Nile's NG Modelling

[TangoOscarMike]

When his Driver arrived, Sir Handel puffed away to fetch the coaches.

 

"Whatever next?" he snorted. "Those aren't coaches; they're cattle trucks!"

 

"Oooooh!" screamed Agnes, Ruth, Lucy, Jemima, and Beatrice, "what a horrid engine!" 

 

[Nile]

Bachmann have already announced Peter Sam (due this year?), so maybe in a few years it could happen.

[Nile]

Continuing on that theme, as I had a complete Corris brake van kit I thought I may as well build a model of Cora. Assembled as per instructions, apart from using Farish wheels and adding some brake gear.

[Nile]

As before I've tried to match the colour of the Bachmann coaches with a mixture of Sky blue and white. After the windows were glazed I added bars of micro-rod, glued with glue'n'glaze. I've also added a weight (random lump of metal) just visible in the photo.

 

Now with roof glued on. I've fitted Peco couplings as I'm not planning on doing any shunting with this. They could be replaced with Greenwich later if needed.

 

I then had a Skarloey Railway moment at Scarside.

 

Beatrice and Cora together.

 

Bachmann may or may not have announced models of these vans at a NY show. Doesn't really matter to me, I'm already there.

[SomethingTrainLover]

Looking excellent, may steal your method for getting rid of the pillars for my RWS coaches ;). Still waiting for the Meridian Models Coach 3 and Brake 5 to come back into production before I can have the full original "vintage" rake though.

[Nile]

Back to more mundane things, a Welsh Highland open wagon (Dundas kit). Here it is in the raw plastic.

[chuffinghell]

I’m sure it will be less mundane once you’ve worked your magic 

[Nile]

Ta da....

[Nile]

I thought I had one of the Peco L&B vans in unbranded brown livery, but since I can't find it I bought one at the NG show in Beccles last Saturday. I then set about altering it for my use.

Removed the brake pipes and cylinder.

Brake cross shaft added, 0.5mm micro-rod.

Plastic wheels replaced by Farish wheels.

Weathered with Humbrol powders.

End of brake lever painted light grey.

 

Inside I added weight - nuts wrapped in cling-film.

 

The roof was white, I painted it light grey (Humbrol 64).

 

I already had a pair of Greenwich CPL-3 couplings made up, so they were just plugged in.

A bit more variety for Scarside.

[AlfaZagato]

Always need vans.

[chuffinghell]

22 minutes ago, Nile said:

.....nuts wrapped in cling-film....

Superior modelling as always but what you do in your own home is your business 

[Nile]

Gotta keep em safe from the virus.

[Nile]

Two WLLR brake vans, built from Nine-Lines kits, I picked up off the 009 society sales stand last year.

 

They are fairly solidly built and well painted, so I will detail rather than rebuild. The first thing needing fixing was the wheels, they were the original steel tyred ones (8mm). I'm replacing them with new Greenwich wheels, these are all brass and therefore not bothered by magnets. The new ones are nearest.

[AlfaZagato]

Something I'll need in the future.

 

Are the tail lamps lit?

[Nile]

No, light is reflecting off the lens. They might be Springside as they are whitemetal.

[Nile]

On with the details - handrails from 0.4mm brass.

[Nile]

With the roofs being firmly glued on the only place for any extra weight was underneath. There was just enough room for two layers of lead sheet. Also some detailing added to the brake gear, and Greenwich couplings fitted.

 

With the handrails blackened it just needed a bit of weathering to finish them off. I also drilled holes in the tops of the chimneys, but you can't see them in these photos.

I only recently noticed that one has the sides upside down, it's only noticeable when they are together.

[chuffinghell]

Well Neil you've done it again!

 

Modelling at its finest, hats off to you sir

[DLT]

Very nice indeed Neil,

Dave.

[Nile]

Alongside the new layout Coron I'll  be working on stock for it. Thanks to Bachmann I now have two Baldwin's in similar maroon livery. WHR 590 came with DCC sound fitted, I've fitted a sound chip into ALR Peggy. I decided to experiment on Peggy as that was a half price purchase.

The "ALR" and "PEGGY" markings had to go. I eventually ended up with this simple tool, a small wooden stick cut at an angle to get a sharp edge. There is a cotton bud on the other end.

 

After a bit of work PEGGY has become EGGY !

The damage to the lining was already there, so much for quality control.

 

Some Microsol was used to get rid of the last few bits. I repaired the lining with a transfer from Fox. I also used Fox transfers to add extra boiler band lining to match that on WHR 590.

[LBSC123]

Looking good, I'll watch with interest to see what you've got planned for them!

 

[Nile]

Like the sound chip the crew were previously in my WD liveried loco. I'd used PVA to secure them, so some water was used to free them. The fireman wishes the roof was a bit bigger.

 

To that end I found some brass strip the right width for a roof extension. Supports were made from some square nickel silver rod (MSE point rodding).

 

The supports locate into holes drilled into the corners of the bunker. The other end fits into the upper corner of the cab.

 

The brass was curved to match the roof. Here it is just resting on the supports.

With both the cab and bunker being plastic soldering these parts together is ruled out. My usual superglue will do.

[Nile]

The supports were blackened before refitting into the cab. Some thin superglue was run into the small gap with the cab side to keep them in place.

 

Then the roof extension was secured onto the supports with superglue gel. After painting black a strip of decal rivets was applied near the join.

[Nile]

The roof eventually got a coat of Tar Black.

 

I've never liked the front coupling on these models, it sticks out too far and looks ugly. So I've done something about it here, completely removing the NEM mount and fitting a Greenwich coupling instead. The 'tail' was shortened to make clearance for the pony truck.

 

Finally some photos of the loco as it is now. I'm not planning any more mods yet.

[Nile]

More stock for Coron. I think I have enough open wagons (WLLR & Southwold from Nine Lines), I could do with some vans. The Peco L&B vans look a bit narrow in comparison, but I have some bodies from the 009 society that are a better match. They were produced by Minitrains for a society anniversary, remainders were resprayed and sold off without their bogies. I've used these before, making a chassis from Colin Ashby bits. This time I've taken a slightly different approach.

I removed much of the unwanted bits underneath by cutting and filing. New headstocks are microstrip, not fixed in place yet. On the right is a non-modified one.

 

For the chassis I've used the two spare sheep wagons that never get used on Scarside (or anywhere else, the other three are quite safe). The sides were cut away and the floor sanded smooth to remove the planks.

 

With a bit of trimming it was a perfect fit.

 

This conversion sits a little taller than my previous ones, but isn't taller than the loco.

 

All this results in a van with a chassis that matches the open wagons.

Better get on with the other one.