03060

2 hours ago, Albie the plumber said:

I may well be wrong  but I've never seen a green loco with that crest , always black .

So I would say its likely to be black

Just looking at the Model Rail exclusives page in Issue 324 and one of the Class 12 versions (MR-521)is actually of 15224 in green with that early emblem ... so Model Rail think that they appeared like that, a black / early emblem model is also on the cards. Sorry, that doesn't really help you with this particular photo.

Regards,

Ian.

10 hours ago, TT100 Diesels said:

Thanks for the amazing response there to my paint job Bradfordbuffer, much appreciated. 

 

Been cracking on with it, and another update, sorry folks kind of taking over the thread a bit again! 

 

 

45127, a big ETH Peak.

 

 

 

Its come on a bit. Still fair bit to finish though, weathering, matt varnish spray and the much anticipated 🤔 home brew flush glazing to do.

 

The build is faithful to 45127 in 1980 trim, in so far correct plating over grilles, re skinned sides over boiler footsteps etc.

 

Looking at it, I do have to say that even though its a bit rude to self praise, I am immensely pleased with it so far. 

 

So, if you like your Peak's electric heated, enjoy !

 

Cheers

 

D.

Superb Dave !

I'd been thinking that headcode boxes looked a tad large when viewing the earlier photos of them whilst just painted yellow but now that they have the black backgrounds and marker lights fitted they look just right .... glad I kept my mouth shut now ! LoL

Have I mentioned that that looks superb ??

Regards,

Ian.

45 minutes ago, thegreenhowards said:

I see what you mean, but I wouldn’t have called it khaki green! I wonder whether it’s an undercoat.

I thought the same regarding it being an undercoat as one of the photos that you posted a few pages back shows a lot more areas painted in this colour and also from behind the nameboard when it was removed (IIRC ?) Although wasn't the general colour scheme more of a brown and cream anyway in earlier times (50s/60s ?) or am I thinking of Arisaig ?

Photo from Irishswissernie's album showing possible undercoat.

Regards,

Ian.

1 hour ago, thegreenhowards said:

I’m back to painting my signal box today. I’m basing it on this picture, in which the steps are still dark green. I think I’ve also seen them in yellow green and white. But this is roughly the right era for my main focus of early ‘80s. It 

 

 

 

Here’s my attempt. I mixed a bit more hello into the yellow green mix and added a bit of white to both as suggested by @03060. I think I’m happy with the colours now, but I’d welcome comment from those less colours blind than me! 

 

 

 

I’ve also had a go at printing the signal box sign. I think the letters are slightly too big and need to be spaced wider (anyone know how to do that in word?). But the colour seems OK. Again, comments welcome.

 

 Anyone know where I can source the ‘passengers must not cross the line’ sign? Sankey scenics do the lower half with ‘Warning….£200’ but I can’t find the upper bit anywhere.

 

Andy

 

 

Spot on Andy, I'd say, looks great !

Glad that you didn't think I was being too picky with my previous post. I've just 'discovered' that I can get pretty flat results with brush painting using Tamiya accrylics so have bought myself a small range of basic colours to see if I can mix some shades up and test myself rather than trying to use specific shade enamels which I've never really got on with. I'll be trying these out on a few more 3mm scale wagons first before tackling anything larger.

Regards,

Ian.

On 17/03/2024 at 19:28, Phil Mason said:

Enjoyed the story but what kind of a marriage is this? Wife down the pub and you secretly using her hair drier! 
 

Sounds like my kind of modelling. I'm glad the Tamiya worked OK, but you were pushing it. Red on black is perhaps the one area where I might try a neutral primer or undercoat. Next time you go shopping, may I suggest a jar each of clear, semi gloss and matt varnish. You may have noticed that most of the paints on sale are actually gloss. This is not a problem because they make a remarkable product called 'flat base'. A tiny spot mixed into gloss turns it matt and, as you become expert, you therefore have control of exactly how matt. 
 

Other tips for using these paints (and I hope I'm forgiven if I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs) are:

 

Stir well and plonk a bit on a palette. 
Wipe the jar and replace lid. 
Add a bit of water to the palette and keep adding more as you work. 
Never use direct from the jar. 
If you're spraying, use their acrylic thinner, not water. 
 

This advice, I've learnt through 35 years experience and I think helps because the paint dries so quickly. I've heard of people complaining about brush strokes. I think it's because they don't flood the model with thin paint but dab bits from the jar which will be drying as they work. I've not opened a tin of oil paint since being introduced to these by club member at Macc, John Brown who used to paint up crappy old models and sell them in the club shop. They looked fantastic with a better finish than the (sometimes) toy like new models. 
 

Other methods are available (as they say) but none as quick. 

 

 Phil 

 

Thanks for the Tamiya painting tips Phil and the kind words of encouragement from others; I'll attach a copy to my little note board next to the workbench as I can see that this method of painting certainly being adopted for wagons first before trying it on larger items is the way forward for me. I have a couple of air brushes but haven't used them for many years, preferring to spray with Halfords paints and found that I just couldn't get on with Railmatch brush painting, which is why I probably have a lot unfinished models. 

Hopefully back to finishing the fish van in a few days which  may now end up in L&Y livery as it's not required to go behind an LMS Crab anymore.

I'm really enjoying the work being currently done on this thread.

Regards,

Ian.

Having (so far) failed in my attempt to finish the L&Y fish van in time for the Kingsbury meeting yesterday, mainly due to having been on nights all week, I had a very late brainwave as to what I could finish and enter in time in order to meet the competition rules of trains being made up from at least 2 group members work.

With only Friday being of any sort of use to me (and that being limited due to Thurs night working) I next considered two 5 plank wagons that I have that were built and painted for my Masbury layout but are so far unlettered as they are to become Emborough Quarry wagons but this needs to be done using individual letters on an arc which I haven't gotten around to yet. Surely, I thought that I could finish these off with some pre-printed transfers of a more Northern persuassion to go behind Alan Smith's LMS Crab but alas I had to dismiss this idea as all of my transfers were for 7 plank wagons and just wouldn't fit !

A Thurs afternoon dogwalk brainwave though provided a solution !
 

Many years ago I had been given (or probably had to buy from Maurice Pilsworth !!) a trio of generally built but unpainted Slaters Coke wagons which I have struggled to find prototypes of in the format of the kits design and had so far only managed to spray them matt black in the last 15 years or so that I've had them. Anyway ... out came the paints when I got home at 8am Fri and a 1st rather weak coat of Railmatch Signal Red was applied before trying to get some much needed sleep.

 3hrs later I was back up and downstairs only to find that the paint was unsurprising still tacky and really hadn't gone on very well at all ... b****r ... game over ... time for a cup of tea and an RM Web update. Reading the then latest posts by @Phil Mason unwittingly provided a last chance saloon, get out of jail card in his description of painting his Class 37 using Tamiya accrylics which "will be dry by the time I come out of the bathroom tonight" comment resulted in a quick dash down to my local model shop FMR and a small collection of said paints acquired.

A quick blast with the hairdryer and the still tacky surface was almost dry to the touch so a 2nd coat of red using the accrylics was applied just before 6pm. The result was better but still not fantastic as the black was still showing in patches (not the end of the world as it's a coal wagon after all) but I decided a 3rd coat would be best after a bath and dropping the wife off at the pub. 3rd coat applied around 8pm and blasted with the hair dryer. Black strappings painted around 9pm, chassis given a weathering coat of a mixed reddy brown, hair dryer used in between, coupling mounts made and fitted having unblocked the super glue ! Transfers cut out and applied with water (haven't done this for years !) and managed to get them in position first attempt, not that this type can be moved once water is applied as I found out trying to adjust a single number and ruined and had to change but was pleased with the results.

I'd managed to break a brake lever so this had to be repaired with solvent whilst I looked in vain for my can of Games Workshop spray varnish ... which is lurking somewhere in either room or in the attic room after my recent re-organisation but was nowhere to be found !! Panic ... look through my paint tins but no varnish ... Eureka moment when I spotted a small box of paints from Phil Kirtley's (Aireworth) left overs and found a very, very old tin of matt varnish which after a quick test was brushed on. Couplings super glued on at midnight ... and a hot toddy of whiskey and honey poured just as the wife arrived home.

Bed for 1am and back up again very bleary eyed at 7am ... wagon was good to go but a little pristine so was given a quick overpaint with a very weak wash of black accrylic ... better but still not quite right. Broke out the powder paints and gave it a dusting of black which looked better than I'd dared hoped for and could have ruined it all together ... but didn't ... PHEW !!!

Left for Kingsbury at 08.30 to collect Alan and the rest of our train entry which got us a joint 3rd which was nice and even I voted for the winning entry of a pre-grouping freight train from the Woking group which was fronted by a lovely SECR green painted and lined 0-6-0T which I thought deserved it.

Anyway this last couple of weeks has been eventful but ultimately worth it as it's gotten me actually making things again instead of just buying and will hopefully see me reinstate Masbury back up to working order up in the loft this week where it's sat for the last 5 years or so in it's 'transportable' state since it's last exhibition outing. Sturminster Newton will just have to wait a bit longer to be built ! So all is good again in my 3mm world.

Sorry for the ramble ... but to quote Vinnie Jones ... "It's been emotional !!" LoL.

Regards,

Ian ... who can't sleep !!

5 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

After the tour I spent a few days staying in Morar with some hill walking friends. And then on Thursday they all went home and I had a day mainly spent on a Glenfinnan site visit. I took loads of photos and some will trot out over the next few weeks as I continue detailing the layout. But I also spent some time checking out other iconic locations on the West Highland Extension in case I get the opportunity to include any around the garden.

 

I’ve put this video together as inspiration.

 

 

I hope you enjoy it. Sorry it’s only got sprinters in, but if there’d been decent trains out, I’d have been in them!

 

Andy

 

Thanks for that Andy, I'm almost ready to start putting track down on a 'Mallaig Line' inspired N gauge layout which will feature one of the viaducts as it's main feature and whilst it will probably be Loch-nan-Uamh I still haven't ruled out changing this to either Morar (pre road bypass, Grrrrrr !) or Arnabol depending on which 'looks right' in the space and layout plan that I'm considering, so your video is very useful and timely to me, thanks for posting it.

Regards,

Ian.

Have just picked up a copy of Model Rail on my way to work so my weekend's reading will mainly be of a 'Bluish' nature !!

1 hour ago, Marshall5 said:

Another favourite 'hangout' was NCB Bickershaw where steam working lasted throughout the '70's.  The austerities there could always be relied on for a good display as the loaded trains faced a steep climb from the colliery to the B.R. exchange sidings near Abram.  In April 1977 RSH7135/44 Gwyneth (ex NCB Gresford) was taking a short rake of 16 tonners unassisted.  Heavier trains could be double-headed or banked.

Ray.

 

 

Superb photos, thankyou for sharing them with us, I'd never heard of the Austerity 'Monty' before.

Quick question regarding the latest Bickershaw photos ... would sand being used on the left hand line be the reason for the difference in track colours ?

Regards,

Ian.

Fish van update,

I'm afraid that I've missed my goal of getting this project finished for next week's Kingsbury meeting as I haven't made the progress that I'd hoped for this weekend and a week full of night shifts has now curtailed any more work being done until after the event.

I found that I had another 'rectification' to make when I realised that the buffer beams were too high on the ends of the van, this being down to my interpretation of where the end overlays should be positioned which I think I've got right going by the two drawings that I have but haven't been able to confirm from the two photos that I know of which partially show van ends.

When the buffer beams are in there correct position there is a good 1mm gap between them and the end overlays into which I decided to solder a filling strip which looks Ok ... interestingly Alan Smith dug out his model and he had elected to position the end overlays lower down onto the top edge of the buffer beam, the 1mm 'space' at the top being mainly covered by the end vent but this gives uneven visible plank spacing on the end whereas I interpreted these planks to be evenly spaced from the drawings. Not really a major issue but it did use up some valable time whilst I decided how best to rectify it. I suspect that the end overlay etches should have been a mm longer !

What has really slowed me down was putting the small details on the sides, ie strapping, corner plates and door rails. It took me a long time to do the first side last weekend and so I deliberately saved this until I was in the right frame of mind this weekend ... however both the  'Ping Fairy' and the 'Carpet Monster' had other ideas and I now have 2 bits to either still find or remake !

These bits are definitely fiddly to get right and for some peculiar reason there are some shield shaped brackets that will stick in any position other than the correct one ! One of these is not right and so far has resisted all attempts to to be repositioned ... I'll have to break out the bigger iron !!

Anyway, to cut a long story short what with this, the brake gear still to do, castings to fit, roof to cut, cleaning up, painting, lettering and varnishing still to do ... it ain't going to happen in time as realistically I only now have next Friday evening available. Hey-ho.

Having said all of this I'm enjoying making this kit and think that I will have a nice little model once finished.

If anybody is going to the Kingsbury meeting next week please say hello, I will try to remember my name badge (Ian Evans.)

Regards,

Ian.

Have spent the weekend reading through the thread ... very slowly, which just felt right, somehow for this particular journey.

You've created a piece of Highland 'ambience' there James that immediately transports the viewer to the time and location ... it's one of those silent pieces .... where the mind then immediately starts to fill ones head with the appropriate sounds of the loco, the seagulls, the occasional vehicle crossing the bridge and best of all the the sounds and smells of a Highland Loch going about it's natural buisness ! Marvelous.

Regards,

Ian (a self confessed Scottish romantic all of his life ... despite being born and bred a die hard Yorkshireman ! LoL)

The open wagons with the platforms and frames along with the gauge on the end next to the saloon look like tunnel inspection wagons.

2 hours ago, James Hilton said:

 

 

2 hours ago, James Hilton said:

 

 

Thanks for that James, have got the BRM article, have got your latest book ... but have totally missed your Lochdubh thread ... expect lots of 'likes' and 'craftsmanship' notifications over the weekend from me !

Regards,

Ian.

1 hour ago, James Hilton said:

 the second has had a series written about its conversion (below)

 

Have I missed something somewhere, James, please .... or have I just forgotten (as usual !)

Regards,

Ian.

6 hours ago, Phil Mason said:

Thanks, 03060. It should really be a bit more 'humpty backed' but I was lazy and didn't add much more curve than the Triang roof. 
 

You're right, of course, about the details and I may well end up with a bit of a hybrid. It's a matter of choosing an example that might have worked over Woodhead around 1980. They weren't common! 
 

I'm looking at 37140 at present. But I'm going to go through all my books again to see if there is any documentary evidence. 
 

I've no idea why I embarked on this other than I had a chassis which is proving not particularly suitable and will need further work. 
 

Of course, this isn't a 'master class'. Far from it; its 'work in progress', warts and all. If I can help to inspire somebody else to 'have a go' at any form of modelling, that's far more important than ending up with a perfect model for myself. 
 

And in the process we are learning all the time. So thank you for your input. 
 

P. 

This web site can be very useful for tracking down particular Class 37 engine movements over the years, Phil. This is the page for 37 140 around 1980 but if you use the Fleet History tab you can track any of the 308 examples through their lives, some photos are also linked to each loco. I appreciate that you may not wish to be 'tied down tightly to a particular loco' .... but there may just be one to suit your scenario ? I use this site a lot for identifying 37s on the West Highland Line.

https://www.class37.co.uk/fleet.aspx?strnumber=37140

Regards,

Ian.

11 hours ago, thegreenhowards said:

Coming back to the subject of colours, I’ve bitten the bullet and tried some new colours on my signal box. 
 

 

Only one coat and it hasn’t covered particularly well, but I think you get enough of an idea of the colours. I’m trying to replicate the ones shown in my first post on this subject here.

 

I decided not to buy the Tamiya paints because a) I’m not convinced the colours weren’t spot on, at least for the faded state at Glenfinnan, b) I prefer enamels, and c) I have inherited (almost) unlimited supplies of Humbrol enamels from an estate.

 

So I went with.

1) Humbrol 101 (mid green) with a tiny amount of Humbrol 104 (Oxford blue) for the darker green;

2) 3 parts Humbrol 120 (light green) to one part precision signal yellow for the yellow green; and

3) Humbrol HR 103 (cream) for the cream.

 

I think the cream is a bit too yellow, so I may switch to BR coach cream for that. The others I’m quite pleased with, but I’d welcome comments as I know my colour perception isn’t the best.

 

Andy

 

Hello Andy, could you try mixing a bit of white into all 3 of the colours to try and give them a more faded look (if that is what you're after ?)

The darker 'green' in the original photo is also edging more towards the bluer side of the spectrum than dark green .... could you try the Oxford or an RAF blue and try adding a touch of yellow in it and maybe white to fade if it needs it ?? (Not necessarily to try on the model just yet until you are happy.)

However I may have misunderstood the effect you want to end up with,  ie a faded look ? ... or a fresher look ?? .... and whilst I am a colour Printer by trade I am used to working with varying Black, Cyan, Magenta and Yellow ink levels rather than mixing paints .... a simple little side pallet should give you the chance to experiment with a bit of this and a bit of that, though, to 'move' the colour in different directions.

Hope this helps,

Regards,

Ian.

12 minutes ago, John M Upton said:

 

The Scottish one is the one I want to do as well.  I have scoured every single Scottish book I have trying to find another picture of it, I only found one which showed just the very edge of it, in exactly the same place next to exactly the same BR brake van and I suspect taken on the same day too,

It must have got up there somehow...

I'm just trying a little T'internet search whilst my printing press is running well ... haven't found anything yet though.

1 hour ago, whoppit said:

Now that's interesting, some of the catalogue pictures online have a different running number and are marked 'return to Eastleigh'......  https://rainbowrailways.co.uk/product/graham-farish-378-028-secr-25t-dance-hall-brake-van-br-departmental-olive-green-n-gauge/

There are 2 versions available 378-028 and 378-028A ... I must have the 'A' version.

I wasn't bothered which as mine will belong to the ScR ... I assume Perth Yard but I can't see the markings on the one photographed in the yard at Ton-na-Faire, Fort William.

Regards,

Ian.

4 hours ago, Phil Mason said:

Some work on one end with various bits of hardware added. I find getting things positioned accurately really difficult. The headcode box in particular is subject to change. Probably my astigmatism kicking in. 
 

I have just thought of a method, though. Next time I shall try sticking the relevant bit of drawing on and then punching through the paper to mark the plastic underneath for position of lights etc. 

 

I'm not sure about the tumblehome area around the buffer cowl area so that may need attention. Also the side is getting de-laminated and will need some superglue. And that handrail looks bent. 
 

As always, two forward and one back...

 

P. 

Morning Phil,

That's looking really, really good and I'm amazed at how you've managed to capture what I think is a very awkward body shape.

One thing that I meant to mention when you were redoing the nose side grills was that there are also two versions of cantrail grill dividers plus both welded and rivetted roof panels to be aware of as they were built by two different companies, Vulcan Foundry or RSH; sorry I can't remember which details belong to which locos but it's best to try and have a look at a couple of photos of your chosen loco just to be safe.

You may, of course, be already fully aware of this but I thought it was worth mentioning just in case.

Best wishes,

Ian.

5 hours ago, 03060 said:

 

Yes John but I haven't taken it out of the box yet, I'll try and post a couple of photos tomorrow.

 

Regards,

Ian.

Hope these help John.

Regards,

Ian.

32 minutes ago, John M Upton said:

Anyone got an engineers olive one yet? Would like to see some pictures of the actual model please rather than the duff catalogue image the retailers all seem to be using.

Yes John but I haven't taken it out of the box yet, I'll try and post a couple of photos tomorrow.

Regards,

Ian.

5 hours ago, jazz said:

I've done very little of late, which had been unavoidable, but a star has been made on the Mercian Yorkshire Engine 0-4-0 loco.

 

I started the new batch of builds with what I thought would be a nice simple kit.  That has happened, it's quite a tricky build. The etches do not match up with the drawings needing a few alterations.  Oh well, onwards and forwards.

 

Very interested to see what you find with this kit, Ken, as I intend to get one sooner rather than later ie whilst I still can. I know Alan Smith of Leeds MRS has built one successfully but I don't remember his comments from his build as it was several years ago now. This may well be the last 0 Gauge kit that I buy for quite a while as I still haven't gotten around yet to building any of the other dozen ones that I've bought but I will (hopefully) one say.

Regards,

Ian.

19 hours ago, Ruston said:

Thanks!

 

The trouble with getting a layout to a state where most of it is done, and it is all useable, is that the little things that are needed to finish it don't get done because you start playing trains with it. I do, anyway. I had another running and photo session.

 

The NCBOE bought a loco, second hand, from Charlie Strong.

Thomas Hill 'Vanguard' diesel-hydraulic rebuild of a Sentinel vertical-boilered steam loco (RT Models kit).

 

Now I do like that !! Super looking little loco.

12 hours ago, Dungrange said:

 

Have you filled in an Expression of Interest?  Your wish won't come true if you don't.

 

Thanks for that, I'd missed that bit of information completely even though I am supposedly signed up for and certainly have had newsletters in the past.

Expression of interest form now submitted and newsletter sign up redone just to be on the safeside !

Does anybody want to buy 6 Farish Metalair wagons and about 20 Peco 15' chassis ?? LoL

Much appreciated,

Ian.

(Hmmm ... unless PBA Covhops ran on 15' chassis ??)

On 24/02/2024 at 21:16, westie7 said:

 

Really authentic weathering, that first one had me double take. 

I shudder to think how long we have been talking about these wagons, I think it was when I had a full head of hair 😂

Can't wait for them to be announced in N gauge (hint, hint .... please, before I start cutting up Farish Metalair cement wagons and sticking them on peco 15'chassis !!)