Stoke Courtenay

[checkrail]

Next batch of 28xx pics.

 

 

 

 

The weathering was carried out using Vallejo black wash (though a very small amount of umber was added when misting the chassis). These washes behave very well with the airbrush and gave me the sort of effect I was looking for. Quite pleased with the result for a first attempt.

 

 

 

I didn't separate loco from chassis before weathering. Hornby's 28xx is quite a delicate beast and every time I dismantle it some bits fall off. So there was a bit of wheel cleaning and de-clagging to do before it ran properly again. But now, after a drop of oil, it's crawling smoothly and silently round the layout with its 21 wagon train (maximum storage road capacity).

 

 

 

Once I removed the masking tape from the number plates they looked just a little too bright for the state of the loco, so they received a coat of Lifecolor matt varnish mixed with a few drops of Lifecolor weathered black to tone them down.

 

John C.

[81C]

Excellent stuff John those 28xx's will pull 40 easily, will we be seeing you on the Didcot / Fawley Hill weekend on the 25th-26th May ?

 

 

http://www.rmweb.co....-26th-may-2019/

Edited December 3, 2018 by 81C

[duff man]

Hi, well done on the 28xx, looks spot on to me.

[bgman]

Nice work mate for your first go, keep working with your airbrush and it will pay dividends I'm sure.

 

I agree totally with you about the original colour, dunno what they were thinking about !

 

You've brought it back into the real world and given it a bit of character too.

 

 

G

[A Murphy]

This layout reaches the parts other layouts don't. The 28xx looks great to my untrained eye..... Congratulations.

 

Alastair M

[checkrail]

Thanks for nice comments and supportive remarks. Last few for now of 2819.

 

 

 

I mentioned that I'd masked the number plates. Should have added that I also masked the cab windows and the coal. Not much point in adding real coal then spraying it black (unless I was then going to carry it to Newcastle). I let the crew take their chances. Don't expect that washed blue overalls stayed pristine for too long on the footplate.

 

 

This exercise and your comments have given me confidence to do some similar work on my other locos, but no way are my Kings & Castles going to end up quite that dirty. I'm in awe of the work done by the maestros of this dark art in the mags, but so much of it is about the 'end of steam' era. In my 1930s scenario it needs to be about smoke & soot, grease & oil. Ain't gonna be no rust, leaking glands, neglect or decrepitude allowed! (Not on the locos anyway.) Makes it a bit easier too, in terms of technique.

 

 

(Must investigate what the lump is in the 6 foot. Dead insect?)

 

John C.

[checkrail]

Inspired by a photo on p.149 of Beck & Copsey, showing pannier 8709 with two brake vans at Churston in the mid 30s, I've now added these two AA3 toads, nos. 35650 & 35627, to the SC roster. Incidentally there's another good pic of 35650 at Kingswear in the Mike Morant collection.

 

 

They both use the so-called 'plated' version of the Oxford Rail AA3 model, labelled 'Acton', as a basis. This meant that the incorrect planked ends and the strange window had to be altered. 35650, below, was a cut 'n' shut job, utilising the ends from an old Ratio Toad kit (a fiver on eBay). It worked out reasonably well in the end with just a couple of drawbacks. One was that the Ratio roof arc was different, and needed sorting with Deluxe Materials' Perfect Plastic Putty; the other was that the Ratio moulds are so old and the plastic so soft that even the lightest coat of paint tends to obscure the planking. Ironic, trying to remove planking where it shouldn't be and ending up in danger of losing it where it should!

 

 

With 35627 (next photo) I followed Chris Leigh's method in a recent MR article, filling in the unwanted planking with Plastic Putty, then cutting/filing out the unwanted window and replacing with scribed Plastikard. Took a few applications of filler and some awkward sanding before the planking finally disappeared.

 

 

Other alterations to both models included filling in the gap in the footboard (designed for OR's 6-wheel Toad) with Microstrip and filler. On 35650 I also moved the stovepipe off-centre to be above the stove, but the brass tube I had to hand (with a washer as its base) is a bit too stout, so I haven't bothered yet with the other. As so often a coat of paint, followed by light weathering with Humbrol black powder, covered a multitude of sins. Transfers were from Modelmaster except for the NEWTON ABBOT depot name which was from the estimable Railtec.

 

 

John C.

[checkrail]

Though I described what I'd done to the ends of the OR AA3 Toads the last bunch of photos were mainly from the side, so here are some end views.

 

First three are of 35650, the one that was fettled with Ratio ends.

 

 

 

 

The last three are of 35627, which had the planking filled in and smoothed over.

 

 

 

 

(Apologies for lack of tail lamp on last pic!)

 

John C.

Edited December 4, 2018 by checkrail

[checkrail]

While I was commissioning the Toad depot allocation lettering from Railtec it struck me that it was a similar size and font to the branding on the ends of B-sets, so I subsequently gave Steve at Railtec another job. Here's the result as the branch train rolls into Stoke C.

 

 

The next two show 5557 running round its train. (The first of these has shown up another area where I need to apply some brickwork to the island platform face. Hadn't given a thought to potential photographic angles when I was building it!)

 

 

 

The final photo shows the train departing back down the branch to Earlsbridge. Incidentally I think this is the first picture I've taken which shows the signalman and lever frame inside the box.

 

 

Usual disclaimer, but I've been delighted with Railtec's service. Quality, price, ease of use, speed of service, and willingness to engage to find out what you want - they tick all those boxes for me.

 

John C.

[gwrrob]

This layout ticks all my boxes too John.

[Harlequin]

Hi John,

 

Your photos are very beautiful and you have created an impressive sense of openness for a modestly sized layout.

 

Like you, my leanings are towards 1930s GWR and I too have started equipping some of my locos with Modelu lamps - an incredibly fiddly business!

 

I have installed red-bodied lamps on the basis that the order to change them from red to white was only sent out in 1936 and it took many years for the white lamps to take over.

 

I searched your thread but didn't find any reference to lamp body colour so I'd be interested to know why you've used white-bodied lamps.

[checkrail]

Hi John,

 

Your photos are very beautiful and you have created an impressive sense of openness for a modestly sized layout.

 

Like you, my leanings are towards 1930s GWR and I too have started equipping some of my locos with Modelu lamps - an incredibly fiddly business!

 

I have installed red-bodied lamps on the basis that the order to change them from red to white was only sent out in 1936 and it took many years for the white lamps to take over.

 

I searched your thread but didn't find any reference to lamp body colour so I'd be interested to know why you've used white-bodied lamps.

 

Hi Phil

 

Thanks for kind comments. I was tempted by red lamps (one of those distinctive GW "we're different" touches), but chose white because my nominal period is c. 1938, and most photos from that era show white lamps. I'm not sure how long after 1936 red lamps were still to be seen on GW trains, but it'll give me a good excuse to spend a pleasant hour or two browsing through the various 1930s picture albums looking for evidence.

 

 

Regards,

John.

[Harlequin]

A specifically c. 1938 timeframe does make white bodied lamps much more likely, especially on the primary routes. I guess the red bodied lamps lasted longer in the further reaches of the system.

 

I found this photo, which is spot-on for your timeframe and clearly shows white bodied lamps: https://railphotoprints.uk/p1047678591/h199B63AD#h199b63ad

 

(I haven't tied down my timeframe to anything tighter than 1927-1939 yet so I'm going to install red bodied lamps with the excuse that they were still around for a while after '36.)

Edited December 6, 2018 by Harlequin

[checkrail]

A specifically c. 1938 timeframe does make white bodied lamps much more likely, especially on the primary routes. I guess the red bodied lamps lasted longer in the further reaches of the system.

 

I found this photo, which is spot-on for your timeframe and clearly shows white bodied lamps: https://railphotoprints.uk/p1047678591/h199B63AD#h199b63ad

 

(I haven't tied down my timeframe to anything tighter than 1927-1939 yet so I'm going to install red bodied lamps with the excuse that they were still around for a while after '36.)

Just been through the Norman Locket photos ('Great Western Steam 1934-1949'). There's a caption to a photo dated 16 May 1936, stating, "Notice, by the way, evidence here of the GWR's new policy of painting the casings of locomotive headlamps white instead of red. in order that they could more easily be seen by signalmen and linesmen". Subsequent photos for 1936 and the following year still show a few red lamps, but by the time Mr Lockett gets to 1938 none are in evidence. Leafing through other photo albums suggests the same story. I guess the lamp casings could easily and quickly have been re-painted locally in response to central directives. But it means that red lamps are correct for at least 10 years of your current 12 year timeframe!

 

John C.

[5BarVT]

I’ve been meaning to ask for sometime and your post #509 has prompted me. I have the same donor signalbox but don’t want it to be named “Truro”. How did you remove the original nameplate in order to add your Stoke Courtney one?

Thanks, Paul.

[Miss Prism]

There's a caption to a photo dated 16 May 1936, stating, "Notice, by the way, evidence here of the GWR's new policy...

 

Interesting, given the official instruction was not issued until December 1936.

[duff man]

Interesting, given the official instruction was not issued until December 1936.

interesting, Hubback collection part 2. Page 67. Ogmore Castle Red lamps, photo dated summer 39. Also page 81, King George III, summer 37.

[Mikkel]

Excellent modelling, great scenes.

 

On the issue of lamps: Where were they painted? If painted centrally, could the practice have been initiated on new lamps before the official instructions went out?

 

In my workplace certain new changes have recently started being implemented that are significant for everyday practices and organisation, but the actual policy and guidelines won't come out until the end of 2019...

[checkrail]

I’ve been meaning to ask for sometime and your post #509 has prompted me. I have the same donor signalbox but don’t want it to be named “Truro”. How did you remove the original nameplate in order to add your Stoke Courtney one?

Thanks, Paul.

Hi Paul

 

I removed it carefully, bit by bit, with files, (small riffler files were useful) after having stuck masking tape all round its outside edge to avoid scratching the rather nicely finished brickwork. Then a new plastikard namebosrd was made & fitted, the name itself being produced on the pc, white font colour on black background. Originally Kernow announced that this model would have a removable nameboard, but that idea didn't seem to make it to the production stage. (But on the plus side they also dropped the plan to have it in 1971 condition with dirty windows!)

 

Regards,

John

[checkrail]

Interesting, given the official instruction was not issued until December 1936.

Indeed Miss P. The pic is on p39 of the Lockett book, of 4022 Belgian Monarch on a Crewe - Plymouth train. Given that the sequencing of prints is broadly chronological I now suspect that the caption might be wrong, and should perhaps read "16 May 1937". For the next few pages white lamps soon predominate, earliest such shots being dated May or June 1937.

 

John C.

[checkrail]

interesting, Hubback collection part 2. Page 67. Ogmore Castle Red lamps, photo dated summer 39. Also page 81, King George III, summer 37.

Yep, just checked those out. So Harlequin's safe with red lamps throughout his chosen timeframe. Might paint one or two of mine red!

 

John C.

[checkrail]

Itching to do a bit more loco weathering, but waiting - and waiting - for more Vallejo paints and washes to be delivered. So, in an idle moment, while giving my only three non-railway buildings a dust 'n' vac, I was prompted to get the camera out. This rather broad-brush scene is my perfunctory nod to the idea of a village at Stoke C. From eye level, looking across the tracks at the up end of the station, it's not really visible, so I thought I'd give it another visit and have a pint at the Red Lion.

 

 

 

 

 

Think that Victorian hexagonal pillar box needs straightening up a bit.

 

John C.

[bgman]

Itching to do a bit more loco weathering, but waiting - and waiting - for more Vallejo paints and washes to be delivered. So, in an idle moment, while giving my only three non-railway buildings a dust 'n' vac, I was prompted to get the camera out. This rather broad-brush scene is my perfunctory nod to the idea of a village at Stoke C. From eye level, looking across the tracks at the up end of the station, it's not really visible, so I thought I'd give it another visit and have a pint at the Red Lion.

 

P1040895.JPG

 

P1040896.JPG

 

P1040899.JPG

 

P1040901.JPG

 

Think that Victorian hexagonal pillar box needs straightening up a bit.

 

John C.

 

 

Captured to a "T" John, it always puts me in mind of the village of Kenn just outside Exeter each time I see those shots.

 

Your Public House isn't too dissimilar to the one there, as too is your church, which has a passing resemblance to St.Andrews Church across the road.

 

 

 

Your scene certainly evokes rural Devon.

 

G

[Limpley Stoker]

That is a very skilful corner scene framed by the natural looking trees yet maintaining the spacious feel of Stoke Courtenay

 

If that is you leaning on the pub sign you have just spilt half of your pint!

 

(I’ve just referred back to page 3 and see you haven’t spilt much after all!)

Edited December 8, 2018 by Limpley Stoker

[checkrail]

Captured to a "T" John, it always puts me in mind of the village of Kenn just outside Exeter each time I see those shots.

 

Your Public House isn't too dissimilar to the one there, as too is your church, which has a passing resemblance to St.Andrews Church across the road.

Thanks Grahame. I don't know Kenn, but that pub looks inviting. I should get to Devon more often. At the moment I drive across it on the M5/A30 about 3 times a year en route to visit daughter in Truro. I've not been to the Dart Valley Railway since the 60s and my last visit to Kingswear was so long ago that I 'cabbed' a Hall there, awaiting its departure time to Taunton. I remember the driver asking me, in a west country burr, whether his engine was one of Mr Churchward's. I was able to tell him, with all the authority of a 13 year old with a couple of train books, that it was one of Mr Collet's. Happy days.

 

John.

Edited December 8, 2018 by checkrail