S7 scratch building

[airnimal]

Many thanks to everyone who keep giving me praise. I am not sure I deserve a lot of it but I try to do my best. 

I tried to shade the letters on the Wigan coal wagon and made a pigs ear of it. So I rubbed it off and repainted the white letters. I will let this harden untill tomorrow when I will have another go with a fine paint brush. 

In the meantime I decided to fit the etch numberplates to some of the LNWR wagons  that Chris Brown kindly did the artwork for me. 

I have fitted the plates to the ballast wagons but there was still about 10 more wagons to do. 

This is the first of the rest which is a Dia 4 and I have also applied the tare weight and the numbers on the ends.

I must thank Chris for providing me with these excellent plates. 

Going back to this wagon I can see the progression from 4 years ago when I stated to build my present projects.

I haven't trimmed the back of the wheels like I do with present builds. I also fix the couplings rather than spring them and other small improvements. I

Another couple done with plates.

Edited May 8, 2020 by airnimal
More images.

[Regularity]

When can we see them arranged nicely into a train?

[airnimal]

There is nothing more that I'd like to see than my coal tank pulling a rake of my wagons on a fine layout.

I did take them to the Bristol show in January and ran them on the S7 test track. I was more than a little chuffed to see them all behave themselves and not embarrass me by poor running or falling off.

This sign writing is proving more of a problem than I anticipated. I have tried to shade the letters with a brush and several different pens both using inks and paint. I even tried using a pencil but all to no avail. So I have rubbed the letters with fine emery and will have another go tomorrow and try again. If that doesn't work it might get a heavy weathering.

Edited May 9, 2020 by airnimal

[Caley Jim]

What I can make out of the shading looks pretty good to my eye! 

 

Jim

[Buhar]

I usually view this topic on my phone but yesterday I was on my laptop when that collection of three wagons popped up, each filling the screen. Absolutely stunning models. Such attention to detail and careful measuring has really paid off.

 

I've seen some gauge 1 and gauge 3 wagons built by craftsmen and if I didn't know the scale you work in I would have assumed it was one of those.

 

You're not quite there in lettering to a standard that matches the build. That said it's more than good enough and better than I could do.

 

I think it's going to be a case of lots of practice and maybe trying different techniques or paints. Look at some of your early builds and see how far you've come in that regard and then be confident that your lettering will take a similar path.

 

Your accounts of your work is uplifting and inspiring. 

 

Best wishes 

Alan 

[richard i]

12 hours ago, Buhar said:

I usually view this topic on my phone but yesterday I was on my laptop when that collection of three wagons popped up, each filling the screen. Absolutely stunning models. Such attention to detail and careful measuring has really paid off.

 

I've seen some gauge 1 and gauge 3 wagons built by craftsmen and if I didn't know the scale you work in I would have assumed it was one of those.

 

You're not quite there in lettering to a standard that matches the build. That said it's more than good enough and better than I could do.

 

I think it's going to be a case of lots of practice and maybe trying different techniques or paints. Look at some of your early builds and see how far you've come in that regard and then be confident that your lettering will take a similar path.

 

Your accounts of your work is uplifting and inspiring. 

 

Best wishes 

Alan 

I agree with most of your sentiments. 
I would say though that the lettering is far above average. Sure there are a few who can do better, and I mean a very few,  however having tried doing my own, and I think I am a reasonable modeler, I would say that the lettering is in the great category. They is space above that for astounding but it is way above average.

richard 

[Buhar]

1 hour ago, richard i said:

I agree with most of your sentiments. 
I would say though that the lettering is far above average. Sure there are a few who can do better, and I mean a very few,  however having tried doing my own, and I think I am a reasonable modeler, I would say that the lettering is in the great category. They is space above that for astounding but it is way above average.

richard 

I wouldn't disagree, Richard. But the modelling standard @airnimal has achieved is exceptional. The lettering is merely very good indeed. 

Alan 

[airnimal]

I finally admitted defeat after attempting to improve my sign writing skills.

I had several more goes but in the end I have accepted a coat of grime will have to do.

This is a disappointment but how many times can you rub off the letters before the underlying paint work gets worn through.

[Coal Tank]

To be honest Mike it looks really good to me and the way the writing looks worn is just perfect 

John 

[Gypsy]

I think its stunning - and bear in mind that the original would have been hand lettered and not printed/stencilled anyway....

[airnimal]

I have done the other side tonight before I distress it and weather it tomorrow.

After that it's just the couplings to fit and a bit more dirt inside. 

I also mended a dancing Reindeer for one of my grandsons. My children and grandchildren think grandad can fix everything. I hate to disappoint them so I cut open said Reindeer and performed open heart surgery before sewing him up again. He made a full recovery to the delightful squeals from a happy 2 year old.

[Coal Tank]

It's great being a grandad 

[airnimal]

I am trying to fit the numberplates to all the LNWR wagons that Chris Brown did for me. I have been trying to complete the numbers on the end as well as other lettering that need doing. 

One small annoying point is that wagons made 4 years ago are not quite up to the standard of wagon built today. 

This pair of bolsters wagons have not had there wheels cleaned up or the 3 link chains have not been soldered. It may be only little points but it does show I have improved a little over the last 4 years. 

I am finding my hands are getting less nimble as well as my eyesight is less sharp.

My wife wants me to have a new super mobile phone for my next birthday present in a few weeks time but I have opted for some better head magnifying glasses. This hasn't go down well but I very rarely use the simple phone I have now but I use my head magnifying glasses all the time.

[wagonman]

I do believe that if you got a new smart phone your usage of it would increase dramatically – which may be the best argument yet for NOT getting it.

 

 

[ian@stenochs]

Mike,

 

I have an optivisor and am now using it for all my modelling instead of just on fiddly bits. One of the downsides of age! 
 

However I also have a a fancy phone which does get used quite a bit but not to the detriment of the modelling time! This reply is being typed on the phone  because it is handy to do while I finish my after dinner coffee in front of the tv news.

 

Ian.

[Dave Hunt]

Optivisors rule, OK?

 

Like the good Mr. Middleditch I can't  get by  when modelling these days without using one. Whilst that is a downside of getting ancient, I tend to agree with Michael Caine who, when asked in an interview how he viewed being (I think) 75 replied, "Well, considering the alternative, it's not bad really."

 

Dave

[Poggy1165]

I think the lettering on the Wigan Junction wagon is fine. It may be a top professional could do marginally better, but really, I'd be absolutely delighted if I could get anywhere near that standard. Having attempted to hand letter wagons on odd occasions, usually when transfers have failed, I know how flipping difficult it is. Ideally one needs to be a trained artist who has studied calligraphy, and that rules me out.

 

Having said that, it's obvious from this thread that you set very high standards for yourself, which is admirable.

[airnimal]

Brian, many thanks for your endorsement. I am sure if I keep practising the lettering I will get better but old age is getting nearer and that doesn't help.

I have returned to this old Midland wagon to have a third attempt at it. I was going to start from scratch but in the end decided to go with the last underframe. It has still been a struggle with marking out and I don't seem able to get the consistancy I used to have. 

I was going to use a etched V-iron from my bits box that I believe was from a Cambrian wagon but when I compared it to the drawing it wasn't quite right so I cut another one from a bit of nickel.

[airnimal]

I managed to make the unusual brake rack without breaking any drills. The holes were drilled with a 10 thou drill. 

The brake rack was cut out of a scrap piece of nickel with great care. I still have to make the mounting bracket which holds the rack in place.

[Malcolm 0-6-0]

You may be afflicted with age problems as you claim, but from where I'm sitting that is still pretty damned good modelling. A very enjoyable thread.

 

  

Edited May 16, 2020 by Malcolm 0-6-0

[airnimal]

Malcolm 0-6-0, I am struggling with marking out in particular but also my hands don't seem cope with tiny parts like they use too. I am forever on my hands and knees looking for small parts that have escaped my grasp. I have trouble seeing if parts are central when I apply them. Everthing appears to be offset when I look from another direction so I have hold everything up to eye level and turn it around and look from all 4 corners to get everything true. 

 

After making the mounting plate I fitted the brake handle and glued the cover plate on top trapping the handle forever.

I thought if I left enough wiggle room I would be able to extract it for painting., I was wrong. 

So I made the top plate out of nickel and added 2 brass bolts to act as fixing bolts. I used a small crocodile to both hold it for soldering and as a heat sink to save everthing from falling apart. 

[Malcolm 0-6-0]

1 hour ago, airnimal said:

Malcolm 0-6-0, I am struggling with marking out in particular but also my hands don't seem cope with tiny parts like they use too. I am forever on my hands and knees looking for small parts that have escaped my grasp. I have trouble seeing if parts are central when I apply them. Everthing appears to be offset when I look from another direction so I have hold everything up to eye level and turn it around and look from all 4 corners to get everything true. 

 

 

 

Yes I am at that stage to - anything I drop becomes a nightmare to retrieve, my knees and back just aren't up to crawling around looking for small things. Still your modelling is a delight to watch.

[Dave John]

Very impressive. The brake rack is a lovely bit of work, I have never seen one modelled that precisely before. 

[kitpw]

I continue to follow your posts in awe of modelling skills demonstrated and explained in a very approachable way.  As I also spend a measurable amount of every day hunting for things on the workshop floor, experimenting with magnifiers that clip on, fall off, poke me in the eye or refuse to allow me to focus at all and find my fingers don't follow instructions like they used to, I appreciate your achievements even more. 

Kit PW

[airnimal]

Things are moving slowly with the details but I have done a small amount on the door hinges. 

 

Edited May 16, 2020 by airnimal