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James Makin's Workbench - 1990s dirty diesels & grotty wagons


James Makin
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I have uploaded to Flickr in case there are any details that might be of use to someone modelling Didcot in the late 90s

 

I wonder who that could be?! :P

 

Superb stuff Rich, duly saved for my reference bank, thank you kind sir! :)

 

Cheers,

James

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I've been on annual leave and finally had the chance to catch up on a few more modelling projects for Worthing MRC's Loftus Road - mostly scenery-related enhancements, including this cheeky little ambulance job below!

 

30166125138_6cd30e13cf_b.jpgLAS Ambulance by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

I've added a few finishing touches to the Oxford Diecast LAS ambulance, adding a crew, changing the numberplates, a light traffic weathering and toning down the glossy finish with some matt varnish - now good to be added to our traffic jam on Loftus Road!

 

43128504585_09da7640b7_b.jpgLAS Ambulance by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Meanwhile, it was my birthday on Sunday, and as is traditional, I like to treat myself to a trainspotting trip "me time"(!) but usual Sunday engineering works put paid to that, so it was a Monday trip instead!

 

Now as some of you may know, I bang on about Didcot very often, with relatives up there, the hallowed ground of the station has become a second home, although I've not been up to the station for a fair while now and I had quite a surprise going to see what had been done. 

 

So it was interesting to go up there again yesterday to see it post-Great Western mainline upgrade - and let's address that elephant in the room upfront..."THEY'VE RUINED IT!:jester:

 

Anyway, what was bizarre and somewhat ironic, the first train I see is an Electrostar! 

 

43128680565_a2e6c029e6_b.jpgGWR 387145 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

These are shuttling in and out of London and reversing at Didcot, presumably while they finish off electrifying the rest of the line going West. The drawback is that their 8-coach formations hang around obstructing views on the spotter's favourite Platforms 4-5, and who also enjoys busily 'photting' away being a proper train geek while a trainload of 'normal' people pulls up right alongside, doh! 

 

So I'm a little miffed already, anyway now to see that the HSTs have mainly made way for these - 

 

30166288238_f36231d370_b.jpgGWR 800027 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

They're not actually too bad, and the livery does look rather nice, they sound reasonably good under diesel power, but it's no Paxman Valenta is it!!

 

30166309028_55391b0efa_b.jpgGWR 800027 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Adding to this, the stabling sidings yielded no locomotives, but things perked up when after waiting ages, a flurry of freights arrived - including these two beauties - 

 

44034838621_de369a5979_b.jpg66572 and 66766 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Sad isn't it...when the best thing to arrive is a pair of '66's...where are those long lines of stabled RfD '47's and class 60 thrashing by!

 

Now as you may have guessed, I don't go trainspotting much these days, but when I do, I have an odd knack of seeing something that's just been discussed in magazines or online...and yesterday was no different with the new Freightliner orange 66413, accompanied by 66524 in the traditional green & yellow more befitting of these lovely locos!

 

43315801274_2aee92be6b_b.jpg66413 and 66524 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

One interesting addition to 66524 was this mobile job advert now - 

 

43315808024_c508f57932_b.jpg66524 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

When will we see a Monster.com or LinkedIn Class 70?!

 

Every now and then, we'd get a 'celebrity'(!) HST arrive!

 

44034790601_5cefc3daaf_b.jpg43180 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

The last time I did a proper day's spotting at Didcot, I think 2016, I'd ignore these, having seen the whole fleet and sounding like dull busses, but you don't know what you have until it's gone!

 

43315794394_b769035554_b.jpg43025 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

And then this beauty popped into sight -

 

29097318447_495e0584fd_b.jpg66007 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

The now-classic EWS livery on a Class 66, and not ruined by silly DB stickers, heaven! (and that is sad of course)

 

Just as I was leaving the station building, as luck has it (and not showing on Realtimetrains.com) appeared DBS Red 66124 on a rake of the JGA-type wagons in varying liveries from the old Buxton Lime to EWS Industrial (who remembers that novelty!) - and what a gloriously modellable mess they are!

 

29097259017_d14bbbb051_b.jpgJGA Wagons at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

There was a lot of VGAs stabled in the Yard too, so here's a couple for reference purposes -

 

43315722724_2881c563c1_b.jpgVGA wagon 210629 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

30166185758_0488563c93_b.jpgVGA wagon 210650 at Didcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

I'm always pinching other people's pics from Flickr to model my wagons on, so it's nice to give something back for a change!!

 

Finally, here's a few shots showing the crazy rate of change at the Western end of the station, where the classic 'car-park & MGR train signal-check' photo location has given way to this huge car park extravaganza!

 

29097291717_e4a3ab70ec_b.jpgDidcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

The whole scene has changed so much over the past 3 years since the masts have gone up, the fixtures added and now finally wired up, it's almost unrecognisable from it's old self.

 

42225343590_f269cfebfd_b.jpgDidcot Parkway 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

On the upside, the temporary footbridge (itself due to be replaced shortly) yields a great photo opportunity for the Yard - next time I'm up there, it'll have all changed again!

 

43315704394_8d1a3bd94a_b.jpg165108 at Didcot Yard 13.08.18 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

More updates to follow soon on this and the Loftus Road layout thread!

 

Cheers,

James

The GBRf 66 is on a Tilbury Docks- TATA Trostre empty vans.

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So it was interesting to go up there again yesterday to see it post-Great Western mainline upgrade - and let's address that elephant in the room upfront..."THEY'VE RUINED IT!:jester:

 

Hi James

 

I dropped in there a month or so back for the first time in 2-3 years and pretty much said the same thing, the place is a mess!

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It’s a mess. Progress never seems to be....things get better......

Nice ambulance by the way !

 

Didcot was my inspiration as well, although strangely ( as I lived. 20 miles away ) I never went there in the glory days, only reading about the 37 hauled trip workings in “ rail “ each week. Too busy with other stuff I guess.

 

Nice photos rich, including the rare ish loadhaul on grey 60. I’m thinking the MEAs were the avonmouth - rugby cement which IIRC reversed here and used didcot traction.

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Hi guys!

 

It's our club Worthing MRC's annual exhibition this weekend, and I'm excited to dig out my 14-year old Wells Green TMD depot layout and give it a good airing once more!

 

The show will take place this Saturday and Sunday, down in Worthing at Durrington High School (postcode BN13 1LA) - more details can be found at http://www.worthingmrc.co.uk/mrc/annual-exhibition/

 

Here's a few snaps of the layout to whet the appetite for the weekend!

 

44968067311_b655fcbf3d_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

44248651194_083cfd249b_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

44968067091_4921ec58fd_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

44248650984_cfcb374590_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

44968066811_fc07c721a1_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

44248650794_8f63af8782_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

44968066581_a7e69f4ab9_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

44968066441_de450972a0_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

44055782215_75c4798511_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

44968066151_472eb64bcf_b.jpgWells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

There's a feast of D&E-era layouts going this year, including Dubmill Sidings, Melangoose, Hatch End and Oak Road plus many more - please take a look at our website and drop in on the show over the weekend!

 

http://www.worthingmrc.co.uk/mrc/annual-exhibition/

 

Hope to see you there!

 

Cheers,

James

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James I'd love to see Wells Green in the flesh and Loftus Road but Whitby to Worthing is over a 700 mile round trip! I do it once a year to FoS at Goodwood but the domestic authorities won't allow two trips. Best of luck for the show.

 

(Edited for spelling)

Edited by QuoitsPlayer
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I've got a filthy old heap joining the fleet!

 

44104347365_f206d0723d_b.jpg37350 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Tatty Railfreight Petroleum-liveried 37350 is of course better known now as the shiny BR green D6700, the first class 37 to be built and now preserved by the NRM. 

 

I've always liked the weather-beaten underdog appearance of the loco as it appeared in service with EWS just prior to its restoration in BR green for the Toton Open Day in 1998. The once-smart Railfreight triple grey had long since faded, with numerous bodyside damages and rust spots - and frequently covered in oil spills and mud splats - a real mess! Search Flickr for some shots of this loco circa '97-'98 and you can see the full glory of this heap!

 

44104342285_76b52e3f58_b.jpg37350 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Everything fell into place when, a few years back I'd picked up a dirt-cheap Bachmann split-box '37' in Railfreight trainload Distribution sector grey from Kernow Model Rail Centre. The loco, a Model Rail/Kernow Ltd Edition was a reduced, reject repaired example, ripe for a bit of destruction!

 

31143027098_1ee36b6978_b.jpg37350 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

It's actually only the second Class 37 project I've done since I started railway modelling, some 20 years ago! The first one was my 37886, using the original Bachmann 37/4. I've seen some superb efforts in properly detailing/rebuilding these locos to an extremely high spec, but decided to just do a small spruce up & weathering session, just using the odd few Shawplan etched detailing elements to improve over the Bachmann model.

 

First to go were the Distribution diamonds - easily despatched with enamel thinners - just look at them satisfyingly crinkle!

 

44967302272_a08c394feb_b.jpg37350 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

The body was then gloss varnished, with Fox transfers added, before a final top coat of matt varnish applied, ready for the weathering fun to commence!

 

44967287372_5a42f4d2bf_b.jpg37350 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

A layer of white was added to fade down & mute the colours, followed by shades of brown in the paint-on/wipe-off method, until it started to look something like the photographs! 

 

44967246522_d1428326aa_b.jpg37350 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

More and more rusting was added, before doing a final wipe-down with enamel thinners to clean up the livery and leave the dirt gathering in all the right places, before the rust scarring could then be added - numerous patches and scrapes, following prototype pictures carefully to get the positioning as it appears on the real thing.

 

The loco is due to receive an airbrush blow-over to give some more traffic grime in due course, but otherwise good to be pressed into service on my Wells Green TMD at the Worthing MRC show this weekend! 

 

44104268825_f3d8634c3d_b.jpg37350 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

I'm very happy with the finished result - I have stacks of these Bachmann '37's laying around but had been putting off working on any of them due to the level of detailing required - even though it's not the highest-spec model, and with low expectations, it's come out reasonably alright! The mind is now turning to which 'Tractors' to work on next!

 

Cheers,

James 

 

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Lovely stuff James.

Have you thought about what beastie you'll be doing next?

 

There were plenty of grot bags running around in that 1997 time. 37232 is dutch transrail is on my to do list!

Thanks very much!

 

I’ve got a number of them scoped out, I’d like to keep each one a surprise until it’s done though, more fun that way! However there are a couple of distinctly Scottish 37s in the plan for later this year/early next year, as well as a stack of the Bachmann EWS 37411’s which will be renumbered/re-nosed to model certain red Didcot favourites. I’d also like to model 37411 itself (it was the first ‘37’ I ever saw!) - the downside is that every other layout has one!!

 

In the shorter term though, expect another grotty Duff and a cheeky quartet of red Class 60s!

 

Cheers,

James

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Fantastic as ever !

Surprised about the enamel thinners method - I tried my usual tcut Ona Bachmann sector logo and it didn’t work out too well...

 

I’m not sure why your updates don’t pop up for me, as I am following, came via flickr.

 

Any plans for 47016/315.....?

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Fantastic as ever !

Surprised about the enamel thinners method - I tried my usual tcut Ona Bachmann sector logo and it didn’t work out too well...

 

I’m not sure why your updates don’t pop up for me, as I am following, came via flickr.

 

Any plans for 47016/315.....?

Hi Rob!

 

Thanks, it might be certain Bachmann locos are easier to work on than others...I did some Class 66 renumbering for a mate recently and his newer-batch loco numbers came off super easy with thinners, while my older ones wouldn’t budge!

 

I’m very tempted to do 47016, and 47315 definitely appeared at Didcot a fair bit so both are good candidates but aren’t yet in my immediate sights I must say! On a similar theme though, tatty Romanian Railfreight Red Stripe survivor 56019 will be created and placed at the front of a Virgin XC train as per the famous 1998 working!

 

Fantastic weathering James. I love the 'how to' photos, have you tried the paint fading method on other liveries? Wondered if it would work on BR Blue.

Steve.

Thanks Steve! As it happens I’ve had a go at fading BR blue last year with my 47467 model, what seemed to help the most was the layer of matt varnish giving a good key for the faded white and grey layers to cling on the body and not immediately come off when wiped away, as they would with Bachmann’s factory surface!

 

Cheers,

James

 

post-6896-0-03331500-1538521769_thumb.jpeg

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Here's the latest mess to join the fleet!

 

30495966177_14d10f8bd6_b.jpg47241 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

47241 had long been on the modelling list - the Ford-branded nameplates sealed it's fate many a year ago! Depicted in approximate 1998 condition, by then, the loco was in a bit of a state, with some interesting damage marks across the sides and numerous bodyside scars - it looked like it had a hard life! There's some great images on Flickr for those interested to see more of this fascinating prototype!

 

Withdrawn in 1999 and cut up in 2006, it is nice to preserve this beast in 4mm scale! The real thing once carried Silcock Express nameplates before they were removed in place of the cast-off Halewood Silver Jubilee 1988 plates from 47060...itself subsequently to become Freightliner's 57008 not so many years later. 

 

The starting point was, as ever, Bachmann's Railfreight Distribution Class 47, with a few modifications to suit 47241.

 

44521495125_f8534b8981_b.jpg47241 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Armed with some suitable 90's happy chillout pop, the loco was attacked around the No.1 end to replicate the flush front headcode panel, using Shawplan parts and some Humbrol model filler to complete. 

 

43619006970_453bb6316a_b.jpg47241 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

The model was then renumbered, named, and varnished to seal everything in, and left to harden. Several days later, it was time to return with an even more deadly attack..!

 

30495980877_a848602b26_b.jpg47241 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

The paint had faded somewhat in it's 1998 condition, so a layer of white was applied across the entire model, painted on in thinned down format, and wiped off with kitchen roll and cotton buds. With the previous layer of varnish giving the paint a 'key', it really does tone the model down just to the right amount desired! Next it was time to tackle the various scars and unusual marks on the bodyside, working in rust colours from light to dark.

 

44711969774_e9e51b3986_b.jpg47241 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Finishing touches to included drybrushing gunmetal grey over the grilles & roof slats, weathering the underframe and adding the correct arrangement of pipes and dangly bits! The model will soon receive an additional coat of traffic grime, in addition to the previous 37350, once I get the airbrush out for a dirty session!

 

45436479551_ed33d97749_b.jpg47241 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

47241 is the second RfD '47' in my fleet now, alongside 47348 St Christopher's Railway Home and can be seen resting on my Wells Green TMD at the recent Worthing MRC show. I've got another 3 Bachmann RfD '47's stockpiled in the grand plan for the future - again all eventual models chosen will be based around the attractiveness of their retro 1990s commercial-based names! 

 

45436496951_af951d7abf_b.jpg47241 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Now it's back to work to finish off the quartet of maroon class 60s!

 

Cheers,

James

 

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As always, excellent modelling James. Beautiful nameplates and the body side scaring is quite wonderfully modelled.

 

I do enjoy looking at your 47 conversions (think faves are probably still just about the Fragonset and FGW varieties) and already eagerly anticipating the 3 still to come.

 

Any progress on the Didcot layout?

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On 20/10/2018 at 05:27, Chris 66522 said:

As always, excellent modelling James. Beautiful nameplates and the body side scaring is quite wonderfully modelled.

 

I do enjoy looking at your 47 conversions (think faves are probably still just about the Fragonset and FGW varieties) and already eagerly anticipating the 3 still to come.

 

Any progress on the Didcot layout?

 

Thanks very much Chris!

 

I do have a soft spot for that Fragonset '47', despite having many suitable 'Duff's to choose from, it still gets a more-than-regular airing on Virgin XC services on Loftus Road

 

The Didcot Parkway layout has definitely progressed further, the next stage is firming up the plans, quantifying costs and finalising the fiddle yard track plans, baseboard sizes and dimensions. 

 

On 20/10/2018 at 08:02, sb67 said:

Great stuff James, really inspiring work. Did you run stuff on Loftus Road last week? I was there but it was a bit busy.

Steve.

 

Thanks Steve, there was indeed a lot of stuff running at the Hornby show last week, including the 47 at some stages! I've been meaning to put up some more Loftus Road pics, so keep an eye on the other thread in due course!

 

Cheers,

James

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Exciting stuff to here the Didcot layout is making progress (I never thought I’d get excited about Didcot). If you are after info about the Didcot area from the signalling point of view I may be able to help you out, as I singed the workstation a few years back.

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 Have been browsing through your workbench James and I love those dirty engineers wagons!! :good:  I have a soft spot for them and this is why I am doing an engineers layout. The ZCA No 460165 was coded "Sea Hare" and it was a SPA with welded doors to make them ballast carriers BTW.

 

Keep up with the weathering (and graffiti)!!

 

Jules

Can i say Mr Makin that if these vehicles had'nt been photographed on a workbench you would be hardpressed to say they weren't the real thing - congratulations now must up my modelling skills now!

I'm refering to your ZCA's and OCA's.

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Can’t believe I’m actually making a suggestion to you given my meagre skills, but for panel weld lines (in N admittedly), I just mask one side and use a mechanical pencil. Works well, and withstands subsequent washes/powders etc.

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