Nathan's Workbench 75C

[D3489gibson]

Hi all! Firstly, let me introduce myself. The name's Nathan, I'm 21, and I'm coming up to the end of my third year of a four year apprenticeship with Southern. I'm a keen LNER and SR (and pregrouping of both companies) fan, and primarily model preserved LNER, with the majority of my rolling stock being Teak. These range from vintage coaches to Gresley and Thompson's. I'm also a trainee 2nd man and cleaner at the Spa Valley railway.

 

Attached are some examples of previous mods I've done, primarily to Bachmann Thomas and Friends six wheel coaches. I've also, as my first venture into "teaking" redone a Bachmann "Henrietta" into a W&U tramcar. My latest repaint was of a Dapol Hunslet Austerity, which I finished in Oxford Blue, with Red lining as No.3795, which I've named Fleur, after a family friend. 

 

GNR six wheel brake with duckets from Ratio spares, repainted from a Bachmann "Emily's Coach". 

 

W&U tramcar repainted into Teak from a Bachmann "Henrietta"

 

3795 Fleur following completion.

 

My current project is of a fictional loco hauled set, based off of the ones operated by DRS for Northern Rail, but in Southern TOC colours, to match class 73 73202 Graham Stenning, which I am getting repainted by a friend. I've decided to start with the RFO for the set, using a similar method that member "johnhall" did with old MK2D's. I however am using MK2E's, this one having originally been an FO, from the Hornby Railroad Range.

 

RFO progress. The two windows and toilet compartment have been blanked off, ready for filler to be applied in the recesses and eventually sanded down to a flat surface. Annoyingly, where the poly cement I've used decided to leak, the section below the toilet window has ruined slightly, however this shouldn't be a problem as it'll be sanded down eventually. 

 

Hope you enjoy what you see, please feel free to comment on improvements to current projects, etc. 

Till next time,

Nathan... 

[D3489gibson]

Afternoon! 

 

Yesterday evening I found some time to apply filler to the three areas requiring work. The filler has now been smoothed down to establish where needs more work done to it, and from the results, it's just the former toilet window and first saloon window that require the majority of more filler. The second saloon window could benefit from a coat or two of Filler Primer, which should be with me this evening. It's slowly getting there now! Fingers crossed that with a little bit more work, this coach should be done and ready for priming and painting by next week! 

 

 

Prior to applying filler, I took the liberty of seeing what the coach will look like paired to a TSO, the bogies on both coaches have had Bachmann 36-055 DMU coupling Straight fitted to give them a more closer coupled look.

 

 

Till next time!

Nathan

[D3489gibson]

Hi all.

 

A few updates from me, given that it's been almost a year since I started this thread.

 

The RFO hasn't progressed much further than a few more applications of filler, and coat of filler primer, and I'm waiting on the weather to pick up before I continue with it. however, since then, I've done some work on my LNER goods wagon fleet, which are now at a five strong rake, with two more vehicles being worked on currently. During November, everything was put on hold, following me being involved in the Croydon Tram crash, however, I did manage to keep myself occupied, by starting work on an N gauge Maunsell Z class bodyshell kit for the GraFar Poole 8F chassis. Since then, I've been working on some more Southern orientated things, which is where this update leads to. 

 

During Feburary, I took a trip down to Gaugemaster, Ford, to pick up a preorder of Dapol's exclusive to Gaugemaster, N gauge Class 73, 73202. During the visit, I also picked up two Ratio LMS Suburban coach kits, and a set of Bulleid coach bogies. This started my mad idea for starting an IOWesque setup, with these two coaches forming the backbone of the idea, and cementing it in place.

 

The first coach, the 8 compartment Full Third, was build up, and the pair of Bulleid bogies modified to allow attachment under the ratio underframe using a 10ba nut and screw setup, with the screw being superglued into place inside the ratio bogie mount for the underframe, as seen below.

 

 

with the coach pretty much done now, bar a few touchups to the olive green where the black on the end panels has bled over, I decided to concentrate on a set of four wheel coaches for the setup. Having already purchased four of the Bachmann Thomas and Friends Red Branchline coaches (three standard, one brake) I decided to create a three coach set of four wheel coaches for use behind terriers. 

 

I started by disassembling the coaches intended for the rake into their component parts (underframe, body, roof and glazing) and proceeded to apply a coat of Halfords Grey plastic primer to the coach bodies. During the drying process, I started to tackle the underframes/ chassis of the coaches, which were very basic to begin with. 

 

To differentiate the brake coach from the composite and full third, I decided to fit step boards across the axleboxes on each corner of the coach. these were sourced from a spare kit sprue. Also fitted were white metal castings of SR coach underframe details (battery box, gas cylinder and brake cylinder, the latter not fitted until later in the project) 

 

 

Once the other side of the chassis had the running boards fitted, the chassis was given a coat of Matt Black. After allowing the bodies to dry fully, the first applications of P84 SR Coach Green (dull) was painted onto the bodies. 

 

 

Again, once dry, the second coat was applied, as well as a coat of Coach roof Grey to the roofs of all three coaches. A second coat of grey was applied to the roofs after the first had dried, and then all was fitted together. As a last minute decision, I decided to fit brake pipes to the coaches. The Brake third has had whitemetal spares fitted from what I recall was a Parkside Dundass 009 FR coach kit, and the Composite and Full Third, have had the spares from the two Ratio bogie coaches fitted. These will get painted up in black once I'm happy that they are secure to the chassis's. The next stage is transfers, which I shall be using HMRS Pressfix sheet 9. This also applies for the bogie coaches as well. 

 

 

Out of all of the coaches in this small rake, the brake coach is by far the one I'm most impressed with. Not simply because of the enhancing of the underframe details, but because it genuinly looks the part now. I've had comments from friends I've shown stating that they wouldn't have been able to tell it was formerly a Thomas and Friends coach. 

 

 

Nathan....

[D3489gibson]

Afternoon all. 

 

Today I recieved a copy of R.J. Maycock and M.J.E. Reed's Isle of Wight Steam Passenger Rolling Stock book for referencing suitable numbering for the four wheelers and the bogie coaches. The four wheelers have been designated as Brake Third 3686, Full Third 1793, and Composite 5799. All three of these are from Set 495. A fourth coach will be added in the future, in the form of Ex North London Railway Full Third 49 (SR 2429). 

 

Here is the fully completed article of 3686, complete with set 495 markings on the back of the guards compartment. 

 

 

 

Here's to two more successful sessions of adding transfers for the remaining two coaches... 

 

Nathan... 

[D3489gibson]

Completely forgot I had this thread!

 

Just prior to GETS in October, I received some 3D printed rolling stock from Shapeways. Two "generic" coach bodies and accompanying chassis' and a host wagon, based on the one preserved at the Tallylyn Railway. 

 

 

Since October I have touched up the paintwork on the host wagon, picking out the metalwork, and rails for the NG stock. 

 

For the coaches, I gave both a coat of Halford's orange filler primer, and once dried, a coat of humbrol No.62, and finally a dry brushed coat of Phoenix Precision' P996 Weathered Teak. The roof was given a coat of Humbrol RC417 Coach Roof Off White. The chassis was given a good going over in black paint, just enough to allow me to run it on our clubs test track without looking too silly. 

 

Hopefully I'll remember the thread exists and drop some project updates as and when.

 

Nathan...

[D3489gibson]

Being the sucker I am for odd coaches, I've always been fond of the Hornby "Shorty" Clerestory coaches. 

 

Whilst on long term sick from work in 2019, I managed to pick up three of the Blood and Custard liveried ones from a car boot sale. Not content with just three of them, in late 2023, I found two more on eBay. Once I received them, I decided I wanted to make them look less “toylike” so set about enhancing them.

 

Firstly, I purchased some metal wheels and replaced the old plastic ones with these. I then started scouring the internet for replacement bogies, as it had come to light that the ones fitted to the models were MK1 style. Looking on Shapeways, I came across a seller who sold a vast range of 3D printed designs of GWR coach bogies – some of which were designed specifically for replacing these “shorties” original ones. 

 

After searching the sellers store, I settled on two variations of Dean 8’ 6” bogies. As I had ten bogies to change, I settled for eight sets of plain bogies, and two sets with Step Boards – for use under the guards compartments on the two brake coaches I have. Once the bogies arrived from Europe – where Shapeways are based – I started to see how well they worked with the coaches. To my surprise, I needed to make a slight adjustment to the pegs on each bogie where they insert into the coaches underframes.

 

With this modification completed, I started to look at fitting bearings to the bogies, as with the metal wheels taken out of the old bogies, they wouldn’t stay in place. With thanks to a club member, I was able to rectify this and fit each bogie with four brass shouldered bearings. I did have to reem out the axle boxes though!

 

With the new bogies all fitted and bearings pressed into the axle boxes, it was time to test! Over the working days after Christmas, we had TWES (The West Exchange Sidings) up in the club hall, so out the coaches came, and to my surprise, they ran really well, as you can see in the photo below!

 

 

One extra thing I have done to one of the brake coaches, is fit a red tail lamp. The couplings fitted are one Hornby NEM coupling on both brake coaches, and Hunt Couplings’ Ultra Close magnetic couplings on the remaining eight bogies. One extra addition I’ve done, is to add interiors and some weight to each of the coaches. The interiors are 3D printed resin ones which drop straight into place on the inside of the coach bodies. These were acquired from an eBay seller, who specialises in Tri-Ang rolling stock interiors and replacement parts! 10g weights were secured in place on either end of the inside of each coach. These were bought from Roads and Rails.

 

The last thing that needs doing, at the time of writing this, is painting the bogies up. I decided to leave these till last as I’ve been trialling everything with them before committing to painting them up fully.

 

Once I've got them painted up, I'll be sure to post them up here!

 

Nathan... 

[D3489gibson]

Recently I got the OO9 bug back having been discussing with club members about doing a combined OO9 and OO gauge club layout. Having found my left over Roco track, and two of my SMS diorama boards, I decided to put together a small demonstration plank of sorts. 

 

With this, I started looking at loco kits, and found a Baguley Drewry shunter 3D kit on eBay, and along with a Kato 11-109 chassis from Tramfabriek, it arrived in earnest last Thursday. 

After a dry assembly onto the chassis, and a quick run about on the plank, I decided to fully assemble the kit - lamps and all! I'm undecided on what livery to stick it in, however some other club members have suggested, for the frames at least, red fronts, and black sides. I guess I'll have to have a rummage through my vast collection of paints for that!!!

 

One thing I did decide to do though, is add weight to the bodyshell. For this, I used 15g of weights that I had left over from a purchase from Roads and Rails, to which they fitted snuggly into the bonnet of the bodyshell. With this done, the locomotive was primed using Halfords Grey plastic primer. 

 

More to come on Sunday once I've decided what colour to paint the body!!!

 

Nathan....

[D3489gibson]

Well, what a day its been! 

 

As well as painting up the Baguley Drewry (and then launching it off my diorama plank), I sucessfully managed to graft some Hunt couplings to some previously built Dundas kits, and this evening bought a second hand purchase back to life! 

 

 

The B.D has been finished in Humbrol Midnight Blue, and the bufferbeams finished in Phoenix Precision Bufferbeam Red! All it needs now is a driver, some proper plates, and varnishing!

 

Nathan....

 

[D3489gibson]

 

A few bits from today's, or rather thus afternoon's session. Having found 90% of a DM67 Kit in a tupperware box, which i think has been in it since 2019, I managed to assemble prettymuch the entire kit, minus a few partition sections!

 

 

I've decided to fit the bogies with Hunt couplings for the sake of matching the other two kits which have been fitted with them. 

 

Once fully assembled, I proceeded to prime it (minus bogies) with Halfords Grey Primer. As I was going to be spraying it, I decided to prime up a few other items including two further DM67 Kit roofs, a Dundas Quarrymans Brake Van, Peco GVT coach, and one of my first bits of OO9 stock - a Robex Flying Bench! 

 

 

Once dried, the Dundas coach will go into Olive Green to match the other two I have already done, and my Toast rack coach. The F.B I'm undecided on, the same with the GVT coach. 

 

Nathan....

[D3489gibson]

Evening all! 

 

The Dundas coach now all painted up! I have used the following paints: Phoenix P84 SR coach Green for the body sides; Railmatch 635 SR Venetian Red for the interior; and Humbrol Acrylic 21 Black for the coach ends, vacuum pipes, and step boards.

 

 

Now to let it dry before glazing and sticking the roof on, which has been painted in Humbrol RC417 Coach Roof Off White.

 

I've also managed to paint up my Robex Flying Bench, which I have finished in Railmatch Royal Train Claret. 

 

 

Now the drying game begins (again)...

 

Nathan...

[D3489gibson]

The Dundas coach has been completed fully, with glazing plus glue n glaze, and the roof secured. 

 

 

With that, the next coach build has commenced, in the form of a Vale of Rheidol 3rd class coach. As many of you may have noticed, I'm a suckered for teak stock, so this kit is right up my alley with the paint suggestion being teak! 

 

 

The kit has been assembled in the usual fashion of poly cement and superglue (the latter for the whitemetal parts) and primed with Halfords primers. 

 

 

Now to get the topcoats on and teak it! 

 

 

Nathan...

[D3489gibson]

The DM10A kit has now been Teak'd and is waiting for glazing to dry before securing the roof down! 

 

 

Initially I grafted some Hunt couplings to the bogies however on testing against some Peco L&B coaches, they appeared to be just a tad too short in length to work well without derailing the coach, so I have had to resort to fitting BEMO couplings to them instead. 

 

Nathan...

[D3489gibson]

The Vale of Rheidol coach is finally completed after a week of faffing with glazing. The roof is now secured in place, and I must admit, it looks amazing paired up with the BCC exclusive Linda! 

 

With this now completed, the final Dundas DM6X coach is nearing completion! This has been built during the week whilst waiting for the DM10A kit to dry glazing and paint wise. 

All that needs doing on this now is glaze in, and roof on. 

 

One final fix up, has been fitting a roof to my Dundas Toast Rack coach. Simply a piece of card cut to shape (over cut width wise) and painted RC417. 

 

Till next time...

 

Nathan....

[D3489gibson]

Pre night shift ramblings today saw me re-retrofitting Peco couplings to the four Dundas FR Style coaches' bogies following issues with the Hunts derailing them on curves. 

 

 

as a datum, ive used the small green brake van, which is a peco N gauge chassis with GR101's fitted. I've also grafted a pair onto the blue and white coach pictured next to the cutting mat.  

 

Next up it was stock box time. 

 

 

Four of these A4 size boxes fit neatly into an Rhino box from Tesco. 

 

Lastly, the final Dundas coach has entered the glazing process.

 

 

Now for a gruelling 12hr night shift!

 

Nathan....

[D3489gibson]

Whilst at the Statfold Barn show this weekend I managed to get my Bachmann 08 08833 (D4001) kitted out with high and low level pipes, as how the real one was. Looked the part on Beckwick. All thanks to Neil at Kitorama for painting them up for me! 

Even fitted a Modelu shunter to the front as well! 

 

On the Sunday morning the whole team went straight over to the driver for a fiver platform to have a go on Alpha! 

 

 

Only purchases I made were a England chassis from Invicta, and these six coaches from Elaine's Trains! 

 

 

Nathan

[D3489gibson]

Nice little delivery from the postie this morning, a Fourdees "The Pioneer" saddle tank body kit for the Kato-Peco George England chassis. 

 

 

Undecided on livery yet, but LBSCR IEG is screaming at me for some reason!!! 

[D3489gibson]

Earlier in the week I decided to number my nine Peco Rugga hoppers. This was a little tedious as I haven't used transfers in a good few years, and the last time I did, it was on something I'd painted as opposed to got out straight out of a box. 

 

 

I opted to take the lazy route and just number them 1-9, and leave them as that. 

 

I've also had a new engine wrrive in the post, a small 2-4-0T with a Dolgoch cab and what looks like a Hudswell/ Hunslet saddle tank 

 

[D3489gibson]

I said to myself I was fine building Fundas coaches... evidently I lied as I'm now at no.11... I've decided to do this one Teak, given how well the VOR coach came out. I've also fully assembled and painted up the 'Pioneer' saddle tank, which will be named 'Amberley' in due course.

 

Having visited Amberley at the weekend, after finishing work at 7am, then going straight down there, I took a lot of reference photos of stock, including their Hudson hoppers. I received a set of six of Brooks3DModels' ones which I plan to paint up in a similar fashion to the ones I saw there. 

 

 

Nathan...

[D3489gibson]

With the good weather we had over the weekend, I was able to get the Nigel Brooks 3D Hudson's all primed up, and 'Amberley' varnished.

 

To save getting the Small England chassis covered in varnish, I popped the body onto it's original static chassis, which I've no use for other than for this purpose. 

 

Nathan...