thegreenhowards

This evening I feature the 2025 KX- Hull class C goods with K3, 61912. Another view on the down main coming through the station. Further to DSC’s comments about trains at Hatfield not often stopping on the down main, you will see that this can not happen at Gresley Jn as there is no platform. There’s a video of this one as it has a newly sound fitted chip.

Eric, I like that look, particularly the colour which is much improved. Is that just varnish/ T cut and weathering or did you respray it? also, how did you do the jiggle in the ejector pipe? Andy

I dithered over ordering one of these for ages, partly because I never like to pre order, then because the initial reviews were not good and when I decided to go for it anyway most places were sold out. But I tracked one down at Colletts Models and spoke to the proprietor who told me he was checking them all before despatch. I received mine today and I’m pretty pleased with it. The fit of the cab and footplate seems good and the only thing wrong that I can find is a missing top front lamp iron - easy to fix. The colour is horrible, but nothing that a coat of Klear won’t fix as has been proven. I shall run it in and then get the Klear out and report back. Colletts still have some if anyone else is searching (no connection etc.....). Andy

This evening it’s the 1733 Leeds-KX headed by 60146, Peregrine. This was a 12 coach train and I tried to represent the 1959 formation all in maroon. I almost managed but it needed three CKs and I had to resort to a blood and custard one at the rear. It was mainly Mk 1s but included a Gresley RTS and BG.

Fowler 2-6-4T for me. Two worked on the GN out of Hitchin so I even have an excuse to run one on my layout and they represent the only LMS power that I run.

Thanks John, It looks even better now with some Halfords gloss black on. It will get a coat of Dullcote tomorrow and then join the weathering queue. Andy

Many thanks for this DSC, I had worked out the terminating on down side and shunting across bits from track plans and photos, but I wasn’t aware of where the run round took place so that’s a fascinating extra insight. As I’ve explained before, I try to follow the timetable but have no claims to have a faithful representation of Hatfield. This is the only move which I’ve been unable to replicate. Many thanks for taking the time to post. Andy

John, Neither Fox nor Modelmaster (which are the two I mainly use ) have a visible film if applied on a gloss surface. Even if applied to a Matt surface some Liquid decal film largely hides the film. Andy

Let us know if and when you do. I’d be interested to see.

Was this one of the first coaches to have commonwealth bogies?

This evening I’m featuring the 2024 KX- Cambridge which was a semi fast service with non corridor stock. It was strengthened with a couple of CLs. I’m not sure whether the CLs would be on the front or the back and I only have one spare so you’ve got a CL and an S instead. All this rake did in a day was work Royston-KX in the morning peak. Then sit in the carriage sidings all day and work this train back to Cambridge. No wonder the railways lost money! I want an excuse to use my K1 and they did occasionally work Cambridge- KX trains in the early ‘50s, so here is 62059. I know this is probably verging towards the exceptional - if anyone can give me a better excuse to use it, I’m all ears! Now a couple of shots showing the full rake.

Thanks John, I'm amazed you can get it to sit on top of the beading. I was assuming I’d have to learn how to use a bow pen in order to do my O gauge teak coaches. It would be great if I can stay in my comfort zone with transfers. I'm surprised you’ve struggled with Fox transfers. I always find them excellent. Regards Andy

John, Lining is not something I've tried on the beading. I normally use transfers and add it just below. However I think I'm going to have to bite the bullet shortly on my O gauge Gresley 61'6" stock which I'm painting in 1930s livery. Can you say anything about how you do lining? Andy

I'm not familiar with those kits - have you posted your efforts on RMWeb? With Kirk kits I normally add brass coach grab rails (because these aren't provided in the kit) but make do with the moulded door handles with a blob of Humbrol brass (number 54). This doesn't look as good as brass handles but it's good enough for me and bears scrutiny as a layout coach. Andy

All I can say is keep going. You learn from your mistakes and it doesn’t take too long before you can get a decent result.

If anyone needs some practice then they should look you up!

John, Overall, I rather enjoy painting although, as you say, it does have the ability to be very frustrating! The bit I don’t like is masking. And I’m still nervous if my airbrush. Give me a palate of browns and a sable and I’m happy!

John, That is a very good question! As far as my railway is concerned the answer is ‘all of them’! As a rule, I hate painting crimson and cream or indeed anything which requires masking. It always seems to go wrong for me. If I have to paint things ‘crimson’, I use Halfords Ford Rosso Red which is the colour on the Tourist TTO. The suburban mk1s are, as you say, the Bachmann colour. While the Kirk BSO looks more like maroon than crimson but I didn’t paint this. I’m far too young to remember crimson and cream and photo rendition of reds was notoriously unreliable, so that’s my excuse! I’m told that the shade varied and/or faded in real life so a range of reds is probably acceptable, I think the Bachmann shade and the TTO shade are OK, but I suspect I really ought to repaint the Kirk BSO. That’s not going to happen though for the reasons above. I’m thoroughly enjoying painting my O gauge stuff in teak liveries - no need for masking or even spraying. It can all be done by brush with which I’m much happier. Andy Andy

It’s not fair. We need more than one vote for the GNR! The K2 is worthy for the reasons given by Papyrus. I’ll omit the K3 on the basis that there is a preserved K4 and that’s basically the same engine with smaller wheels otherwise it would be a clear winner. But it comes down to two magnificent designs - the J6 and the C12 which I find it very difficult to chose between. In the end I’ll go C12 as there are very few Atlantic tanks from any company preserved.

This evening we have an up returning excursion headed by 60800, Green Arrow. And here it is running through platform 3. I suspect this should be formed largely of open stock, but I don’t quite have enough and I was thwarted on some of the vehicles I do have by coupling incompatibility. Green Arrow is my recently completed Jamieson Comet V2 which I bought in two parts off eBay, finished off the body and got it to fit on the chassis. The Bachmann body which came with the Comet chassis has been sold on. Now the weather’s improving it might actually get weathered this week. There are five opens at the front of the train. A Kirk Gresley BTO. A Mailcoach tourist twin TO. And an Isinglass D.307 steel twin TO. This one should probably have straight ends, but the kit came with domed ends and that’s what the diagram shows so that’s how it was built. Subsequent pictures from Headstock and Clive M have proved that they were actually built with straight ends so I need to change this one but can’t summon up the enthusiasm at the moment! Then we have an ex-GNR 6 wheel kitchen car which was built from cutting and shutting bits of Kirk kits. The end of the train comprises two EV TKs and an EV BTK (all Kirk bought largely as is off eBay). I intend to replace these with an FO (which I have but it has Hunt couplings and this rake doesn’t yet), a couple of D.186 TOs and a tourist BTO in due course. Andy

Today’s train is a returning horsebox special from the SR to Newmarket headed by B12, 61553. Here it is heading over the viaduct. ...and a side on view. The horse boxes are Hornby, Parkside, D&S and Bachmann in order.

Many thanks for all the suggestions in my warehouses. I shall see if I can move the tunnels and reflect on the other suggestions and report back before long.

I’m not voting for 4-6-0s in any of these polls. Too boring and too many preserved already. And, whisper it quietly, I’m not a great fan of the Robinson long splasher type styling. So for me it’s a choice between an Atlantic and an A5. I can’t choose between the Atlantics, so I’ll go for the tank.

Thanks John, Should the black gloss go straight on the back of the windows or set back a little? And couldn’t the dock be used for unloading directly through the doors? Also does anyone have a bright idea what I should do to the right of the warehouse where the loft ceiling comes down to prevent a full height warehouse? Andy

The back scene is the wall between the two rooms in my loft. I don’t think it’s structural but I’m not sure I want to put that to the test! Bringing the tunnels forward is possible...but quite a lot of work I suspect. I like option B! Thanks Andy