Churminster & Stowe Magna, Southern Railway

[Sandhole]

Am I alone in thinking that it is just too hot for modelling?

 

I know we Brits always complain about the weather but really! I have had to switch from DC to DC + AC (air-conditioning) - but it is even too hot for the AC to cope.

 

And so, time for "T" (and probably "U" as well)!

 

First is the ex-SECR Kirtley T class, represented by No.1602 from a Q Kits kit:

 

SJPP716000102180716.jpg

 

The camera is always cruel, but in this case I really must do something about that awful golden bolt under the front!

 

Next up is the ex-LSWR Adams T1 class; No.6 is from a Craftsman kit:

 

SJPP716000302180716.jpg

 

The T6 class is out of my time period, but a long time ago, and before I had settled on what I was trying to do, I bought an old, second-hand Jidenco kit for a T6 and sent it to an alleged "professional" kit builder. He will remain nameless, but his work was quite appalling - the lining is wiggly, various parts are not straight, it has no weight in it, the central driving wheels are the only ones it picks up through and they don't touch the track because the front bogie is set too high, etc etc! It taught me a lesson, but I have kept it as a sharp reminder that not everyone who advertises a service is capable of delivering on what they say:

 

SJPP716002002180716.jpg

 

One day, when I need to let off steam I will perhaps hit it with a sledge hammer!

 

Back to more pleasant things, and to Drummond's elegant ex-LSWR T9 class of which I have more than a few; No.312 has an 8-wheel water-cart tender and is from an SE Finecast kit:

 

SJPP716001302180716.jpg

 

Once Hornby released their T9 model it became unrealistic to build, or have built, further kits:

 

SJPP716001702180716.jpg

 

No.708 is a Hornby example in wartime black, whilst No.338 (below) is in olive and hauling the Imperial Airways Empire Flying Boat Train; each of these also has a watercart tender - for some reason I couldn't seem to find one with a 6 wheel tender when I as taking the pictures!

 

SJPP716001502180716.jpg

 

On to a further Drummond ex-LSWR loco, his massive-looking T14 'Paddlebox' class, represented by No.460 from a Nu-Cast kit:

 

SJPP608000302180608.jpg

 

Forgive my repeating this shot which was requested by a follower of the thread before we had quite reached "T" - which it now concludes - and so to "U", where we find Maunsell's U class, represented by No.1622 in olive, and No.1624 in wartime black - both from DJH kits:

 

SJPP723002802180723.jpg

 

SJPP723002702180723.jpg

 

Next is the 3-cylinder version of the U, the U1; again No.1901 is from a DJH kit:

 

SJPP723003002180723.jpg

 

and to conclude today's post, we have the wartime USA class, and this is represented by No.68, which is a Model Rail / Bachmann RTR model:

 

SJPP723002402180723.jpg

 

and by No.72 which is from a SE Finecast kit:

 

SJPP723002302180723.jpg

 

I hadn't really noticed before but the lettering on No.68 looks a bit small, whilst that on No.72 looks a bit yellow! Feels like some weathering is required - and that will (very neatly) be the subject of my next update!

 

(As before, kit built locos were put together and painted for me by Chris Phillips - except the awful T6!).

 

Tony

I'm sorry, but you are just printing porn now!!!!!!!

The T class is lovely! I can imagine what the kit was like!!!

I had a Q kits USA !!!?? NO!

Somebody bought it on Ebay despite me being very clear how horrible it was!!!

Mike Cole's diesel stuff was, to somebody in the 70s who needed Falcon, magic!! Resin, he was OK but whitemetal NO!!!

Respect on the T Class, a very handsome looking beast.

Don't get me started on the rebuilt Paddlebox! That lives in my 'Can't justify one, but I'm going to!' pile!!!

Haven't done it yet, but I probably will!

Mind you, I've got a third L&Y Baltic tank to finish and an unrebuilt Dreadnought to hack out of a rebuilt Millholme kit!!

You can see how sad I am!!!

                                    Chris.

[Tony Teague]

I'm sorry, but you are just printing porn now!!!!!!!

The T class is lovely! I can imagine what the kit was like!!!

I had a Q kits USA !!!?? NO!

Somebody bought it on Ebay despite me being very clear how horrible it was!!!

Mike Cole's diesel stuff was, to somebody in the 70s who needed Falcon, magic!! Resin, he was OK but whitemetal NO!!!

Respect on the T Class, a very handsome looking beast.

Don't get me started on the rebuilt Paddlebox! That lives in my 'Can't justify one, but I'm going to!' pile!!!

Haven't done it yet, but I probably will!

Mind you, I've got a third L&Y Baltic tank to finish and an unrebuilt Dreadnought to hack out of a rebuilt Millholme kit!!

You can see how sad I am!!!

                                    Chris.

 

Not sure about sad - after all, who am I to say???

 

Brave, certainly, and maybe just a little crazy - but then that's what keeps us all going - isn't it?

 

Tony

[DLT]

Yet even more lovely stuff Tony, please keep em coming!

I have to admit my guilt on requesting the Paddlebox to jump the queue and go out of turn, but it is an impressive beast.

Cheers, Dave.

PS  The T6 looks ok in general proportion, would you like the DLT workshop to take a look at it?

[Jack P]

What an excellent line up. Very Jealous of your 2 U classes!

 

I agree with DLT, the actual build of the T6 doesn't look too bad, the shonky lining accentuates the problem though, I think. 

[Tony Teague]

Yet even more lovely stuff Tony, please keep em coming!

I have to admit my guilt on requesting the Paddlebox to jump the queue and go out of turn, but it is an impressive beast.

Cheers, Dave.

PS  The T6 looks ok in general proportion, would you like the DLT workshop to take a look at it?

 

What an excellent line up. Very Jealous of your 2 U classes!

 

I agree with DLT, the actual build of the T6 doesn't look too bad, the shonky lining accentuates the problem though, I think. 

 

Dave

 

You are welcome to take a look at the T6 - it is pretty much worthless as it is, so there can be no downside!

 

I'll send it in due course to add to your "heap".

 

Thanks!

 

Tony

[DLT]

Well if it's just a matter of making it work, it shouldn't be a huge job.

I see it's got Romford wheels, what motor and gearbox is fitted?

Cheers, Dave.

[Sandhole]

Not sure about sad - after all, who am I to say???

 

Brave, certainly, and maybe just a little crazy - but then that's what keeps us all going - isn't it?

 

Tony

Damn Straight!!!!

                        C.

[Tony Teague]

Damn Straight!!!!

                        C.

Hope I didn't offend!

Not intended!

Tony

[Tony Teague]

Well if it's just a matter of making it work, it shouldn't be a huge job.

I see it's got Romford wheels, what motor and gearbox is fitted?

Cheers, Dave.

Dave

No idea!

I'll take a look and report back.

Tony

[Sandhole]

Hope I didn't offend!

Not intended!

Tony

No Way Man!!!

Just about sums me up!

I'm in this for pure enjoyment! That is why I've done it for 55years!!!!

[Tony Teague]

No Way Man!!!

Just about sums me up!

I'm in this for pure enjoyment! That is why I've done it for 55years!!!!

Phew! / Relieved.

Me too (crazy that is!)

[Tony Teague]

Now before we dive down into "V", a small diversion into weathering.

 

Some months back - well last autumn actually, I mentioned that I had been on an excellent airbrush and weathering course at Missenden Abbey, which was run by the very capable and highly skilled Mick Bonwick.

 

Later, I posted a few pictures of weathered wagons, and later still I complained about the amount of weathering still to be done (bucket-loads), and the absence of time that I had managed to find to practice my new-found weathering skills.

 

Well it just so happens that Mick had been following this thread and very kindly offered his help in reducing this problem - and more or less immediately he started by weathering a short milk train for me - and an excellent job he made of it - thanks Mick!:

 

 

and a close-up of the M7 loco (with apologies to Mick for using his picture!):

 

 

You can see more of Mick's excellent weathering on his Flickr stream: https://www.flickr.com/photos/laughinglobster/

 

Subsequently, I managed to spend some time with Mick getting some further guidance and coaching, as well as putting in some practice; later, I managed to complete the weathering of my "Kent coalfields" coal train. Here are the results:

 

 

 

now, before anyone points this out to me, I do know that of all of the Kent collieries, only Tilmanstone had their own wagons; the others were obliged by the Southern Railway to use SR wagons - but I didn't know that when I started to collect some of these varied limited edition wagons - nevertheless I think it makes a plausible looking train - and I am not planning to tell anybody - so Rule 1 applies!

 

Some further wagons:

 

 

 

 

There are a couple of good pictures of the Tilmanstone wagons within John Arkell's fairly recent "Private Owner Wagons of the South East" (Lightmoor Press):

 

 

 

(The white thing under the brake van is a track cleaning pad - I find these very effective).

 

Needless to say, Mick has already given me some feedback on how I can improve these wagons - and I shall!

 

And no, I have not yet summoned the courage to weather the loco, a Q1, but it will follow shortly, along with others; now that I have got the weathering bug I am just going to have to find the time!

 

(oh, and I have re-booked on this autumn's Missenden Abbey weathering course, so if you happen to be there, please say hello!).

 

Tony

[Edited to correct opening sentence - next letter in the "A-Z" is V not U. Doh!

Edited November 5, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Mick Bonwick]

Thank you for the mention, Tony. 

 

I doubt you'll have any trouble with that Q1 if those wagons are anything to go by. Just remember perception and restraint.

[AdeMoore]

Like what you’ve done there Tony. Pretty good standard of weathering I’d say.

Cheers

Ade

[Jack P]

Tony, 

 

They look fantastic! everyone has their own style of weathering, you will find your rhythm and it will just be small tweaks - I am, of course, not an expert - but you should be very happy with what you've achieved so far!

 

(I haven't forgotten you, work has just been hectic)

 

Also, you missed the L class Tank engines (Brighton Baltics) in the A-Z! 

[St Enodoc]

Tony, 

 

They look fantastic! everyone has their own style of weathering, you will find your rhythm and it will just be small tweaks - I am, of course, not an expert - but you should be very happy with what you've achieved so far!

 

(I haven't forgotten you, work has just been hectic)

 

Also, you missed the L class Tank engines (Brighton Baltics) in the A-Z! 

All rebuilt as 4-6-0 tender locos by 1936.

[Jack P]

All rebuilt as 4-6-0 tender locos by 1936.

 

 

Yes, I know, I'm building an N15x at the moment.

 

But I know he has one! Plus he included the T6, so here's me being cheeky hoping an amendment will be made

[Tony Teague]

On 27/07/2018 at 02:38, Jack P said:

Tony, 

Also, you missed the L class Tank engines (Brighton Baltics) in the A-Z! 

 

On 27/07/2018 at 02:43, St Enodoc said:

All rebuilt as 4-6-0 tender locos by 1936.

 

On 27/07/2018 at 07:10, Jack P said:

Yes, I know, I'm building an N15x at the moment.

 

But I know he has one! Plus he included the T6, so here's me being cheeky hoping an amendment will be made

 

Guys

 

Of course you are both right; I do have one but did not include it as it is out of the range for the era that I model. It is a great hulk of a loco:

 

 

It is from a Langley kit, but I have no idea who the builder was as I got it 2nd hand, again, at a time before I had decided upon the precise era that I wanted to cover.

 

I think the N15X is far more attractive!

 

Tony

Edited November 5, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Tony Teague]

On 24/07/2018 at 13:22, DLT said:

Well if it's just a matter of making it work, it shouldn't be a huge job.

I see it's got Romford wheels, what motor and gearbox is fitted?

Cheers, Dave.

Hi Dave

 

Had the top off and to my surprise it has a Mashima motor - not sure what the gearbox is but looks pretty OK.

 

 

 

In fact the build doesn't look too bad under here, it's just that the finish is not pretty and it doesn't work!

 

I'll take you at your word if I may, and box it up and send it to you for review and potential surgery!

 

Best wishes

 

Tony

Edited November 5, 2022 by Tony Teague

[DLT]

Hi Dave

 

Had the top off and to my surprise it has a Mashima motor - not sure what the gearbox is but looks pretty OK.

 

SJPP729000502180729.jpg

 

In fact the build doesn't look too bad under here, it's just that the finish is not pretty and it doesn't work!

 

I'll take you at your word if I may, and box it up and send it to you for review and potential surgery!

 

Best wishes

 

Tony

 

Looks like a Branchlines Multibox to me.  Good gearbox, can't tell what the reduction is from the photo.

 

Yes, happy to have a go at it.

 

Cheers, Dave.

[Tony Teague]

And so on to V - Z - although that won't mean we have finished!

 

Maunsell's Schools class (V) are just about my favourite locos of all - perhaps because of historic visits to the Bluebell Railway, and I am looking forward to seeing No.928 Stowe restored and running again in due course.

 

I have, as they say, got "several" of these but because I consider the most recent Hornby RTR model to be so good, I do not have any kit-built versions; here are samples in each of three liveries - first No.907 Dulwich in olive:

 

 

Then we have No.900 Eton in malachite:

 

 

and lastly, No.936 Cranleigh in wartime black:

 

 

Whilst I generally favour Maunsell olive, I feel that these locos look especially good in black; if you have a favourite "Schools" try me, and I just might have it!

 

On to "W", and Maunsell's chunky big tanks of class W, represented by No.1915 from a SE Finecast kit:

 

 

Then we have Mr Maunsell's 'spam cans', the West Country (WC) and because I missed them earlier, the Battle of Britain (BB) pacifics. The Hornby model seemed to me to be the first of a new era of improved RTR locos, although admittedly not in the class of the more recent Schools and Arthurs, but for this reason I again have no kit built examples.

 

Representing the Battle of Britain locos is no.21C163 229 Squadron; I have actually started to weather this loco, although it doesn't really show, and it is certainly not finished:

 

 

I have a number of BB / WC locos and aside from re-numbering, naming, coal and crew I have done little to them, so I suspect that some detailing would be of benefit alongside the intended weathering. For the West Country's we have No.21C109 Lyme Regis

 

 

And finally, so far as the 'lettered' classes are concerned, we have another big tank in Maunsell's class Z, No.954 from a DMR kit, and I note that quite by chance, both of the big tanks represented today are in he earlier Maunsell goods lined black livery:

 

 

Now there is a cautionary story surrounding this last loco; those of you with sharp eyes may have notices that there is something wrong around the front end of the boiler cladding on this model - I didn't notice it when I took the picture and nobody commented on it when I published it previously, however, it later became obvious that the brass tank had split / come undone underneath because when it was built many years ago, the dangers of mixing PVA glue with lead shot were not well known - certainly not to either myself or the loco builder.

 

So a short while ago, this is what I discovered:

 

 

and looking underneath:

 

 

Despite having built the loco for me over 16 years ago, Chris Phillips immediately offered his help in reconstructing the loco and at his suggestion I left the body to soak in water for 24 hours; after two such sessions the PVA had softened sufficiently for it all to come out with a little encouragement, and without further damage to the body which is now back with Chris for repair. So it looks like it will all end well - but if you didn't already know, be warned - do not use PVA glues to hold your lead shot in place!

 

So to conclude this post, I have re-posted the "missing locos" list, and in my next couple of posts I shall cover those classes that are numbered rather than lettered, plus a few sundry works locos, diesel and electric shunters etc.

 

The "missing" list:

 

SECR Wainwright B1    (16)
LB&SCR Billinton B4X   (12)
LB&SCR Marsh C3        (8)
LSWR Drummond C14  (3) - potential solution = CSP / Agenoria kit announced years ago but yet to be delivered
LB&SCR Marsh D3X      (1) - potential solution through indication of a forthcoming 3D printed body, chassis to be sourced
LB&SCR Billinton E4X    (4)
LB&SCR Billinton E5X    (4) - 3D printed body + SEF chassis kit held for assembly
LB&SCR Billinton E6X    (2) - 3D printed body + SEF chassis kit held for assembly
SECR Wainwright F1      (9) - solution = Jidenco kit held but not yet in build
SR Maunsell I1X             (18)
LSWR Drummond L12   (20) - solved, 3D printed, etched & cast by Arun Sharma, now in build on Hornby RTR chassis

SECR Kirtey R               (18) - solved, build in hand from SE Finecast R1 kit

LSWR Drummond S11   (10) - potential solution to use cast L12 parts and modified SE Finecast T9 chassis

 

Tony

 

Edited November 5, 2022 by Tony Teague

[thegreenhowards]

 

 

Maunsell's Schools class (V) are just about my favourite locos of all - perhaps because of historic visits to the Bluebell Railway, and I am looking forward to seeing No.928 Stowe restored and running again in due course.

 

I'm doing my best! Good to see Dulwich represented in your stable, I missed that when I visited.

 

- but if you didn't already know, be warned - do not use PVA glues to hold your lead shot in place!

 

Oh dear, you wrote that post just too late, as I added lead shot to the bottom of some Kirk coaches using PVA this morning. What does it do, and is it only in confined spaces (he says hopefully)?

 

[jcm@gwr]

 

 

 

- but if you didn't already know, be warned - do not use PVA glues to hold your lead shot in place!

 

Oh dear, you wrote that post just too late, as I added lead shot to the bottom of some Kirk coaches using PVA this morning. What does it do, and is it only in confined spaces (he says hopefully)?

 

 

 

It is definitely not good in a confined space, over time they react with each other and expand.

You might be lucky if it's an open space, as it might just take the easy route and expand out

of the space.

But, just to be safe, you could soak it with warm water, which will soften the PVA and allow you

to remove and recover the lead shot.

Then, once it's dried out, you can re-do it using cheap (PoundLand, £1 for 3 bottles!) super glue.

[Zomboid]

I think it's definitely fair to say that your can't have too many schools class locos. Particularly in the SR black paint scheme.

 

The same goes for pretty much all pre nationalisation Southern engines, but Schools & Spam Cans especially.

[Tony Teague]

 

 

 

Maunsell's Schools class (V) are just about my favourite locos of all - perhaps because of historic visits to the Bluebell Railway, and I am looking forward to seeing No.928 Stowe restored and running again in due course.

 

I'm doing my best! Good to see Dulwich represented in your stable, I missed that when I visited.

 

- but if you didn't already know, be warned - do not use PVA glues to hold your lead shot in place!

 

Oh dear, you wrote that post just too late, as I added lead shot to the bottom of some Kirk coaches using PVA this morning. What does it do, and is it only in confined spaces (he says hopefully)?

 

 

 

Hi Andy

 

As jcm@gwr has said, you may be lucky if the mixture is open to the air - there was lead / PVA mix in the side tanks of the Z class (which were open to the motor / chassis) and IF this had expanded - which is what it does - then it had done so in a harmless direction, without causing any damage. In the same way, if you have applied it to the underside of a coach body, without boxing it in, then you may well be OK.

 

Now I know what the problem is, I realise that it had also happened on a sealed box van where I put the mixture inside it before fixing the roof on; later on the van split at the corners; see also:

https://www.lner.info/forums/viewtopic.php?t=2737

 

http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94097-roket-card-glue-does-it-react-with-lead-like-pva/

 

The main damage on the Z was from the mixture sealed inside the boiler which only had one small 'open' end inside the loco, so I think the enclosure is a good part of it, but I now use superglue as jcm@gwr suggests, whilst my loco builder Chris Phillips seals lead shot in place with araldite.

 

Tony