Bluemonkey presents....

Thank you Andy. it is when declining them at the moment. I'll try accepting and see what happens. Thank you for your time.

Hi, Every time I log onto RMWeb I have to accept or reject the consents. Before, this only ever happen monthly or so. I understand the need for privacy and cookie setting etc but every time logging on is a little too much. Is there anything that can be done to reduce this please? This faces me each time logging on and some times when moving between pages/topics.

Thank you and yes these are still mobile and noticed then in the picture so corrected. I think I may sport a little glue to keep positioned.

Thanks. It certainly is a Ferrero Rocher box, the double stacked type. I have used these to keep individual project builds together, separate from each other and to keep safe the parts. They could easily be used as small display case though especially if flipped and the lid is used as the base.

One down three more to go but first the five wagons will need building and painting. Not the greatest of pictures (I really need to sort some sort of photo plank type thing out) but some nice details are highlighted. The chains, binding links and ratchet fixing the tank to the wagon has taken all afternoon! (With many individual links flying off to feed the carpet monster and much muttering). I think I need to find another way to secure the rest unless I will either drive myself mad or blind worse still maybe both! On my final can of Testers as well, any suggestions for a flat mat spray finish varnish/lacquer please? I've used some in the past that have have satin/gloss finishes even though mat and others drying opaque white so very wary but need something to seal transfers and protect the paint job. The other three tanks are finished receiving the un-ditching planks and chains. These will follow once the wagons are built. The chains are taught and straight (this is why it takes so long to do, as the load is secured to the wagon as if it was not fixed to the wagon. The final wagon is a representation of these pictures combined.

Love the tank vents a very well executed simple solution.

Water is looking fab.

Awesome! Taking notes if you don't mind.

Great junk. for want of a better phrase!

Correct. Airfix Bofers 40mm guns. Really nice but very fiddly in 4mm. I have not yet looked at the 'tractor' units for them so it will depend on how I feel once I make a start on the WWII Rectanks.

I will post some individual close up pictures once completely finished. Thank you @Mikkel, very pleased with the outcome for each one.

Thank you. Though I wish I had the computer expertise to do this. Sadly I do not have the skills to create the text type or sizing.

Been a while folks, apologies I have been modelling but just disillusioned with the whole internet space and not to mention the entire online purchasing sagas. Whilst waiting for another transfer order to arrive in order to complete the Rectanks (11 sheets ordered!!!!!). Only one wagon can be completed per sheet from HMRS, ridiculous that there appears to be no 4mm transfers available other than the general GWR wagons sheet to do these models, there are plenty of kits out there for Rectanks though. I did however find some western region type for 7mm but obviously these are not suitable. The loads are nearing completion, 4x WWI male and female heavy tanks MkIV and a pair of Bofors 40mm anti air-craft guns. Bottom left; Factory dispatch in primer and tarped for travel. Inspiration (source; Tanks by Train, internet article); Bottom right and top right; Male (bottom) and female (top) Khaki liveried with additional un-ditching beams to be chained up Soldering the attachment loops to the collar around the plank was a little painfully but worth the extra effort in my opinion . Inspired by (source: internet Wiki); Top left; Army green livery will have an un-ditching plank similar to the others. Very top a pair of WWII Anti-aircraft Bofors guns inspired by this picture in GWR Goods Wagons - Atkins, Beard and Tourrett. Just couldn't find the right kits but got close (didn't fancy scratch building); Rectank livery is matched complete with a few added details. This kit is the white metal one which appear to be minus the chain boxes. Top top left a full brass kit awaiting transfers. The brass kits are naturally lighter than the white metal ones so I chose to use the brass ones with the WWI tanks train so extra weight can be hidden inside the tanks. The white metal kits are reserved for the WWII train that can be for lighter loads or empty wagons that weight can not be easily hidden.

Very very nice, excellent progress and some lovely modelling.

First class Mikkel, great project. With luck I will be starting next year! Will certainly be learning from the master in the meantime. Thank you for sharing.

Outstanding!

Fab just FAB! Happy New Years modelling.

Sadly still waiting my subscription copy, second issue to have suffered a seriously long delay in issuing.

Cyclops and Hercules are the other two. I seem to remember they are virtually the identical with the exception Hercules, as having a Belpaire firebox and the earlier (much earlier) pair didn't. Not entirely sure though as pretty ignorant to railway prototypes and the technically elements. Actually come to think about it pretty much ignorant to it all really, just make stuff and enjoy reading crazy threads with some lovely modelling. Thank you for sharing Sir.

True but living between Bath and Swindon, in a town rather than out lying villages you would expect a little more.

Yep, I'm another subbie without a copy. Seems strange for such delays and can't blame the Royal Mail as other items have arrived.

Thanks, great idea. Will keep this one for the plastic wagon kits for sure.

Evening All. As I find myself still waiting for the completion of two orders of modelling items totaling well over £100. Orders were placed with a well-known online store back in the summer which continue to be unfulfilled. Due to this this will be the last posting for a while so apologies for the length of the article but got the entire build in. To compliment the WW1 heavy tanks and whippets I have a set of Connoisseur Pocket Money Kits brass rectanks. I chose these kits over the white metal offerings from Four Most and ABS as the planned loads could house the additional required weight to stabilise the wagons rather than trying to secrete it around the flooring of the wagons. The white metal kits can be better employed as unloaded wagons due to the natural weight of the materials used. The kit comes as a completely flat etched brass fret with only the bogies, buffers and fixing nut and screw offering any bulky parts. Wheels and bearings, as with most kits, are not supplied. 10.5mm spoked wagon wheels are required. I have previously replaced the 'standard' wheels on the white metal kit that I restored a while ago with the same size. The appearance of the kit is that of a basic one but don't be fooled the construction requires a little modelling skill, whether soldering or gluing. For this kit I will be soldering everything with the exception of the wheel bearings into the bogie frames, the reasoning for this will be demonstrated later. First off the bat is to fold out the solebar channels. There is an angle at each end of the wagon which creates a real difficulty to fold the top of the channel. This is side stepped by folding a little of the length at a time rather than the whole piece in one go. The inner detailing needs to fit inside this. The smaller rivet details required tapping out first then sweat solder or glue the overlay inside the channel. Having read the kit instructions a number of times I decided to remove all the parts and prepare before returning to the channels. These were folded where required and opened out the holes for attaching the bogies Instructions tell you to fix the queen posts first, using half etched guidelines on the inner sides of the solebars. Then add the bogie mounting plates, buffer beams and truss rod supports. Having completed this it become obvious that the alignment with 1mm out so everything was dismantled and this time starting with the buffer beam and working along the wagon length, ensuring everything was vertical and aligned. The early addition of the chain boxes between the queen posts helped with the spacing. Attention turns to the truss rods and white metal buffers. For the next batch of wagons I will be adding the buffers to the beam before this is located to the sides. This will make the access for the soldering iron a little easier. Final piece of detailing are the brake wheels on the ends of a length of wire. A very nice addition rather than just flush fitting a wheel to the chassis side. Incidentally I have made these able to rotate, no other reason other than I could. Wagon structure now complete with the exception of the lashing rings. These will be fixed once I have the wagon is ready and loads located. Attention turns to the white metal bogies. These are chunky and uncomplicated to put together which is likely why there are no instructions or references to them in the kit. Three pieces cleaned up, very little flash and mold lines to remove. Dry testing the parts with the bearings located and axles in place identified that the bearings sat too proud forcing the bogie sides wider than the central stretcher could reach. Only having 'waisted' bearings the recesses for the bearings required some work. I opened these out so the waist of the bearings can sit flush allowing sides to be able to form closure and attaching fully to the central anchoring point. Due to the additional work on the bearing locators I decided to glue the bearings in rather than risk filling with solder. I think the pictures probably explain better than my words. I was very aware of drilling through the grease boxes as they are so large so each one was done slowly by hand to keep 'the feel' of the depth. All items now completed ready for cleanup and priming prior to adding a wooden floor. This will be from either plastikard scribed with planking or (if I can find some) preformed planked plastikard. It will be a struggle to get the axles located into the bearings but I did not want to risk over spray on the wheels or axles so am accepting of this future complication. May I wish everyone a very Happy Christmas/Holiday period and bid you all healthy and happy New Year. Thank you for your support and time reading my articles.

Very careful cutting with a new scalpel blade and filing will surely be the cure. I'll have a look at mine later to see if I have two right hands. Don't bin though. Edit; Read all the replies first before replying lol. Nice cutting.

Decided to have the tank loads in non-prototypical livery to add a little interest and although not accurate to rail transport will be a decent representation of actual tanks, with possible one exception which will remain in factory colour undercoat grey (at least in my head this is how things were). In the meantime, having binned a milk tanker project, I have picked up another project as part of the military themed wagons. This time a different approach. Instead of building a kit, bodge an RTR to what I photographed a few years ago whilst in Bristol docks. There will be a few minor compromises as this is meant to be a representation and quick project rather than finite details. I stumbled on some transfers a while ago similar to this and got a set with this project in mind, just didn't expect it to take 5 years or so. Starting a standard Bachmann 14T fuel tanker. Got a cheap unboxed one from eBay (another lesson here, when buying from eBay for projects thus make sure you give your item a very good once over as the one I got had a little damage so could have been a rip off but fortunately in this case actually works better, the brake lever had to be fixed though). Some damage to the buffer beam and solebar join as well as a little dent to the solebar. This all goes to the 'in use' look that I could not replicate so naturally, I dismantled the model into basic components to get at the tank transfers but also to aid later painting. Having removed the transfers. I had to scrap them off carefully with a scalpel blade as they were not shifting using Micro Sol and a cotton bud. This also gave the opportunity to shave the excess plastic flash around the tank end and tank join seam. This was then lightly primed to highlight any aeras that required further work. As you can see this was mainly around the tank seams. I also used the opportunity to apply rivets to the areas where it appears they were missing on the original model. The protype does not have rivets but those on the tanker are so nice (in my opinion) I had to keep them if possible. I tried a few resin transfers and they fell into place seamlessly, so they will be staying. Another coat of primer and now ready for painting and transfer before re-assembling. The tank bed is the other compromise. The fixing screw locators are hidden within the base under the tank strapping so to start cutting the base would require more time and thought than is intended for this project but certainly something that I would normally do. This would allow the daylight under the tank as per prototype but as previously mention this is a representation. Now sitting in grey primed pieces awaiting that airbrush session along with the other recent wagon and load builds. I have the rectank wagons (at least) to build up before this weekend of airbrushing commences.