jessy1692

Excellent stuff, I think I'll go measure up one of them diesels for my 009 set up. Great job as ever, looking forward to next update. Cheers James

Thanks Geoff, we are slowly getting round to getting some of the more fixed rakes into closer coupled sets etc but there's always something more fun to be doing! Cheers James

The models are certainly available from RT Models as kits to build around a Farish 08, RT markets 3 of them and the 4th is pretty easily built from a Langley WD Hunslet kit. Like you say any model trying to portray rope/cable working is nigh o impossible, one was I suppose would be to have motorised wagons and with a bit of careful control/dcc you could possibly get an approximation? Dual gauge is certainly best thing to look at, I can't think of an exact example but didn't one of the Welsh quarry interchanges have a bit of dual gauge/cross shunting. Another interesting option I think was the Leek and Manifold where the NG had wagons that SG wagons could be shunted onto and then taken up the NG line, that would be an interesting operation. Cheers James

Probably a bit hard to model but the Harrogate Gas Works interchange at Bilton junction on the old Harrogate- Ripon line had an arrangement of pulleys/cables & gravity where the lower level narrow gauge engine could shunt the full/empty standard gauge wagons on the upper level. Not sure exactly how it was done but you could see a big pulley wheel in the coal drop wall. James

OK so just text my dad to see if he'd take a couple of pics, I think this is about half of them, iv lost track! I think the black ones may need a dust and possibly a coat of satin varnish, also the tension locks need replacing too. Cheers James

Yeah I know what you mean about the cost soon catching up when you do a few. I had a few missing walkways so had to get the brass ones but then once you do a couple then the others have to match so all mine got new walkways. I did modify them a bit though to do some different variations so helps break them up. Like you say a decent paint job n weathering really helps them and they are still pretty dam cheap. Iv gone though the current phone and my older one but cannot find any Pics! Must be a bit further back so next time I'm up at Dads I'll get them out n get some snaps, the build pics were on my thread but I think the great glitch wiped them out. Cheers James

I think I'm heading that way, definitely over 10 now I'm sure

They look excellent Geoff, are they the original cat walks? I re did all mine with A1 models brass walkways and ladders but looking at yours it hardly seems worth it! Cheers James

Evening Jabee, I didn't attempt to change too much below solebar on mine as it seemed like a lot of work to do so many but one thing I think makes a real difference is when the body is off, gluing a plasticard sheet over chassis and then removing the over thick base of the tank. Cut off as much as I could and the sanded down the remaining base ensuring all kept flat. After filling and sanding all the holes and seams you can glue the remaining barrel to the chassis which looks much less toy like afterwards. Can't find pics just now but will share when I do. Hornby TTAs do scrub up well for a fraction of the price of the latest stuff. Cheers James

Evening all, I took the day off on Friday to make the most of a quiet house to tidy up and most importantly crack on with transfers for the various coaches filling the living room. I managed to go through a whole pack of Fox's white lining and thankfully had a bit left from previous to get everything lined out, glad the 2D BG is plain blue on 1 side! Saturday I managed a bit of time to weather things down a bit and tidy up any loose ends paint wise and likewise tonight so as these stand they are just awaiting the arrival of fresh rattle cans of Humbrol satin to land the once sprayed up I'll add all the shiny brass door handles etc- I know they were usually painted body colour on the real things but if I'm adding brass ones I'll keep them brass. Pics below of the current batch: Diagram 165 Gresley TPO, heavily bashed by an excellent modelling friend for me, started life as a Hornby Stanier TPO, extended, lots of scratch built detail made up and on Bachman bogies, tranductor gear from Isinglass and I'll add netting after varnishing. I have got a kit of the Diagram 342 POT to go with this so should be next up, hopefully the two will look something like this when done: To add to the ranks of spurious things, here is my take on a MK2D BG, made up from the brakecsections of two BSO's when we made a TSO, decided to do one side plain blue on it to slot into the parcels rake. Interesting little thing and should look good on the end of the mk2 rake Here is the other bits of the BSO's, I still think the Airfix 2d best captures look to my eyes and yes I know they are a bit long in the tooth now but at least you can pick them up cheaply! Suburban lav comp, bachman donor ciach with comet sides, lots of holes drilled for hinges which was a chore but very much worth it. Keen eyed may spot one of the bogies is kit master vintage due to the original backman bogies being a bit bust. Itl do for now! Stanier SK M13135 M allegedly one of only two SK's to get blue and grey, this is some ancient M&L models brass sides from ebay for 3.20 mounted on an Airfix brake 3rd bodie/ chassis. Roof ribs and vents are all new. I think this coach cost less than a tenner to get all the bits assembled, bargain against the cost of a new Bachmann one. Tri Ang CK, pretty much bog standard Tri Ang but with a more modern Hornby roof that has correct roof vents etc which helps the look no end. Usual things of bogie pivots moving back and higher, comet retracted buffers and corridor end plate Met Cam 1957 prototype FK- This started life as a Mainline BSK I think, I like to use mainline coaches for brass over lays as the bogies are in the right place and the body shells are nice and solid to work with. A new rainstrip soon discuises the thickness of the brass. Sides are Southern Pride, I was hoping yo get the matching SK too but it's out of stick and not likely to be produced again, interior also from SP. I particularly like the simple roof layout and the vinyl window frames really make the non standard layout come to life. Finally, last but not least E1106 Booth Car, what we believe to be a comet test build of the Booth Car that didnt go on sale so this could be unique. Also the model is of the pre refurbished coach so doesn't have the extra toilet window I believe the Southern Pride sides/kit does. I am very pleased with how its come out so far, iv even come to like the green and red interior decor! It should really stand out in a rake and is pretty heavy! Big thanks go to @Clive Mortimore & @Mallard60022 for the model ending up with me to build/paint and also to @ColinK for the extra transfers sent last week to help speed it up. That's all for now, hopefully I can get these varnished sooner rather than later to get on with other stuff. Cheers James

I keep looking at my 901 project bits and think if I build it some one will make it RTR... My 48 sat waiting for the varnish to dry when Model Rail announced there's, so no doubt if I get round to 901 I know what will be coming, watch this space! Cheers James

Evening all and thanks again MJI for the int pics. I bought an interior seating pack from Southern Pride but it doesn't come with the full layout of the interior so these pics have been invaluable. The bar area has been fun to do this evening but the interior other than the bar at this end of the coach is pretty much guess work on my part. To be honest, once the roof is on you won't see much but I'd be interested to know what is correct in this area. The model is the pre refurb body without the extra toilet window on the corridor side. Lining is on order so this is getting pretty close to finishing off. Still to do are bogie step boards and final bits of paint work tidying. Cheers James

Evening all, it seems things were plodding on rather slowly then suddenly this weekend have suddenly got to the close to transfers stage. So since the last update lots of coats of rail grey and blue have been applied over various stuff, maroon on the TPO as well. The Stanier coach is an SK not a CK as I remembered its been converted from a 57ft brake end.. one side is currently looking good awaiting transfers but the other had a bit of a paintwork failure when the masking tape brought off 2 primer coats and probably 4 coats of grey. Must have got knocked or a bit of grease stopped the initial coat from sticking. This then got sanded back to solid paint and more grey applied, hopefully masking up again tomorrow. The 2d TSO and BG bashes are looking good, the BG is blue and grey one side and plain blue the other so I can letter it up as parcels or something on the plain blue side. Should look interesting on the back of the 2d rake and a nice little van project after creating the TSO. The TPO is now in maroon with the last details to be painted bogies are Bachmann with step boards added these will be painted and weathered soon. The Met Cam FK has had an interior bodged together so now just awaiting lining and numbers and I'll add the silver window surrounds. A Tri Ang CK has had the blue and grey treatment as well as all the usual mk1 mods, bogies moved, new buffers and end plate and a new roof rescued from a newer Hornby CK with correct vent placement. Booth Car coming on a treat, I was nervous tonight taking the masking tape off but it's come out very well, couple of bits to tidy up but I'm very happy. I have an interior pack ready to make up for it so that's tomorrow's job. Finally the suburban lav comp is ready for transfers, I drilled out all the holes for the hinges and door stuff before painting... that was a bit tedious but well worth the effort. Lining and some lettering just ordered from Fox this evening too, vest psych myself up for lining this lot now! Thanks for looking James

Evening all, pitifully slow progress at the mo, just a lot going on with other things other than trains. However, I think I have finally got the Booth Car very close to primer today. I think I have got all the main bits of the underframe sorted now and the roof nearly done, the ribs are .4mm masking tape. 1st time ive tried it so interested to see how they look once primed. Window frames are self adhesive from Southern Pride, corridor side ones are bang on, the kitchen side ones the comet windows look to be slightly different to the SP stickers so iv adapted them a bit. The kitchen window I gave up with as the comet etches are a fair bit bigger than the SP stickers so let's see how it goes. The B5 sides are on the original comet bogies, frustratingly I drilled a bit too much on the backside to ease the bearing cups into thr sideframes but I think they'll be ok after painting. Other things moving along too, the Gresley TPO I have decided to just do it maroon after a couple of very useful Ebay buys this weekend to go with it. The Met Cam 1st is now maroon, justvawaiting a few details and lining. The Stanier CK is back and primed, a little more filler required before its going into blue and grey. Lots to do and hopefully a steadier week ahead work wise. Cheers Jame

Hi both, I think this pic shows quite well the corrosion around the window plating https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brferrymotorcarvan/h37e8853e Cheers James