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paulprice

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  1. paulprice
    Well modelling time has been very, very scarce since my last update, in fact it been non existent, and a completely out of the blue visit today to a local "box shifter" resulted in a couple pre-owned bargains.

    I have always like tank wagons, and I could not resist the pair, its only when I got them home that I realised they were not the bargains they seemed.
     
    The problems is I have inadvertently crested another demand on my severely limited modelling time, as these will need a little weathering. not a problem you might think, even with my glacial speed at weathering it wont take long to complete?
     
    Well you see that is part of the problem, I have always liked tank wagons, and I think I have another dozen or so in a box somewhere I just cant remember where I put it......... so when I have the time to track them down I will then have to work out how long this little project will take me, I'm thinking 2020 has a nice ring to it.
     
    Until the next time, as ever Happy Modelling
  2. paulprice
    Well I have had a few projects clogging up the workbench now for weeks, the problem being that time to spend on them has been extremely limited.
     
    Amongst the other projects desperately trying to get my attention, and finally succeeding was a pair of 4F's. One was the latest Farish offering from the "Landship" pack and the other was an older Farish model that I have been trying a few things out on over a long period of time.
     
    Anyway I had a little time today so, 30 minutes modelling time was spent on adding a little weathering to the unusually clean 4F No 3854, and blending in the better number transfers on No4543.
     
    The best thing is that I found my "missing" camera so that I could take a couple of pictures of the work completed, if only to act as a cautionary tale on how not to modify a locomotive.
     
    First up No 4543 - Tender cab

    Caught having a rest in Foster Streets good yard, before running off to be turned ready for her next duty. The tender cab will be appreciated by her crew in a couple of weeks, as the Summers can be a bit grim up here in the North

    Turned and with her new crew on duty, waiting to replace another 4F with a hot box.
     
    Followed by No 3854

    Supposedly suffering from a "hot box" No 3854 has been detached from her train and dumped in the goods yard at Foster Street. Later inspection revealed no such problem so she was turned and returned to Foster Street to await adding to another freight

     
    So there you have it a couple of projects finished, well nearly I have to add some real coal to the tender of No 3854, but that's a job for another day, I still think she looks a little clean for one of my 4Fs.
     
    I was a bit hesitant about adding the newer Farish 4F's to the fleet, as I thought it would make the older ones look toy like in comparison, but with a little work, if you close one eye and then look the other way, they don't look too bad.

     
    I don't think I will be adding any more 4F's to the fleet, and before any one thiks it its not because the Domestic Overlord might notice, its because there are 2F's and 3F's to add to the fleet.........
     
    Until next time as ever Happy Modelling
  3. paulprice
    Being a simple sort of a chap, I have spilt the world into two types of people, Railway Modellers (even those who model the SR) and Non-Railway Modellers.
     
    The problem is that unfortunately there seems to be far more Non-Railway Modellers in the world, which kind of make me thing I'm an endangered species, I certainly feel this way sometimes when I'm threatened with extinction, when the Domestic Overlord has to clean up the aftermath of some of my modelling miss-haps (hot soldering iron in pocket, glued slipper to foot, spray painting my had to name a few).
     
    Anyway some of the strange ones (none modellers), often make comments to me along the lines of, "do you really need another toy train" to which I usually mutter something under my breath an slope off the layout. Anyway after years of these comments, I think they may have a point, do I really need more trains.

    I had some time I few weeks ago so I set out to complete a few little jobs on the Jubilee's and Rebuilt Scots in the fleet, mainly fitting lost traction tyres, toutching up some weathering and fitting lamps etc.
     
    It was then that I noticed I had added two new locos to the fleet (seen in the back of the photo), one was a crimson Jube at a bargain too good to resist price, and the other was a BR Green spares or repair Evilbay bargain.

    The Jube just needed to be re-numbered, fitted with a crew and headlamps and then she received a spot of light weathering (unusual for my Jubes) and she was ready to join the fleet.

    I'm not too sure if the subtle weathering is for me so I might have to apply a little more grot to her in the future. As for the Scot, my original intention was to portray a war time unlined black and grotty appearance.

    The problem was that during the research process, I found photos of a couple of Scots in what appears the be simple red lining, and like most things one thing led to another and she got some lining. I applied a little weathering mainly to hide my shaky lining, but also to portray a well kept hard working loco, headlamps fitted for parcels so I will have to see how she looks on the layout.
     
    So there you have it, I think they are right I have a problem, so to the question of "DO I need another locomotive" no I can honestly say that no I don't need another locomotive, I need LOTS MORE LOCOMOTIVES:)
  4. paulprice
    Yes I admit it I have a problem.......... I think this model railway bug I have is terminal, or at least it will be when the Domestic Overlord finally realises how many "Toy Trains" I have.
     
    After a brilliant weeks holiday with the Domestic Overlord, down in Cornwall, a day out resulted in me becoming the proud owner of my second one of these.

    At only £90 pounds (I still have pains in my wallet) they are astonishing value for money, I know they have been out for a number of years but if you can still find one snap it up.
     
    Now I thought all I had to do would be to either give the loco a simple repaint into LMS black, or like I have on my previous one splash a bit of weathering around to represent a loco, still waiting to be repainted into the glorious LMS ownership. Having limited time today, I thought while I was working out what to do I would add a crew and lamps to my previous loco.
    That's when the simple task got a little more complex, as I got the loco out of the stock box, I noticed a couple of the fleet had a crew member missing, so I resolved to put this right,

    However I soon ran out of my supply of ready painted crew (I need to paint some more up, I normally do this in batches) as I had a Pat and Scott to crew, and I have also run really low on oil lamps.
     
    The good news is that if I order the lamps, I will have plenty of time to decide what to do with the loco livery wise, the bad news is now I have all the 4Fs together on the layout, perhaps they are still a little too clean, and also what codes to apply to them?
     
    Problems, problems, problems, which will all pale into insignificance if the DO ever found out about my little problem, but I can trust you chaps to keep a secret cant I?????
     
    Until next time happy modelling
  5. paulprice
    Lately finding time to spend modelling has been nearly impossible. I'm sure this happens to other modellers out there, but for me I either have no time with the pressures of work and general life then I barely have time to eat before I have to go to bed to start it all again or I have a little time and no energy to do anything.
     
    Anyway I have this really uncanny ability to either find trouble, or yet more new projects (the Domestic Overlord, seems to think when it involves me its one in the same) anyway I digress.
     
    One of the more easily completed projects I had on the go was to convert the wagons from the "Landship" pack into something more useful. So I set about converting the three of them, like I had to my previous three into bogie bolsters, with steel girder loads. Easily completed in a short period, and then they can get a spot of weathering and enter the layout stock, the problem is THEY ARE NOT COMPLETED.

    They have been painted LMS grey, need numbering etc but at least I have the girders loaded(easily a made with a little plsati card and glueing to fingers), all I need to do now is apply a little more paint, the stanchions and if I can find them chains and another project will be finished (estimated completion 2018).
     
    On the locomotive front, I have managed to do a little more work on my representation of a Black 5 with a self weighing tender, the loco has received its black coat and a little dirty black on the cab roof and smokebox, I have here number prepared which will be applied as soon as my hands stop shaking. Then progress on the tender was going okay, until my shaky hands led to a bottle of plastic weld being tipped over last night, so I have imposed a work ban for the time being.

    It wont be a fine scale model when she is completed, but at least its finding use for an older Farish model, and adds a little variety to my Black 5 collection (estimated completion 2019).
     
    My Stanier mogul, has sort of gained a dome, and a tender, but that's about it, before the dome is fitted I have to work on the combined top feed.

    This project is very slow going, I may concentrate on the tender for a bit, and maybe help to increase my insanity levels with yet more lining (estimated completion 202?)
     
    One project in severe danger of being completed is the two 4F's on the workbench. One is from the "Landship" pack and the other is from the collection, both are in the process of getting LMS branding and numbers, and one may even remain clean (well maybe a little weathering).


    These loco's have had crews fitted, and one has headlamps fitted, the other is awaiting new supplies (estimated completion this year).
     
    You may have noticed that the estimated completion times on these projects seems to be excessive, and the reason for this is believe it or not nothing to do with the Domestic Overlord, but because I keep finding poor abused little Jubilee's at bargain prices.

    This poor little engine needs to rescued from this mouldy green paintwork she currently wears and given a decent CRIMSON coat.
     
    So until the next time, whenever that may be Happy Modelling
  6. paulprice
    Is it just me, or does this happen to other people too? I set out to do one thing, and ended up doing something different.
     
    I had intended to build some new storage trays for the stock I admit to owning (the stuff the Domestic Overlord has seen) and to be fair I set out to create 9 and I have its just I got fed up of fitting foam in them after the sixth one was finished.
     
    Anyway while I was doing this I looked at servicing and cleaning the locomotives I tend to use from the collection on Foster Street, all was progressing well, with only one casualty requiring parts to be ordered. Things were progressing well and I was in severe danger of actually completing a job I had started, and I was left with just a few to service.

    I have always liked the Ivatt Mogul, and a new Bachmann example had joined the collection several months back, shortly after one of my old Minitrix examples exploded (actually just threw its valve gear on one side). The problem is the newer loco just looked far too clean so I thought it was time it got a coat of grime.

    So out came the old paintbrushes and the paints, and I set to work making a dirty girl out of her, don't worry no airbrushes where damaged in this process.

    As these locomotives appeared relatively late in the life of the GREAT LMS, I thought a light weathering would be in order, to portray a working engine (even though some locomotives were in a terrible external state in LMS days).
     
    The only problem is that I have not got one of the new models, I actually have two, so now I have another job to complete, renumbering and weathering the other one.

     
    So as ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  7. paulprice
    Well despite being absolutely brilliant since last Christmas, in fact despite being positively angelic, and only wanting a few Railway related things the Fat, Fella in the Red suit brought me nothing.
     
    So I have now decided that whoever said its "nice to be nice" was a Tree Hugging Hippy, and if I ever meet so called Santa, I'm going to kick him right in the Christmas puddings.
     
    Anyway something has turned up for the layout, the other day I was trying to work on the plans for the new layout, I went to get a new pencil and when I got back I found these two lurking about.

    I hope they don't start breeding with the Elephants that already infest the layout, as its bad enough, cleaning up after that lot, right I'm off to get my bucket,
     
    Until next time Happy Modelling
  8. paulprice
    Apparently something is going on later this month, apparently is something big, I got a clue to this when I came home from work in the week, and the Domestic Overlord had left some tinsel on the sofa.
     
    Now possessing detection skills that would make Sherlock Holmes to shame, my little grey cells kicked into action. Tinsel, shiny, and red, elementary my dear chap, it was the DO's subtle hint that I should spend some time on my current project of producing some Crimson tanks for the fleet, see I'm no fool.
     
    So I made a effort to apply numbers and branding to the locomotives, I have been slowly adding the lining over the last few weeks and I only have a couple of boiler bands to finish, then maybe a coating of grot?
     
    Anyway just in case anyone might be interested here's how they are looking now.
     
    Fowler Half Cab 1F
    It started out as a very basic attempt to turn an old Farish 3F into something more interesting, I know the rivet counters will go mad but from a distance it looks okay. I must admit I think even with my shaky lining I think she looks pretty good, and once I get the goods yard sorted on Foster Street will be good shunting a few wagons about.

     
    Johnson 1P
    This started off as Dapol M7, in previous entries you will see that when I converted this I painted it in a black livery, because I thought that painting her crimson was a little too much effort at the time. Still this decision kept nagging away at me, in the end I gave in and she got the paint job she should have had from the start.
    All I need to do now is add a little weight to aid traction, but there is not a lot of space to play with, just to make handling the push pull coaches easier, unless I get some 4 wheelers.......

     
    Fowler Flat Iron
    This is a real miss match of bits and bobs, years ago (more than I care to remember) I remember getting a kit for this at an exhibition. Not being a Soldering God at that point, when I tried to construct it I sorted of melted the thing into a rather nice blob. Anyway not throwing anything away that might be of use if only for adding weight to locomotives it sat in a box, until Phil.
    Phil (the sensible member of the operating team, and that's saying something) is always going on about big tank engines, so out came the old kit from which I was able to rescue the smoke box, a lot of effort later and a lot of curves on the lining, and don't ask about the chassis but we have.

     
    So there you have it, 3 crimson locomotives pretty much ready to add to the fleet, just a few little jobs to complete on them and they maybe a lot of weathering to cover up most of the lining, but that's it I think.

     
    What next? well I think the next locomotives will be finished in plain black, oh and as for being some sort of master detective, perhaps the Domestic Overlord was not dropping a hint to work on my trains, but because its nearly CHRISTMAS.
     
    Anyway until the next time as ever Happy Modelling and have a HAPPY CHRISTMAS :)
  9. paulprice
    Is it just me or am I the only one who seems to just take on another project on a seemingly endless list, rather than finishing some of the on going ones.
     
    Today I actually got the seal of approval from the Domestic Overlord to do this project, as I must have been looking underemployed, so I was actually told to take the paint from the kitchen and use it for what it was bought for.
    (which is strange as normally I'm told to keep away from painting, as I can walk past B&Q and get covered in paint).
     
    So following the latest edict I started a new project, I decided to repaint my representation of a Johnson 1P into what I think is a more suitable crimson livery, rather than the black she has been wearing for a couple if years. I also decided to run a couple more of the locomotive projects I have been working through the paint shop at the same time.
     
    So after what seemed to be endless, filing/sanding has ended for these locomotives, as they got a lovely coat of grey undercoat.
     


     
    Two things though have hit me,
    Number 1, the reason I painted the Johnson 1P black originally was to avoid all the lining required if it was in Crimson, and I may have 3 loco's to line now.
    Number 2, when the Domestic Overlord told me to do some painting, I think they meant painting with the tubs of emulsion stored in the kitchen, which just happened to be the same place my crimson spray paint was stored.
     
    Whoops, hopefully I will be able to post an update on the progress of the locomotives, once the injuries have healed, until the as ever Happy Modelling
  10. paulprice
    Well another post in a short space of time, I will have to be careful in case it becomes a habit? Don't worry it wont, but this entry will be more of a list of questions.
     
    I have been thinking for a few weeks of starting a new layout, Foster Street still has a few exhibition commitments and will not be scrapped, but as the number of outstanding jobs on it decreases I need something new to keep me out of trouble.
     
    So the next layout will be designed to be taken to exhibitions, that is of course if anyone would want to see it, but this time it will feature a mainline rather than a secondary line. Of course it will be in LMS territory and definitely pre-nationalisation.
     
    The questions are?
     
    1 What do you think is a reasonable size for an N gauge layout??.
    2 Do you have to model a full station, or as I think maybe just modelling part of one is a better option?
    3 Are layby sidings/loops as good a feature and I think?
    4 Are mainline junctions as exciting as I think they are?
    5 Are 30+ wagon freights a must?
     
    If you could let me know what you think are good features, you may help me to reduce all the mad schemes I have going around my head, and maybe help me be sensible?
     
    As ever until next time Happy Modelling
  11. paulprice
    Well its been a while since I last posted an entry on here, some might say its not been long enough . The reason for this is not because the Domestic Overlord has been scheduling my every waking moment.
     
    The real reason is that in part I have lost my modelling mojo, and because I have been bogged down with some of the boring time consuming jobs that have been backing up, like wheel cleaning etc.
     
    Anyway thanks to Phil of this parish the fiddle yard on Foster Street is finally having the point motors wired up, and route matrixes fitted to make operation easier. Now Phil reckons, or rather tells everyone that he is an electronics Guru, but I know he is still jealous of my God like soldering ability.
     
    Anyway one of the jobs I needed to do is not only clean the wheels on the loco fleet, but to finally fit traction tyres to the Jubilees which decided to throw at least one, at the same time, at the last outing. So I got the stock box down and decided to at least get this job completed, the problem is nothing is ever easy for fast, and if I have anything to do with it usually a lot more complicated than it needs to be.

    Most of the fleet has been weathered to some degree or another, so while I had them out I decided to touch up a few areas, and ensure that they all had crews in the cabs. Not a quick process (the excitement of fitting traction tyres has to be experienced to be believed) anyway after working out how many footplate crew I needed I set about the hacking/ mutilating the little people about and fitting them to their locos.
     
    Being a cunning little squirrel I took advantage of this and added my latest Evil Bay bargain Jubilee to the fleet, which means I now have 6, I also added officially my latest Royal Scott to the fleet to, which was a gift from some very good friends. Its in the preserved Maroon livery, but its a little stunner so will stay in this livery and enter the fleet, all it needs is headlamps adding and some very light weathering.
     
    Anyway time for a quick rant........ At the latest exhibition outing, a very nice Chap, commented that my freight trains were un-prototypical as there were too many tarps on the wagons, and that they looked totally wrong.
     
    Apparently they were the wrong colour, size and the lettering was all wrong, my heinous crime must have been totally horrific as he failed to notice the presence of the Elephant train on the layout.
     
    So I took all his remarks on board, as he left viewing the layout, still with the use of his legs, and with a little smug look on his face, I vowed to resolve the situation. So what did I do? Did I return home and remove every tarp from the fleet, NO I DID NOT, I applied even more to the fleet, and as the commercial ones were so WRONG I made my own.

    Apparently I can be a little stubborn from time to time, so I have to procure more open wagons and then I can have more tarps........HA READ THAT AND WEEP ANORAK MAN....
     

    Well I think the Domestic Overlord is about to send me to bed, so until the next time, as ever Happy Modelling
  12. paulprice
    Well it seems like ages since I have posted an entry on this site, AND NO its not because the DOMESTIC OERLORD has banned me, or anything like that, honest
     
    I have just been really, really busy and it gets worst, Foster Street is out at its first exhibition of 2016, at Fleetwood next weekend, and then its due at WIGAN, and I have loads to do.........and no time.
     
    I'm not in a state of panic yet, but I'm getting there....OH MY GOD WHAY HAVE I DONE......
  13. paulprice
    Well I don't know how its happened but I have managed to find a little time to actually do some modelling, and as a bonus the Domestics Overlord, very kindly allowed me a little time out from my manacles .
     
    Just in case the Domestic Overlord reads this, I'm sorry, I'm portraying the DO in a bad light, of course I was not released from my manacles................
     
    Anyway before anyone notices I'm taking a break from "black leading the stove" I better let you know what I have been up to. Foster Street is based loosely in the NorthWest of the country, deep in LMS territory, but those sneaky so and so's in the LNER have a habit of sticking their noses in. So with CLC influences in mind I slowly set about collecting a rake of LNER teaks.
     
    The initial idea, was to create an interregional train, and slowly I started to collect a few Dapol teaks to form this train, I even started to work on producing an example of a, wait for it GREEN locomotive, that I could attach to the front of this train, at the very least to save a poor LMS loco from the indignity of pulling this rake (even worst that this I actually have a second green LNER loco passing through the works).
     
    As the layout is set in the period leading up to Nationalisation, if you at prototype pictures from the time, most the passenger stock, had what you could describe as coating of grot, even on some of the major expresses. So I would be able to get out the old weathering brushes and apply some grot to the rake, or as some have said ruin them??







    All of the rake where attacked, sorry treated in my usual manner, with a limited (3 colours) of enamel and some good brushes, if you can tell from the photos the 3rd class coaches have got the worst of the grot, the Buffet and the 1st coach have only got a light layer, as most of the photo's I looked at from the period seemed to suggest they were cleaned a little more often?




    I think I still have a little to do on the rake, I think I need to work on the roofs a little more, and the under frame and buffer areas, and maybe apply a little more general grot? One thing is for certain I need to finish the locomotives for this rake then I can concentrate on stock from a proper company LMS LMS LMS LMS LMS LMS
     
    I can hear the DO approaching so as ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  14. paulprice
    Well despite the company I work for considering it acceptable for me to work nearly 24hours a day, 7 days a week, and then the demands of domestic life taking up what time I have left, I have still managed to find a little. and I mean little time for playing with my trains.
     
    With exhibitions looming for Foster Street, I should be looking at finishing off a few jobs on the layout, and giving the scenery a little refresh, I decided to spend time working on less vital projects.
     
    I have always had a bit of a thing for the old Farish Compounds, as a child I always wanted one, two or even more but despite looking at the relevant years catalogue, Santa never brought me one, yes the big guy must have just forgotten all about me, consistently year on year . Still I bear no grudges, because I am bigger than that, but if I ever meet the bearded old fart, it wont just be Rudolph with the red nose.
     
    Anyway back to the Compounds, over the last few years I have managed to accumulate a few (at bargain prices, I'm not tight I', just very prudent), anyway four examples managed to find their way onto my workbench. As every LMS fan should do, I have a thing for maroon locomotives, so the first for attention was a regular member of the Foster Street roster.

    A little black paint in the relevant areas makes in my opinion a big improvement to this livery, though it needs a steady hand with the paintbrush, and an attempt to add the missing yellow lining improves the loco (well I think so). A spot of weathering also helps hide my rough paintwork, and the removal off the moulded coal from the tender, and the addition of lamps and a crew means she is ready for traffic.

    I did say I had a bit of a thing for maroon locomotives, so another example had to join the fleet, a quick renumber and she is will receive similar detailing to her class mate, though I think she may receive a little heavier weathering.

    Not all my compounds are maroon, I have a few black examples, in a moment of madness I thought, I would liven up the livery by adding a little red lining, I thought it would be a simple quick job, I was so wrong. Shaking hands and a loaded paintbrush are not a good combination, so I think I may have to do a bit of a cover up job with a little weathering.

    The final example on the work bench, met with a nasty accident, I introduced her to my new snips and she is well on her way to conversion to a 2P, this one came with no tender, miss treated by her previous owner. She will soon get a new tender, I'm thinking she may get a Deeley tender just for a little variation.

    So there you have it, when you think about it, to get this lot finished would not take your average modeller busy for long, but this is me we are talking about, and I never rush anything, just ask the Domestic Overlord about my decorating speed (positively glacial ). One thing I want to get a sorted quickly is those undersized bogie wheels, I think I can feel a ponder coming on.
     
    Until the next time as ever happy Modelling
  15. paulprice
    Well I must have been a very good boy lately as the Domestic Overlord allowed me to play with my trains, so I took advantage of the situation and did a little work on some of the on-going projects cluttering up to workbench.
     
    Its been a mad few weeks, and modelling time has been in very short supply, so I decided to knuckle down and get some serious modelling done, and play of course play trains too, I mean the Domestic Overlord told me to play with my trains and as I'm such a good boy I did.
     
    So I decided to see if I could improve some of the older conversions and builds lurking in the loco fleet, so I looked at some of the none LMS prototypes in the collection, When I first built these locomotives my aim was to use old farish chassis to make something useful, and if they looked a bit like the intended prototype the better (notice I said a bit ). My other thought was that if I made a complete hash of it then being LNER prototypes who would be able to tell?
     

    This is my attempt to portray a J38, its on a chassis nearly as old as me, the problem was that I built the body while I was away working years ago, and then when I returned home and fitted it to the chassis is was a little over sized. I know the prototypes where larger than the J39's but by this much? Anyway I could have completely stripped it down and tried to reduce its size a bit, but just decided to repaint it instead, I then made it worst by adding lining, I think its in need of a lot more weathering to try and hide it and it might not be so bad (yes I know I need to paint the buffer beam).

    When I decided a few years back to make a J39, at least this time I had the chassis to hand whilst I built the body, it was made over a couple of weeks in various hotel rooms, and when it was originally painted the only enamel paint I could get was stove paint, the nearest model shop was over 200 miles away. Anyway I decided to repaint the loco, and again applied a little weathering, and its looking better, I just need to figure out where I put the buffers for safe keeping.

    Years ago, I was given what was left of I white metal casting that was supposed to be a B1, the previous owner had tried to convert it to a B17 for some reason or other, all I managed to save from the original was the smoke box and part of the boiler. Lots of filler later and various bits of brass and anything I could lay my hands on and it passed as a B1 (well to my LMS eyes anyway) to make it worst I finished it BR black. Then farish released their version and I lost interest, but being tight I thought I may be able to rework mine, a coat of mouldy apple green later, and more lining than was good to my sanity later and it looks ok? I know I need to finish the cab side lining, but it can wait, oh and I know where the buffers are they are the J39 ones

    Now back to some decent LMS locomotives, the first of two attempts to create a Parallel Scot is just waiting nameplates being applied, and the moulded coal removing from the tender, she runs ok all I need to do is figure out what duty to attach here to. I use to like the LMS post-war black livery, and thought it would have been simple to apply but it nearly sent me mad, weathering has helped to cover up my wobbly lining, but I think I need more.

    Finally these two are my attempts to create a couple of Semi Duchess's, again in my use to be favourite livery, crimson is far easier to apply trust me, they just need their names applying and a crew and they will enter the Foster Street roster, though its going to take some serious modelling licence to justify these on a secondary line.
     
    So that's about it, I nearly have some space on now on the modelling bench, or I will do when I finally complete all the other projects filling it up, and anyway Im off to play trains now, I mean complete so serious running in as ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  16. paulprice
    Well despite the constant demands of the real world, I have managed to get a little time to spend on the more important things in life MY TRAINS (of course if the Domestic Overlord is reading this, I meant my trains are the second most important thing in my life )

    Anyway a while back, I managed to get a Duchess locomotive at a bargain price from evil bay, which was in a terrible BR Green livery. Even though Foster Street is a secondary line, I thought I could find some justification in running one on the layout (I need to find a good excuse I have 4 now), but there was no way I could justify having one in BR livery.

    While the body was covered in paint stripper, I got to work on improving the tender, just by removing the moulded coal and replacing with some real stuff.

    That's when I had the idea to paint the locomotive into post war black, as I despite my love of crimson locomotives I have a soft spot for this livery, and to make it worst I thought I would attempt a "semi".

    It was at this stage in the process that everything stopped, that is until yesterday when I decided to start the lining process. Even though this livery was supposed to be a simple livery, in N gauge it is still a challenge, so progress is slow, all I have to do is line the cylinders and the tender and that's one side complete, easy or what

    The I can apply her number and name, and for the moment I think she might end up as City of London? What do you think?

    As ever until the next time, Happy Modelling
  17. paulprice
    Well lately modelling time has been in very very short supply, and then when I get the chance to spend a little time to do some modelling I cant be bothered
     
    I don't know about you but apparently when I am in these moods, I can be a real pain, personally I cant believe this as I'm positively wonderful all the time, but when the Domestic Overlord actually demands I do some modelling perhaps the is some justification.
     
    Anyway being a good boy, and always doing what I am told I went to the spare room under protest and did a little modelling. Of all the many projects I have been working on, the one that is proving to be a really slow job, is my attempt to convert a couple of older farish Black' 5s from the Poole era into something more usable.

    As in a previous entry you had seen how I had made short work of what some might say was destroying the original bodies, but with the help of my mini drill and various bits of metal, and plastic I managed to get them sort of resembling my chosen prototypes.

    This is where the work started to slow down and the detail work and trying to provide a good paint surface, seems to be taking an age. That's when I noticed another spare chassis, and in another one of may many boxes of secrets another part finished body.

    So yes you guessed it despite being a die hard LMS fan I started to work on a locomotive from a lesser company and I even decided to paint it green.
     
    That's when all the fun started, using an off the shelf brand of model paint, I gave the loco, what was supposed to be apple green. Then I opened the paint, it appeared to have a white layer, which after stirring for an age, developed into a blue colour, before finally turning green. I must admit I was impressed with the coverage, and the fast drying time, and I soon, had a green loco.
     
    I must admit I left the loco for a day or two as something did not seem right to my eye's, initially I put this down to the fact that my I was use to seeing locomotives in proper liveries like Crimson and Black, but it just did not seem right. So today I made my own concoction of paint, got the old brushes out and slapped the paint on, and I think I have actually got the colour nearly right?

    This is where I need your input, is the shade suitable for an LNER locomotive, if so I can think about lining and finishing before a coat of grot is applied?
     
    The other thing is am I going mad, is turning green contagious? as I now have 3 LNER machined in the fleet, is there no hope for me.......As ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  18. paulprice
    Well it was the weekend of the Warrington 2015 exhibition and the first time Foster Street has been at a 2 day exhibition. Despite varying degrees of panic leading up to the exhibition, mostly about whether the layout would stand up to 2 days of constant operation, and public scrutiny it seemed to have gone well.
     
    There were a couple of minor sticky points, namely when the shuttle unit decided to blow itself up, or when a couple of the locomotives decided to take a nose dive off the layout and then bounce of the floor but I suppose these things happen, apart from this the weekend was a very enjoyable one if very exhausting.
     
    However the highlight of the weekend for me, was the support I got from the team who came to the exhibition with me, the team certainly made a better job of operating the layout than I did and certainly kept the public entertained, especially with the making sure the Elephant train made regular circuits to entertain the younger visitors and of course me
     
    So Phil, Stuart and of course The Domestic Overlord Tim thanks for all your help, support and tolerance in effectively babysitting me for an entire weekend and keeping me away from the superglue
     
    Not only was Phil a good operator, even though he had a habit of constantly sneaking an SR locomotive into the storage yard, he managed to take some photo's in which he has managed to make the layout look presentable, so I thought I would include a few below.
     
    Until the next time as ever Happy Modelling
  19. paulprice
    Well, its been a while since my last update, and have I got anything to report, have a made major progress with any of my on-going projects? - ERR NO, I think I have lost my modelling mojo
     
    Even though I have had a bit of time available to spend on my modelling, and I have had active encouragement from the Domestic Overlord, I have not really done much modelling. Maybe its a psychological thing with me, maybe if I'm actually allowed to do something I rebel against it and don't do it
     
    Anyway what I have done is accept a few exhibition invites that take Foster Street on the road into 2018, so you never know I might actually get it finished by then, I mean how much longer can it take? I must admit I actually look forward to taking the layout out "on tour" even if the operating team and me should not be allowed to mix with normal people
     
    What I have been thinking about is a replacement for Foster Street and I have even managed to scribble down a few plans, so all I need to do now is start secretly building the new layout, without drawing the attention of the Domestic Overlord. I mean how hard can it be to hide another layout in our two up two down mansion.
     
    Until the next time, Happy Modelling
  20. paulprice
    Well its been a strange sort of weekend, I potentially had a lot of time to devote to doing some serious modelling, which could have resulted in some of the outstanding jobs on the layout being completed. However, I must have angered the Gods or something and my plans were smashed.
     
    The Domestic Overlord, bless their little cotton socks (well if you call feet like a hobbit little ) stated to come down with the dreaded lurgy during the week, which reached a crescendo on the weekend, which just happened to coincide with my condition playing up meant I did not have the motivation of energy to do anything serious.
     
    However being the stoic brave little solder that I am, despite a mountain of obstacles I actually managed to do a little modelling, and managed to do a little more work on additions to the locomotive fleet. My victims for this modelling session being my attempt to produce a passable Ivatt Class 4, a couple of Fowlers 7F's and a very, very vague attempt at a Parallel Patriot.
     
    So what have I actually done?
     
    Fowler 7F's
    One uses an adapted 8F chassis and one an extended 08 chassis (both seemed to run well and the Warrington Exhibition). The chassis despite my best attempts otherwise seem to run okay, though I need to get a etch pen to blacken the brass worms, and maybe add dummy inside motion to fill up the space below the boiler. I managed to number the pair, but as I applied some varnish to protect the numbers on one a couple of the transfers broke up. Still a bit of weathering (well a lot, even in LMS days some where filthy), and I may be able to disguise it. All I need to be is add a crew, when I can find them, and lamps and they should pass muster?
     
    Ivatt Class 4
    I have finally got the chassis working smoothly, and just have to paint out the lining on the cylinders, and do some work on the motion bracket, and fit glazing to the cab, and a crew, and a lot of weathering, but if you close your eyes, and have the engine behind you, it's a bit like the intended prototype.
     
    Fowler Parallel Patriot
    What can I say about this, well actually lots but it would be mostly bad language an I'm a good boy and mummy said I should not swear. Anyway there are still a few areas on this to work on, to say the least, in fact its so bad it even refused to have its photo taken, so you will just have to make do with a picture of it with the other loco's. I think this loco will be finished in lined black, but like many of my plans it's highly likely to change, though I kind of like lined LMS black, but any suggestions will be welcome.
     
    Anyway I have to get back to SNOT patrol with the Domestic Overlord, so until the next time, as ever Happy Modelling
  21. paulprice
    Well if this series of updates on my attempt to improve some of my motive power has not bored you to tears yet, I'm pretty confident that this entry might just tip you over the edge.
     
    With all the usual demands on the very precious resource of modelling time, I have not had a lot of time to spend on the various projects I'm in the middle of in the vain hope that I may actually complete one. In the traditions of all modellers everywhere instead of finishing projects, I even managed to start new ones.
     
    Anyway from the tray of doom, two locomotives have reached the stage where I am happier to release them onto Foster Street, all I have to do now is fit some lamps (when I can actually find them)

     
    SCOTS GUARDSMAN
    This loco, has been a bit of a problem for me, I bought it new when it was first releases, god knows how many years back. It never really worked well, so I added into the "needing attention" section of the fleet. Several years later I discovered that the "crappy" running was due to a DCC chip being fitted.
     
    Anyway I soon sorted this out by hard wiring the locomotive and the running was dramatically improved, so it was time to add a little detailing, a crew, adding and a spot of weathering is all I have done to this loco, for now.


    My aim was to portray a locomotive that looks like its been earning its corn, I have tried not to go over the top on the weathering, but my research has shown these locomotives in a terrible state.

    One day I think I may invest in an airbrush to help with weathering, as imagine the destruction I could unleash with one of these
     
    CRAB
    Simple modification to the tender involved the removal of the moulded coal load and replacement with some real stuff, and a crew fitted (I hate empty cabs)

    I have tried to restrain myself with the weathering as, I don't know why but I have a struggle "grottying" up lovely crimson locomotives (though if you see some of my Jubilee's you would not think it )

    Again she just needs some lamps fitting, and of course the missing tender vents (I knew I had something to do) and she will soon find herself at the head of a freight.
     
    Other projects.
    The two Duchess locomotives I have been working on, have not seen much progress, thought the tenders have been filled with some real coal. The one that was in a terrible BR green livery has received a nice black coat of paint, and some work to produce a "semi".

    I think she will look good in the post war black livery, all I have to do is decide what identity to give her?

    As for the BR maroon one, being lazy I'm trying to get away with a total repaint, and I might be able to get away with this as I have some pictures of the class in the war years, and you would be hard pressed to figure out what colour they are under the grime.

    Oh the joys of modelling, until the next time as ever Happy Modelling
  22. paulprice
    Well as the little cherubs at work very kindly allowed me nearly two hours of uninterrupted sleep this evening before calling me to kindly illustrate another example of their mind blowing ineptitude.
     
    So as I wait to see if the "intellectual giants" have the ability to remain conscious and follow the simplest of commands, I thought I would let you know about the progress of my latest project, that is if anyone is interested :if)
     
    As you know I model the years prior to the dark day the railways were nationalised, which means the majority of my stock requires some form of alteration if its from an RTR source. A couple of my pet hates (and I have many) are empty cabs and tenders that are always filled to the brim with moulded coal.
     
    So in an attempt to improve this situation on some of the as yet untouched members of the fleet I headed to the spare room to select my latest victims. I was lucky on the weekend, as the Domestic Overlord was feeling a little ill (no I don't mean I was happy they were sick) what I mean is because I am a totally selfless person I despatched the DO off to bed to get some rest, which meant I could have a couple of hours to "play with my choo choo's".

    So I took a selection of locomotives downstairs, armed myself with some superglue a Stanley knife, a selection of paint and other bits and bobs and set to work.
     
    First this to attack was tenders, like most N gauge modellers I al well aware that the Farish Fowler tender is far to long, and that scale kits are available (I have a load in the to-do-drawer), but they are quite heavy, and there are some simple improvements you can apply to the tenders to make them look better.
     
    So armed with the mini drill I drilled a series of holes as close to the tender sides as I dared, then joined them up and removed the moulded in coal, while I was at it I attacked the Duchess tenders in the same way.

    This is one of those deep breath moments as you always worry you will make a mess of things but its not that bad, a few minutes work with the knife and all traces of the original coal load is removed, I then apply a few strokes with a file to tidy up the sides and they are ready for the next step (its tempting to try to thin the tops to near scale thickness but this can be a bad idea, so I generally just try to thin them a little).

    The next stage is to decide how "full" you want the tenders to be and then cut some plati-card to form the base of the coal load. I know the Duchess locomotives had coal pushers and I intend to model these at some stage but these two (recent Evilbay bargains) are just going to have slightly empty tenders.

    Once the glue has dried I normally paint the area black, in preparation for a real coal load to be added, for the fowler tender I intend to model it as one with the tender vents at the back of the tender, so at this stage I'm not too worried about their absence. Seeing as I had the superglue nearby a locomotive crew was soon firmly attached to my fingers, a few minutes work alter and I had managed to get them in the Crags cab and the Scots too.

    To me the tender already looks much improved on the original? Seeing as I have finally got the Scot running sweetly after removing all that DCC rubbish and hard wiring it (long story), I thought it need a little weathering as even LMS express locomotives got dirty (some even filthy) so I applied the first stage by painting the cab roof, smoke box, deflectors and front footplate areas a dirty black colour.


    Which even if you leave it at this, gives to my eyes a least and improvement on the standard out of the box model, and more of an impression of a real loco? While I had the paint out I decided to paint all the wheel edges on the Duchess's to help hide the overscale look, and of course on any of the highly visible contacts, and that was about as far as I got

    What I need to do now is figure out where I have safely stored my coal, figure out which LMS liver to apply to the Duchess loco's and if one should be a Semi? and apply some head lamps, but most importantly hide the evidence of yet more trains from the Domestic Overlord.
     
    If anyone wants to find out if I manage to make a real "hash" of these projects, or if the Domestic Overlord finally works out how many trains I have and kills me, there may be an update following soon, but until then as ever Happy Modelling
  23. paulprice
    Well in my last post, I started to detail some of the improvements I need to make to a few of the locomotives in my fleet. I'm still working through this process, well I would be if...
    a) I had more time and
    B) I spent the time I have working on this projects instead of starting new ones.
     
    So guess what I did, yes your right I started some new ones, but only because I needed something to do while I waited for paint and glue to dry. So really I'm just being efficient, well that's my story and I'm sticking to it.
     
    A trip into the loft the other day (yes I don't get out much, I meant outside, not out of the loft or I would still be stuck up there) I found a couple of my old Farish models, which I just could not part with. The problem was what to turn them into, as I already have enough Black 5's.


    These models must be nearly as old as me, so I treated them with a little respect, and introduced them to Mr Mini-Drill and a nice cutting disc, and soon they looked a little different.

    I'm not going to tell you what I hope they will be when I'm finished, as I don't want people saying, "there's no way they look like a *****" Anyway thanks to a my habit of buying various bits an pieces at exhibitions, I soon found a couple of suitable domes, and chimneys that I could modify. After a bit of digging in the bits and bobs box, I found two lengths of a suitable boiler, and thanks to some superglue I soon had the basics of locomotives forming?

    up until this point everything seemed to be going well, and that's when it hit me, things were going well so I did the sensible thing and quit while I was ahead.
     
    So at this point until the next update as ever Happy Modelling
  24. paulprice
    Well its been a while since I have posted anything on here, mostly because like most people the festive season has not allowed much time for modelling, but also because I lost my "Mojo".
     
    So I had to look for inspiration, it was during this search that I discovered Amazon, and there supply of Railway books, so three astute purchases at a gran total of 58p, plus postage (I'm not tight, just prudent, despite what other people claim )provided a little inspiration and my "Mojo" started to return.
     
    An even better source of inspiration was found in the form of "holy water" which I had to imbibe, in copious amounts as for some unfathomable reason the fridge is full of the stuff

    Taking a decent amount of this stuff to the spare room, purely of course to protect the Domestic Overlord from having to drink the stuff I set about trying to finally get one of my locomotives running as it should.
     
    The victim, was my Farish Royal Scot, it has always ran "lumpy" ever since I bought it new, I had meant to get round to this a lot sooner as I have had the loco for 4 years plus, but always found something better to do. Anyway working in a logical way (which is not something I do often) I separated the loco from the tender. A couple of minutes later I had the body off the tender, and then I noticed the problem, a bloody DCC chip . For me DC is the way to go, none of this DCC stuff for me.
     
    I had bought this loco from new, and as far as I was concerned it was not DCC fitted, someone in the shop must have fitted the chip to demonstrate it to customers, thankfully someone on another forum kindly sent me some blanking plates, and it was not long before one was fitted. Running improved but it was still no right. After more investigation, it appeared to have an intermittent short, so I went back to old fashioned technology and I stripped the chassis down, and hard wired the motor.
     
    During this I also removed a lot of what can only be described as a white waxy/oily solid material from the motor/worn, but once reassembled the loco ran brilliantly, not bad for a 4 plus year project.

    Once I got this delinquent running sweetly, I decided to look at my Jubilee fleet, and although I have not hardwired any of these I did seem to remove more of the white stuff from two of them. So I decided to run the fleet, all I need to do now is figure out where I have "safely" put their nameplates and then maybe apply some more weathering?

    5690 Leander - Dignity saved by being repainted from a terrible BR Green livery (still needs a little finishing)

    5643 Rodney - Again another fallen lady rescued from a horrible BR Green livery (soon to be weathered)

    5682 Trafalgar - looking travel weary with a heavy train

    5699 Galatea - heading a semi-fast

    Pride of the line 5572 Eire, storming past the station on pilot duty, and in very clean condition.
    As you can see they still need, a little more work, but the time taken on them so far has improved their running measurably.
     
    Now its time for a little more liquid inspiration, if only to find an viable excuse to add another Scott and maybe a Jubilee to the fleet. Until the next time as ever as ever Happy Modelling
  25. paulprice
    Well its nearly a new year, and that means I can start even more projects, that will get in the way of actually finishing some of the ones currently in progress. I must admit some of my projects need to be stopped, in fact they should not have been started in the first place.
     
    Because I have been very good lately, the Domestic Overlord granted me permission to play trains so I retired with a glass of the hard stuff to the spare room and fired up the old transformers.
     
    Sometimes its just good to sit back and watch a couple of trains as they circle the layout, so it was not long before two locals were selected from the storage yard, the usual motive power substituted for something less run of the mill and I settled back to watch a Duchess and an 8F in action (well it is my layout )
     
    I always find that the good side to these sessions is that I get to have a good think, the Domestic overlord on the other hand would say that me having time for a good think is never a good idea, but as I always say "what could possibly go wrong??".
     
    So what was the outcome of this serious brain workout, well the result is the following set of targets, and questions I need to find answers to
     
    1. More of my stock needs to be weathered, so the target is at least to weather 2 items per week.
    2. There are too many examples of rolling stock that need lettering or numbers applying, so again 2 items per week complete.
    3. There are a few (actually lots) of areas where the scenic need to be improved.
    4. There needs to be more examples of the local population adding to the layout.
    5. Do I need to start to building a new N gauge layout (I have lots of GWR stock) does the world need another GWR layout?
    6. Do I need to start building a new 00 gauge layout (I have some blue diesel stock in the loft) perhaps it should stay there?
    7. Should I fit a draft Guiness tap to the spare room?
    8. Where did I leave my old camera as the new one is too complicated.

    So what I am to do? I think while I have a think I might investigate the supply of the Black stuff in the fridge and see how long it may last?
     
    As ever until the next time, Happy Modelling
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