Phil Mc

The problem with having a few rakes of stock with working tail-lights, is the ones without them look wrong.....😂 So I've been gradually adding them to various items, and the latest to be completed is a GUV. After dismantling it, I made a plan of attack, as follows.... Life's too short to keep making my own pick-ups, so some DCCconcepts wiper pick-ups were added, one to each bogie.... At the front end of the vehicle, the wires were routed to the up through the coupling-cam to the interior, being glued to edges of the bogie 'V' shaped cut-out, they don't touch the coupling mechanism.... At the rear end of the vehicle, I removed the coupling-cam altogether, leaving loads of room for the wires.... The metal lamp bracket was removed, and a hole drilled to accept a piece of 1.5mm fibre optic. This had a piece of heat-shrink put over it, cut flush with the end. The LED was then glued to the end of the optic.... Another, slightly larger diameter piece of heatshrink was slid over the LED, to hold it all in place, and prevent any light bleed. All wired up.... After checking to make sure it worked ok, I covered the metal weight with a piece of masking tape, and used black-tack to stick the lighting unit to it. I also used black masking tape to cover the inside of the windows so nothing could be seen inside the coach, making sure the tape didn't cover the holes for the locating lugs for the chassis. All back together, and bufferbeam details added.... Nice, easy little project. 😃 Also did a VAA van, but managed to not take any pics !! Cheers, Phil.

It must be....we all know exactly what it means..... Cheers, Phil.

It just completes the 'retro' look, by wearing a monocle..... It's on a route-learning trip, so needs to keep an eye on where it's going ! Cheers, Phil.

I’d guess it’s the ‘handle’ end of the magnetic wand….. One of mine was snapped in exactly the same place, and weirdly, looked like someone had tried to superglue it back together !! Not an issue for me, I have a few others….. Cheers, Phil.

I decided there was still too much Red showing on the roof area compared to the pics I was working from, so it was toned down some more with the airbrush. Wheel treads and 'breakdisks' have been cleaned. Finished results.... Cheers, Phil.

Just be thankful it isn't in smell-o-vision...... Cheers, Phil.

Had this forever, but never got around to weathering it. Maybe it's something to do with having a particular dislike of the real thing.....😆 Start point.... Roughly brushed some of the grey weathering wash I use, on the roof, and down the ends, before using a hairdryer on it.... Then using a short bristled soft brush, along the length of the coach, took a lot of it off again.... Resulting in.... I also put dabs of the wash in the side grilles, door handle, etc..... The rest of the process will be done with the airbrush. Cheers, Phil.

@Jack Mc has a fondness for electric traction that he's had for haulage, so one of these has made its way into the collection..... But it was never going to stay as that particular loco ! A bit of email tennis with Steve at @railtec-models, and he provided his usual service, of excellent decals in superquick time ! Loco stripped, and a start made on the chassis. Pick-ups painted Black, wheels painted 'frame Dirt', and one end detailed..... Printed detail removed on this side, using enamel thinners. Which didn't go to plan, as it cut through the base colours at remarkable speed.......😲 Leaving yellow showing through where the nameplate had been removed, and maroon showing through where the numbers had been removed. So I repainted the maroon rectangle between the grilles, and the entire gold stripe..... This side had the details removed with White Spirit, and came out fine, apart from a slight mark where the nameplate was, but it looks worse in the pics than it does to the eye..... New transfers added, and a coat of satin varnish sprayed on..... Followed by the same weathering techniques I use for the 91's.... I rather enjoyed this particular project, and @Jack Mc already has a Red Skoda waiting for him to decide which particular loco he wants it to be.....😆 Cheers, Phil.

Simply lovely looking models..... Cheers, Phil.

All stripped with Phoenix Superstrip..... Hornby 60. Bachmann 20. Vitrains 47. Hornby coaches. Not cheap, but pretty effective !! The company I work for, sells IPA in 1 tonne tanks (!) so I have access to as much as I could ever want, but never use it.....😂 Cheers, Phil.

My 68's happily run in pairs, on DC. I can't imagine the drivetrain on the 88's being different to the 68. (why redesign something that is suitable & works perfectly well?) Like yourself, I'll find out when they arrive....😆 Cheers, Phil.

So, I had to get me one of these......😍 Then I had to figure out an excuse for it.... And I could only think of one.... Re-numbered, arrows & diamonds added, etc Weathered, and ready for it's little trip to Cornwall.... Cheers, Phil.

013, ready to report for service in Cornwall.... Or it will be after I've straightened the aerial !! Cheers, Phil.

A toothbrush bristle for the aerial usually avoids nasty scratches to your hand.....😉 Cheers, Phil.

Yes, that's exactly why I did that one !! 😄 Cheers, Phil.

Enamel thinners removed the original number in no time. The Railtec transfers were dislodged (not soaked !) with water, and I used acrylic gloss varnish on the model, to float the transfer on to. Light dusting with Matt varnish afterwards, to remove the 'shiny' patch caused by removing the original number. Cruel close-up ! Have to say, I think the model is fantastic. The more I worked on the weathering, the more detail I saw. Will post a pic when I've put it back together. Cheers, Phil.

On Rails website too..... Cheers, Phil.

I know this seems to be a common ‘feature’ with decoders, and probably works fine for many people. But, I have a depot layout for my DCC loco’s, and the cab lights going on and off with every move looks ridiculous!! The one’s that I know how to change the cab lights to work from a function button, I have done…. Not saying either is ‘right’ or ‘wrong’, just that the manufacturers can’t please everyone all the time…. My 56023 looks stunning, and did 2 1/2 hours on my rolling road last yesterday, and never missed a beat….😃 Many thanks Cavalex. Cheers, Phil.

My 56023 is happily trundling away on the rolling road..... Looks fantastic to me.....😄 On a completely unrelated note, I have just decided to look for pics of 56013 when it took a little trip down to The Duchy in 1990......😜 Cheers, Phil.

I'd turn it round, let the other side fade...... Then paint it Blue & Orange, instead of that monstrosity of a livery.....😂 cheers, Phil.

So, modelling time seems to have been at a premium just lately. But I have made a start on some FGW Power cars.... St Michael's Mount is one of my favourite places to visit, so it was an easy choice to model that particular Power Car. Hornby even did the right number, so I figured it was just a case of sticking the plates on.... Until I realised the number is in the wrong place on the model, and it needs the metal GWR letters applying. 😑 T-cut was used to remove the printed detail, as much as necessary, to allow the Extreme Etchings letters to cover the rest. Nameplates applied, and the original numbers removed. Forgot to take any more pics after it was re-assembled ! But I will, when I weather it. I got Mum, Dad, and Jack, to pick places that mean something to them too, which is how we ended up with these.... Mum picked 'Castle Drogo', Dad picked 'Powderham Castle', and Jack picked 'St Mawes Castle'. All been re-numbered, plates fitted, and the labels next to the Emergency Stop (?) handle beside the cab door moved/removed, as appropriate. They all have drivers too, as I think a driver in the rear cab doesn't look as wrong as no driver in the front cab ! 😄 Also found the 3D printed bells I got for this, so painted and fitted them.... Cheers, Phil.

43035, lurking in Platform 0 at Haymarket last night. I do like the fence incorporating the BR emblem !! Cheers, Phil.

BEEEEAAAAASSSSSTTTTTTT !!!!!! 😄😄 Pretty sure that's the condition she was in the one and only time I had her for haulage on the 'proper' railway...... You should know..... That's the only model I've ever seen of her in that livery, I really should do have one too... Cheers, Phil.

For someone that says he 'doesn't know what he's doing, and doesn't know how to do it', I reckon it's all coming along rather nicely......😉😉 Cheers, Phil.

It's not NORTHERN, it's TPE, which have replaced the class 68 hauled services, with class 185 units. Cheers, Phil.