Newbryford's mostly Yellow workbench - "it's a drag, man......."

[newbryford]

Mick are those transit vans Oxford Diecast ones?

 

Cararama.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[newbryford]

Next instalment for DC460000.

 

This is where I made it up as I went along. I know what I wanted to finish up with, but was a bit uncertain how to achieve it.

 

I created a "bathtub" of 30 thou styrene with end pieces and fixed it to the two end units - taking care not to glue it to the chassis.

 

 

By doing this, I could accurately measure the next stage.

 

The using 15thou styrene, I cut out the internal end panels and the middle section. This was curved around a suitable former - a wooden dowel - using the time-honoured method of boiling water and then cooling down rapidly. In the words of "Blue Peter" - "Make sure you get a grown-up to help you with this part".

 

 

The main chassis runners have also been recessed by about 1.5mm between the end units.

 

Before these parts were fixed to the end units, I cut back the bathtub, to leave only the lower end parts - slotted to fit around the existing screw fixing columns. (TBH, the falso floor doesn't need to project so far into the end sections. The end units were then refixed to the chassis and the upper curve added. By opening out the false floor, it creates space for me to later fit the LED's and decoder to power them.

 

 

In hindsight, the bathtub was overkill and next time around, I probably wouldn't use it and miss out photo 1.

 

EDIT: a couple of typos and extra info added.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited September 12, 2012 by newbryford

[virginhst539]

very nice i was going to use the method involving a bit of B&Q cheep plastic pipe cut in half to create the rounded top and the lower panels made from thick plasticard, all sounds easy in theory.......

[hammy]

Don't mind me Mick just going to rob the idea to make my own sod fully scratch building one!

 

Rob

[newbryford]

Don't mind me Mick just going to rob the idea to make my own sod fully scratch building one!

 

Rob

 

No problem - if I was worried, I wouldn't be posting. if this thread inspires others to do something other than "just paint it yellow - or in this case - black" then my work is done! Hopefully more on the optical car later tonight

 

Cheers,

Mick

[newbryford]

460000 part 3.

 

Going back to photo 3 in the previous posting - I omitted to mention the formers that retain the curve - these can be seen inside the central section.

 

Slots are cut into the main body section for the LED's to shine through (this is the first cut - later cleaned up).

 

 

The "vanes" are then added using 15 thou styrene. (I used the end sections as a template for the upper curve)

 

 

And a quick coat of primer lets me see if I'm on the right track

 

 

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited September 13, 2012 by newbryford

[newbryford]

Part 4.

 

For some reason, I haven't got any decent pics of the cut-down chassis, but hopefully, this next shot will show how I cut back as much excess plastic as I could on the W-irons.

 

 

It also shows some of the detail added to the end using nothing more than bits of styrene - I know it sounds very simplistic, but that's exactly what I used!

 

460000 is fitted with a unique suspension with prominent spring units. I recreated it by using two sizes of brass tube and copper wire wrapped around them.

 

 

This next pic shows the other end and more detail added using styrene offcuts. The corridor connection is a Comet Models LMS gangway. The gangway was narrowed by cutting a section out of the middle and rejoining the two halves. Note - 460000 carries the gangway and buffers at ONE end since the SGTwas reformed with a Mk2. The other end (see pic above) has an access door and no buffers and is bar coupled to the accompanying Mk2.

 

 

The above pic also shows the bodywork and chassis detail being added with even more styrene bits.

 

It is worth noting that the Optical car (and SGT in general) has had many modifications and branding changes over the years and reference to dated pics is essential.

 

2001 pic with buffers and corridor connections at both ends, flanked by 975081 and 975280. There are extra "vanes"on the central section.

 

2011 pic, showing the post-2009 laser "dustbin" and lengthened bar coupler to accomodate the new system.

 

2007 pic (used with permission) as I've modelled it.

 

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited September 14, 2012 by newbryford

[newbryford]

A day off from SGt updates.

 

950001 has finally had the window frames fitted - fiddly little b%$£*^%s they were.

 

 

 

It still needs tinted glazing in the new windows. I re-used the Bachmann glazing on the original windows.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[Pete Harvey]

Looks Good Mick.

 

Pete

[newbryford]

It's yellow - but it's not a test train this time.

 

I'm always flitting between long and short term projects and one of those long termers has possibly become a relative quickie.

 

Warrington has a breakdown train unit made up of 975486, 975464 and 971002. I have already acquired a Hornby super GUV to do 971002 and was researching the other two ready for a big cut n shut project. 464 and 486 had seen previous use as "Ptarmigan" and "Polar Bear" support vehicles for the NSE snowblower before being refurbished for BTU use.

The Warrington BTU is never in a good position to photograph 975464/486.

 

A trip to Bescot revealed 975471 and two super GUV's 971001 and 971003 which made the project only one chop job and thus easier.

 

 

In my collection I had a set of Hurst etched sides for 975477 but I was uncertain of it's recent fate after being refurbished and painted in the short lived NR red/blue. A chance link to a video showed it back in use as a BTU based at Knottingley, partnered with 975087 and another GUV 971004. More pic and video searching and my mind was made up as I already had a couple of Commonwealth bogie fitted Replica models BSK's on my shelf - as you do.......

 

975087 should be a reasonably easy window fill and two simple doors to cut out.

http://www.departmentals.com/photo/975087b

 

This is the video:

 

Photos of the other sides of these vehicles can be hard to come by, but searching for 66025 on youtube provides another video of the other side of the same train.

 

The etched sides for 975477 will need a couple of doors blanking out, but I'll do that later.

 

No - I won't be doing the crane - that's already been done by the Farkham gang.

 

Hornby's upcoming yellow super GUV will make the project easier still, but as I have a RES one and the yellow paint will be out later, that's what I'm using.

 

EDIT: Photo links and other info added.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited September 16, 2012 by newbryford

[virginhst539]

lets just hope hornbys GUV is not just a case of paint over the windows like the MK3s!

[newbryford]

lets just hope hornbys GUV is not just a case of paint over the windows like the MK3s!

 

I don't think so - they're using the super GUV moulding with the roller shutter doors - R4571 is the catalogue number.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[CWJ]

Good project Mick, now all you need to do is build the cra... d'oh!

[newbryford]

975477 will use Hurst Models etched sides with a couple of doors filled in.

 

A Replica BSK is stripped down, removing all raised detail on the sides. I've also removed the roof ventilators as I want to replace them (and relocate some others) with MJT castings.

 

The end detail is also removed with scalpel and file. As it's a Replica coach, the corridor door need filling in with styrene sheet. No need for a perfect fit, as a bit of filler will sort out any gaps.

 

 

I was contemplating a similar detail removal for 975087 (see link to prototype pic a couple of posts above) and then filling in the windows. This was probably going to be a time consuming job to get the sides smooth, until I remembered I had a couple of part-built DC Kits post van kits hanging around that may be able to provide a bit of inspiration/parts.

 

This is the sorting van kit.

 

 

I may try and obtain a couple of sides from Charlie to graft onto a Replica roof/ends.

Watch this space!

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited September 17, 2012 by newbryford

[newbryford]

More Optical car.

3mm white LED's are fitted inside the central section. There are 7 in total, powered from a TCS function decoder. I split the outputs to feed 3 and 4 LED's.

 

This is a pic of the 4 set

 

Meanwhile - the body is painted gloss black ready for transfers. and the LED's have a test run. This shows up a little bit of light bleed where the body isn't fully fixed to the chassis. Cured by a bit of blu-tack!

There is a temporary feed to the decoder, before pickups were fitted.

 

 

Then off for final transfers and a coat of stain varnish. The transfers were obtained from Frank Warner at Scale Model Transfers - sadly no longer available, but I believe Railtec Models now produce SGT transfers. In my case, it's branded up pre-2009 when it then acquired the later Network Rail font.

 

 

And this is the final result.

 

More to follow on the accompanying coaches 977985/975081/975280Cheers,

 

 

Mick

Edited September 20, 2012 by newbryford

[newbryford]

Back to the BTU.

 

I've decided to use the TPO van for 975087. Comparing 975087 and TPO's, the TPO doors are wider, so I set to measuring them. Looking at more BTU vehicles, the doors appear to be the samesize on the tool vans, as well as some of the staff vehicles, such as 975471 - which is understandable, given the fact that most of the BTU conversions are from Mk1 BSK's

 

I haven't any drawings, and did something that is highly frowned upon, I measured off a very good side-on photo of 975471 - usually in a good place to photograph at Bescot - and calculated that I needed to narrow the TPO door by 2mm. This was done by using a thin strip of the bodyside that was spare from the original kit.

 

 

At the same time, I removed the moulded window frames, plugged the windows with some scraps of 20 thou styrene and a skim of filler. This is the finished result - awaiting a quick coat of primer to see if any blemishes need to be fettled. EDIT - the cruel close up shows some work to be done!)

 

The other side has had the central door hinges filled. I sometimes find if I use just filler, the line is still visible, so I used a thin sliver of styrene and glued it into the door slot. I apllied a generous amount of plastic weld to soften the strip and then pressed it into the slot. This is then left to harden fully overnight.

 

 

Then filed and sanded back to smooth.

 

 

Tonight should see the two doors cut into this side, using measurements from the other side.

 

The superGUV is up for paint stripping later.

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

EDIT - typo sorted

Edited September 22, 2012 by newbryford

[Swifty11]

Nice job Mick, your structure gauging train looks good, I'm looking forward to seeing the breakdown coaches, as you will see under the pendolino for my picture I'm Warrington based so see it often. Your NR class 150 looks impressive!

[Revolution Ben]

Hello Mick,

 

Nice modelling.

 

A slightly tangential question: Do you happen to know why it's felt necessary or desirable to paint the ends of the vehicles adjacent to the optical car black?

 

cheers

 

Ben A.

[newbryford]

Hello Mick,

 

Nice modelling.

 

A slightly tangential question: Do you happen to know why it's felt necessary or desirable to paint the ends of the vehicles adjacent to the optical car black?

 

cheers

 

Ben A.

 

Hi Ben, Thanks.

In a word - no. Hopefully someone with the knowledge will enlighten us all - I presume it is to prevent stray reflections. Only the sides of the adjacent coaches were black (actually dark grey including the optical car) pre-2009. The current SGT is now black, including the roof of the adjacent coaches.

 

Cheers,

Mick

[The Fatadder]

 

I may try and obtain a couple of sides from Charlie to graft onto a Replica roof/ends.

Watch this space!

 

Cheers,

Mick

 

I have done just that with a Bachmann mk1 as the donor coach, worked very well!

[newbryford]

I have done just that with a Bachmann mk1 as the donor coach, worked very well!

 

Hi Rich,

Any pics?

 

Cheers,

Mick

[The Fatadder]

I only ended up finishing the first of them before getting distracted by steam, at some point I am sure I will get on and build the rest.

 

Only main thing was a slight hight difference between the two models, needing a thin strip of evergreen plastic to fill the gap. Of course with a replica body that wouldnt be such an issue when you are cutting out the whole for the sides.

 

I found the DC kits roofs were rather poor (in that it was not straight and didnt give a good fit to the ends), hence the decision to go with the Bachmann coach / floor / ends given I had the bits to hand.

[newbryford]

I thought 975087 was going to be a 30 minute job - now it's looking like about 5 hours! The doors have been cut out on the other side and I'm now starting to detail the doors - three are fitted with windows and one has a panel where the window would be. It also has four rectangular grilles at one end/side only.

 

975477 has had the ends smoothed down and is almost ready for fitting the Hurst overlays.

 

971004 is already in Halford's white primer. Following on from a posting on here - maybe Pugsley's - I used the recommendation of only removing as much of the existing paint as I needed to, rather than full dipping in Modelstrip. I used a fibreglass brush to smooth the step edges between the colours in the factory paint finish, before a coat of primer. I always use Halford's acrylic - white, grey or red depending on the main body colour.

 

Pics probably tomorrow.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited September 22, 2012 by newbryford

[Swifty11]

Looking forward to seeing the finished article

[newbryford]

I'll be taking it to Manchester on the Sunday - finished or not. I'll be on the DEMU stand.

 

Cheers,

Mick