M.I.B

I have always re-read your modelling posts to extract every scrap of detail, but the POLLEN one will get read a few times more - mainly  because there is one sat at home awaiting my return.

Where did you get those securing chains?

I think I will be using a pair of Dublo turntable sides/girders for a load.  I won't need any liquid gravity then.

Best wishes from the sand.

Incidently I'd like to do a double header with City of Truro but what with ?

 The Bachmann Dukedog wearing TP&P numbers and plates..............

Oh - sorry it's still not here yet.

That's what 57XXs are for   

Hi MIB,

 

you seem to have heard the same advice I have - Upol Acid 8 etch primer was going to be my primer of choice!

 

I have taken a few pictures of the real things at Didcot and there are a few minor details I am going to add (because I can!) but they look the absolute business.

 

All the best,

 

Castle

Having spent 20+ years restoring and racing cars as a hobby before making the change this year back to modelling, primer and prep is something I do know about. 

Acid etch works well on metal.  I have never tried it on plastics.  I think it will be too harsh.  UPol's plastic primer IIRC is the equivalent, but is formulated for 99.99% of plastic substances.

Sorry I am not able to lay my hands on either primer out here, otherwise I would have used to sprue for a side by side test.

TY for the explanation of the ballast loads.

I also have a pair of Pollen E's to sort when I get home.  Painting looks a little different to the norm - see the piece on the Ebay page of this forum - some one has explained how to get paint to stick to this odd 3d printed medium.

I was going to use UPol plastic primer and then Railmatch spray over that. 

Brilliant.  Good to see you back in the saddle. 

Term over - more modelling and Big Didcot time?

What do you use as ballast in those wagons?

I sat here all day, no show. Rang him again this morning, he claimed an emergency, but will definitely call today. I sit here again, and once more so far no show. Clearly he doesn't have any financial problems or need the work.

 My "pet" plumber and builder are like this because they are so good at what they do.  They have no need to advertise and getting a "slot" for a job is like getting a good table at the Ivy.  However, mine usually phone when they can't make it. or have been called away to an emergency.   Take this as a positive sign.

I am not a fan of diesel layouts, especially when the words 'traction" and TMD are involved, because most of them are just sheds with lots of sound locos plonked in front in a "look what I have got" style.

But this is very very different.  Detail, depth and quality.  Well done, especially for modelling things which get missed like pylons.  And I am envious of the scenic'd fiddle yard - the finish on that alone is better than may layouts.

One comment - the 1940s "pill-box" needs to be rotated 180 degrees - the firing slits would have afforded at least a 100m uninterrupted vision.  Yours are 10 feet away from a 1930s house.  Spin it round and it could be covering down an unseen canal, or covering some once open wasteland now covered in Wimpey/Barratt/Persimmon boxes.

Shame they didn't get them into the shops before ModelZone started selling things at up to 50% off...

I only ever saw Hornby group stuff in Modelzone.

Noel,

I am sure that there would be plenty of people who would build it for the challenge and to display even without running it.  The idea of 2 bogies and two sets of drawings for the 2 types of centre section (s) for the buyer to finish is a great one.

Oddly enough I was on the Bachmann website last night for something else and noticed the revised date of Dec 13.

Since seeing the Coral being built in Castle's thread when building his Didcot group of wagons, coaches and locos, I've been looking out for one on the proverbial on-line auction site and elsewhere but to no avail.

 

I would have thought a new model of one of these would sell well and is completely unique currently in the 4mm arena.

I know there is a 7mm etched kit but I've been told it is not suitable for reduction to 4mm because of the style of construction.

 

Unless someone else has an old K's Coral I can purchase?

 

Thanks

Ken Fenner

I second this  ( but would also love a large CROCODILE.)

Noel,

Despite the rubbish talked on the Ebay thread, a gi-normous pat on the back to you for getting off the glutimous-maximous, and having these things created.

Price - fair.

Detail - outstanding

"Fills a hole in the market" = 11/10

What's next? - one of the very large CROCODILEs please...........  preferably the one with the well rather than the girder.

I've got one on order too.  Interesting to hear from the first builder. 

I won't be home for months yet, so it won't be me.

There are some great photos on the "Ebay" sub-forum of RM Web.  They deserve to be here.  Someone has made a great job of a pair, with painting tips included.

Brilliant.

 I don't want to overdo it and make it too cluttered, if that makes sense!

 Prefer the plinth for the crane.  Looks great.  It does need clutter and clutter is no cliche - things in the middle of open spaces "attract" clutter and people.

I'll be keeping my K's though my Earl order still stands as a quick fix for Tre pol & Pen (Just watch Kernow go for that one now!)

 

Mike Wiltshire

I already have the plates sat at home courtesy of Jackson Evans.  Ordered them the same day that I ordered the Dukedog.

My pre-order still stands too.

I'd still rather have this with what I consider to be minor "issues" than a very narrow range of traction and rolling stock that was totally perfect and unaffordable to most of us.

Brave of Bachmann to persevere and broaden the GW RTR range.  We have had a fair few Halls and Castles and Kings since I first started modelling, and if you compare the detail on this to the last "different" RTR classes such as the Dean Goods, Granges and Manors of the Mainline era, this is manufactured to such a higher standard of detail.

Each to their own.  For those who like finescale and ultra perfect detail, go find the Martin Finney version, and make it, and for those of us who like a little modification to our RTR and who use license in varying quantities, this is a very welcome new addition to the stable.

Glad to see that the mojo is back.  I lost my hobby car mojo big time last year and made the decision to sell up at Christmas.    I am now moved into a new house and totally "fun" carless, but much happier. 

Sadly it looks like I won't make your tour in July.  My recent UK break was almost fully taken up by moving into the new house, but I did manage to sneak a day on what used to be the SVR when I went to go and see the old and wrinklies.  Didcot in November I think............

That picture has brightened up my day immensely.  Many thanks.

PS, and your damp is today our snow.

nearly 30C, very very sunny - and a badly sunburnt face to deal with at present.  This is pay back for Feb and March in Budapest, Calgary and Ottawa where I go sick of the sight of snow.

Just heard from Liverpool........latest arrival time is now September/October 2013

Thanks for the update.

I have a black Anthony Manor - not sure if AM was ever black but I got 2 in a deal and a black engine seemed like a good idea.  I an  now pondering about turning my second Collett 0-6-0 black as well - this was an Ebay bargain due to some clown daubing it with tan paint and calling that "weathering".

As for black GW locos to fool German parachutists.............  I'm sure Fritzy had lots to learn about before memorizing the railway company engine colours.  Also you do get a bit of drift when you static line parachute, but not enough to blow you from GW country to the land of Teak and Apple Green............

John, as always I'm impressed by the scale and expanse of your latest masterpiece, all of a piece with the rest.

 

As to colour of the water cranes etc engine sheds were grimy places at their best so nondescript darkish gray would, I suggest, be most representative.

I disagree - there is a post somewhere on here regarding GW water cranes.  In GW and BR (W)  days, they were painted a number of different versions of the same colour scheme and the photos presented on the post showed this.  Regardless of how grubby everything was, the colours and paint scheme are obvious.

No idea what colour an LNWR crane would be though.

I've done some notes on the Dukedog, hopefully to wrap up variations and thoughts encapsulated in this thread.

 

Btw, if anyone has got a decent pic of 9017 (preferably in black) to donate that I could use as a header pic, I'd be grateful.

Many thanks for sharing your hard work.

The base for the Shed looks great.  Again - inspirational. thanks for sharing.