S7 scratch building

[airnimal]

Chris, one of the problems is that we are trying to find a house in an area that is very popular and is a smaller place than we live now. So there is limited stock on offer and trying to find one that meets our needs is difficult.  Plus we live on a estate that is very close to other regions like Didsbury which is highly desirable and the houses here sell very quickly. We don't want to sell ours and be forced into buying a house in desperation. I would never here the end of it because my wife likes our present house very much having been the only occupier since it was built. 

 

I have done a little work on these loco coal wagons painting most of the W-irons and brakegear.  I wouldn't batch build again because I find need to see the end of a build without getting bored.

There is still some way to go before they are finished.

[airnimal]

Because the weather is so fine and while I was painting I took the trouble to paint the axleboxes and springs on the NSR van. I think a few miles on the bike is called for now. 

[Nickey Line]

5 hours ago, airnimal said:

I think a few miles on the bike is called for now

 

 

Couldn't agree more... it's amazing how much easier it seems when it's warm! 

[airnimal]

Nickey Line, couldn't agree more about riding my bike in the warm sunshine. Here's hoping I can continue for a few more years yet. I would like to go back to India once more before I pop my clogs.

With this virus that still could be a few years away. 

 

Here is my first attempt at the NSR knott. A bit shaky  but under a bit of muck it might not look to bad.

 

[MarcD]

Better than me as I use HMRS pressfix transfers. 

Marc

[airnimal]

Marc, I bet you put yours on the right lines thou.

 

I must write myself 100 hundred lines OBSERVATION OBSERVATION OBSERVATION 

[Signalman Rich]

Mike,

The van is looking great!

 

However, don't beat yourself up too much re the placement (or style) of the Staffordshire knot.  In George Dow's "North Staffordshire Album" on  page 96 there are photos of two three-plank opens and a 20 ton brake van and they each have different styles of  the knot.  On the previous page there is a builder's photo of  10 ton van No 5427 from a batch by Metropolitan C & W in 1912 that has  an 11 plank side and the knot is on the third plank from the bottom (!) although on the same side as yours.

 

I know you are producing wagons from an earlier period so my comment may be superfluous and you probably are working from a particular photo for your van, which may make it essential to get knots lettering etc in the correct place but I think different makers  often interpreted the railway companies' designs differently, as well as  the painters having their own particular affectations.  Hope this might be helpful?  We have enjoyed the lovely sunshine down here today  too - enough for me to cut the grass for the first time this year.

Best wishes

Rich 

[airnimal]

I tried to hand letter but the results were dire. So I have found some GWR tranfers with the 8 tons on them. There are to small really but I think it is better to have them neat and a little undersize. I will put it down to a different signwriter at a different  period of the vans life. Rule 1 applies.

Just got to find some letters for the NSR now.

[airnimal]

I found some letters for the NSR but one of them was slightly different.  So I have had to tamper with one of them to make it fit. A good waft over with some road dust might blend it in a bit better. 

I have treated myself to a little bit of Belgium's finest to celebrate the end of the build. Well nearly.

[bgman]

1 hour ago, airnimal said:

I will put it down to a different signwriter at a different  period of the vans life. Rule 1 applies.

 

Thank goodness for that, for one minute I thought you were going to scrap it and do another one ! 

[Northroader]

I do hope not, it would lead to the unseemly spectacle of elderly gentlemen fighting over the contents of Airnimal’s dustbin, myself included.

[airnimal]

Hopefully I have finished this van. One of the letters has lifted that will require attention. It has been a bit of a journey. 

 

[Mol_PMB]

That looks superb, subtle but very effective weathering and I’m glad it’s escaped the skip and is headed for Manchester. 

 

[Dave Hunt]

I wish you'd stop it, Mike. I have to go into my workshop tomorrow and look at my own efforts with the images of yours in my mind's eye........

 

Dave (AKA Disgruntled of Shropshire)

[Malcolm 0-6-0]

Another fine job - I really do enjoy watching the process unfold from raw plastic to the final lovely model.

[airnimal]

Thanks to everyone for all the likes and comments. 

 

Dave at least when you go into your workshop you can marvel at all your handbuilt loco from your own hand. My locos and coaches that are any good all came from other people / companies. My own efforts in that department are hidden away half completed and will probably never get finished.  

 

I have added the saftey chain to the door but it needs toning down a little. 

[airnimal]

A change is good as a rest or so I'm told. 

Having a box of white metal wheel castings for horse drawn carts for about 30 years I decided to look a making a small 4 wheeled vehicle. This is not to a particular prototype but just a general type looking at various ones in Great Western  Horse Power to give me ideas. I had the horse for many years when I built a few of the smaller wheeled ones. I am not sure this is going to get very far because I'm not mentally committed but it would be nice to do something di.

[MarcD]

I think you might be at the top of a slippery slope! GWR horse power. Next there will be Dark Green locos and then.....  Stop now before its to late. Turn back from the dark side.

 

Marc

[sir douglas]

or heaven forbid slew his track 16mm wider

Edited April 3, 2021 by sir douglas

[Dave John]

I also find building horse drawn transport a nice relaxing change. So many variations existed that you can have fun altering any kit to make it that bit individual, or just scratchbuild in the style of the period. 

[Regularity]

The GWR met up with the knotty (Market Drayton) and the LNWR, and via running powers ran passenger services to Manchester (Exchange, I think): I have certainly seen photos of their locos being turned. Which begs the question, did they run goods services, too, and whilst they must had had a goods agent, at the very least, did they provide any delivery services in Manchester? 

[Compound2632]

6 minutes ago, Regularity said:

The GWR met up with the knotty (Market Drayton) and the LNWR, and via running powers ran passenger services to Manchester (Exchange, I think): I have certainly seen photos of their locos being turned. Which begs the question, did they run goods services, too, and whilst they must had had a goods agent, at the very least, did they provide any delivery services in Manchester? 

 

The Great Western rented a portion of the LNWR Liverpool Road goods station (the original L&MR Manchester terminus), to which goods trains were worked by its own engines. So they must also have had delivery and collection services and receiving offices in the city. There was some discussion about this not so long ago, somewhere on here... 

[Malcolm 0-6-0]

I once attempted to build a cart in 00 as I was a little stunned by the price of a particular kit. Not a success - somehow I stuffed up the measurements and wound up with what could only be described as an inconveniently over size double wheel wheelbarrow. 

 

Nice work so far as we have come to expect. 

[Mol_PMB]

The GWR had an office in the docks too. It’s marked on a 1930s map of the docks that I have framed on my wall:

[Simond]

and at Liverpool

 

Edited April 3, 2021 by Simond