alexturner2

Wow, that a superb album. I grew up in central Sheffield - from St Vincent’s school I could see the line thread out towards Neepsend so literally I saw the last 6-12 months of operation and a few “cavalcades” of Class 76 locos go over to the scrappers yard. So BR blue and literally as a kid are my memories. My dad took me on the Barnsley DMU service that went out of Midland but reversed through Victoria for a while, these two things got me hooked. My Dad told me stories of how he used to leg it at dinner time from school to see the boat train and see a Britannia. He’s mainly a Midland man so we also have a collection of ex LMS and BR locos that ran out of Midland - and a bit of a layout/diorama based on that layout too, sadly the last two years have put paid to our modelling and layout running (he’s 75). I did make a couple of n gauge 76’s in blue, will find a post the pics Absolutely loved the pics; thanks for sharing those.

Here’s the other Tommy I made, it was a DC kits bodyshell, some Heljan side frames I found as spares on eBay, an old PIKO HO electric loco pair of bogies which I managed to make run ok with plenty of cleaning and a bit of WD-40 before chipping them. I modified the cab windows using humbrol filler and files, and I think one or other of the body grilles.

Thanks John, there’s also a 3D print option for the EMU, I started but moved on to other projects. Google Rue D’Etropal shapeways, the chap who runs that business is very helpful if you’re after something specific and have a scale drawing or they are available has often been great in putting something out there. Needs a bit of sanding/finishing to make the finish less grainy but can get to a decent finish with patience. The etches are absolutely superb but a lot of patience needed to shape the tumble home and soldering is not my favourite (I used glue quite a bit too). If you want any pics to help with construction let me know, I used a replica chassis they launched to power DMU’s/coaches - came DCC ready. I had that in the centre car and so it was pulling one coach and pushing another which worked fine, plenty of power in that unit.

Glossop EMU via Moussa Models etches and plenty of Replica Railways spares, converted an S1 via Mike Edge etches and Bachmann Chassis.

The one that got away I started with a 3D print of the LNER Beyer-Garratt and figured it would work with 2 austerity 2-8-0 chassis, I ran out of funds and sold it having got really close to making it work.. maybe I’ll try again one day. Again this was via some kind assistance via shapeways and an N gauge scale up for me. A 3D print kit of Pickburn box I’ve made with full interior detail and lighting, and some shots of my old Sheffield Victoria inspired diorama/layout now no longer around but was fun to take photos with. Hope you like them.

The Tommy is a 3D print bodyshell, I asked a supplier of an N gauge shell on Shapeways if they could scale one up to OO. I then took the bogies off a static HO German electric model by Atlas, and located two power bogies at 40mm wheelbase from DC kits. Technically the bogies are a bit short of scale but the wheels are lovely 16mm spoked ones and the motor bogies at 40mm exact so the wheel centres are correct for the frames so it looks pretty decent. Two motors as well and I think they are Hollywood foundry so it’s well made. I’ve actually made another Tommy before using a EM1 bodyshell which I reshaped around the windows to get them more like the prototype shape. Thanks so much for the advice and comments I’ll have a think about the cab on the COL. A few other interesting projects on the go down the years I might share now

Managed to move the front bogie pivot forwards about 5mm which improves the appearance

Super thread and modellling, I took inspiration from you but for my model I started with a more recent Hall chassis I picked up off eBay, and made a few less mods to the bodyshell than you did so it’s less accurate but still to me captures the look of the prototype. I haven’t finished off sanding and filing the cylinders and the steam pipes need beefing up but it’s finished enough I thought it would share it. A lot of hacking and filling but I lovely project and thanks for the inspiration! I actually built another version using a black 5 chassis and GBL bodyshell but though it looked ok the removal of parts of the valve gear ans weight from the body seemed to destablise the chassis so it never ran well. This version with the Hall chassis has less mechanical mods and runs just fine. Great idea! Of course Hornby announced theirs just days after I finished For a £75 project including a DCC chip this was great.

Hi, taking this thread as inspiration I had a go at making a OO version of City Of Lincoln, not quite finished - used Isinglass drawings to help, a Bachmann Jubilee chassis and a couple of GBL Director D11 static loco bodyshells and the tender body. It’s far from perfect but I really enjoyed hacking it together and it doesn’t look to bad to my eyes at least. Hope it’s of interest.

Here's what I've done with mine. Not finished yet, still got the etched cab side numbers to add and light weathering to do. The Fox Transfer etches are slightly over scale but I don't care. Combination of brush and aerosol paint job as my air brush packed in. For a pocket money project it's a lot of fun. I printed out the head codes from a few photo.