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AlfaZagato

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  1. AlfaZagato

    Finished

    By AlfaZagato,

    Two projects finished in the last week.
     
    I know it is not perfect.   Mistakes made on the Dragon will hopefully be remedied on the next build.    I only plan on one more airliner, though, and that kit scares me.    Still, finished as I consider.    I get to display it on the club's layout on Saturday for our one-and-only show this year.  I chose 'City of Birmingham' as I wanted one that wasn't modelled frequently, and named for a city in GWR territory.   Important, that.

     
    I also finished the Leo model for my Gunpla club's contest in April.    Rough-&-tumble, weathered pirate-service Leo.   I probably could have done more weathering, but I have no experience with weathering yet.   For a contest model, I figured better to show off what I know than what I don't.   Still, this was my first time with soldering-iron damage, and my first extensive attempt at layering, both on the hook and on the cutlass hilt.   What do you think?

     
    Also, I lied.   No thread yet.    I'm not certain which forum such a generic modelling thread would be appropriate.   Any suggestions?
  2. AlfaZagato

    New Toys

    By AlfaZagato,

    Short note - new toys in the mail.
     
    I managed to catch the Rails of Sheffield flash-sale on the Heljan L&B Manning-Wardle 'Taw' in Southern lined green.   I must say, beautiful model, but the relevant thread elsewhere gives me pause to running it.   Shame, cost me enough.    On the same order, I grabbed a couple of L&B bogie opens in Southern colors & markings.

     
    From the depths of eBay, I won this monstrosity;


    I regret my decision.   Runs like crap.   I imagine it is too have tires on the wheels, which are absent.     Very rough runner.   Paint is crap, and some 5-year-old seems to have slathered that yellow paint on in a go.   I did get a coach and a dummy power car as well.    Honestly, I plan to corrupt this into a Collett-ized version, when funds allow for the other donors.
  3. AlfaZagato
    So, first off, I think after this entry, I'll switch to a workbench thread.    The blogs here seem to get very little traffic, and I'm an attention whore.   I do want commentary on what I can do better.
     
    We had a short break in the weather, with reasonable temps, so I took to the cardboard box that qualifies as my spray booth.
     
    The Heller/Airfix/Tasman de Havilland Dragon Rapide is almost finished.   Two small detail paint jobs, window frames, and reattaching the struts should do it.   Good thing, too, as my club's layout is showing on March 23rd, and I think it will be a wonderful piece for our airfield.    I will not be attempting rigging on this build.    I don't think I did well enough of a job to warrant it.

     
    Next, I have a Bandai Gundam kit I am working on, the High Grade 1/144 OZ-06MS Leo.    I don't normally build these smaller HG kits.   I much prefer the 1/100 kits, normally Master Grade, but this I built and modified for a contest in my local Gunpla club.   Aiming for a pirate theme, I used parts from the Crossbone Gundam and a cheap scenery tree, along with some brass rod.    I also played with damaging the parts with a soldering iron.   I wanted the suit to look underkempt and beaten.   Tonight I managed to get a coat of paint on everything,  Citadel Chaos Black;

    Which focused on the bottle of ClearFix, apparently.
     
    I also managed a coat of primer on the Infinity models.   I don't think I'll work on them too much more in the immediate future.    At this stage, the painting would be intensive, and I have other, older, less intensive projects that time could be given to instead.

     
    Finally, I laid a coat of color on the Beetle.    I had a can of Boyd Lime Pearl, so I thought I'd give it a try.

    I hope I can get the roof smooth without destroying too much of the pearl; the paint is OoP, and the can is small.
     
    Watch for the thread.
  4. AlfaZagato
    If you've read my other blog, you'll know I ruined a couple of other projects this week.   Ruining the other projects kind of dampened motivation to do much else, so 'this week' has literally been 'tonight.' 
     
    One of two, I had picked up an accessory kit from Bandai, a stand for figures, that also establishes itself as a base for special effects accessories.

    The translucent purple parts are intended to represent some kind of explosion or radiation.   All six sections are molded somewhat vaguely at the ends, in an attempt to make the fit somewhat universal.    The brown parts are intended to be debris.   They also can be connected into a sort of crater, and laid flat.   My intention had originally been to use the debris parts on the display for one of my Gundams, but this stand is not substantial enough to support the Gundam I had in mind.   The stand I already had for the Gundam isn't intended to use this system of sub-arms to hold the debris.    This whole scheme was sort-of improvised, so I had little motivation to pursue the matter too much further.
     
    All else I had managed to do this evening was start building this odd booster unit for Gundams.

    Not finished, and I know not what I will do with it when I am.    I only started building it since it was on my bench.  Maybe I'll sort it out t some point.
  5. AlfaZagato

    Ruination

    By AlfaZagato,

    Two entries on two nights, and both poor showings.
     
    I've mentioned earlier in this blog that I had two locomotives fail during the Christmas season, my Terrier and 14xx.    Tonight, I attempted to take them apart to ascertain what failed, and what I could do to remedy the issues.
     
    First, I attempted the Terrier.   Completely mangled the thing.    One of the clips just would not let go, and by the time it did, I had bent one of the coupling rods, lost a coupling rod pin, and snapped every connection between the pickups and the motor.    And I still couldn't remove the body.    Squished the thing back together and wedged it back in the box.   Might use it as a mule later for N gauge weathering.
     
    Second, I tackled the 14xx.    I was actually quite able to separate the body from the chassis easily.    Only issue was I did not have a Philips-head screwdriver fine enough to fit down the chimney, so I used a flathead instead.    Opening the body didn't help, though.   The motor didn't respond to directly applied current.   Shame, too, as the 14xx is easily my favorite locomotive.   I'll have to wait until another run is done.   This'll likely become a test canvas as well.
  6. 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?
  7. AlfaZagato
    More building this week, stacking up more painting.
    Firstly, some 28mm 8th Army by Warlord games, intended for their WW2 game Bolt Action

    The sprue I had came as a pack-in with last month's issue of Wargaming Illustrated.  I'm not subscribed, but I might at this point.   I'm starting to bite more into the wargaming culture, though WI is aimed more at historical wargaming.   Only one of the four games I play is historical, and I don't need further expansion.
     
    Secondly, a quick build of Tau Gun Drones for Warhammer 40,000.


    These were a very simple little kit, being a half-dozen or so parts each.   An evening's worth of work.    These four put me over two dozen of the , I think, with plans on more.   Eventually, I'd like to field 250 or so, as their own army, but Games Workshop has halved the quantity you get in a package of the drones on their own, with no change to the price.     Annoying, to say the least.
     
    Thirdly, more from the game I'd been working on prior in this blog, Infinity.    These are Tiger Soldiers, I believe.

    Not really certain, I picked these up secondhand, and Corvus Belli have introduced new tooling that supersedes what I have.   Not suitable for my army in either case, though cool to have.
     
    Finally, a dragon!

    Reaper Bones Silver Dragon.   About six pieces, made of a terrible vinyl material.   Think like the joint parts in a Bandai Gundam kit.  Warped to boot.   Still, I wanted it out of my queue, so now its elsewhere in the queue.   Great improvement.
  8. AlfaZagato

    To Infinity Alone!

    By AlfaZagato,

    Even less modelling this week.   Spent Saturday night at a friends up in McHenry, didn't end up home until 3-ish Sunday afternoon.    I was out Friday, Tuesday and Wednesday, as well.   Still, I managed to finish assembling the Infinity army I had picked up.    Obviously, the lot needs paint, but that won't be started until I get weather to spray.   Even then, other than this being on my bench, this is sort-of a lower priority to other projects.   Have fun with the pics!

  9. AlfaZagato
    Holding to my word, where is your weekly update.
     
    I have done jack all this week.
     
    We got more snow on Tuesday.    Tuesday night is also when I need to bring the garbage to the alley for collection Wednesday morning.    I handled such chores, and ****ed-off and watched some anime.   Monday, though, did bring some progress.
     
    Firstly, minor tinkering with the VW.    My first attempt at gluing the hubcaps to the wheels failed, so I cleared more chrome plating from the caps, and tried glue at a different spot.    Seems to have worked the second time.    I'm calling the chassis complete.    Now, I pend good weather for painting.   I am always waiting on good weather.    Damn Chicagoland.

     
    Secondly, the army for Infinity is coming along with no real issues.   Two more infantry, I believe grunts of some sort.

     
    Tonight brought a start to the motorcyclist that comes with the force.   I, admittedly, had to seek guidance on this one.    One of the parts included made no sense to me.      I've used epoxy for the bike, so I won't have an image until next week.
     
    Lastly, I've finished another Gundam kit.      Ban-Dai's Master Grade 1/100 GM Sniper II.     Fun, awesome kit.    Snap-fit and precolored don't give these kits credit.   The MG kits are effectively build-your-own action figures.    You can get in-depth finishing one out to a higher standard still, but I build such things as breaks from cement fumes and brush cleaner.

    Tune in next week, kids.
  10. AlfaZagato
    As I've mentioned in Dogtown & Points West, non-railway projects are up in my queue.    I decided to create a second blog, in case some readers care not for anything that doesn't move on its own.
     
    I participate in some table-top wargaming.    One game that I've always been interested in is Infinity: the Game.    Infinity is produced by a Spanish outfit by name of Corvus Belli.   The rules are...different from many of the other popular games.    For starters, you roll 20-sided dice, instead of the more common six-sided dice.   Additionally, you have the ability to react to your opponent's moves more closely to real-time.    If a model would leave cover and cross another model's line-of-sight, the second model can engage the first then and there, instead of waiting for the first model's turn to come around again.     Not actually as complicated as it sounds, and rather fun once you get rolling.     The models are absolutely beautiful.    Corvus Belli's whitemetal molding is the finest I've had the pleasure of seeing in person.    Below are the two I've managed to build from the army box I've purchased.    They go together well, too.   Nice, large, square locating tabs, and well-engineered surfaces;

     
    I've also pulled out my half-finished Tamiya VW Beetle.   This is a very long-running project; I started at least in 2007, though it has never been a front-running project.    I'd ask the reader to forgive the atrocious paintwork; thankfully, most of this will be invisible once the body is painted and the model on the shelf.   Right now, I am working directly on some minor detail work that I know will bog me down if I wait until the body is painted.    Which won't happen until these 20 degree (I believe that would be below 0 C?) days cease.    Not my only project waiting for the end of Chicago's madhouse winters;

     
    Finally for the evening, I had spent about a week tinkering with an old Novo Miles Magister bagged kit I had received as a raffle prize at a model show.    For a vintage, el cheapo kit, it went together relatively well.    And had separate flaps and elevators.     Luxury to me that is;

     
    Thanks for reading.   I'll try to update this at least weekly.    Any quiet week will likely signify my greatest enemy; snow.
  11. 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!
  12. 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.
     

  13. AlfaZagato
    I thought I might start chronicling what I do on my cramped little workbench. I haven't much to show yet except ideas and plans.
     
    Firstly, I've a Langley GWR 56xx kit I'm working on. I have managed to satisfy myself with the fit of the body to the Poole-Farish 94xx chassis, so currently the goal is to get the hole drilled for the trailing wheel. I've already managed to burn out a bit, and the local Ace hardware only had one on hand, so I'll need to wait until Thursday for them to restock. I will have pics of this later this evening.
     
    Secondly, I have an old Airfix brake van kit I'm looking to kitbash into one suitable for OO9. My first attempt at this was atrocious, and plagued by a temporary lack of a straightedge or a square. I had meant to take a pic of the first attempt, but I knocked it apart in a fit of boredom. I did manage to save the sides with the duckets, so I'll try cutting ends and a floor from sheet styrene.
     
    Thirdly, I'm looking to build a micro- or shoebox layout in 009. My general idea is to use what I have on-hand to do so, which is admittedly limited. Bringing up the Airfix conversion is part of this tertiary mention. General question to any who might read this, though, is, should I pursue the shoebox concept, should I build some sort of sub-structure to actually mount the layout to, or should I just build the layout onto the box directly?
     
    Also, given this is a railway modelling site, I have intent to keep it railway related, but if anyone is interested, I can post about other projects I have. Let me know!
  14. AlfaZagato
    Not much progress, really. Been a bit of a bum week for the workbench, errands and more pressing issues cutting into my limited worktime. Most, if not all of that time is recently, and for a while, given over to a Bolt Action army I've been trying to paint as a set. Not doing this again!
     

     
    Firstly, I've added the small parts to the 56xx. Needs some finessing, though. The rear sanders and front steps foul the rather large pins on the drivers for the rods. Based on space, I'm looking at either omitting the details, or trimming back the pins almost flush. I'm leaning towards the latter.
     

     
    Secondly, for something mildly different, I've fiddled a bit with my 'reduced' Airfix brake. The goal is to make a OO9 brake out of the kit. I've nicked the idea from Ted Polet, basing my idea on one of his older vans on the C&DR. This pic isn't the most up-to-date, though. I've since undone what I'd glued, pending sourcing a good set-square or such to set the angles right.
     

     
    Finally, and stretching the limits of relevance, the de Havilland Dragon Rapide I built to go on my club's layout. Terrible kit, and I didn't do any justice to it, but the Arctic Decals that I picked up for the Railway Air Services livery were awesome. I have a Westland Wessex trimotor airliner in resin as a follow-up, for GWR Air Services, but the kit absolutely frightens me.
  15. AlfaZagato
    Sorry I've been quiet. I've mostly been lazy lately, but I've had other business as well.
     
    Firstly, the 5600 was built and tested. Can't complete a circuit of the loop I have set up at work. Shame. I don't think I'll pursue it further; any money I saved buying the kit secondhand has been spent trying to get a decent 94XX donor.

     
    Secondly, found a couple of gentlemen with some bring-backs at the local model train show/swap meet. I picked up a Langley yard crane. A lot of flash, but the castings cleaned up well.

     
    I just before mentioned a loop I have set up at work. Our office is in a storefront, so for the Christmas season I set up some Kato and run as prototypical trains as I can. This also means that my locomotives are pulling long shifts, about four hours a day. I try to change out locomotives every other day or so, but I have had two casualties so far. My Dapol 14XX, which I bought second-hand, and a Dapol Terrier, which I found new. The 14XX just quit, but the Terrier started smoking at one point. I'll need to investigate at some point; if the Terrier is only afflicted with a fused wire, I may be able to fix it myself. I have a shot of the loop below;

     
    Finally, I picked up a nice Micro-Ace set of a Japanese DD51, a rake of side-dump ballast hoppers, and a Japanese brake van/caboose. I'm not sure if Japanese practice relied on the van for train braking, ala UK practice, or if it was more of a crew office, ala US practice.


  16. AlfaZagato

    5600 and Vans

    By AlfaZagato,

    Updates will be thin for a while. Well, thinner than normal. I have other, more pressing or older projects that do not involve model railways in the slightest. Still, a shortlist of relevancy.
     
    Firstly, I am officially abandoning the 56XX kitbuild. The Grafar chassis under it made a circuit and a half on my loop, and quite. I am already $150 into the build, and I do not fancy trying for another donor chassis. Also, I had just found the announcement from RevolutioN about their plans on producing a RTR 56XX, so I will hold off until that is available.
     
    Secondly, I just this morning received some second-hand N Gauge Society kits of the SR 12-ton vans. I always try to bid on any N Gauge Society kits or RTR that crosses eBay, having not joined yet and only recently being in any sort of position to join. I like their kits that I've had before. I hadn't realized when I was bidding that these kits will build two wagons each. Made the purchase a much better deal than I had originally thought. For the era I aim for, though, even the 2+2 plank option is questionable, much less the plywood option. I may try scribing the plywood sides with 6" planking, to try to eke a little more value out of the kit. I have need of Peco chassis kits for other projects anyways, and I try to settle on lots to maximise the value of shipping when I order new from the UK.
     
    I may build these vans sooner than I intend to, as these are simple, fun little kits. I just need transfers for them.
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