46444

April 10

On 01/04/2024 at 16:49, MikeJ said:

I enjoy making these kits, but have found the issue with "soft plastic". Out of the three I made, one only ever has three wheels in contact with the rails, which results in it derailing regularly. That really put me off making more, but I'll keep an eye out for original Airfix kits at future shows (though I'm not sure the decals will have aged well)

Very nicely finished Mike.

Thankfully, my two are not in the tricycle league with all four wheels on the track.

It does sound as if the older Airfix kits are the way to go. Keep those eyes peeled.

Cheers,

Mark

March 27

2 hours ago, westernviscount said:

Excellent work here Mark. I think I might have one of these knocking around also. Might try and unearth it.

Thanks David,

It's not a bad kit essentially. Thankfully my kits were staight/square helping the build. Some concentration is needed when mounting the bodywork on the chassis.

Like Mike and Al eluded to above, the older Airfix kits may be worth seeking out.

It will be good to see your take on the build.

Cheers,

Mark

March 27

15 hours ago, andyman7 said:

Lovely wagon builds!

As something of a KItmaster/Airfix enthusiast its' worth pointing out that Airfix did not take over the Kitmaster company, nor did the latter go bust. What happened is that Rosebud, having overextended itself with their railway plastic kits, sold the tooling to Airfix and withdrew from that market. They carried on with the Rosebud dolls and other sundry products before being taken over by Mattel. Indeed, if you are lucky enough to possess any original UK market Hot Wheels cars from the late 60s, you will see the maker's name as 'Rosebud Mattel', although the cars themselves were made in the US or Hong Kong (the latter normally provided the UK stock). It wasn't long before consolidation saw the final closure of the Raunds facility and whatever Rosebud DNA remained was subsumed into Mattel.

Here's a 1968 Pathe film of the Raunds factory making Rosebud Mattel dolls:

https://www.britishpathe.com/asset/55852/

Morning Andyman,

What with Sir David quotes and the history of Rosebud I better not give up the day job.

Thanks for the history and the Pathe News film. I never realised that Rosebud eventually moved to Wellingborough.

Thankfully the range of OO kits which made it into to Airfix/Dapol ranges are a blessing for modellers today.

Cheers,

Mark

March 26

3 hours ago, bcnPete said:

I always thought he said " Hello, good evening and welcome"...unless that was Mike Yarwood's take on him!

Nice work there Mark finished to your usual high standards 👍

Look forward to see them once they have been through the MB weathering workshop...

Hi Pete,

Blimey! Mike Yarwood. There's a blast from the past.

Best not trying any Sir David impersonations by the sounds of things.😅

Thanks for the kind comments. It will be good to get these wagons weathered. The ex-works finish is a bit bling.

Cheers,

Mark

March 25

8 hours ago, Barry Ten said:

Was chatting to a mate recently - we'd both built one of these from the Dapol re-reissue, and both encountered the same problem of ending up with holes needing filling in the sides of the tanks, either due to an issue with the instructions leading us astray or something being not quite right with the mouldings (can't remember which). Other than that, we both agreed that they still made up into really nice models, as yours illustrate.

Thanks Al,

I would agree some of the Dapol released kits with the soft plastic are certainly distorted. The Presflo kit was one of the worst.

Thankfully the BR brake van and 16T mineral wagon do not suffer as badly in my experience.

Cheers,

Mark

March 24

12 minutes ago, wiggoforgold said:

Looking good Mark. The kits make up well. There was an article in MRJ on detailing them. I subsumed an etched ladder and Hornby wheels on mine. Like you I used buffers from Mr Franks.

I do remember your build Alex. Very nice it was too posed in Diddington Yard.

It would be good to see the MRJ article. I would agree that etched ladders would give the kit a bit more finesse.

Cheers,

Mark

March 24

7 minutes ago, AY Mod said:

Nice tidy job Mark, I must admit I preferred building an original rather than a soft Dapol one. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/blogs/entry/3019-prestwin-dear-packer-no-57/

Thanks Andy,

It's lovely to see your modelling once more as well.

I would agree with your sentiments regarding the soft Dapol plastic versions. It's a bit of a minefield.

Thankfully these two kits were not too bad, but the silos took some cleaning up as you say.

I remember seeing your Keyhaven layout when you were exhibiting at either Aylesbury or High Wycombe a few years ago. It was a cracker of a layout.

If I remember correctly there was a bag of wet seaweed for the full effect! Were there recorded gull effects as well?

Cheers,

Mark

March 11

23 hours ago, Mikkel said:

That must have been painstaking work. Impressive stuff.

Thanks Mikkel,

The Sharpie method was certainly taken with a leap of faith.

With the windows dipped in Johnson's Kleer left to dry, I took the plunge with the silver Sharpie.

Although the lines over the raised window frames were irregular, using a cocktail stick I was able to remove the excess cleanly leaving crisp lines.

Cheers,

Mark

March 11

1 hour ago, gwrrob said:

Lovely work as usual Mark, you need to give me the heads up on getting one for a tenner.😉

Thanks Robin,

ebay is your friend..

Cheers,

Mark

March 11

30 minutes ago, Dunalastair said:

Looking good. What are your thoughts on subtly 'flattening' tyres to make models 'sit' on the road more credibly?

Thanks. I would agree with you.

Flattening the tyres is on the cards. I may shorten the axles as well to fit in the wheel arches better.

Possibly angling the front wheels will give more realistic look as well.

Cheers,

Mark

March 1

9 hours ago, hmrspaul said:

No, I have no idea where I got that Chief Officer suggestion from, but presumably correct! What is odd is that CO continued to be used well into BR days and whether there was control by a Chief Officer or simply it was always written like that" I don't know. I still think Construction seems more likely!

Paul

Thanks for your reply Paul.

Like you say I have heard of the 'CO' standing for construction as well.

I wonder if over time the 'CO' letters meaning changed?.

Cheers,

Mark

ullypug · February 29

Brilliant!

Captures the area nicely.

A trip to Wells beckons this Summer.

Cheers,

Mark

westernviscount · February 29

The flush glazing has certainly lifted the vulnerable Airfix model.

Nice finish and weathering effects to..

Cheers,

Mark

westernviscount · February 29

Very nice work!

You have certainly lifted the basic medium to another level.

I did attempt the same amount of work on 6 of these blighters before losing interest and selling them on.

The transfers have bedded down nicely. I presume they're Railtec's finest?

Nice work all round.

Cheers,

Mark

February 29

12 hours ago, hmrspaul said:

Funny comment about CO! Construction.

Paul

Hi Paul,

I obtained the information from your website:

Link below:

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/gwrtunnyzco

Apologies if I have misquoted you.

Cheers,

Mark

February 28

22 minutes ago, Phil Bullock said:

Yes indeed …. And my good friend @Downendian is guilty too….

Blimey! There's another Herring Meister out there too!

February 28

3 hours ago, jwealleans said:

Blimey. Save those for a day when you've a clear head, a steady hand and a lot of good daylight. I built 7 for Tom Foster, from 6 1/2 kits - I had to scratchbuild part of one and it was what I believe they euphemistically call 'character forming'. I tip my hat to anyone who's tried the brass kit as well.

Hi Jonathan,

I think you've hit the nail on the head with the Cambria Herring kits. You must be on the expert level after building six of the things?

Certainly one to be savoured and not quaffed...

I have built one of these kits and they are certainly not 'shake 'n bake' Tamiya style.

The main concentration centres around getting the hopper support brackets in the right sequence.

Something I failed on and had to correct retrospectively.

The shoal of Herrings kits awaits!

Cheers,

Mark

February 28

On 27/02/2024 at 06:41, Phil Bullock said:

Wot no herrings? 😀 Looking great ! @Liam some inspiration for your current project there?

Thanks Phil,

There's a shoal of Herrings awaiting building. Well three Cambrian kits at least!

I believe you and the good Captain of this parish have assembled a nice shoal of Herring between you.

Cheers

February 28

On 27/02/2024 at 05:59, wiggoforgold said:

Great selection of wagons and a few ideas there. The Airfix 5 plank scrubs up particularly well. How about one with replacement channel ends?

Hi Alex,

Thanks. These have been sat around on the work bench for a while so its good to see them progressing.

The Airfix LMS 5 plank is a versatile model for modification. I might have a go at doing replacement channel ends if I do another.

George Dent did an article in Model Rail fitting replacement channel ends to an Oxford Rail LNER 5 plank like the one above.

The GWR/WR permanent way wagons would look good on Lydbrook Dean. Like Phil says a few Herrings wouldn't go a miss either.

Cheers,

Mark

February 20

5 hours ago, Jeff Smith said:

My LT modelling period is up to 1960 as I modelled the first L91 which was withdrawn in 1960. This allows for the ex-Met classes F and E, the Peckets and the Bo-Bo's. It does exclude the ex-BR brake vans though.

A very nice period to model. Lots of variety.

Later this end with a Sentinel 0-6-0 diesel to complete the sequence.

A Rapido E Class will make an appearance however.

February 20

7 hours ago, Jeff Smith said:

From the photos, by the end you couldn't tell what colour they were!

Hmmm! Exactly. Saying that I'll probably not go as extreme..

A more residual discolouration with a satin over finish may be the order of the day.

February 20

10 hours ago, Jeff Smith said:

Nice modelling!

Red Panniers... is an excellent book which also includes details of the roof modification that LT required to fit the loading gauge. Also the tripcocks. The Bachmann repaint did not include these changes but are easy enough to add. The book illustrates that the original L90 and L91 were delivered from Swindon in a slightly lighter red, also still with vacuum pipes.

Thanks Jeff,

Totally agree with you on the Red Panniers book. Great photos and a brilliant and informative text.

If I remember correctly the first two Panniers were also withdrawn early and replacements took their running numbers.

With the trio of Panniers I have, I am planning on modifying the cab roof as per the prototype.

Other details such as the running plate handrails above the centre step will be added. RT Models sand pulls will also be fitted. This entails gently cutting off the sandbox filler lids and aligning them up with the sandboxes. In doing so the sand pull leavers fit into place nicely.

The prominent cab curtains will also be fitted.

Weathering should be interesting trying to achieve that well weathered look.

Cheers,

Mark

February 5

2 hours ago, Simond said:

The “Huntsman Ales” logo appears very similar to the old Tetley one. We’re they one and the same?

Hi Simond,

I think there is some history in this.

Both EP of Dorchester and Tetley of Leeds both used their own version of a huntsman logo in their marketing and publicity.

Tetley Brewery was taken over by Carlsberg and the Leeds Brewery controversially closed with brewing moved to Northampton. Tetley then became a national brand.

I believe there was an agreement with EP that their Huntsman logo was to be phased out.

In addition to this EP was eventually dissolved in 2007 with the closure of the brewery and brewing.

EP was certainly a big part of Dorchester and their presence felt around the surrounding Dorset countryside.

Ironically, I originate from Northamptonshire and now live near Leeds. The reverse of the Tetley Brewery history.

Cheers,

Mark

February 5

11 hours ago, Mikkel said:

I agree, a nice suite of wagons there.

The L&Y wagon print looks good, and quite cheap too, I see. And available in other scales. L&Y in TT:120, anyone? This hobby is changing fast.

Thanks Mikkel,

I will hopefully finish the Three Peaks Models L&Y Low Goods Wagon this weekend.

I am waiting on some Alan Gibson waisted bearings and coupling hooks from LMS.

First impressions are good.

Cheers,

Mark

February 4

18 minutes ago, bcnPete said:

Nice work Mark!

Are these for a new layout specifically or can be used as a set for various layouts?

Thanks Pete,

There is a BR/WR influence in the builds so I guess they will find a suitable home on future BR/WR themed projects.

The Huntsman Ales van kit is a piece of 1980's nostalgia, aligned with memories of drinking Eldridge Pope Ales in Dorchester in the early 90's.

The Three Peaks Models kit will be more generic in a 1950's setting.

Cheers,

Mark

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