SparxD428 Posted January 21, 2018 Author Share Posted January 21, 2018 Spent most of the afternoon tidying up the old Lima 47402. Hacked off the old moulded couplings and after much swearing managed to get something more modern fitted to the front as well as tidying up some of the detailing and dulling down the high intensity headlight I fitted at the No.2 end to something slightly less bright than looking directly in to the sun. Now going to have a week off modelling due to work, maybe contemplate starting the tube station "roof" and finishing the buildings and wall near the wagon works. Cheers, Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan product fan Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Superb photos here mate really like the renumbering you have done 029 looks ace and great weathering to nice one . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
NIRCLASS80 Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 Great stuff. Love the 50's Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted January 27, 2018 Author Share Posted January 27, 2018 After a week away an hour this morning continuing weathering one of the HST power cars. Trademark oil slick down the sides of 43002 Will probably use a lighter wash on the underframes and sides to make it blend nicely to finish the job. Then just the same is needed on 43003 Cheers Stu 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 So a last minute decision at lunchtime was made to head over to the Alton MRG show to see what's happening and if there were any bargains to be had with my remaining railway funds. I came away £200 lighter but Vac heavier as well as getting some rolling stock I've wanted since starting this layout. I digress, a little running session began with:- 50029 on the Down Midnight (1C02 2359 Padd-Penzance Sleeper) Now with added SLEP which need to be renumbered to WR examples in the future Meanwhile next morning on the previous night's 1A02 21:35 from Penzance... ...a new visitor also purchased today. A quick visit for the basic works attention and a new identity.. 50021 has arrived at Acton Green. Close up shows the number backing barely visible to the eye. I will carefully deal with that later. And so the "Up" shows the other SLEP in IC livery also purchased today. So what I really should have been doing was weathering 43003. But thats for another day as there is another loco about to enter works. This will be revealed in due course but I bet you can make an educated guess at what it is..and what she will emerge as. Cheers Stu 9 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan product fan Posted February 3, 2018 Share Posted February 3, 2018 Great photos mate and excellent addition with the coaches and vacs . 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Temeraire Posted February 3, 2018 RMweb Premium Share Posted February 3, 2018 Hi Stu Nice purchases today, all that for £200 not bad. I take it ‘Dave’ was 31? Do we have a Tiger next then? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 3, 2018 Author Share Posted February 3, 2018 Hi Stu Nice purchases today, all that for £200 not bad. I take it ‘Dave’ was 31? Do we have a Tiger next then? Right on both counts sir. Not a bad days purchasing. Both vacs came fitted with DCC chips but the one in 31 was faulty. So body from 31 has been turned in to 21 and is running on 35's chassis whilst the paintbrush is out on 28. Although removing the numbers and nameplates on 35 is much tougher than 31. Guess that batch must have used heavier print finishing ! Luckily as I'm doing 28 as it was pre NSE through 1986 and first half of 87, it will be in a tatty state so excuse to overweather a bit for realism. Bizarrely I never got a photo of 28 in LL of my own but there are a few excellent ones online showing it looking battered in 86 and 87. Cheers Stu Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 5, 2018 Author Share Posted February 5, 2018 OK so this one didn't go exactly to plan. Awkard numbers and nameplate to shift meant I had to get the paintbrush out, which just made things look worse ! So then I painted the grey roof Matt Black. Which although the paint can was labelled Matt black was the most striking GLOSS black I've ever painted. As I was painting it I though this isnt quite right but got too far down the line to stop. So after a bit of a mix of painting and weathering, cursing and swearing, a slightly overcooked 50028 has emerged. And due to the chip failure she is currently running on 20's chassis - my sound one. So at least it moves well and makes noise. Just a bit of chassis weathering now to contemplate if I keep 28 on this set of wheels. As you can see from the photo's I have gone for the discolouration due to overwashing method for the blue followed by lots of grubbiness. It actually doesnt look too bad to be honest but I would have preferred it to have been a bit smoother. A few pics.. Forgot to put back the ETH box on the first one Refitted for these Think I need a break from butchering vacs for a while now ! Cheers, Stu 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post SparxD428 Posted February 5, 2018 Author Popular Post Share Posted February 5, 2018 One of those nights where Paddington was closed. Acton Green was swarming with Vacs tonight. Cheers Stu 20 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Iron Horse Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 Love it Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan product fan Posted February 6, 2018 Share Posted February 6, 2018 lovin all them vacs mate the one of the whole station with the bus on a bridge and the one of vinny and hood are very nice mate . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 11, 2018 Author Share Posted February 11, 2018 Today's mantra was "must get on with finishing the layout and not run (m)any trains". So to work this afternoon. Firstly, significant progress has been made on the final building. Due to lack of brickwork and the fact virtually everything on the layout is brick based, plan B was executed to make a nice stone set of flats. A bit posh for the area they sit in on the layout and loosely based on buildings on Baker Street. Just need to make the entrance and add the finishing details but its looking a lot better than a white card rectangle now. From Workbench to planting location. Balcony railings since added. Not the easiest location to photograph as its actually a bit hidden from the viewing side. Flatter view from the scenic break side Been working on the pavements and some yellow lines/drains etc. I have some drainpipe drying ready to be attached to the terraced houses. Chimneys also added today. Over at the station a lazy Sunday as a 33 is parked with vans for Southampton Quick breather at the fuel point Whilst rover gets a break from all the hiking on platform 4. Meanwhile, on the Central Line that elusive train is still,, well elusive.. Once the final corner is completed I could say the layout (ground level and above) could be considered "complete" although I have a few things to detail and tidy up naturally. Attention will then turn underground to sorting out a roof, lighting and further tunnel track for a possible future running line as opposed to the current cameo with no trains. Cheers, Stu. 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 14, 2018 Author Share Posted February 14, 2018 Brief update. Some "board" fencing has been created around the wagon works which is drying at the minute. So excuse to turn the lights out and run the last knockings trains as night falls. HST running ECS to OO. And with all the lights out except those on the layout 1C02 tonight will be hauled by 50024 Cheers Stu 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 17, 2018 Author Share Posted February 17, 2018 So a few more minor details completed on the layout today. Firstly, I quickly constructed some information screens for the station using some metal rod for the poles and card for the screens. quickly painted with acrylic and hey presto. They look pretty OK on the layout but the camera here doesnt flatter them. Meanwhile at the wagon works, a cabin, a barrier and a bored man reading a newspaper have appeared. Again this crude construction is from card. I have actually half glazed the front window and fully glazed the side one. And also the entrance to the speedlink platform now has a security gate. And finally on the fleet front Rodney has had some weathering done to one side. Again not sure if I've overdone it but it looks pretty Ok in the flesh. I'll go over the yellow ends with a darker brown colour I think to offset the lightness of the weathering on the blue. Cheers Stu 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan product fan Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 The monitors look the bees knees mate well made. Rodney looks smart the weathering looks spot on the body side . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
danstercivicman Posted February 21, 2018 Share Posted February 21, 2018 Lots of detail Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 27, 2018 Author Share Posted February 27, 2018 (edited) The man on the gate has a new cabin to sit in as I wasnt really happy with the first effort and after seeing a couple of better efforts decided to improve on my first draft. So he now has a bigger cabin, a desk, a clock, a map and unfortunately in true Reg Prescott style I made a shelf but it was so thin it fell off the back wall ! On other fronts Rodney's weathering is complete, and also Warspite has had a touch more weathering to dampen down the underframes and buffer beams. Only 1 (poor) pic tonight. Cheers Stu Edited February 27, 2018 by SparxD428 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted February 28, 2018 Author Share Posted February 28, 2018 Had a little evening running session tonight under the layout lights. I am thinking of adding a few more in strategic positions but for the main body of the layout I'm pretty pleased with the lights. Took a few lower resolution photo's to see if they come out better than the 16Mpx ones I have been taking which seem to be picking up things I cant even see by eye !! Also if anyone is attending the show in Romsey I will be there this Saturday as part of the Tidworth crew helping Ian (Temeraire) and Mike (Scoobyra) of this parish so come over and say hello. This assuming of course we all don't get snowed in / event called off due to the weather Cheers Stu A couple of pics from under the lights tonight.. 50024 on Shed Nightlife on the overbridge and the West Ealing Road Think Horn Lane tube may need a couple of extra streetlights nearby Meanwhile the down still runs (again .. I'll get bored of the SLEPs soon honest 1) this time behind 50021 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted March 4, 2018 Author Share Posted March 4, 2018 Today has been all about the Underground. First, the station needed a roof. Not quite the sweeping arc I wanted but with the materials (and skills ! ) available its not a bad effort Then it needed some lighting fitted. I used Railroom electronics strip 12V strip LEDs - the ones that split into blocks of 3 if you want. So I duly separated and soldered 7 of these in series After tidying up the wiring the station was returned to its location under the layout. Currently I am using an old Hornby 12V transformer to power these lights. Further work will be done at a later date to complete the tunnel mouths and the track in to the tunnel to another strip of 4 foot board and track. Due to the height it will still be an "in and out" terminus shuttle. When I can procure a 4 car EFE Central line train. And then fit a motor. And lights.. I also made some platform information boards this week showing timetable information. I'll post some pics next time. Cheers, Stu 12 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted March 11, 2018 Author Share Posted March 11, 2018 (edited) It's been another busy week / weekend on the layout. Yesterday I visited the Basingstoke show and met up with Ian (Temeraire), Scott (Pitbull), Paul (RHB) , Mike (Scoobyra) and Dave along the way. Purchased a few bits and bobs required - DCC chip to put the last 50 I purchased in to service, some scenics, tools etc. And one bigger purchase (see later on). In terms of work, this week I have completed more of the weathering of my HST set. All bogie underframes now done and lower sides of the carriages to simulate the dust and like they used to have sprayed up the bodysides. And finally the dummy car was completed with oil marks too. A couple of hi res pics hopefully shows this up OK The population of Acton Green also increased yesterday with some outrageously coloured clothing to the fore (well it is set in the 1980s) so a few more people have been dotted round in positions and situations. Also some more flower beds have appeared at the station. And as promised before a pic of the information boards. I actually typed up a load of info in MS paint with real destinations in A-Z order. I know its unreadable but I made the effort ! I finally got round to building and painting a free market stall kit I got ages ago with a copy of Railway Modeller. As well as adding the shop displays More trees and foliage have been planted around the front and embankment sides of the layout. Another EFE .Routemaster was bought at Basingstoke for the massive fee of £7.50 (no pic) And finally, for £60 I got this... 47500 - a Heljan example which needed a little maintenance but is running OK for me although I only used a DCC26 chip (1.5A max) and it runs a little warm. No detail kit was with it and it came with a nearly welded on body and black buffers/beams. So I have commenced stage 1 corrective action and painted the red beams/silver buffers Next step will be to weather it up a little and then craft some ETH boxes I have also started building another new block of flats to replace the last unfinished set as I wasnt happy with them at all. Cheers, Stu Edited March 11, 2018 by SparxD428 17 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
vulcan product fan Posted March 11, 2018 Share Posted March 11, 2018 Great detailing work mate and the duff looks great in green with red buffers beams . Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted March 15, 2018 Author Share Posted March 15, 2018 A few more jobs ticked off the list of things to do recently, although work will soon curtail the modelling for a week or two probably after this weekend. I have applied a light weathering to 47500 and now just need to do ETH boxes and minor detail. Etched plates have been ordered and hopefully will arrive soon. Also I have fitted flush glaze to the No.2 end of the old peak and added some thin plastic for wipers. Again minor bufferbeam detail needed to finish this one off. Obligatory pics 47500 stabled outside the shed 45103 working a Padd-Wolverhampton General view tonight with 50014 on vans Cheers Stu 13 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew P Posted March 16, 2018 Share Posted March 16, 2018 Hi Stu, some great pics, thanks. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
SparxD428 Posted March 17, 2018 Author Share Posted March 17, 2018 Hi Stu, some great pics, thanks. Thanks Andy, Much appreciated. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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