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AlfaZagato

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  1. AlfaZagato

    OO Gauge MR 700 Class

    By AlfaZagato,


    Kitbuilt
    Just received this lug in the mail from TMC.  If anyone remembers, I have a penchant for ugly locos. 

     
    I lucked out, though.   Built, running, painted not only in the right color for my collection, but numbered correctly as well.   About the only disappointment is the builder made absolutely zero provision for a rear coupling.   I have ideas.  
     
    Main problem is that there is no substructure behind the rear tender axle.   Nothing to drill into, nothing really to glue to. 
     My first thought was to add a block.  I've had bad luck with such arrangements before.   Even 5-minute epoxy doesn't quite grab well enough against a train.  
     Second thought is an L-bracket, soldered at multiple points.   That then brings the issue of my lack of talent at soldering.   
     Third thought is running a long bolt up through the footplate.   Probably the best cross between strength and simplicity.   Problem there is how to disguise the top of the bolt.   I thought of fabricating a toolbox to cover it.   I've seen no evidence from what few pics I can find that such a toolbox was ever carried by the class.
     
    She runs OK on the test plank.  Won't have access to a layout until next month for a good run, though.
  2. AlfaZagato
    No fault on Jidenco, but man am I bad at this soldering thing.   Real happy I didn't dive straight into the 3F.
     
    So; 

     
    Old kit, methinks.   I have option B, the 12t 1-planker.  I also don't have wheels for it.
     
    I fussed with it some years ago, when I first picked up the $10 stick-iron from Radio Shack.   Back when there were Radio Shacks.

     
    The mess on the bottom is from back then.   Trying to tin the thing.   Never got it quite clean.
     
    I'm a little better equipped now, though I guess 180-grit sandpaper isn't enough.   This is what I ended up with at the end of the night;

     
    I also really don't have good clamps for this.   Smallest clamps I have with any grip are 2".   Ended up bending the body at one point.   I also couldn't get the solder to flow.   I may have been generous with the flux.   I was under the impression that was right, though.    I don't know.   I need to order one of those scratch-pens.    George Dent suggests such a thing in his guides, and I've found myself agreeing with his methods before.
  3. AlfaZagato
    I bought an N20 motor a couple of weeks ago, along with a pair of 3D printed gears to fit 1/8" axles & the N20.   My original thought was to fit it to this small LNER tank I picked up at an estate sale;

     
    While the motor would probably fit, it won't fit between the frames.   Which means needs to angle into the boiler.   Which hasn't enough space. 
     
    Playing around with the brass chassis, I think it was made undersized.    The chassis will 'walk' on my test plank.   I need to see if I can spread the frames some.  Hopefully, if I can drop the motor into the frame, this'll all work.    I might use the N20 on another project, though.
  4. AlfaZagato

    False Starts

    By AlfaZagato,

    I've managed to mangle two projects tonight.    I've taken no pictures, in absolute shame.
     
    Firstly, I had done a very rough cut of a baseboard for my shoebox layout.   General idea was that I could build the whole of the layout on the plywood, so that I could work on it without destroying the box.    Problem with my cutting the baseboard myself is I only have a ripsaw, triangle, and tape measure handy.   Nary a sawhorse in sight.   Also, the sheet I started with wasn't square in the first place, so I wasn't expecting a great result.    I didn't get a great result.   Ripsaw wandered horribly; I ended with not a single straight edge.   At first, I tried to rasp down the worst of the sides, but I grew impatient, and the rasp was following the curve of the piece, negating any benefit I might gain from the exercise.   Hence, I tried to cut the balance off with my miter saw.    That didn't work too well.    I'll need to start again, and go somewhere I can use better facilities.
     
    Secondly, I managed to further ruin a wagon detailing project I started.    I've long had one of the Farish Macaws, and a book I picked up recently had an image of three Macaw B's and four Macaw J's(?), carrying a load of large pipe sections.    I think I managed to mess up my measurements.    The caption lists the pipes as 5'7" diameter.   Bringing this down to British N, I come up with 0.45 inches.   The nearest equivalent tube size I've found is 7/16, or 0.43 inches.   But, two sections abreast leaves me no space for the bracing evident on the bolsters.    I'm confused.    I've also cut my lengths like absolute trash, so I'll likely pick up new tube.   I just need to figure out of I have done my math wrong.   Any help there?
  5. AlfaZagato

    Done

    By AlfaZagato,

    Sorry I've been quiet.   Just haven't taken time to write here.
     
    Firstly, I finished the two cars I've been dragging out. The Volkswagen;

    Paint did not come out perfect, but still.   This has been sitting half-built in my backlog for over a decade now.   Lack-luster paint was less important than finishing the build.
     
    Next, the Alpine-Renault;

    Paint is markedly better, but the decals tweaked on me.   I've had bad luck repeatedly with Tamiya waterslides.   I'll still use them, though.   I don't really want to spend more money on these kits.
     
    Number three here is kind of a bonus;

    The car in the back is a Tamiya Mini Cooper I built a number of years ago.   I saw how the Lego one was marked, and I just had to grab it.    I'll let you all guess.
     
    You might remember I entered a Gundam build contest, to build a Leo.  Well, this;

    ...won me second place!   Not the picture, mind you.    This Leo looks better in person.
     
    I lost to this;

    I'm OK with that.   He started with the same kit I did.   Where I only cribbed weapons and a gimmick piece from other kits, he kitbashed his Leo with one of the trashy Tallgeese kits from the 90's.   I don't know if you in England had access to those kits, but don't feel like you missed out on much.  The winner did one hell of a job making Vesuvio from blight.   Kudos to him.
     
    The contest was last Sunday, but I finished the two cars and the Lego two weeks ago at least.    I haven't really done much else since.    Rain and a return of the chill shut down the paint shop.   We'll see how things go. 
  6. AlfaZagato

    'New' Coaches

    By AlfaZagato,


    Ready to Run
    I purchased a coach lot off that auction site.   Lot was listed as 'LMS Coaches,' and at a reasonable price.
     

     
     
    Here's the row.   I needed to have looked closer before committing.  I'm not certain on how much use any of these will be.  Reasoning there, I'm looking for coaches for a preordered Improved Precedent in LMS black.   I don't fancy buying more kits right now, either.
     

     
     
    Two Lima vans.   I'm pretty certain the CCT on the right does me no good.   I've read somewhere that something can be made of the bogie van on the left, though.   I think it was Railway Modeller earlier this year.
     

     
     
    Two Hornby items.   The TPO is a little goofy.   The BK, I don't know.   Looks an awful lot like a Mk. 1 to me.   Not much use either way here.
     

     
     
    Dapol here.   The composite looks reasonable.   Not a mainline coach, I don't think?   The brake, again, looks like a Mk. 1 to me.   Also, the brake would need new bogies.   Wheelsets won't stay in the existing bogies.
     

     
     
    I believe this was a Triang.   That roof is painful.   Just, really painful to my eyes.
     

     
     
    Mainline, here.   Coach on the right I'm pretty certain is what I was after - Mainline's Period 1.   Looks decent to me, too.   That other coach.   Such heavy lines on the roof...
     

     
     
    Finally, my mystery coach.   No make on undercarriage.   Looks like another Mk. 1. 
     
    So, is there anything else here that I could really use?
  7. AlfaZagato

    Valentine 3

    By AlfaZagato,


    Kitbuilding
    So, the Valentine is at a pausing point;

     
    As I mentioned before, the tracks that came with the kit are worthless.   I will be picking up the aftermarket tracks for this at some point.   Not right away, though.   I just bought an old Celica.   That's going to be a money sink for a minute.   Shame it's still winter.   Doubly shame I haven't a garage.   Working on the Celica is going to be fun.    We'll see.
  8. AlfaZagato

    Guess What?

    By AlfaZagato,

    I seem to be making quicker progress on the Tau.   I am currently picking-out panels and the bodysuits with Vallejo English Uniform.   
     
    My original plan for the battlesuits (big dudes up front) was to use English Uniform on the visible frame.    I felt that the contrast was too sharp.   Painting the frame this color would have been overwhelming.   Instead, I turned to picking out a fixed pattern of individual panels.   There is still variance, but such is present on the model itself.   Below, I have a detail shot of four of the five types of model I have in the army, and how the splits work;

     
    Most of the English Uniform was and will only painted with one layer.    I am losing motivation to work on this project.   This army has overwhelmed my workbench, though. 
     
    I played with Silly putty as a mask on the Magister.   I think it turned out well;

     
    Damn sight quicker and easier, as well.  I did end up with ridges on the dark earth, though.   I'll have to experiment some more.   Still, I couldn't manage these hard lines freehand.   Masking with tape or film is a pain.   We'll see in the future.
  9. AlfaZagato

    Game Out, Game In

    By AlfaZagato,

    I've finished a couple of projects.
     
    The Tau you have all become tired of;

     
    And the Miles Magister I've mentioned in passing here and again;

     
    I could likely have finished the Magister some time ago.   I was more concerned with finishing the Tau and clearing them off of my bench.
     
    Finishing two projects means returning to another.   I have started painting the Infinity JSA;

     
    The included tutorial was unclear about what needed what color.   Also, the tutorial only covered one type of model specifically.   I'll need to try and find guides for the rest.   We'll see as time wears on.
  10. AlfaZagato
    Sorry I didn't post last week.   Culmination of excuses led to no work done at all.   Shameful, but I suppose this is a hobby.   Modelling is neither my job nor my life.   Sometimes, I need to realize that.
     
    Anyways, I've started streaming!  I figured, should I be able to drum up enough interest, I might turn a buck or two doing what I do anyways.   So I started a Twitch.   New laptop for it and everything.  I'll link it below.
     
    With the energy I've found from having a reason, I pulled out another kit to build till prime.   An oddity I found at a flea market, a Union 1/24 Renault 8 Gordini.   I thought $6 was a good deal, as I've seen it listed for $50 or more on eBay.
     
    Not a good deal, terrible kit.   Just completely atrocious.

     
    The seats, pedals, and exhaust manifold are all soft vinyl.   Superglue seems to stick, but I can't trim or cut it cleanly for the life of me.    Quality is dodgy, too.   Mold lines everywhere.   The tires are especially bad.   Engraving and surface detail is pathetic.   Some weird, at least to my experience, engineering decisions, too.   Like those fenderwells being separate.   I don't know why.   Errors in the directions don't help.
     

     
    I can't say anything either way about the body tooling.   Lots of mold lines here, too.   Shape may or may not be ok.   Admittedly, I've never seen a Renault 8 in person.   Honestly, I think I've only seen three Renaults of any nature, two Dauphines and a 4CV.   All rotted severely.   Didn't buy the one Dauphine that was for sale.   Thankfully.
     
    So, yeah, the stream.   I tend to stream at 7pm CST Monday to Thursday as of now.   See here for the channel - https://www.twitch.tv/alfazagato/ - the schedule should adjust for your time zone.   I hope you'll join me.   If not, next week?
     
  11. AlfaZagato
    Apologies for skipping last week.    The 26th was my birthday.   I hopped around some hobby/game shops in Chicagoland, then played X-Wing at the local.    Friday got out-of-hand, but that's neither here nor there here, is it?
     
    As of Christmas Eve, I putting the Infinity on hold.    I plan on using some patterned Plastruct sheet to dress-up the bases.   I find myself without a compass or circle-cutter of any nature, though.   Except, may, a brace-&-bit, but that would be excessive.

     
    The lady in green, named a Kuge delegate, didn't come out quite as I intended.   Still, I'm satisfied for now.   She is only an objective marker in the game, anyways.
     
    I turn, then, to a nagging project in the workshop; building more Tau.   Thankfully, these Citadel gaming kits knock together - sort of shake-the-box.   I had the infantry squad built in four sessions;

     
    Done and away for the season.   Next came converting the Ethereal the box comes with into something more useful, a Cadre Fireblade.   Simple job.   I removed a collar, added arms and a head spare from the squad, and mangled the cloak.  Oh well.

     
    In focus just behind him is the next stage of the box; Crisis suits.   They will be a little more involved.   I must add magnets.
  12. AlfaZagato

    Scooters 1

    By AlfaZagato,

    Apologies for the lack of update last week.   I was with friends till late.
     
    I admittedly haven't done much.   I sprayed additional coats of color on the scooters;

     
    Decided on green with the Honda.   Probably ruined the paint on the Yamaha.   Well, I'll (eventually) take a closer look.    Other blog will be updated, as the only other modelling I've done is more pertinent there..
  13. AlfaZagato
    So, two weeks & 156 track links in, I realize I have the wrong hafltrack;

     
    What I have here is a Sd. Kfz. 250/8 Neu.   What I needed was a Sd. Kfz. 250/8 or the like.   The hull is wrong, noticeably so.    Should feature a peak about midway down the crew area.   I'm really annoyed as I spent much time fiddling to get the tracks assembled.   I'll have to keep an eye out for the correct 250 from Dragon, so I can use these tracks I've already finished.
     
    I started building another giant robot;

     
    This thing is called the Vigna Ghina II.  Suit did not appear on screen, though the kit is a regular release.    I don't get Bandai sometimes.   This Gunpla I will probably repaint.  I'm thinking black with white accents.
     
    Finally, I messed around with an already built kit;

     
    Yes, I need to dust.   These smaller (1/144 vs 1/100, or about 3-4" tall) Gunpla kits have common arm and backpack fittings, at least mostly since 2015.   So, I was able to strap a couple more guns to the Guncannon.   Still not enough gun.
     
    I should paint soon.   We'll see.
  15. AlfaZagato

    Variety

    By AlfaZagato,

    I've been a busy little shut-in this week.
     
    Yes, we have had a 'shelter-in-place' order in Illinois, as well.
     
    Either way, I've built the 'City Bike' set.   These things were little heaps.   Nothing lined up or fit.   The white bike, which is a Honda Tact, was to have a saddle-bag assembly.   I couldn't make heads-or-tails of it.   I didn't have directions in the box, nor were such forthcoming online.

     
    I forget which of the two leftmost scooters is the Suzuki, & which is the Yamaha, but left-to-right starting at the middle is a Honda Tact, Piaggio Vespa 200, & a Piaggio Vespa 50.   The Vespa 50 is by Tamiya, and was a pleasant bonus in the box.   Much nicer kit.
     
    I finished the centaur I was working on some months back;

    The pastel method I had researched to paint a Palomino came out much starker than I wanted.   I toned it down with a filter of green ochre.   I think it turned out well.   I'm actually proud of this one.   The base was a presculpted item, with a simple paint job.
     
    I've also made progress with another Dungeons & Dragons mini;

    This is to represent a current character I have.   Problem is, he is to be some odd fantasy race.   I don't know how to paint 'gold' skin.    I'll figure something out.
  16. AlfaZagato
    Until I sort a spray booth, the Infinity JSA will remain as they are.

    These are temporarily fixed to the bases using (ancient) PVA, thinned with water.   Water should cause the glue to let go when I go to paint the bases.  Hopefully.
     
    I also updated my 'con chain.'

    Every time I go to a convention, I will buy another charm.  I then add the charm to this chain.   The chain hangs from a very clever shirt I picked up at one convention.    Leather shoulders & brass fittings.   I thought it was neat.  Added this time was the stone in the middle.   The stone came in a set of polyhedral dice I picked up.  They are made of a stone I forget the name of, but is composed of fossilized algae.    Real pretty.    I also took the time to solder the jump rings.   I have had issue with them coming apart.   A little extra insurance can't hurt.
     
    Finally, I started another kit.   Like an idiot.

    Two kits, in fact.   The red Vespa is an older Tamiya kit.   I've built one before, and it is, in fact, Tamiya.   Just about 'shake-the-box.'   The blue Vespa is from a company called Yodel?  I've not heard of them before.   Very basic so far.   Fit isn't great either.   More short-run than classic Airfix, though.
  17. AlfaZagato

    Couplers 2

    By AlfaZagato,

    I've gone as far with the coupler project as I can now.   I've run out of couplers.   Well, mostly.   I have two packs of #31, but that micro draft box is impossible.    Not worth the trouble.
     
    These are what I converted during this push;

     
    I feel rather accomplished, cranking this out in a couple of weeks.
     
    I piled the old couplers...

    ...for no purpose other than to dump the pile in the trash.   I have no use for them.
     
    I managed to botch removing the couplings cleanly from this set;

    Either by not making the initial cut close enough, or knocking buffers off.   As of right now, I'm not in a position to correct either.   I need to recover my Dremel and accessories.   The accessories are more significant; I have a second Dremel still to hand, just no bits.
     
    Finally, this is the remainder of my freight stock that need converting;

     
    I wasn't going to cut into them before I had couplers for them.  With some sort of conversion car, I can use them as-is.   The one LMS 3-plank in the first image will likely be said conversion car, being about my only wagon with NEM sockets.
     
    My whole impetuous for pushing hard on this project was to have a consist ready for the All-American Railroad Show next Saturday, the 21st.   Amidst the current health concerns, the show has been cancelled, rendering my haste for naught.   I am rather annoyed.  Still, I may have the balance finished for the next show.   I also have some Collett coaches than need such fittings, as well.    It all depends on obtaining the #141 couplings I prefer.
  18. AlfaZagato

    56xx Progress 1

    By AlfaZagato,

    As promised, I've taken some pics of what I've done so far.
     
    Tonight was solely the 56xx. I've long had the body built, honestly to a mediocre standard.
     

     
    This will be my first locomotive kit, so on this build I'll stand the molded handrails, and the castings that came with the kit. Most of my work tonight was finishing the hole for the trailing axle.
     

     
    I think I managed to get the hole too high, though; the trailing wheels look to be a floating axle.
     

     
    The instructions were not entirely clear on the procedure, admittedly. The wheels do turn freely, though, and have a good amount of side-play. I have yet to test the chassis as modified, or with the Langley body mounted. Next stage will to be finess the fit between the chassis and the body; what I had thought was a good fit hadn't accounted for additional wheels.
     

  19. AlfaZagato

    Infinite Highs

    By AlfaZagato,

    Highlights, now.  Edge or otherwise.    I'm still trying to be conservative with the highlights.   I don't want to outline everything.    All the studio models seem that way, though.   I've been using white mostly.   I mixed something like 10:1 white to neutral gray for the big armored dude's highlights.   Huge puddle of paint I barely used.   Still, he will receive further highlights.    I mean, I'm getting somewhere.

     
    Some corrections will be needed.   As always.   I picked up some Plastruct textured sheet to use on the bases.   I think the packaging was wrong, though.   Hardly looks like treadplate in any scale.   Translucent, too.   I've read elsewhere on this site of a modeler having issues getting translucent plastic sheet to stick to anything.   Not confidence inspiring to me.    I may have wasted $12.
  20. AlfaZagato

    End in Sight

    By AlfaZagato,

    Almost done with the Tau.   Spent the first few sessions this week putting everything through a dip wash.

     
    The drones were a little heavy on the wash.   I was using Vallejo dipping-formula Sepia.   Kind of thick in the jar for what is supposed to be a ready-to-use project.   I wasn't using a fresh jar, either.

    On the battlesuit here, you can see what I did with all of the optics.   Translucent Blue over Chrome Silver.   I always thought the combo offered a nice pop.

     
    I also managed a basic coat of light gray on the bases.    I'm using the gray as a key for the basing I plan.    I'm going to improvise a snow effect.    We'll see how it works.
  21. AlfaZagato

    Can-&-a-Half

    By AlfaZagato,

    Just a whole host o' painting this week.   Got below done;

     
    Some of the Tau has been done again in black.   I need more before I can spray further.  Until next week...
  22. AlfaZagato

    Failures

    By AlfaZagato,

    Firstly, apologies to the 40 or so people who seem to care about my work.   The past two weeks have been nuts.   We moved office at work.
     
    I'm calling the pirates done.   Off the bench, warts and all.   I could do better, but they're not characters or any special job.   Just grunts.

    And out of focus.
     
    My Magister is coming along OK.   Yellow is a pain, and I'm slogging along with Model Master paint on it so far.   Chicago weather doesn't help. 

     
    Tonight I laid some primer on a squad of 8th army and a weird whippy dude for Wild West Exodus. 

     
    I was going to prime this lot, but the can died after the above.   Too late for a run to the store.   I'll see what I have on Sunday.

     
    ...finally to the title.   To absolute hell with this Aston-Martin.    I didn't decant enough paint for the whole of the car.    In the time it took me to thin another batch, what was in the brush dried.  Enamel!   So, the trash splattered.    Ruined the body.    I've already stripped the shell once.    Too much investment in time for my patience anymore.   I've binned it.

     
    Buffing didn't fix it, either.    I had some bad 'flooding' as well.   I have moved on.   Disappointing, too.   I liked how the interior was coming along;

     
    That's it for now.   I should post again next Thursday.
  24. AlfaZagato

    VuGowe Nightmare

    By AlfaZagato,

    I finished the model for my local Gundam club's contest.   At least, I'm calling it done.   

     
    More work was had on the centaur.   I'm going to plan and finish the 'human' torso before I go farther with the 'horse.'  The paint guide I found for a palomino is about 90% pastels, so I want to minimize handling before clear.

     
    I also made treacle tart.   Went over well.

     
    Here's to the contest.
  25. AlfaZagato

    T-Trak Planning

    By AlfaZagato,

    For about two years now, I have been planning on a modest T-trak layout. If you are not aware, T-Trak is a system based around Kato's Unitrak system, taking advantage of the strength of the joiners used. The modules are also based largely on Unitrak's standard lengths, with the normal straight module being 2mm shorter in length than a Kato double crossover, the largest single piece of track in the Unitrak catalog.
     
    Part of my goal with this layout is to run...whatever I damn well please! Rule 1 and the like. Still, I do want to strive for some realism. Part of my idea, therefore, was to build the scenic modules as generic as possible. Green rolling hills, which I've seen evidence of in the US, UK, Japan, basically anywhere I could think except Australia. No obvious signaling, no roads, nothing obvious to place the layout save for the train running through.
     
    I run into a dilemma here. I also would like a nice, longish bridge as a centerpiece. Nothing too grand, as the T-Trak standards don't allow for much height or depth to the modules, but a triple or quad (928mm and 1238mm, respectively) cutaway module for a good length or several lengths of span. I question, though, the suitability of Kato's bridges they have made available for Unitrak. There is a through-truss, and a box girder. The only country I have not seen evidence of such bridges being used in is the UK.
     
    So I pose a question; Does anyone who might pay attention to these have any knowledge or evidence of either bridge supplied by Kato being similar to a real bridge in the UK? Particularly Wales? Please let me know!
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