Squirrel Rail - Workbench

[LUL Test Crew]

seeing these 47s makes me want to ditch N gauge and have a rethink on OO 

 

Ray

[Squirrel Rail]

Bit of a long update as couldn’t upload pictures yesterday but seems to be working today. The Rescue 4 VEP has had the new varnish after losing the two tone stripe from the earlier post. Unfortunately I had to mask every window, all 161 of them

and then unmask all 161…..

definitely worth it as sides now stripe free!

43102 is nearly there few more details and the plates to add

and 60002 has had all its blue added

The SWR 450 has had its warning yellow added

and a new one to the workbench is this 117, previously grey and blue going to plain blue eventually 

Last up a bunch of MJAs going from freightliner to GB rail freight 

Hopefully more tomorrow! 

[Squirrel Rail]

On 29/09/2021 at 00:12, LUL Test Crew said:

seeing these 47s makes me want to ditch N gauge and have a rethink on OO 

 

Ray

I can do them in N too

[Departmental203]

59 minutes ago, Squirrel Rail said:

Bit of a long update as couldn’t upload pictures yesterday but seems to be working today. The Rescue 4 VEP has had the new varnish after losing the two tone stripe from the earlier post. Unfortunately I had to mask every window, all 161 of them

and then unmask all 161…..

definitely worth it as sides now stripe free!

43102 is nearly there few more details and the plates to add

and 60002 has had all its blue added

The SWR 450 has had its warning yellow added

and a new one to the workbench is this 117, previously grey and blue going to plain blue eventually 

Last up a bunch of MJAs going from freightliner to GB rail freight 

Hopefully more tomorrow! 

 

As usual, some very fine work with the resprays and the rescue jobs, I'm probably not the only one tempted by the blue 4-VEP 3417....

 

Just a quick word about the 117, when refurbrished (and in blue/grey livery) ventilation grills were added on the bodysides, they weren't present when in unrefurbrished all over blue condition. Seems to be a common theme with the longer lived 1st generation DMU's.

 

Jules

 

 

[Squirrel Rail]

1 hour ago, Departmental203 said:

 

As usual, some very fine work with the resprays and the rescue jobs, I'm probably not the only one tempted by the blue 4-VEP 3417....

 

Just a quick word about the 117, when refurbrished (and in blue/grey livery) ventilation grills were added on the bodysides, they weren't present when in unrefurbrished all over blue condition. Seems to be a common theme with the longer lived 1st generation DMU's.

 

Jules

 

 

Hi Jules, 

thanks for the heads up on the 117 - I’ll double check with the owner and see what he says! Cheers Jerry

[rob D2]

Super work ! 

[Squirrel Rail]

Bit of fun fitting a pair of 58s with drivers this morning. The trouble with the Heljan 58 is it’s seat bottoms are level with the floor:

i cut the seat bottom out to give a bit more depth and then a bit of amputation to nestle the figure into the gap- as if the amputation wasn’t enough the poor sod has now had a broken arm to drop his hand which I will fill

simikar routine with the second one but a bit easier as this ones got a leg in the air!

This afternoon was spent masking up the 450, hour and a half to do it all!

That allowed me to get the blue on and the masking off, here’s a couple of pics, still some masking to come off the yellow then it can all sit and harden off for a couple of days,

couldn’t resist seeing what three would like together!

 

[Chris56057]

Those drivers look really smart Jerry - are they from ModelU?

[Squirrel Rail]

3 minutes ago, Chris56057 said:

Those drivers look really smart Jerry - are they from ModelU?

Hi Chris, they were supplied by the customer- I can ask him for you where they came from- I really like them especially the one with the fuller figure!

[Squirrel Rail]

The 117 has had the grills removed and all three cars are now in primer

Another Intercity HST gas began, this one to become 43185

whilst 43102 is now finished

also finished is the 4 VEP- the before pictures show the challenge

after….

mans the varnish stripe….

back to normal

[Squirrel Rail]

Been progressing things, albeit very slowly, due to ongoing old folk issues which sadly are going from bad to worse. This means Squirrel work is fitted in as and when I can so thanks everyone for your patience! 
First up a pair of brand new 58s both with broken front handrails on both with two of the top fittings broken on the EWS one and the centre peg on 005 - renumbered and renamed from 021.

I have replaced the missing centre peg-

and here’s 16 with two pegs and the replacement handrail awaiting white paint

Both have had the weathering started and airbrush work will be next

A nice easy job was a black roof for Neptune which had been renumbered and named before it came to me;

Long term rescue 450 is now coming close to getting decals. The black has been sprayed round the cab windows - this is now the correct style from before;

and after

I’ve e also added the bottom yellow stripe and first class bar- 60002 in the background has had all its cant rails added so that’s on the home straight too. 

With the other 3 coaches all done too

The GWR 166 has had the silver and green body side bands added and branding on one car.. getting there!! 

That’s it for this week as I'm not back until Saturday as taking a very much needed couple of days break! Cheers Jerry

[Craig G]

Hi Jerry, superb work as always! Really pleased with how the 58s are coming along. To answer Chris' question, yes the drivers are from modelu. Sorry to hear about the old folks but hope you enjoy your break. All the best!

[MRC_Jacob]

2 hours ago, Squirrel Rail said:

Been progressing things, albeit very slowly, due to ongoing old folk issues which sadly are going from bad to worse. This means Squirrel work is fitted in as and when I can so thanks everyone for your patience! 
First up a pair of brand new 58s both with broken front handrails on both with two of the top fittings broken on the EWS one and the centre peg on 005 - renumbered and renamed from 021.

I have replaced the missing centre peg-

and here’s 16 with two pegs and the replacement handrail awaiting white paint

Both have had the weathering started and airbrush work will be next

A nice easy job was a black roof for Neptune which had been renumbered and named before it came to me;

Long term rescue 450 is now coming close to getting decals. The black has been sprayed round the cab windows - this is now the correct style from before;

and after

I’ve e also added the bottom yellow stripe and first class bar- 60002 in the background has had all its cant rails added so that’s on the home straight too. 

With the other 3 coaches all done too

The GWR 166 has had the silver and green body side bands added and branding on one car.. getting there!! 

That’s it for this week as I'm not back until Saturday as taking a very much needed couple of days break! Cheers Jerry

Looking really nice there Jerry! Someone is releasing some new headlights for the Class 166 soon on Facebook "Track3D railway parts", might be worth asking the customer if they want those installed! 
Can't wait to see my stuff appearing! 

[Squirrel Rail]

Managed to get a bit done over the last few days with the 117 having its glazing put in and reassembled before heading home

and finished….

Started the airbrush weathering on the 58s

then realised I’d forget to change the handrails on 016, I’d even left them out to change which is even more annoying!

last up a bunch of MJAs resprayed from freightliner into GB 

 

[steve1023]

That 117 looks absolutely superb. 

[Squirrel Rail]

The 58s are now finished so here they are: first up 005 renumbered from 021, new names, door guards and weathering and a driver,

016 just the driver, weathering and the door guards

and blue shocks and maroon axle boxes

and the pair together

Next project Bachmann Mk2s, debranded  for itallic Intercity logos and then cantrails and door light repeaters

 

 

[Squirrel Rail]

Apologies for lack of updates but a few projects ongoing amid the mayhem. GBRF 60002 has now got all its decals on, handrails and chassis to go

A new project is this Voyager. On the bottom unit the Virgin logo has been removed by someone else - the top unit I have done the same…..

I have also removed the DR Who plates off this one

The units are also in for de-weathering a before and after ….,

last up this evening has seen the damaged nose end get new silver, a nightmare to match but one the decals are on and a satin coat should blend in nicely. 

Another new project is this 175 that had been started but I wanted to flatten it all out before starting over so again some before and afters, this is going to take some time! 

and with a start on sanding

and a roof line

and getting better…

 

 

[MRC_Jacob]

2 hours ago, Squirrel Rail said:

Apologies for lack of updates but a few projects ongoing amid the mayhem. GBRF 60002 has now got all its decals on, handrails and chassis to go

A new project is this Voyager. On the bottom unit the Virgin logo has been removed by someone else - the top unit I have done the same…..

I have also removed the DR Who plates off this one

The units are also in for de-weathering a before and after ….,

last up this evening has seen the damaged nose end get new silver, a nightmare to match but one the decals are on and a satin coat should blend in nicely. 

Another new project is this 175 that had been started but I wanted to flatten it all out before starting over so again some before and afters, this is going to take some time! 

and with a start on sanding

and a roof line

and getting better…

 

 

Is this my Voyager I'm seeing? Looking good!

[Norski]

Class 175.....wow....not my era but its all i see down my neck of the woods. Looking forward to seeing this.

 

Arriva or TFW livery Jerry ?

[Squirrel Rail]

4 minutes ago, Norski said:

Class 175.....wow....not my era but its all i see down my neck of the woods. Looking forward to seeing this.

 

Arriva or TFW livery Jerry ?

Eventually will be TFW, going to be a lot of rubbing down on this one

[Norski]

I can imagine. Thankfully your patience is well documented. 

[Squirrel Rail]

Long overdue update but I have been moving things along. The Voyager in the x country branding is now finished

likewise 60002

Other paint jobs in progress include a 56 going into Fertis 

and 47703 underway. The black looks really orange peel in the pic but the self levelling thinners means it settles down as seen in the pic after

and with grey roof and smooth black!

These have been taken over the last few days so today it got it’s yellow warning panels along with a 150

last up a bit of steam- a rarity on the Squirrel workbench. The task here was to improve the Matt/satin finish to a bit more shiny so first up out with the masking - this took longer than the lacquer…

and then a gloss coat

i will post another pic when it has the masking off, cheers Jerry

[MRC_Jacob]

6 hours ago, Squirrel Rail said:

Long overdue update but I have been moving things along. The Voyager in the x country branding is now finished

likewise 60002

Other paint jobs in progress include a 56 going into Fertis 

and 47703 underway. The black looks really orange peel in the pic but the self levelling thinners means it settles down as seen in the pic after

and with grey roof and smooth black!

These have been taken over the last few days so today it got it’s yellow warning panels along with a 150

last up a bit of steam- a rarity on the Squirrel workbench. The task here was to improve the Matt/satin finish to a bit more shiny so first up out with the masking - this took longer than the lacquer…

and then a gloss coat

i will post another pic when it has the masking off, cheers Jerry

Looking great Jerry! Voyager looking awesome and can't wait to see the EX-Fertis 56 done too! Clan Line will look at home on the Pullmans!

[Squirrel Rail]

Bit of a long winded update as been grabbing a few minutes here and there before a full day today. Following on from the last update Clan Line is all done:

continuing the Southern theme a Hornby 2 Hal that needed the small yellow panels and yellow first class stripes removing. The yellow was a sod to get off and flat-

Then I finished the front off with new green 

long term projects the GWR 166 and the SWR 450 have began again. John at Precision has done a great set of decals for it including all the door surrounds-

Ive finished all the stripes on the 166 but will be pestering John for door buttons!!

Couple 47s next, 701 was a nice simple job just to fit the etch and detail pack

however it’s sister 703 is a bit more involved with the previous post showing the respray so now it’s got decals

and now weathered,

Behind it is 56103 which has also got its weathering started

Another long term resident is 43185, I’ve now got all the stripes sorted, just need to do the roof

Tractor next with 97304 being reworked as 97302, this is the Kernow version with the darker yellow than the Bachmann original

That’s about it for now!!

[JackB95]

Super update mate. Love the look of that 450 - really looks fantastic.