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Andy's Modelling Bench


SWT442
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Evening all.

 

After it being left on the side, some work has progressed on the Bratchell Class 456 kit. After visiting the Bratchell stand at Ally Pally for some advice on where to source a Black Beetle, I was pointed in the direction of the Replica Railways stand. As luck would have it, one of the guys on the stand was in the proccess of building a Bratchell kit using one of their chassis! A suitable chassis was duly purchased and I've spent 3 evenings this week modifying it to accept the body of the 456.

 

First up is the chassis as it comes. It's the 'medium' length one riding on 12mm wheels.

 

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The first job is the removal of the step boards. This allows the chassis to sit into the bodyshell of the 456.

 

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At one end, the plastic chassis edging needed cutting back to the metal frame. This was to allow the end to slot into the cab end, as the bottom of the cab tapers inwards.

 

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The plastic clips were also removed, with the resulting dip in the plastic frame filled in with some plasticard. This allowed the moulded 'pips' on the inside of the 456 body to just sit onto this plastic surround, which in turn means it then sits at the right height.

 

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Turning to the bogies, the Bratchell side frames were modified by removing the moulded on yaw dampers. As the top speed of a Class 456 is 75mph, they don't need them. The side frame on the Replica chassis also needed cutting down to suit. Unfortunately, some of the Replica side frame does show above the Bratchell frame, but this can't be avoided as the locating pegs are on the reverse of the exposed area.

 

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The power bogie side frames were also modified with the removal of the yaw damper. This is a little bit trickier to do as there is a drop link that needs to be retained. The side frame length also needs to be reduced slightly to allow the wheelbase to line up with that on the chassis.

 

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And here it is all together. Still to do is add on the cab front details and disc brake inserts.

 

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The trailer car wasn't forgotten, which saw the additon of the covers for the multiple working equipment added. These were made from thin plasticard, cut down with grooves scored into it to allow it to bend into shape. Once happy, the back of the cover had was coated in glue and then held in its bent shape until it dried. They're not prefect, but they help make it look more like a 456!

 

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The covers and pipework will be painted. A set of Kadees has also been sourced, and these will be used to couple the unit up. All going well, the unit should be finished in the next few weeks. Once all the details have been added, it'll then get some weathering.

 

The rather useful thread by Martin_R on here came in very handy as well! http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/70956-powering-a-bratchell-emu/

 

Andy.

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  • 2 weeks later...

A little more has progressed on the Bratchell 456.

 

The cab fronts on the trailer car have been finished, the cab front Yellow was also painted so as to match the Yellow used on the M/W covers. Kadees have been fitted to the inner ends, though I think I could with replacing them with ones that have a shorter shank as the gap between the coaches is a little too big.

 

The motor coach had its M/W cables and cover added. I didn't have anymore brake pipes the same size as those on the trailer car. The Yellow for the covers needs a few more coats, as does the cab fronts. The underframe detail provided for the motor coach is rather sparse, so some underframe detailing sets from Replica will be ordered up. Some scratch built items will be added as well.

 

Anyway, here's a few pictures of progress so far!

 

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Andy.

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  • 4 weeks later...

Evening all,

 

A few more bits and pieces have passed over the work bench over the last couple of weeks.

 

First off are a couple of wagons, the first being a Cambrian ZCA "Seahorse" which was picked up ready built and painted from a model show a couple of years ago, probably for less than what the kit cost! Work done to it includes adding a waste ballast load with lengths of old rail, which helps weigh it down which in turn improves the running. Also added are some Colin Craig brake discs.

 

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Next up is another Bachmann Dutch OCA which has recieved the weathered look and a set of brake discs. Just another 2 to go.

 

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And finally on the wagon front is a mesh sided OBA conversion. This isn't a totally accurate portrayal of one of these wagons but more a representation. I plan to do another one but base it on one of the OOA's converted with mesh sides. James Makins' conversion of one was the inspiration for doing one of these, although I realised too late that he re-did the wagons floor (IIRC), while I just used origional one, which in turn makes the sides a little too high. It's broadly finished but I may in due course come back to it and paint the ends Dutch, which seems to be fairly common feature. A set of brake discs has also been fitted.

 

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Not something I've tackled before is weathering a multiple unit. I own a pair of Connex Class 205 DEMU's that Kernow produced in their first run of the "Thumpers". One was picked up new on release while the other was found second hand in Ron Lines of Southampton last year. The first one is due to become a 3-car unit, while the second one is the one featured here.

 

My standard weathering mix was used on the underframe, while a very thinned down wash was used on the body sides and ends. All the springs on the bogies were picked out with a small amount of Matt Black to represent the rather dark and greasy appearence of the real thing. The roof was initially washed with Phoenix roof dirt, with a mix of about 4 powders from one of my sets done after this had dried. The exhuast and fan area was picked out with Hornby Black powder. Fuel stains were also added to the sides of the fuel tanks. Will get some better pictures on the layout in due course. I'm fairly pleased with it, but reckon I could do better. I've a Hornby Networker on the bench next, as it's bright NSE livery is now looking a little too clean next to the grubby "Thumper"!

 

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Andy.

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Some good work on the Bratchell 456. What would help it further is opening out the webbing in the front skirting and scratch building a coupling which will really help with the appearance of the front. I must ask, is this a "RTR" kit you've got, as in ready painted etc?

 

NL

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Thanks for the comments guys!

 

Some good work on the Bratchell 456. What would help it further is opening out the webbing in the front skirting and scratch building a coupling which will really help with the appearance of the front. I must ask, is this a "RTR" kit you've got, as in ready painted etc?

 

NL

 

That is something that will be done Nick. Will probably go with a Kadee though, as I'm toying with the idea of getting either another 456 or a 455 in due course. The kit is sold as ready to assemble, so everything is already painted up, all you have to do is build it. You have to supply your own wheels and bearings. One thing that would improve it is if it came with an interior. I'm going to modify a Hornby Networker interior, which probably isn't correct but will be better than having an empty bodyshell!

 

I have to say, kit building isn't something I normally do, but it all goes together very well. Have to be a little careful, as if using Super Glue it can damage the paintwork.

 

Andy.

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  • 3 months later...

Evening all.

 

It's been a little quiet on the workbench front, mainly due to it being a bit warm to be cooped up in the cupboard and also having a new toy to play with!

 

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Having owned a Chrysler 300C Touring for 4 years with the 3.0 V6 diesel, I was wanting something with a bit more oomph and noise. So, another 300C Touring but with a 5.7 V8 petrol fit the bill quite nicely! It's had a little bit of work so far, mainly a complete engine and drivetrain service and new wheels and tyres. In due course a new (louder!) exhaust system will be fitted. Might re-map as well, can never have too much power!

 

Anyway, back to the workbench!

 

First up is 37421 in Colas livery as produced by Bachmann. The ploughs and some bufferbeam detailing has been done. At one end, a close coupler that comes with Hornby coaches has been fitted, with the ploughs modified to suit. This is to allow the loco to haul the 3-coach NR set I have (MK1 genny, UTU-3 & DBSO).

 

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A spot of weathering was undertaken on it, but to my horror, the weathering mix took the branding off leaving the loco like this!

 

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The weathering was aborted, with the printed details on the other side sealed with sating varnish to hopefully stop it all coming off. Lesson learned for future weathering of Bachmann stock!

 

Next up is a model of 67026 "Diamond Jubilee" in its Silver livery. This is a repaint of 67018 which was picked up off of eBay a little while ago. It's been sat on the shelf waiting its turn in the queue. The detailing pack was fitted, followed by a light-ish weathering on the underframe and roof. The loco sides seem to stay pretty clean, no doubt due to the fact that it's the "spare" loco for the Royal Train. A set of wire bar couplings will be fitted to finish it off.

 

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The Dapol 68's have been over the bench again to have a set of Shawplan etched brake discs fitted. 68010 has also had a roof weathering and wire bar couplings added and is now largely complete. 68002 may well get the weathering toned down a little as I'm still not completely happy with it.

 

The wheel rims and centres were painted with Underframe Dirt to help the discs stand out even more.

 

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Also passing over the bench was a friends Hornby M7. A front wire bar coupling has been fitted, allowing the loco to haul the occasional train without having to remove the front end details to fit the tension lock.

 

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And finally, something a little different!

 

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Another eBay purchase, picked up a while back, is a scratch built model of one of Colas Rails Kirow cranes and its two support wagons. The crane itself will have some bogie work done, as one of the wheel sets has a habit of twisting when running, causing derailments. Some etched disc brakes will also be put on.

 

As for the support wagons, they're both modified Hornby car flats. While a very good representation, they're obviously not quite right. I have a pair of scratch built KFA flats from years back (again, another eBay purchase way before Hornby produced theirs!), which will become the new support wagons. Looking at the existing wagons, the equipment has been attached to a plasticard base, which I'm hoping should "peel" off the top of the car flats in one piece. These will then be put on top of the KFA's. A set of Cambrian ASF Cast bogies will be fitted to make these as accurate as I can without going too mad.

 

That's it until next time!

 

Andy.

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  • 4 months later...

Can't believe the last update was August last year, time flies when you're having fun working I guess!

 

Some bits have been done here and there on the work bench front, with some of it documented and others just cracked on with.

 

A running theme of this thread was the build of a Bratchell Class 456. Over the last few weeks this has had some more done to it, with the underframe on the motor car completed and weathering started on it.

 

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The main peice of underframe was (of all things!) a modified water tank from a Bachmann Class 40. This had the raised details filed back and then grooves scored into it to represent the 3 hatches. Other items came from the Replica MLV detailing kit. It's not 100% accurate, but looks good to me and is certainly better than the bare underframe of the normal model!

 

The trailer car has also had it's underframe completed, and now requires painting and weathering. A couple of extra bits will be added in due course. The bulk of the underframe is scratch built from plasticard, with a few Replica and Bratchell bits used. Again, more a decent representation than total accuracy.

 

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The Colas Crane mentioned in the post above has now had it's match wagons done. Some weight needs to be added to help with running, as does a dose of weathering.

 

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Also finished was a Cambrian YSA Salmon, I'm aiming to get a few more over the coming months as one isn't quite enough! Since the pictures were taken, it's been fully weathered. Some additional weight is needed as it's very light but does run ok in a train.

 

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The Railfreight 20's as used by GBRf have been completed. 20132 has had it's overhead flashes changed, been weathered and recieved nameplates. While 20118 has had now had its plates fitted. This required the printed name to be partially removed due to it being longer than the etched ones.

 

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The Colas 37 was continued on with, but the even with the all the logos on the "good" side varnished in place, they all still came off when my weathering mix was washed over them! I did find some Colas transfers, so hopefully this will go onto the weathered surface ok.

 

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A DRS 37 was also finished off while another was started. Finished was 37038, which was origionally a Cheltenham Models limited edition that was earmarked to become 37087. However a search showed that 37038 lasted in service for quite a while, with it gaining the WIPAC front end early on in its life. A set of Rainbow Railways (formally R3Sprays) nose ends have been fitted, painted and had transfers applied. The top light has yet to be done, although the loco has been fully weathered. Next to be treated is 37405, which will become 37423 "Spirit of the Lakes" for no other reason than I like the name, plus DRS 37's always come in pairs! The new ends have been put on and painted, while renumbering has started.

 

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A Colas 66 is waiting in the wings as well. So far the numbers have been removed with it due to become 66849 "Wylam Dilly". Nameplates have arrived from Fox, with transfers to be sourced from Railtec.

 

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A model that has been crying out for some weathering was started on New Years day (I was working from home on emergency cover, so had to do something to pass the time!) was a Hornby Virgin HST. So far the power cars have had the underframe and bodysides completed, with the roofs to be done next and then a bit of tidying up on some rough patches. The coaches will be done in due course, with brake discs added to enhance their look. I might well look at modifying the couplings to kadees to give a closer coupling.

 

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And rounding things off were a couple of "quick" projects. First up was 40145, which is the limited edition model by Bachmann produced for the Class 40 Preservation Society quite a while back. This has been brought more up to date to represent the loco as it is now. This meant the domino headcodes have been replaced for alphanumeric blinds and the water tank removed from the underframe. A slight dusting of black powder has been put around the exhaust ports as I want the loco to remain clean.

 

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A Class 450 has passed over the bench so the front obstacle deflectors could be fitted along with a set of Kadees, as I hope to be able to pick another up in due course for a favourable price.

 

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And finally, a real bargain was to be had just after Christmas, with a Rail Exclusives ViTrains Class 47 in RfD picked up for less than £50! It came in the proper boxes, with all parts and the transfer sheet too. I'm unsure if this model was supposed to come with nameplates, though at the price I got it for I can live without them! A bit of research will be done to find a suitable candidate for this loco to represent.

 

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And that's it for now. I'm aiming to have at least one modelling evening during the week, so hopefully updates will be a little bit more frequent.

 

Andy.

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

Well, so much for trying to have at least one modelling session a week!

 

On Sunday, I made a start on some A1 Models ZFA "Gunnell" conversion kits, which utilised some 'odd one out' Lima PGA's from a mainly Yeoman set I picked up a few years back. But first up was a scratch converted Gunnell which was picked up off eBay a couple of weeks back for about the price of one conversion kit(!), which had a very loose body and needed the EWS paint job finishing off. Before the body was put back on, some Liquid Gravity was put in the space that the origional weights would have occupied.

 

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Once that was done and the body glued in place, the first of the Lima PGA's was up for the chop. The aggregate load was first taken out of it before the main hopper top was cut off with a saw, leaving approximately 2mm for the new sides to attach to.

 

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And that was it! Before I could think about putting the ends on, the work phone rang and I was off out the door to continue with the most tiring call out weeks I've done so far.

 

Andy.

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  • 3 weeks later...

Evening all.

 

Not a great deal has passed over the bench in recent weeks, its become a bit of a dumping ground at the moment. That being said, there's a few little projects of sorts to do soon, can never have enough going on!

 

First up, a second Bratchell Class 456 was picked up during January. It was part built and came with a pre-fitted Black Beetle. Came in at less than the kit direct from Bratchell, which helped!

 

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Both coaches were removed from their underframes, fortunately they nor the cab ends were glued in place. The Black Beetle was also removed, as I'm in two minds whether or not to have this unit as a dummy to pair with the other or fit it with a Replica chassis to have two usable units.

 

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Tackled first was the trailer coach, with this having the yaw damper mouldings removed from the bogie sides. It was then mounted back onto the chassis, with the cabs left unsecured so they can be removed for detailing and to allow an interior to be slid in.

 

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I've also now gone DCC on my layout. I had an opportunity to trial a friends Lenz system that he was looking to get rid of, which helped sway me onto going digital! I had a few chips lying about from stock I'd purchased second hand, so these were put into a handful of locos. One thing led to another and I now have 2 sound fitted locos, with a thrid being converted shortly!

 

These have used the Hornby TTS chips, which I think are a steal, especially if picked up for around the £35 mark. The first loco treated was 60065, with the second being 67026 seen in this thread. The instructions with the chips are good, but where they fall down is on the actual installation inside the loco, with there being no info provided. Luckily YouTube came in handy on how to install the chip in the 67, as the speaker goes in the fuel tank, meaning the wires need cutting so they can be routed through the chassis.

 

It took a couple of attempts to get the system fully fitted inside the 60, as seen below!

 

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I assumed this set up was correct and proper, but the body wouldn't fit back on...

 

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So attempt 2 saw the chip wrapped in insulation tape and nestled alongside the speaker. Much better I thought! But the body still didn't fit properly...

 

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So attempt 3 saw the speaker removed from the enclosure and put face down into the chassis.

 

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This time the body went on!

 

If anyone wishes to correct me on the installation please feel free, as I'm here to learn! In time I hope to suppliment what I have with some "proper" sound chips, but for now I think the TTS ones are great way to get sound on a budget.

 

Oh, and one more thing. If you're driving and come across a flooded road, and you're not sure whether or not you can make it through, I'd say turn around and try another route otherwise this happens...

 

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One snapped and one bent conrod later, and you're not going anywhere! These will be cleaned up and put on a plinth as a reminder to my moment of idiocy.

 

Andy.

 

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Great work with the 60 sound install Andy, and I’m sorry to hear about the car! :no:

I’ve been meaning to look for a Bratchell model for a while, one to create a 325 mail unit from. Since I haven’t got a WCML layout however, this will have to wait for a while. Regarding the motoring of the unit, I’d go ahead and use the same motor or motor chassis so you can run them separately but also run them together if you so desired.

 

Thanks,

Jack.

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Cheers Jack! The car's had its engine rebuilt and is now back on the road (much to my wallets annoyance!)

 

I would love a 325 unit or two. Quite surprised Bratchell haven't done one as suspect it could be a good seller. Though, you'd need a Hornby 466 for the cab ends if you were to use a Bratchell model as a base.

 

To be honest, my current thinking is to go down the Replica motor route for the 2nd unit. Might well pick one up at Ally Pally this year.

 

Andy.

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  • 6 months later...

Well, time has certainly flown since the last update!

 

To be honest, not a great deal has been done. The modelling mojo has been pretty fleeting the last few months, plus the hot weather made it unbearable working in the cupboard or out in the garage on the layout. Though that being said, little bits were done here and there, and with the weather finally cooling down the mojo has returned to a fashion.

 

So, here's a brief run down of what little bits have been done since last time.

 

The work on 66849 has slowly eeked on. The transfers have been applied and varnished in place. Wire loop couplings have been fitted since the pictures were taken, with some weathering to follow soon and then the application of the nameplates. Should hopefully be finished by the end of the month.

 

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Another 'Shed' to pass over the bench was 66152, for fitting with a Hornby TTS decoder. The fitment of a 21-pin to 8-pin adapter being neccessarry to get the decoder in place. A decent set of speakers have since been aquired from a friend, so it'll be upgraded with it in due course.

 

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The weathered version of Bachmanns' Class 450 was picked up earlier in the year for a reasonable sum, and this has had a set of Kadees fitted to allow it to couple up to the pristine one. While a nice model, I'm not totally convinced by the weathering. The obstacle deflectors were also fitted, but as these slot into the NEM socket on the bogie, which has been cut off, a piece of wire has been attached to them. These are then pushed and glued into corresponding holes drilled into the underside of the model.

 

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The Class 31 featured a while back has had the weathering completed on it. Some bufferbeam detailing and wire couplings are all that's needed to fully finish it off. Quite pleased with it, with it looking nice and run down as per how it was in the very late 90's. It's seen posed on an exhibition layout I own, which had a recent outing to the Rails show at New Milton in July.

 

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The Class 456 hasn't been forgotten about, with the second unit I purchased gaining a Replica chassis which was picked up at Ally Pally. This and the coach have been modified as per method detailed earlier in this thread. It's since gained the modified bogie side frames, again as detailed earlier. One of the cab fronts has had the area for the coupling opened up, both units eventually gaining Kadees to run as a pair.

 

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The first unit built has had the underframes weathered. The trailer coach has also been weathered, with the motor coach yet to be done. Ths unit is seen posed, again on the exhibition layout I have during a bit of testing to ensure everything was ok ready for the Rails exhibition! I've been really pleased with how the unit has turned out.

 

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Some other bits have been done, but not documented. The 3 Colas Class 70's I ordered have passed over the bench, two being renumbered while all have gained the detailing pack and wire couplings. Weathering next! There's a few more Colas locos being worked on, including a 37, 47 & 56. These will hopefully feature in the next update if I remember to take some pictures. So to finish off, here's a shot of the Colas fleet.

 

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Hmm, I might have a Colas fetish!

 

Andy.

 

 

 

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  • 2 weeks later...
  • 6 months later...

Cheers for the comments guys!

 

About time for an update. Work has been done here and there, but mostly not been documented. The main focus has been the Virgin CrossCountry HST, which has now seen the dummy power car renumbered and named, it becoming 43103 "Helston Furry Dance". The coaches have all been numbered as per a rake (found on Flickr) photographed at Stafford in the early 2000's. An additional TSO joined the rake, to make it a proper 2+7 formation. All the MK3's have had an underframe and roof weathering, as photos show the sides were kept fairly clean. The rake is finished bar painting out the first class stripe on the buffet coach.

 

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The model club I belong to is in the process of redoing a layout, Mossbank Yard, which has been on the exhibition circuit since the early 1990's. The layout is being converted into a roundy-roundy type, which means more stock and especially passenger workings, can be run. For this, some stock has been picked up as the layout will represent the period from 1995 to 2000. Hornby's first release of Virgin DVT was had for a bargain price at an exhibition last year, and has since been redone as 82127 with its eye-catching "Abraham Darby" bodyside vinyl graphics and original Virgin 'Flying Lady' motifs. This will be used on a West Coast MK3, as and when Oxford can be bothered to release their Virgin MK3's and will be shoved by a Hornby Virgin 87.

 

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I was fortunate to be in the right place at the right time, and pick up a Heljan InterCity and Virgin Class 86 and a Hornby InterCity DVT for less than their new prices, and a damn sight less than the going rate of eBay! One of the 86's and DVT will be earmarked for the 'commuter' MK2 set with MK3 buffet, while the other 86 will be used on a MK2 CrossCountry rake. Nothing has been done to the locos or DVT at the moment, but the CrossCountry MK2 rake is being weathered and detailed at the moment, not that I've photo'd them on the bench!

 

The Hattons Warwells have seen some work, with the couplings having been modified to lesson the gap and detailing started. The wheels have had a disc brake added to alternating sides as per the real thing and the wheel faces have been weathered. Some model Warrier tanks by EasyModel were found on Amazon by a friend, so a pair were duly ordered as loads. Some cradles need scratch building and the wagons weathered.

 

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And bringing it somewhat up to date period wise, a model of DCR's 31190 in it's BR Green livery was found on eBay a little while back. It's since been fitted with a TTS sound chip and recieved some wire loop couplings.

 

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With most of the locos being fitted with wire loops, I've made up a hook to allow two to couple together. Whether it'll work or not remains to be seen as I've not tested it yet! Looks good though!

 

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Other things done but not noted has been the renumbering of 2 of the Colas 70's featured up thread. One has been weathered, but even being careful and using the most miniscule drop of thinners to help the paint run into the panel gaps saw it take some of the branding off on one side! Some more work has been done on the second Class 456, with it being in a runnable condition now. Underframes and additional detailling needs doing before it's weathered.

 

Next onto the bench once the Virgin CrossCountry MK2's are done will be a Brittania Pacific Models Class 305. Again, right place right time saw this fully assembled and motorised unit picked up for £100! Bargain of a lifetime I think! The plan for this is to replace the tension locks for Kadees and fully detail the cab fronts, along with some roof and underframe weathering. This will be used to bolster the passenger fleet on Mossbank Yard.

 

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Until the next update, cheers! :drink_mini:

 

Andy.

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Time has certainly flow since my last posting in this thread. A few bits and pieces have passed over the bench in that time, but I've not really recorded them, always thinking that I'll make an effort next time. So, here's some recent things I've been working on.

 

With Bachmann having released their updated Class 158 & 159, I quite fancied one but wasn't overly desperate. A chance to acquire the sound fitted NSE Class 159 at a good price got me thinking on what to do with it. I'd have preferred a SWT or SWR unit, but on doing some research the units just lasted into the early 2000's wearing their NSE colours. However, it needed updating for the period, so the NSE branding was removed and the later style of SWT text has been added. Other mods include A1 Models etched brass NRN roof pods and updating the OHLE stickers to the post 1998 style. The unit represents how it was from sometime in 1998 up until mid 2000, when it was then given a full SWT repaint.

 

As an FYI, be careful when removing printing off these models. As is usual for Bachmann, Enamel Thinners took the printing off no problem. However the paint finish is quite thin, so too much force will take it off. And use T-Cut to remove any branding/numbering from the windows as the thinners will attack the plastic. The damage can be seen on one of the cab fronts! Anyway, here's some pictures:

 

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Next up is a Hornby 4-VEP, which will undergo the same treatment as the Class 159. I've got 2 of them in NSE livery, and have toyed with getting one repainted into Connex livery. But after a bit of digging about, I found that SWT purposefully kept 4 units (3415, 3809, 3810 & 3811) in NSE colours until withdrawal. Again, these had the NSE branding replaced with the above style of SWT sticker. The first model to pass over the bench has so far had all the numbers and NSE branding removed, while the bogies have been rotated to the correct position! A quick and dirty cab front tweak with Matt Black paint was done to improve the look! The window frames were picked out and the jumper cable cut outs filled in, while the inner edges of the gangway were done and the stripe above the gangway lowered by about 1mm. Personally, I think it improves the face greatly.

 

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The window frames have since been tidied up!

 

Some weathering work has been undertaken on a Bachmann Silverlink Class 150. This was a collectors club model from about 10 years ago, but came from eBay for a reasonable sum earlier this year. The model has been left as is, as it didn't gain the supplied name until after the period in which I'm modelling it in. The weathering mainly focused on the underframe and roof, however the sides had a light going over as they didn't seem to stay overly clean. I used my usual mix of thinned Phoenix enamel paints along with MIG powders and Humbrol washes.

 

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Another weathering project has been my rake of 5 Bachmann JJA's. I had fancied doing them in debranded Railtrack, having got the transfer pack from Rail-tec. But, after some browsing of Flickr, decided to do them as the type with the Yellow band and Black Network Rail logos. These came from a seller on eBay, who was doing them as a pack of 10 vinyl stripes and NR transfers, which was handy! The old Railtrack branding was filed off, before a weathering mix was applied. Once dried, the insides were treated to an enamel paint wash quickly followed by some powders. Once all was dry, the stripe and transfers were applied. I'm quite pleased with the results, but think I could've done better with the weathering job.

 

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That's it for now. I'll try and update more regularly.

 

Andy.

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