jolt5

My return 2 years later... Surprise!! Here's the nearly finished wagons I started some 2 years ago. A recent return to the hobby has spurred me to get them done! I have a few other projects to finish too! Sorry about the wait!

A little progress has been made on my Dapol 16 ton wagons. Looking at prototype pictures from the usual sources i decided on the way i would attempt this project. I have built one first and ill follow up with the other 3 later. I gave the firtst wagon a base of a dark brown colour. following this I then assembled the wagon. A fairly basic lit compared to the tanks and aircraft i've built in the past but no less enjoyable. From here i then gave it 2 coats of matt varnish and a coat of Humboldt 140 to represent unfitted grey. Once dry i used a scalpel to remove the top coat of grey and leave paint scratches with the rust showing. I followed this with a light dry brushing of yellow and orange to blend the rust colour however i don't know if i like the look this gave. I finished the body with a coat of black wash. I may add another one yet to tone it down once decals have been applied. Finally this is my first conversion project ever. I decided for a low risk modification and that i would change one of the wagons to the re-bodied version (https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brmineralweld) without top doors here is the results so far it needs more work but i only started today.

Hey guys, another Update! I was recently gifted some rather old (and clean) VEA vans. A quick weathering and a splash of paint and they have come out rather well i think. I have purchased some decals to renumber them (a sad after thought as i should have done that before weathering). We learn from our mistakes however. Here is a sneak preview of my next project too. I bought 3 but one had a molding deformity. Dapols excellent customer service is sending me a replacement part in the post as we speak. Can anyone guess what they are? cheers, Jolt5

Quick update of the finished wagon and its sister. Ive only done one side for now until i can make these decals as i want the single wagon to hold 2 different identities. Cheers, Jolt5

Thank you guys, I have had a go in photoshop but it was a rather crude attempt! I posted the question in another part of the forum and a lovely fellow member gave me some good advice. http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/135614-departmental-tops-fonts/&do=findComment&comment=3227284 The name of that decal paper would be very useful but for now i will practice on plain A4 office paper while i work out the Fonts and Templates i need.

Went absolutely wild today and bit the bullet! I've never removed decals from a RTR wagon so i bought some T-cut and decided i would have a go. Although the paint was removed i was quite content with the outcome.Next i wanted to replicate the wagon having a few repairs so i found a couple of shades of bauxite and added a few patches. It didn't look brilliant but replicates the look i was looking for i guess. Next i added some decals i had purchased a while back. Crucially they had the correct Wheel base decal and a Tops code suitable for the wagon. This is the first time i've placed decals on a wagon, I have only ever done planes and tanks, therefore a coat of gloss varnish was applied and left to dry. Then the decals followed. (I forgot to take a picture of this). I have currently given the wagon a wash of bauxite to blend the patchwork and a wash of grey/black. The interior has had a dry bush of grey too but this is far from finished. Any ideas on how to improve are very welcome! Also does anyone have any knowledge on how to make custom decals. I have tried but i don't have a clue where to start. Any advice would be well received. Thanks, Jolt5

I spoke to railtec and they said they are happy to produce the decals if i make the file. I've done lots of research into the wagons and i have started to compile a long list of the wagons i want to replicate. I am not after a 100% replica but a good representation of how haphazard and uncared for these old neglected wagons were.

Thank you for the quick reply. I will have a try to replicate the look but i don't really know where to start. I guess making a template of the Box around the Numbers will be first and then just trying different things until i get the look i am after?

cheers mate. I'm a little rusty !!!

Recently i've been converting a few wagons to departmental versions of themselves. Here is one of my works so far! I wanted to turn it into something like one of these http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brmediumwood . My question is which font should i use to make custom decals for the Tops data panels and the Tops codes on these departmental wagons? I thought it might be railway alphabet but it doesn't look right at all. any help would be appreciated thanks Jolt5

I can only apologies for my absence, life caught up with me and i had to stop the things i loved the most for exams and the such. Its summer again however which means its time to crack out the paint cans and have another go!!! Taking time away however means i had forgotten what i was doing. A quick trip to the local model store resulted in the purchase of 2 cheap wagons. A Bachmann 37-355A (13 ton steel sand tippler) and A Dapol B23 (3-Plank Open Wagon in grey). A quick look at Paul bartletts website ( http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brmediumwood ) for inspiration and a few hours later and this is the result so far. In my opinion the wood is too bright for my liking and the dirt looks uneven but for my rookie skills i'm quite happy so far. I've also included a picture of the grampus i started many weeks ago but never quite finished. i hope you like them.

I have been abit quiet... Ive been quietly dying in the corner of Influenza . Apart from Starting work on a grampus nearly 2 weeks ago not much else has happened. To add to my worries i am going to the menin gate with Air cadets this weekend so it might be a while till i get back into it all properly.

hey gobbler, thanks for the kind comment In regards to your question I tried a couple of things to achieve this. I have used a acrylic textured rust paint from games workshop for the grit. I then cover the area in two coats of enamel Matt varnish because when i rub the grey paint off with a cotton bud i didn't want the rust paint underneath to come off... although it did a little on the third panel... my bad. If you'd like the paint numbers I can check when i get home if you would like. any ideas on improving are kindly received. Cheers jolt5

Hey guys, Quick update from today and last night. My experimentation has lead to a unique looking wagon but i am rather happy with the finish on the last couple of pictures. It is by no means perfect and i will need to have some practice but it is coming along quite nicely. I have decided i need a better phone or camera as my picture quality is far from HD . Thanks for having a look. Any ideas on how i can improve please don't be scared to say... i need all the help i can get! Cheers Jolt5

Thanks so much guys... hopefully my decals will come in the post in the next day or two. Meanwhile i've been experimenting on an old 21 ton HTO hopper i've found. I tried 5 different methods but i think i have found one i'm reasonably happy with, i'll post some pictures soon. I don't know when ill be doing such a heavy weathering job again but when i do ill be sure to document how i did it. For now its just pure experimentation.

Hey guys, I am slightly apprehensive to start this thread but i have currently started trying to build model kits. I am only 17 but have a passion for engineer wagons from the 80's especially the electrification dept. The first kit I've built is this sncf mineral wagon from Parkside Dundas (PS 32) which runs really well but has now become a scrapped wagon which will be placed on a weltrol / lowmac. it is based on this http://www.departmentals.com/photo/041476 I have learnt a lot and it is nowhere near perfect (for a start I'm waiting for decals in the post as i type this) but i am open to scrutiny and constructive criticism and any help anybody can give would kindly be received. My next kit i think shall be a Parkside Dundas medfit (pc 45). thanks Jolt5

very nice layout... I've seen it first hand at leigh twice and southport. It's a shame 40182 didn't make an appearance

thanks guys. It just didn't seem right to me.

Hey guys, i'm looking for some assistance in identifying the location of this picture. it looks far more like Haymarket depot to me but I would just like someone to help me be certain. thanks Jolt5 http://dieselimagegallery.com/detail/166-Class-40;40;Type-4;English-Electric;Whistler;40142;D342;Rail-Blue;Blue;RB;Longsight;LO;751977;1977;40142-1-N;21378;Jim-Binnie.html