Downendian details

[Halvarras]

2 hours ago, Downendian said:

Great post Halvarras - indeed D6302 (not D6303 as I originally stated) had them, I’d missed D6306 - I’ll edit my post as I don’t like leaving incorrect info on the web! 
unfortunately I have little memory of class 22s, they’d gone before I started spotting, but I’m fairly certain they were on Bason bridge milks that I used to see when visiting Highbridge. I take your point re Dainton and Rattery banks, but LA class 25s were visitors to Bristol occasionally later in the 1970s- that’s my excuse anyway.

neil 

 

You did say "from memory" so an 'escape clause '! D6306 had almost faded from my memory too but some years ago an internet trawl turned up an excellent photo of it with the boxes in Truro yard, reaffirming my recollection - wish I'd saved it as I can't find it now, but it's out there somewhere...... I recall seeing D6317 with the big boxes and front-end damage withdrawn at Laira in September 1968. Earlier that year I'd cabbed D6307 in multiple with D6306 up front at Truro and the loco gangways were connected - the black hole didn't look very inviting, maybe that's the real reason why BR crews didn't use them very often! Connected gangways were common on Class 22s in Cornwall at the time (you'll probably be aware of the colour photo of D6307 and D6339 so linked - also at Truro in May 68) and it's been claimed that the practice was resurrected with Class 25s on Cornish passenger workings in 1972*, if true it must have been the last such use on BR - if not then Class 22 must still hold the title.

I can believe Laira 25s at Bristol, the diesel-electric Type 2s seem to have been allowed to roam further than the hydraulics and 'foreign' examples could make it as far as Exeter and up the local branch lines. Same with Class 31s, although 5827 on 1V76 to Penzance on 29/6/73 takes some beating 😮!!

 

*Not possible with all Class 25s of course....

[Downendian]

Another good day on the workbench methinks, progress on the 6M55 clayliner wagons. I’d always been concerned of how to model the sheets- having owned several of the Kernow 9’ wb tippler flat tarp release - they were not that convincing. So having watched several YouTube videos on making tarpaulins (sheets) using tissue paper wetted with a 50:50 mix of PVA, I had a little trial run. 

Briefly, the entire wagon is wrapped in cling film (to protect the model) and I used wettable tissue paper of the type used for building model aircraft/gliders (remember doing that as kids?) to “wrap” the wagon with. I cut a rectangle roughly 3-4cm longer on each side of the wagon, With three hair bands purloined from my youngest daughter the cling film/tissue sandwich was clamped to the base of the wagon. The paper was strong enough to coax under the band into convincing folds in the corners (by the way I’m useless at wrapping parcels). The excessive size of the tissue sheet will be dealt with later. I then daubed the tissue with the water/pva/washing up liquid ballasting mix which gave some quite pleasing effects. The corner folds became appreciably tighter and there was a convincing sag in the middle. After allowing to dry (this tissue paper dries clear- remember those Keil Kraft gliders)- the sheet was trimmed to size after removing it from the wagon via the cling film- carefully. The sheet was then given a couple of coats of grey primer. They’re still a bit fragile but I’m sure will firm up after painting/weathering/varnishing. I was really pleased with the results - they are custom fit for each wagon and just need some ties to complete. Old braid/Dacron fishing line should do the trick here - may treat myself to a small spool of red braid (red ropes in some prototype photos).

 

The wagons are minus all underframe details so as no detachments of these delicate bits were possible at this stage. The sheets are readily removable for this work.

 

Lurking in the background is another long term resident on the workbench, a Stanier bogied brake tender, a genesis kit with Bachmann bogies. Decals today - unfortunately I applied the XP and tare markings, moved the model into the sun to set  and these decals were never to be seen again, I’m sure I’m not the first or last to do this.

 

Edited February 6, 2023 by Downendian

[Phil Bullock]

45 minutes ago, Downendian said:

Another good day on the workbench methinks, progress on the 6M55 clayliner wagons. I’d always been concerned of how to model the sheets- having owned several of the Kernow 9’ wb tippler flat tarp release - they were not that convincing. So having watched several YouTube videos on making tarpaulins (sheets) using tissue paper wetted with a 50:50 mix of PVA, I had a little trial run. 

Briefly, the entire wagon is wrapped in cling film (to protect the model) and I used wettable tissue paper of the type used for building model aircraft/gliders (remember doing that as kids?) to “wrap” the wagon with. I cut a rectangle roughly 3-4cm longer on each side of the wagon, With three hair bands purloined from my youngest daughter the cling film/tissue sandwich was clamped to the base of the wagon. The paper was strong enough to coax under the band into convincing folds in the corners (by the way I’m useless at wrapping parcels). The excessive size of the tissue sheet will be dealt with later. I then daubed the tissue with the water/pva/washing up liquid ballasting mix which gave some quite pleasing effects. The corner folds became appreciably tighter and there was a convincing sag in the middle. After allowing to dry (this tissue paper dries clear- remember those Keil Kraft gliders)- the sheet was trimmed to size after removing it from the wagon via the cling film- carefully. The sheet was then given a couple of coats of grey primer. They’re still a bit fragile but I’m sure will firm up after painting/weathering/varnishing. I was really pleased with the results - they are custom fit for each wagon and just need some ties to complete. Old braid/Dacron fishing line should do the trick here - may treat myself to a small spool of red braid (red ropes in some prototype photos).

 

The wagons are minus all underframe details so as no detachments of these delicate bits were possible at this stage. The sheets are readily removable for this work.

 

Lurking in the background is another long term resident on the workbench, a Stanier bogied brake tender, a genesis kit with Bachmann bogies. Decals today - unfortunately I applied the XP and tare markings, moved the model into the sun to set  and these decals were never to be seen again, I’m sure I’m not the first or last to do this.

 

Those sheets are the dogs whatsits Neil… you have hit the sweet spot there. Great modelling!

[Downendian]

With the modelling mojo fully restored, I can’t just sit back waiting on the postie for new clayliner wagon kits to arrive. After excellent service from Jenni and Georgina at Bachmann spares a little parcel arrived with Bachmann class 24 underframes - purchased with the intention of upgrading some 24s and more importantly my large Bachmann 25 fleet. This one has a long history - it started over 10 years ago and features in the earliest postings on this thread. The bodyshell is a Hornby cab/Bachmann 24 body which is still very much a live project. This morning I fitted the light surrounds (some brass etched washers I had in the spares box which were the perfect size), and I’ll need to work on a solution for the lights. The Hornby cabs had their horn cowls surgically removed to represent the headcode box 24 and 25/0 locos. That roof fan is going for a replacement from Shawplan. There’s still more prep to do though before getting painted, traces of filler evident and still some sanding to do.

 

The Bachmann underframes are a decent fit - not perfect at the cab ends, but with me needing to fettle a new cab floor they will lose any gaps by screwing the frame to it. The quite drastic surgery has meant the body is not a perfect fit too (about 1mm too short) but difficult to spot unless you’re told. I can’t wait for the new Bachmann 25 to arrive - I’m sure to buy a few chassis underframes as spares. With a bit of fettling I’m certain they can be attached to first generation Bachmann 24s and 25s which I’m not (yet) considering selling,

 

I also dismantled a first generation Bachmann 25 chassis to test for fit to the new Bachmann subframe- achieving loss of the erroneous solebar and getting some fantastic looking water/fuel tanks in one swoop, I purchased the 24 frame with weight block and the bad news is that the old Bachmann motors and bogies won’t fit the new ones. The motor flywheels are too large, and the mounting points of the bogies are incompatible with the version 1 bogies. So for this old model I’m going to treat it to a new motor, bogies and perhaps even a PCB which  in total will cost around £120. However the up side this one will become 24 136 in GFYE complete with snow ploughs - one of the first 24s I saw in visits to Crewe in 1975 when it was still in service. My only other route to this as a model is a repaint of a green new generation Bachmann 24 - not the cheapest of options.

 

I have a strange affection for class 25/0s too, intention is to produce at least two for the layout. On my frequent reminiscing of my spotting notes I noticed that in early April 1975 two 25/0s 005 and 016 were copped on Bath road on the same day. I obviously didn’t think much of it at the time as they were infrequent visitors to the WR, those two were then Tinsley allocated, so I’d love to know what service they arrived on - I assume they were double headed to see two at once. I will of course need to remove the water tanks from the chassis as 25/0s were NB.

[Covkid]

On 09/02/2023 at 14:40, Downendian said:

With the modelling mojo fully restored, I can’t just sit back waiting on the postie for new clayliner wagon kits to arrive. After excellent service from Jenni and Georgina at Bachmann spares a little parcel arrived with Bachmann class 24 underframes - purchased with the intention of upgrading some 24s and more importantly my large Bachmann 25 fleet. This one has a long history - it started over 10 years ago and features in the earliest postings on this thread. The bodyshell is a Hornby cab/Bachmann 24 body which is still very much a live project. This morning I fitted the light surrounds (some brass etched washers I had in the spares box which were the perfect size), and I’ll need to work on a solution for the lights. The Hornby cabs had their horn cowls surgically removed to represent the headcode box 24 and 25/0 locos. That roof fan is going for a replacement from Shawplan. There’s still more prep to do though before getting painted, traces of filler evident and still some sanding to do.

 

The Bachmann underframes are a decent fit - not perfect at the cab ends, but with me needing to fettle a new cab floor they will lose any gaps by screwing the frame to it. The quite drastic surgery has meant the body is not a perfect fit too (about 1mm too short) but difficult to spot unless you’re told. I can’t wait for the new Bachmann 25 to arrive - I’m sure to buy a few chassis underframes as spares. With a bit of fettling I’m certain they can be attached to first generation Bachmann 24s and 25s which I’m not (yet) considering selling,

 

I also dismantled a first generation Bachmann 25 chassis to test for fit to the new Bachmann subframe- achieving loss of the erroneous solebar and getting some fantastic looking water/fuel tanks in one swoop, I purchased the 24 frame with weight block and the bad news is that the old Bachmann motors and bogies won’t fit the new ones. The motor flywheels are too large, and the mounting points of the bogies are incompatible with the version 1 bogies. So for this old model I’m going to treat it to a new motor, bogies and perhaps even a PCB which  in total will cost around £120. However the up side this one will become 24 136 in GFYE complete with snow ploughs - one of the first 24s I saw in visits to Crewe in 1975 when it was still in service. My only other route to this as a model is a repaint of a green new generation Bachmann 24 - not the cheapest of options.

 

I have a strange affection for class 25/0s too, intention is to produce at least two for the layout. On my frequent reminiscing of my spotting notes I noticed that in early April 1975 two 25/0s 005 and 016 were copped on Bath road on the same day. I obviously didn’t think much of it at the time as they were infrequent visitors to the WR, those two were then Tinsley allocated, so I’d love to know what service they arrived on - I assume they were double headed to see two at once. I will of course need to remove the water tanks from the chassis as 25/0s were NB.

Looking very promising Neil.  Very nice. 

You probably know all this anyway but the 25/0s were very much a hybrid of class 24 carbody, bogies etc with class 25 electricals.  As you say, no train heating so I believe the boiler room roofs were very much simpler. Here is a puzzle though. We all thought the class 24s (BR/Sulzer 1160hp) were built with boilers, but not so. During the period a number were loaned to the SR a couple were supplied without boilers. There is a photo published somewhere of a gaggle of around six stabled at an SR MPD, one of which does not have the standard boiler room roof with exhaust etc. There is actually a really good colour photo on page 29 of MLI177 showing the cab roof of D5159 with just the two small panels on the boiler room roof. 

 

The other point to mention is that class 24s and class 25/0s had droplights for the driver and secondman, which created the quarterlight effect. The class 25 cab side windows on the other hand, and those Scottish 24as with token catcher equipment had sliding cab windows wit hthe subtley different glazing bar. 

Edited February 11, 2023 by Covkid

[sulzer71]

On 09/02/2023 at 14:40, Downendian said:

With the modelling mojo fully restored, I can’t just sit back waiting on the postie for new clayliner wagon kits to arrive. After excellent service from Jenni and Georgina at Bachmann spares a little parcel arrived with Bachmann class 24 underframes - purchased with the intention of upgrading some 24s and more importantly my large Bachmann 25 fleet. This one has a long history - it started over 10 years ago and features in the earliest postings on this thread. The bodyshell is a Hornby cab/Bachmann 24 body which is still very much a live project. This morning I fitted the light surrounds (some brass etched washers I had in the spares box which were the perfect size), and I’ll need to work on a solution for the lights. The Hornby cabs had their horn cowls surgically removed to represent the headcode box 24 and 25/0 locos. That roof fan is going for a replacement from Shawplan. There’s still more prep to do though before getting painted, traces of filler evident and still some sanding to do.

 

The Bachmann underframes are a decent fit - not perfect at the cab ends, but with me needing to fettle a new cab floor they will lose any gaps by screwing the frame to it. The quite drastic surgery has meant the body is not a perfect fit too (about 1mm too short) but difficult to spot unless you’re told. I can’t wait for the new Bachmann 25 to arrive - I’m sure to buy a few chassis underframes as spares. With a bit of fettling I’m certain they can be attached to first generation Bachmann 24s and 25s which I’m not (yet) considering selling,

 

I also dismantled a first generation Bachmann 25 chassis to test for fit to the new Bachmann subframe- achieving loss of the erroneous solebar and getting some fantastic looking water/fuel tanks in one swoop, I purchased the 24 frame with weight block and the bad news is that the old Bachmann motors and bogies won’t fit the new ones. The motor flywheels are too large, and the mounting points of the bogies are incompatible with the version 1 bogies. So for this old model I’m going to treat it to a new motor, bogies and perhaps even a PCB which  in total will cost around £120. However the up side this one will become 24 136 in GFYE complete with snow ploughs - one of the first 24s I saw in visits to Crewe in 1975 when it was still in service. My only other route to this as a model is a repaint of a green new generation Bachmann 24 - not the cheapest of options.

 

I have a strange affection for class 25/0s too, intention is to produce at least two for the layout. On my frequent reminiscing of my spotting notes I noticed that in early April 1975 two 25/0s 005 and 016 were copped on Bath road on the same day. I obviously didn’t think much of it at the time as they were infrequent visitors to the WR, those two were then Tinsley allocated, so I’d love to know what service they arrived on - I assume they were double headed to see two at once. I will of course need to remove the water tanks from the chassis as 25/0s were NB.

@Downendian you should have bought one of the new tooling shells from the Bachmann spares site , I have a stack of spares that would have assisted you in building a complete loco :)

[Downendian]

4 hours ago, sulzer71 said:

@Downendian you should have bought one of the new tooling shells from the Bachmann spares site , I have a stack of spares that would have assisted you in building a complete loco :)

Ah thanks, but that’s not the point Sulzer71 - this has been a project hatched long before any headcode 24s and 25/0 potential conversions were available. I want to complete the build started many moons ago- it will have flaws but they’re my flaws! However if you have any spare motors and drive trains for the new tooling 24 I’d be very happy to buy them from you. I do have a new tooling headcode 24 too and a couple of SLW 24s. 

i also have a Craftsman conversion of a 25/3 and 24 both from Hornby bodyshells, projects halted because of the arrival of Bachmann models - they began in the 1980s! They may be permanently stored or just maybe I’ll see what can be done. The 25/3 was from a Hornby 25 first release that I’d saved my paper round money for back in 77/78 so there’s an emotional tie in to that model, very much like my upgraded Hornby Hymek. 
Neil 

[sulzer71]

12 hours ago, Downendian said:

Ah thanks, but that’s not the point Sulzer71 - this has been a project hatched long before any headcode 24s and 25/0 potential conversions were available. I want to complete the build started many moons ago- it will have flaws but they’re my flaws! However if you have any spare motors and drive trains for the new tooling 24 I’d be very happy to buy them from you. I do have a new tooling headcode 24 too and a couple of SLW 24s. 

i also have a Craftsman conversion of a 25/3 and 24 both from Hornby bodyshells, projects halted because of the arrival of Bachmann models - they began in the 1980s! They may be permanently stored or just maybe I’ll see what can be done. The 25/3 was from a Hornby 25 first release that I’d saved my paper round money for back in 77/78 so there’s an emotional tie in to that model, very much like my upgraded Hornby Hymek. 
Neil 

No worries Neil , drop me a PM with a list of what parts you could do with , I've several stripped ones in my spares box and I've a few complete chassis on ebay at the moment 

[Downendian]

Brilliant Sulzer71 just bought one on eBay- hadn’t thought of looking there. I’ll drop you a PM as well- I really need green underframes but happy to do the swop myself. 
Neil 

[sulzer71]

9 minutes ago, Downendian said:

Brilliant Sulzer71 just bought one on eBay- hadn’t thought of looking there. I’ll drop you a PM as well- I really need green underframes but happy to do the swop myself. 
Neil 

Nice one Neil thanks for that , should have just dropped me a message first and I could have done you it a bit cheaper , I will check tonight as I may actually have a green underframe 

 

Dave 

[Downendian]

5 minutes ago, sulzer71 said:

Nice one Neil thanks for that , should have just dropped me a message first and I could have done you it a bit cheaper , I will check tonight as I may actually have a green underframe 

 

Dave 

Cheers Dave

PM sent 

[sulzer71]

18 minutes ago, Downendian said:

Cheers Dave

PM sent 

No worries Neil

 

The Chassis will be sent out tomorrow most likely by DPD

 

Dave

[Downendian]

Progress over the last few days - slow but steady. Three more Parkside 1/039 to join the 6M55 rake, wagons now complete needing decals and weathering. I’ve another 3 Cambrian D1375 to build and 4 more 1/039 but taking a bit of a pause as awaiting transfers and more roller bearings, plus the Instanter pile has taken a bit of a hit. I’m also looking at a batch of five airfix /Hornby 5.5 plank bodies that I bought a long time ago for the clayliner rake. I’m pondering the correct chassis for these models which will be GWR O39/O40 which according to the GWR.org site had Morton brake gear and `RCH vacuum. Of course many were built under BR, and many examples can be found on Paul Bartlett’s site. So I’m pondering what chassis can be used, especially considering that by BR days there was much standardisation. I’m aiming for a rake of 25 wagons as this fits my passing loop so still more to purchase. Four more 1/039 bodies mentioned above assembled this morning and sprayed with primer.

 

Progress on 24136. Having received the new tooling Bachmann 24 chassis from @sulzer71, a test fit was in order. After some fettling (mounting sockets reduced and fan grille mounting screw holes removed) the body fits to the chassis like a glove. I’ve got to do some work to get the bulkheads and cab floors to fit but progress none the less.

I fitted a Shawplan 24/25 grille and was pleasantly surprised how easy that was. I was ready with a dremel to remove the Bachmann fan grille and to my surprise it just popped out, held in place by 3 spigots. With a bit of trepidation I assembled the 3 piece grille using the supplied jig and very runny superglue as recommended on the Shawplan blog pages. I was amazed how powerful capillary action was to stick the two grille meshes together and with a little bit of patience the surrounding ring went on OK. You need both grilles to maintain the correct height - I had contemplated using only one but glad I didn’t. The jig is great for forming the correct curvature too.

 

I fitted cab front handrails this morning and a waft with primer revealing still more sanding/filler/sanding cycle is needed before it’s ready for the three top coats. More work done since the photo to get the body to sit properly on the chassis.

 

Edited February 20, 2023 by Downendian
Typos

[Downendian]

Progress to date on 24 136.

in the paint shops the last few days - long story but the upshot is I’ve still a lot to learn about masking up and paint mixes. I used a mixture of enamels (railmatch warning panel yellow, pre 1984) and acrylics loco green and diesel roof grey. Despite using my airbrush frequently, it’s mainly for single colour application on wagons and NPCSS. The model is drying after a few touch ups including the chassis and boiler room panels which were prototypically blue. It is yet to be weathered, decals applied, glazed and cab door handrails fitted - I have some brass masters ones somewhere - just not immediately to hand! I’m going to be patient and let it dry thoroughly before attempting anything else. The cab floors and bulkheads still to be affixed and hopefully this will remedy the slight gap between the body and chassis at the cab ends. The photo reveals yet more touching up required, but the weathering especially the roof will help mask the blemishes. 24 136 as I saw her in April 1975 will ride again! 

 

masses of china clay wagons still undergoing work - more Parkside and Cambrian kits on their way plus some Dapol 5 plank bodies (ex airfix tooling) just ordered - I’d forgotten about their cheap wagon bodies - obviously needing appropriate chassis. Paint, kits etc due to arrive today and progress will be resume after a loco interlude. 
 

Neil 

[41516]

6 hours ago, Downendian said:

plus some Dapol 5 plank bodies (ex airfix tooling)

 

Can you get the old AIrfix body directly from Dapol?  The unpainted 10ft WB 5 planker bodies are yee olde Dublo mouldings (original Airfix body at the top).

 

Edited March 1, 2023 by 41516

[Enterprisingwestern]

1 minute ago, 41516 said:

 

Can you get the old AIrfix body directly from Dapol?  The unpainted 10ft WB 5 planker bodies are yee olde Dublo mouldings

 

 

Although of indeterminate prototypical origin.

 

Mike.

[Downendian]

Ah that explains it - they are indeed the Dublo version - scratch that then - will need to source more airfix bodies. 
Neil 

[Phil Bullock]

Just found these in my etches stash and they have the oval horn grilles yippee can use headcode loco with correct doors as starting point for D6324 ….

 

[Downendian]

Progress on the 6M55 rake to date. It will total 22 wagons - so almost at the adding decals and weathering stage which takes forever anyway, but well over halfway there. Lots of wagon details still to add, brake handles, buffers, door springs to most and needing some hand painting, and sheets need spraying grey on most. Two wagons (both Parkside ex LNER) have their sheets drying at the front and a PC01A (diag 1/041) started this morning - yes these were in clayliner rakes too.

I was somewhat distracted by 24 136 (now glazed, numbered and looking at chassis mounting options) and NPCSS (4 LMS design CCTs and 2 Parkside Southern PMVs). These are for something for the 24 to haul- 4V20 Manchester-Bristol parcels and 4M05 Penzance-Manchester as a return working. I never saw a 24 in Bristol but they were rumoured to operate on 4V20 (routed through the Marches and crewed by Salop drivers), that’s my excuse anyway.

 

Plates for D1045 and D1059 have also arrived - to pull the clayliner  in “strictly 1974 “ mode- both were relatively early casualties but I saw them multiple times in late 1974. I’ll also dress up a class 46 with suitable headcodes.

 

Neil 

 

[Halvarras]

On 20/02/2023 at 14:08, Downendian said:

 

I fitted a Shawplan 24/25 grille and was pleasantly surprised how easy that was. I was ready with a dremel to remove the Bachmann fan grille and to my surprise it just popped out, held in place by 3 spigots. With a bit of trepidation I assembled the 3 piece grille using the supplied jig and very runny superglue as recommended on the Shawplan blog pages. I was amazed how powerful capillary action was to stick the two grille meshes together and with a little bit of patience the surrounding ring went on OK. You need both grilles to maintain the correct height - I had contemplated using only one but glad I didn’t. The jig is great for forming the correct curvature too.

 

 

I made up one of these myself last year, for a worked-up Hornby Class 25 (lowered on chassis, fitted with Lima motor bogie and trailing bogie wheelsets of 14mm). The fan is also multi-layered. When I saw all the bits I wondered what I'd let myself in for, but discovered it's so well designed it went together without problem. Fiddly yes, as the parts are small, but the jig is genius. To assemble the fan I pulled one wheel off a spare Jackson wheelset and stacked the parts (all of which have a central hole except the top cap) in the numbered order on the axle - simple, but I had to be careful to use the minimum of superglue to avoid gluing the assembly to the axle. I was very impressed too with the quality of the etchings!

[Downendian]

24 136 approaching completion. Some weathering/touch ups (more spotted in the photo, cruel close ups are often very revealing) /wipers etc  still to do and cab bulkheads still to be fitted as well as headcode/cab light units. Work today included removing the remnants of the lower parts of the innards of the  Hornby cab doors and the interior of the Bachmann roof fan grille which were preventing the body from seating correctly on the chassis. I’ll do that first on the next class 24/25 build.  Still not perfect but that’s down to the surgery to create the body in the first place. Headcodes 4V20 Manchester-Bristol TM parcels, and 4M05 this end Penzance-Manchester parcels, rumoured to sometimes produce a class 24. 21 pin chip fitted, but pondering whether all this effort deserves a sound chip. Chassis details (all pipe work etc plus snow ploughs) still awaiting fitting but the long haul on this one almost over.

10X 4 wheel CCT/PMV/BY vans of LMS and SR origins are almost complete just awaiting a batch of screw couplings to arrive. In addition the 6M55 rake is now done after a prolonged session fitting Instanters, but a long process of weathering now awaits that rake.

[Phil Bullock]

2 hours ago, Downendian said:

24 136 approaching completion. Some weathering/touch ups (more spotted in the photo, cruel close ups are often very revealing) /wipers etc  still to do and cab bulkheads still to be fitted as well as headcode/cab light units. Work today included removing the remnants of the lower parts of the innards of the  Hornby cab doors and the interior of the Bachmann roof fan grille which were preventing the body from seating correctly on the chassis. I’ll do that first on the next class 24/25 build.  Still not perfect but that’s down to the surgery to create the body in the first place. Headcodes 4V20 Manchester-Bristol TM parcels, and 4M05 this end Penzance-Manchester parcels, rumoured to sometimes produce a class 24. 21 pin chip fitted, but pondering whether all this effort deserves a sound chip. Chassis details (all pipe work etc plus snow ploughs) still awaiting fitting but the long haul on this one almost over.

10X 4 wheel CCT/PMV/BY vans of LMS and SR origins are almost complete just awaiting a batch of screw couplings to arrive. In addition the 6M55 rake is now done after a prolonged session fitting Instanters, but a long process of weathering now awaits that rake.

A sound chip? Go on you know you want to… 😉

[Downendian]

Another Parkside kit project on the go. 24.5T and 21T unfitted minerals - and we complain about detail variants amongst diesel locos- these wagons had quite a lot of variation especially considering a 1970s timeframe. These four 24.5T I’ve numbered as diag 1/118 and a first for me using the hairspray chipping technique. I did my best to replicate the method described by the Wallsrail YouTube channel (100% recommended - superb modelling) but not quite to that standard I’m still learning a lot! There’s still washes and powders to add but I’m pretty pleased with them. I know TMC offer this wagon RTR, and they are superb, but the weathered wagons are £45 - but I still have a few pristine to get to look like these. These have been in my kit stockpile for several decades, only mod was adding roller bearing axle boxes- I’m still unsure about the buffers should be Oleo hydraulic, need to see if Lanarkshire do these. Transfers were a combination of modelmaster and railtec. Four 21T wagons in the spray booth at the moment.

 

These are the start of the build of the mega train that was the Severn Tunnel Junction - Temple Mills/Acton often with a brake tender utilised (headcode I can’t remember off the top of my head but was a class 7).  Photos  of this service show unfitted wagons in the rake so i’m assuming by 1974 or so it was running as a fitted head, where my Accurascale MSVs will be used after suitable weathering. It was a gloriously mixed  rake and very memorable very often a Western was rostered for it plus the return service. All will get coal loads and therefore be Eastbound, memories of the prototype service are still quite spine tingling - you could hear a hard labouring Western climbing up from Severn tunnel a full five minutes before it arrived on a still summers day.

 

it’s high time I got the layout underway again so all my 100+ new kit built wagons can get a good run in. So maybe the kit building will get a rest for a few months - but boy is it addictive.

Neil 

Edited April 15, 2023 by Downendian
Continuity

[Phil Bullock]

You have a fantastic wagon collection Neil. Can’t wait to see them in action….

[Downendian]

9 x NPCS recently worked on - a huge weathering with powders session coming up - some preliminary work done hence the dusty finger prints! Just fitted screw couplings to one end of each van. These will form the 4M05 and 4V20 parcels service which was between Manchester/Bristol TM (4V20) and Penzance/Manchester 4M05. Some four wheel vans maybe seconded to the 3S15 rake (Bristol/Glasgow), although from memory this was largely bogie vehicles. All models are Parkside. I’ve used a bit of artistic license in just using 4 wheel vans, Temple meads and just outside (Pylle Hill) was always heaving with these vehicles so they must have worked in from somewhere.

two Southern PMVs

three Southern BYs

three LMS CCTs

another solitary LMS design CCT complete with windows, only two of this type were still in service in 1974

 

Most of the rake will be weathered to a grimy brown, but some will be lightly weathered. All transfers are from the excellent railtec range, most using bespoke running numbers of vehicles recorded at Temple meads around 1976.

 

The kit building over the last 12 months is not random - I’m aiming to build specific rakes which will be semi-fixed - they have to be as Instanter and screw couplings have been used throughout.

 

21T mineral building at the moment for the 8E38 Margam-Temple Mills. Four awaiting transfers and a fifth undergoing rusting using the hairspray chipping technique which takes a few days. All are Parkside models which are dia 1/110 of riveted construction - I’ve just ordered 3 Chivers 1/119/120 (welded) which I may play with to vary the doors to give the rake some variety.

 

Neil