trw1089

Peppercorn A1 would be the biggest omission for me.

All good here John, very few cases in our state but a big outbreak down south has us a bit concerned. The work from home thing has been a boon for my modelling though, no travel and knocking off around 5ish means lots of time for the layouts you’ve seen on my thread. Re the weathering, to be honest I really prefer 1401 to 5801 because it really highlights the detail well and has enough variety to keep the eye interested. Factory weathering is just too uniform usually. One of the things I try to do is make every “panel” slightly different as it was a trick I learnt from a 3D artist who worked for a software company as it keeps the eye “busy”. That might mean differences in sheen, marks on the boiler or tanks, fire irons etc. For 5801 I think the flat look all over is what still makes it not quite as good as 1401. Maybe a coat of floor polish on the tanks, cab sides and bunker might help, but as always, if you have a pic of a similar tank engine, that is the best guide. In the end though, the result you have got from resurrection of the Dapol version is one you should be very satisfied with! Cheers Tony

Hi Mike Thanks for that. I might leave it then if that’s ok as it seems a bit of a waste to put such a great body on the older Bachmann chassis which wouldn’t even be worth the 25 quid. I’ll have to stick with the Finney one I haven’t yet put together. thanks very much for investigating though and sorry for wasting your time. Cheers Tony

Silk purse and all that John, well done! The weathering you’ve done on the recent ones certainly looks the part. Cheers Tony

Hi Mike If it is still possible, and you are willing to post to Australia, could I order a Bachmann chassis one. No problems if not. kind regards Tony

Against Wakefield Trinity? Someone I work with has a partner who used to play there, but I think this prose by a young Wakefield lad says it all

From what I understand it is either 95 or 114 arches depending on whether you count the ones that go under the station. It certainly is better looking towards the city, but it would’ve been nice to have a view of the cooling towers in the background somehow. cheers Tony

Thanks Simon I’m glad that you can recognise the building in the pic, as it means that it is at least recognisable as Westgate. I need to tidy up the image more in Photoshop and backdate it now to get rid of the modern buildings and widen Westgate itself, otherwise I’m really happy with how it looks, not precise, but able to indicate that it is Wakefield. Meanwhile, I have been working to create the famous viaduct coming into Westgate. Not all 99 arches though, but as a nod to Dave Shakespeare, just 3. When he asked me once via PM if I was going to recreate the 99 arches, I said I could only fit 3 or 4 arches, he replied: Only four arches! Hell mate you live in Australia, I visited Peaks Crossing out near Ipswich so I know you can travel for a week and still be in the same scenery so you've got plenty of space to model the whole viaduct. But take heart, I've got an article somewhere that counts the arches and over bridges and I think there are actually only about 95 or so. Get building you ######! Regards Whinging Pom. So here’s a few arches for you Dave!

I do love the stretched streak. I was looking to build one but with a number of loco kits accrued now, I think it might be a Hornby job. Still need to figure out which Thompson pacific I’m allowed too given the upcoming releases, or should I just get another Peppercorn A1, they’re a safe bet. Decisions, decisions...

And a very nice plonk it is!

Thanks John Im not exactly sure what it was, I think offices but haven’t been able to find out. I have sort of assumed that it might have been linked to the building behind it and may have also had some sort of manufacturing but more research is needed. Until a few weeks ago I had no photos to speak of to work from, but some gold dust popped up on a Wakefield historical group on Facebook and I snared these two B&W pics. Cheers Tony

Also, a couple of fill in buildings to finish off the built up area. Hopefully these are the last of the kitbashes for now, as I’m itching to get back to railway stuff.

Building progress has been continuing of late with this representation of Milne House as per the B&W pics. This was directly across Westgate from the station so have been adding details to make it a bit of a “hero” building that helps to match up to the detail of the station building.

Glad everything is ok with your eyes Gilbert. Lovely photos of late, both historical and model. Plenty of B17s too which always makes life better I find.

Such exotic locos up north Eric, and all look superb too.

While I applaud St Enodoc’s nomination of Tornado and wholeheartedly agree with his sentiment, sticking with historical accuracy I have to vote for the V2, such a superb, hardworking, elegant machine.

The Scarborough Flyer for me. Always liked the name as slightly anachronistic and clever, given it was probably marketed more to Joe Public than other trains, so wasn't an "express".

As a bit of a break between buildings I’ve been installing two semaphore signals. These are LMS Dapol jobbies that have had their internal boards replaced with MERG kits to allow them to be used for on/off operation through switches on the Modratec lever frame. I did have a GNR tubular post MSE signal here but it failed as the etchings are too weak for sustained operation. I’ve since learned how to strengthen them but the Dapol LMS pegs are very similar to the GNR ones and once I modify these ones with different platforms and ladder arrangements, they will be close enough for me. The will also get some weathering so the don’t stand out as much. I realize these aren’t the same as building your own, but I’m aiming for operation as well as looks and I wanted a reliable lit signal that would respond to the lever frame properly.

Another vote here for the recent plonks, I’m enjoying them all, but the one of that water tank, just wow! That is one hell of a structure and shows Peter’s immense skills.

Great to see the Mickey Mouse, John, and also good to see the Super D still behaving itself. That last B&W shot is fantastic! Cheers Tony

Thanks Simon Yes, John and Peter’s book is a bit of a bible for me and John continues to be very helpful with my research and planning. cheers Tony

Passenger type 5 has to be a Deltic in two tone green with small yellow warning panels, any of them in that scheme but D9003 Meld was the first diesel I ever had a model of and someone even put a light in it for me, so was by far my favourite when I was 5 years old. Type 5 freight would have to be a class 60, love the shape of them. cheers Tony

Have to go with a Western after seeing and hearing Western Champion when I was in Blighty one time. Love the cropped shot of the B17, Gilbert. Any shot with a B17 has to be a good one! Cheers Tony

Lovely shots of the Ivatts, John. I have a soft spot for them after traveling behind 41241 on the Worth Valley and weathering a few for my LMS inflicted friend as can be seen below. I like hearing about your workings on Granby too, everything has a purpose. Cheers Tony

Hi Dean Yes, Peco’s labeling leaves one a bit confused. The doors and windows one has guttering and others bits and bobs which I’ve found useful, the roof one has slate and tar paper roofs and chimneys which were also handy. Cheers Tony