Steve's 4mm workbench. Lima class 47 re vamp

[griffgriff]

Just to be clear…. The Hornby model (but not the Limby one) portrays the later 1981 batch. Here’s the relevant PB directory.

 

https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/seacow

 

As you can see the grey still varies a lot but my recollection was they were delivered in the very pale light grey. I have no explanation why some collected a darker, almost slate, gre?
 

Griff

[sb67]

Thanks for confirming that @griffgriff a lot of the ones in that directory are pretty clean too, not how I remember them! 

 

 

 

Edited November 20, 2023 by sb67

[sb67]

Does anyone know who makes Departmental transfers for a Seacow wagon but with black lettering?  I found Fox transfers make individual lettering and data panels but I wondered if there was anyone that made them ready completed? 

Edited November 20, 2023 by sb67

[westernviscount]

2 hours ago, sb67 said:

Does anyone know who makes Departmental transfers for a Seacow wagon but with black lettering?  I found Fox transfers make individual lettering and data panels but I wondered if there was anyone that made them ready completed? 

This any good Steve? 

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=866

[AlfaZagato]

That won't work.  He was looking for black lettering.

[westernviscount]

2 minutes ago, AlfaZagato said:

That won't work.  He was looking for black lettering.

Oh thats a shame. Didn't pay attention to the black lettering stipulation. 

 

Cambridge or modelmaster? Latter appears a bit hit or miss. 

[sb67]

8 hours ago, westernviscount said:

This any good Steve? 

https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=866

 

Thanks David, I've just got them but with the lighter grey it was the black lettering that I was after. That said there were so many variations that I could probably use them rather than get a whole sheet of transfers for one wagon.

There used to be a sheet from Appleby Engineering I think but I don't think that they were made when they moved the stock to Cambridge. 

Edited November 21, 2023 by sb67

[37114]

1 minute ago, sb67 said:

 

Thanks David, I've just got them but with the lighter grey it was the black lettering that I was after. That said there were so many variations that I could probably use them rather than get a whole sheet of transfers for one wagon. 

I am sure if you message Steve at Railtec he might do some as a custom job?

[sb67]

4 minutes ago, 37114 said:

I am sure if you message Steve at Railtec he might do some as a custom job?

 

Thank you, I might do that, but I only want them for 1 wagon and I've found a prototype photo of a weathered wagon with the lettering barely visible, so that's another option! 

[sb67]

I've repainted the grey on one of the wagons and removed all the transfers, did a bit of work on the interior as well. 

Bit of a cruel close up but I've started to introduce a fade and discolouration using Humbrol Dust wash, it looks a bit streaky in the pic but not too bad in the flesh. 

The citadel paint did not paint so well on a factory finish but I worked most of the streaks out. 

 

 

 

 

 

[sb67]

One thing I'm learning that isn't always mentioned in books or magazine articles is when applying enamel washes or paint over a factory finish at least a day or two or even longer is needed for the paint to harden sufficiently to enable another layer to be put over the top! 

So, while I wait for the washes to dry, I'm going to have a go at these Dogfish, I've got a magazine article from BRM to follow that uses Lifecolour acrylic paints, so I'll see how I get on with those. 

First up the handrails are pretty shocking so I'll try and straighten them then make a start on the interiors.  

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

12 hours ago, sb67 said:

One thing I'm learning that isn't always mentioned in books or magazine articles is when applying enamel washes or paint over a factory finish at least a day or two or even longer is needed for the paint to harden sufficiently to enable another layer to be put over the top! 

So, while I wait for the washes to dry, I'm going to have a go at these Dogfish, I've got a magazine article from BRM to follow that uses Lifecolour acrylic paints, so I'll see how I get on with those. 

First up the handrails are pretty shocking so I'll try and straighten them then make a start on the interiors.  

 

 

 

Personally, there's only one thing to do with those handrails and wheels!

 

Mike.

[Mallard60022]

3 hours ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

 

Personally, there's only one thing to do with those handrails and wheels!

 

Mike.

Replaced with Wire? Etched Wheels?

P

[sb67]

@Enterprisingwestern Nice work. I have thought about replacing the handrails, how did you do that? I was thinking about cutting the old ones off then drilling a hole through the top of the support uprights, then threading them on to some shaped 0.5 mm brass wire

[sb67]

Started on a Dogfish, using a Lifecolor liquid pigment I painted the inside of the hopper, according to the magazine article. 

As you can see it's not covered it well at all and looks too streaky/patchy, maybe I should have put some matt varnish on first, but it's only the first coat and maybe subsequent coats will look better. 

 

 

 

[sb67]

Carried on a bit if work on the Dogfish, I could not get the liquid pigment to stay on the factory finish using a brush so resorted to the airbrush, I'll let it dry for a few days,  this will be a base coat for the other rusty colours to put on.

 

While I had the airbrush out I started on this Tope, I'd like to replicate the rust scars seen on the wagons, caused by unloading using a grab, not sure how to do that yet but I made a start on the interior and  fading the paintwork. 

 

 

 

 

 

[Enfys_Rainbow]

Looking good!

 

I built a Tope a while ago, needs revisiting now though!

 

I agree about the Dogfish handrails - Hornby use pretty chunky wire on their models. 

 

Matt

[Enterprisingwestern]

On 23/11/2023 at 13:34, Mallard60022 said:

Replaced with Wire? Etched Wheels?

P

 

On 23/11/2023 at 14:23, sb67 said:

@Enterprisingwestern Nice work. I have thought about replacing the handrails, how did you do that? I was thinking about cutting the old ones off then drilling a hole through the top of the support uprights, then threading them on to some shaped 0.5 mm brass wire

 

Apologies for the delay in replying, just back from the UK.

 

The handwheels are replaced with willsworkbench/Stenson CC03D.

Some of the wagons purchased "pre-loved" didn't have end stanchions or handrails so these were made from brass L section drilled in suitable positions and 0.33mm brass wire, and soldered solid, the ones with had the handrails cut off, the inside face at the top of the stanchion filed flush and a V slot filed in at the top position, and then 0.33mm wire superglued in, by making V slots it makes the installation of the U shaped handrail with it's 2 platform securing holes a lot easier than drilling a hole, especially as the plastic stanchion is a bit chunky.

 

Mike. 

[Captain Kernow]

On 27/11/2023 at 18:06, sb67 said:

Carried on a bit if work on the Dogfish, I could not get the liquid pigment to stay on the factory finish using a brush

You might want to try spraying the whole model (or just the area that you want to work on) with a light wafting of Humbrol Matt Acrylic spray varnish. That certainly enables weathering powders to get a hold on a factory finish (this advice given to me and lots of others by @NHY 581

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

1 hour ago, Captain Kernow said:

You might want to try spraying the whole model (or just the area that you want to work on) with a light wafting of Humbrol Matt Acrylic spray varnish. That certainly enables weathering powders to get a hold on a factory finish (this advice given to me and lots of others by @NHY 581

 

 

Indeed, as someone, the name escapes me, mentioned on this very thread a few comments back, but they must have posted in invisible ink!!

 

Mike.

[sb67]

I've been using these Lifecolour Liquid pigments on the Dogfish and learning a few things about them.

 

 

 

The two panels on the right have had a coat of matt Varnish applied and the left hand panel has not. The pigments are very thin and there is a bit of a difference with adherence, though not much. 

 

 

They do, however spray very well at a lower pressure than normal and that is built up with thin coats. It was left to dry over the weekend, and I found that it could still be removed using the remover that come in the box. I was going to use that as a base for more washes but I'll have to give it a coat of varnish first otherwise I fear it all coming off. I may well take a bit more off first allowing a bit of the livery to show through, I'll have to find a suitable pic to work from. 

 

 

[sb67]

I've weathered the inside of this hopper using Humbrol enamel washes and MIG powders. 

 

 

 

[sb67]

I've been spending way too much time on the wagon interiors but I can't seem to be satisfied with them. I've not found too many photos of hopper interiors. I like the first Dogfish I did but that's not like any pic I've seen! 

The few Seacow photos I've seen have a definitive line between where the ballast was filled to.  

 

 

I'll keep messing around with washes and powders until I'm happy. 

 

[Enterprisingwestern]

 

One idea I had for the tide mark in hoppers, when I get round to it that is, was to apply a wet varnish line and sprinkle talc on, don't know if it would work, but seems like a worthwhile trial at least.

 

Mike.

[sb67]

I did a trial with some talcum powder and after cleaning up the mess I'd made, decided the texture was a bit coarse for my liking, so I re sprayed the insides then tried again with the dust wash, looks no better to me that my first efforts! 

I might try and add some dybrushing with rust colours but I don't want to overdo that.

My other half has said they look dusty, so maybe I'm getting there!