North End Road - WCML in N

[DavidMcKenzie]

The wires have started going up, it's going to be slow progress. 

 

 

I couldn't help having a quick play with the EMUs that have recently arrived. They have really made modelling the WCML possible and I'm looking forward to weathering them. 

 

 

 

 

All the best,

Dave

 

[DavidMcKenzie]

A bit of a change from hanging wires, the 101 came away on holiday for a little detailing and weathering in the evening on holiday. 

 

The first step always feels wrong.....but the light wash dulls down the colours and gives a good base for weathering. 

 

 

Mixing in some darker washes.

 

 

Buffer beam detailing is mostly provided, but the two leads on the left hand end needed making from scratch. A driver and a few passengers were also added. 

 

 

Then a final weathering (mix of spraying and powders) and detailing (fine brush) before it got a go out on the layout. 

 

 

 

All the best,

Dave 

[cornish trains jez]

On 08/09/2022 at 19:21, DavidMcKenzie said:

A bit of a change from hanging wires, the 101 came away on holiday for a little detailing and weathering in the evening on holiday. 

 

The first step always feels wrong.....but the light wash dulls down the colours and gives a good base for weathering. 

 

 

Mixing in some darker washes.

 

 

Buffer beam detailing is mostly provided, but the two leads on the left hand end needed making from scratch. A driver and a few passengers were also added. 

 

 

Then a final weathering (mix of spraying and powders) and detailing (fine brush) before it got a go out on the layout. 

 

 

 

All the best,

Dave 

 

Very nice David! That last photo is absolutely cracking, perfect lighting etc!

Hope you and the family are keeping well.

 

Best regards,

 

Jeremy

 

 

[DavidMcKenzie]

Made a start on class 321s and they have been a little like the class 92 from revolution. They almost have a 'toy' feel about them without weathering, but just the simplest and lightest of weathering really brings out all of the amazing details. 

 

 

 

The railway room (I am hoping that sounds more impressive and permanent than 'the back corner of the cellar behind the commuter bikes'.....🤭) is getting a coat of paint and a floor, so it will be a few weeks until the 321s get out into the layout because it's currently under dust covers.

 

Hopefully between the renovations I will get a chance to finish the silverlink one and maybe have a go at the NSE one. These models make WCML modelling south of rugby possible, so it was great to have them sitting on the workbench.  

 

All the best,

Dave

[DavidMcKenzie]

It's been slow progress on the layout, but the renovation on the room is now finished and the layout is set up again, so hopefully I will get a little more done over the winter months. 

 

Managed to get a few trains runningwhich was great.

 

 

 

 

 

All the best,

Dave

[DavidMcKenzie]

Managed to get started on another 321. This time in ex NSE livery (~1998). Removing the NSE writing and badges took some patience, but it's all worked out in the end. I have really enjoyed the challenge of trying to achieve the 'clean but we'll used' look. 

 

 

 

I lined up the NSE and ex NSE 321s for a running session and found a small issue, they clashed on the AWS ramps. I will need to either modify or remove them at some point. 

 

 

All the best,

Dave

[bmthtrains - David]

Ah! They look like the N Brass ramps I’ve used as well. I will need to check whether my 321 has the same problem. 
 

David

[shanks522]

Hi Dave, 

 

 How are you running the layout? End to end or a circuit?

 

Rolling stock is looking fantastic, especially the coal 31 👌

 

Graham. 

[DavidMcKenzie]

13 hours ago, bmthtrains - David said:

Ah! They look like the N Brass ramps I’ve used as well. I will need to check whether my 321 has the same problem. 
 

David

 

Hi David,

 

I will keep my fingers crossed for you. It is the Nbrass ramps that I've used, the only difference is the track is code 40. I'm hopeful that is might clear with code 55 (especially as Hunters Lane is looking absolutely supurb and it would be a shame to have to change anything). 

 

All the best,

Dave 

[DavidMcKenzie]

13 hours ago, shanks522 said:

Hi Dave, 

 

 How are you running the layout? End to end or a circuit?

 

Rolling stock is looking fantastic, especially the coal 31 👌

 

Graham. 

 

Thanks Graham, I like the locos I've rebadged or added details to most of all and this one's one of the best I've managed to do so far. 

 

The layout is very crudely run end to end at the moment with 'add on' mini fiddle yards at each end, but I am working on having a permanent fiddle yard with the storage below the layout and a 1meter Dia spiral to bring the trains upto the layout. I don't know if it will actually work or not, but it seemed to be the best use of space. As you can see below there is a long way to go before any trains will be running on it. 

 

 

All the best,

Dave 

[spenc]

It's surprising how good doe's 321s look with a bit of weathering, the dmu and 31 look good aswell how you getting on with overhead wires,  I'm hoping to get mine done sometime next week after I've finished the street/station lights all being well plus pick my new glasses up Saturday so might see a bit better. 

[DavidMcKenzie]

10 hours ago, spenc said:

It's surprising how good doe's 321s look with a bit of weathering, the dmu and 31 look good aswell how you getting on with overhead wires,  I'm hoping to get mine done sometime next week after I've finished the street/station lights all being well plus pick my new glasses up Saturday so might see a bit better. 

 

Yeah I agree about the 321, there is a lot of detail in the model, but most of it gets lost somehow and a little weathering bring it all out. A few pictures next to an untouched one below.

 

 

 

The wires were coming on a month or so ago, hopefully you can see them in the picture above with the class 31. Not absolutely perfect, but definitely give a nice impression.

The branchline upto the station is done, but I needed a break from it. It was taking a lot of my patience and is a very fiddly job, so I decided to do a bit of stock before starting again.

I'm glad I did take a break from it because changing the AWS ramps under the wires would have been very awkward. 

 

All the best,

Dave 

Edited October 20, 2022 by DavidMcKenzie

[njee20]

I’ll look at printing some AWS ramps if you want some lower profile ones, Dave?

 

it’s all looking superb though!

[Davexoc]

12 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

I will keep my fingers crossed for you. It is the Nbrass ramps that I've used, the only difference is the track is code 40. I'm hopeful that is might clear with code 55 (especially as Hunters Lane is looking absolutely supurb and it would be a shame to have to change anything).

 

I have used N Brass ramps with code 55 and not had any problems. The difference in rail height is only 0.38mm, but as code 55 is a sort of code 80 in disguise, the depth to the top of the sleepers might mean the clearance is actually greater.

[spenc]

13 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

 

Yeah I agree about the 321, there is a lot of detail in the model, but most of it gets lost somehow and a little weathering bring it all out. A few pictures next to an untouched one below.

 

 

 

The wires were coming on a month or so ago, hopefully you can see them in the picture above with the class 31. Not absolutely perfect, but definitely give a nice impression.

The branchline upto the station is done, but I needed a break from it. It was taking a lot of my patience and is a very fiddly job, so I decided to do a bit of stock before starting again.

I'm glad I did take a break from it because changing the AWS ramps under the wires would have been very awkward. 

 

All the best,

Dave 

I think I worded that wrong ment to say have you done anymore on the wire's yes what you have done so far looks great they are fidderley to do you got lot more than me to do  lot of burning fingers.

[DavidMcKenzie]

On 21/10/2022 at 08:36, spenc said:

I think I worded that wrong ment to say have you done anymore on the wire's yes what you have done so far looks great they are fidderley to do you got lot more than me to do  lot of burning fingers.

Ah ok, sorry I misunderstood. Nothing further yet, but I will get back to it before too long. Good luck with getting the wires up on West Park, I hope it all goes well and I will be following your updates. 

 

All the best,

Dave 

[DavidMcKenzie]

On 20/10/2022 at 21:29, Davexoc said:

 

I have used N Brass ramps with code 55 and not had any problems. The difference in rail height is only 0.38mm, but as code 55 is a sort of code 80 in disguise, the depth to the top of the sleepers might mean the clearance is actually greater.

I never had issue with code 55 and Nbrass ramps on my previous layout either. Even on this layout the only issue so far is the 321s, everything else seems ok. Maybe the 321s are lower than other stock to keep the motor and running gear below the windows?

 

I think you are right about the code 80 in disguise comment. The 0.38mm isn't much in rail height, but I think the distance to the top surface of the sleepers is greater than this. 

 

All the best,

Dave 

Edited October 22, 2022 by DavidMcKenzie

[DavidMcKenzie]

On 20/10/2022 at 20:23, njee20 said:

I’ll look at printing some AWS ramps if you want some lower profile ones, Dave?

 

it’s all looking superb though!

 

That is a very kind offer thank you, I will PM you. 

 

All the best,

Dave

[Swifty11]

Looks superb! Really like the 321s also, would be tempted by one in OO if they ever made it across. 

[DavidMcKenzie]

Almost there with the mainline 37. Drivers in, body's lowered, buffer beams done and it's had a first go at weathering. It will sit for a few days now and give a chance to come back later with fresh eyes to see if anything looks out of place. 

 

It looks like 37242 was often in action around bescot in the later half of the 90s. A tiny bit north of the area which motivated North End Road, but I always liked this livery and I think it looks especially good on a 37. 

 

 

 

 

All the best,

Dave 

Edited November 18, 2022 by DavidMcKenzie

[jollysmart]

David, 37242 looks absolutely superb, you've made a cracking job of it as it has the presence and looks of a working 37 now. Top job.

Edited November 18, 2022 by jollysmart

[cornish trains jez]

Very nice Dave!!

Edited November 18, 2022 by cornish trains jez

[03060]

2 hours ago, DavidMcKenzie said:

Almost there with the mainline 37. Drivers in, body's lowered, buffer beams done and it's had a first go at weathering. It will sit for a few days now and give a chance to come back later with fresh eyes to see if anything looks out of place. 

 

It looks like 37242 was often in action around bescot in the mid 90s. A tiny bit north of the area which motivated North End Road, but I always liked this livery and I think it looks especially good on a 37. 

 

 

 

 

All the best,

Dave 

 

 

Hello David, does the 'body lowering' involve taking a bit off the body .... the chassis .... or both, please ? It does look the the part as it is (IMHO.)

 

Regards,

Ian.

[DavidMcKenzie]

3 hours ago, jollysmart said:

David, 37242 looks absolutely superb, you've made a cracking job of it as it has the presence and looks of a working 37 now. Top job.

 

2 hours ago, cornish trains jez said:

Very nice Dave!!

 

Thanks guys 👍. It's definitely one that has made up for my many failures or slightly ruined models, I really enjoyed modelling it and can't believe how well it's come out. About the only thing I am wondering is if the bogie springs need another very light wash to dull them down a little further.

The top picture probably shows this springs best. I like that there is a depth of colour and everything isn't just flat black or flat brown, but they stand out too much I think. But I will leave it a few days and view it with fresh eyes before over doing it.

 

2 hours ago, 03060 said:

 

 

Hello David, does the 'body lowering' involve taking a bit off the body .... the chassis .... or both, please ? It does look the the part as it is (IMHO.)

 

Regards,

Ian.

Hi Ian,

 

I am sorry it's too late for before and after photos. But hopefully if you have a 37 for comparison the picture below will make sense. The body sits on PCBs at each end. I've carefully brought these down to be close to the pins (whilst being careful not to damage wires/connections etc.).

 

 

It seems to drop the body enough to make the gap from the body to the bogies less obvious. One downside is that it does restrict the range of rotation of the bogies. I don't have any tight curves or small points on the layout so I don't know if there is an issue with these, but medium points still seem to work just fine. 

 

All the best,

Dave

 

[Steadfast]

Hi Dave, 

Nice work on the 37.

Hope you don't mind me fiddling with your picture. I've done the same mod by removing material from the area indicated by the yellow arrow. The PCB can be slid upwards and material removed as indicated by the dotted line, allowing the PCB to sit lower in the chassis. May be less filing involved than taking the top edge down?

Did you remove any material from the bottom of the cab interior?

This is how mine sits, think it's similar to yours?

Multiple ways to skin a cat I guess. And as I type that,  the cat had literally just flown out the cat flap!

 

Jo

Edited November 18, 2022 by Steadfast