simonmcp

So I went ahead and ordered one, the Ee 3/3 Nr.16318 and it was delivered in three days. I ordered it on my phone so the order form auto filled, see Joseph Pestell's comments, so had no problems getting my order to go through. It is definitely ALL plastic and has no moving parts, even the pantograph is a solid one piece moulding. It does fit on HO track. One word of warning, it is fixed to the display track by a small bolt that needs a 2mm triangular bit to unscrew it. It does not have a display case just a clear plastic wrapping similar to Bachmann etc. The finish is pretty good with nice definition of colours, it all appears to be painted and not moulded in coloured plastic, and the number plates and other markings are all legible even those that I needed a powerful magnifying glass to read. Apparently it's assigned to Winterthur Switzerland. There are mould lines visible on the pantograph and the buffers but not too bad. All the motion below the footplate is also one solid moulding and is finished in what I would call weathered brown, there are some small imperfections, you can see where they have cut the moulding pips, on some of the wheels but nothing a bit of actual weathering wouldn't cover. The front plate that incorporates the handrails is leaning slightly forwards on my example and the top front headlight is leaning back and has some paint missing on it. But overall the finish is acceptable. So is it worth £19.99 including postage? Well I just intend putting it at the back of a layout and it's obviously a lot cheaper than 295 Euros that Conrad want for a working Trix model of one. So overall if you aren't expecting a finely detailed model then it's acceptable and you could detail it up a little more. I just need to actually build a layout to put it on now. Simon

You could just remove the internal boxes doors which would solve the clashing problem and cut down a little weight. Simon

That's looking great, better than I've ever managed to get transfers looking, so I will be using your method next time. I'm sure a little light weathering all over will tone the lettering down enough, but if you you were feeling particularly masochistic, apparently sign writers paint the outline of letters smoothly in one quick flowing motion and then just 'roughly' block in the colour in the middle of each letter which could be a technique to use to weather lettering and not the surrounding area. Much easier on the full size items of course. Simon

I always marvel at your attention to detail and workmanship. I once spent over half an hour trying to file a Ratio Southern platelayers hut roof to fit, I think there are only six items in the whole kit and it took hours to get it to look right. The worst kit I've ever tried to rescue was one of GWR Ratio signals where the two Half's of the mould were out by over 1.5mm, not good when that included the round signal post. So well done on the crane kit. Simon

You could try the trick of painting all but a very small area black and then use a Windsor and Newton yellow ink over the remaining clear spot. Simon

The Range usually do a buy so many of those boards for £10, they have reduced the number you get a while ago after I had bought some, which is why I didn't quote a number. The board is about 1and a half Millimetres thick which is okay for scratchbuilding but not so good for Scalescenes kit's which need 1mm and 2mm. The Range also sell a small circle cutter, Ofla make I think in yellow, which is useful for round arches. Simon

Hi David, loving the pictures, brings back happy memories and great for modelling reference. Do you or indeed any of the members of this forum know of a dimensioned drawing of the check rails of the type used on the point in the extreme lower left of this photo as opposed to the more conventional check rails in the lower right please. Any information, including their reason for use on standard and narrow gauge, would be gratefully received as I would like to reproduce them in CAD and 3D print them for my layout. I think it would make it stand out as more continental. Thanks, Simon

Looking really good, any more progress lately? Simon

Thanks for the replies. I may punt £19.99 for one to see what they're like. Will let you know if I get one. Simon

Has anybody bought any of these https://www.model-space.com/gb/electric-locomotives-diecast.html and if so, are they any good, are they all metal and if so would they short out the track? I was thinking, background shed fillers. Simon

Hi Will, it is always advisable to use a drawing for buildings so that you get the proportions right. I would start with a brick building and use thin sheets of brick plasticard as that will be easier to cut. Even with thin plasticard you have to make allowance for it's thickness at the corners, or chamfer it at 45 degrees. I would advise laminating the thin sheets with two thin backing sheets to avoid distortion. Drawings can be found all over the internet or for a small cost you could use one of scalescenes kits as a drawing and make it out of plasticard instead. Get some magnetic square clamps or use a true square block of wood and make the building on a sheet of plate glass to keep it level. There are a load of threads on here that show you how to do it, look in the card modelling section as well as that covers the same principles. Simon

In all probability the highly skilled signwriters that lettered the wagons would have taken account of the distortion of the strapping and would have made the lettering appear correct from a distance, which means that you would need a distorted transfer to account for the thickness of the strapping, only a small amount on 4mm scale of course but more noticeable in the larger scales. Sorry to be piccy but I was a Typographer (lettering) by trade so notice these things more than most. Simon

If you did indeed turn up the brightness that would wash out the colours. If there is a setting for 'Saturation' on your program or printer settings you could increase that to make the colours deeper. Simon

That's looking great Andy. With all the Covid19 shortages I may have to print my own turnouts. Simon

In case you do decide to do any scaffolding, the vertical poles at that time were 25feet. Simon

There was a time not too long ago that 1mm out on a wheelbase was deemed close enough by magazine reviews. I think you've done a great job. Have you ever tried PLA+ and if so does it give a better finish? Simon

My type of soldering. Just want to say your layout and quality of work is inspiring, absolutely top hole stuff. I will have to up my game, it will now probably take me longer than Pendon to make a building which will be at least a thousandth of the quality. Simon

On the open wagon nearest the camera on the first photo you can see clearly where the print 'went rogue' but not on the fish wagon, were they printed together? The result looks very like my first attempts with my Aldi additive printer. Simon

Or be a tightwad like me and use a sharpening steel between cuts.

If you sell anything regularly and as a business you have to register with HMRC in the UK as well, and pay National insurance contributions and insurance etc. The taxman watches eBay etc and will send you a tax demand 12 months after they first see you trading. I work in accounting and have a business registered with HMRC, don't think that because you are only doing a small amount you will be ignored as njee20 said you only get a £1,000 trading allowance. Stay safe and don't expose yourself to any risks. Simon

Absolutely stunning stuff Terry, incredibly neat. Simon

Just read in an old MRJ that Pendon stick sellotape (aka sticky back plastic) to stop the wheels shorting.

Stunning modelling, I always lusted after one of those drawing boards but they were equivalent to tens of thousands in today's money. Now I can do much more accurate but slower work on my iMac.

In town or urban areas the canal would have to squeeze in whatever space was left, and branches Could be quite narrow, but at least two marrow boats and enough room to pass width.

I think you've done a great job so far, photos can be really cruel in showing up stuff that will never be seen by the naked eye. Also photographs are notorious for changing some colours and colour variations.