James Makin's Workbench - 1990s dirty diesels & grotty wagons

[James Makin]

On another note, they're a bit 'new' for me but it would be interesting to see a Doorand conversion done from a POA. Maybe one to mix in with all those MHAs?

 

 

Absolutely Wayne! I've only ever done one so far, it was this bash I'd tackled 10 years ago now, from memory it was based on one of the then-new Bachmann MTA with the sides sanded right back and new ribbing added, higher ends and underframe brake pipe runs - I think it was 2006 so there's probably some embarrassing entry on my website about the project at the time!!

 

395008 MTA Doorand by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

There was a little bit of discussion further back on this thread and Mick B's also posted pics of his more modern-day yellow/black version, nice bit of variety to be found out there! 

 

I've gathered lots of reference pics of the 3950XX wagons so it's definitely on the grand plan to tackle more as time goes by, plus one of the original MHAs we talked about before of course!

[MRDBLUE17]

Hi James,

 

Nice work as usual on the SPA's I have been looking to repaint one of mine into EWS as I've a pair of Cambrian ones already in EWS and Loadhaul but another would be useful.

 

As to the Doorand Didn't that appear in up date a while back? I have got as far as taking a razor saw to a Bachmann Limpet as the cut outs gave a line to follow but I've put it aside as it needs a lot of work to get even with a file. One day it will get finished.

 

Keep up the good work

Thanks

Mark

[Phil Mc]

Hi James,

 

I'm really liking the look of your OBA/OCA's, to the point where I've been slowly gathering a rake of wagons to have a bash at !!

Got some pics of a mesh-sided OAA recently (the style of the sides is slightly different to the OBA you've done), let me know if your interested in seeing them.

 

Cheers,

Phil.

[Wayne 37901]

Ah yes now you mention it I think I remember seeing that one on your site, was it really that long ago... How time flies.

 

I've managed to phot an ex Loadhaul Limpet now running as an MTA if you fancy a bit of colour. You can make out the black and orange quite clearly, yes the original MHA will be an interesting one. I saw the original one Phil Eames did as an MAA so it would be interesting to see the cut down version, even if it is out of my timescale.

 

In the meantime it's back to playing with VBA vans for me, the latest is on my workbench below if you're interested.

 

Cheers

Edited April 10, 2016 by Wayne 37901

[James Makin]

Hi James,

Nice work as usual on the SPA's I have been looking to repaint one of mine into EWS as I've a pair of Cambrian ones already in EWS and Loadhaul but another would be useful.

As to the Doorand Didn't that appear in up date a while back? I have got as far as taking a razor saw to a Bachmann Limpet as the cut outs gave a line to follow but I've put it aside as it needs a lot of work to get even with a file. One day it will get finished.

Keep up the good work

Thanks

Mark

  

 

Thanks Mark! Haha the Doorand is now a regular thread feature, I plan to wheel it out in another 3 months when the next discussion pops up!! Best of luck with those Limpets, some of those are in absolutely appalling condition!

 

Hi James,

 

I'm really liking the look of your OBA/OCA's, to the point where I've been slowly gathering a rake of wagons to have a bash at !!

Got some pics of a mesh-sided OAA recently (the style of the sides is slightly different to the OBA you've done), let me know if your interested in seeing them.

 

Cheers,

Phil.

Thanks Phil, I always love seeing photos of wagons, even if not for immediate modelling usage, they'll come in handy one day!!

 

I've just bought a load more cheap CEA wagons from my mate this weekend so even more fun and games are on the way!

 

Cheers,

James

[rob D2]

Lovely wagons as usual James.

Have you done the VgA with ' you little b@stard'

On the side ?

I think it was at bescot

[Phil Mc]

OAA pics.

There was also a OCA with 'Jonny  Cheesy....' written on the side, (I cant find an appropriate symbol to fill the space with, luckily!!)

 

Cheers,

Phil.

[Shoey]

Absolutely amazing work as always James. I'd love to see what a small rake of Bachmann network rail JJA (HQA) auto ballasters would look like with a touch of your magic !

[James Makin]

Absolutely amazing work as always James. I'd love to see what a small rake of Bachmann network rail JJA (HQA) auto ballasters would look like with a touch of your magic !

 

 

Thanks, the Autoballasters in Phil's shots above certainly look like they would make a fun project!! However, they're currently way too expensive for me!

 

Nearest I can get to in terms of big daddy bogie wagons in this year's weathering programme are the Bachmann RMC orange JGAs, I've got about 20 wagons awaiting a big shock having sat pristine in boxes for the past 15 years..! 

[bobster]

Look forward to seeing you work your magic on the RMC JGAs when you get around to them James, they are a favourite of mine.

 

Cheers, Bob.

Edited April 16, 2016 by bobster

[Phil Mc]

How can you resist !!!

 

Cheers,

Phil.

[Wayne 37901]

The Autoballasters do look a nice weathering project, I photted a few a week or so ago. However, give me a rake of Sealion/cow anyday!

[Shoey]

A few more pictures like those Phil and I reckon we'll sway JJAmes enough to have a play !

[Phil Mc]

A few reference pics of JGA's that may be useful.

 

Cheers,

Phil.

[Phil Mc]

Hi James,

 

In case a rake of 20 JGA's isn't quite long enough, you could always add 3 OAA's to it !! !!

 

Cheers,

Phil.

[WCML100]

Hi James,

 

Im currently modelling an engineers rake and folowing some of your inspirational ideas of wagons on your thread. Is it possible to see a pic of a line up of your different engineering rakes? Would be s great help and very much appreciated. Thanks.

[James Makin]

Hi James,

 

Im currently modelling an engineers rake and folowing some of your inspirational ideas of wagons on your thread. Is it possible to see a pic of a line up of your different engineering rakes? Would be s great help and very much appreciated. Thanks.

 

 

Hi mate! I would love to but currently all the wagons are packed in my stock boxes between shows, but we've got one in a few weeks time so fingers crossed I'll remember to get some snaps!

 

I think the formations are pretty simple though, generally multiples of the same item haha! I've modelled what I remember from my spotting days in the early 2000s, I found that by then (and actual railwaymen feel free to correct me!) but the wagons seemed to run in little 'friendship groups'! So you got say OAA/OBA/OCA/ZAA etc often in rakes together, then all the 'modern' short wheelbase boxes, MHA/MFA/MTA/MKA/ZKAs - I basically try and model what I remember, the idea being that no one can then tell you you've got it wrong! 

 

I'd definitely have a good look through Flickr and the various railway mags of the period for the best inspiration, or get out there and photograph the real thing, one of the most exciting parts of a project is the research phase, sometimes this can take longer than the modelling itself! The best bit about having photos and researching your subject inside out, is you can always shoot down the picky types at shows, this is my favourite hobby currently haha!! Very best of luck and I'll try get some snaps at our Portsmouth show on May 14th

[Wayne 37901]

Hi WCML 100,

 

To add to what James has said, I would say that the research can sometimes be more fun than the modelling itself. It's certainly worth browsing the net as there's plenty of images out there.

 

When I was spotting as a young lad I never took any photos of wagons but over the last few years I have really got into it, even if they don't cover my time period I'll still snap away as they'll be useful to someone.

 

One thing I would say and I'm sure James would agree with me is that you should always work to a photo wherever possible when modelling a particular wagon because just like locos there can be many differences, even between batches. 

 

Cheers

[WCML100]

Thsnks both. I have been working on building up a portfolio of images off the web recently of wagons that i have already got which i can then recreate from the base model to look something like the ones in the photos i have found on the web. Im also contemplating getting a cambrian kit for zca to add to my already standard models i have offered by Bachmann (mta, mfa, oba, oca, etc) and Hornby offerings such as the odd seacow and mha coalfish wagons. So this thread has not only been a great interest of mine but very useful in your methods of how you go about recreating specific wagons.

 

So any info or new techniques may come of use to me that you may out up. So all is greatly appreciated... As im sure it is just as helpful to me as it is to many others who follow this forum. Once i have made some progress with mine if it is ok with you i might post some here for any pointers you or anyone else has.

 

Thanks again.

[Wayne 37901]

Hi James,

 

Further to our conversation earlier, I found a pic in the archive of my two variations of 'rust livery' Grampus. I apologise It's a bit bright, I should get round to taking a new one. I hope you don't mind me posting this up?

 

 

Cheers,

 

 

[James Makin]

Take a look at this dirty stop-out!

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Possibly one of the greatest hangovers from British Rail days was 47467 - a workaday '47' soldiering on in faded 1980s colours, miraculously until 1999!

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Probably one of my most challenging weathering jobs I've yet to try on a loco, this has taken much trial and error! In this internet age, you can't just do a ridiculous weathering job without backing it up with hard evidence - ladies and gentlemen I encourage you to click the following links to find the prototype pictures I've been working from... 

 

Firstly, here's a 1999 prototype shot of 47467 at it's final resting place of Wigan CRDC on Flickr, taken by user 'Kingslynn47576'

 

https://flic.kr/p/e3wGav

 

And here is another shot from user Timothy Rowley -

 

47467 by Timothy Rowley, on Flickr

 

47467 is another one of my vulnerable class 47 models to come from the colourful LWCW ballast pool (a pattern emerging here?) of the late 90s, this has been on my modelling 'to do' list for far too long! This loco lead a relatively unassuming life with BR and then EWS, sadly ending its days in 2000, still in this gorgeous mess of a livery.

 

So with the objectives set, it was time to get to work! The catalyst and starting point was the recent release of Bachmann's large logo blue 47436, picked up specially for the project at Ally Pally. I rarely ever buy brand new locos but this was fully justified!

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

The loco was renumbered using Fox's yellowy old transfers, probably as much of a relic as the loco was ironically! I was looking for some curly '7' transfers, so that's the only deviation to the prototype with this project.

 

Now when it comes to music, I should've been clever and listened to Visage's Fade to Grey, but epic Swedish electro singer Fever Ray instead provided the soundtrack to layers of white paint covering the entire loco to fade that bright blue paintwork right down. 

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Having muted the paintwork to a paler blue, the next stage was to jazz it up with the funky light blue patches! Sky blue Humbrol was dry brushed onto the bodyside and scrubbed around, and mottled with cotton buds.

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Look closely at the prototype pics and you'll see so many different shades from light to dark, these were added on - some whites, lots of greys and cheeky rusty patches revealed by scratches, peeling and chipped paint!

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

The rust chunks were created with lighter dollops of Humbrol 62 brown painted on, and then darkened at the centre with shades of 186, 113 and anything else darker I could find!

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

47467 was at some stage subjected to the 'Tyne Yard' black paint treatment on the headcode panels, and has yellow-ringed marker lights at the No.2 end.

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

With the yellow ends also being very muted, there was evidence of patch painting, so some parts where jazzed up with dry brushed coatings of brighter warning panel yellow, and more rust spots touched in, just as on the Flickr photos.

 

Underframe tanks had to be changed to the version with just the battery boxes, using the mouldings from an old Heljan model, and cut around the dangly Bachmann tail lamp switches!

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

The roof was left in the original Bachmann grey, but received a coat of Humbrol 32 Dark Grey, painted on and wiped off for the initial weathering. This was later accompanied by airbrush weathering using dirty black, and exhaust weathering using matt black with a tinge of blue. Some of the dirt streaks down the side, drybrushed in several shades during the project. The key is not to go OTT here!

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Finally, the model received a driver, cab detailing, engine cutout switch and further traffic weathering, before a final varnishing. I'm trying out one of those cheap new Hattons DCC decoders, though this may be replaced with my last Loksound '47' decoder should it be deemed to be a hellfire beast worthy enough to get the sound treatment! 

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Now ready to head a train on Worthing MRC's Loftus Road at Portsmouth next Saturday 14th! 

 

47467 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr

 

Overall, this has been a really fun project to work on, a loco I remembered as a kid but never thought I'd ever tackle, and I must admit I had doubts a few weeks ago, wondering just what I'd taken on...unlike a wagon, you've spent a lot of money and can't really get away with doing a half-hearted attempt!!

 

Looking forward to hopefully seeing some of you guys at Portsmouth show next week if you're about!

 

 

[Doughnut]

Cracking weathering job that James...superb!

 

Dave

[bobster]

Wow Superb James - The Master has done it again

 

Cheers, Bob.

[Hoover 40]

Excellent work its just as I remember it when I saw it at Crewe many moons ago

[ess1uk]

That's top notch