Greenford in 00 Gauge: Circa 2010-2017 (FGW, Chiltern, LU, Virgin + Plenty of Freight)

[WCML100]

So… we had a great time visiting Warley! It was great to catch up with the guys Cavalex, Accurascale etc and seeing a few familiar faces throughout the day! Deadmans Lane and Melangoose being highlights for myself!

 

The atmosphere was pleasant, most likely due to the Saturday train strike… a few goodies purchased (not as many as I thought!) and was great to see some upcoming models on show in the flesh! A few on the list for Greenford for sure!

 

We also managed to cut the access portals to the remaining two scenic boards which means we are ready for track laying and wiring! 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2023 by WCML100

[WCML100]

So I did manage to buy a couple of items of rolling stock at a fairly average trade offering during Warley. These included x2 Bachmann EWS MBA ‘Megabox’ wagons (1 with buffers and one without) which will form part of one of our Calvert Spoil rakes. These will be mixed with ex Yeoman / Euro Tunnel KEA’s made up from kit form which are produced by S-Kits. I currently have x2 of these kits but require a further 6 taking the total to 16 in the rake (8 KEA’s / JXA’s & 8 MBA’s).

 

I also picked up this patched rust weathered OCA which will go towards one of my engineers rakes. It will require a little more work to tone it down to finish it off just nicely. 
 

In the future I will start to add photos of full rakes when they are complete for anyone interested - for now a few photos of just these new ones! 😃
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited February 16, 2023 by WCML100

[EWS60065]

Nice purchases. Do you have any pics of the KEAs etc.? 

[WCML100]

1 hour ago, EWS60065 said:

Nice purchases. Do you have any pics of the KEAs etc.? 

Unfortunately not yet. They are still unbuilt in kit form which I need to get cracking with (a job for the new year!) - so wont have any images on them until there is something worth showing! I have been working on a few other projects which I will share very soon however - one of which is wagon oriented @EWS60065 😃

 

Edited December 13, 2022 by WCML100

[Chris37044]

Hi all, hope everyone had a good Christmas and New Year.

 

Not much time has been spare to work on the layout since the last update so I thought I would continue with showing some of my stock for the layout. 

One of the main diversion routes for Chiltern services when Marylebone is closed, is the New North Main Line to Paddington (until it was severed at Old Oak Common a few years ago).

 

Our period between 2010 and 2015 provides us with good scope for variety for the diversions of this service. From Wrexham & Shropshire to the transition and evolution into the Chiltern Mainline brand - with class 67’s and 68’s being used as traction during our timeframe, along with MK3 coaching stock and DVT.

 

So far I have acquired both a Class 67 and 68 in the two tone grey as well as the MK3 DVT as seen below. I aim to build up a rake of Oxford MK3a’s resprayed in the correct livery to match at some point however I haven’t decided which exact variation of the coaching stock will be depicted just yet, due to the many variations it has seen over this period. I will likely have 2 different rakes to show the variations and have at least one which will suit both the 67 and 68 operation periods. @WCML100 also has a few 67’s in his fleet which can provide alternate power on occasion to mix it up. These include EWS, and DB Maple Leaf liveries - both seen regularly in front of the these trains when the usual Grey 67’s were in for Maintenance.

 

While the weather isn’t great both of us will probably stick to rolling stock projects for the time being but hope to be back working on the layout soon! Enjoy these pictures for now!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 4, 2023 by Chris37044

[WCML100]

Evening all, and a Happy New Year…

 

Still not as much work done on the layout as we would have hoped due to the colder temperatures in the garage but this weekend I have managed to purchase a couple of Mainly Trains white metal offerings from Wizard Models. These replicate the BR western region rail type buffer stop perfectly and I have begun to install the first one on the remains Down Main where the line goes down to a single track. Although the kit makes for a realistic prototype - fitting in it place of the rail in the sleeper chairs is a bit more challenging. It covers 5 sleepers, the middle 3, which I have managed to modify to fit although the outer ends are 3x as wide as normal rail (normal running rail + 2 buffer support rails so will not fit. I have contemplated ordering flat sleepers and using those in place but looking to get as much accuracy as possible. If anyone has had experience with this before? Any help or suggestions would be welcome! Even any pictures of the real buffer stop would be greatly appreciated! ( @LNERGE do you have one by any chance? Haha) -  I have added some pictures below for reference. 
 

Apologies not much to see overall but I have been working on some rolling stock projects (and ruining one or two - a story for another time) so more updates on that soon with a couple of new arrivals over the Christmas period for us both too! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 8, 2023 by WCML100

[5BarVT]

3 hours ago, WCML100 said:

any pictures of the real buffer stop would be greatly appreciated!

Taken in Jan 2018 I think.

Bristol TM platform 1 (I guess dating from the 1970 remodelling) 

 

 

Gloucester Down Bay - just the front end.

Paul.

[LNERGE]

I have looked at my photos and I didn't take any of the buffers I'm afraid to say.

[WCML100]

Now… to something I have been eager to complete and share with you all for some time!

 

Towards the back end of the summer months I managed to pick up 4 relatively cheap second hand JGA wagons. These will end up going into my Hayes Tarmac aggregate rake which will eventually be made up of HOA’s of which I have several on order from Revolution due in a few months time (very excited for these). I am hoping they do some IIA’s as I require few of these for good measure to make up this mixed rake also. (Total will be x2 IIA, x4 JGA, x12 HOA for clarity)

 

One particular JGA that stuck out to me was 19232 which during our period was one of the few orange RMC JGA’s to get a repaint into DBS red. So out of the 4 JGA’s in RMC, i chose the one in poorest condition (broken / missing buffers, older livery which was replaced by our period) for the repaint into DB red 19232. Here is rendition of this particular wagon…

 

 

 

Backstory over, first was to take everything back to the base. I am by no means an expert and still use rattle cans currently so please take everything with a pinch of salt* - as you will find out this was definitely not a plain sailing project…

 

 

Once dissembled and taken back to plastic - it was primed using the halfords offering and then i begun to add the coats of red. I previously used Hyundai Electric Red for my DB RBA translator vehicles pair, so stuck with that for this project too. Rattle cans do have have their limits and on the second coat, it came out very thick and left an awful finish - so I took it right back down and used a new can.

 

Once I was happy, I went about addressing the buffers. I removed all buffers from the under-frame (what was left of them at least) and filled down to flush. I then also had mask up to paint the buffer beams matching red.
 

Once all the painting was done on the outside I gave the inside a light grey just to finish it off, even though it may not be seen as eventually this wagon will probably end up being modelled loaded. 

 

 

Next was transfers; I gave the model a coat of gloss varnish before Steve at @railtec-models perfectly timed a release of transfers in the autumn for my chosen prototype. It was only then I realised the sheer amount of small, complex details this somewhat on first glance plain and simple livery had. Although time consuming to get right, this was not the challenging part so it turned out. Before that though, came adding the buffers. The intention was to buy some new ones online, but I then realised that with my Bachmann DB red HKA’s, they supplied buffers with each wagon and only ‘outer’ HKA’s are fitted with these, so had a load spare, and yep you guessed it - I used these as they were almost identical - so on they went.

 

 

The mistake came once the transfers were complete - in the form of a Humbrol Satin Varnish, which came out all milky and gave a horrible finish effectively ruining the model…

 

This not only affected this model but another I had been working on which was unfortunately un-saveable from this issue. Luckily it wasn’t too bad on the JGA, and I managed to take some of it back without ruining the transfers or the paint work, some can still be seen however. This isn’t the end of the world as eventually this will receive a light aggregate dusting of weathering - Thankfully, this type of weathering is the same kind of shade that this varnish left behind. This meaning once its weathered up it shouldn't be noticeable at all. 
 

So, snatched from the jaws of defeat - here it is. I am very happy with it being still being one of the first repaints I have done, the RailTech transfers bring it alive and mixed in with the other orange JGA’s against which it was regularly seen, it should look decent. The final rake should be drabs of grey EWS construction / Cemex Grey & Blue HOA’s and run down orange JGA’s with the odd drop of red in the form of this red JGA 19232 and a couple of the DB HOA’s (not forgetting x2 IIA’s in debranded Cemex too!) 

 

Let me know what you think but I cannot wait to see these running through Greenford. I hope the in depth detail and accompanying pictures help delve into the process to create JGA19232! Thanks

 

Edited February 16, 2023 by WCML100

[njee20]

Looks great. DB Red is RAL 3020 “Traffic Red”; Halfords do a rattle can of it for future reference. 

[WCML100]

17 hours ago, WCML100 said:

Now… to something I have been eager to complete and share with you all for some time!

 

Towards the back end of the summer months I managed to pick up 4 relatively cheap second hand JGA wagons. These will end up going into my Hayes Tarmac aggregate rake which will eventually be made up of HOA’s of which I have several on order from Revolution due in a few months time (very excited for these). I am hoping they do some IIA’s as I require few of these for good measure to make up this mixed rake also. (Total will be x2 IIA, x4 JGA, x12 HOA for clarity)

 

One particular JGA that stuck out to me was 19232 which during our period was one of the few orange RMC JGA’s to get a repaint into DBS red. So out of the 4 JGA’s in RMC, i chose the one in poorest condition (broken / missing buffers, older livery which was replaced by our period) for the repaint into DB red 19232. Here is rendition of this particular wagon…

 

 

 

Backstory over, first was to take everything back to the base. I am by no means an expert and still use rattle cans currently so please take everything with a pinch of salt* - as you will find out this was definitely not a plain sailing project…

 

 

Once dissembled and taken back to plastic - it was primed using the halfords offering and then i begun to add the coats of red. I previously used Hyundai Electric Red for my DB RBA translator vehicles pair, so stuck with that for this project too. However rattle cans have their limits and on the second coat, it cane out very thick and left an awful finish so took it right back down and used a new can.

 

Once I was happy, I went about addressing the buffers. I removed all buffers from the under-frame (what was left of them at least) and filled down to flush. I then also had mask up to paint the buffer beams matching red.
 

Once all the painting was done on the outside I gave the inside a light grey just to finish it off, even though eventually this wagon will probably end up being modelled loaded. 

 

 

Next was transfers; I gave the model a coat of gloss varnish before Steve at @railtec-models perfectly timed a release of transfers in the autumn for my chosen prototype. It was only then I realised what I had got myself into with the sheer amount of small, complex details this somewhat on first glance this plain and simple livery has. Although time consuming to get right, this was not the challenging part so it turned out. Before that though came adding the buffers. The intention was to buy some new ones online, but I then realised that with my Bachmann DB red HKA’s they supplied buffers with each wagon and only ‘outer’ HKA’s are fitted with these, so had a load spare, and yep you guessed it used these as they were almost identical - so added these at this stage.

 

 

The mistake came once the transfers were complete - in the form of a Humbrol Satin Varnish, which came out all milky and gave a horrible finish effectively ruining the model…

 

This not only affected this model but another I had been working on which was unfortunately un-saveable from this issue. Luckily it wasn’t too bad on the JGA, and I managed to take some of it back without ruining the transfers or the paint work, some can still be seen however. This isn’t the end of the world as eventually this will receive a light aggregate dusting of weathering, thankfully, this type of weathering is the same kind of shade that this varnish left behind. This meaning once its weathered up it shouldn't be noticeable at all. 
 

So, snatched from the jaws of defeat - here it is. I am very happy with it being still being one of the first repaints I have done, the RailTech transfers bring it alive and mixed in with the other orange JGA’s against which it was regularly seen, it should look decent. The final rake should be drabs of EWS construction / Cemex Grey & Blue HOA’s and run down orange JGA’s with the odd drop of red in the form of this red JGA 19232 and a couple of red HOA’s (not forgetting x2 IIA’s in debranded Cemex too!) 

 

Let me know what you think but I cannot wait to see these running through Greenford. I hope the in depth detail and accompanying pictures help delve into the process to create JGA19232! Thanks

 

Here are some further shots of the JGA wagon that couldn’t fit on the first post. I have also included one with the other RMC liveried variants for the rake to show how they sit next to each other. The RMC ones still need various weathering tweaks done to them as well! Bring on the Revolution HOA’s! 
 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited January 14, 2023 by WCML100

[EWS60065]

Lovely work on the hoppers. It was sad that this mixed train went when it was taken over by FL (although still had some good wagons). How will you do the IIAs? Looking foward to seeing more of this. 

[WCML100]

29 minutes ago, EWS60065 said:

Lovely work on the hoppers. It was sad that this mixed train went when it was taken over by FL (although still had some good wagons). How will you do the IIAs? Looking foward to seeing more of this. 

 

Thanks - Yes a nice imperfect balance this train formation - one of the reasons I picked to model it. Shame it is no longer under FL (all of the mentioned wagon types in this formation were all owned directly with DB I am pretty sure...)

 

Regarding the IIA's, I was intending to butcher a Dapol HIA up - although not 100% accurate would have been enough for me but I have heard a good word we will see one in the coming years from one of the new boys on the block - so will hold out for them in the hope the will surface :) 

 

[njee20]

I’ve got the bones of a CAD for a 3D printed IIA. Presume it’s the MRL/Cemex IIA-B you’re interested in?

 

Probably doesn’t need too much work to finish it off.  

[WCML100]

1 hour ago, njee20 said:

I’ve got the bones of a CAD for a 3D printed IIA. Presume it’s the MRL/Cemex IIA-B you’re interested in?

 

Probably doesn’t need too much work to finish it off.  

 

Yes that is the one - That's interesting to know.

 

Once I get my HOA's from Revolution I will asses the need for x2 IIA's then! thanks

 

[WCML100]

On 13/12/2022 at 14:14, EWS60065 said:

Nice purchases. Do you have any pics of the KEAs etc.? 

 

In an interesting turn of events since this post, for my birthday - @Chris37044 treated me recently to some S-Kits KEA’s he found on ebay in built condition. They have definitely got my inspiration going to start building some of the kits I already have to go along side these and the Bachmann megaboxes.
 

Anyways, a nice addition and they look great along side my MBA’s (which they will run with in the rake I am modelling) - a few small / minor adjustments need to be made to them and of course a much needed coat of grime too! Then they should be ready for one of several Calvert Spoil rakes. This your kind of wagon @EWS60065?
 

For now enjoy some photos of them posed on the layout!

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EWS60065]

On 19/01/2023 at 15:10, WCML100 said:

This your kind of wagon @EWS60065?

They look fantastic, what a good find on ebay. Can't wait to see these weathered up. Are they all inners or have you got some buffered ones too? I'm looking at getting some Sea Urchins from S kits myself to expand that side of the ballast fleet - is the quality of their kits good? 

[WCML100]

16 hours ago, EWS60065 said:

They look fantastic, what a good find on ebay. Can't wait to see these weathered up. Are they all inners or have you got some buffered ones too? I'm looking at getting some Sea Urchins from S kits myself to expand that side of the ballast fleet - is the quality of their kits good? 

thanks mate, thought they would be up your street. 
 

They seem decent enough. Haven't had them running yet so can’t comment on that side of things but seem robust enough for me. I have 2 buffered here and 2 inners. The rest that i build will most likely all be inners. Will most likely convert to kadees or similar to imitate the knuckle couplers! 
 

[Rich Papper]

Just had a catch up of the last few pages here. Looking really good - love the location for a variety of stock.

Apologies if I've missed it, but what are you planning for the tube stock - 1992?

Thanks

Rich

[WCML100]

1 hour ago, Rich Papper said:

Just had a catch up of the last few pages here. Looking really good - love the location for a variety of stock.

Apologies if I've missed it, but what are you planning for the tube stock - 1992?

Thanks

Rich

 

Thanks Rich!

 

For the Central line fleet we are planning for:
x2 1992 stock 8 car sets (from Metro models / Phoenix once they have sorted out the range) - with one in pre 2012 refurb condition and the other freshly refurbished.

x1 1962 stock Rail Adhesion Train (RAT) 5 car set 

as well as some LU battery locos and engineering wagons to match. 

 

We are hoping to eventually create some sort of dcc enabled semi automatic running schedule on the 'basic' LU lines setup to enable a prototypical high frequency tube line with a train coming and going in each platform every 2 mins while we 'play trains' on the rest of the layout 😃

 

[Rich Papper]

Thanks. Funnily enough I am just getting together the bits to build some battery locos and have been trying to figure out a DCC shuttle. I have tube running beneath my layout - exactly as you say - something going on while I’m playing with the rest. I’m hoping Phoenix get the rest of the Metromodels bits out again as I’d like some more one day.

Look forward to more.

Rich

[WCML100]

11 hours ago, Rich Papper said:

Thanks. Funnily enough I am just getting together the bits to build some battery locos and have been trying to figure out a DCC shuttle. I have tube running beneath my layout - exactly as you say - something going on while I’m playing with the rest. I’m hoping Phoenix get the rest of the Metromodels bits out again as I’d like some more one day.

Look forward to more.

Rich

I am glad were not the only ones with a similar idea! 
 

I spoke with Phoenix at Warley and they are very enthusiastic regarding the metro models range. They are looking into the production and new full assembly kit package for tube stock hence not currently available - once those are sorted, then we should have a kit not only cheaper but simpler to assemble with everything you need in one purchase right up to the motors, wheels, interiors and glazing etc! Definitely an improvement if they follow through with their word! We are certainly looking forward to getting some more tube stock on the layout. Our only current offering is the 62 stock RAT. This is motorised using the latest Bachmann / EFE Rail 38 stock chassis’ and previous release EFE 59 stock bodies in corporate livery. Still needs some further modifications but all in good time and I shall do a post on it in the future 😃

 

[WCML100]

So… a new arrival!

 

This time in the form of Colas Rail 66848. This is the Hattons model, and after being impressed with the previous Hattons 66 I had in EWS livery, I decided to take the plunge on another! I know there are known QC issues with the Hattons offering - but up close the overall shape and feel really sets it apart from its Bachmann competitor. It really looks the part and reminds me almost of an 0 or even G scale class 66 its got such presence!

 

Why Colas? Well we still have a few EWS, DB and Freightliner examples to obtain for our Greenford workings. However, regular weekend engineering workings of spoil and ballast renewal in preparation for Crossrail along the GWML during our period needed to be modelled also. These were almost always Colas hauled and have memories of Colas 66’s in front of long rakes of short wheel base open wagons. MHA’s were / are the bulk of these along with MFA’s and MTA’s for good measure. 
 

Now if you have been following the thread you would have known I have been building up a 26 long rake of this prototype based off a video found on youtube local in West London - and yes you guessed it - with the traction being a Colas 66. So needs must…!

 

Here is some pictures of the new arrival, that reminds me now I have a full rake of 26 wagons, and the appropriate traction for said rake - I must crack on with weathering the stock!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[EWS60065]

Good purchase there with the colas 66. Will look the part on engineering trains. Any photos of your spoil rake? 26 is a decent amount, think I have just over the 20 coalfish etc. 

[WCML100]

17 hours ago, EWS60065 said:

Good purchase there with the colas 66. Will look the part on engineering trains. Any photos of your spoil rake? 26 is a decent amount, think I have just over the 20 coalfish etc. 

 

thanks mate - if you go back through the thread there are some of my newer Accurascale MHA’s with the later bodies, but I haven’t got any real photos of the rest of the rake currently. All of them either are in standard factory pristine condition with the odd one or two factory weathered - once the time comes to start weathering the rake I will document the process and show the full rake when finished 😃