Duncan. Posted March 28, 2019 Share Posted March 28, 2019 Hi Simon, I tried to PM you but you can't receive messages, can you check your settings so you can Cheers Duncan Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted March 31, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted March 31, 2019 Hi Duncan - no idea what I pressed but it seems to be working now... explains why none of my messages have come through since the switchover to the new site! Cheers Simon I was hoping that the transfers I ordered for these would turn up in time for the weekend, but I fitted and secured the straps and painted buckles on them. I need to go over the straps with matt varnish and varnish the sticky side of the straps once I've picked the bits of fluff/dust off it. Once the transfers turn up I'll be able to matt varnish everything else. You know when you've got something to do but instead of doing it you pick something else out of the pile and do that instead? The 2mm J94 made it back onto the desk in place of the Las Vegas cake topper... I'd left the bearings sitting proud on the sides of the J94, because I didn't know that I shouldn't until I got that far through the making a Jubilee videos. So I filed them down, then I opened out the holes slightly - slightly larger on the leading two axles and so that the wheel turned freely on the geared axle. Then I fitted my first ever Simpson springs: They're the thin wires over the bearings. I'm not sure how well they'll run or what difference they'll make... but we'll see! This also formed part of this afternoons prevarication; I'm pretty sure I ordered axelboxes/springs but I don't know where I put them... there's a body kit somewhere too Lots to do! Simon 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted April 21, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted April 21, 2019 (edited) Hello everybody! I'm not sure where the month has gone, but I've got some bits done - even some bits I can show I got transfers from the N Gauge Society - I'm not very impressed with them, the carrier film is massive (making the transfers bigger than the bits they're meant to fit on) and really really visible... I think I've got too used to the Railtec transfers. Also, you get transfers for all liveries on one sheet, but you get a maximum of two numbers for each livery and only enough 'other markings' to do one wagon per sheet. I think it would have been better to have one sheet for pre-privatisation and one for post (with EWS and Loadhaul on). I should probably feedback to the NGS. I finished the 2mm wagon chassis and built three more: Two 16T mineral wagons the same as the other five from a few pages back. Now I've got a ten wagon coal train (with nowhere to run it) The chassis I started to build is under the 21T wagon on the left. This was the first 2mm wagon I'd built using separate axle-boxes and springs. Also, it's the first time I've used cast metal buffers. The LNER van is on an under frame I'd 'built' probably 10 years ago - and in true Simon-style I'd decided that just putting the brake shoes on was enough and I didn't need all the rest... I still had all the bits I'd missed off on the original etch. I added all the brake rigging, levers, and the vacuum cylinder. I need to finish all the wagons off. I've also nearly got the J94 running freely (without the motor), it's currently a 040 because I'd bent one of the wheels and had to order a new pair... Lots to do! Simon Edited April 21, 2019 by MrSimon Can't spell 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 Those BDAs look cracking simon. The tape looks just like a ratchet strap. I also like the little details like the tail light. Did you scratch build that? Or did it come in a kit form from someone? Great modelling like always. All the best Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted April 22, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted April 22, 2019 Thanks Dave! The strapping was all Duncan from Shirebrook - it's a pain to fit, but with a few blobs of Humbrol metalcote (27001) and a coat of Matt varnish (on coloured side and the bits of sticky side that aren't stuck to the load, to stop the dust/fibres sticking to it). The end details are a brake pipe from a RTR wagon (handy now they all come with them) and a coupling hook and dummy screw coupling from Taylor. I'm pretty sure the lamp is PS Systems, the last place I saw them was BH Enterprises, but it's a few years ago - I got some printed ones from Modelu, but I've not tried them yet, so this one might end up being replaced with one of those. Loving all the work going on on Maids Morton at the moment! Cheers Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 I'd be interested to see how you get on with the Modelu tail lamps. It's the kind of detail that brings a model to life and I haven't done it yet on any of my freight rakes. I was a bit disappointed to miss out on revolutions IZAs with a fitted working tail light. But I just didn't have the budget for all the 321s I want, the 92, the KFAs as well as the IZA cargo wagons....the wishlist always seems to grow rather than shrink . Thanks for the kind comments about Maids Morton. I've been really enjoying my modelling and hopefully that's coming across between all the beginner mistakes and the step learning curve that I'm going through at the moment . Keep up the great modelling and all the best Dave 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
railtec-models Posted April 22, 2019 Share Posted April 22, 2019 20 hours ago, MrSimon said: I got transfers from the N Gauge Society - I'm not very impressed with them, the carrier film is massive (making the transfers bigger than the bits they're meant to fit on) and really really visible... I think I've got too used to the Railtec transfers. You might be relieved to know in that case that the NGS approached Railtec a little while ago and we've been working together since. We're now supplying transfers for any new sheets as well as gradually taking over supply for the older sheets as and when old stock from the previous supplier runs out (which sounds like what you've had here). The actual designs however are done by the NGS and we just print them (although if there is space for any spares on the sheet then they get sneaked in...), so indeed if you have feedback about what you think works well/less well in terms of what's physically on the sheet, then I'm sure they will be open to hearing it. 2 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted April 22, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted April 22, 2019 Thanks Steve, I'll drop them an email. It's great news that you'll be making them - the loco numbers and NMT transfers I got from you have been really high quality, I keep reading references to peeling the film off, but I've never managed it - it must be an urban legend :p 4 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said: I'd be interested to see how you get on with the Modelu tail lamps. It's the kind of detail that brings a model to life and I haven't done it yet on any of my freight rakes. I was a bit disappointed to miss out on revolutions IZAs with a fitted working tail light. But I just didn't have the budget for all the 321s I want, the 92, the KFAs as well as the IZA cargo wagons....the wishlist always seems to grow rather than shrink . Thanks for the kind comments about Maids Morton. I've been really enjoying my modelling and hopefully that's coming across between all the beginner mistakes and the step learning curve that I'm going through at the moment . Keep up the great modelling and all the best Dave Yep, know what you mean, on both points! I keep looking at the Farish & Dapol announcements and feel relieved that there's nothing I really want... then I remember everything that's on the way from Revolution and C Rail - and now the Cavalex tankers! I've been making beginner mistakes for 25 years now, I try to write as much as I can remember on here so I can remember what I've done! It's still fun after all this time too Cheers Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted May 10, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted May 10, 2019 (edited) Hello everybody! I thought I'd posted much more recently, here's what I've been up to over the last few weeks: I've done two of these, with one more to go. On the pictures of these in the train they're quite clean, so I didn't weather these too much (but when I get round to the VGAs etc I'll use the same method - paint and wipe off) The next pair of these, I've matt varnished them since I took this. Last set of transfers on the last NMT coach, I need to varnish the transfers and then I'll make a judgement about the blocked off window on the left to see if I need to fill it more. Next job will be the the roof details around the pantograph well. I've also nearly finished the paintwork on the class 47: I need to tidy up some of the lines, paint the roof and then prepare it for transfers and weathering. Lots to do Simon Edited May 11, 2019 by MrSimon Can't spell 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted June 2, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted June 2, 2019 Hello everybody, The suns been out and the garden's wanted some attention, so I've not got as much done over the last few weeks - certainly nothing on any of the stuff in the post above... I admitted defeat and got a new pair of driving wheels for the J94, all the issues I'd been having with not being able to turn the wheels smoothly with the rods on went away and with a few bits of fettling with a drill bit, I managed to get it running freely. Can you guess which wheel I replaced...? Now that the chassis runs freely I need to put in the stub axles and the gears that go between the rear driver and the motor worm. Then add the motor and I can see if it runs. Also, I need to find some instructions on how to keep connecting rods on so I don't have to use wire-coating... Once I've got the chassis running I'm going to work out which bits I need to cover with electrical insulation and then build some mounts for the couplings and to fasten the body on, and then I can start work on the body. Phew! While I had the soldering iron out to solder in the crank pins on the new wheels I decided to build some more wagon kits: I hadn't planned on having a 24.5T wagon but I'd bought it for the chassis when I was rebuilding the fox hunter fish vans a few pages ago. I think it's the first time I've got one of the longer chassis right. They just need priming and painting now and then I can add them to the queue for painting/transferring/weathering. Lots to do! Simon 4 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted June 21, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted June 21, 2019 Hello everybody! As you know, I was going to crack on and focus all my attention on the J94 and get it running... I didn't... Instead, I reached for the weathering powders: Here's the class 20 caked in dirt ready to be wiped off once it's dried a bit. I went for a much dirtier but less faded finish than the other class 20. Here we are with the powders wiped off. I did the sides and the nose, I'm not sure whether to seal them before doing the cab end and the roof, or do it all and then seal it... but I've put the last of the transfers on the cab now so I can get on with it whichever way round! I also did a batch of containers. Finally in this round-up, I found another 2mm van chassis that I'd part built but called finished: Luckily I still had the rest of the etch 10 years later (I'm not that much of a hoarder, I promise...) A few hours work fixing the brake gear on and soldering it all together and it's done. Etch primer on the chassis, white primer on the body, one LNER fish van ready to paint. I'm enjoying building these 2mm wagons... Better finish the J94 so I can run them Lots to do! Simon 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted June 30, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted June 30, 2019 Hello everybody, I've been out in the weather instead of at my desk playing trains, but after 8 months of winter that's ok I thought I'd finished weathering the class 20 until I got it blown up on screen and now I think I should have cleaned the cab front off more. It looked much cleaner in real life. Here it is with the other class 20: I bought the wagon that dirty and haven't tried to clean it off yet... Next time I go up to work on the layout I'll take these with me for a run, and take video, of course. Now to find something to take it's place in the project box! Lots to do Simon 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted August 18, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 18, 2019 Hello everybody! I had a trip up to see the layout my parents the other week - the class 20s performed well (although I think I aught to refurbish/detail a second powered one as a back-up if I ever make it to an exhibition...) as did the coal containers. (I also posted this picture on my layout thread, the operators view of the fuel/hardstanding roads) There were one or two issues with the coal containers, one was more of an issue with the platform, the other with the wagons. When pulling the train out of the fiddle yard the front wagons are on the brink of being pulled off the track by the weight of the end of the train - so I'm going to add a little weight to the front few wagons to see if that helps. I'll have play experiment next time I'm up. I decided to go for Peco wagon weights, because they're quite light but work well enough on Peco wagons. I even had some going spare off some wagons that are being dismantled: (You haven't seen the last of the plate wagons) The weights are too long for the wheelbase of the PFAs so I cut them in half. The yellow wagon will be the one right next the the engine (which was most at risk of tipping over the other week) so I added a larger weight into the container. I doubt 8 wagons will be weighted, but I want to make sure I add it to enough of the head of the train to improve running without burning out the 56. Also this week I decided that the final coach of the NMT is done. The whole train needs the windows tinting and then weathering in one go for a uniform look. So that's two spare slots in the 'bigger jobs' box... 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted August 18, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 18, 2019 ...(I ran out of MB in the last post) so I pulled this back out the box to finish off: I'd called this 'finished pending transfers' back on page 8, and I found that Railtec did the transfers I needed... so here we are. Unfortunately, things have moved on a little on Gresby's class 47 fleet now, so it's going to need a little more work to get it to the same standard as the Portabrook and 47145... but it should be a quick job. I got straight on it rubbing down where I'd left the paint looking messy and drilling out the holes for the roof fans. I hit a slight stumbling block when I was looking on flickr for pictures one end has headlamps as per the Taylor kit, the other end is completely flush. Luckily it's the end that would be against the train is flush so it's not noticeable, but I'll know, and I'm not sure if I could ignore it... (I reckon I can) So that fans are fitted and just need painting before I add the mesh and touch up/dirty the roof. I also Sharpie over this thing which was really visible through the fan... it's quite an old chassis now, but I completely rebuilt it last time I had this one out for work. Next: the painting... Lots to do! Simon 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted August 18, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 18, 2019 Hello everybody, Just a quick one, my dad sent me a short video of the V1(/V3) on Hawthorne Dene this weekend after I let it out to play by itself for the first time: Lots to do! Simon 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
millerhillboy Posted August 18, 2019 Share Posted August 18, 2019 Good to see the V1/V3 out in the wild, looks like its running well and I also note pulling a half decent load as well. I haven't used my own V1/V3 in anger at all yet even though its complete but I was concerned it felt on the light side and might struggle with traction. Yours looks to be pulling well though, did you add any extra weighting? 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted August 19, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 19, 2019 Thanks MHB! It’s a surprisingly strong runner, I managed 8-9 coaches round the layout on test last year, the traction tyre makes a massive difference! It is quite light, I added a bit of weight using Superfine White Milliput - I filled the cavity in each side tank, formed the shape of the coal with it, inside the cab roof (more for strength than any useful weight), the smokebox, and the bit between the frames at the front between the buffer beam and cylinder (to strengthen where I snapped it off). I also filled up the hollow bit of the printed rear truck just to make sure it had enough weight to stay on the track. It was probably a bit of overkill. Looking forward to the L1 becoming available Cheers Simon 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonas Posted August 19, 2019 Share Posted August 19, 2019 (edited) I saw that layout inn Saturday as Ross show is a few minutes walk from my house! I thought it was a great layout with some lovely stock, although I didn’t spy that particular engine when I was looking. keep the updates coming - you are always working on something interesting! The etched fans look fab. Edited August 19, 2019 by jonas Fat fingers 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted August 20, 2019 Share Posted August 20, 2019 Hi Simon, Great work as always. The models look brilliant. How did you do the jumper cables on the front of your 47? They look really good. I have done a few old farish 87s and added the jumpers from little cut out bits of plasticard and wire and although they look ok, they are also not a scratch on what you've done there. All the best Dave 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted August 23, 2019 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted August 23, 2019 Thanks both! I can’t take any credit for the jumper cables - I just stuck them on! They come with the TPM detailing kit - it’s a one piece etch with the ‘orange bit’ folding over to make it more box-like. The fans are from the Extreme Etchings part of Shawplan, I think they’re meant for the new Chinese version of the 47 but I use them anyway Cheers Simon Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Les1952 Posted August 27, 2019 Share Posted August 27, 2019 On 19/08/2019 at 07:41, jonas said: I saw that layout inn Saturday as Ross show is a few minutes walk from my house! I thought it was a great layout with some lovely stock, although I didn’t spy that particular engine when I was looking. keep the updates coming - you are always working on something interesting! The etched fans look fab. It was definitely running - every ninth train on the Northbound circuit. All the very best Les 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted January 11, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 11, 2020 Hello everybody, It’s been a while! I’ve been doing a bit of post-Christmas sorting out of stock. First, fresh from running Christmas Specials to Gresby this 108 got the start of some TLC. On the un-powered car I took the buffers off the gangway end and set them about 1mm further in - this should make the unit more reliable on sharp corners. I also stuck the detailing pack on (as much as I didn’t loose), it’ll go back in its box until I work out if I want a larger roof-top box/black windscreen surrounds/a white roof dome/etc. Next up, actually did a tiny bit of modelling. I decided I had to model the two different ends of the loco, took the etches off the end, filled it with milliput and sanded it smooth. Now I can get on with the painting. Speaking of painting, I bought some British Steel blue at Warley and started to paint the tipplers. Here they are after 2 coats of orange and one of blue - good to see them all the same colour after 2-3 years of them in every colour. I’d got this sent home to meet me at Christmas. I’d actually ordered 2 freightliners but the box contained 1 and this. Here it is fresh out the box, I’ve never liked that Farish didn’t get the plastic stairs to match the body colour... So I painted it. And I painted the stairs - I just need to put a dirty wash on the underframe and it’ll be at the same pre-weathered stage as the rest of the train. (I want to see about weathering the train this year). Finally, I gave this a good run over Christmas. I’ve got an issue with the pantograph car - putting the new livery and old on the different sides backfired slightly because it wouldn’t stay coupled while the right way round to show the same style livery as the other coaches... definitely something to investigate. The rest of the train ran well so I can get on with weathering and finishing it off. I’ve got some more stuff on the go, I just need to take pictures... Lots to do! Simon 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted January 12, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 12, 2020 I sometimes worry about modelling too many none-standard things, but sometimes they’re right for a region. There were 18 4car 101s with a trailer brake, but the 111 buffet car made it 1of 10. The other 101 (With 2 Trailers and a normal Driver Brake) was also 1 of 10... both right for NE region layouts though. But we can go a rarer than that after today... The NE region also had some class 108s, and I’m making 1 of the 6 4car 108s. Today I cut a pair of spare body shells up to make the Trailer Brake Second: I’m not sure what the story was with the paint, but it made the original unit cheap. I found the drawings on railcar.co.uk and worked out where to cut. It fits. More or less. I tacked it with superglue, then I stripped the kinda-privatised livery off. Weirdly for me I primed it straight away, doing the NMT proved it was easier to sort gaps and things if it was white. I’m going to measure it against the plan and against the TC it’ll run with before either filling the crack or taking another half mil from the roof. Everything else today just got a second coat, which is dull. Lots to do! Simon 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidMcKenzie Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 On 23/08/2019 at 18:11, MrSimon said: Thanks both! I can’t take any credit for the jumper cables - I just stuck them on! They come with the TPM detailing kit - it’s a one piece etch with the ‘orange bit’ folding over to make it more box-like. The fans are from the Extreme Etchings part of Shawplan, I think they’re meant for the new Chinese version of the 47 but I use them anyway Cheers Simon Hi Simon, Sorry to jump back a bit in your thread, but I was looking for the jumper cables kit. Did you get them recently from Tpm? I found a website for them but it doesn't look updated since about 2013. All the best Dave Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium MrSimon Posted January 13, 2020 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted January 13, 2020 (edited) Hi Dave, No need to apologise, always welcome! It’s so long since I fitted them to this 47 I probably bought them direct from TPM before the website changed in 2013. Any else I’ve bought have been off eBay or sometimes they come up in Hattons pre-owned or in boxes of odd bits on stalls at exhibitions. I’ve got in my head that BH Enterprises are going to start producing the TPM etches, I’m 90% sure I read it somewhere before Christmas, but I can’t remember whether I read it somewhere reliable and their website hasn’t been updated (I also read that some of the kits are going to be available through the NGS but I don’t know if that includes the detailing parts). How many sets do you need? I might have some. Cheers Simon Edited January 13, 2020 by MrSimon Can’t spell Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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