Leaderboard

That's a striking livery. For the 1920s, you could even do this

Indeed I have seen the Facebook page. I thought about doing a paddle steamer in the foreground but didn’t for the sake of space accuracy. I’m thinking it’s going to be 1924-1925ish, do to the more attractive liveries. (Gloss black tanks boiler and cab, gloss red frames and everything else, with bits of brass, seem here on the preserved Fowler “Zambezi”)

I use either Tamiya Semi-Gloss Clear (X-35 thinned 50-50 with X-20A Thinners) or XF-86 Flat Clear (again thinned the same way). Though the flat clear is quite satin, to get it truly flat you can use Rapid Thinners.

That square is actually factory made and was given to me when I started work as an apprentice over 30 years ago, so has a nice patina to it from all the work.

Well a few years ago I discovered a website called http://www.internationalsteam.co.uk/internat.htm which is basically a catalog of all the working and preserved steam engines in underdeveloped countries, including a large section on java sugar mills. Then in November I got a book on John Fowler and Co, Leeds, who built ploughing engines and locomotives for the Sena Sugar estates. I googled the estates because I hadn’t heard of them, and found this Flickr account https://www.flickr.com/photos/geoff-cooke/albums/72157627510045128/. I’ll link a video of a mill in Bengal to show what it would be like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LJS14S8uV0

Well, you're right, Gordon. They are the full-width bearings, as supplied with the kit and I happily assembled the whole thing 'as per the instructions'. I may even have some of his slimmer bearings somewhere, but once the hornblocks were soldered on and with the presence of the springs, it's not possible to change them. If I'd known about this prior to soldering in the hornblocks, I'd certainly have filed the full-width bearings down sufficiently, if I hadn't been able to access any of the slimmer ones.

That square looks like a school made example just like mine still in my tool box fifty years later, although the toffee hammer, screwdriver, scriber, dot punch and chisel have long since departed through the mists of time. Kevin

Very nice Mikkel! A really characterful addition to your wagon fleet and a nice contrast to the GWR stock. That "v" shaped scraper looks like it will be a very handy instrument for scribing planking. I have to agree with Mike, this is a fine example of scratch building! Best wishes Dave

That's turned out very nice Mikkel - Must be very satisfying to have built and detailed your own sides and although you mention the paint job I think the overall result is very compelling - another enjoyable visual read