Norwenglish

Don't worry, we're englishmen that 'escaped' 10 years ago. Although I do have knowledge of some Norwegian words relating to railways, the more intricate parts I have no idea about

Two of us are currently looking at coming over from Norway primarily for this as it sounds like quite the experience! Just have to look into flight costs etc first and will get back to you. Stuart

Thank you very much! Concerning the 'unusual' locos, as we have no layout or period that we are restricting ourselves to it's more a case of make what we like the look of, and luckily we are both big Southern fans (probably because thats our 'home' region and Bluebell has always been considered our 'local' railway), although I do find myself often interested in the more specialised/ unusual GWR locos and engines. The Z is indeed a lovely engine, and as my first ever kit build, will always have a special place in my collection. The Dart Castings are a little dearer than most others, but due to my miniatures gaming background I can be a bit fussy when it comes to detail on figures that I paint, so I feel the extra cost is worth it, especially when we put so much time into building and painting the locos and rolling stock that they will be going in. I also bought Dad a few of the Train Tech lighting units (which I highly recommend for those doing DC layouts), this will of course mean the passengers are even more on show than if they were in unlit carriages, so I have a big job ahead of me to get them painted to a decent standard! Working right across the table from each other is quite fun, and we keep finding ourselves pushing each others limits and challenging each other to do that little bit extra on our projects, for example I tried staples to make the lamp brackets on the Q, so Dad decided to go back to the L and add them onto it, which then lead to me going back and adding them to the Z....I'm already expecting him to challenge me to paint the eyes on his passengers! Stuart

Well it's yet again time for my update, but first I would like to say thanks to everyone so far for the kind comments and positive ratings to our posts, it helps keep us inspired especially as we have no club to go to and share our latest efforts with. As always any comments, constructive critisim or suggestions are always welcome and encouraged, with us being pretty new to this sort of thing we need all the help we can get! Well onto what I have been upto...here are the wagons and removable loads I mentioned in my last post; 2 Cambrian 8 Planks with coal loads, unfortunately the wagon to the right seems to have sunk at one end during the build process which I only noticed after taking the pictures. Have to admit that I'm rather pleased with the coal loads, especially as the 'coal' is some cheap coloured stone obtained from Ikea! A cambrian 5 plank with ballast load, also made a mistake with this one, as I realised once I got around to applying the transfers that the Tare goes on the solebar behind the brake handle....so next time I will be reading the instructions all the way through before even taking parts off of the sprues! The 'ballast' is also a cheap Ikea find. Next are loads for the LBSC 5-Plank from my first post and a r-t-r wagon from ebay. and while I was waiting for things to dry the Z was given some lamp irons made from cut down staples, so all thats left to do on it now are reshape the cylinders and add some crew. The last bit of today's post is the next project; These are some very nice passangers from Dart Castings/ Monty's Models, these were part of Dad's christmas present from me, and I have offered to put my painting skills to the test and paint them up for him, which he of course said yes to. There are also a few other side projects on my workbench such as painting up some r-t-r carriage interiors and making corridor connectors, some GWR stock that took my fancy, some more Southern luggage vans and an old Wrenn R1 that is in the process of being upgraded and repainted. Stuart

After reading through this thread from the beginning I have to say your work is incredibly inspiring! I may have to try my hand at some soldering sometime in the not too distant future, but you and many others here on RMWeb make it look incredibly easy with the neatness of your work!

After a 2 week trip to the other side of the country (where I nearly fell to the dark side of German N gauge), I have a small update from my side of the workbench. The Q is now finished apart from crew and cabside oval plates, which will be probably be obtained next time we are in the UK. I have also cut some foam to fit the box that the kit came in to keep it all safe and sound Next up from me will probably be the wagon kits seen in my first post, and I've also been busy building removable loads for most of the r-t-r wagons in my fleet, and hopefully I will start posting a little more regularly than previously! Edit: Just realised I have forgotten to paint the coupling loops! So, nearly finished!

I have indeed been very busy, a combination of Birthday, Christmas, cheap finds on ebay and plenty of free time due to unemployment We found the clack valves to be a real pain in the backside too get hold of, so we have started building a small supply of what we would call 'kit essentials' whenever we could find them. But Peter's Spares and Mainly Trains have been very good, when they have had the items in stock of course. It's a hard life being a modeller not based in the UK, but it's still alot cheaper the the scary prices of Norwegian HO stuff, even when customs catch parcels and tax us on them!

So I'm back with a very short update, I have now started a workbench thread with my Dad, as our kitbuilding has taken off a a fair rate! It can be found here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/94254-a-southern-workbench-in-the-frozen-north/and the first post contains pictures of the completed Z. Although I have now been tempted to try adding some lamp irons made from cut down staples.

After putting it off for a while, me and my father have finally decided to create a workbench thread to share our efforts with you guys. Our modelling adventure only really started this summer when our interests in railway modelling were revived and we bought each other some kits for our birthdays, and since then our collection has probably doubled in size! We are based in Norway, so regrettably our only supply of kits and materials is online and takes a while to arrive, and our main region of interest is the Southern (with me sometimes straying westwards into GWR territory). But hopefully you all enjoy our efforts! Here are some pictures of what I have produced so far, with more pictures on their way. Southern Z Class produced from a Golden Arrow kit, that I have been slowly working on over the past year. Front http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/SRfather_son/DSC03395_zps9ad9a21d.jpg Rear http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/SRfather_son/DSC03394_zps8d5ffda2.jpg Ratio 12T Van and Cambrian LBSC 5 Plank Open Wagon http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/SRfather_son/DSC03386_zps3e44629b.jpg Another Ration 12T Van and an Airfix Cattle Van done in SR Livery (I know it's not correct, but it was a nice exercise in transfer application) http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/SRfather_son/DSC03399_zps3ae8a90e.jpg Parkside Stove fitted Van C (a copy of one at Bluebell) http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/SRfather_son/DSC03397_zpsa0ba1692.jpg Parkside CCT http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/SRfather_son/DSC03396_zps662e29a3.jpg To end this post, we have the Christmas present haul/ current projects; http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/SRfather_son/DSC03377_zps71767aa7.jpg http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/SRfather_son/DSC03378_zps7c3198b0.jpg Current Progress on the Q http://i1164.photobucket.com/albums/q566/SRfather_son/DSC03376_zps968cac10.jpg Now just to get more pictures of the other few projects and coax dad into taking pictures of his and post them here.

Bells and ribbons, the first thought that sprung to mind after reading this was morris dancers!

Maunsell Olive Green

Heres a beautiful picture with a castle for you!

If only I had seen this before doing my votes for the poll...Spams would probably be happy with my choices though! Stuart If only I had seen this before doing my votes for the poll...Spams would probably be happy with my choices though! Stuart

Yes indeed! It was 'terrible' that our hotel was just over the road from it! Spent a lot of time and most of my money in there!

Travel to the UK for a week and spend a day and a half of it at the NRM and this thread grows by so many pages that it's like reading a small novel! Also found a fantastic model shop in York, I really wish we had shops like that back home in Norway! Stuart

To be honest, I havn't looked into cab interiors, as it will be hard to see anything put in there, and the motors sticks into the cab a bit. I also think I can declare my Z finally finished minus reshaped cylinders, as it now has clack valves installed and I will now be starting a general workbench thread to log mine and my father's progress on various things we have bought over the summer, although in my excitement I have rushed through most of my projects. Just need the lovely norwegian weather to clear up so that pictures can be taken!

Makes me think maybe I spoilt my Dad a bit too much by buying him an LB&SC L class kit from Langley for his birthday a few months ago! Have to be careful what I say though, he's started reading this thread daily!

Go away to pretend to be a viking for a week and this thread just grows and grows (in insanity)! Stuart

If brownie points are earned for GWR things in general and not just 45s appearing on our layouts then I might have to let my 61xx and 14xx w/Autocoach come out to play once I have made a start, even if they are a non olive slightly different shade of green. Stuart

Are the Markits ones not correct? Says they are suitable for S.R, B.R and E.R. If not I will have to dig out my Milliput as I've tried using green stuff which ended in failure and mild irritation.

Not a hint at all, the madness is another reason I enjoy this thread, just have nothing to add myself after a hard day of modelling Although I think a rhino paddling in the surf would really make the beach scene pop!

I go away for a while and suddenly there's a few pages to read when I get back! As always, your work is inspiring rob, more and more tempted to add some more GWR to my collection now, especially after being offered a pannier tank at a very affordable price (I think there be dark forces conspiring against me! ). Stuart

Well after a 14 hour, 500 mile journey, I am now re-united with my modelling things for good! Progress has been made in the last day or two, with pictures to prove it, so here we go; And with a few battered Lima carriages that I have done some work on today. The thoughts behind these is that we are planning on modelling a preserved line, so we need some worse for wear items to go in sidings. So now all I'm waiting for is to find an online retailer that has clack valves in stock, and then I'll be onto the next project which will probably be helping my father with an LBSC L class kit that I got him for his birthday Stuart

Seeing these pictures makes it rather tempting to come over to the dark GWR side! Beautiful and very well set up pictures as always! Stuart

Olive over malachite anyday, shame that the spam cans came too late for olive as they could have looked very nice! And to answer your question Rob, for me the appeal of the thread is the modelling first and the comedy following very closely behind (almost as if it's being chased by a rhino!). Also I'm not a true Scandinavian, actually originate from the heart of the Southern Region, with the Bluebell Railway still being considered my 'local'. Stuart