pdanny

Hi all, I just spoke to Gareth at Replica Railways. The website is down due to technical issues but the store is still trading and you can place orders over the phone. Trading hours are limited to Wednesday mornings and Saturdays but if ordering over the phone and he doesn't answer, to leave a message. Tel 01793 642594

the VEP vestibule door is cut out of the Hornby cab fascia and then the vestibule door is built around it. The door is 2mm in from the back so like the real thing sits slightly proud of the cab front. The whole vestibule door is then glued to the MJT cab front.

The CEP was completed and sent on to its owner. It was mad bit until I packed it up, it never crossed my mind it was a commission and I would have to hand it over. Thrilled with how it turned out in the end despite having to find a replacement roof and so.e paint rippage. The guy who commissioned it was over the moon so it all ended well

A friend and I did some resin castings but they never looked as good.

Lockdown has had me working on a rebuild of an old DCKit that was abandoned over 20 years ago and a commission that surprisingly ive enjoyed so much I want to keep it. The 4EPB DCKit was started in the late 90s but I was ill equipped and lacking in my skill set to complete it well enough. Its been sat in a box all this time just waiting for me to finish it off but upon reflection, needed a lot of work to bring it inline with the Bachmann 2EPB and the rest of the kits and RTR units. With the Internet, various detailing parts and better tools, equipment and building/painting skills now, im really thrilled to havebbeen able to make a much better job of it and totally love the end result. Additionally, having been successful with my 4BEP, it was inevitable that I would be approached on building a 4CEP and I'm absolutely love the build of it. With the paint job done and the mofel now going into the glazing and detailing stages, handing it over is goingnto be a real challenge.

I've used a paint pen before when I was building my Class 442 as it's easier with the Mk3 windows to get a consistent thickness on the window frame edge, however, on the MJT windows I found using a fine paint brush much better. I hand painted them all. It took a while and involved having to go back and repair some bleeds but the end result was much cleaner than with a pen.

#4CIG Conversion: I was asked to share how I fitted the door handles, hinges and handrails so when detailing the Trailer Standard I took these photos: 1. I always add these to the model once its fully painted and varnished as the detail is so small and at this point it won't get in the way or damaged during the paint job. (Masking can pull the hinges off) 2. You will need a pack of 2930 MJT BR Door Handles which co tain all the hinges, handles and handrails needed for Mk1 units 3. Applying the hinges is fairly straightforward. Cut out of the pack however many you need with a sharp knife. Using a cocktail stick dab tiny drops of super glue wherever you want them to go (refer to photos to ensure you get this right. Remember they only go on doors that open outwards). 4. Use a cocktail stick with a moist end to pick and place the hinge in place. The actual hinge line sits over the gap etched between the door and the carriage side so be sure to get all 3 fitted in a straight line. 5. To add the handles and handrails (I do this after glazing as drilling out the holes often goes through any glazing fitted so its easier this way than glazing afterwards) ensure the predrilled holes are clear of paint following the paintjob by redrilling them out with a 0.5mm hand drill. 6. Cut the door handles and relevant sized handrails from the pack with a sharp knife. When cutting, cut them right up to the metal sheet so you have at least 1mm extra. When cutting, you will feel a groove where to place you knife, it's literally right at the end by the edge of the sheet to the handrail/handle 7. Using fine tweezers or point ending pliers, pick up the handle, dab the ends with a tiny drop of super glue and drop into the predrilled hole. Do the same for the handrail, with the etched groove approx 0.3mm clear of the drill hole. When fitting the door handle, ensure the etched line on it is facing the door handle and door itself 8. After 3-5mins once the glue has dried, bend the door handrail 90° away from the door/door handle so its parallel with the coach side. Its soft enough to do with your fingers or a cocktail stick. 9. These are now ready for painting, job done #VariousMultipleUnits

You may recall I also touched base on my next project, building a refurbised 4BEP from an existing Bachmann 4CEP. Using MJT brass sides and SPM undercarriage components, I am currently in the process of building this unit. MJT only provide the 4CEP sides so I had to commission the buffet car sides through the amazing team at PPDLtd. Progress do far is that the model has been built, primed and I'm currently working through the paint job.

#4CIG Conversion: DTC1 and TS detailing complete. Can't wait to weather it now. Interior still to do but really pleased with the exterior. Route 92 London Waterloo - Bournemouth semi fast. Just the other DTC2 left to do now. #VariousMultipleUnits

Post varnish I'm working on one coach at a time. First up is the MBS. Added door hinges, glazing, door handles and handrails. #VariousMultipleUnits

Painting complete, now working detailing. Added silver window vent sliding strip, Restriction C1 decals, inner end steps and pipework and all undercarriage repainted.

Priming and painting done in last 2 weeks and now entering the detailing phase which is the bit I enjoy the most. Adding Mk1 strengthening strips after painting as these would be impossible to mask over if done before priming. Once painted it's starting to look pretty real. Still some minor tweaks to correct but I'm really pleased with the paintjob.

Started on the next project. 4CIG conversion from a Hornby VEP. Using MJT cabs, sides and additional parts, it's not as challenging this way as it would be working from donor Mk1s. Needless to say, the construction side has been swift with much of the main build complete. All 4 coaches have been built with smaller parts being added now such as step boards, roof vents and water tanks. Just getting it ready for priming now...

Thanks man, much appreciated

4 of 5 coaches complete. Just handrails and push to open door buttons to fit on, then it's just the final DTS left to upgrade. #VariousMultipleUnits

Ok, a few points there. So always do your research is the best answer. Gather loads of photos: Google, Flickr, Facebook... you can get pretty much all your answers there. There are some great websites that have really detailed information and pics that will help you ensure you get things like the numbering locations right. If I had known in the 80s/90s how much I would need them, I'd have spent a fortune on film and photos developed at Boots, lol. The grey is call NSE Silver Grey, I prefer Precision Paints but I also have Railmatch too. The starting resistors were left overs from various Mk1 unit builds I've done in the past. You can buy Hornby VEP MBS underframes on Ebay for around £5. I've bought a couple in the past and stripped off various components from them. The starting resistors are pretty damn good.

That would make sense as I bought a job lot for next to nothing off Ebay and no-one else bid on them. They're really easy to chop up and set into formation and line up perfectly on plasticard. This was the part of the build i was dreading before I found them so I'm over the moon with the end result.

5WES Upgrade: trailer completed. Wired up interior lighting, fitted handrails, door buttons and opened up bogies for smoother running. Great, so that's 3 out of 5 cars now completed. #VariousMultipleUnits

So over the last few weeks I have been working on the Trailer Standard (TS) and considering I made a start on it over a year ago then stopped for other projects, its been one I'm glad to have cracked these last few weeks. Fully painted with decals added, I've just got the door lining left to add. I've also replaced the bogies with pickups for interior lighting. Reinstalled Shawplan laserglaze and inner end door surrounds. Biggest job was to rebuild the interior with correct seating and of course, Eddie Pond Murals. The seating is former Hornby Class 153 interiors cut up and relocated in line with the Class 442 seating. Thanks to www.NetworkSouthEast.net for their detailed floor plans. Really pleased with the end look, ready to install lighting now and secure the roof down.

Made a few changes. Replaced the starting resistors as the resin supplied ones were poor. Completed the other side too and added inner end detailing including the vestibule door surrounds and jumper cables. Just need to add C3 decals and secure the roof. Also added Railtec Transfers to Class 159 finishing that model off too.

#Class442 Update: had a naming ceremony "Borough of Woking". Door lining and handrails added. Inner end detailing also fitted with bogies and undercarriage components also painted. #5WES #VariousMultipleUnits

Great stuff here Neal. Will follow with interest.

Next project sees my class 442 back on the workbench. In the process of painting the trailer coaches so while these are progressing, I've also commenced changing the MBLS motor. The original was a remotored Lima Class 73 motor however, it was noisy, clunky and struggled strength wise with adhesion issues. So I've stripped out the MBLS coach including the flooring and given that the interior is minimal with the buffet, luggage area and saloon, I'm replacing the entire underframe and flooring with a spare Class 158 motor and frame from Bachmann, which I bought on ebay for £20. Having tested it before, the Bachmann motor is absolutely perfect and even sounds more realistic.

#3T Update: almost finished. Just some handrails, lighting and interior work to on the former #2EPB driving trailer and weathering throughout. Really pleased with it. #VariousMultipleUnits

I had to wait a long time to be able to fulfill the range of EMUs and DEMUs I always wanted for the Southern region I grew up with and even now, have some way to go. Thanks for providing the range of transfers and bespoke numbering that enables us to do all the specific units we want to do. #VeryGrateful