DavidMcKenzie Posted August 20, 2021 Author Share Posted August 20, 2021 (edited) It's been a while since the last update, life's little ups and downs mean I haven't had so much modelling time in the last month or so. Managed to sneak an hour and have another go at getting a colour match on the station lights as well as dulling down the concrete of the platforms. I am always amazed at the tricks a camera can play, the colour on the lights below was feeling far too pink until I took a photo of it, in the photos it almost looks too red. The platform still has plenty of detailing to do, but it is nice to have the base colour about right now, I always find structures like this hard to get right, but a number of different light washes and dry brushing should get there in the end. I am also finally heading back to the UK this weekend after 18months of not visiting due to corona, so I will enjoy picking up all the new additions to the layout which have been sitting at my parents. All the best, Dave Edited August 20, 2021 by DavidMcKenzie 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted August 29, 2021 Author Share Posted August 29, 2021 It felt like Christmas had come early getting back to the UK and seeing all of the new stock from the last 18 months, lots to enjoy over the winter I got started on the Sturgeon, the end door which come with the model looked good. But I couldn't find a photo of them running with the end doors and no side doors during my period so the first job was to fill the location holes, followed by a chalk white wash to tone down the colours. It's always a horrible feeling when the first steps are making a lovely new model worse. Then some detailing of the buffer beam Then some adding some rust spots and a brown wash Then a little textured paint to give the buffers a realistic texture once painted in suitable colours I will post some pictures of it out on the layout once it is finished, but another brilliant model from revolution. In fact all of the models are really impressive. If I put them next to older generation stock the difference is night and day. About the only disappointment was my own fault for not checking properly. I wanted to re-spray the 31 into coal sector and have managed to order the wrong transfers. One of the downsides to not having shows at the moment, it's much easier to pick up the right thing when you have it in your hand. Never mind! Talking of shows, I am terribly impressed with what Duncan is doing with his wonderful shirebrook layout and having a running day at home and inviting guests. A great way to get a slice of normality through these difficult times. Link below if you don't know what I am talking about. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/136284-shirebrook-n-gauge-1980s-era-layout/page/44/&tab=comments#comment-4558328 All the best, Dave 14 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DavidMcKenzie Posted August 29, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted August 29, 2021 The finished wagon out on the layout Photos always show up things to fix, the lights in the post above earlier in the month always looked wrong but I couldn't put my finger on why until looking at the photos again today and realized the lamp posts are far too thick. So I will have ago at scratch building something (what out for the next disaster ). I was very happy with the background wall as well until I looked at the photo below...... I don't know exactly how I will fix this, but I guess a combination of weathering with powders and some mat varnish. I didn't realize it had a satin finish to it until seeing the pictures. it needs the light to be at the right angle before it shows and I have either never viewed it from this angle before, or just never noticed. A few shots below which have not been cut to only showed the finish view, still plenty to do on the layout itself. All the best, Dave 20 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Duncan. Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 55 minutes ago, DavidMcKenzie said: It felt like Christmas had come early getting back to the UK and seeing all of the new stock from the last 18 months, lots to enjoy over the winter I got started on the Sturgeon, the end door which come with the model looked good. But I couldn't find a photo of them running with the end doors and no side doors during my period so the first job was to fill the location holes, followed by a chalk white wash to tone down the colours. It's always a horrible feeling when the first steps are making a lovely new model worse. Then some detailing of the buffer beam Then some adding some rust spots and a brown wash Then a little textured paint to give the buffers a realistic texture once painted in suitable colours I will post some pictures of it out on the layout once it is finished, but another brilliant model from revolution. In fact all of the models are really impressive. If I put them next to older generation stock the difference is night and day. About the only disappointment was my own fault for not checking properly. I wanted to re-spray the 31 into coal sector and have managed to order the wrong transfers. One of the downsides to not having shows at the moment, it's much easier to pick up the right thing when you have it in your hand. Never mind! Talking of shows, I am terribly impressed with what Duncan is doing with his wonderful shirebrook layout and having a running day at home and inviting guests. A great way to get a slice of normality through these difficult times. Link below if you don't know what I am talking about. https://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/136284-shirebrook-n-gauge-1980s-era-layout/page/44/&tab=comments#comment-4558328 All the best, Dave Dave I have lots of the transfers you need would you like me to drop some in the post for you? Cheers Duncan 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
porkie Posted August 29, 2021 Share Posted August 29, 2021 Love what you have done with the wagon Dave. How do you rate the 31 as its on my shopping list Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stuart A Posted August 31, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2021 (edited) On 29/08/2021 at 16:24, DavidMcKenzie said: I wanted to re-spray the 31 into coal sector and have managed to order the wrong transfers. One of the downsides to not having shows at the moment, it's much easier to pick up the right thing when you have it in your hand. Never mind! Are you doing a full respray or just changing the Sub Sector symbols? I changed mine to coal, but I was planning on just using the fox transfers with the grey blanking piece to overlay onto the existing ones, however the fox ones are ever so slightly smaller, so ended up removing the factory decals with a cocktail stick. Edited August 31, 2021 by Stuart A spelling Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 On 29/08/2021 at 18:21, Duncan. said: Dave I have lots of the transfers you need would you like me to drop some in the post for you? Cheers Duncan That's very kind of you Duncan, thanks. PM sent. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 On 29/08/2021 at 21:50, porkie said: Love what you have done with the wagon Dave. How do you rate the 31 as its on my shopping list Thanks Porkie, it's a nice wagon to start with and then found a few pictures of them in the late 90s and tried to match the photo. I I would say the 31 is a very good model, without being outstanding. I haven't weathered it yet and that usually adds a bit to any model and makes it look a little less like a toy so hopefully it will only get better. A lot of the detailing is very good. The only reason I say "not outstanding" is little bits like the handrails on the front ends are not wire, very picky little things like that which only really show in close up photography and overall I am very happy. A big improvement over the old 31. All the best, Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 2 hours ago, Stuart A said: Are you doing a full respray or just changing the Sub Sectror symbols? I changed mine to coal, but I was planning on just using the fox transfers with the grey blanking piece to overlay onto the existing ones, however the fox ones are ever so slightly smaller, so ended up removing the factory decals with a cocktail stick. Hi Stuart, Do you post your progress anywhere? I'd be interested to see it (also like the HSTs in your profile pic!). I must admit my planning isn't always what it should be and I was pretty much going to make it up as I went along . But the symbols I do have in the photos above are far too small and there is no 'vertical' stripe in the pack either. I will wait to see what arrives from Duncan and go from there, it wouldn't be the first time his tips and advice have saved me from myself . All the best, Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Stuart A Posted August 31, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted August 31, 2021 (edited) Thanks Dave. I think the pack you have is for the HAA hoppers in their original form (later changed to tiny ones as those decals got damaged as the wagons were going through the auto loaders, IIRC) Images below, 1st attempt with the blanking (white not grey as I previously put) at the top, finished at the bottom. I really should document my very slow modelling progress - it might spur me on to do more! Edited August 31, 2021 by Stuart A 10 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 (edited) Please excuse the lack of posts and progress. Renovation of the new house has taken every free minute over the past months. The good news is that there is some space for a model railway again and it doesn't need to be stored on a shelf above the bed. The plan will be to use the new space to have a permanent fiddle yard and 'interchangeable' scenic sections to future proof the railway room. Although it is a very small start, the modelling stuff is unpacked and the first modelling in months happened last night. A slow and humble start, but the station lights just looked wrong to me as they came out of the package. I took the good advice of constantly looking at reference photos whilst modelling. If you look at the picture below (not mine linked from Flickr) they just look too thick, so work has begun on modifying them to make them thinner. I'm glad there are only 6 or 7 to do and the station roof saves me from having to do 3 full platforms worth. Compared to the photo above they are too thick and stand out too much, although the basic dimensions (hight, width etc.) Seem to be very good and close enough to not distract from the focus point of the trains. The first modified one below. The challenge now will be repeating the others in the same way All the best, Dave Edited November 13, 2021 by DavidMcKenzie 12 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 16, 2021 Author Share Posted November 16, 2021 A little more progress on the station lights. Almost ready for the layout. All the best, Dave 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 18, 2021 Author Share Posted November 18, 2021 The station lights made their way into the layout. Starting with the bad, the station sign looks out of place and distracts from the trains, so it has been taken off. I have just been trying to explain to my wife how I have done the work on the station lights so that they don't stand out and just blend into a plausible background.....about halfway through the explanation I did start to wonder if I am a little crazy but hopefully it'll all make sense as the layout comes together (he says with crossed fingers). The other lights gave the look I was hoping for though and have a place on the layout now (nothing is glued down yet, just in place). The other development over the past few days has been the station building. Still not glued down and a horrible gap to the platform which needs sorting at a later date, but the additional signs and weathering bring it to life a little. All the best, Dave 17 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post DavidMcKenzie Posted November 23, 2021 Author Popular Post Share Posted November 23, 2021 The platforms themselves got a little attention last night. The white edges and yellow stripes got masked off and painted. I was dreading taking the tape off, but to my surprise it had all worked out without too much colour running. Some small additional details around the drains and very light weathering are still needed, but I don't want to over complicate or clutter the platforms. All the best, Dave 21 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted November 23, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 23, 2021 Hi David, Love what you have done with the station lamps, and the edging on the platforms looks equally superb, really getting the feel of a North London WCML station now. Rich Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 26, 2021 Author Share Posted November 26, 2021 On 23/11/2021 at 18:12, MarshLane said: Hi David, Love what you have done with the station lamps, and the edging on the platforms looks equally superb, really getting the feel of a North London WCML station now. Rich Thanks Rich. At some angles the layout still looks like a complete building site, but occasionally I look at the right angle and block out some of the background mess and then it is starting to look something like I dreamt of when starting. A long way to go yet, but it's great to be making progress again. All the best, Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 26, 2021 Author Share Posted November 26, 2021 Struggling to post, it's deleted itself three times. Hopefully it's just a short term glitch, if this keeps happening I will have to post progress elsewhere, needing to write posts a number of times combined with all of the new pop up advertising have very much put me off posting here. Has anyone else had similar issues? post is below (hopefully): A rake of dogfish wagons has been sitting patiently waiting for some some weathering and work finally got started on them. Only three test wagons got weathered to the end as a start, all slightly different weathering to check the end result before doing the full rake. The first step was dulling down the original paint with a white wash: Then some base colour added to the underframe: Rust spots picked out, warning flashes added (should really have done that first, only noticed they were missing at this stage though): Dry brushing followed by picking detail out. 3D builders plates added and data panels: The last wagon of the rake had the coupler cut off and some detailing. I was under the impression that dogfish wagons always needed a brake van at the end, but a Flickr search proved that not to be the case and seeing as I don't have a brake van (yet).... https://www.flickr.com/photos/railpics-online/33065383993/in/photolist-sDt5Nm-2hUznPo-9H4J4u-2mjrTYG-2mje3tR-mfbtuk-2m4Bze5-SnSJFt-F5D883-2iCXCji-jKFM7Q-qk7zKV-gK1wmh-8Qvcv8-2m4k37H-UsjB2A-2m4A4Nz-rvXELh-FcGmiW-ewhSYf-8Qvd4P-GYfcJg-PC11hE-jzyAGc-MzmcBx-a4JzEZ-PhbFZ7-9qTpCx-e5cS8d-iwDnEZ-2m4vxDo-2NKorA-ejeqrN-21PUYLS-d8Xgzy-nwjk1Y-dWHfje-MgKooV-g5zBPR-tXBGRA-8os6Sa-noSxb6-9H1Q6T-aEGRAZ-22VckmD-2dVFjiE-ANngb7-DZmcyS-w2FyW9-2cv8pPi https://www.flickr.com/photos/30843245@N00/45975431804/in/photolist-2d3G77G-2m3Tjqm-2m9W2p2-2m3KNES-2hxjemi-2k5osnZ-2azLrS9-QfSTtK-2hsysEy-9De9h5-ptbNAp-SyNLPL-2mhMH49-2iYTiTu-K8s5qA-2kUV8KQ-U9rXPr-2iKH5WQ-CbbYzs-eDeGZ6-N5swxQ-2mje3LV-N7Koio-8noFPw-2mjt3fA-Mz8FVo-2hhnSLa-2m4tVAA-2m47Qdr-2gdZ9iX-2m4BLDE-dS3AEu-9DbxG6-dS3Az5-2m3X9sX-RguwPf-2c54RKJ-2m4rvWt-2mjrU6R-2iCB8Kz-acxjYA-qbtyd6-2mjj5h4-2iUpEDy-MYoBDk-2ikWm4J-dS3ABy-25zR4SZ-dRX1AM-dRX1Dr There is still a thick lip at the top of the wagons which looks out of place, I don't know if I will try to taper it and thin it down, or try to hide it with painting, but it doesn't look right. The last bit which looks out of place is the big couplers. Maybe the Dapol short couplers or even trying revolutions detailed couplers that they use between IZA wagons once the fiddle yard is complete and the wagons don't need to be disconnected for each other so often. All the best, Dave 17 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Davexoc Posted November 26, 2021 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 26, 2021 I know what you mean about that top lip. I think it is a two pronged attack, slightly tapered and a bit of paint to camoflage it too. I also have a fairly big rake to do at some point in the future. As for the couplings, I keep checking the RevolutioN website, but those couplings are OOS! Just hope they get loads in when they do become available, because I need alot..... 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted November 29, 2021 Author Share Posted November 29, 2021 Managed to get the dogfish out on the layout. Wasn't much of a running session because it's still not a complete loop yet, only back and forth is possible. But nice to see a train move after months of nothing. The last shot sums up the state of the layout. Depending on which direction you look, it could be close to finished ..... Or just started. But plenty to keep me out of trouble over the winter. All the best, Dave 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold MarshLane Posted November 29, 2021 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 29, 2021 30 minutes ago, DavidMcKenzie said: Managed to get the dogfish out on the layout. Wasn't much of a running session because it's still not a complete loop yet, only back and forth is possible. But nice to see a train move after months of nothing. The last shot sums up the state of the layout. Depending on which direction you look, it could be close to finished ..... Or just started. But plenty to keep me out of trouble over the winter. All the best, Dave Superb Dave, All the wonderful qualities of your previous layout! Rich 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Superb work all round there David! Best regards, Jeremy 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bmthtrains - David Posted December 1, 2021 Share Posted December 1, 2021 Looks superb! At some point we will have to get all of us modelling the WCML in N to run the same train and stitch a video together - from London to Glasgow! David 2 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted December 2, 2021 Author Share Posted December 2, 2021 (edited) On 01/12/2021 at 14:37, bmthtrains - David said: Looks superb! At some point we will have to get all of us modelling the WCML in N to run the same train and stitch a video together - from London to Glasgow! David Great idea! I wonder how many WCML layouts are out there in n? Sorry if I've missed any obvious ones, but I've tried to list the ones I know of, very loosely starting south and heading north. It would be great to have the list added to and find a few more: Euston (I think work might have stopped on this though) Hatch End Hunters Lane Kings Park North End Road Smithtown road junction Harrow & Wealdstone Southern Section Kinlet wharf Rugby Horseley Fields Harriton Milton Grove Dallam Law Junction The big question would be........which train to run . Possibilities are endless. All the best, Dave Edited December 4, 2021 by DavidMcKenzie 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Padishar Creel Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 1 hour ago, DavidMcKenzie said: Great idea! I wonder how many WCML layouts are out there in n? Sorry if I've missed any obvious ones, but I've tried to list the ones I know of, very loosely starting south and heading north. It would be great to have the list added to and find a few more: Euston (I think work might have stopped on this though) Hatch End Hunters Lane North End Road Smithtown road junction Harrow & Wealdstone Kinlet wharf Rugby Horseley Fields Harriton Milton Grove Dallam Law Junction The big question would be........which train to run . Possibilities are endless. All the best, Dave ... Kings Park es grüßt pc Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
cornish trains jez Posted December 2, 2021 Share Posted December 2, 2021 1 hour ago, DavidMcKenzie said: Euston (I think work might have stopped on this though) I will start this layout again one day.... 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now