RMweb Gold NHY 581 Posted December 24, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 24, 2023 Top stuff as always, Matt. Thanks for the inspiration your builds provide. I have a few kits for next years project and,I will no doubt have a few questions for you. Until then, Merry Christmas ! Best wishes, Rob 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted December 24, 2023 Author Share Posted December 24, 2023 Thanks for the kind words Rob, ask away if/when needed. I don't really like Xmas at the best of times so will no doubt do some bits of modelling over the next few days if I can. Have a good one! Matt 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted December 24, 2023 Share Posted December 24, 2023 18 minutes ago, Enfys_Rainbow said: do etched kits look better unpainted? I agree. Mine has been on the display stand ever since I finished it. I am going to build and paint another one, though. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted December 25, 2023 RMweb Gold Share Posted December 25, 2023 20 hours ago, Enfys_Rainbow said: Is it just me, or do etched kits look better unpainted? Mine look better as a flat etched sheet! Mike. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted December 25, 2023 Author Share Posted December 25, 2023 2 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said: Mine look better as a flat etched sheet! Mike. So did mine until this wagon! Matt 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted December 28, 2023 Author Share Posted December 28, 2023 Hello all, Back to the Lowmac. I decided to just grasp the nettle, so to speak, and scratchbuild my own springs and associated parts. Nothing fancy here, some chopped up cast springs, some bits of plastic rod and a few offcuts. Nothing here will pass close inspection, but I'm hoping that under a coat of paint, no one will really notice either. The brake lever came from the spares box - the prototype lever has a loop at the operating end - I tried representing this but it just looked overscale and clumsy however I did it so my lever is flat! I think it looks like a Lowmac at a glance, and I can just about get away with the springs! Matt 13 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted January 9 Author Share Posted January 9 Hi all, Happy new year. To start 2024 off, I've built a 4mm scale wagon scrapyard diorama! Joking aside, I've had a clear out of multiple built wagons from my stash - some have been sold on and some, like these, have been stripped of useful parts and have been consigned to the bin. Why? Simple - I no longer consider them up to standard and I lack the time or inclination to strip and rebuild/repaint them. My goal for 2024 is to build fewer wagons, but instead to build what I do to a higher level where possible. Having said that, I'll probably still do a fair few random projects! Matt 5 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Sweet pea Posted January 10 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 10 Happy new year to you to Matt. I always enjoy your wagon kit builds and the added details you add to your wagons.😊 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
41516 Posted January 10 Share Posted January 10 21 hours ago, Enfys_Rainbow said: some, like these, have been stripped of useful parts and have been consigned to the bin. Could you put them on here in the 'free to a good home' section rather than just binning? Someone else might have the time and inclination to strip and rebuild them and save a tiny bit more plastic waste in the world? 3 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted January 10 Author Share Posted January 10 1 hour ago, 41516 said: Could you put them on here in the 'free to a good home' section rather than just binning? Someone else might have the time and inclination to strip and rebuild them and save a tiny bit more plastic waste in the world? Don't worry, they've gone to good homes already! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted January 14 Author Share Posted January 14 (edited) Hello all, First up, I'm absolutely no expert when it comes to coaching stock. I've barely ever taken any interest in them, prototype or model. Over the years I've accumulated a couple of (4 in total!) Bachmann Mk1's and 2's, although not in any real order - just bought if I found a bargain with no more thought than that. Apart from being taken out of the boxes periodically to look at, they've never even been run. I bought the first in 2010 so you can imagine how little use they've had! Anyway, while doing some very early research for a potential future project, I started looking at them, and prototype coaches, more closely than ever before. In my inexpert opinion these are, and will be, good enough for my needs however I couldn't help noticing a few bits that could potentially be improved without too much effort or, more importantly, expense. The main thing that caught my attention were the prominent ribs moulded onto the roof. The real coaches don't have them, and neither do the later Mk1's released by Bachmann. And the more I looked, the more they bothered me. Having looked around online at pre owned later release blue/grey Mk1's, they're either not available, or worth a small fortune, so I decided to do it myself, the hard way. Thankfully removing the ribs isn't too difficult, but you do have to be careful not to damage the ventilators. It's just really boring. Incidentally, this is an CK - I decided to give this a go with my least favourite coach (how very shallow of me!) however it's very much a case of once you start, you have to see it through! If this goes well, it will hopefully give me the confidence to repeat it. All being well, I'm planning on making a few basic improvements to my coaches - but nothing too involved! Matt Edited January 20 by Enfys_Rainbow 5 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Chas Levin Posted January 15 RMweb Premium Share Posted January 15 17 hours ago, Enfys_Rainbow said: Hello all, First up, I'm absolutely no expert when it comes to coaching stock. I've barely ever taken any interest in them, prototype or model. Over the years I've accumulated a couple of (4 in total!) Bachmann Mk1's and 2's, although not in any real order - just bought if I found a bargain with no more thought than that. Apart from being taken out of the boxes periodically to look at, they've never even been run. I bought the first in 2010 so you can imagine how little use they've had! Anyway, while doing some very early research for a potential future project, I started looking at them, and prototype coaches, more closely than ever before. In my inexpert opinion these are, and will be, good enough for my needs however I couldn't help noticing a few bits that could potentially be improved without too much effort or, more importantly, expense. The main thing that caught my attention were the prominent ribs moulded onto the roof. The real coaches don't have them, and neither do the later Mk1's released by Bachmann. And the more I looked, the more they bothered me. Having looked around online at pre owned later release blue/grey Mk1's, they're either not available, or worth a small fortune, so I decided to do it myself, the hard way. Thankfully removing the ribs isn't too difficult, but you do have to be careful not to damage the ventilators. It's just really boring. Incidentally, this is an FK - I decided to give this a go with my least favourite coach (how very shallow of me!) however it's very much a case of once you start, you have to see it through! If this goes well, it will hopefully give me the confidence to repeat it. All being well, I'm planning on making a few basic improvements to my coaches - but nothing too involved! Matt Just catching up on your filing? 😉 I find the trick with this sort of job is a tray on your knees and something good on the telly... Nice feeling when you've finished though! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted January 15 Author Share Posted January 15 55 minutes ago, Chas Levin said: Just catching up on your filing? 😉 I find the trick with this sort of job is a tray on your knees and something good on the telly... Nice feeling when you've finished though! If there was anything worth watching, that might be an option! The first roof is now completed, aiming for a coat of primer tonight to see what needs further attention... 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Enterprisingwestern Posted January 15 RMweb Gold Share Posted January 15 I have done de-ribbing to the grand total of 2 Bachmann mk1's, so far, the first one I did like you have and was losing the will to live by the end, the second one I marked out and drilled the ventilators and went at it bigstylee, removing the whole lot with a selection of chisels and sanding sheets and sticks, apart from the cost of more ventilators, the latter option seemed to be preferable IMHO! Mike. 1 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted January 15 Author Share Posted January 15 16 minutes ago, Enterprisingwestern said: I have done de-ribbing to the grand total of 2 Bachmann mk1's, so far, the first one I did like you have and was losing the will to live by the end, the second one I marked out and drilled the ventilators and went at it bigstylee, removing the whole lot with a selection of chisels and sanding sheets and sticks, apart from the cost of more ventilators, the latter option seemed to be preferable IMHO! Mike. To be honest Mike, sanding everything off and then replacing the vents seems like a reasonable idea to be honest! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted January 15 Author Share Posted January 15 And here is what an evening of sanding accomplishes these days... Phew! One down, on with the next... Matt 10 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted January 21 Author Share Posted January 21 I've built a few Parkside ex-Blue Spot Fish Vans over the years, and nothing really wrong with any of them - it's a kit I really like. I've got a couple of Parcels related projects either on the go, or waiting to be started as I will need the odd few bits of stock for a future layout. For some unknown reason, I had one of these kits minus any of the underframe parts - absolutely no idea why, or where the parts have gone. So this means fabricating my own underframe from plastic section - the wheel irons are obviously etched, but that's simply because I had some to hand rather than for any other reason. Other than new buffers, the only real modification I've made to the body is to replace the door grab handles with wire. The prototype vans also have a grab handle each side of the door reveal frame, but I've omitted these because fitting them is more work than it's worth. The underframe parts and brake gear will be whatever I can salvage from the bits box, so is likely to be a motley collection of bits! Matt 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonnieS Posted January 23 Share Posted January 23 Inspirational! I feel ready to try one after seeing this. Especially as I have just discovered https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/386322315345 and my soldering is now much much neater 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted January 29 Author Share Posted January 29 Hi all, The SPV has been progressing nicely, although it's taken a little longer to get to this point than I'd hoped. As mentioned in my first post on the subject, everything from the solebars down has had to be fashioned - mainly from scratch. So what you see here is a mix of re-purposed plastic spare parts, odd bits of etched detail and scratchbuilt items all cobbled together to give something approaching the underframe of one of these vans. There are quite a few more pieces to make, but it's getting there slowly! Matt 7 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted February 5 Author Share Posted February 5 Hi all, The SPV is completed - construction wise at least [apart from couplings and axle boxes]. The underframe and brake gear parts are a mixture of Parkside bits [from left over sprues], scratchbuilt and etched odds and ends. The last few evenings have been spent assembling all these bits and I've thoroughly enjoyed it! And a low level shot to highlight the underframe parts: Please note that the roof is still loose at this point - hence the visible gap above the door. Matt 10 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted February 10 Author Share Posted February 10 With the SPV almost finished [apart from painting], my thoughts have turned to the next project, again an item of Parcels stock. The layout I'm planning in the distant future will need a few items of Parcels stock, hence the recent focus. I picked up a couple of Lima CCT's second hand, and actually first started this over 5 years ago but soon lost interest. One of the "modifications" I made back then was to replace the original wheels and graft some spare [although incorrect] Parkside w-irons to the solebars in an attempt to improve the Lima originals. When I picked this back up, I was tempted to ignore the incorrect w-irons and just detail the model and then repaint it. Unfortunate handling mishap A led to the destruction of the w-irons so Plan B was required. My next step was to cut sections of the chassis/floor to accommodate etched w-irons. I knew what needed to be done but a lack of concentration resulted in me sanding the solebars too thinly, and then snapping one of them in unfortunate handling mishap B. So Plan C is now to completely replace the floor and solebars and rebuild using the battery boxes and parts from the original. Matt 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
mullie Posted February 10 Share Posted February 10 43 minutes ago, Enfys_Rainbow said: With the SPV almost finished [apart from painting], my thoughts have turned to the next project, again an item of Parcels stock. The layout I'm planning in the distant future will need a few items of Parcels stock, hence the recent focus. I picked up a couple of Lima CCT's second hand, and actually first started this over 5 years ago but soon lost interest. One of the "modifications" I made back then was to replace the original wheels and graft some spare [although incorrect] Parkside w-irons to the solebars in an attempt to improve the Lima originals. When I picked this back up, I was tempted to ignore the incorrect w-irons and just detail the model and then repaint it. Unfortunate handling mishap A led to the destruction of the w-irons so Plan B was required. My next step was to cut sections of the chassis/floor to accommodate etched w-irons. I knew what needed to be done but a lack of concentration resulted in me sanding the solebars too thinly, and then snapping one of them in unfortunate handling mishap B. So Plan C is now to completely replace the floor and solebars and rebuild using the battery boxes and parts from the original. Matt Will follow with interest as I have a couple I've hung onto wondering how to upgrade them. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted February 12 Author Share Posted February 12 Hi all, I'm about to go away for the week, so progress will inevitably slow. The battery boxes have been transplanted across and a start has been made on adding some of the other bits and bobs - all from the spares box so far. I've also made a start on sanding down the roof ribs. Also, note the buffers aren't glued in position yet hence the crooked one visible here! Matt 7 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Enfys_Rainbow Posted March 5 Author Share Posted March 5 Although going away was a good thing, and a good time was had, it wasn't such a good thing for my modelling! That break, even though it was only a week, completely derailed [excuse the pun!] my enthusiasm and flow and I've struggled to return to the bench ever since. That said, I have made some slow progress, and here's how the CCT currently looks. Numerous tiny triangles [36 in total] have been cut from plastic and fitted individually to the solebars. This was as much fun as it looks. I've also sanded down the prominent roof ribs and then drilled, and fitted replacement vents. If the roof looks a bit strange, it's because it's moulded in transparent plastic. Matt 11 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwealleans Posted March 6 Share Posted March 6 (edited) 20 hours ago, Enfys_Rainbow said: Numerous tiny triangles [36 in total] have been cut from plastic and fitted individually to the solebars. This was as much fun as it looks. You'll be glad you did it when you see it next to one where someone hasn't bothered. That's the kind of detail which really lifts a model. Edited March 6 by jwealleans 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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