virginhst539 Posted August 31, 2021 Author Share Posted August 31, 2021 Normality at last! club room was back open a couple weeks ago so tonight I remembered to take something down to play about with and there was only one loco for the job. looking much better on the rails instead of the shelf/workbench. A couple of small additions still to do on the loco and of course sorting a corridor tender but I'm more than happy with it, Also the added bonus of finding out it actually runs as well tonight so that's one less thing to worry about 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted October 12, 2021 Author Share Posted October 12, 2021 (edited) **New project post** This one has been a bit of a slow burner but finally decided to get stuck in to this. So a fair while back I posted some pics of a Airfix Mk2 which I had started to convert to one of the brake force runners to ultimately form part of the old structure gauging train. Skip forward a few years, few Hornby RTR test coach's, 3d printed parts and of course the introduction of Laserflex systems on the prototypes. I now have the components to throw together a Modern SGT. The modern Formations run mostly combined sets of SGT + UTU sets in Scotland which is the region I model so the next part of the project is to model the Ultrasonic test coach. My chosen Formation however has a couple hard to model items in so a couple subs are being made but who does not like a bit of modelers license! 99606 Motorail coach - Replaced by Bachmann Mk1 Genny or Hornby GUV 99666 72630 62384 UTU4 - Replaced as 999606 UTU3 9714 So no motorail coach available and UTU3 basically as its one of the simpler ones to convert using one of the MK1 coaches that come from the build your own railway mag. The most intrusive part of the coach mods is to cut out one of the doors for the fitting of a roller door as seen in the picture. the rest of the modifications where achieved using 3D printed window blanks from a popular online auction site with a few of them receiving a bit of modification to form the quarter windows and new door drop lights. these where then super glued to the body and should hopefully withstand the filling and sanding which will follow next. Its all a but rough just now and still a couple bits more to do to one side but trust the process, should all more a bit more refined in the next up date..... JT Edited October 12, 2021 by virginhst539 Duplicate pictures 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted October 16, 2021 Author Share Posted October 16, 2021 Update all things yellow (must realy figure out how to change the name from modern to yellow work bench) 999606 UTU3 Almost got it first time with the milliput which i found rather surprising. Only a couple bits needing a bit more sanding and filler. Mostly round the engine air intake vent and a door panel line which has come out a tad wobbly. 975814 NMT While giving the UTU a quick sprey decided to give the first mk3 conversion a light rub down and a coat of grey to unify it all and make it look a little less of a disaster. Must say it looks better than expected. Only thing that really needs done is a bit of superglue on the back of the window blanks to try stop them cracking off again Next steps after a bit of filling a sanding will be to get these both primed with ammos sand coulor leveling primer and get them spreyed yellow, but i do have a german tornado which is ready of decals so that might take priority for now.... JT 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted November 13, 2021 Author Share Posted November 13, 2021 Quick update on 999606. Yellow came out a bit dark, thankfully not too much of an issue as it was only a couple of light coats. Quick rub down and a prime the lazy way with the trusty halfords can and its ready for yellow again. Took the chance to fire it all back together for a pic. Taken a bit of a red tint for whatever reason but im not to worryed about that. Next will probably be starting on the underframe bits 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted November 29, 2021 Author Share Posted November 29, 2021 Early xmas for me when it comes to all things yellow First box contained my first venture into buying a 3d printed kit, Ex motorail coach which is need on most ultrasonic/structure gauging test trains As can be seen the kit comes in 4 parts with replica railways B5 bogies completing the set. Phone pics really don't do it justice and the level of detail on the coach is something else. Had it sat together loosely and looks like it will need a little fettling to get a nice fit but nothing to taxing or unexpected. Just need Bachmann to do a second run of DBSOs and that completes the line up nicely. Second box contained a pair of NMT bodyshells. Nice and cheap as these are the ones with the dodgy branding on one side which will be an easy fix with any luck. Plan is for one to replace the older livery MTU buffered power car from the R3366 pack with the second going onto the dummy buffered power car Hornby are doing for the class 91s. The ultimate plan is to be able to let me run a combination of the power cars as they do cycle them out for exam once the non buffered power car gets put into the current livery. This will however leave me with a buffered IC and NWR blue band power car body at some point. Might sell them to fund a EX LNER pair with a colas and network rail branded power car but that wont be for a while yet! 999606 UTU5? will be getting an outing tomorrow night so will get a progress update on that up towards the end of the week with some better pictures. JT 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted December 1, 2021 Author Share Posted December 1, 2021 (edited) Rather on the ball this week and sorry in advance this ones a bit photo heavy! Since my last update on 999606 its made its way through the paintshop yet again making me wish i modelled serco, railtrack or one of the many RTC liverys as I hate painting yellow with a passion! First off was the underframe. Fuel tank and two water tanks where made up from thick plasticard and glued in place with the strapping for the fuel tank being made up of thin strips of plasticard Additional details such as the emergency stop buttons at the test bogie end are made of various bits of plasticard and mk1 door hinges added to the tops of the tank to act as a bolt plate between the chassis and tanks. Not at all prototypical bit it adds to the water tanks which where otherwise flat. New kick boards? At the doors and shutter where also added at this stage. Next was a couple days building up the yellow and a gloss coat using VMS HD varnish which is my new go to as you can spray it thick and it self levels. Popped it back together and took it down the club for some pics. Hopefully the bogie kits come before xmas so it can have the proper mk6 style bogies under it I'm very happy with it so far, couple rest days coming up so hopefully get the decals on it. JT Edited December 1, 2021 by virginhst539 Removed picture 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted December 4, 2021 Author Share Posted December 4, 2021 Small update, Parts have arrived form A1 models and dart castings so bit of progress. Roof is now finished, vents are a class 33 grill cut to size and stuck on. The aerials on the roof where made form 1mm plastic rod and cut down. The location of the various parts where taken from a helicopter pic of the train stabled in edinburgh so hopefully its not far off. One side has also received the livery elements which are a railtech set. The last part of the puzzle is the mk6 motor bogies which are listed as 8,9 on dart castings. The ridgid bogie sets came in 8,6 or 9 so i opted for the 9 being the closest but as expected they dont quite line up. So if anyone has any ideas for making up the bogies feel free to drop a reply JT 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted December 23, 2021 Author Share Posted December 23, 2021 Well its that time of year again, time to round it all off nicely and proceed to eat far too much food for the next two weeks! Was hoping to have the Ultrasonic test coach all finished but not had a spare 5 mins to get the airbrush out and paint the roof and varnish it. Not to worry pre xmas running session seen newcastleton out at the club room and it was the perfect opportunity to finally run the full northern belle set in all its glory. Actually the first time the full 12 coach formation has been ran and its a belter. Got plans for it in the new year, mainly new close couplings and a bit of a tart up along with finally finishing the kitchen cars when I eventually remember what two paints you mix together to get the correct shade.... And with that I hope everyone who has follow my slightly less sparse posts from the last 12 months has a good holiday period and there will be more posts in the new year............. at somepoint 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted January 6, 2022 Author Share Posted January 6, 2022 First update of 2022, hopefully we have all settled down after looking at the new prices of many pre ordered models... Finally got round to finishing the decals on this and finished off with a coat of satin varnish. The roof was treated with the closest match from memory i could find which was USAF dark ghost grey. Looks alright to me so will pick out the various details and get a coat of varnish on it as well. New sprey booth in the pictures was a xmas gift from me, too me. The humble mk1 coach looks tiny in it but the 1/72 airfix vulcan the better half got me for xmas is a bit of a tight fit! Lets see what Hornby decide to do with this years releases on monday. Hopefully one of the northern belle mk1s but we will see. Real winner would the the puma helicopter back in the airfx range! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted January 13, 2022 Author Share Posted January 13, 2022 (edited) Managed to catch a look at one of the other UTU coaches last night and the roof looks a bit light. USAF Medium Gray - FS36270 looks close enough so quick 2 min repaint job and its time to rebuild it into a complete coach. Having another look at the Hornby 2022 range and I think I might sell the Mk3 TSGs in favor of the new models for the NMT. I assume they will be much easier to put a pantograph well on unlike the ex Lima one where the roof holds the glazing. And on a longshot has anyone 3d printed the connectors that are found on network rail mk1s and mk2s, had a shot with some plasticard but after 4 attempts the looked naff and no where near as consistent as needed for tarting up all the RTR releases by Hornby and Bachmann. Edited January 13, 2022 by virginhst539 Error in text Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted January 15, 2022 Author Share Posted January 15, 2022 Looking much better now with the roof repainted. Most of the windows in, just need to get some clear plastic for a couple of them. Calling it about 90% done. Just need to get the bogies made up and try make some jumper cables/boxes for then ends Very happy with how this has turned out. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted January 17, 2022 Author Share Posted January 17, 2022 Last few cosmetic bits are currently making there way via the post to get the externals finished off. Air Distributor & Reservoir and Class 73 bogies as I have been informed these are a good match for 999606 with a few modifications. also the bonus of them being pre wired for later light fitting. Also noticed that I have forgot to pick out the edges of the kick boards? in white so that's on the list. Also want to add an representation of the interior but as with all things yellow pictures are very thin on the ground, well for this coach they are and its not often it makes it to my neck of the woods. Been UTU2 62287 up here the last few times. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted February 26, 2022 Author Share Posted February 26, 2022 Well that was a hectic month with not much time for modelling. What feels like a interveiw everyday has paid off and it made the trip to glasgow that little bit sweeter.... still on the railway just better. Speaking of glasgow hows that for a haul! Plenty to be cracking on with including my first venture into the art of weathering wagons once i get hold of some underframe and sleeper grim enamals so any points would be greatly appreciated. Also on the way is a 37099 body to become 37175 so i will be looking to off load the bodyshell that appears on here a few pages back as well as hornbys intercity 43013 and a NMT one so keep an eye out for those once i remember how to sell stuff on here or the usual selling site again. Progress shots coming soon.. JT 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted March 3, 2022 Author Share Posted March 3, 2022 Nice little half day project and my first venture into weathering using a Dapol JNA as the first test subject. Step 1 - paint inside of wagon with shadow rust by mig Step 2 - dark brown wash for german DAK camo Step 3 - chipping applied with a sponge and mig chipping colour along the top edge of wagon and some panels. Interior also treated with powders at this stage. Step 4 - frame dirt. Steps, handbrake wheel, valves and data panels wiped off For a first attempt at weathering im fairly happy with that. 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted March 9, 2022 Author Share Posted March 9, 2022 Managed a few pics on the club layout of the JNA yesterday. Engineers chalk markings and partial ballast loads added to give the appearance of a unloaded wagon. Granted it looks like the RRV operator was just trying to get them emptied as quick as possible and has missed a fair bit.... must have been the last wagon before home! The wiped down data panels panels are perhaps a bit stark compared to the 1:1 scale ones but I'm happy enough with it. Main outcomes of doing this is I have figured out I can weather rolling stock to a level I'm happy with but more importantly go my mojo back for spraying enamel paints! I have also been looking a various bits I should probably dig out and finish off and the MK1 Ru seems a good contender with this new found confidence, Found a jar of BR maroon 306 and GWR Stock Brown 602 packed away with it so I must have had some plan for getting the correct shade of northern belle brown but it seems I never wrote down the ratio for it.... typical! 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted March 13, 2022 Author Share Posted March 13, 2022 long shot buts does anyone make the 'central wales' headboard brackets for class 37s in oo gauge? vitrains detailing bits has not produced any and the next project that is almost complete ready to be shared but needs them to finish it off. Had a look at the likes of shawplan but they done do them and doubts I could make up four uniform brackets Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted March 19, 2022 Author Share Posted March 19, 2022 A nice little project. First of all 37099 bought from Bachmann spares and decals from railtec tansfers. Old livery elements removed in the usual fashion before renumbering and new logos. Buffer beams where also spreyed red. Just need to raid the vitrains detailing parts to finish off the other nose before sticking them on properly. Also need to blank the boiler exhaust off. Body screws should arrive next week for final assembly. 37175 has been on the to model list for a long time as its the loco that started my railway career on doing various odd jobs as a volunteer and still manage to catch up with the loco on the big train set. Started work on 43062 but unfortunatly the livery elements where a bit more hardy than those on the A3 so the yellow will need respreyed but a bit more on that later. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted April 27, 2022 Author Share Posted April 27, 2022 Cant remember where I got too now all the dusts settled, hopefully pics might come back but if not oh well. Anyways, 37099 now near enough complete, just need to fill in the boiler port when I either find thin enough plastic card or get the milliput out again. Basic renumber job using decals from railtec and additional lamp irons from a vitrains 37 detailing pack finished off with handrails and other irons picked out in white as per prototype. hopefully get it back on the chassis toward the end of the week once varnished. Not sure what the next railway project will be yet, probably something yellow for the UTU set but we will see. 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Southwich Posted May 3, 2022 Share Posted May 3, 2022 Nice choice on ‘175 - I always enjoy seeing it on the monthly test train cycles around East Anglia. Are you planning on putting the roof mounted horns and the clips above the headcode box on? Flickr photo inserted above - the main difference between the split box/centre headcode 37s being the roof mounted horns as opposed to the nose mounted ones on the split boxes. A shame the photos aren’t showing above as it looks like you’ve got some nice projects on the go. Kind regards, Will 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted May 3, 2022 Author Share Posted May 3, 2022 thought something looked off with it, good spot! yeah that will be on the list, think I have some brass airhorns kicking about somewhere. Will need to figure out the best way to carve out the recess in the roof for them as well. Might have to go shopping for some new square knife blades I recon. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted June 17, 2022 Author Share Posted June 17, 2022 Well its been a min... Got settled in to the new job now so slowly finding time to get on with the little trains again Pushing on with 175 started with the horn recess above the center windows. Bit of clean up still to do and replacement cab vents to make but its getting there. Only the boiler port to fill but i have misplaced the box of milliput.... typical! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted June 19, 2022 Author Share Posted June 19, 2022 All done and ready for varnish. Just the trumpets and vents on the roof left to go on once they arrive. Horn recess areas above the cab were done by marking off the area to be removed, few passes from a sharp blade and material removed with a 1mm wide chisel. A quick pass over the area to tidy it up with some tamiya extra thin glue and the roof was repainted black in the areas where sanding was done. Quite happy with it, just the chassis to give a quick service as its not been run for a while Suppose i better finish off the rest of the coaches for it now! 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted June 24, 2022 Author Share Posted June 24, 2022 Well i recon i can say im happy with that. 37099 conversion to 37175. This loco has been on the to model list for a very very long time as doing odd jobs on it is what ultimately set me off down the rabbit hole to the career im in now. In other news a yellow thing has arrived from Bachmann so next item on the bench will the a NVA coach so i can atleast run a short set ultrasonic test train before adding the SGT portions later in the year. It will also be my first time working with a 3d printed item of stock so should be intresting 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted June 29, 2022 Author Share Posted June 29, 2022 Back to all things yellow and a simple renumber and livery update has turned into a full blown repaint, those Hornby blue bands on the original NMT are more hardy than they look! 43062 has been primed and first coat of sunshine yellow applied and conference coach 975814 has also been given a blast of the rail match paint which seems to give a much better pigment to it with the only bits needing a second coats being the areas I missed. unfortunately 062 has the old style exhaust arrangement meaning two of the new ETCS antennas will not be getting added but not a huge loss. A bit of variety between the three power cars is the way I see it! looking at the rest of the coaches to be done I have ordered two of the new mk3 TGS coaches as I was not a fan of how the lima tooling has the glazing as part of the roof. Not ideal when you want to punch a hole into one of them! Got Two Accurascale parcels to collect tomorrow so expect some Deltic spam in due course along with two sets of Hornby class 73 bogies to modify and try and fit under the hatchet Mk1 UTU conversion so plenty to be cracking on with 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
virginhst539 Posted July 3, 2022 Author Share Posted July 3, 2022 Right a bit of a call for help. Really stuggling to find EMU mk6 power bogies for the UTU coach. Ordered ridgied frame and white metal sides but they are not a match. Cant find a 8'9 frame for the sides and im a bit stummped. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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