Southwich

Very nice Martin - top work! Kind regards, Will

Thanks Rob that’s very kind. There’s some great inspiration out there so I’m not sure they’ll be ultimate - they’ll be as good as I can get them though! There’s a great MRJ article on 37 detailing which is well worth the purchase - and a great blog here: https://westhalton.wordpress.com/locomotives/class-37/ Kind regards, Will

More super detailing Bachmann 37s (516/517) this week - both are now fitted with Penbits sprung bogies, Shawplan/PHDesigns etches and new buffers. Trying to do the pair as a batch so then I can paint them at the same time given the liveries are nigh on identical, and I have the transfers for both ready to go. The bodies are pretty much ready for the first coat of primer, just a few finishing touches required before I get the airbrush out. Under-frames still need a lot of scratch building around the tanks, and bogie detailing on 516. A lot of work has gone into this pair but hopefully the results will be worth it! Kind regards, Will

Thanks Will much appreciated. They’re certainly challenging but they’re much nicer than the originals. I’ve found soldering them up really helps. I’ve got another load coming so I might try and do a how to video on YouTube or something. Thanks Jerry much appreciated! Glad to see Squirrel rail is keeping you busy. Thoroughly deserved given the quality of your work! Kind regards, Will

Very nice Peter! Enjoyed catching up on your last few posts. The 47 looks superb. Hope you’re well! Kind regards, Will

Also completed - and PM sent. Kind regards, Will

Absolutely loved reading this thread Jon @43179 - the 37s have been particularly inspirational to my P4 tractors I’m tarting up. Have you made any further progress on any stock or your superb layout? I think I remember seeing it with my dad at Scaleforum, I forget the year. Absolutely superb modelling! Hopefully you’re still progressing with some P4 bits as your modelling is top class! Kind regards, Will

After losing my mojo for a bit following the sale of Motts Lane, @MRDBLUE17 has helped my mid 2000s tractor addiction by trading two 37s for two redundant DMUs that I wasn’t going to use. 37510 has been stripped to become 37517. The latest shot of my progress: I realised that on 114 and 516 that the Shawplan windows were too high up, so 114 has donate it’s Penbits bogies to 517 so then I can crack on more quickly. In terms of progress on 37517, I’ve done the following: - Fitted etched Shawplan windscreens and filled the join - Soldered up the roof fan from Shawplan - Lanarkshire models buffers fitted - Moulded fuel tanks opened out - Bodyside windows filled (in order for the Loadhaul logo to go over it) - Hurst etched sandite filler ports added - Penbits bogies with 3D printed brake cylinders added - Secondman grilles cut out ready for etched replacements - Shawplan brake levers soldered to brake chains and fitted using .33mm nickel silver wire drilled into the plastic chassis - Etched Lamp Brackets and snowploughs fitted from @Pete Harvey’s superb range I need to finish assembling Pete’s steps, and add a few small details to the bogies then they are complete. I’ll then move onto detailing the area around the fuel tanks, which is looking very open following the removal of a lot of plastic! Following this the bodyshell, underframe and bogies needs a coat of primer and then I can asses what needs tidying up before moving onto painting. Thanks as always for reading. Kind regards, Will

Something I wasn’t particularly happy with was the paint finish on 56049 (please excuse the rubbish workbench/desk photo!). Since moving over to lacquer based paints the paint finish I’ve managed to achieve has been significantly better than that with enamels. A big thanks to @newbryford for providing the Colas RAL colours - which were duly purchased from Hiroboy. I stripped the Precision paint off using IPA, and then reprinted using my favourite Mr Hobby Surfacer 1500 black. Then, during a nice afternoon of sunshine, I did the repaint - the paint dried really quickly which is a great feature of the lacquer paints. Following the painting I used dry rub down transfers to do the lettering and numbers, no carrier film at all - perfect! Following this gloss varnish was applied through the airbrush in preparation for the few water slides (colas logos/cantrail strips and OHLE flashes), and to seal the DRD transfers. Last few parts/transfers need adding, some small touch ups then I can Matt varnish and give the loco a light weathering. Thanks for looking! Kind regards, Will

Absolutely stunning that Jerry - top work sir! Kind regards, Will

Hi all, Looking for quite a rare kit - the Hurst Models CKU103 RTC 101 Tractor Unit. If you have a spare one you’d fancy parting with please pop me a message - willing to pay a sensible price given the rarity of the etches. A photo of the real thing for inspiration: https://flic.kr/p/5LE3Ep Thanks in advance, Will

Tracklaying has continued this weekend - a few more lengths of flat bottom have been laid and the first point is all but complete. This point just needs the tie bar, check rails and a few cosmetic chairs adding then it’s ready to be wired up. A few photos of progress: One down, only 28 left to go! Kind regards, Will

Thanks Pete much appreciated - although I’ve had a nightmare trying to fade the transfers so back to square one. The best way I’ve found is white spirit (screw fix is my go to) applied with a cotton bud. It gives you a lot of control and doesn’t easily go through the paint below. Hopefully that helps - looking forward to seeing your 20! Kind regards, Will

My Bachmann 20/3 has been converted to P4 using ultrascale wheels kindly sent to me by @Wolf27. Ive managed to renumber and rebrand it using dry rub down numbers (no backing film) and Railtec logos respectively. I’ve sealed these this afternoon with zero paints dullcote through the airbrush. A few days needed now to harden off the onto weathering next. Kind regards, Will

A very enjoyable day was spent yesterday helping @Chris56057 on the layout. The layout is now fully wired with all the frogs working after a few hours of trial and error. It was really nice to play trains again! A quick shot of 37698 shunting around the yard in the natural light: Looking forward to more from Chris! Kind regards, Will

Evening all, A quick update on two ongoing projects. First off one of @jonhall superb CargWagon kits: Nearly there, just a few more underframe details left to go. Second up the 20/3 has been renumbered to 20310 from 306 and had the bodyside logos removed: New bodyside DRS transfers next! Kind regards, Will

Thanks Will - Chris has said he’ll keep the thread updated so look out for more progress. He has some very nice ‘proper locos’ so should be good! Kind regards, Will

Very nice Chris - the layout looks right at home with the loadhaul 37 on it! Looking forward to seeing some more updates soon. Kind regards, Will

Evening all, Just wanted to post a quick update on the layout. Recently on my Instagram page I posted that the layout would be up for sale soon as I look to get a P4 project underway. Not expecting to sell it immediately - I am glad to say @Chris56057 has purchased the layout from me, which was delivered to him this morning. I will leave Chris to update the thread going forward - pleased it’s gone to such a good home! Over the past week I’ve finished the track, weathered it and sorted the control panel using the megapoints mimic panel and C&L servo mounts. This now works really nicely on push buttons. I’ve posted photos below of the overall state of play with the layout: Control Panel: Right hand board: Right hand and middle board: Middle and left hand board: Finally a few photos of 37698 being the last loco to run with the layout in my ownership: Best of luck to Chris with the layout - I’ve been reliably informed he’ll be trying to keep the thread up to date with updates - so looking forward to Motts Lane getting finished! Time to start planning the next one... Kind regards, Will

Today’s trackwork image - concrete sleepers. Kind regards, Will

Today’s trackwork image - concrete sleepers. These were individually laid using C&L plastic sleepers and Peco pandrol clips. The sleepers have been painted using Plastikote suede, and the rails have been painted using railmatch frame dirt. Ballasted using Woodland Scenics fine buff ballast and weathered using a mix of railmatch black, frame dirt and roof dirt. Quite pleased with the difference between the two lines - please excuse the unfinished platform in the background! Kind regards, Will

A quick shot of my EM handbuilt track, ballasted with Carr’s ash ballast and weathered with a mix of railmatch enamels: Kind regards, Will

And another one of the wooden sleepers: Kind regards, Will

A quick two shots of 37698 on the weathered track following a mammoth modelling session over the weekend to get the track finished, ballasted and weathered: Very pleased with how this is now looking - albeit a bit weird without any scenery! more updates to come this week. Kind regards, Will

These look fantastic John - I’ve just sent a PM. Thanks for bringing these kits to market! Kind regards, Will