Uries15

Hi Everybody. I've been away from this forum page on the subject of GBL Models for sometime now. Looking back now in the mists of time concerning GBL models, The City Of Truro model was released. Ok it did have its issues! But it has lent itself to some conversion possibilities. Having looked through some documents and paperwork here at home, I have found something that may be of interest circa 1968! The article is from an Airfix magazine from 1968 and the Article was titled 'Flowers' and 'Atbaras'.A nice article, as the work looks very simple to do on a conversion of the Kitmaster/ Airfix and anybody else that borrowed this mould!! Good use of a very sharp knife and car filler, oh yes also 'k's spare chimney part! Looks like it will lend its self to the GBL model chop up! So if anybody is interested I will gladly scan these pages and you too could have a laugh over this one! Please contact me and I will send you the Scans etc. Uries15

On subject of things to do with GBL models , I have found a spare 45xx. Still in box and sealed but no magazine, think this magazine may have been passed onto to another model maker for the reference photos. I know some of the magazines were very difficult to get hold of . Does anybody out there want to buy my spare 45xx? Please pm me. Many thanks as always. Uries15.

Also try Colour Matches for Halfords Rattle Cans published in 2011, on RMweb by members requiring info. Scroll down page and the more updated list is there. Hope this helps you out. Uries15.

Hello to all again. Have checked 'Great Bulbous Lumps' site in small hours of this morning, before nipping out to work. Here it is issue 41! 'The Locomotion No 1'. Cannot wait to see if anybody would like to try and put a motor in this one!! Think it could be a rather unique display model though? The big question here is? Is this really it now for this series?? Issue 41 a very odd number to finish on? Will be glad now to stop plodding down the shops or forever searching around the UK on my job looking for spare ones to cut up and modify.!!?? Also miss the famous now quote from 'Smiffs', " oh we don't sell that anymore". Series will be sadly missed. Has anybody else looked at all of these models and the spare ones and how much it cost us all in the end? A very enjoyable series through to what could be the final issue? I will be keeping in touch with all that have liked my work, so a big thanks to all. Uries15

Hi Railroad bill, Nice to hear from you again. In answer to your question about the Matt Paint. It was Humbrol Matt paint. No airbrush here though!!. Brand new tin straight from my mates model shop. Sprayed approx. foot and a half away on first pass of varnish. Then re spayed it about an hour later, used a turntable(old computer monitor stand) to turn round on second and third pass, this was about a foot away? Got to get this right , in the past some Humbrol Matt has had satin sheen after spraying. Just does not look right. Make sure can has had the best shake you can give it! Uries15

Yes, it can be opened up again with an old broken blade of a swiss army knife! Just the right thickness to slide between body work and chassis.There a four lugs which I have disguised by painting. All four are the original lugs on Mainline chassis, below drivers doors on model. Because I have used cyno and impact adhesive there is some flexibility. Uries15

Hi Horsetan, Fully agree with your comments on 'cut and shut'. I have used wet and dry the very finest to achieve the results and a good snug fit to chassis. You cannot get as the old saying says a 'fag' paper in between bodywork and the donor Mainline chassis. I have got the photos of both Gbl model and the Mainline models with both noses end cut off, in my saved file on this project. Its very difficult to get perfect match where parts have been cut off and reattached . The new nose fronts have been attached with cyno and a heavy duty adhesive. I took photos all the way along on this model as it was useful to see where faults lie before spraying model. I used a very small amount of Humrol filler to banish any other small problems.The weathering of this diesel I hope will cover up some of the minor glitches in the body work curves that I have missed etc.!!I?? Uries15

Hello to all, Talking of GBL diesel jobs!! Yes, its been a while since I was last posting my thread on the RMweb. In my last couple of messages I mentioned the GBL 'Peak' class 44/45 that I have been working on in the background. Well here it is today ,ok its not for the purist or the rivet counter! But I am quite happy with the outcome. I have very limited time to do my modelling now due to work commitments.So this locomotive has been a very long time coming!! Main problem is the 'cut and shut' . Nose Parts salvaged from an old Mainline model, as is the chassis!!. Its a very tight fit on chassis frame. It needed very fine tuning and filling in places. There is also an incredible amount of steel plates and lead weight that give this model traction and grip on the rails. The donor Mainline 'Peak' chassis and a very bad body was bought of 'Ebay' for about £13.00. Chopped off parts were taken off almost straight away.This included roof vents and other fittings around the fan end of locomotive. The Gbl model has these fittings moulded onto their model but they just do not look right.? Had several major problems with this model as it was dropped twice after painting!! All very annoying!!.The main body work is sprayed in Halfords Rover Brooklands Green.This was leftover paint from Gbl 45xx project. You cannot see the damage caused now as the model was stripped twice in affected areas. The main grill area on the diesel sides were originally white throughout.These looked bizarre so I re sprayed these again in Halfords Brookland Green and then got out the trusty bow pen, lining out grill area. The model at present has been sprayed over with matt varnish. This is due to fact that it will be weathered. I have already started this as this procedure. The decals are a mixture of SMS , Pressfix and Modelmaster . Front detailing was out of spares box . All pipe work and couplings are off a spares for class 26. Plus Dart Casting hoses set. The main buffer beams which replaced the incorrect buffer fitting on original model are from 'wagonbasher' parts on ebay. Se Finecast windows are trimmed and fitted, these were an absolute pain to attach to body work. I have placed inside bodywork before refitting some cover panels. There are now also support formers that cover the motor assembly up as the interior could be seen through Finecast windows. Placed in front of one of these formers is a driver figure. Last fittings were Shawplan windscreen wipers just to finish off locomotive. Cost of this project really wasn't that much in the end. Modelmaster transfers to the longest part to arrive and fit. The rest was mainly from the spares box! I have included the before and after shot as these models now look completely different. My converted Gbl model came from Birkenhead and the original one comes from Portsmouth. Big thanks to Brian also for his input into this project. If any body would like some other photos or a file on how this was all put together, please pm me. Thanks

Ok smiffy2. No problems there then. I am in Weybridge everyday of the week. May have been some use to anybody who wanted one.??

Hi to all again. Very quick notes here from me on this occasion. I noticed on post (#4734) from jonhall that there was a request for a Gbl 8F for somewhere to purchase in the SW London/ Surrey area. I do not know if he had some success? Passing through Weybridge today approx 11am I looked in Smiffs in the High Street Weybridge there was one left. You may have all remembered that I put out a message saying that Smiffs there in Weybridge were not going to do this magazine anymore. It would seem that they have now started selling the GBL magazine again? I may drop back in there tomorrow and enquire if the series will still be sold, and now been seen out to bitter end!!??? (jonhall) If still interested please PM me, thanks. Before I leave this page tonight I have added a photo of the 8f I obtained last night. My model and magazine is now put by fortnightly at my local post office shop. They came to my rescue when I could not get hold of a previous issue of Gbl . However, somebody else now orders theirs there too. They got there before me and had first 'dipping's' at these items. I got left with the duff one.! Engine and boiler were straight though. But tender was not screwed to cast chassis and you can see the awful 'strange' paint job on the main wheels! I still went ahead and purchased this model as it was salvageable. Loads of screws left over from the 'Peak' conversion job. My wife was amazed as I got it straight home and stripped model down! She screamed at me " you have only just bought that model, and you are breaking it up already "! Fortunately for me the model was dismantled very quickly and a very quick pass of Halfords Grey Primer and later last night Halfords Matt Black was used. To get near match in Black I lightly shook can so you have a semi matt finish. To blend in the tyres on this model it will me a mix of Tamiya Metallic Grey and Black. Second Photo shows Matt Black applied. I hope to publish Peak model later in next few weeks. Will have to pass it past a couple of people first!!!!?

Hello again from me. I've been contacted over the past few months(pm'd) by many other visitors to this thread of the Gbl models.This is to carry on with the thread sometime back of what happened to the bits salvaged from the two 45XXs I used to make the one decent one!! Well I chopped the wheel set up off one of them and got a decent 0-6-0 chassis to fit a static J94 model. This locomotive will be for the for the 'rear, of the layout area scene, possibly on scrap or in shed area? . I've taken other photographs of how I achieved this one and may publish on another day if there is interest in the finished model?? Will tell you all , Homebase circular saw and a sharp one at that, has lost all its teeth and is now a flat disc.!! The J94 body is an ex Dapol factory second that was never sent out by them due to burnt out motor on testing!! I asked for spare parts to work on and was sent this item free of charge. Measurements for the chassis were copied from the old Airfix J94 model. Yes its all in there and never been built. I just got the measurements right with use of this kit, so it wasn't riding to high on chassis. Detailing has already taken place with use of already drilled holes for handrail wires and a Crownline brass new funnel has been fitted where original missing from Dapol was missing!! To be fitted to front buffer beam believe it or not will be a large steam Westinghouse pump!! I have several photos of McMurdo on the Longmoor Military Railway. Thinking of copying this style although the 45 degree handrails will have to come off front of locomotive. Also large pipe runs down right hand side of locomotive from cab. Think this will look good in LMR colours, as I also have several other locomotives in this colour scheme. Also included in this thread are two other locomotive that might take peoples interest? The models are now difficult to get hold of . The WD model inspired a modeller, who I am in touch with in Australia to finish his model off!! Rowanj s models with different chassis gave me the idea to publish these photos today as the chassis for both the latter models are odd to say the least. The E4 which is a rare Deans Sidings super detailed model is on a Bachmann model chassis. The whole chassis frame was turned round the other way to fit and was difficult to get working.!! The W.D is a McGowen model fitted to a Jouef Mikado chassis very carefully chopped to fit. An absolute pain to get working well, possibly one of the most fiddly jobs I have done so far?? Both Dean Siding model and McGowens are super detailed anybody that has one of these and would like some advice and photos of the build please PM me. These models may wet your appetites as I doubt if Gbl would make them ever. As I don't know if any of the listed ones will still make it now. Anybody interested Chichester Smiffs had a Std 4 this past Sunday is wasn't that bad either.

Carrying on from my last thread. News is that T9 and C Class purchased today for moving on by me as buyer wants these. All that is now left in shop is the A3 Flying Scotsman model . The V2 Green Arrow and one last Class 45 Peak. King and Caley gone now sorry to say. Before I go again, has the Weathering Man really gone??????? Looks like he really has thrown his 'toys 'out of the pram!! AH Diddums!!!

My first entry for 2015!! Just had time to catch up on this thread on the on going saga of GBL Magazine! All as usual very interesting and has given me more taste for the future on these products.(That's if you can still get them!!??). I have been very lucky with obtaining these items on a fortnightly basis. Although think my luck may be running out down here in the South. It appears that the magazine is getting fewer by the issue. Also getting incredibly difficult to get hold of??As I have mentioned in my previous threads that the quality of some of models has been a lot to be desired!! Latest issue the superb Std4 Model was an example at Smiffs in Weybridge Surrey was terrible, great big hole in side of tender due to very bad moulding and it appeared that somebody had lost control of printing process as there was red lining paint scribbled in a very strange pattern on tender and boiler bands!! Not at all sure what had gone wrong with their quality control (that's of course if they had any)!! So of course I didn't buy that one.!! However, several hundreds of miles later and several shops telling me that "we don't sell that anymore" I went to my final port of call and managed to get two. I was very impressed as both of the models were 100% better than the first I looked at. The main reason for buying two was to change one of my old Mainline models to the larger tender type and to repaint the other as 76017 based at Mid Hants Railway. Why I have done this? I had done work with this locomotive in the 1980s and early 1990s and also fired this locomotive. To wet your appetites I have enclosed photograph taken at Ropley in 1989. You will see the difference to this area now as there is a platform where water crane is in this photograph. As for what now appears now to be a diminishing supply of GBL Magazines and Models, I have however found in one shop a box of GBL products. Some had been returned to newsagents as customer just didn't like the item or had gone straight to Amercom and ordered them at Ringwood. So if people are lacking some models from their collections? I can get at present the following models, although not to sure about some of the magazines but I can only but try?? The models are:- A3, V2,T9, C CLASS, and 2 X Peaks, think there may have been a Caley/King also hidden in box?? Anybody interested, I maybe able to get these over next couple of weeks. Please feel free to PM me. On subject of Stephenson's Rocket model, I may not require this model so I feel there maybe a swop coming up?? Before ending this thread today , my workbench has another GBL conversion coming on, its the Class 45 Peak model which I will be converting back to class 44 using Craftsman parts. Lets see what can be achieved here??

(GBL) 45XX with extras!! Seasons greetings everybody,or in my case a bit of the bah humbug!! Couple of my threads ago I said I was trying to sort out the hash offering of the GBL 45xx model to add to my collection. Well, here attached are photos of the nearly finished item. Its not to bad a model now really, although the flash on my camera has brightened things up!! Green looks a bit loud!! For this model upgrade I have used two GBL 45xxs, reason being the awful gaps between the boiler parts and where the smokebox saddle sits between the main steam pipes running to piston area. As you can see in comparison to original model in photo, mine has been completely stripped down and rebuilt. The smokebox saddle after some tweaking after repaint has been well and truly secured. On rebuild there were many problem areas and plenty of filling with Humbrol filler. One of the most difficult things I found was getting the GWR decals off the original model they kept on showing up under light coat of primer. After using model stripper I achieved this and tidied up with very fine wet and dry. Quick pass again over with Halfords Grey primer. This whole model was sprayed with a light coat of primer and showed any bad areas that required attention. Once I was happy with body and other parts.I then sprayed whole footplate and buffer beam area in Chaos Black. Also pistons. Halfords Matt Black was used for wheels and Tamiya X7 for buffer beams. Parts from scrap box added here are 4 x City Of Truro (kitmaster and airfix) buffer parts ,these I remade so they were slightly shorter, as they looked better this way. Pug and Truro hooks (kitmaster and airfix). SE Finecast lamp irons fitted in correct GWR manner. Markits and Springside vacuum pipes.(for display there will be W H three screw link couplings added). Sandboxes under cab are old airfix std 4 parts neatly trimmed off old frame airfix frame and reshaped to correct style. Springside pipe parts are also added under here too, next to steps to into cab. City of Truro's (kitmaster) backhead has been trimmed down and fitted in cab to give extra detail. Body was filled where required and cleaned up, again a quick pass of Halfords Grey primer then a light coat of Matt Black. Funnel brass work was removed and drilled out prior to painting as was the funnel into smokebox.. Refitted after green painted areas done.Tamiya masking tape covered the smokebox and then light coat of Halford Rover Brooklands Green paint added. Real coal added to coal bunker. Also left hand lamp under bunker top as modelled by GBL has been painted red on rear of loco. This would mean I can leave this displayed anyway round on layout in any direction. HMRS pressfix transfers, these are over twenty years old are the BR Cycling Lions on both sides of locomotive. Smokebox door number is made up from very old SMS numbers, these are over thirty plus years old added for detail. Shed number is from Modelmaster . Got to try and put in number of last shed this Loco was allocated in before scrapping. Not sure if I will get the time to line out this model, but I think it passes muster as it is??. May dull down paint work at later date too?? Item presently displayed on original base. There is an error again here by GBL!! Model described as GWR 45xx Number 5542 on base but look closely at original model you will see in fact its number 5528. This is why I modelled this locomotive!! Almost as good as why they have used an Eastern Region Area (32A) Norwich (Thorpe) smokebox door plate for the GWR 'King' model in latest issue of their mag!! Just thought I would add that before signing off for this year!!??!!!!!!!??????

Hi everyone. Have just got hold of the T9 model that I let Nighthawk know about from Weybridge Surrey area. Anybody interested in this item?? Reading the threads, some have not got this item and or could not get one on their travels or hasn't turned up from GBL. Item and magazine in very good order, 'garage door ' attachment a bit tatty!!! Please let me know if you want this item. You can (pm) me through normal channels. Normal cost of magazine, and postage will be approx £4 on top to send? Off to get the King tomorrow. Again if there are spare one after a couple of days will let you all know.