rs4

You have to hand it to Dapol this time Jack......seriously good model for a seriously good price.... I've applied weathered black to the end of the chutes and a bit of frame dirt. Some frame dirt around the chutes before reassembling. They now look like this with the painted chutes: Appreciate the likes and comments, have been very focused on these the past few days ... Then you wonder where the 4 day weekend went !

Right, so I've bitten the bullet on painting the chutes: Plus painted the end doors: There's some WILD weather outside today....

Hi Mick Agreed on those buffer shanks, definitely black. The doors ... I can see me having to do them as well ! Meanwhile.... I think that the hopper chutes are green, while the bottom doors are black. Sure I read that in a review and I've checked photos as well. Read cream for the cream wagons. So here is one with the chutes painted green on the top half - easy enough to do, just whip off the bottom plastic moulding. Think I'll mask them up and airbrush..... Now where is that masking tape ??

I felt a right heathen purchasing LNER green for the touch up this afternoon at the local train shop..... James...yep, have to honest I was thinking this morning.... I've bitten off more than I can chew here..... Luckily I've made good progress today. TBA on whether they will be luggable by a 66...

Productive morning here. Have rusted innards and also given a once over with a mixture of concrete and white: Bogie side frames weathered black then some frame dirt: Same for the wheels: A loosely reassembled wagon, the innards stand out nicely and the bogies look a lot better: Next up the weathering of the body and under frame, then some hand weathering using enamels and white spirit. Need some Freightliner green to repair the marks where those Rams have been removed etc. Cheers, Nick

Let's hope nobody from Dapol is looking eh ? Would really like to get the innards sprayed today....means masking them all up.....

Good spot Mick. Yeah, I that had dawned on me. I'll either "gloss" over that.... Or make some up and stick on. They are very small and just moulded on rather than being separate.

Just confirming.... At each end there is a lamp bracket, one end only this has a hole for the fake tail lamp to plug in. So.... Wagons without a tail lamp in the rake won't have a tail lamp but will have an unprotoypical hole present. I've just filled up the holes with green putty (and grey for the white ones). Hopefully a bit of weathering in the area will cover that up......

You know, I haven't actually played trains for over a year.... ... It's gonna need a serious track clean. Really must start using it again, so bear with me...

Ok, so I've removed the Dapol coupling hook and replaced with a Hornby X5069. Just needed the hole opening out a bit. Pipes stuck on. I've added an express models flashing tail lamp and used the hole provided by Dapol to run the wires through. Hole drilled through diecast chassis to get wires into payload area for circuit board. That needs glueing in place along with the wires so they don't foul the bogie swivelling. I assume the holes kindly provided for the tail lamps need filling on the other wagons.

Thanks Ess1uk.... Really struggling for modelling motivation... Time.... Wheels coated black.....hate shiny wheels..... Airbrush tomorrow after masking up....could take some time......

Phase 1 with the Dapol HIAs... Dismantling. Gonna paint the wheels black (outer faces done, axle and inner face later on) then a light spray of frame dirt and maybe the odd bit of white. The bogies I'm gonna apply the same principle, black first then frame dirt. I will be taking them all apart as per Mick Bs post so I can mask off and spray with rust Planning on a loaded set too, have some suitable limestone looking material from our water filter at home.

Rob, it's a new amalgam - mainly consisting of oxygen....

I've taken a look at mine today with the view to fitting a flashing tail lamp. They come apart VERY easily which is a bonus. Lots of space for the circuit board and battery and no issues on running the wires. Easy enough to put extra weight in..... Finally the bogies, yes they are the clip in type and they can be a bit tight.... Some of the spigots may need a delicate trim. Cheers, Nick

George is certainly still making his kits. You are pretty much limited to ordering from him and payment tends to be via cheque etc

Are we all convinced that the video isn't a "Wallace and Gromit" moment... Take one wagon off, put it on the end of the train... Repeat ; )

Curious that they are numbered underneath. ?

Ha ! Unable to bring myself to open it...

Cameras broken folks ???

What a lovely little project the RNA is.... So quick !

Hi Yep.... Tumble weed continues to blow past my house.... General lack of time, motivation to complete the multiple projects I have on the go or in my head ! Coming to a close on my attempt on 3 NR coaches. They certainly aren't the best, but I have learned from the project: 1. Be careful not to remove detail that can help you later on - eg: the rain gutters I guess they would be called - over zealous sanding loses these then you've got a problem with the cantrail application - makes it harder to do. The definition between the roof grey and the coach side yellow is also an issue. 2. Yellow paint. Ain't easy to apply, get the depth required. Involves multiple coats with drying time, the correct paint consistency and spraying distance. 3. NR coaches appear to be particularly awkward due to their ever changing nature, every photo you look at has a difference. So I'm glossing over the prototype detail and going for a more generic look ! Anyway, I could go on. Any future versions should be better ? Cantrail applied one side, NR transfers from some I had before (think they are slightly too small). Numbers are rub on ones for locos, so too big. Thought I'd have a go on a RNA his morning. I'd give it a 1/10 for difficulty if anyone is planning on doing one. The Genesis insert has been used. Managed to salvage the pipes on one side during dismantling and with a filing of the insert it fits a treat. I'll prime and paint black this afternoon. With a few transfers that's a VERY EASY wagon to modify. Really must make more effort and do moooooorrrrreeeeee modelling... Cheers Nick

Problem is: Drax will need a cut / profit. Hornby need a cut / profit. Hattons will have a handling fee. All that doesn't translate into £40 a wagon. I'm assuming "anyone" could do the wagons in the unliveried version before they got their vinyls ?

Just to confirm. I was in London yesterday and visited the shop. The email was totally wrong - they aren't in stock and still aren't expected until the summer. No idea what happened there, but the lady I spoke to rang the depot to check and advise them that their email wording was incorrect.

Picture the scene, I'm standing on the bank at Toton, collecting prototype photos. I spot this beaut and who do I think of ??? Yep, you Mr M. All the best for 2016. May it be a very grubby year.

Have you considered using the BCA cradles by Genesis ?