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Steve Sykes

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Posts posted by Steve Sykes

  1. The colour on an individual vehicle could change over time. I remember an article explaining that when the lead white component of the paint was exposed to sulphurous industrial atmospheres, lead sulphates would form darkening the paint and conversely when the paint wa exposed to strong sunlight it would bleach back to a lighter colour. So a wide range of shades is possible, even before the effects of dirt are taken into account. There's a photograph at the front of one of the Midland Wagons volumes with two Midland brake vans in the background, nominally the same colour. One is pale grey, presumably newly painted while the other is almost black.

  2. I did the same for the sides of the turntable well on Kirkallanmuir.  For other buildings, though, I'm planning on using the downloadable brick and stone papers from Smart Models.  Apart from bull-faced stonework, I feel that using embossed plasticard is 'overkill' in 2mm scale, having seen the use of printed surfaces on Wansbeck and the Metcalf kits we used on a previous group layout.   I'll still use paper strips for slates, though, as a bit of texture helps there.

     

    Jim

    Do you have any concerns over the fastness of the colours on computer-printed texture papers, Jim? I ask because a friend made a number of buildings in 4mm using the downloadable sheets from Scalescenes and found they faded badly over time, even though they weren't exposed to direct sunlight.

     

    Steve

  3. Can you remember where you got your 'scraper board knife', and who makes them? It looks like it could be the ideal tool for detailing the interior of the several old Airfix kit 16T wagons I've got to build.

    I bought mine from an art supplies shop. There are a variety of blades available for them.

     

    Steve

    • Like 1
  4. A multiple number of months I fear. First the test etch has to go and come back. Then everything on it gets test built. That's 4 GWR loco chassis, 2 NPCS underframes in addition to the M7.

     

    Then the production etch gets done. 

     

    Chris

    Patient mode on.

  5. Steve,

     

    Did M7s ever make it onto Rhymney tracks or is this another 'show me a side-track and I'm off' moment?

     

    David

    Given my circumstances I don't think there will be enough time for the Rhymney project. I do have some stock suitable for a small South Western branch including part-built carriages so it's probably best to concentrate on getting something working for that. I know the M7s were mostly London based before electrification of the suburban lines but I'm prepared to argue special circumstances!

     

    Steve

    • Like 1
  6. I had etched some new frames on the last etch as a test and I took the opportunity to compare them to my Worsley M7 etch (another one I will never get around to building!). Looks like it should work fine. I have no idea what Allan Doherty had in mind when he etched the footplate, there will be a large chunk that needs cutting out to acoomodate the frames and the motor - but that would be the case anyway.

     

    Chris

    That's not unexpected. Do you have a feel for when the etches might arrive in the shop?

     

    Steve

  7. Now back home, I've had a look at Southern Wagons vol. 3 and I was wrong.  Although the four end-posts are right for the SER, their covered goods had three panels either side of the door rather than the two on this vehicle.  Back to the drawing board!

     

    Steve

  8. Out of interest, what minimum radius will the loco go round? Have you had to take any special measures to allow for side-play on such a long loco? I believe the real things were notorious for spreading the track in sidings; that probably says more about the track than the engine.

    Steve

  9. Relatively few Cs had Westinghouse pumps, originally fitted to work LCDR air-braked stock after the working Union that formed the SECR. I'm sure you're aware of this, but it does mean you need to pick your loco number carefully. I suspect a steam generator is likely to be one of the gadgets fitted to late period steam engines to power electric lights, though I can't be sure. Possibly starting with the Association Westinghouse pump casting and modifying it might be a route to follow for the steam reverser?

     

    Steve

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