he has said pretty much the same thing. The wagons have been cleaned up as best I dare and are now currently being weathered to try and mask most of the damage. I'll post some pictures when they are finished.

I've been having a few problems attaching photographs. Normally I don't have a problem but with this post I've found that I can't attach a photograph using the normal method. I download the photograph then when I try to insert it nothing happens, but when I publish the post a picture appears as an "attached thumbnail". Anyway I hope you can all see it now.

The 0-6-0T is actually an NBR class D, a little larger than the R class. Unfortunately I'm just setting off on a four week trip offshore. I still have a few pictures taken from when it was made so if I remember I'll try and post something when I get home again.

Well put Simon. Your comments remind me of the time I converted a Bachman 08 shunter to P4. Using a set of drop in wheels from Ultrascale I managed to produce a P4 Gronk in about an hour. Watching it run up and down my little test track I thought "so what". On the other hand I can sit there for hours drooling over my NBR 0-6-0T-and it doesn't even have to move.

A few weeks ago I began scratchbuilding two S Scale Scottish private trader wagons. These particular wagons were built by R Y Pickering based on the Caledonian Railways' Diagram 22 design. Still in the early days of their construction so far only the floor and solebars have been constructed; the solebars and headstocks being made up from Evergreen plastic strip. Scott

No. The matt varnish was from a brand new tin, thinned down and sprayed on. I've began attacking the wagons with a cotton bud and some thinners. It's not looking good at the moment, I think I'm going to have to try and make the best of a bad job without causing any damage.

Further progress has been made with painting the Caley wagons. A coat of gloss varnish was applied, then the decals, then another coat of gloss varnish to protect everything. Friday morning I sprayed the wagons with their final coat of matt varnish before disaster struck. For the first time I used Humbrol matt varnish, everything was going great until the varnish started to dry-slowly the wagons were turning white before me eyes. Having done some research on this phenomenon I believe it is caused by there being too much matting agent in the varnish, and unfortunately is virtually impossible to remove. So now the remedial work begins..... Scott

Ian, I applied a thin coat of Humbrol matt 110 to the inside of the wagon. Once dry a thin coat of Humbrol 93 was applied over the top, by applying a thin coat of paint the colour underneath shows through. After leaving the paint to dry for 24 hours a couple of washes using a mid grey was applied, I used Humbrol 106. To finish off a black wash was applied, the two mineral wagons received a few extra black washes to represent the residue left from the coal and coke.

A few weeks ago I decided that it was time to start painting some wagons. After all, one of them has been waiting about sixteen years for a lick of paint. The wagons in question, three in total, are all Caledonian Railway and have been scratchbuilt from Plasticard. Two are mineral wagons to dia. 22, one of which has been converted to a coke wagon by the addition of extra planks above the main body. The third wagon is a four plank open to dia. 24. It is this wagon that was built sixteen years ago and is one of my first S-Scale models. There is still a little way to go to finishing the wagons, not least a bit of weathering to remove that pristine look. Scott

A friend, and fellow member of the East of Scotland 4mm Group, has been designing a number of 4mm etched kits covering the various designs of NBR brake vans. Very kindly he agreed to produce some S-Scale etches for two of the designs and over the last few weeks I've managed to make a start on one of the brake vans. The first brake van being worked on is a rebuilt version of the original Holmes design with narrow planking, two doors and two veranda's. So far the van is about 50% complete, there are no W irons included with the etches so these will have to be sourced from else where.

This picture was taken at the SSMRS Autumn Meeting last September, the 'Country Boards' on which the train is running is the work of Maurice Hopper. More pictures from the meeting can be found on Maurice's blog. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1391/entry-12442-all-together-country-boards-and-visitors/ Maurice's craftsmanship is a true work of art.

Yes Phil, the picture was taken at the Autumn meeting. Unfortunately I don't get the chance to attend many meetings so It was nice letting the 0-6-0T stretch it's legs, not to mention getting together with everyone.