pdanny

Thanks, I have my 4REP & 4TC on there under "Bournemouth Express". It was uploaded by my colleague who hosts the Twitter page for NSE_Latchmere You can see some of my stuff posted on there with my colleagues. I should post more on YouTube tbh as its easier now. Note to self...

That's an awesome unit to build. I very much hope to build it in its original guise as 210 001 at some point. Thanks for the update on the eBay listings, I have one on order so hope to progress with that coach soon. I'm working on the two DMSOs at present so hope to start on the centre coach soon. Post some pics of your 316 999 and 507 when you get started, I'd luv to see them. Danny...

So pleased with my last 3 builds that I'm starting my new one for 2018. Building the Class 313 that is sold on eBay in component parts. 313201 looks awesome in its retro Blue Grey livery but ive decided to model it in its original NSE livery that it carried as 313001 on the penultimate final Broad Street North London Line service. It's a great looking unit so I fancy a new challenge. Parts available are the body sides, ends and cabs so far so I've received my order and I'm ready to go. I've started by doing all the awkward bits that I struggle to do when working with a complete bodyshell like drilling out light fittings from the inside and prepping for handrails. The body comes together easy enough and as the sides are in 3 parts so you can build the alternative class 314, 315, 507 and 508, there is some organisation to do. Once fixed I have had got some filling and sanding to do but it all comes together quite nicely.

No way! I can only imagine some of the stories that come out of drivers regarding such scenarios. It's not just pantographs either, I do recall in Clapham yard a 4VEP pick-up shoe pinging across the sidings having got caught in error. I feel a collective book of driver stories is needed here!

So 319 was packed up and taken to @NSE_Latchemere (Twitter page) had its first test run at the weekend and ran like a dream... ...until this happened!!! The Farringdon Faux-pas! Or in the case, Blackfriars - Art imitating life I guess, lol!!! It was down but pinged up mid-run (need to secure better in future). Fortunately, we didn't suffer any damage, just pride

Thanks mate, really appreciate it. If you can, please check @NSE_Latchmere on Twitter where we've posted videos from the first test run. Danny...

Much appreciated Colin, thanks. Great to know that there's others out there that have a love for the Southern region and all that has run on it If you have Twitter, have a look @NSE_Latchmere - we gave it a test run for the first time and posted the vids which i can't show on here unfortunately. Danny...

Completed the paint & build, just the interiors and weathering left to do. Had to scratch build some additional undercarriage parts as these were not included in Bratchell's kit. Undercarriage pipework & cabling to follow. No Smoking and First Class window labelling to complete Further detailing on pantograph and inner ends to enhance PMS in progress That's it for a while as I'm moving house so WES & 319 will go on hold until August now...

Paintshop completed and it's all logos & logos now with Network Southeast branding and Unit numbering... (love the 1st on the cab front of the DTC) Thameslink & 1st Class Thameslink & Royal Mail plus the essential Cantrail lining and Overhead Flash Warnings. With just numbering, varnishing and weathering left to do on the outside, I'm gearing up for the glazing & interiors now.

Fantastic work and a stunning build. Especially the bufferbeam detailing. Love this...

Love Love Love what you've achieved with this model Darius and the standard of work on it. I remember when these units were on the Kingston to Waterloo line seeing your model brings that back so clearly. A great result mate, well done! Danny...

319/1 Progress update... Paint job coming along well now with one side on all four coaches completed and the other side almost done. Roofs and inner ends yet to paint Still have some paint job tweaking to complete followed by decals and varnishing. Then it's glazing, interiors, lighting and all the detailing to do which is the bit i enjoy the most. The weathering will be fun as I'm basing it on 319186, the unit below...

I know what you mean about the MTK kits as I bought the 455/8 back when there were no other options. For those of us wanting to model the Southern back in the 80s & 90s, there were no other alternatives and MTK & Southern Pride were pretty much the only option. Fortunately, such kits have now come a long way and we even have RTR offerings but i still appreciate my MTK models which run alongside my Bratchell, Hornby, Bachmann and MJT builds. Great work on your 508, it's a fantastic build and i love all the detail and improvements you made. The interior is fantastic and i love what you did with the doors etc. Seriously awesome

That is awesome. When i was at school, I painted my bicycle in inter city executive livery lol, but that is just stunning

I printed them from versions i found on the internet. There's not that many but enough to do one unit. Each unit I believe was fairly bespoke in that regards but I have found enough so each coach has it's own. I literally printed them off in colour and "wallpapered" them in. The windscreens were a proper Blue Peter job as the acetate i used on the original was too thin and crumpled and the thicker stuff when folded for the curve, went pale white so i cut up a Tonic Water bottle and used that. It is the perfect thickness so i was able to fold over a 2mm section and get the curve perfectly. Then i just applied a rim around the edge to blend it to the unit and hide the glued edges. It looks way better than the original and with wipers, looks pretty authentic.

It's a slow process that takes a lot of tweaking so I'm working on it around all my other projects. That said, I'm starting on upgrading the other driving trailer (current look below) very soon so updates on that to follow Thanks, it great to be able to actually see them now

Paintshop on 319 progresses with white coat down now. Red stripes will follow next and first class yellow strip on the DTC Silver grey will complete the paintjob followed by roof grey and weathering to cab fronts Can't wait to get started on decals and the detailing...

A good week of progress on the WES and 319. Interiors added to the DTF including seating, headrests and Edward Pond Murals followed by Shawplan laserglazing and full lighting via Express Models throughout Headlights, windscreens and wipers have also been added. This coach is almost complete, just need to seal the roof and add mild weathering. 319 had running tests at NSE Latchmere and runs really well on it's Hornby motor completing all inclines and crossovers smoothly. Paint job has begun with cabs and NSE blue in progress. Even managed to give the Eurostar test train a run although I haven't yet built the 6TC in Departmental/NSE livery (it's next on my to do list with all components ready and sat in a box and nagging me to get started on regularly, lol).

Focusing on getting this one finished this week, while the 319 goes into the paintshop. Lighting to complete on the interior followed by some tweaking on the vestibule door (the door backing is too high) and restoring all the glazing. Started painting the cabs on 319 with the first coat going on last week to be followed by the NSE stripes next week. And for the first time, it is actually starting to resemble the real thing!!!

Multi-directional headlights kit from Express Models fitted The kit is designed for a Lima Class 156 but fits perfectly using the white plasticard headlight surrounds which will prevent light bleeding Just the interior lighting to install but I'll do that once the unit is painted Next stop, priming! It's going to be 319186 in this weathered state.

Coach 3 of 4 now built - ATS Toilet will be out of order due to the Hornby motor being housed there Bogies to be corrected next and couplings added Aiming to complete running tests next week and add required weights followed by priming wiring up the lighting

Coach 3 of 4 now built - ATS Toilet will be out of order due to the Hornby motor being housed there Bogies to be corrected next and couplings added Aiming to complete running tests next week and add required weights followed by priming wiring up the lighting

Built the PMS last night... Wasn't overly happy with the supplied undercarriage components so I scratched my own following the diagrams supplied and a few pics from SEMG Online website. The bogies were adapted from Hornby Sprinter bogies to provide lighting inside and interior is prepp'd for seating The Pantograph will need additional parts added too Cab detailing continues with the coupling housing & skirt opened to accommodate the kadee buckeye

The first car is now on wheels Started with the DTF and height tested it alongside an old friend Completed the undercarriage and bogies with 3rd rail pick-ups 1 down, 3 more to go. Couplings to fit and then ready for priming.

After waiting a fair while, a project I've wanted to do for 2 years now was build a class 319/1. Bratchell Models have been undergoing some manufacturing changes so having received my kit after some delay, I'm building it "undecorated" instead. Last night I put together the bodyshells for 3 of the 4 vehicles. I already have the motor, bogies and pantograph which all fit well. The cab is clear plastic and as i want working headlights, I have had to cut out the original fitting and insert solid precut light fittings to prevent bleeding. They seem to work a treat. I'll also need to cut out part of the skirt to fit in the coupling. The unit is brilliantly produced so I'm really pleased to finally be building it although I am having to complete my 5WES upgrade alongside it due to poor timing but it's all good fun.