37672

Thank you. I cut out the original moulding, leaving a frame around the edge, then fitted some styrene rod for support before fitting paper over the top, which I then painted with diluted PVA. Whilst wet I shaped the paper. Apart from the original being too uniform, it's also completely unphysical, as the stretched canvas should be flat, not curved as Dapol have it. I'm trying to think of a more efficient way of doing this, as I have a few more to do. Kevin.

I'm currently working on Dapol CDAs to represent their as-built condition. This includes, I think, an improved representation of the canvas canopy, adding the shield that protected the canopy during loading and changing the buffers for heavy duty versions, as well as a lot of other minor work. This is the first one, appropriately 375000, the first production CDA: Pictures of the real thing in 1987 are here: http://www.cornwallrailwaysociety.org.uk/latest-input--news--old-pictures-etc/tuesday-29th-august-2023 Comparison between the Dapol (top) and my representation of the canopy: Cheers, Kevin.

Thank you. Just been looking at your Wenford layout, very nice.

Thank you. I still need to do some work on the weathering, but it's almost there.

Hello, It's been a while since my last post on my 4mm micro-layout Trethosa, and a lot has happened since then, including moving house. Here I'm introducing my 7mm scale layout based on the former Carbean Branch near St Austell in Cornwall. Yes, another Cornish branchline! The layout is set in early 1988 and addresses the question "what if" the Goonbarrow and Carbean Branches had not been closed, and instead the line was upgraded for modern diesel locomotives. In reality the terminus of the branch at Carbean was very cramped and, from old maps, photos and satellite imagery, I have been able to create a reasonable representation of the track layout in the space available. Below is the original track plan (on a 0.5m grid), since then an additional siding has been added at the top of the plan, between the old wharf and the clay loading shed. The curve is 1.8m radius, which roughly corresponds to the minimum curve for a real class 37 or class 50 locomotive. The fiddle yard is off the bottom of this plan. The layout has been in progress since August 2022, and at the time of writing I am preparing to extend it. The extension is based on another "what if" and will extend the branch beyond the old wharf (off to the left on the plan above) to sidings at Greenbarrow (the name of a current Imerys facility just to the north of the site of Carbean Wharf). The extension will allow trains to run through Carbean to hidden sidings in the next room, where locos will be able to run round. The clay loading shed will be for clay slurry, with bulk and bagged powdered clay being laoded off scene at Greenbarrow. In early 1988 CDA wagons had just been introduced and two of St Blazey's 37s were out of traffic following damage sustained in a shunting accident at Tavistock Junction Yard. This means that clay hoods and CDAs will coexist (I don't currently have any OOV wagons, but they are on the list), and the small fleet of BZ 37s will be supplemented by class 50s (including 50149), providing some added variety. The sidings at Carbean and Greenbarrow are also sufficiently busy to justify a class 08 outstationed from BZ. There is still much to do scenically, and for most of 2023 I have focused on building and detailing locomotives and wagons. I have attached a couple of pictures here, but more are available on Flickr at Cheers, Kevin. A printed polybulk (kit from Simon BT Blue with additional scratch built parts) and Dapol CDA. Both require weathering. Old Oak allocated 50021 arrives, covering for an unavailable 37 on the trip working from St Blazey. In early 1988 50s were still common in Cornwall, working the Plymouth to Penzance local services, the TPO between Paddington and Penzance, the Penzance sleeper and the odd cross country as far as Birmingham. In addition 50149 was regularly found on local clay traffic. At the time 50021 was allocated to the Provincial sector, PXXA, but could turn up on just about anything. 37674 sits in the fiddle yard wearing grey primer. This will be finished in Railfreight red stripe livery with snowploughs. 08955 is on the right and 50035 lurks in the background.

Hi Will, Thanks for your kind comments. I used pictures of the underframe from a variety of sources. I found some online, others in books (I think the Haynes book was quite useful) and a few underframe photos that I have taken over the last 30 years. I think I even used online pictures of 50041's derailment outside Paddington, as some show bits that you definitely wouldn't normally see unless the loco was jacked up minus its bogies. Even with all of the photos it was tricky to work out exactly what goes where, and I'm not claiming that my model is totally accurate by any means. I just wanted to recreate the complexity of pipes, etc. If I can find the links to the pictures I'll share them here. Cheers, Kevin.

Hi Will, Thank you. I really enjoyed making the Penbits detailing kits, and they do look good. I wish Penbits did the sprung bogies for the 50, and in OO. Cheers, Kevin.

Hi Wayne, I enjoyed doing the Railiner. I think it might of been becasue I knew I'd only have to make one of them! I'm not a big fan of repetitive work. I've attached an old pic of mine. Still needs weathering properly. Hope you get some more time for modelling soon. Cheers, Kevin.

Hi Will, Thank you for your kind comment, and apologies for my slow response. Unfortnunately I have not been able to do any modelling for a while now. I hope to get back to it in the next year or so. Regards, Kevin.

Hi Wayne, Apologies for the slow reply, almost a year! Yes, I contibuted to a MR article on modelling china clay operations. It featured 37175 (now looking very dated) and some of the wagons that I have built. I also had two further articles in MR, one on silver bullets (way before the RTR model) and the other on a Ferrywagon and the TRL Railiner, which were rebuilds of the Roco and Hornby models respectively. Still no progress on Trethosa. Unfortunately my current house is just not big enough to have a home office and a modelling workshop - and the office had to take priority. I am working on a solution but it will take a while longer. Hope all is well with you. Cheers, Kevin.

Hi Pete, Looks amazing so far, I'd never guess it was 2 mm from the pics! Best wishes, Kevin.

Hi Wayne, Nothing has happened for a while due to family commitments, but I hope to get back to it soon. Cheers, Kevin.

Thank you for your very kind comment

Hi Wayne, Things have been very slow recently, well stationary actually, as I've been suffering from a back problem which started Easter weekend and is still not quite right. It meant I couldn't sit for long, so modelling had to go on hold for a bit. I hope I can get back to it soon. The intention is for my 37672 to be in red stripe as well, but I want to get on with layout some more before starting that, so I expect your's will be finished first! I look forward to seeing it. Hope the kitchen floor went well! Cheers, Kevin.

Thanks guys, your comments are much appreciated. Cheers, Kevin.

Thanks Will, but I think it was the pics of your 50s on flickr that helped motivate me to have a go at 50039. I think they capture the locos Superb(ly) (sorry) in their latter years. Agreed, if anyone knows of a way to stop the buffers rotating whilst keeping their springyness I'd be very interested to hear. I have thought about it, but so far haven't come up with a solution that wouldn't be overly noticeable. The other thing I haven't added yet is the guard irons on the bogies. Quite a complex shape to make. Penbits class 37 sprung bogie kits have them, but they are part of the bogie frame, so they can't be sold separately - I have asked! Cheers, Kevin.

Thanks for your kind comment Jon. One more pic taken during the Basingstoke show with the 50 on the depot at Portland (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/108407-portland-a-what-might-have-been-nse-layout-in-dorset-preparing-for-basingstoke/page-7) Apologies for the wonky buffer! Still some bits to add including windscreen wipers. Cheers, Kevin.

Evening, I've just about recovered from the final push to get the 50 presentable for the Basingstoke show, and helping to operate the layout, which was very enjoyable but tiring. I decided to leave a few things until after the show, including the windscreen wipers, hand brake chains, cab interiors and the lights. The main decoder and speakers were installed and operational. One of the reasons I couldn't fit the lights is there wasn't enough room - I'll need to do away with the Hornby circuit board, which won't really be doing anything in any case, so that I can fit the function decoder. A few pics of the final stages leading up to Saturday and a couple taken on Portland. One of the last major jobs was to finish the second bogie rebuild and fit the brake pipes to both bogies. After spraying and fitting the bogies to the chassis dc tests were carried out before fitting the decoder. The last jobs were spraying and fitting the fan and fan grille, minor weathering around the exhausts and finally, at 21.30 on Friday, the 'Implacable' nameplates were fitted. I arrived at the show at about 08.30 to help set up and carry out some test runs. Unfortunately it was clear that there were certain bits of track on Portland (http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/108407-portland-a-what-might-have-been-nse-layout-in-dorset-preparing-for-basingstoke/page-7) that didn't like the 50, or vice versa, so the decision was taken to keep the loco on the depot. It did move a few times during the day around the depot area but didn't venture on to the main line. (Apologies about the wonky buffer, must have got knocked) As it was parked very close to the front of the layout this did at least mean that it was more visible to visitors. I think I'll have a few days off now before starting on the lights and cab interiors. Cheers, Kevin.

Thanks Steve

Hi Jon, Thanks for your comments. Yes, I have had a go at modelling the tanks, pipework and frame between the compressors. I have yet to add the protective mesh that covers the underside in this area. The loco has moved on a bit since my last post here. I did think about 149 (actually I have one of the Rail Express limited editions) but wanted more flexibilty in terms of the period of operation for my layout Trethosa, and also for another layout idea I have where a large logo machine would be much better suited. Note the marker lights are not fixed in place yet, and there is still maskol on the cabside handrails. Cheers, Kevin.

Thanks will. Yes, I have a function-only decoder that will allow completely independent control of the headlight, marker lights, tail lights and cab lights, independant of the direction of travel too. Not sure if I will have time to set this up before Saturday though. Cheers, Kevin.

I'll think we'll need some standbys, it is a 50 after all

Thanks chaps

Thanks, the painting went quite well considering this is the first full respray I have ever done - it certainly could have been a lot worse! Yes, the plan is to have a small but detailed fleet of locos for Trethosa and another micro layout I have in mind (where the 50 will be more at home but which won't be started until Trethosa is finished). The next loco will be 37672 in Railfreight red stripe. I already have the loco and most of the detailing parts - ordered at the same time as those for the 50 to save on postage

A quick update on progress... Livery, gloss and then transfers applied. Currently the loco is wearing a coat of matt varnish before weathering. A few comments on the Fox transfers used on this model. I ordered the large logo class 50 pack, which included arrows, numbers, warning flashes and data panels. My first observation is that the double arrow logos are too big - at least for the Hornby model. On the "two grille" side it is supposed to extend from a gnat's whisker below the cantrail grille to level with the bottom edge of the right hand double grilles - the ones supplied go below this level. Consequently this means the numbers end up slightly too low, becasue the bottom edge of these should be on the same level as the bottom edge of the lower horizontal bar in the arrow logo. It's not that noticeable, but it's there and is an inacuracy that could so easily be avoided. The second observation is that whist applying the data panels I noticed that they are not actually for a class 50! Although the class is omitted from the panel, the RA is clearly 7 (a 50 has an RA of 6) and the max speed is clearly only two digits - I checked the label on the packet and it doesn't say it's for a DCWA 50! Admitedly I was using my maginifiers when applying the transfers and it's not obvious in normal use, but there really is no excuse for this in a transfer pack which is intended only for a class 50! It's also rather frustrating that the orange square multiple working symbols are not included and another pack of symbols (including those for classes that I'll never model) has to purchased separately. And there are no depot allocations included either, which perhaps is just as well - given the data panels what would they say, Inverness? One final point, the warning flashes are the wrong aspect ratio, the Fox ones beeing too tall and thin compared to the prototype. Rant over. Note the headcode dots are not fixed in place properly yet, and the bogie at the far end is currently an unmodified spare while the one that will be fitted is rebuilt (in progress). Also maskol still on the cabside handrails - which is why they look lumpy and yellow! One feature I am quite pleased with is the horns - the etched covers show the horns off very well, so I'm glad I went to the trouble of making them. If anyone has read the earlier parts of this thread I said I was going to finish the loco in the condition it was in when photographed at OC in 1988. I have since changed my mind, and instead I have applied the Doncaster version of large logo as outshopped from 039's intermediate overhaul during May 1985, rather than the Laira version applied in 1988. The main difference being the thin yellow line above the front cab windows on the former. It also means the loco will not carry a orange cantrail stripe. There is still quite a bit left to do, not least painting the bogies. Also all of the electrics need fitting, and testing. There are some things which I have decided to leave until after Basingstoke. For example the chains that connect the handbrake levers to the brakes will be left off for now - for one good reason - attaching them will make getting the body on and off a real pain, so until the loco is run in and any teething problems sorted it makes sense to omit these. Also the chains that hang from the buffer beam and secure the brake pipes will be left to a later date - these will be really fiddly and I don't want to rush them. I think the last thing I will do is fit the lights - if I run out of time on these then it's no big deal. One question I have yet to resolve is how much to weather the loco. I think initially (i.e. next weekend!) it will be in ex-works condition with weathering consistent with running the Doncaster test train, 1Vxx from York to Bristol and then, following inspection at Bath Road, a summer extra from Bristol to Portland. So a bit of exhaust staining and very light brake dust on the bogies. Eventually though I think I'll aim for the condition seen here - https://www.flickr.com/photos/martynhilbert/30189644092/in/faves-124903335@N08/ - about a year on from overhaul. I like the contrast of the relatively clean bodyside with the heavily workstained roof. Also the loco had gained yellow axlebox covers, which I think always looks nice on these locos. Any thoughts? Cheers, Kevin. PS link to Portland, appearing next weekend at Basingstoke, with 50039 (hopefully running on the Saturday) http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/108407-portland-a-what-might-have-been-nse-layout-in-dorset-preparing-for-basingstoke/