Father Dougal

A little while since I posted. The Class 25 is now done. The resin body was detailed, painted and fitted snugly to the under frame. Yesterday I installed the sound and lights. I have also been decluttering the clay sidings. The Buildings that used to cover the point motors and a few others are now gone. I have used containers instead. I have also added more lights and built a new building. It all flows better now. I need to pick up some plaster. I am also awaiting some lights and a signal box so poor old Gary has somewhere warm to work.

Look on eBay. I got mine there. No problems with delivery then.

Sound chip, speaker etc fitted. 56107 arriving at the fuel point. and a quick peak at my next project... Dougal.

Nice bit of modelling there. I like the TTA’s, I have several myself. Do post photos of the 37/0 build. I plan to build a 37/4 at some point and interested to see how they go together. Dougal

This weekend I finished off the electrics. All the LEDs are in, as well as wiring the motors and pick ups ready for the decoder. I should now just need to screw the wires into the terminal points on the decoder when it arrives. I also fitted plasticard screens behind all the see through bits and painted them black. This will be the last all metal loco I will build this year. I plan to do a 37/4 after Christmas. My next loco project for October will be along shortly.,,,

Wait and see. I already have my next project to hand.

I had a few days off, so I finished the 56. I just need to fit the LEDs. Next month I will purchase the sound decoder. I think I need to add an inside cover to the roof vents and the side mesh as I can see the motors. finished as 56107. Dougal.

I spent this morning building the fans and enclosure, as well as the cabs. Next weekend I will add glazing and lights, as well as adding the pick ups to the bogies. Dougal.

I built a clay hood recently from the Slaters kit. I added a triangular hood out of wire. It looks ok to me and goes with my Skytrex hooded wagons. It may not be 100% prototypical, but it is close. Dougal

More progress today. I don’t have the correct size numbers at the moment, so I will have to order some. The paints I used are shown below, Valejo. I mix 50:50. Both power bogies finished and run in. Picks to fit next. Dougal.

Hmmmm, looking at the photo, I need to do a bit more tidying up first.

I spent a bit of time after work this week painting the body shell. Almost done. Transfers and weathering to follow...,

Lots of progress this weekend. Body shell filled- only needed a tiny amount around the roof. Locating pieces and bolts fitted. side frames fitted. Chassis completed with fuel tanks. everything is at the correct height and the bogies swing around the curves. 1 bogie needed a spot of filing as it caught on the fuel tanks. off to the paint shop next.

Funny you should ask. I was going to do Load Haul, but after seeing a large logo Blue one, I decided to go Blue. Hopefully, next weekend I can begin painting. Dougal

Those removable loads are very clever.

I built a hooded wagon. I think this came out ok. Only problem is I need to build more to make a decent rake. For the 56, I built the inner frame to take the bogies, fuel tanks and floor. This is tapered at both ends to fit the body shell snugly. I need to order the wheels and the lights. Hopefully next weekend I can finish the power bogies. Dougal

If I recall correctly there were several 03’s allocated to various China clay works in Cornwall, they were eventually replaced with 08’s. Doogle China clay diesel shunters and you find a few. Dougle

Getting there.... The bogies and side frames are done. I will order wheels from Slaters when Mrs Doyle gives me pocket money. I added some plastic tube around the lights- they look like mini Polos! I also added the cable- it is just placed on. I think it is over scale, so I will look for an alternative. oh and I have also found time to play trains today. Dougal.

Today I have mostly been messing around with my bogies. I have experimented with plastic struts here to avoid any risk of a short. I glued and screwed these in place- it is surprisingly strong. Dougal.

This has only taken me a week so far and I expect to have finished everything on the bogies by the end of my holiday. The power bogies are really straightforward as they use the same design across the range. worth considering as the Heljan one won’t appear until next spring. Dougal

Making the bogie side frames was quite enjoyable. Here is the first one finished, the other 3 will be done soon. Dougal.

A few photos. I managed to find a replacement for the left side jumper cable. This was cut from a spare piece of casting I found. The fuel tanks are done. I added mesh at the base as the speaker will go inside this. the body shell has all the detail added but I need to clean up. I have started the bogie side frames this morning. Lots of folding required but pretty straightforward. Dougal.

A bit more progress today. The bodyshell is done. Soldering the teeny weeny wipers was fun, but otherwise the build has been really straightforward. I built the fuel tanks and battery boxes today. They have an impressive amount of detail to fit. I removed the locating tabs at the top as mine will be fitted to the floor, once I build it. The only deviation so far, has been with the sand boxes fitted by the buffer beams. I didn’t like the way they fitted as they stuck out a bit. I refitted closer, which looks better. Tomorrow I will start the bogie side frames. I found some spare jumper cable bits which may work, if not I may email Peter and see what he has in stock. Photos tomorrow... Dougal.

All very impressive and coming along nicely. Always good to see a bit of model engineering.

Oh.... those are the only ones supplied with the kit. Any suggestions? Dougal