Tavistock Junction Traction and Rolling Stock Maintenance Depot

[WCML100]

6 hours ago, The Fatadder said:

I will be demoing on the DEMU stand (E17) at Warley on Saturday, and will have a handful of recent projects with me.  Probably one of the HSTs, depending on the arrival of transfers the structure gauging train, and a few other bits.  I will also have the failed 3d print for the SSA and one of my printed TTAs with me.  Any other requests let me know.  

 

The intention depending on the arrival of transfers will be applying transfers to 66027, the HST barrier coaches / HSTs (and probably some mk2s).  And cracking on with converting a 150 to 950001.    

 

Unlike last the last Warley in 2019 I am ensuring that I am turning up with everything I need (bar some bits from Will's Workbench that I will be picking up at the show.)   These days the specialist trade at Warley is pretty average.    Hopefully will at least manage to get some handrail wire having used the last of it up on 47830 and still have two more 47s in need of handrails!  Along with some Phoenix Intercity buff to finish off my mk3 sleepers.  

look forward to seeing you and meeting in person! Definitely interested in the HST barrier vehicles if it’s possible for them to make an appearance 😃

[The Fatadder]

Just had an arrival from Precision Labels with transfers for my structure gauging train, so the optical car and pair of mk1s can finally be finished off.  The mk1s all need window frames painting still (its a shame Shawplan never did a Laserglaze / etch product for mk1 windows in the same lines as their mk2/3 products as that would have been a lot easier.)

 

I am in two minds about taking these to Warley to though as I think the ALPS printed transfers are a bit more fragile than 'normal' transfers.   Possibly just the Optical Car may make the trip.   Of course now I have another Mk2 ready to go and have my eyes on the fourth coach to complete the rake...

Looking forward to this evening and getting the transfers applied...

[The Fatadder]

Plenty of modelling achieved last night, 

 

First up a lot of progress on the structure gauging train, with transfers applied to the mk1 pair and the optical car.  These now need overpainting with a coat of Klear before I can eventually varnish the pair of them.  The next big job is around the windows, over the past two evenings I have been prepping the glazing, removing the printed bars / handrails on the insides and removing the grey paint from the toilet windows.  The latter is still in soak, while 3 of the narrow windows were taken from one of my HST barrier BGs and need superglue marks polishing off the outside.

Once thats done they will all need to be painted red / grey, there will be a slight colour miss match as I am going to use a similar Vallejo shade rather than the enamel I used originally.   The logic is that painting onto glazing the acrylic will scrape off with a cocktail stick leaving the glazing undamaged whereas the enamel will need a vast amount of complicated masking (and even then is still a high risk to the glazing).

The other thing on the bench is a Hornby 09, a model from the first batch it has had quite a hard life during which it has been knocked off a layout (destroying the right hand front cab step) and the Ultrascales lost their quartering first breaking a con rod (and then breaking all the crank pins when I tried to remove them.)   The wheels are now Will's problem (or at least they will be once Ive swapped them over at Warley), so I have been trying to find a suitable identity out of Laira's fleet.   The obvious candidate was 08648, although it spent most of 1999 with no wheels dumped outside the shed it had the high level brake pipes of the 09 (so no need to  remove them).  Alas while one side matches the Hornby body, the other side only has a single box rather than 2.  So that was out.

08663 "Plymouth" was another potential candidate that was eliminated due to incorrect boxes, 08644 was in Intercity (although I am attempting to source a model to build this one to replace the BR blue model I sold earlier in the week).  While Bristol's 08643 recently outshopped in FGW green was a strong temptation, I felt that at least one of the layout's 08 fleet had to be in Railfreight grey.

This left 08641 and 08645, of which Flickr had photos of the former in 1999 that would allow for getting the condition right.  Looking further it also has a lot of red paint pealing through the black buffer beams and various differences in the grab handles on the side.  

 

The redundant handrails, high level brake pipes and previous etched nameplates were all removed and the paint restored.  This also involved removing most of the lamp irons from the rear of the cab.  Filling and repairing the paint on the wasp stripes was not the most fun task...

At the moment the damaged step has been replaced with a spare Bachmann example (which still needs handrails.  Ideally I'd like to replace it with a Hornby step, though I am debating just buying the PHD etch.  An intercity models casting for the air tanks has been fitted between them after removing the NEM coupling.

mid way though working on the end

 

Speaking of couplings, that is the most difficult part of this to work out, I use Dingham couplings for most of my stock, however for HSTs I use Kaydees mounted in the buffer beams,  The 08s based at HST depot's were fitted with a dropable buckeye on the coupling hook so that they could shunt powercars / mk3s without needing a barrier coach.  I am sure I have seen someone model a dropable buckeye / hook combination before but its probably extremely complicated...   Likewise there is not room behind the plastic buffer beam to fit a coupling, I am wondering if there is a Kaydee with a suitably large step up that could be mounted below the bufferbeam but get the coupler in the right place (ie the right place for me rather than the kaydee standard).  My second 08 could then be fitted with Dinghams for shunting non buckeye fitted stock.....

 

Edited November 24, 2022 by The Fatadder

[WCML100]

Not sure how you work so quickly through your projects! Great work as always though mate! Nice to see the structure gauging train coming along too!

[The Fatadder]

A little more on the 08, which now has a temporary step, new number, etched BR plate and the ohle stripe removed.   Just a little more rework needed on the end, removing the lamp irons / high level pipes without damaging the wasp stripes has been hard work.   Very close to ordering a lighting kit for it from eBay…

I think I’ve found a potential solution coupling wise, an NEM stepped kaydee with the tail shortened  and slightly thinned looks to be in approximately the right place.  But until I get a set of wheels in it there’s not much more I can do.  One final area that needs attention is the cab, which needs the other type of door.  So far I’ve not managed to find any spares so worst case  I will make my own with the silhouette cutter. 

[The Fatadder]

Yesterday was spent on the DEMU stand at Warley, plenty of 3d printed bits, a couple of locos and some coaches on display.  The 3d prints in particular were. Real talking point.  Thanks to everyone who stopped by.

 

I managed to get a little work done, with transfers for numbers applied to the mk2d rake and barrier coaches (using Railtec’s excellent custom coach numbers).  Intercity liveried 37510 was also fitted with its transfers (also Railtec released that morning).  This has now been varnished and is ready for the glazing to be refitted.  Of course this means cutting glazing to

fit the new windscreens…

 

it will eventually get an extreme etchings roof grill to finish off (the one intended for it got pinched for the loadhaul loco)

 

I was going to crack on with 950001, and add transfers to 66027 but I’m the end thought better of it.   I had forgotten just how tricky it was getting transfers to stay stuck down in the gaps between the ribs on the 66 (why didn’t I stick with 66125…..) I was attempting using the method I’ve used previously with micro set etc (ruining 2ews and one number). Thankfully I had a spare ews in the transfers box 

Steve mentioned adding a dab of pva in the water mix, going to give it a try. Should have listened to him in the first place rather than stubbornly trying to do it the way I’ve always done it…. (I also forgot that  the 67 has a bigger gap between ribs making it a lot more forgiving). 

 

photos to follow…

Edited November 27, 2022 by The Fatadder

[The Fatadder]

[The Fatadder]

The first of the layouts 08s is now ready for weathering to commence, having swapped its damaged Ultrascales for a set of Hornby wheels with @Southwichat Warley. The main task that’s remaining eventually is to swap its door for the original panelled type (but they appear to be like hens teeth)

 in the mean time I think I will get a lighting kit ordered for it to finish it off…

 

I’ve shown this elsewhere, but here’s 66027.  I ruined one too many of the EWS logo for the other side which only has numbers for the moment.  Hopefully I can buy a single logo (or someone on here Will have a spare)

[WCML100]

Projects are coming along great mate. Pleasure to meet you in person at Warley too 😃

[The Fatadder]

 

a start on weathering 08641, which was in a pretty unloved condition in 1999.  I do like the old red paint coming through on the buffer beams.   It’s not yet got the body fixed to the chassis, given the plans to decoder fit and add lights. 
 

What will become 08644 will be arriving later in the week, still need to buy etched arrows for it (now getting to the point where I have enough for a Shawplan order to be worthwhile).  This will be Dingham fitted rather than buckeye, so I can shunt both ends of powercars.   It will also enable it to move barrier wagons / non mk3 coaches

 

[The Fatadder]

The next project has arrived in the form of a Hornby 08673 in Intercity livery, with which the intention is to model Laira's 08644.  I am fully aware that in 1999 this was subsheded to Penzance, however I am taking a little licence and switching Laira and Penzance's allocations around.

 

I had thought the work would be fairly straight forward, removing the Intercity logos, nameplates and old numbers.  Adding new numbers, etched BR plaques, updated OHLE flashes and painting the top of the tool box red.  In addition after looking at the handrails on 08641 I expected some to need removing from 844 as well (turned out just to be one from each side plus the removal of the redundant lamp brackets.) 

The colour of the lower section is causing me a little confusion, in some photos it looks white, others an off white (but no where near as dark as the lower colour on Intercity coaches).   It will also need the rods painting yellow and the cantrail line painting out (I think I have a close vallejo shade which will do as part of the faiding of the grey in general).

 

So far this evening I have done the basic removal work and applied filler, plus removed one sides logos (plus the offset OHLE flash from the cab end).  I’ve also added the first coat of red on the centre battery box.

 

this 08 will of course also need fitting with Dinghams.

 

Edited November 29, 2022 by The Fatadder

[The Fatadder]

A little more work, the doors have been painted in a slightly lighter shade of grey to help with the fading, the gaps left the original dark grey as it helps with the dirt build up.  The cantrail line is now completely  painted out.

The red on the top of the tool box is a bit lighter than the stripe.  I’m thinking about masking and repainting the whole stripe in the lighter shade

[The Fatadder]

A little more work on the 08s last night, 

First up 08641, I have managed a little more work on the weathering.  The sides have had a going over with a sand coloured weathering powder to tone everything down and blend it together.  The panel gaps were then given a treatment with rust powder along with some dark brown.  Finally rust and dark brown powders were added to the underframe.  I've refitted a decoder for the moment, and will look at the lighting in the new year I think.

 

On to 08644, this has now has had the numbers added along with a new set of OHLE flashes (this required the removal of the old ones).  The bufferbeams have been painted black and the con rods yellow.  There are several jobs remaining including touching up the paint on the cab where the lamp irons were removed, adding etched BR plaques, DCC decoder, couplings and weathering.  It is the yellow that is causing me the most concern, the Hornby shade is a little on the orange side (more the 1980s shade than the 90s).  Worse still the prototype ends were quite faded, trying to decide if I can live with it or if I will endure changing the colour of the stripes...

 

Edited November 30, 2022 by The Fatadder

[The Fatadder]

Some progress on 950001, having picked up the etches for the conversion at Warley last night I made a start on the conversion.  I had already received several warnings about the difficulty of getting the etches exactly flush with the bodyside, first attempt really reinforced this view.  The suggestion from a couple of friends was to give up with the etches for filling holes and revert back to plasticard, this has the benefit that you can glue the blank in slightly proud of the side and then file back to get a flush finish.  Rather than cutting new plasticard blanks, I figured why not reuse the original glazing.   The raised window frames were filed off the glazing part, along with cutting off the rear mounting flange so that the window could be fitted slightly proud of its intended position.  They were then cut to the correct length (using the etch as a guide) on my NWSL chopper, this does omit the curved corner part (which will be resolved later if necessary.)  The intention is that the overlay for the window frame will hide the missing corner (or if not I will add a bit of plastic strip filed to shape.) 

 

So last night the first side's worth of windows was fitted, followed by a wait for the glue to completely cure before filing back this evening and test fitting the frames.   I will probably give it a dusting of primer to show up any imperfections and see if this has worked tomorrow... 

 

Doors are currently just placed in position, and will need more adjustment to get it to a state that I am happy to fit...

Edited December 2, 2022 by The Fatadder

[The Fatadder]

For the doors I added a brass spacer to help with alignment, then added a skim of filler to all of the joints.  This has now been sanded back and the first coach is ready for a coat of primer.  It’s now at that stage where it all looks pretty good, right before you add a coat of primer and it turns out all the windows are awful!

 

the second coach has now followed, on this I had to use the etch for the toilet window blank.   This coach only had the filler applied this evening which will now cure overnight 

 

Really curious as to just how well this all turns out…
 

 

 

[The Fatadder]

After cleaning up the filler last night I have applied a second coat this morning over the doors and the brass window blank.  This was followed by a coat of primer at lunch, my first impression was what a mess...  However on further inspection it was not as bad as i first thought, with the exception of one window in which the glue had failed and needed major rework it appears the majority just needs small amounts of filler in the joints around the edge of the blank.  More satisfyingly 2 of the 3 doors only needed the most minor bits of rework, while the third was almost perfect. 

 

I have now applied another skim of filler (which will be followed by light sand this evening and a third application) before priming again tomorrow.    Will be nice to be able to get the remaining grill etches on / work on the roof conversion and have the unit ready for spraying in the spring.

 

 

Speaking of units, over the weekend I have drawn up a set of replacement sides to build the Serco ex Class 101 tractor pair (probably with the high speed track recording coach).  I was unable to source a set of the Hurst sides, although after looking at a set belonging to a friend  I wasnt overly impressed with them (with half etched gaps around parts that should be raised detail).  My solution was to draw up more etched parts, so you get a full thickness side (with half etched door gaps, and half etched alignment aids for the grills.)  Along with separate etches for the grills, window frames etc.  these can be soldered in place, then the sides will get spliced into the side of the Lima body.   I have also drawn up some of the missing roof parts (and rear door windows for the HST powercars).  The aim will be getting it etched in the new year, and hopefully built for Showcase... 

Edited December 5, 2022 by The Fatadder

[The Fatadder]

While the filler drys, a bit of 08 weathering.  

 

the rods need more work, and of course the BR plaques are missing.  I think it also needs a bit more road dirt on the lower half 

[The Fatadder]

Home stretch now, the last remaining area is the left hand window on this side.  In both cases the filing has taken away too much material from the core coach side that now needs rebuilding in filler…
this side I think is good to start work on the details 

[NickL2008]

On 05/12/2022 at 16:04, The Fatadder said:

After cleaning up the filler last night I have applied a second coat this morning over the doors and the brass window blank.  This was followed by a coat of primer at lunch, my first impression was what a mess...  However on further inspection it was not as bad as i first thought, with the exception of one window in which the glue had failed and needed major rework it appears the majority just needs small amounts of filler in the joints around the edge of the blank.  More satisfyingly 2 of the 3 doors only needed the most minor bits of rework, while the third was almost perfect. 

 

I have now applied another skim of filler (which will be followed by light sand this evening and a third application) before priming again tomorrow.    Will be nice to be able to get the remaining grill etches on / work on the roof conversion and have the unit ready for spraying in the spring.

 

 

Speaking of units, over the weekend I have drawn up a set of replacement sides to build the Serco ex Class 101 tractor pair (probably with the high speed track recording coach).  I was unable to source a set of the Hurst sides, although after looking at a set belonging to a friend  I wasnt overly impressed with them (with half etched gaps around parts that should be raised detail).  My solution was to draw up more etched parts, so you get a full thickness side (with half etched door gaps, and half etched alignment aids for the grills.)  Along with separate etches for the grills, window frames etc.  these can be soldered in place, then the sides will get spliced into the side of the Lima body.   I have also drawn up some of the missing roof parts (and rear door windows for the HST powercars).  The aim will be getting it etched in the new year, and hopefully built for Showcase... 

 

Hi Rich suspect you may be doing the 901 in doing formed of "977391" and "977392", looked at the Hurst etches also but they're not great, may have to etch my own also, as buying separate etches is costing alot so far. Emailed Precision labels as the transfers you mentioned look spot on for what I need also

 

NL

 

 

[The Fatadder]

On 09/12/2022 at 13:44, NickL2008 said:

 

Hi Rich suspect you may be doing the 901 in doing formed of "977391" and "977392", looked at the Hurst etches also but they're not great, may have to etch my own also, as buying separate etches is costing alot so far. Emailed Precision labels as the transfers you mentioned look spot on for what I need also

 

Glad to hear that the transfers were what you were looking for, based on the projects that will be crossing the bench in 2023  I am going to be needing to order more of them myself to cover off the 901 and the pair of brake force runners (and hopefully the high speed track recording coach).

 

I have finished the drawing of 977391/2, now in the process of converting it into a format suitable for etching.  There are currently a few areas which are causing random errors in the colour fill (which I think is down to overlapping lines).  It will be  tedious job fixing it!   Once finish I may potentially be able to run off an extra set.

One thing I am still undecided on is the shape, for the moment I have used the same profile on the end as Hurst (so you cut an angle).  I keep wondering if the answer is to change this to a vertical line which would make fitting easier (my approach is to cut the whole side out and fit the etch as a replacement rather than as an overlay.)  Some lines are not showing properly on the below (door lines / outlines for where the grills need to be added), these only show properly when you zoom in...)

 

 

Edited December 12, 2022 by The Fatadder

[The Fatadder]

LI havent made much more progress on the 101 sides, there were issues in the above drawing (mostly relating to overlapping lines) which has caused problems with the shading.  Its basically a case of redrawing over the top of the original as new layers to ensure the mistakes are removed, however I find it hard to motivate myself to do something for a second time so its sat on the back burner.   (It also didnt help that the mouse I bought with me to Centre Parc's last week had a dodgy wheel which was driving me mad!)

 

I suspect this is going to be delayed further now as thanks to a request on the forum I have now basic outline drawings of the other two types of china clay TTA that I want to 3d print in advance of Wheal Imogen's first exhibition of the year in April.  I dont think the CAD will take me too long for either build given the similarity to the diagram Ive already built.  (Though they could just as easily suffer from lack of motivation...)

 

In the mean time I am looking at an Intercity Models kit for a Yeoman O&K box (of the design Cavelex are brining out a rather nice looking RTR model for.)   I started this a very long time back, with absolutely no idea how to solder.  The floor was a complete wreck (I think it later ended up in the bin), the side started a few years later was also a bit of a mess.  I think I had lost the instructions by this point and only realised after soldering all the ribs on that I had added them to the wrong side!   I would quite like to finish it off (it will run with my Lima/scratch built PTA rake), I plan on adding a little licence to stretch the some trains that went to Exeter down to Plymouth… 

 

The plan being to add a floor from copperclad board and modify this side to remove a horizontal rib from one end and relocate it to the other, fill in the door gaps and add the door in the correct place.  Thankfully the other side / ends are all ok so once thats done it should be easy to finish off.   The lack of instructions is still a bit of a pain, but fingers crossed it shouldnt be too hard to work out what goes where.

 

Edited December 23, 2022 by The Fatadder

[The Fatadder]

An evenings work later and the rib has been removed from one side and relocated to the other.  The rest of the top sections have been added to the ribs and the outline of the door filled with solder.  
 

the door overlay is currently placed in position pending getting a copy of the instructions after Christmas meaning I can ensure I start getting things in the right order.

 

I am missing the part for the top rail, I think I tried bending it without appropriate length bars which didn’t work, so cut off intending to rebuild with plastic….  I will also need to fill the holes for the (missing) chassis with solder before doing much more as these won’t be needed with the replacement chassis. 

 

The design of the ribs etch allows a fair bit of slop so a few alignments are not perfect (the left most upper horizontal rib needs attention). This will be the non public facing side naturally, just need to ensure the other side is built to a higher standard. (Though the fact that I have a lot more soldering experience than when  I assembled this will hopefully help).

 

[The Fatadder]

2022 has been a productive year, plenty of projects finished and the new layout pretty much designed.

lots of new locos added to the fleet,

along with some older models finally finished off.  I think the Accurascale Deltic was by far my favourite out of the box,  although I’m particularly pleased with the 37s.

lots of work on HST powercars, (with at least two more to follow in the new year).  So pleased to finally have some Hornby powercars in GWT livery.

 

While there has been less projects for coaching stock, finally finishing the Mk1 barrier coaches was a good result.  While

i am very pleased with the GWT Intercity mk2d coaches. 
 

lots of wagon building and weathering, the urchins still need some transfers to fully finish off.

 

one of my favourites of the year the structure gauging train, will get it varnished, windows fitted and the accompanying brake force coaches built in the new year.

[The Fatadder]

First project of the new year is a little more Cad work for a future 3d print, yet another TTA.   Way back at the Swindon show last year I started work on some bitumen tanks to run with my Laira fuel set.  The logic being the rake would arrive at the depot, split, shunt the oil tanks into the siding and then the loco will trip the bitumen tanks off to Cattewater.   
 

I have a couple of Jon Hall’s converted tanks that I’ve mounted on Bachmann chassis and added new chimneys with my own 3d print.  I was going to convert 4 more, but during the process started to think I could do better as a 3d print.

 

So this morning I drew up the basics of a TT066 tank.  This includes the heater tubes and chimneys as part of the body.  Along with the missing access panel on the side.  I have used Colin Craig’s drawing on the Barrowmore website as the basis.  
 

 

 

it still needs some missing roof detail adding, it will have holes added for the filler cover/vents.  I may redesign to remove the chimneys and add holes for them to fit into instead (allowing for easier cleaning of the print).

 

I am in two minds about adding the pipe work to the side, it should be possible

to add but it will be fragile and potentially get in the way of sanding the tank.

 

I will need at least 6 of these, maybe 8, fortunately I have plenty of tta chassis available and should be able to print two at a time…

[The Fatadder]

 

Slightly different view based on ESSO 61213 with a  section of missing lagging.  It will need the edges distorting (and adding some exposed lagging.  Now to work on the pipes....