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paulprice

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  1. paulprice
    Well apparently something called Christmas is approaching, which I think is just an excuse from the Domestic Overlord to stop me modelling, or at least playing with my trains. Yes you read that correctly, I meant it I PLAY WITH TRAINS and if anyone has a problem with that TOUGH
     
    Anyway the last couple of days have been quite fruitful for my trains set, I have given up referring to it as my layout, the so called "normal" people keep calling it my train set so I have given up.... This week has seen a little envelope arrive from Bachmann with a few replacement drawbars, so I can finally get some of the fleet back in action.
     
    This has meant that my recent rescue job, on a poor Jubilee that some evil manufacturer had painted in a terrible BR livery is nearly complete. Once her new drawbar was fitted she managed a few laps of the layout, all I need to do now is fit her crew and a lamps to the front and she will be fine, not bad for £45 dabs off Ebay

    I still think a little more weathering is needed, my luck was also in this week as another Ebay bargain arrived at Price mansions, for a massive total of £40 another Duchess was added to the fleet.

    I know its the older version, but with a little work, a reasonable model can be turned out, and hopefully a little effort on this one may be worth it. All I have done to this old girl was a quick chassis rebuild and she runs as sweet as a nut. Again the poor old girl has the indignity of being painted in a terrible BR livery, I do with the manufactures would stop this evil trait so I need to figure out what decent LMS livery to apply to her, and if I should attempt a semi???
     
    The final bit of good luck to land on my doorstep was a complementary copy of the Railway Modeller, along with a cheque for the article, which in theory means I can visit a model shop and make some astute purchase, or I could treat the Domestic Overlord to something nice (really what more could anyone want if they already had me in their life ) I mean after all accoriding to the endless adverts on the TV it is Christmas....
     
    So until next time BAR HUMBUG, sorry I mean Happy Modelling
  2. paulprice
    Well as Christmas day is rapidly approaching, the usual colds and sniffles have hit the Price mansions and the Domestic Overlord has been hit with the dreaded lurgy
     
    Every cloud has a silver lining though, and it has meant that I can play with my trains, so today I have managed to spend a hour our so just running trains around Foster Street.
     
    While I was doing this I a couple of thoughts hit me, one of which was a little concerning, do I have too much stock? The question raised itself from the depths as I looked for a couple of con-flats I knew I had somewhere, but could not lay my hands on. Eventually I found the con-flats all three of them, which is a bit of luck as I thought I only had two as well as a load of tank wagons I seemed to have forgotten and some Toad brake vans I just wished I could forget about
     
    So the first question is... If you have too much stock to put on your layout, does that mean you have too much stock, or as I suspect you need a bigger layout (I already have plans for Foster Streets replacement, but don't tell the Domestic Overlord its a secret).
     
    The second question, is..... Am I the only one who seems to connect certain types of locomotives with certain types of train? For example my Ivatt Class 4 does not seem right unless its at the head of the milk train. Or my Patriot seems to suit my parcels train, or the coal trains need 4F's. Does this happen to anyone else, of so let me know what locomotives you associate with which trains?

    As ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  3. paulprice
    Well its finally the weekend, and after the usual highly stressful week at work, I was looking forward to a couple of hours this morning playing with my trains (sorry of course I meant testing ).
     
    So the plan was to get up long before the Domestic Overlord, and get a few hours operating the layout in before the one "whose wishes are my commands" woke, with an inevitable list of lovely "fun" activities we can do in the run up to Christmas .
     
    Anyway I sneaked off to the spare room, fired up the controller, set the points and tried to run some trains, the first let the storage yard made its way to the front, the uncoupled halfway down its consist. Not a problem, a quick reverse of the controller and the train was re attached, two feet later it happened again.
     
    Not to be put off I set the track for the down circuit, sent a local out and it came to a halt just outside the tunnel, so I grabbed the trusty track rubber, crawled under the layout to the front and set to work......THATS WHEN IT HIT ME........
     
    In the past when people have moaned about having difficult stressful jobs, I always quote the mantra my first Boss use to constantly say "Stress is for concrete, Pressure is for tyres" but I think this may be wrong. As I was busy cleaning the rails I noticed something strange out of the corner of my eye.

    I was sure I did not put, a cow here, and I thought mine where brown and white, not black and white, still at least the track on the first board was clean, so I moved onto the second.

    Then the second strange thing happened, I knew I had two taxis outside the station, but one appeared to be wearing its "jimmy-jams", which I thought was strange as it should have been dressed properly by now? Anyway I had two boards with clean track and only one to go the station board, so I pressed on.

    Ten minutes later and all the track was clean, and trains could be run without stopping or uncoupling, and that's when I noticed the third strange thing. Call me stupid, but like an idiot I had forgot to put a headlamp on the local engine, god what a fool.
     
    So not wanting to have this obvious error on show for all to see, I went downstairs to see where the Domestic Overlord had securely stashed my supplies of Super Glue (apparently because I'm not safe to have it)and then it hit me, where had all those bloody Elephants come from.
     
    Maybe its time to give up modelling? I'm off now to a dark room to gently rock myself to sleep, until my next beakdown as ever Happy Modelling
  4. paulprice
    Well this morning as I awoke in Price Towers, an almost once in a lifetime thing happened, the weather reports on the TV were actually correct, it was freezing cold.
     
    Still like I told the Domestic Overlord as they lay there apparently shivering, the heating does not go on until we see Penguins marching up and down the streets (and I don't mean Nun's )
     
    Anyway as the Domestic Overlord was apparently suffering from "hyperthermia" I took advantage of the peace and quiet, well once I had closed all the doors and put the stereo it soon blotted out the noise supposedly someone shivering, coughing and spluttering.
     
    So I got my trusty weathering paints and brushes ready, put the fire on (to ensure the paint dried correctly) and applied some dirt to the latest victims.

    The targets today, where a Jubilee, Patriot, Ivatt class 2 & 4, and just for fun a couple of Stannier coaches. Using my usual dry brush method and a limited pallet and the grime was soon applied.

    I use to worry about applying a bit of dirt and grot to crimson locomotives, as you would think in LMS days they were kept clean, but a little research has shown that some of the LMS express fleet were for want of a better term filthy. Plus a little weathering tends to hide some of my lining issues so I think a little more may be applied?

    I always find black engines a little easier to weather, though I think I have been a little light with the Ivatt's but my excuse is that they have not long been out of the works so they have hardly had time to get dirty.
     
    As for the coaches, my main target was to get away from the uniform looking roofs, for these two I wanted to try to emulate a new to service look so I just applied a coating to look like they have just seen a lot of wet weather just like we would expect in the North West.
     
    Well all I need to do now is wait for the paint to dry, so to ensure a nice even finish I will leave the fire on for a little longer, and maybe have a nice coffee, then maybe see if the Domestic Overlord is still moaning about the cold.
     
     
    Until Next time as ever Happy Modelling
  5. paulprice
    Well its been a few days since the last time Foster Street was out on Exhibition, at the Weston on Trent show, and even though it was only a 1 day show I think I have just about recovered.
     
    Foster Street is back up in the spare room, ready to have a few minor repairs completed and to allow me to make a few repairs, mostly to scenic items which were the subject of the occasional prodding fingers.
     
    Maybe it was just luck but the fleet seemed to run well and we did not suffer any failures, and it gave me the opportunity to give some of the newer additions to the fleet a good run.
     
    Thanks co operator Phil, who kept refreshing the motive power on the trains, we managed to test the capabilities of quite a large number of locomotives. From this a few stars were identified, and a few of the locomotives acted like their real life counterparts (the 7F's started off a little lumpy but soon turned into "plodders")others like the ones assigned to the local freights and passengers performed just performed.
     
    So as I sit here in Price towers, in my gold sequined jacket, cravat and best san tropez fake tan, like some dodgy 70's tv host its time to have the first annual Foster Street awards.
     
    BEST PARALLEL PATRIOT
    Yes the award goes to , the best and only Parallel Patriot in the fleet, part on a never ending build, it made its first few laps very cautiously around the layout, but soon proved to be the best Pat on the layout

    She just needs her crew fitting, lamps and a little more weathering.
     
    ATTENTION GRABBER - IVATT CLASS 4
    Another one of my monumentally slow builds, my attempt to produce an Ivatt Class 4, certainly grabbed the attention of the visitors when assigned to the milk train. Especially with one visitor who wanted a better look, and quite happily lifted the locomotive from the rails, and must have like the loco that much as he was quite put out to return it to the rails.

    Again she just needs a little more weathering and lamps, and she appears to have lost a window, I just have to decide on the duty to assign her to permanently.
     
    MOST RELIABLE RUNNER
    The most reliable performer for the second exhibition running was my old "Mintrix" Ivatt 2-6-0, which regardless of her lamp code handled anything from local passengers to 30+ wagon freight trains with equal aplomb. So impressed I was by this performance I managed to find another example (to replace the one that blew up weeks ago) at a very reasonable price.

     
    However these three together are just mere runners up.

    The clear star of the show was one of the operating team, not the Domestic Overlord, but PHIL, who without fail, or hesitation each and every time the empty coal train with the Elephants on board, justified its appearance by remaking "WELL IT IN A TRUNK LINE", so Phil as soon as I have the "old flannel" trophy back from the engravers the award goes to you.
     
    THANKS MATE......... Until the next time as ever Happy Modelling
  6. paulprice
    Well its the day before the Weston on Trent 2015 exhibition, and I have kept my panic under control as I frantically tried to get Foster Street ready for its return appearance at the show.
     
    So knowing me better than most, I made sure that all of my usual tools of mass destruction, Superglue, Mini drill, Soldering Iron where well out of reach and I concentrated on what I thought were the more easily completed jobs.
     
    But it was no good I had to use the tools of Doom, and as the Domestic Overlord was not around to supervise me, or just to run around after me with plasters and bandages I cracked on.
     
    Well I took the car to the garage, did the shopping, some laundry, prepped the evening meal, and put the rubbish in the bin, which is no mean task as our local area is prowled by a creature of pure evil. A evil older than time its self, that roams its domain looking for new souls to torment and destroy, an evil that should have no name, but is called by it's owner "Snooky" yes next doors feral cat.
     
    Yes its sits on the bin, daring you to approach it and run the risk of its claws of eternal pain, and its fangs of doom, but armed with a mop, a bucket of water, though I would rather use napalm on the little sh** so saw it run off to a torment passing HGV's.
     
    After all of this I actually got some work completed, I completed the wiring, got all the points to work, fitted some magnets in the goods yard, and then remembered I left the adapted wagons at work AARRGGGHHHHHHHH. However this is not the worst disaster of today, that came with my latest Jubilee repaint.
     
    Thanks to the suggestion of Andy, I managed to apply the number 5690, applied the lining to the tender, and waited for the paint to dry prior to adding some weathering, with the aim of adding it to the roster at the exhibition, and disaster. When re-fitting the tender drawbar, one of the connecting wires broke. AARRGGGGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH so the loco will have to stay at home

    Still it means I have more time add the missing lining and tidy up the stuff that I have already applied.
    SORRY ANDY - Until next time as ever Happy Modelling
  7. paulprice
    Well another exhibition, gets dangerously close, and the pressure is mounting to finish off, all of the outstanding jobs on Foster Street. What a sensible modeller would do in my position would be to get on with these jobs, but I don't think I could ever be described as being sensible for anything, let alone modelling, so I have spent a little time on a couple of my on-going locomotive projects.
     
    There is still a lot of work to do on these, but if all goes well the crimson contingent on in the Foster Street roster will increase by 2 more, a Parallel Patriot and yet another Jubilee. I have cheated a bit by picking 5517 for the Patriot so I could get away with out nameplates, so I have only cheated a little bit ??
     
    The question is what identity so I chose for the Jubilee, I'm thinking maybe a North West based example, but I really have no ideas, HELP
     
    As ever until the next time, Happy Modelling
  8. paulprice
    Well its nearly time to start to start to panic, well only nearly or at least that's what I thought until I read Andy's latest comment about the Weston on Trent show being less than 12 days away.
     
    So now its officially time to PANIC, ARGH PANIC ARGH PANIC
     
    Its a return visit to this brilliant little show for Foster Street and hopefully there has been a lot of progress on the layout since its debut last year. Well I hope some progress has been made. As ever there are still a few jobs to complete on the layout prior to the exhibition, and I really should be doing these.
     
    The problem is though that I have very little time to spend on this part of the layout, I would love to blame the Domestic Overlord for this, but its all my fault, well some of it's Andy's fault (You know it is Andy). I keep getting distracted by crimson locomotives, well can you really have too many, you never know these may be finished in time for the Weston show.
     
    As with all these things my shaky hand lining in places needs to be tidied up, but I will get round to this when I add the black bands, well I will get round to it eventually, honest :angel:
     
    So if you need a laugh come and see Foster Street at the Weston exhibition, just don't throw any rotten fruit, it might excite the operators, until the next time as ever Happy Modelling
  9. paulprice
    Well I managed to spend a little time today to work on the backlog of Locomotives to add to the Foster Street fleet, and in my usual manner, unintentionally generate yet more projects to finish.
     
    Amongst other things my attempt to create an Ivatt Class 4 for the fleet took another small step towards completion, please forgive the very, very unkind close up, it does look a lot better from a distance.
     
    I managed to touch up a few areas, complete the alterations to the cylinders and add a severely mutilated crew to the cab, all I need to do now, is add glazing to the cab, finish off the pipework seen hanging from under the cabs, and then finish the weathering to that its in line with the tender Easy
    As ever until next time Happy Modelling
  10. paulprice
    Well the outstanding jobs on Foster Street are progressing well (that's it I have put a jinx on them), but I had one thing that constantly niggled at me, but I could not put my finger on it.
     
    Still as the time passed the same niggle kept popping into my mind, over and over again, all I knew what that the feeling was not a good one, so I knew the niggle would be the introduction to something bad.......
     
    Then it hit me, while I was stuck in yet another traffic jam, surrounded by cars with their drivers either texting their equally moronic cohorts or applying more make up to the increasing orange faces (not very attractive on a chap, it must be a northern thing), it hit me.
     
    ITS THE OPERATORS - it was obvious why did I not think of it before, being what you could call a the very summit of sartorial elegance (its better to be a leader than a follower ) I just assume that everyone would have the same standards as me, well obviously they would not be able to reach the almost god like standards I uphold but they could try, bless them, and then I thought about my motely operating crew.
     
    When this band is assembled, it looks like more like a Police line up, or a casting for Lord of the Rings, or even proof that there really is no missing link, anyway I resolved to ponder what I could get to bring this band together, and add some uniformity to the team, and help present a better standard (very loose use of the term standard ).
     
    I like a good ponder, given the team I had to find something that would bring them all together, the obvious things were thought about, such as cans of Special Brew, White Lightening and Kebbabs (the meat even the rats wont eat) and were quickly deleted from my memory (we cant have that on display the will be children present ).
     
    Anyway it then hit me, a quick phone call later and a local supplier had an order to produce the garments below, so the team will look, I would not say respectable but a little neater, at least for a brief period (I may have to get a snap of them posted) before they become stained with egg, sauce, coffee, and various other food related marks....still a chap has to try.....until next time as ever Happy Modelling
  11. paulprice
    Well I have managed a little more work on my attempt to rescue a poor Jubilee that an evil manufacturer had painted in a horrible mouldy green livery, apparently it was some strange BR livery. Anyway everyone knows these locomotives looked much better before they were defiled by repainting by a band of criminals, working for a major crime organisation called BR (well that's what happened in my mind at least).
     
    Anyway I managed to fit the nameplates, though these are that small, they are almost invisible from normal viewing distances, but at least I know they are there. All I have to do now is paint the buffer beams, apply a coat of varnish to the model and maybe a little weathering. Oh I nearly forgot, I need to add a crew, and re-fit the glazing to the cab, though I'm not happy removing the body from the chassis again, its a bit of a ###### to refit, so I may have to just use my old method of glazing cabs and start cutting the clear plastic.
     
    I even managed to do a little work on producing a couple additions to the freight roster, but the least said about these the better........ As ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  12. paulprice
    Well the Domestic Overlord abandoned me last night, so in a vain attempt to take my mind of the monsters outside the house waiting to get me, as I was home from work late, I had to make do with listening to the Wigan match on the radio, watching the World Cup opening on TV and maybe do some work on the re-livery of my Jubilee.
     
    So it was easy I had three objectives, and I think only one was marginally successful, for a Start Wigan got beat . The World Cup opening ceremony was terrible, and what was the point of that so called poet, as an ex-rugger player the only poetry we like are limericks and usually start with "There was a young........"
     
    However I did manage to get some more of the lining applied to "Rodney" and one side is nearly completed, all I have to do is apply "LMS" the second stripes of lining to the cylinders, add a crew, re glaze the cab.
     
    Then I have to touch up some of the lining (quite a lot of it), widen the crimson band round the cab, and maybe apply a little weathering (or a lot ), then add a crew, paint the buffer beams, add lamps (I still don't know what duty to assign her to) and then maybe she is complete....simple....OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE I DONE....until the next time as ever Happy Modelling
  13. paulprice
    Well as far as I am concerned when it comes to railways the work ended on the terrible day BR was formed , and the brilliant machines built by the LMS were given the indignity of being painted in "mouldy green" which suited the mediocre machine of the other railways more
     
    Right now that controversial remark has probably got a lynch mob formed screaming for my blood I must admit sometimes I really do wish I modelled BR if only for the ease of walking into a model shop and being confronted with almost endless options to spend cash.
     
    Anyway, in the past some ride people have remarked that I am as "tight as a camels ar*@ in a sandstorm" but I prefer to think I'm just prudent, but sometimes I have a relapse and my hand goes into my incredibly deep pockets and sometimes it reappears with some cash. On one of these temporary lapses of fiscal control I walked away from a local shop with a Jubilee to add to my collection (nearly a £40 saving).
     
    The only problem was it was in a terrible BR green livery, in fact it was so terrible I could barely bring myself to look at it, so it went into the "to do" box (I cant be the only one who has one of these?). Anyway it had hidden long enough and it was time to fix the old girl, and give her a proper livery to wear, LMS post-war lined black.
     
    So how did I decide on the name to apply to the old girl? Well I'd like to say that I thought long and hard about it, but being "prudent" I just picked the number for the nameplates that came with the engine, after all why else would anyone chose the name "Rodney"
     
    There is still a lot to be done, I need to apply the lining to the tender, and tidy up a bit, well actually quite a lot on the loco, and apply the number and nameplates, but its getting there slowly, and may be ready to be pressed into action for the Warrington Exhibition in October?
     
    Well if the Domestic Overlord, ever asks I have had the loco for years, and you can never have too many loco's can you, as ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  14. paulprice
    Well I don't believe it, (do not call me Victor)I have actually managed to get a little free time to work on the layout, with no interruptions.
     
    As you may recall, Foster Street is made up of three baseboards, which means two baseboard joints, one at the urban end of the layout and one in the country end of the layout. One of the things I don't like about moveable layouts is the gaps between sections, so on Foster Street I decided to hide one with a road bridge.
     
    The problem I have is that although I am a soldering God, its not the tidiest ever, so even more reason to hide it, there is still a little soldering to do and a little more ballasting when this is completed up to the board edges but that wont take long (its been 12 months already)


    So it was time to open up the tool box and get my all time favourite tool close to hand, NO NOT SUPERGLUE It also shows in the background yet another project I have on the go at the moment, I really must finish them.

    Before I got to work I contemplated the well know question, is the glass empty or half full, and I discovered the answer that has had people perplexed for years. ITS HALF EMPTY SO QUICKLY FILL IT UP AGAIN!!!
    The first thing I did was to replicate a track crossing, using my second favourite tool, yes good old fashioned superglue.

    I then looked at the area in the goods yard near the wood merchants, and thought it needed an office, so I thought if I put the office under the bridge it might help to take the eye away from the joint, and maybe look interesting. This liquid Black stuff is brilliant for the old inventive process.

    A few minutes, well it seemed like a few minutes later and I had it glued to the bottom of the bridge, so it pops when this unit is lifted off. All this creative work has given me a monster headache, so I'm off for a lie down, until next time as ever Happy Modelling
  15. paulprice
    Well its been a while since my last update, and you think I would have completed a lot of the jobs outstanding on the layout, well that's what I thought and I was wrong.
     
    I had forgot to factor in the "inconsiderate idiot" factor, yes unfortunately I have to work with clots who think it's perfectively acceptable to call me almost constantly from 4am until 12midnight, every single day to bang on about nothing, and then when you don't reply to the phone instantly they then decide to send texts.......
     
    The record this week is after getting my fist call at 5am, and working in the office until 7pm despite telling certain individuals I was going home to have dinner with the Domestic Overlord, decided very kindly to actually allow me 20 minutes freedom before, you guessed it calling, if you think those cold calls are annoying try my receiving calls from my little cherubs..Bless.
     
    Well today is Saturday and I had hoped actually get some sleep and a little time on the layout, but no, 4:30 am, the phone rings and...I contemplate murder. Still not to be phased I decided to get some jobs completed so I set about the layout.
     
    First job was to make a "rickety" fence around one of the Factory on the layout, you know the type that needs a little attention, so out came the card and the superglue and pretty soon, I had enough built to install.

    I even managed to knock together a gate as well, there is still a bit more to do on the gate, but that's when it happened, a I was painting the fence I dropped my paintbrush. As I bent down to retrieve it, I smashed my noggin on the underside of the layout OUCH (insert industrial language here )
    Still being a hard northerner I pressed on, as after all I had plenty of jobs to do, the next on the list was to improve the back of another factory on the layout...it was then I first noticed it....I was sure I saw an elephant.

    Moving on to the next job, I soon had the back of the factory looking a little better than it originally was.

    Right I thought all I had to do now was measure up so I could fit some water to the tank, I turned to get my ruler, and when I looked back...

    Now I was beginning to worry a little, but I pressed on, I still had to fit the water in the tank at the side of the Goods warehouse, a little measuring up and the job was completed.

    Again when I reviewed my work, again I noticed something that was just not right but I could not put my finger on it?

    It could worst, every time I looked at the layout there was something there that just did not seem right, something eating away at me but I could not for the life of me figure it out..

    THEN RELISATION HIT ME LIKE A BOLT FROM THE BLUE, HARDER THAN THE SHOCK OF HAVING TO OPEN MY WALLET, IT WAS OBVIOUS, IT WAS STARING ME IN THE FACE ALL THE TIME.......I WAS GOING MAD.........THERE WAS THE PROOF INFRONT OF ME........I HAD PAINTED THE FACA GWR GREEN!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I'm going for a lie down, as ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  16. paulprice
    Well you know how it is, our hobby is supposed to be a relaxing, fun one, but you know how it is you start chatting to people and before you know it you have made a commitment.
     
    That's what happened to me, I made a comment to a couple of chaps at the Warrington club one night that I had an LMS layout, they came round to see it, and before you know it the trap had been sprung and I agreed to take the layout to the October exhibition.
     
    Of course, none of this was my fault, I was totally innocent, just like when I sent an email to a certain Magazine and one thing led to another and I have a visit from a photographer in the very near future.
     
    So faced with this what else could I do but PANIC, PANIC, PANIC So I ran off and hid in the loft, even though it had Spiders, that's when the Domestic Overlord found me, told me to stop whining and actually do some modelling for a change.
     
    So where to start and what to do, I thought making a list would be a good start, but as the list got longer, I gave up and just started working the little jobs starting from the left side of the layout working to the right, and I have made quite a bit of progress.

    Station lighting was added to the down platform, this was recycled from broken street lights, but matches the ones on the up platform (yet to be broken).

    I managed to finally fit windows and doors to the station buildings, but like most things in N gauge from normal viewing distances you cant see them (that explains why its took so long, that's my excuse anyway ). I need to work on the gap at the bottom of the building but again looking at it without the camera you cant see it.

    I finally managed to fit a chimney to the down building, but lost my white metal pots so had to improvise.

    Carried away with chimneys I fitted the final missing ones to the street at the outskirt of the town, and applied a little weathering to the roofs, not sure though? So I was halfway along the layout, and you could actually see the progress, well I could.

    My attention then turned to creating a new surface for the canal, in an attempt to replicate that dirty look most of them seem to have. Flushed with inspiration I then set about a paintbrush the Domestic Overlord had very kingly procured for me to do some domestic painting, to provide some rushes/weeds (yes I know they need painting).

    The canal barges that I have been slowly building got a bit of attention, and have finally been painted in a colour I like, had cargo added, their LMS lettering and a bargeman added.

    I still need to add mooring ropes, paint the capstans on the canal side and maybe add a crane?

    I even managed to paint the facia, a rather nice shade of green the Domestic Overlord kindly picked out on Saturday for me, OH MY GOD HAVE I FALLEN INTO ANOTHER TRAP, DOES THIS MEAN I HAVE HOUSEHOLD PAINTING TO DO????
     
    If I ever survive you can see Foster Street at the Warrington Model Railway Exhibition in October, I will be easy to spot, just look for the downtrodden looking person covered in emulsion.
     
    Until the next time Happy Modelling
  17. paulprice
    Well another weekend, and another chance to do a little more work on Foster Street, so being the seasoned experience modeller that I am, I reviewed my list of outstanding/incomplete work, and decided to do something completely different
     
    I am supposed to be working on the storage yard and the correcting some of the alignment issues and to be fair I have done a little work on this, and I even managed to solder (or should that be more like weld) 10 tracks across one of the baseboard joints. I must admit it was a lot easier than I thought, and I didn't even set my hand on fire once.
     
    Anyway while I was sitting there gloating at my achievement I happened to look along the layout at the some of the stock I just have not got around to removing, and I happened to spot the siding containing what to mind my at least could become the Titfield Thunderbolt.

    Now is it just me, or when you set out intentionally to do something on your layout, no matter how much prep you do there is always something that gets in the way of progress? But when you, start something off the cuff it turns out to be quite productive. Well I think I have had one of those sessions today, either that or I have found a way to stretch time, so that it passes very, very slowly, a bit like when the Domestic Overlord makes me go to "Ikea" then time positively stops

    A little work with my mini drill and my favourite superglue and I managed to slice two coach bodies together and cobble them on to a donor chassis and the Titfield passengers at last had a means on transport. So it was on to applying a little paint to the stock, easy I thought, but the previous owners had it appeared has applied a terrible blue paint with a trowel. To make matters worst they had decided to glue the models solid so I could not take the apart to paint them, without doing some serious damage.
    The initial coat of a very light blue/grey was applied to the brake, and cattle vans and the coach and to my eyes at least its beginning to look the part.

    So there you have it, I have managed to increase the number of outstanding jobs for myself, I still have to fit the balconies, then another coat of paint on the coach, then paint the iron work on the wagons black, then get around to weathering the 14XX, but I may swap this for one livered "GWR" from my stock (you can just see glimpses of this livery in the film).
     
    The big question is, why on earth have I got GWR stock, did I but it in a moment of weakness, or is it there so that I can look at it occasionally to remind myself of how great the LMS was in comparison, only kidding don't send out a hit squad. As ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  18. paulprice
    Well just like unexpected visitors, that turn up, and then never seem to take the hint to go away, or those people you see when your out that you want to avoid with every fibre of your being, that recognise you before you can leg it, well another project has fallen into my lap.
     
    The Domestic Overlord, decided to abandon me today, and leave me alone an innocent in a cruel, cruel world, so once they had buggered off and left me to fiend off legions people knocking at the front door, I decided to have a filling and healthy breakfast of choccky biscuits fizzy pop
     
    (you need all the energy you can get, when fighting of the legions people who want to leave you a magazine so you can repent your ways and "witness" a better life, surely they should have realised by now they should address me as "my Dark Lord") .
     
    Anyway, I decided that I had already corrupted enough souls this week already, but headed to a well known site of corruption and avarice my local model shop. As I always the case you go in for one thing and come out with something totally different. Today did not break this habit, so I left with 3 second hand additions to my rolling stock collection.
     
    I managed to procure a GWR Toad and a couple European 4 wheel drive coaches, when I got them home I plonked the Toad, and one of the Coaches on the layout, with a cattle wagon that just happened to be near, and then it hit me like a "Thunderbolt", I need more cattle wagons.

    Oh and if your wondering the Domestic Overlord, soon returned home, who said all stories had a happy ending???
     
    As ever until the next time Happy Modelling
  19. paulprice
    Well after being at work for a monster 17 hours, not including travelling time (I know what your thinking, it's not one of my ploys to escape the demands of the Domestic Overlord ) my boss said that I could take a day off to recover. So in typical fashion, despite being "dog tired" I could not sleep, so I needed to find something to do to help me maintain my delicate metal state, so I tried to do a couple of little jobs on the layout.
     
    So the first thing I thought I would tackle was the lining of one of the storage trays I have made with foam, everything was going well, I managed to get one tray finished, and then boredom hit me and I gave up, well at least one of them is finished. All I have to do now is line the second one and them build the remaining two trays, but I think this can be a job for another day.
     
    So I decided to tackle one of the other outstanding jobs, and see if I could start to tidy up the viewing side of the layout by finally adding a facia to the boards. I must admit I'm quite pleased with the progress on this. I have used one of my favourite materials mounting board, which I cut to follow the contours of Foster Street. This was then glued on to the front of the layout, and even though they have not been painted yet, they have certainly made a impact on tidying up the presentation of the layout (all I need to do now it to decide what colour I should paint it a nice black or LMS Crimson). Before this though all I have to do it fill in a couple of gaps in the scenery and the job should be complete simples (I know something is going to go wrong, but what.......
     
    Well it nearly went wrong with the weathering, in an attempt to make Foster Street look more dirty and industrial, I have slowly been weathering the layout with the help of Humbrol powders. I must admit this is the first time I have used these things and I am quite impressed. I'm also impressed about how much I seem to be applying yet when I stand back and look at the layout it just looks like it needs more. I think I have managed to get the basics right on the track to represent areas where locomotives stand and drip onto the permanent way, but like most of the jobs on the layout there is still a lot more to do.
     
    Until the next time, as ever Happy Modelling
  20. paulprice
    Well its been a while since I have posted an update on here, but over the last few weeks things have sort of got away from me a little. A bout of poor health and a poorly laptop have seriously stopped me from doing any real modelling on the layout, well at least the type of modelling you can actually see some form of progress.
     
    What I have managed to do with very helpful assistance from the Domestic Overlord is to fit to half of the layout some new alignment dowels, which should take away huge amount of stress at exhibitions. When complete this means I will relay part of the storage yards to finally cure the alignment issues, but this is physically a little beyond me at them moment.
     
    One of the things that Foster Street's exhibition debut last year, and through various sessions of playing trains, is the amount of time taken to un-box and re-box stock and the amount of damage this does to the boxes, sometimes the stock but more importantly to my delicate mental balance, (Farish boxes ARRGGHHHH )
     
    Anyway on one of those fantastic trips the Domestic Overlord treats me to, where I get to drive to a superstore and get to push a trolley, and fill it with things I don't like, which apparently are good for me, and then because I am such a good boy I get to pay for it too at the tills, I was rewarded for being extra special. Yes because I was such a good boy, I was allowed to stand outside a well know stationers and told not to scare the passers by and to keep out of trouble. It was then that I noticed the "really useful 4 litre storage boxes".
     
    A quick nip into the store, set my brain working, and I was convinced that they could be good for storing my stock in not only for Exhibitions but also at home, so before I was busted by the Domestic Overlord, I quickly nipped back to my post outside the store, and waited.
     
    Well today, I put my scheme into action, and after getting a load of plywood cut, I have managed to construct two trays (I have enough for a total of 4) each of which will hold 16 coaches, or the same number of Locomotives?? All I need to do now is decide if I should line these with some thin foam I have in stock, or some baize material to help protect the contents?
     
    Its nowhere near finished yet but so far at well under £10 a box its very appealing to my more frugal side, add that to the £2 I got standing outside the shop, by two passers by who gave me a £1 each and said I could keep the magazine............the world is full of strange people.
     
    Until the next time as ever Happy Modelling
  21. paulprice
    Well my attempt to create a passable impression of an Ivatt Class 4 (a very vague impression ), sort of ground to a halt, it was not because I lost interest, it was just that I found lots of other things more interesting.
     
    However I was spurred into action because of Ebay, the acquisition of a old Minitrix Ivatt Class 2 in a horrible condition (mint but with a British Railways number and emblem, of the inhumanity)meant I had to get some transfers to get the old girl in a decent livery.
     
    So I thought to myself (I often talk to myself but that leads to arguments) if I am going to number 1 loco I might as well number 2, so I corrected a couple of areas that had a painted finish I did not quite like and the transfers were soon on both Ivatts.

    As you can see from the photographs there is still lots to do, I need to fit the glazing, paint some of the more visible engine parts black, and of course more pipework, and then a bit or a lot of weathering. It hides a multitude of sins and in this case I think I need it, I may apply it with a trowel.


    Still it looks like I might have another addition to the Foster Street fleet, the problem is there are so many little projects on the go that just take all you valuable modelling time, well that's my excuse anyway....

    Can you tell what it is yet, because I have not got a clue.......until next time as ever Happy Modelling
  22. paulprice
    Well in the last couple of days the Domestic Overlord has been very gracious and allowed me a couple of free hours, from duties around the house.
     
    Being unaccustomed to such freedom at first I sat there in the skirt I borrowed, from next doors washing line caked in blue face paint contemplating plans to free other such enslaved modellers and leading a revolt against all the oppressors in the country, and then I thought, sod that I'm going to do some modelling.
     
    So still wearing the skirt (purely for reasons of comfort) I set about finishing off the re-numbering of various locomotives that have been patiently waiting for their identities. For this I use transfers from the FOX range as not only do they cover every variant you will ever need but they are really easy even for me to use.

    Now if you have ever re-numbered an N gauge locomotive, you will know how difficult it can be sometimes to get the numbers lined up. However the process went without any problems, and so they were soon ready to be sealed with varnish, as this is a job that needs some close up work, I got myself ready and it must of been the fumes because.................
     
    "Billy Grimes how many times do you need to be told the keep quiet, if you carry on you won't see your next birthday! There is no such thing as Mickey Mouse, and if there was he would not be seen, anywhere round here. Now get out from under my feet, and don't you come back dirty, its not bath night until Sunday".
     
    So I headed off to see if I could meet Mickey Mouse as the lads at School said they had seen him down at the Station yesterday, so to a master detective like me it should be easy to track him down.

    Every good detective has his snitches, so I'm off to ask Joe, he knows everything, and he will tell me as nobody can resist the "Grimes interrogation". Ha the weak minded fool, he coughed up that "mickey" would be here in about ten minutes, so I pick my spot and wait.

    Well what a waste of time that was, ten minutes waiting and all that happens is a old local runs in, as if Mickey would be on a train like that.

    Still nothing will stop super sleuth Grimes so I will look around for clues, and if I happen to do some train spotting along the way bonus.

    A strange grinding, wheezing sound coming from the goods shed, breaks my concentration but as Sherbert Bones, always says the game is 12 inches, or a foot or something.

    This thing must be a way of moving sheds to customers, it must be a new service after all they moved Aunt Violets sofa by train all the way from Manchester. That's is LMS stands for "London Midland Sheds". They can't be doing that much business as its not moving very fast and its leaking creosote everywhere, old Joe said it was a new diesil, but it does not look new to me.

    It must be waiting for its customer, as it was soon dumped at the end of the siding, at least its not making that horrible nose now, and I have resolved the mystery its not a shed its a pigeon coup, which explain all the lovres. Well now that's solved back to the missing mouse, a distant whistle means another train is due, perhaps this one will have the elusive Mr Mouse.

    Well I give up, no sign of Mickey Mouse just another one of these stupid new locomotives, but you have not fooled me Mickey Mouse, you wont escape my eagle like sight for long....................
     
    Anyway, back to varnish fumes, apparently they can be quite strong and if you inhale them they can make you go a little strange, maybe to other people but not to an experienced modeller like me. Until the next time Happy Modelling
  23. paulprice
    Well its been a while since I made a posting on here, but I have managed to escape the constant toils wracked upon me by the Domestic Overlord and I have managed to spend some time working on Foster Street.
     
    With a couple of exhibition dates looming there are many jobs I should be spending my time on (the major one being improving the storage yard and track alignment) but you know me that would be too easy.
     
    Of the many ways the Domestic Overlord never ceases to amaze me, is the ability to be able to find me a list of jobs' from absolutely nowhere, usually accompanied by remarks like "if you had nothing to do you would be bored", but I have discovered that my talent to make endless jobs for myself even surpasses the DO
     
    Anyway my intention was to finally re-number a couple of the locomotives in the Foster Street fleet, and I managed to get two black fives completed. The problem is whilst waiting for varnish to dry, it like hardcore paint drying watching, I thought I would complete or start a couple of those little jobs we all must have.
     
    The problem is do we ever realise how many of these jobs we actually have?

    Yes what might look like a loco spotters dream, is actually turning into my nightmare, there are 12 locomotives, clogging up the branch storage yard that all need some work. The good news is that some of them just need crew adding, some a little weathering, some a little more.............WHAT HAVE I STARTED
     
    Until the next time, as ever Happy Modelling
  24. paulprice
    Well its been a while since I have posted an update on here, its not that I have not been doing any modelling, its just that what little time I have had to work on the layout, has been taken up with those jobs that just eat modelling time.
     
    As I am rapidly approaching the big 40, I have noticed that more and more parts of everyday life are just there for me to moan about, I mean is it just me? it can't be?
     
    Anyway one aspect of modelling that really gets to me is the lack of headlamps on locomotives, I know we accept lots of compromises in our hobby, but I'm putting my foot down (yes I have re-discovered how to throw tantrums)
     
    So with my favourite weapon of mass destruction aka Super glue I set about adding lamps to some of the fleet, it was not long before my left thumb had the express passenger code fitted, and my right forefinger was ready for an unfitted freight, but I also got some fitted to the fleet.


     
    It was only after I had had a couple of the trains running around the layout that I noticed that a couple of the little "brilliance" crystals were missing from the lamps


    AAARRRGGGGHHHHHHHHHHH until the next time, as ever Happy Modelling
  25. paulprice
    Yes I am still alive, I have not been killed in some strange million-to-one accident that left my body bruised and broken, and the Domestic Overlord, suffering from the pain of loss cruising the Bahamas with only brilliant scenery, weather, and an endless supply if cocktails to make up for missing me
     
    Hang on I have just noticed an Airline ticket for one on the kitchen table..............
     
    What I have been doing is adding little details to the layout, and trying to finish off all those little jobs you tend to ignore/forget about as we move on to the next more interesting job.
     
    One thing I have noticed is "dust" it seems to get everywhere on the layout and some of it is of the cunning variety, as you do not notice it until you take a picture and there is it, blowing a raspberry at you. Well not for long, you mark my words you have not beaten me yet, I just have to remember using the hoover to remove it, removes a lot of other things too (street lamps, animals, and even wagons.....)
     
    What I have concentrated on today is adding a little detail to the yards, and shops on Foster street, and it appears to be washing day, I know the "privies" need doors and I have made them its just that they have been stolen, by that well known breed of dog you see in the TV adverts.
     
    Yes I know he steals the toilet rolls in the adverts, but up North where everything here is lot tougher they tend to steal the bog doors.
     
    Until the next time as ever Happy Modelling, and keep and eye out for those pesky dogs
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