Jump to content
 

Downendian

RMweb Gold
  • Posts

    2,212
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Everything posted by Downendian

  1. This site may help https://peakdieselarchive.co.uk/first-to-last-liveries D59 looks like Toton blue with small yellow panels in that time frame. Neil
  2. I used model aircraft tissue paper for my rake of sheeted china clay wagons. Cut roughly to fit the wagon in question and then fold in the relevant positions and hold in place by elastic bands (hair bands pinched from my wife were ideal). A layer of cling film was placed between the wagon and the tissue paper. The paper was then painted with a ballasting mix of 50:50 PVA/Water with a drop of washing liquid, and left to dry rock hard. The hardened tissue paper was then removed from the wagon, and cut carefully to shape. The wagon tarp/sheet can then be painted (I used grey primer) and then with whatever paint/weathering powders you see fit. I thought they looked good, and yet to attach ties to the wagon, but the folds look very prototypical. Excuse the other wagons in the background buts here’s a 10’wb ex LMS open which forms the tail of my clayliner rake. Neil
  3. Hi John my 24 136 is a Hornby/Bachmann hybrid on a New generation Bachmann 24 chassis. With a bit of surgery on the Bachmann body mould mounts it fits. Re the old chassis block, yes I’ve had a good look - in short they don’t fit. The motor and cradle are of a different design, but there are some possibilities using the new underframes fitting the old chassis but not without significant surgery to the frame and the (old) chassis weight. The mounting points body/chassis v1/v2 are different, but only just. I’ve bought a fair number of the class 24 underframes for this very reason, but not moved this forward yet. I have a large fleet of Bachmann v1 25s and loathe to sell them although I have a SLW one on order. Neil
  4. I thought I’d give a more detailed look at my Tytherington 21T hopper rake as it’s now nearing completion. I’ve just given the handrails a coat of white primer, and been round twice with a fine detail brush touching up bauxite/grey/black- still more to do especially on hopper levers/brake handle ends. Weathering to start in earnest hopefully next week. It totals 21 Parkside kit built wagons, the rake limited in size by my passing loop, here are some of the variants. Two rebodied HOP21VB/HOP21HTV, one with one round of weathering diag 1/146 next a original body HOP21 (unfitted) and another HOP21HTV, many unfitted hoppers were in bauxite livery which I’m assuming was a mid 1970s thing; Paul Bartlett’s site has a few examples a rebodied 1/100 LNER braked example and an original body. Many wagons photographed at Stoke Gifford in these trains were of the rebodied LNER brake variety with trademark “high” brake lever, both with grey and bauxite livery- both unfitted. two unfitted grey livery HOP21 which will be included in the tail (non vac braked) part of the train. The Parkside transfers were utilised for these two. two vac fitted original body HOP21VB/HTVs - an easy adaptation of the Parkside kit by adding end stanchions, vac cylinder and pipe work And finally another Rebody 1/146 and a airfix brake van modified with roller bearings and Lanarkshire 13” Oleo buffers complete with Stone branding. the chances of getting correct running numbers for the rake are effectively zero -so I’ve used some artistic license! The brake van was WR allocated and I don’t know if it had stone branding, I’ve just shamelessly utilised a photo from the Kier Hardy EM gauge site to copy, As always transfers are from the excellent Railtec range, and thanks to Steve for his patience in printing all those TOPS transition era panels. By the mid 1970s 21T hoppers were in diminished use, being replaced by vac fitted MSVs and eventually air braked PGAs; all trains of which were operated by Westerns and Bath road allocated brush 4s. Very fond memories of particularly the Westerns in Stoke Gifford yard growling away shunting these rakes around as the empties were stored there. Weathering to be done next, then all will get a coat of varnish, then running trials.Having built over 30 Parkside kits (and very time consuming and challenging they are too) I’m waiting for the inevitable release of these much needed RTR wagons from Accurascale. Never mind if they do- they’ll be very welcome as I need more for the ISC smelter coke trains from South Wales. Neil
  5. I was invoiced yesterday for 5803 - delivery should be soon! Neil
  6. Quite a lot has been happening on the workbench during February, 21T hoppers - a rake of 21 now for Stone traffic; a mix of vac fitted and unfitted 1/146 and rebodied versions. 1/100 ex LNER one rebodied - all unfitted wagons in grey livery; all Parkside kits. Will be a train of over 50% vac fitted and run as empties so 7B46/70 for Tytherington to Stoke Gifford empties or 7V45/7V38 empties from Redditch or Wolverton to Stoke Gifford. Photos of the type of rake I’m after are present on the Stoke Gifford history website. One shows the tail of an empty train and I was rather surprised to see a large number of LNER-braked but rebodied grey hoppers of which I’ve only built one - maybe a few more needed! Westerns - four now progressing, D1014; D1022; D1045 and D1059 name/numberplates and brake rigging applied, some preliminary weathering done - I’ve done them before but hopefully my weathering and modelling skills have improved somewhat after an extended wagon kit building period. All were seen in Bristol in summer 1974; but D1014 is a bit of a mystery - it was underlined in my 1974 combine, but was laid up at Laira minus its engines and transmissions by early August (data from the late Adrian Curtis), and laid up most of July awaiting a decision. I’m missing a few days spotting notes from that summer, but I do recall seeing her as Westerns were the number one target. However, there are photos of her active on a milk train approaching Plymouth in September 1974, which I think maybe an incorrect date, but possibly not? Was she briefly reinstated - seems unlikely. I’ll do a photo session with these as they progress further. What else would I put on my stone trains? other wagons builds include Chivers MDOs and LMS 20T coal wagons for the STJ-Acton rake- just to give a bit more variety and hone my weathering techniques. I’ve also built a couple of the venerable airfix brake vans for my partially fitted rakes. Lovely kit that belies its age. For all rakes now I’m fitting train tech tail lights, but dispensing with their unrealistic LED, and replacing with tiny China-obtained red LEDs that fit in 12A models BR lamps which are hollow bodied - lovely 3D prints but still after 2-3 coats of white bleed light a little. Fitted so far is a Herring (the 21st wagon in my fleet, an ex LMS 5-plank wagon of my clayliner rake and two brake vans. The brake vans need a small amount of work including fitting Oleo buffers to one, order on its way from Lanarkshire, handrail painting (my least favourite job)and transfers . Apologies for the fuzzy edges to this photo - my phone camera didn’t like the flickering tail lights! Neil
  7. I can personally vouch for Phil’s sheer hard work and determination to get the layout to this stage, all those hours on the driveway board by board have eventually paid off. Phil has got the contours of the landscape spot on with gentle gradients on both the OWW and Norton/Abbotswood junction lines. Photos really don’t do the scale of the layout justice. We had a superb Midlands curry Friday night and many thanks to @Liam ‘s parents for hosting us, which included a few drams and some rather excellent Shropshire blue. A few issues for Phil to sort before its next outing in July but I hope to run some rakes next time including Clayliners, a PW rake and perhaps even a Tytherington-Redditch stone train. I really enjoyed the show and helping Phil and the crew and the Redditch club really put together an excellent show. Neil
  8. The Stone branded MSVs are fantastic Andy, scratch built and the weathering is spot on. They also worked from Tytherington quarry in South Glos, and I’ve put together a rake in 4mm. I’ll use your wagons as a weathering guide if I may. Neil
  9. Indeed they are a challenge Mike- I’ve built 26 of them now and just about got the right technique in this second batch. Easiest the toughest Parkside kit I’ve built, and more work than the Cambrian Herrings which I thought couldn’t be equalled in complexity of build. Neil
  10. Indeed Phil, some routine maintenance on the 6M55/52 rake over the next week. Very much looking forward to the Redditch show. Neil
  11. This months progress. Hugely time consuming task of getting the 21T hopper Tytherington fleet together. All handrails added (the toughest part of these Parkside kits). Decals now beginning to be added and some preliminary weathering, plus liquid lead added to the underside of the hopper, plus instanters. These will be running as a fitted head with a mix of ex LNER 1/100 and BR 1/146 diag in both bauxite and grey livery. Both original and rebodied wagons are to be in the rake. Stone decals applied to the first few- I’ve no way of matching original running numbers as photos just aren’t there- however I’ve done my best to match livery/rebody to prototypical wagons. A rake of 14 wagons so far aiming for 20 or so plus a pair of brake vans either end. Neil
  12. Well I’ve not posted for a while but now the garden workshop is complete (lighting rig installed yesterday) and nice and warm (courtesy of a Mr Dyson product- excellent!) I’ve spent more time in my cabin of tranquility. Four broad projects - 1. MSOs :although out of my 1973/4 time frame I do remember these in the late 1970s (they were 1977 rebodies of clapped out 21T minfits). Four more added to the rake now making a total of 15, probably to be headed by six Accurascale MSVs. A very easy Parkside kit to put together. Awaiting railtec transfers 2. Four SPVs to add to the Manchester-Bristol 4V20 rake; which will be a motley collection of four wheel parcels vans- hauled by a CD based type 2. My excuse to include 24s which were sporadic visitors to Bristol before their demise from 1975. All midland based according to my RCTS 1976 coaching stock book, transfers will be from Railtec and have already applied some from Fox. 3. HOP21 and HOP21VB From the venerable but fiddly Parkside versions. Five1/146 and one LNER design 1/100.Two more kits won on eBay last night. I remember these both rebodied and these unmodified versions in stone trains (branded STONE) from Tytherington quarry before the MSVs and PGAs took over the flows. Getting images of these trains has proved challenging, and certainly I won’t be able to get wagon numbers right for these rakes. They will be a mix of unfitted (both bauxite and grey) and fitted (bauxite) hoppers. I’d converted one Parkside 1/146 to Vac brakes by adding a spare catfish vac cylinder, brake pipes and replaced the bulky end supports with six pieces of microstrip. Handrails to add, and again railtec transfers to be applied followed by copious weathering. A lot of rebodied hoppers appeared in this rake so I’ll be looking to build these in the next few weeks. As always David Larkin books and Paul Bartlett’s zenfolio site have been essential in building these. i think I’ve eventually got the hang of these hopper kits. The most critical stages are getting the hopper body free of gaps- the end supports need filing to 45 degrees to facilitate this, plus getting the hopper bottom right so it doesn’t snag the wheelsets. EM-gaugers have of course much more room to play with but as I model the narrow gauge clearances are very tight and needs fettling to get the wagon to run sweetly. Class 205 3H centre car glazing units reinstalled yesterday and a test fit of body to chassis this morning, roof re sanded and fits to body OK and ready for the paint shops. I’m pretty certain that all three cars will need their roofs resprayed to get uniformity in the unit.. Some fettling is needed as the surgery used to create the centre car body has resulted in it being slightly shorter (less than a mm out) but it will fit. I’m awaiting replica seating units and end pipe work then I can put the 3H together finally, and test run . Hopefully I’ll given fuller details when this project is complete. Finally merry Christmas and happy new year. I hope 2024 will finally get these rakes running and I can focus on getting some diesels detailed to do the new wagon rakes justice. Neil
  13. You’re absolutely right bigherb, I’ve several Bachmann 40s all green/blue with full yellow ends, and the nose join is barely perceptible. Images of green small panel and no panel 37s show an unsightly nose joint, something I’ve not noticed before. Neil
  14. Indeed - exactly what I have done see earlier this thread.
  15. If the Heljan peaks had removable noses like the newer Bachmann 37s and 40s, could be an easy job to create 9/44009 post replacement nose. I have one Heljan peak (D15) haven’t checked but I assume not, otherwise it would have been mentioned previously. edit: lighting arrangements aside Neil
  16. Well I may go for 44010 Tryfan - nice to see the heavy grilles being modelled. I’d also like to see 44009 with its replacement centre headcode box at some point, I’d bet on many 1970s era modellers bucket list to do. I’ve built one, using Pete Harvey etches for the grilles and Bachmann 46 replacement cabs. However, schoolboy error in that I omitted to include the body framing behind the grilles which definitely needs redoing now. Heljan could have saved me that job, but plod on with it eventually I will. 44s were real highlights of the day when you saw them- especially “out in the wild”, my first one was 44005 at Washwood heath on my first trip to York, plus others seen at Burton on Trent, Peterborough and March in the late 70s. Most of course were stabled at Toton over the weekend. Somehow 44001 eluded me though. Neil
  17. Mine are strictly Westerns with the occasional class 46 or 47, although pics have emerged of class 45 workings in this period, I’ve got a stash of Dapol 1/032 bodies which are overheight. With suitable cutting down and under sheets they’ll be put on Parkside under frames to add more variety to the Northbound rake. Neil
  18. Update : workshop progress. Awaiting wiring and lighting (early December install), but the first five kits to emerge from my new workshop are underway four Parkside 21T 1977 rebodied minerals and one Parkside SPV to replace the errant Hornby versions. The 4x3M building currently surrounded by leaves from our large but beautiful acer. the workbench (ikea) with five wagons undergoing construction the storage units - liberating valuable space from the layout room - about 8 large plastic boxes worth. I’ll eventually compose an excel spreadsheet so I won’t need to keep opening- again from ikea. I might well order another as now these two are full. the railway library - in process of moving all my railway related books out here - much easier to find now! About 80% of my collection some still to be moved from various household bookshelves. it’s lovely in here down the bottom of my garden, full internet coverage, but at the moment work is restricted to daylight hours coupled with a portable heater and my smart speaker. Neil
  19. Downendian

    Dapol Class 22

    All my loco renumbering nowadays are from railtec. E.g https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=3186 for £2 a complete number set, and complete removal of the factory applied number is always done. Applied with decalfix or similar it’s very difficult to see any film, but of course will vanish under a good coat of varnish. Neil
  20. Downendian

    Dapol Class 22

    Not got to the lights yet- bodywork first. I’ve had to fill a few light pips and will need patch painting when I get around to it.I have a spare chassis so may have the necessary LEDs for a headcode illumination but of course will need moving as the boxes are mounted higher. Neil
  21. Downendian

    Dapol Class 22

    The D600 boxes are exactly the same size as those used for the early D6300 conversions. https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/77703/K2600-84G-D600-Class-41-Warship-Diesel-headcode-box-surround They’re £9.99 a set. Only issue with them is the headcode numerals need removing with T-cut and patience. They fit perfectly to disc headcode class 22 shells. I used precision labels headcodes. Neil
  22. Downendian

    Dapol Class 22

    Indeed as Phil has mentioned, my progress on D6324 with the aforementioned D600 headcode boxes obtained from Kernow. We’ve had a few exchanges over the pig-ugly headcode boxes. project stalled at the moment due to considerable house remodelling - new workshop located into a garden room. Neil
  23. I feel the same regarding the early casualties - specially as I had started spotting in 1972/3 and lost the numbers before buying my first combine. I’d probably seen most of them plus a few extra Hymeks and maybe even Warships. My true records began in July 1974 and I copped D1066 at Winterbourne on 25 July, seen her again at Paddington working on 26 October, and then defunct at Swindon works on 26/1/75. I’m grateful for those 1974 memories however, several I saw only a handful of times whilst in service, including D1061, copped a day or two before withdrawal. Neil
  24. Three Bachmann mark 1s in SR green for £26, 3/4 of the way there for my class 123. Overlays and repainting anyway so was delighted to pick them up, bargains can still be had. Neil
×
×
  • Create New...