Churminster & Stowe Magna, Southern Railway

[Tony Teague]

48 minutes ago, Mick Bonwick said:

Progress, nonetheless.

 

Similar delays here - only one quarter of the rail length painted that I had aimed for. There's always tomorrow!

 

Yes I am certainly further ahead than I was on Thursday evening!

[Jack P]

Nicely done Tony. "Chunking it down" into manageable segments is a very measured approach. I also like that entire 'trains' will share the same weathering. 

 

Keen to see what 2038 Looks like, mine has only received a coat of gloss so far!

 

 

[Tony Teague]

Two weeks on, after I said that I'd finish off my weekend weathering challenge "later in the week" - so what went wrong?

 

Well for once, this time it wasn't and absentee mojo, but unfortunately I was diagnosed with shingles; now I knew this came complete with a rash, but never having had it before, I just had no idea about how painful it is!

 

Of course the rash meant an end to my moonlighting as a 'Mr Universe' double, and the gold lame posing pouch was confined to quarters , but I am now feeling a lot better, if not fully recovered and so have been musing about what's coming up on the C&SM railway.

 

The good news is that I have been able to agree a date when we will start the installation of Steve Hewitt's magnificent semaphore signals, so if all goes well these should bring about the most significant change we have seen for a while, both operationally and scenically.

 

There is also likely to be some long-awaited change to the 'missing locos' list with expected deliveries both of kits of parts and of completed locos - plus of course there are those that are just waiting for me to get my finger out! This is all good news.

 

The locomotive topic also caused me to have a think about a small number of locos that I have acquired when prices were right, but have yet to put into service because of the need for re-numbering and / or detailing, and so first, I have been looking at the H15 & S15 fleet, which are amongst my Southern Railway favourites:

 

[My picture from a photocharter at the Bluebell Railway a couple of years back]

 

In the process I have been referring to Peter Swift's Irwell Press book on the subject, and I looked first at the LSWR / SR H15's, of which I estimate 26 were built, of which have just two models - so perhaps room for a couple more?:

 

 

No.522 is from DJH kit K34 built by Chris Phillips and represents the smaller boilered, slightly taller chimneyed variety with a Urie 5000g flare topped tender in olive.

 

 

Whilst No.483 is from PDK kit PDK38 built by DLT of this parish  and represents the larger boilered, shorter chimneyed version with the Urie 5200g tender (also flare topped) in wartime black with sunshine lettering.

 

The problem with the H15 class is that there are so many variations within it that it is hard to know where to go next, and of course there is no RTR model available (YET!), but I am open to suggestions!

 

Turning to the LSWR / SR S15 class, of which 45 were built, and there are 6 models in the fleet - plus two more RTR versions in unopened boxes awaiting renumbering etc, before they join the operational fleet - so perhaps an over-representation but probably based on their being available RTR as well as in kit form:

 

 

First there is No.499 from DJH kit K46 built by Chris Phillips and representing the taller chimneyed variety with a Urie 5000g flare topped tender in olive.

 

 

Then  there are Nos.824 & 826 which are Hornby RTR models and represent the shorter chimney and Urie 5000g flare top tender

 

 

Returning to kit builds there are two, Nos.839 & 847, from DJH K27, this one by Chris Phillips and the other whose builder is unknown as I purchased it from the estate of a deceased modeller; these represent the shorter chimneyed version and flat sided Urie 5000g tender.

 

 

Finally, there is No.827, and this is from Hornby's 2nd batch in black but still representing the flare top tender variety. The two additional models in unopened boxes are identical to this but awaiting renumbering.

 

So I guess the immediate question that needs answering is, can these two be 'adjusted' so as to represent any useful variant in the class, or do they just get re-numbered, or perhaps disposed of?

 

Beyond that is the longer terms question as to wwhether there are any other specific variants that I really should have in the fleet, and how to source them.

 

Tony

Edited November 23, 2022 by Tony Teague
Two S15 pics changed / added

[Tony Teague]

An addition to the wagon stock arrived last week, in the shape of one of the new batch of Rails / Dapol 3D printed ex-SECR vans:

 

 

Shown straight out of the box, these really are very crisp and well finished and certainly provide a route to unusual prototypes where only a limited run can be justified, however, at >£30 each I was musing that really a good kit from the likes of Peco Parkside, Chivers, Cambrian, Slaters etc is always bound to be better value - providing, of course, that a model of the prototype you want is available and that you are prepared to build it:

 

(All shown pror to weathering for comparison purposes).

 

Tony

Edited November 23, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Mick Bonwick]

2 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

An addition to the wagon stock arrived last week, in the shape of one of the new batch of Rails / Dapol 3D printed ex-SECR vans:

 

 

I'm not too happy about the diagonal striations on the underframe. I accept that they won't be visible from normal viewing distances, but once they're weathered I have a feeling that they might become more obvious, especially if close-up photographs are taken.

 

I suppose that the answer is not to weather them and not to take close-up photographs, but where's the fun in that?

[Tony Teague]

On 23/04/2021 at 19:38, Mick Bonwick said:

 

I'm not too happy about the diagonal striations on the underframe. I accept that they won't be visible from normal viewing distances, but once they're weathered I have a feeling that they might become more obvious, especially if close-up photographs are taken.

 

I suppose that the answer is not to weather them and not to take close-up photographs, but where's the fun in that?

 

Mick

 

I did weather one quite lightly from the earlier batch - my efforts were mainly to make the roof dirty - but I did put a bit on the underframe.

 

I have deliberately uploaded this image larger than I normally do, but I think you struggle to see the striations unless you magnify it much larger than the actual size of the model:

 

 

If you do, then as you have indicated, they are most noticable on the brake lever - which I guess you could replace if you wanted to be fussy. Nevertheless I think this re-enforces what I was saying about the relative value of good, injection moulded models.

 

Tony

Edited November 23, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Mick Bonwick]

Tony,

 

Thank you for that image. It shows nothing of 'the problem' at all - most encouraging.

 

I have resolved to tackle one of these tomorrow. Broomfield Terrace guttering is going to have to wait awhile! Reports to follow.

[Tony Teague]

On 23/04/2021 at 21:54, Mick Bonwick said:

Tony,

 

Thank you for that image. It shows nothing of 'the problem' at all - most encouraging.

 

I have resolved to tackle one of these tomorrow. Broomfield Terrace guttering is going to have to wait awhile! Reports to follow.

 

Having cheered you up, here's the awful detail:

 

 

But as I said, you would need a magnifying glass or very good eyesight, or both!

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Tony Teague]

Returning to locomotive matters, I have changed the awful picture of S15 No.826 in my post from a couple of days ago, and added one of the black liveried S15 no.827.

 

Having researched the S15 question further, and in the absence of any other suggestions, it seems to me that the best thing to do with the two additional models that I have 'in stock', is to acquire a 6 wheel tender for one of them and re-number it in the 833 - 837 series, whilst the other will simply be renumbered elsewhere within the Maunsell S15 range.

 

Neither of these will influence my "missing locos" list, but as I also said in last Monday's post, there is some progress here too; when we last looked at DS75 I had brush painted it in a bauxite colour which, following some debate, I had concluded was the right livery, but the finish was awful. So a short while ago I re-sprayed the two halves of the 3D printed body and then picked out certain details on both the outside and inside of the bodyshell.

 

 

Today I was able to glaze the cab windows, excepting the front and rear centre panels which can only be done once the two body halves are fixed together - and because there will then be no internal access I will have to use liquid glass on those openings.

 

Once this has all dried, the next step will be to complete the assembly and because there will be a seam right down the centre of the front, rear and roof, I suspect that this will involve some filler, rubbing down and re-painting. Nevertheless it will not now be long before DS75 joins the operational fleet and is removed from the 'missing locos' list.

 

Meanwhile over on Mike Edge's workbench 'Hecate' has been taking shape:

 

 

...and so this too will soon be coming off the 'wanted' list!

 

Tony

 

Edited November 23, 2022 by Tony Teague

[Jack P]

On 25/04/2021 at 07:24, Tony Teague said:

Having reserached the S15 question further, and in the absence of any other suggestions, it seems to me that the best thing to do with the two additional models that I have 'in stock', is to acquire a 6 wheel tender for one of them and re-number it in the 833 - 837 series, whilst the other will simply be renumbered elsewhere within the Maunsell S15 range.

 

SEF do a kit for the Ashford 6w tender, although i've been meaning to ask PDK if any of the tenders they do are suitable instead.

 

Edit: It's also pretty straightforward to 'rob' the socket arrnagement from the Hornby tender and fit it to the replacement one. I can share some photos if you'd like?

Edited April 29, 2021 by Jack P

[Tony Teague]

2 minutes ago, Jack P said:

 

SEF do a kit for the Ashford 6w tender, although i've been meaning to ask PDK if any of the tenders they do are suitable instead.

 

Edit: It's also pretty straightforward to 'rob' the socket arrnagement from the Hornby tender and fit it to the replacement one. I can share some photos if you'd like?

 

Hi Jack

 

On this one I am just ahead of you - I asked PDK and have their 6wheel tender kit on its way!

Yes, please do share the pictures showing how you fitted the Hornby socket to the new tender.

 

Tony

[Jack P]

Haha, excellent! Which tender did they supply? 

 

Excuse the not so great photos - the tender is only in a very rudimentary state. I also quickly took these in the office. 

 

 

Hopefully this shows how it's done, basically just wrapped the socket in insulation tape, and then filed a little slot in the whitemetal tender body where it meets the chassis. The plug end is still loose, this helps with connecting/disconnecting as you can pull it out further. I probably won't leave it like this, but I hadn't touched this since I initially worked on it, well over a year ago now.

 

 

[Tony Teague]

Thanks Jack.

Of course, I don't use DCC but I can see that this would also lend itself to providing tender pick-ups, if wanted - so I might apply it to that issue.

My PDK tender has yet to arrive, but what I have ordered is the Ashford 4000gallon 6 wheel tender as fitted to S15's 833 - 837, that came originally from Lord Nelsons, via King Arthurs; Paul at PDK also advised that the kit can alternately be built with angled sides as for the one that came from the Schools class, but this was well beyond my date range.

Will report in due course on what arrives and the subsequent build.

Tony

[gz3xzf]

15 hours ago, Jack P said:

 

SEF do a kit for the Ashford 6w tender, although i've been meaning to ask PDK if any of the tenders they do are suitable instead.

 

Edit: It's also pretty straightforward to 'rob' the socket arrnagement from the Hornby tender and fit it to the replacement one. I can share some photos if you'd like?

Hi Gents

I discovered that you can make a DCC socket from some modular connector and a bit of Vero board, see my Workbench post, although I have found that Maplins no longer sell the connector. I also use this connector to make plugs and sockets for connecting motors, tender to loco connections, etc.

 

I have found the connector strip on RS Components site: -
Winslow 2.54mm Pitch 32 Way 1 Row Straight Socket Strip

 

Hope this is useful.

[Jack P]

On 30/04/2021 at 16:29, Tony Teague said:

Thanks Jack.

Of course, I don't use DCC but I can see that this would also lend itself to providing tender pick-ups, if wanted - so I might apply it to that issue.

My PDK tender has yet to arrive, but what I have ordered is the Ashford 4000gallon 6 wheel tender as fitted to S15's 833 - 837, that came originally from Lord Nelsons, via King Arthurs; Paul at PDK also advised that the kit can alternately be built with angled sides as for the one that came from the Schools class, but this was well beyond my date range.

Will report in due course on what arrives and the subsequent build.

Tony

 

No worries Tony!

 

I actually built this tender before I swapped to DCC. The main reason I kept the tender gubbins was to avoid the hassle of rewiring the loco - it just happened to come in very handy later on, when I did swap to DCC.

 

I had worried that it might be the L1/Q tender, which was incorrect. It's excellent to know that the schools tender (I assume this is the kit it's from), can be built straight sided!

Do you email Paul, or call usually? I might just stay up slightly later tonight and give him a ring.

Looking forward to seeing the build!

[Tony Teague]

10 hours ago, Jack P said:

 

No worries Tony!

 

I actually built this tender before I swapped to DCC. The main reason I kept the tender gubbins was to avoid the hassle of rewiring the loco - it just happened to come in very handy later on, when I did swap to DCC.

 

I had worried that it might be the L1/Q tender, which was incorrect. It's excellent to know that the schools tender (I assume this is the kit it's from), can be built straight sided!

Do you email Paul, or call usually? I might just stay up slightly later tonight and give him a ring.

Looking forward to seeing the build!

Hi Jack

 

I mailed him first because it wasn't clear to me from the website whether what I wanted was available.

Once he responded I placed the order by telephoning him.

 

Best wishes

 

Tony

[Tony Teague]

Well another two weeks have passed and I am still on painkillers 24/7 as my shingles have turned into 'post-herpetic neuraligia', which it seems can go on for some time - great fun!

 

So I have been completely incapacitated and unable to do much, however, there have been a couple of additions to stock:

 

 

Not the best pic I have ever taken, but these are Hornby's new SR gangwayed bogie luggage vans - and they really are excellent models (shown here straight out of the box). The prototypes were seen everywhere and as a result I already have 9 of the very old Triang / Hornby models in the fleet - all of which have been enhanced with Roxey Mouldings upgraded doors etc, and paper corridor connections from Modellers Mecca. They have also been heavily weathered:

 

 

The new model has been reviewed elsewhere but a comparison shows just how far RTR models have come in the recent past, and whether or not I will now dispose of the old ones at some point, the old and new models will definately not be rostered next to each other in any train:

 

 

Ughh! The old ones looked sort of acceptable until the new ones came along!

 

Clearly the new vans need weathering and some corridor connections, but once that is done it is going to be hard to justify retaining the older models in the fleet.

 

Tony

 

 

[St Enodoc]

9 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

it is going to be hard to justify retaining the older models in the fleet.

Oh, I don't know. I think I'd keep them.

[Tony Teague]

21 minutes ago, St Enodoc said:

Oh, I don't know. I think I'd keep them.

 

Well I doubt that I'd get much for them, so you're probably right - and in a train of mixed NPCS vehicles, they will probably still look reasonable.

Thx

 

 

[thegreenhowards]

20 hours ago, Tony Teague said:

Well another two weeks have passed and I am still on painkillers 24/7 as my shingles have turned into 'post-herpetic neuraligia', which it seems can go on for some time - great fun!

 

So I have been completely incapacitated and unable to do much, however, there have been a couple of additions to stock:

 

 

Not the best pic I have ever taken, but these are Hornby's new SR gangwayed bogie luggage vans - and they really are excellent models (shown here straight out of the box). The prototypes were seen everywhere and as a result I already have 9 of the very old Triang / Hornby models in the fleet - all of which have been enhanced with Roxey Mouldings upgraded doors etc, and paper corridor connections from Modellers Mecca. They have also been heavily weathered:

 

 

The new model has been reviewed elsewhere but a comparison shows just how far RTR models have come in the recent past, and whether or not I will now dispose of the old ones at some point, the old and new models will definately not be rostered next to each other in any train:

 

 

Ughh! The old ones looked sort of acceptable until the new ones came along!

 

Clearly the new vans need weathering and some corridor connections, but once that is done it is going to be hard to justify retaining the older models in the fleet.

 

Tony

 

 

Tony,

 

There are some very noticeable differences such as the angle iron underframe, the battery (?) box and the angle of the bracing on the end panels. Are these differences of build date or just errors?

 

Apart from these issues (if they are indeed errors), the older models look fine to me. Don’t run them together with the new ones as the chunkier nature of the mouldings would be apparent, but in a rake together or with other similar vintage vehicles I think they’d look good.

 

Andy

[Tony Teague]

38 minutes ago, thegreenhowards said:

Tony,

 

There are some very noticeable differences such as the angle iron underframe, the battery (?) box and the angle of the bracing on the end panels. Are these differences of build date or just errors?

 

Apart from these issues (if they are indeed errors), the older models look fine to me. Don’t run them together with the new ones as the chunkier nature of the mouldings would be apparent, but in a rake together or with other similar vintage vehicles I think they’d look good.

 

Andy

 

Andy

 

You are right, plus the old models are actually the wrong length - there were two different lengths and the old model sits between them! I also notice from my pics that the bodies of the older vehicles are slightly warped / banana shaped, and I think that probably applies to all of them.

As you say, so long as the old and new don't run together they are probably OK and given that the new ones are more or less sold out on delivery (Hattons were unable to fulfil my original order) I doubt that I could easily replace the rest of my fleet.

 

Tony

[Sandhole]

On 13/05/2021 at 13:37, Tony Teague said:

Well another two weeks have passed and I am still on painkillers 24/7 as my shingles have turned into 'post-herpetic neuraligia', which it seems can go on for some time - great fun!

 

So I have been completely incapacitated and unable to do much, however, there have been a couple of additions to stock:

 

 

Not the best pic I have ever taken, but these are Hornby's new SR gangwayed bogie luggage vans - and they really are excellent models (shown here straight out of the box). The prototypes were seen everywhere and as a result I already have 9 of the very old Triang / Hornby models in the fleet - all of which have been enhanced with Roxey Mouldings upgraded doors etc, and paper corridor connections from Modellers Mecca. They have also been heavily weathered:

 

 

The new model has been reviewed elsewhere but a comparison shows just how far RTR models have come in the recent past, and whether or not I will now dispose of the old ones at some point, the old and new models will definately not be rostered next to each other in any train:

 

 

Ughh! The old ones looked sort of acceptable until the new ones came along!

 

Clearly the new vans need weathering and some corridor connections, but once that is done it is going to be hard to justify retaining the older models in the fleet.

 

Tony

 

 

I'm going to get a couple of the new ones.
My Triang/Roxey model stays, it's part of my modelling history.
I think people on here know I like to stay connected with my modelling past.
I hope you feel better soon,
Sending good vibes from Manchester.
Regards,
Chris.

Edited May 14, 2021 by Sandhole

[Tony Teague]

A further addition to stock arrived today, in the form of Hornby's latest Merchant Navy class loco No.21C7 'Aberdeen Commonwealth' in wartime black livery:

 

 

I rather like this livery, which is correct for this loco from June 1942 until June 1947 but my only concern in looking at this very fine model, was whether there should be such a pronounced gap between the 'C' and the '7'. Having consulted the Book of the Merchant Navy Pacifics it does actually seem about right and so I won't be attempting to move them any closer!

 

 

This is as out of the box, so there are a few small bits and pieces to add plus coal & crew before this one gets a light weathering; at present the weathering queue is getting ever longer with new stock arriving without me getting to work on it - but I'll get there soon!

 

In the meantime, and having painted the interior, I had also got to the point of sticking together the two 3D printed halves of the bodywork of DS75 and this soon revealed a slight problem in that there was a small variation in the shape of the two roofs, so that a clean joint was impossible (the photograph is especially cruel!):

 

 

I went ahead and fixed the two partes together, incorporating the spud motor in the process, before filling the joint with Tamiya plastic putty:

 

 

This was soon rubbed down very gently with sanding sticks to achieve a smooth finish:

 

 

The resulting surface was then repainted and is looking pretty good:

 

 

I shall leave it overnight before deciding whether a further coat is required; this then leaves only the addition of pick-up shoes, tool & battery boxes, buffers etc before this tiny loco is finally complete.

 

Tony

[Mick Bonwick]

I have to say that the MN looks really good, even without dirt on it. Is there a case for clean and shiny rather than grubby and mucky?

[Tony Teague]

2 hours ago, Mick Bonwick said:

I have to say that the MN looks really good, even without dirt on it. Is there a case for clean and shiny rather than grubby and mucky?

 

I was considering a coat of Kleer and just alight dusting on the wheels, perhaps a dusting on the top - what do you think?