The Fatadder

A very short post this evening, as all I have done is remove plastic to clear the new windows, And then glue on the new brass side Tomorrow will be time to get stuck into adding bits to the chassis, along with getting some paint on the interior

Thanks, Given that in the past year I haven't done anything more complicated than build wagon kits, I'm pleased I haven't forgotten how to do proper modelling. Other than the annoying task of correcting the length. I'm looking forward to getting stuck into the pair of D95 that are next in the coaching stock works.

I should have added, door hinges will be glued on plastic strip once the other side has been added. Grabs and door handles will be added after painting end lining

After a quick trip over to Stroud, I now have some evostick. So tonight's job was to add the first of the replacement comet sides. First up comparing the comet drawings with the model identified 2 extra roof vents, which were glued into position. I started by opening out the holes for the door handles and hand rails, before gluing on the drop lights (as the soldering iron is currently out in the garage.) Next the windows were carefully enlarged to clear the new positions, this was completely trial and error carving off small chunks and then test fitting the side. Once complete it was evosticked in place. Once fully dry tomorrow (and once Evie has gone to bed) I will do the other side. While the body was drying, I finished tidying up the chassis, first removing the last of the moulded detail. Then cutting the continuous step into 3 sections. (A slight error reading comets drawing resulted to the center step needing to be removed and replaced with plastic strip, another job for tomorrow.)

Looking very good, not sure I will be getting mine painted in quite as short time after finishing the build. But construction is progressing quickly on my blog here http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/853/entry-15375-gwr-h33-detailing/

A little progress first up a close up on the remodelled vent cowling, showing the improvement Thanks to Wizard Models for the very quick turn around I now have the sides and castings, so it didn't take long to get the roof detailed up. The next job was fitting the modified ends along with new corridor connections (again from Comet), the castings need a little dollar to tidy up the tops still but are a big improvement over the plastic thing. The sides were sanded down ready for the new sides which have been trimmed down to size (I do think it was a bit silly to make them over length when an instruction describimg the simple modification to the ends would have been sufficient.... If I can find some epoxy tomorrow I will hopefully get the sides glued on. Tonight's work should be focused on tidying up the underframe, and making the required modifications to battery boxes etc

2014 was a busy year, a new job, and the birth of my first child left little time for modelling. And while the new year may not see the progress on the layout that I would like, I want to get on with some more stock projects. (We have started looking for a plot to build a new house, which if all goes to plan will allow for a substancially larger layout plan.) It all depends on how long it takes to find a suitable village plot, in the Berkeley Vale / South West Cotsworlds, which I suspect may take a long time). In the mean time the intention is to get on and build the simple test track round the edge of the current garage. I think running trains will get me finishing more stock... Anyway, on with the project... I am currently rather lacking in resturant coaches, so I have picked up a Hornby H33 (along with a couple of D95 which will be used as part of a 4 coach set.) The plan: Roof: Seperate Handrails Replacement Roof Vents Bolt head detail on panel Re Profile the name board brackets Vent Cowl - drill out ends Ends Replace handrails Replace Lamp Irons New Corridor Connectors Cut away edge of end moulding and correctly recess into ends Sides Comet replacement sides - need to be corrected for length Underframe From plasticard / scrap box add tanks, correct battery boxes, dynamo, V hangers, pipework etc Replace incorrect mk1 bogies with GWR 7ft sprung So far the prep of the roof has been finished, drilling out the cowling makes a big difference, so it now just needs the vents adding. The ends were a quick cut, and again made a big difference. However approx 1mm of the chassis end needs to be removed as well to provide clearance. Im now awaiting a package from Wizard Models with the sides and roof castings for this (and for a RH and LH D95)

I think it's down to the complexity of modelling the formation and the length of the VSOE set that puts people off. I really must get on and get a couple of Brighten Bell coaches to put away for future conversion for my set circa 1998. Though I also need to start my research from scratch again as I had originally researched it circa 2006...

Thanks for the heads up, will keep an eye out for a copy... Why does the photo you want always happen to be in the volume you don't have.... My plan was to replace the ventilators and hand rails, but I was interested in checking the accuracy of the rectangular box in the centre of the roof.

So after a quick comparison with some mk1 windows, they are narrower than the H33 windows, so looks like that is out. So will be ordering the Comet etches this evening. Can anyone adise where I can find some prototype photos? I've looked in my copies of Russel and only found a drawing in vol2, I've also looked in my copy of Harris GW Coaches, but it's not indexed by diagram and in the chapter on resturant coaches i couldn't see anything. Looking for info on the end, under frame and roof to assist my improvements Thamks Rich

Looking very nice, Hopefully my doner coach will arrive tomorrow (along with a couple of brakes which will be getting comet sides) For the H33 the plan is to do a test fit with a Bachmann mk1 window and see how it looks before deciding if I'm going to do this or go down the brass sides for this as well.

Now that is what I like to see from a diesel depot layout, Looking forward to seeing more of the stock. Almost makes me want to get my vsoe project out....

Pullman looks stunning, makes me start wanting to dig out my 4mm Triang project.... Know what you mean on lack of stuff to show, don't think I've finished anything since the spring Family are doing well thanks, looking forward to little ones first Christmas.

Thanks for that, not a major job at any rate. Trying to decide between buying a nicely finished railroad model to convert or a cheap old one which will require a full respray. (I am right in saying that other than a different logo the only other difference between the 20s double lined livery and the 40s version is a thicker upper brown band?

This has got me thinking about converting one as a quick stop gap to go with my cross country set. Have a load of Bachmann mk1 windows which can be re used. Just need to find a good value doner model now...

Another 2 years until the next post then? You've been spending too much time around Bryn and taken on his work rate:p Being serious, looks like the layout is going along very nicely, look forward to seeing the finished article Love the idea of the working tipper.

seems so popular its crashed his website, now showing a 509 bandwidth limit exceeded error A shame as I cant place my order!

Very nice, cannot wait to see it progress.

Very nice! The more I look at this thread, the more I want one...

Same old Hornby with the livery descriptions though, 'GWR' with no indication if we are talking great crest western, shirt button, g crest w or variant there of. Could certainly learn from djm in that regard. Does leave me with a tough choice now, Hornby have used the chassis design and I am pretty confident from that cad that a set of Gibson wheels will do the P4 conversion easily. (Ignoring the fact that the bogie will be fun what ever design) My worry with committing to djm is that based on the Dapol releases for diesels, sentinel and well tank, the chassis design for the hat tons king may be significantly more complicated to convert (and I do not fancy the additional cost of an etched chassis for a 160£ loco!

There is precedence for a mid year announcement, a few years back they used demu's showcase exhibition to announce an additional modern release, so using a big event at steam to announce a king does make some sense.

I did wonder if this would happen. Will be very interesting to see how they compare mechanically (and in terms of delivery). I suspect above the footplate the level of detail will be close (Hornby would be made to produce anything less than Castle detail with a competing high spec model) Does make me sligly more reluctant to pre order either until djmodels can confirm more info on their chassis design (and it's suitability for re wheeling) Hornby are much more of a known entity from that perspective

Looking forward to seeing it again!