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vitalspark

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Posts posted by vitalspark

  1. That is very interesting and something I hadn't noticed.

     

    It also means I should include this pipe as it is an ex LNE Gresley full brake.

     

    The sliding side doors end windows and corridor connection removal has already been completed but I was wary of adding g the pipe in case it was an air brake conversion or something added in the 70s.

     

    The Alloa and Larbert layouts depict early to mid sixties.

     

    Thanks to all who have posted your input has been great help. 

     

    Dave.

    • Like 1
  2. Currently converting an Ian Kirk Gresley full brake to a tool van as one of the support coaches to accompany the new Bachmann crane.

     

    Questions I have are does anyone know what the external usually white painted pipe running along the sole bar was added for?

     

    Its been suggested its Air but if so is this for pneumatic tools or air braking?

     

    If the former is the compressor within the coach and where are the take off points?

     

    Does it run along the solebar on one side only?

     

    Also does anyone know when these pipes were added as I am modelling this for display on both Alloa and the under construction Larbert layout which are early to mid '60s.

     

    Thanks to all who may read this and offer anything no matter how diverse as I the build has currently stalled as I'm reluctant to just stick on a pipe without knowing its purpose or when it was carried.

    In attach an unfortunately very low res image of such vehicle but it clearly shows the pipe(s) in question.

    aee688_small_image.jpg.0793b352f80b904923a2138775727a18.jpg

     

    Thanks in advance.

     

    Dave.

  3. Thanks to everyone who posted and from the many positive comments it would seem that this years show was well received..makes it all worthwhile.

    The weather threatened but thankfully nothing dramatic happened and our friends making long journeys all managed safely.

    We of course had Alloa running in what is likely to be its last appearance in Scotland and very enjoyable it was.

     

    My personal favourite..Hornsey Broadway.

    The detail on this layout is breathtaking plus it ran faultlessly so a big thank you to Kier for making the trek north.

    IMG_1928.jpg.20b2aa3f72ac7eff48f55f274a591c82.jpg

     

    A couple of Alloa residents..one of many J36s and a big green engine!

    IMG_1171-3.jpg.31a7b9e829da83a983491c8dc73851a0.jpgIMG_1812.jpg.107771b65d8c638438f4b7e9b34b1a0d.jpg

      

    And the last bus to Glasgow but be assured it will be back next year to welcome you back. 

     

    IMG_1860-2.jpg.0b7d74f9b7eaf304c9a3bc84b065d7e5.jpg

     

    Thanks again to all our visitors traders and exhibitors.

     

    Dave.

     

     

     

    • Like 7
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  4. On 26/02/2020 at 08:31, Legend said:

     

     

    I spent 7 hours over two days at the exhibition .  I always come back inspired and enthused but this year more than ever . I note that Hornsey Broadway is in the spring BRM , so it makes it a must buy.

     

    Congrats to everyone that exhibited and organised the show . Only problem is how do you top that in 2021 !

    Its already underway and building to be another great show.

     

    Glad you enjoyed this year and thanks for the great comments.

    • Thanks 1
  5. 10 hours ago, Nova Scotian said:

    I hope my humour in my original post was conveyed. Your modelling is excellent and I was laughing because the van is in the original photo - despite the "criticisms" whenever someone models a vehicle on a bridge. 

     

    It was indeed NS and appreciated.

    Yes the old 'bus on a bridge' thing seems impossible to resist by many although I have to admit if there is a nice bus to be displayed theres only one place for it!

    Dave.

    • Like 1
    • Agree 1
  6. 2 hours ago, 7APT7 said:

     

     

     

    oh because I was going to say, the length of a layout just from what I could see in the Photos, would have to be like the size of Peter Waterman's layout in 0-Gauge, lol even so, still a great few photos.  Am I write in saying the track work as been made to... just the cross over angle and the approach to and from it ain't your normal by standard purchase I thought. but very nice indeed, even better if it is...Quality

     

    Regards

    Jamie

     

    Thank you for your kind comments Jamie.

    The layout is 34ft long and operates on a continuous run with end on fiddles feeding trains to the front on both the mainline and branch.

    There is pretty well always something moving which of course is totally unprototypical..but the public pay their money to see trains moving not static exhibits.

    Everything on the layout is accurate for the location and period and run at scale speeds with many of the locos by necessity being kit built like the WD 2-10-0s and many NB and Caley 0-6-0s.

    Diesels are represented mainly by the DMUs and railbuses that operated on this line from early 60s although the odd Clayton makes an appearance plus a Metrovick Co-Bo on a filling in turn on minerals.

    The track is SMP with all pointwork hand built as again it needs to be to accurately follow the actual trackplan.

    All signals are accurate and built from photographs and all operate and are used throughout the running.

    When we were at Warley we received the Signalling Society award for best and most accurately signalled layout..a great surprise to all of us.

    As said we have often been asked if its EM which is indeed a compliment although unlike ScRSG I have never heard of someone confusing it with P4..the track is nowhere near that standard although for a large fairly complex layout that has to be reliable on the exhibition circuit that would be a step too far I'm sure.

    I attach a pic of the layout at NEC at Warley on the evening before the show opened.

    It was a great weekend and topped off with Alloa awarded best visiting layout with Pete W doing the honours.

    Thanks again.

    Dave.

       

    IMG_2780.jpg

    • Like 9
  7. On 30/01/2020 at 10:19, Kier Hardy said:

    I'm looking forward to seeing Alloa again..... no flimsy support legs on this layout - I can vouch for that. 

    Hopefully I'll spot it in my wing mirrors this time!!

     

    Kier I laughed out loud when I read that..sort of comment that Mrs Jacksons boy would have made..good one!

     

    Our group all agree that the layout list at this years show is looking exceptional and with Hornsey Broadway right at the top of my own must see list.

     

    There are a fair few top names attending this year and we are especially delighted to welcome guests like yourself making the journey north with such inspirational layouts.

     

    As part of the set up team I will be welcoming you on Thursday so look forward to that.

     

    All the best and drive carefully.

     

    Davy Scott. 

     

        

    • Like 1
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  8. Looking forward to exhibiting Alloa again at our home show.

    The layout has been the subject of an intensive refresh over the last few months with all new back scenes and most scenics including all grasses and many trees replaced.

    In addition several of the bespoke signals have been rebuilt and as always rolling stock is absolutely accurate for location.

    A few recent pics for those not familiar with the trainset.

    IMG_1685.jpeg.395d884404195c597f302392444b6895.jpegIMG_1683.jpeg.370822a82d65e805d5e91df0df496255.jpegIMG_4174-2.jpg.77e7c89bf61a0036965b7cb781d6328a.jpgIMG_4194-4.jpg.c042775820fcd7765431195041b10141.jpgIMG_1177-1.jpg.23cada865b8e79b67a4452d354bd8768.jpgIMG_1510.jpg.209037c050015318094faf865c5db38b.jpg

     

    Dave.

     

     

    • Like 11
    • Craftsmanship/clever 1
  9. Try your weathering using powders on coaches too.

    A Hornby Porthole with black powder simply dusted over the sides then wiped off leaving the door seams prominent.

    Black/brown powder mix on under frame and bogies with the roof airbrushed but that could just as easily be brush painted and as the roof clips off its very easy..why don't all coachers come apart like this?

     

    IMG_1171-2.jpg

    • Like 5
  10. A good advice and I agree with the use of powders and perhaps a wash but stay away from the airbrush just yet.

     

    I have weathered a couple of my own locos using only an initial wash then powders to demonstrate at exhibitions the 'safe ' way to weather fpr beginners.

     

    Powders wash off if you have overdone it and even if there is a little residue left then in crevices thats fine as it will add to the effect.

     

    I use a simple Humbrol wash and almost immediately wipe off with cotton bud following the natural lines that gravity would take if rainwater was running down the side of the loco.

     

    After dry then its Mig powders usually just three which are mid brown dark brown and black which I mix to achieve the colours I want. 

     

    I apply with a cheap brush..as it destroys these very quickly.. and stipple into the body then wipe off with a soft cloth or bud with often a wet finger to streak and remove any excess.

     

    Not exactly technical but if the end result works then its fine.

     

    With out of the box locos especially Hornby the first thing is to 'lift' the unrealistic  matt finish to an almost gloss in places using cotton buds impregnated with T cut or Brasso.

     

    Once you have achieved the slightly polished finish bearing in mind that the cleaners would usually clean cab and tender sides and lower boiler leaving the top of the boiler apply the wash.

     

    Using decent brush wash it down over the entire body and it will leave a semi matt finish that allows the powders to adhere to better plus it will run into seams and detail same.

     

    Black with little brown mix and stipple over the lower areas with black for soot over the boiler top and cab roof.

     

    Don't forget a little sand colour round the sand box fillers.

     

    The 'oil & grease' detailing liquids are great for showing streaking down from a leaking seam on the tender or as a puddle of wet around the tank filler.

     

    I am by no means skilled in painting and weathering having only chanced my own models but the results have pleased me an dod course when you look atvit its all your own work which is satisfying so

     

    have a go.

     

    A few pics to hopefully encourage you..its a lot easier than you might think.

     

    The factory finish.

    IMG_5872.jpg.9b215635252e66a662453b2c0c8e69d2.jpg

     

    After careful rubbing with T cut and a bud to create a gloss metal look then weather back.IMG_5881-2.jpg.6367a0b7226976c4c15cf3e591868ca2.jpg

     

    Nearside same loco.. wash then powders with added detail with the most obvious being the AWS piping under the running plate.

    IMG_0373.jpg.0523b8cacecfba3bf017d3c205fb8f8e.jpg

       

    A Bachmann 47/7 using only wash and powders to demonstrate easy weathering techniques at a recent show.

    IMG_1733-2.jpg.6bb1f7bc5ddfebbd7ce88feeacfb855b.jpg

     

    On the trainset.

    IMG_1789-2.jpg.d5f54a7c74d9ec823b3233de2ce1417d.jpg

    • Like 3
    • Informative/Useful 1
  11. After all the immaculate pics of Maude.

    My own and one of a few on Alloa which of course will be appearing at Modelrail Scotland in February.

    Looking forward to meeting with some familiar and perhaps some new faces at the show.

     

     Dave.

    IMG_4194-3.jpg

    IMG_4191-5.jpg

    • Like 18
    • Craftsmanship/clever 1
  12. I've been experimenting with these or rather with Craftsman brass replacements as the discs supplied look too small a diameter which is exaggerated by placing the hole over the lighting line on the nose.

    On the real thing the centre disc would appear to be dead centre of the door seam although as its hinged on one side this can't be but in model form it should be as near as no difference.

    The Dapol discs when fitted over the light in the nose are miles away and look completely wrong.

    My solution is to sweat a piece of 0.45 wire to the back of the disc and drill a corresponding hole in the nose.

    Tacky wax in the hole and push fit the disc which of course can be removed easily too.

    You can of course simply glue the larger brass disc to the nose but make sure you place it as central as possible and do not use the light/hole to align. 

    I will post pictures shortly. 

     

    Dave.

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  13. On 16/10/2019 at 13:51, Tony Wright said:

    Thanks Andrew,

     

    With so many pages now on this thread, I forget what I've already posted, and there are always new viewers, anyway. 

     

    It was given to me as a kit by a friend, and the best way to thank him for his generous gesture was to build it. It is, clearly, of its time (the tender leans a bit), and compared with the Bachmann RTR equivalent, it's rather lacking.

     

    769532458_BachmannD1116266331-14603.jpg.65e90e3ac24644fc1c5a4e2d59a9529d.jpg

     

    1939743041_BachmannD111assupplied.jpg.d4203919f7d51f02d44f0d2b33308b9a.jpg

     

    A fine model, but a bit 'bland' in this as-supplied condition in my view.

     

    1757673823_D11small.jpg.3168c19e65c1006ea8bbf271cfb66386.jpg

     

    Mine didn't last very long in the condition it first came out from the box. Renumbered/renamed, a few more details added and weathering, and it's exactly as I remember seeing these veterans.

     

    147963889_D1162668TraffordPrk18_06_55.jpg.ac494280cf24bea59f43acbce9f35823.jpg

     

    On the CLC.

     

    941657175_D1162660Darnall19_09_58.jpg.7cdfc71e26a59cab5b9f6467da29db0b.jpg

     

    1385529148_D1162662DarnallShed19_09_58.jpg.11d4010f21d1fb1ef81b663131e4df7d.jpg

     

    And in the Sheffield/Retford area. 

     

    619151727_Retford12101929D11.jpg.69251ebc2176536fb352aa08921d1778.jpg

     

    The finest 4mm D11 I've seen is the one built by the late Roy Jackson; from a Perseverance kit, I think, with the motor in the tender driving via a shaft through the firebox to the loco frames (2mm FS-like).

     

    Regards,

     

    Tony. 

     

     

     

     

    Beautiful model indeed.

    We can't compete with that but have to make do with a detailed and weathered Bachmann.

    My D11/2 earning its keep on Alloa.

     

    IMG_9421-1.jpg.77bfb048f428f54c0a8a37896e6a8e53.jpg

     

    • Like 12
  14. 1 hour ago, Manxcat said:

     

    Davy,

     

    If that woman on the platform leans back any further she is going to get quite a surprise when the next express thunders through!

     

    Yes she is scheduled for relocation soon as the trainset is undergoing make over for its final outing to Glasgow next February.

    Obviously the 47/7 is a bit of nonsense posed for a shot after weathering and the fastest express through that platform would likely be J36 hauled!

    • Like 1
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