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-missy-

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  1. -missy-

    All Change

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    After much consideration I have decided not to continue posting details of my modelling and stuff on RMWeb so this will be the last post you will see from me here. If there is anyone out there in RMWeb world that has even a slight interest in my modelling and things then join me on my other blog here...
     
    http://modelopolis.blogspot.co.uk/2014/09/all-change.html
     
    I havent decided what I am going to do with my blog on here but I am considering deleting my RMWeb account in the near future.
     
    Thanks for all the support you guys have given me in the past and I hope to speak to some of you in the future.
     
    Julia
  2. -missy-

    A teeny weeny update

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    Just a little update, nothing really exciting to report this time but there are a couple of things worth mentioning...
     
    1. Tank wagons...
     



     
    This is the latest test build of my anchor mount tank wagon. I have tweaked the etches to make a 10ft wagon this time as its the one I actually need! This particular wagon has also got a 3D printed tank, printed in the classic FUD and with a very small amount of sanding came out really well. It looks like there has been a problem with the paint reacting at some point and had produced some crazing in some areas but you know what, I quite like it and I think it add a nice 'effect' to the wagon so its going to stay.
     
    2. Jinty.
     



     
    This has been on and off my workbench for a while now and has been in parts more time than I care to remember testing out various different components, but its now together and running really well. The components work and if I take away all the 'testing' aspect of it, it has taken about an hour to convert from N Gauge to 2mm Finescale plus its not that difficult to do either.
     
    Julia
  3. -missy-

    July Things

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    Well July has been a bit productive on the layout. Its probably because all the long drawn out bits are done and its now down to the scenics really (well, apart from a few bits and bobs). I enjoy scenics and it can come together relatively quickly too, I have even added a few details...
     



     

    This is an overall of the station forecourt area.Bits I have done include adding a field (of something) in the foreground, the station building now has some flowers around it, the station master now has a nearly completed vegetable patch, and there are a few more trees.


     



     

    This is a close up of the station veg plot with some potatoes, onions, and some (rather flat) rhubarb amongst other things. I still need to add some beans on one of those frame things.


     



     

    The field of something. I was aiming for sugarbeet!


     



     

    People are even popping up! A group of servicemen await a train.


     



     

    The station building needs a bit of repairing now but I can do that when I do the interior.


     



     
    Julia
  4. -missy-
    Hello again
     
    2 posts in as many weeks, this is unprecedented! I seem to be on a bit of a roll with the layout right now, I dont know why and it is a bit weird but I am not going to stop myself if its working. Weekends are good, they mean I have an opportunity to spend a little more time on things I enjoy doing and although the weather has been a pain I have still managed to get a few bits done...
     



     

    While the station board is out it seemed to make sense and carry on working on it, the area around the station building needed the most attention. The about photo shows the beginnings of some ground cover where I glue down a covering of woodland scenics blended turf, I have found this as a good base to subsequent coverings.


     



     

    This shows one of the gated entrances to the platform. The gates are etched from the scale link GWR spearpoint fencing etch. The static grass has just been applied.


     



     

    The stationmasters garden and vegetable plot is also comming together now, he now even has his own garden shed.


     



     

    An overall view of the station area how it looks now.


     



     

    Finally,the passengers now have two warnings to be on the lookout for trains.


     
    Julia
  5. -missy-
    Hello.
     
    Things havent stopped yet, I have made a bit more progress and have managed to get the second board ballasted now. Que a dodgy photo....
     



     
    Also I have a question, hopefully you guys remember these?
     



     
    I am not sure where I need to plant them, is there anyone that can help? I know I am bending the truth a little with the layout and period with the track plan, signals, and now the single line apparatus but I am thinking add them to the layout as disused but still there.
     



     
    They need to go in roughly the same area as the signal, any thoughts?
     
    Thanks.
     
    Julia
  6. -missy-

    Remember This....?

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    This weekend has seen a change in direction with my modelling and once again I have returned to my layout Highclere. Enthusiasm for this comes and goes just as quickly as the seasons (much to exhibition managers annoyance!) but progress is once again being made in the form of ballasting this time. Now that the point rodding is finished (remember that!?!) I am now looking towards more scenic work and the next thing on the list was the ballasting. Ok, so I have only done one board so far but its the board with the most track. Anyway, I had a bit of a play this afternoon when I was sitting back admiring that fact I have actually done some work on the layout...
     

     

     

     

     
    Julia
  7. -missy-
    Hello Again.
     
    I seem to be on a bit of a roll at the moment. Yesterday was spent at the Didcot Show where I had a nice time talking to a few regulars as well as a few new people. Sadly though the modelling didnt quite go according to plan and I left the show actually having gone backwards, having less done than when I got there in the morning. Pride of place on my modelling desk though went to the Foden lorry...
     



     



     
    I am really pleased with how this has turned out. OK, so the pictures dont really do the model justice but if it can pass the inspection of The Stationmaster with a huge magnifying glass then I am happy with it. The thing is though do I add more stuff? It could really do with some numberplates but I have also been thinking of some signwriting perhaps? What does everyone think? A big thanks goes to Rabs who without him this model wouldnt exist. Fingers crossed though that sometime in the near future a commercial printer will be available to print these so I can share them to those who would like one. Roll on the Morris van....
     
    Today has been a little more relaxed affair and I have managed to do a little more on the point rodding...
     



     



     
    Contrary to a short while ago I am now actually quite enjoying putting this stuff together. The milled 'comb' has changed what was a daunting thing into a quite enjoyable one and progress towards the signal box has been made. Currently there is roughly about 6 inches left to make but unfortunately I need to get the milling machine out once again to make some more comb stuff as I have run out. Then theres the fun bit of adding all the cranks to take the rodding int the signal box itself.
     
    I might even finish all the point rodding by the end of the year the rate I am going!
  8. -missy-
    Hello.
     
    As if I need another project, I already have this...
     



     
    ...which I now have the bits to finish thanks to a shopping spree at Railex. I also have this...
     



     
    ....which I keep on adding brackets, rods, and cranks to. I now also have this...
     



     
    ...which is project number three on my workbench. I dont like multiple projects on the go at any one time but I have made an exception to the last one. Its been the 'holy grail' for me for a while now.
     
    Julia
     
    (yes, I am now signing my posts with my actual name, it seems a bit silly using a pseudonym now)
  9. -missy-

    Mini Update

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    I feel its time for an update as its been a while. I haven't been upto much modelling really, the majority of my spare time has been taken up with trying to finish off my van as I made myself a new years resolution to finish it off this year.
     
    Things haven't ground to a halt though, first bit of modelling in this entry goes to the King Arthur tender...
     

     
    As in a previous post this has been virtually rebuilt from scratch, the initial intention was to tidy it up a little with a repaint and a bit of detailing but as expected I couldn't leave it at that. The bogies have been replaced with some etched ones, the whole tender has been narrowed so it resembles something near scale now, and now the motor has been replaced...
     



     
    As the floor of the tender is a solid sheet I had to think of a way to remove the motor easily so I came up with this, the motor mount holds the motor in position and is screwed to the tender base from underneath. The coal can then be stuck to the Brass sheet soldered to the top of the motor mount. I really hope the engine doesn't need as much attention as this!
     
    Second on my workbench is a Chris Higgs Autocoach chassis...
     



     
    The kit solders together well but sadly it lacks some detail so I took up the challenge. I am feeling a little overwhelmed with all the rods, brackets, and linkages though!
     
    'till next time...
     
    Missy
  10. -missy-
    Hello
     
    I though it would be appropriate that I updated my blog to being all you good folk up to date with what I have been upto recently. The modelling mojo has remained and things are gradually moving forward...
     



     
    The main project recently has been the 14xx. It came about from a bit of desperation to build an engine and all my other 'current' projects floundering because of missing parts, incorrect drawings, etc. The chassis is one of Chris Higgs etched creations (I think it was a test version) and the body came from one of my Dapol 14xx engines I have. I have learnt a few lessons building this including opening out the muffs sightly so the wheels are not a very tight fit, adding 'simpson springs' to name but a couple and I am pleased with how its turned out. The engine runs alright too with its 80(ish):1 gear ratio and still managed to keep the cab clear plus adding the gap under the boiler. All thats remaining to add now are the numberplates (once I get hold of them),couplings, and a good dusting judging by that photo! Im not expecting it to pull a heavy freight or anything but it seems to manage a coach or two without any problems.
     



     
    The next in line is the 56xx which I picked up from Ebay. The origin of it is unknown but its becomming apparent that it could possibly be the langley whitemetal kit. If so, then its very well built. Plans for this include detailing of the body and chassis (similar to the 14xx) and I need to work out what to do with the boiler as it doesnt seem to be sitting right at the moment. I have made a start on it already though by shot blasting the body.
     



     
    This is a favour for a friend. Its a con-cor American steam engine of some description but it was passed onto me as a non-runner. As you can see the whole thing has been pulled apart and cleaned, as normal the gears and bearings were full of dirty grease which judging by the (shocking) wheel bearings / electrical pickup design might explain why it wasnt working.
     
    That brings you guys up to date, see you at the Abingdon show or maybe Ally Pally (on Sat)?
     
    Missy
     
    EDIT:
     



     
    Oh, and the lima siphon is now maroon...
  11. -missy-
    Hello.
     
    I think its time for an update. I havent got that much to talk about this time really apart from a little bit of work I have done on my Lord Nelson Ebay purchase. The initial intentions were to do a little bit of tweaking to it then repaint it into something a bit more appropriate to my modelling era then move onto the next thing. Of course me being me, it hasnt quite worked out like that...
     



     
    This is what the underside of the tender originally looked like and I wasnt that happy with the solid chassis as it was that representative of the prototype. With this in mind added to a corner of my next test etch I added some bits to make a proper set of bogies for it....
     



     
    They didnt exactly go together according to my first ideas bit I managed to get a pair of bogies out of the etches. The lesson I learnt from it is not to rush etches through without really checking them. I finished off the bogies yesterday at Ally Pally and made the bogie pivots today on the lathe. Of course when testing the bogies under the tender for fit I then found out that the model was 2mm too wide according to the drawings I have so there was only one thing for it...
     



     
    Chop the whole thing apart and rebuild! There is still work to do on the tender and then the engine is next in line, fingers crossed it wont need as much work as the tender...!
     
    Missy
  12. -missy-
    Hello
     
    Its strange how things work out, the original plan was to use my current modelling mojo and build a couple of 22xx Collett engines but as my last post showed, it didnt go according to plan so I was left with having to remake the chassis and order some new coupling rods. So, I thought, I will turn my attention to my Q1 which has been looking a little worse for wear sitting in my stock box, I thought I could get this working once again (it has never worked 100%). This didnt work out as I was short of some parts so it meant I couldnt do anything with that. I was starting to worry a little now as I wanted to build an engine but then I remembered I had enough parts to make another engine, a 14xx...
     



     
    As you can see from above progress is going reasonably well with the chassis nearly finished and my attention has now turned to the Dapol body. To date I have cut off all the moulded handrails and started fitting new metal ones, cut out the moulded coal and added some plasticard ready for the real stuff, and made a new cab roof out of metal. The biggest change I think has come from chopping away the it under the boiler and making the lower part of the boiler from a piece of plastic tube. I did something similar to the Farish pannier tank and it really makes the difference I think.
     



     
    I have tried a few new techniques (well, to me anyway!) on the chassis. The first was to shot blast and paint the chassis before assembly which does help, the second being to ream out the holes in the muffs using 1.51 and 1.52mm drills until the wheels are a 'hand fit' and not a 'press them in really hard' fit like they have been in the past. This has helped assembly lots so I will be using this in the future. (Everyday is a school day!) The gearing didnt work out quite according to plan and I ended up using what gears I had lying around, this has meant though that somehow I have managed to get a gear ratio of roughly 80:1 using standard 2mmSA imperial gears fitted! Anyway, there is still lots to do on the engine including trying to cram in as much weight as possible which will be interesting because there isnt exactly much room inside...
     
    Something else I have been 'experimenting' with are some 4mm NG driving wheels.
     



     
    Im not going to go into much detail though as its not exactly going to plan...
     
    Missy
  13. -missy-
    Hello
     
    Recently I have been building a couple of chassis for my two PECO collet bodies which have been hiding in my cupboard for a while now. As the 22xx engines were very common on the DNSR it seemed sensible to have at least a couple of them on Highclere. I started by drawing up a chassis in Autocad and producing a chassis from 0.5mm thick PCB to suit. The aim of the chassis was to go 'back to basics' and produce a couple of no frills chassis.
     



     
    This where the problems started. I have now found a little issue already...
     



     
    As you can see, the chassis wheelbase does not fit the PECO body and the wheels clearly do not line up with the splashers on the body. I was slightly aware of this when I checked the design with a paper cutout of the proposed chassis but at the time I didnt think it would be too much of an issue.The reasoning behind it is I designed the chassis to be scale and clearly the body isnt, after subsequent checking I found the body to be around 2mm longer over scale which roughly ties in with the error I have.
     
    The question is do I rebuild the chassis to suit the body or do I cut the body to suit the chassis? From what I can see it wont be too difficult to cut the body as it looks like I will have to only cut the footplate.
     
    What do you think?
     
    Missy.
  14. -missy-

    St Albans 2014

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    Im sitting here at my desk about this years St Albans show and how I had a really good time once again. This was my 5th year at the show and I still very much enjoy it. OK, so the venue may not the the best ever but to me the show has a quality and atmosphere about it that very few other shows seem to have. Once again it was a pleasure to be in the position to talk to lots of like minded people, many from RMWeb land about modelling tricks and techniques and it was an honour to be able to 'show off' bits and pieces from my own modelling table. Below are some photos which hopefully help describe my show...
     




    Saturday morning before the public arrived


     
    This was my little corner of the arena. I have always had a feeling that my 'display' isnt the neatest, or well presented of others but it seemed to be popular over the weekend as I did alot of talking and not alot modelling. Even when I was sat next to the modelling legends that are Gordon and Maggie Gravett.
     




    Book Bargains


     
    These were my main purchases of the weekend which I picked up from the excellent CMRA secondhand stall on Saturday morning before it opened. The 3 books have plenty of drawings for possible future projects and at £15 for all of them I am very happy. It was one of the very few times I actually managed to get to look around the show.
     




    Sunday Morning


     
    Sunday morning started well and this was the view I woke up to from my hotel window which the show organisers kindly arranged for me. I couldn't ask for anything nicer really, especially as a full English breakfast followed shortly afterwards.
     




    Painted mini minatures


     
    I also picked these figures up painted by Cat Gibbs who was doing a painting demo a couple of tables away from me. They are amazing and I cant wait to add them to the layout sometime in the future. If you are after some hand painted figures then take a look at her work http://www.facebook.com/cats.custom.characters
     




    Sunday Lunch


     
    Sunday lunch was the nicest meal I have ever had at a show to date. You cant really fault the catering provided by the show organisers (and the pub across the road)
     




    Siphon


     
    Finally this is what I was working on this weekend, believe it or not all I managed to do was add a battery box and a couple of wires to the chassis over the weekend. No doubt I will finish it off soon though.
     
    I also want to take this opportunity to say a BIG thank you to everyone who came and said hello, admired my work, and took the time to chat. Its really appreciated. Fingers crossed I will see you again there in 2015!
     
    Missy
  15. -missy-
    Hello.
     
    I havent really has much time to get any serious modelling done this weekend so instead I decided to have a little bit of fun and see if my engine body I added to my test etch would actually go together. I havent had much luck with the bits and pieces on this test etch with various faults appearing when I put them together so I didnt hold out much luck for this one....
     

     
    It doesnt exactly slot together but with a little bit of fiddling I managed to get the bits to fit together and I am quite pleased with the result so far. Hopefully people will reconise the engine which I decided to make mainly because it has a nice large area I can fit the motor! The only bit I havent figured out how to make yet is the crosshead and associated bits, if anyone has any ideas then please let me know!
     
    Finally the car boot sales have started once again and I was pleased with this sundays find...
     

     
    Its a really good quality vice and something I have been trying to find for a while now, it looks like a jeweller vice to me? Anyway at £3 I cant complain!
     
    Missy
  16. -missy-
    Hello again
     
    The holiday break hasnt been nothing but parties and stuff. I have managed to get a little done...
     
    I managed to get a few wagons built, they still needs couplings, weathering, and some need glazing too..
     



     



     



     
    Secondly this has been on my mind for a while and i seemed a good opportunity to scratch build one, no doubt when its finished it will find its way onto a wagon...
     



     



     
    Finally some bits I have actually manged to get Shapeways to print...!
     
    Some universal joints, so far so good but how long they will last is another question...
     



     
    ...and following on from the GW self contained wagon buffers, here are some GW square shank coach buffers...
     



     
    Sorry about the rubbish photos.
     
    Missy
     
    EDIT:
     
    Below is a screen grab of the universal joint...
     



  17. -missy-

    A Little Weekend Job

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    Squeezed between spells of Christmas Shopping this weekend I managed to finish off another one of those 'little jobs' which has been on my mind for a bit now. It started off like this...
     



     
    And then turned into this...
     



     
    And after this weekend it finished off looking like this...
     



     
    As per usual, my stuff looks terrible when you look at it nice and close with a photo, but at normal distances it looks alright!
     
    Missy
  18. -missy-

    Peckett Progress

    By -missy-,

    Hello.
     
    I have decided to take a bit of a break from the layout. It was getting a bit frustrating and I wasnt doing as good a job with it as I could, that plus the fact I had to remind myself that its a hobby after all and it should be enjoyable!
     
    Refreshed with this in my head I have turned once again to my favorite side of the hobby which is designing and building engines. The latest one on my workbench right now is a little 0-4-0 Peckett saddle tank engine...
     

     
    After a very useful advice from someone with regards to Shapeways and the way to send files I resubmitted the body once again for printing and the finished body this time was much, much better with it needing only a little bit of cleaning up which I will move onto once the chassis is finished.
     
    There is still work to do on the chassis but the photos show my progress to date. The chassis is built by soldering each etched Nickel Silver sideframe onto some 0.3mm thick PCB and then filing out the shape through the etched bit to keep the profile. Both sideframe sandwiches are then soldered onto some solid 1/4" square Brass bar with gaps added for the gearbox, and then filed to suit the sideframes. The gearbox is one of my 138:1 ratio designs I did a while ago. This makes into a very rigid and strong chassis for its size, it also adds valuable weight too.
     

     
    The wheels are 6mm Driving wheels using 2mm Association turned wheel rims onto 3D printed centers. The rest of the bits come from an etch I designed.
     
    Its comming together quite well, its runs really quiet and slowly which has made me very happy! Dont forget too that the engine is just 40mm long bufferbeam to bufferbeam...
     
    Julia
  19. -missy-

    Point Rodding - Done!

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    Well, there were times when I didnt think I would ever get this far but I can gladly report Highclere has reached another 'milestone' in its construction. The point rodding is now done...
     

     

     

     
    It took roughly 14ft of rodding, 30 etched cranks, 700 etched stools, and 2 years (on and off) to get this far and I am glad its now done.
     
    Missy
     
    Ballasting next, once Christmas and New Year are out of the way...
  20. -missy-
    Hello.
     
    Well my focus has been on the point rodding and the stuff seems endless! I dread to think how long I have spent on the stuff but I can report that its nearly comming to an end (I cant believe it!). There is a little bit left to do which I want to replace and then painting and sticking in place but I will be VERY glad when its all done.
     
    Anyway, here are a few pictures of the recent work...
     



     



     



     



     
    I hope I didnt scare anyone off at the recent High Wycombe show when I was beavering away on this with a magnifying glass?!?
     
    Missy
  21. -missy-

    Storms Hit Highclere

    By -missy-,

    Hello.
     
    The October storms have been felt already at Highclere as one of the pines sadly has suffered to the high winds...
     



     
    Fortunately minimal damage occurred and no-one was injured as the tree was felled by the severe storm with gusts of wind estimated at around 70 m.p.h.
     
    Other news include the receipt of some more lovely 3D printed bits fresh from Rabs excellent printer...
     



     
    I cant wait to get my modelling tools around these bits! Thanks Rabs.
     
    Missy
  22. -missy-

    Back to the point (rodding)

    By -missy-,

    Hello again.
     
    My modelling mojo has returned once again. I think its down to a combination of things, shows, steam railways, and quiet weekends have all helped. Using this new apparent enthusiasm I have once again turned my attention to the never ending point rodding for the layout. Its been something that has slowed progress on the layout to an almost standstill. Below is the next installment in the long running saga of Highcleres point rodding, some of you might have already seen some of these elsewhere on RMWeb...
     



     
    I took another approach this time. A section of rodding roughly 2ft in length is 4 rods wide and I didnt really fancy the idea of individually soldering 5 rodding stools every scale 6ft or so. This meant a rethink to try and speed things up a little so above was the beginnings of a different approach, a 0.3mm thick length of Brass which has 0.5mm wide x 0.7mm deep slots with a 0.7mm pitch milled into it.
     



     
    This Brass 'comb' was them cut up into sections which could hold 4 rods, which in turn was soldered to a short length of 2mmSA PCB sleepering. For cosmetic purposes (is anyone really going to ever see them for real?) I then soldered 2 etched stools to each end.
     



     
    The point rodding (0.4mm square stuff from MSE) was then easily slotted into place and the whole thing was held together with a little solder. Care was taken not to hold the soldering iron in place for too long so to unsolder everything (it happened a couple of times which was a pain).
     



     



     
    Ok, so not the best quality photos (taken with my phone) but this is the impression the point rodding gives. This particular section still needs to be painted then stuck into place properly (its resting on top in the piccies). To me, this is a mini milestone as producing rodding using this method has made it so much easier, so much so that the rest of it doesnt look anywhere near as daunting to me. Sadly though I didnt produce enough of the bits so it will be back to the beginning soon to produce some more.
     
    I hope it looks alright and is worth all the effort?
     
    Missy
  23. -missy-

    Catching Up...

    By -missy-,

    Hello
     
    Its been a while, I think its time for an update...
     
    1. Single line token apparatus.
     
    Its been on my mind for a while now that I would like to see some form of single line apparatus on Highclere and thanks to Andy plus a visit to Didcot I managed to get enough info to make some. Armed with this I made a start at the recent Oxford show and finished them off today, ready for planting on the layout at sometime.
     



     
    Ok, so close up they look a little tatty but when you will see them on the layout they will look alright. Oh, and if anyone is interested on how I made the mesh, see below...
     



     
    2. John Grey Trestrol.
     
    This didnt go exactly to plan. I fancied doing a wagon kit and this one seemed like a good idea at the time. The problem is that the kit isnt exactly the best available and after an attempt to make it look slightly better I ended up with a wagon that was pretty much 19mm wide.
     



     
    Because of this, the kit has now gone into 'deep storage' and its been put down to experience.
     
    3. 2mmSA Lowmac.
     
    Following onto the Trestrol, plus the fact I had to find something to do at the recent Swindon show my attention turned to the 2mm Scale Association NE Lowmac wagon. The intention for this will ultimately be a wagon to display some of my narrow gauge stock so it will end up with a short piece of NG track.
     



     
    Its not the easiest kit to build, the main problem with it is the etched overlays for the sides do not have enough clearance added to clear the cross braces which makes soldering them in place a bit of a pain. This wagon has now been shot blasted and is awaiting painting.
     
    4. Foden Lorry.
     
    The first of my 'virtual' modelling goes to my Foden lorry. As some of you might be aware I have had problems getting this printed via Shapeways and now is with Rabs of this forum who is going to have a go at printing it for me.
     



     
    I am looking forward to seeing the results of this.
     
    5. Type L Container.
     
    This has come about from a discussion with some 2mm guys at the recent N gauge show where I found out the containers for N Brass' conflat wagon dont exist. Armed with this and a kit for myself I thought it would make sense to model the container for printing.
     



     
    This will be going for a test print with Shapeways soon and fingers crossed I can get something printed!
     
    6. Morris Type J Van.
     
    After being persuaded by a certain 2mm member at a car show earlier this year (where there was one) to try and make a 2mm version of this van. To start with I thought 'this should be relatively easy' but its proven to be anything but. The whole van is full of compound curves which has made modelling it a bit tricky.
     



     



     
    Currently the model has stalled until I figure out how to finish off a couple of bits on the body.
     
    7. Allchin Traction Engine.
     
    Finally this is a somewhat ambition project for myself, especially trying to work out how to do the fiddly bits on top keeping the detail yet making it 3D printing friendly. The bulk of the superstructure is done though...
     



     
    It originally started off as a means to produce some traction engine wheels but it has gone slightly beyond that now.
     
    I do have a few other projects on the go and Im sure to post about them in the future...
     
    Missy
  24. -missy-

    Treemendous...

    By -missy-,

    Me again!
     
    This weekend I havent had musch time (or inclination!) to carry on with the point rodding so instead the short time I had spare I had a go at something else...
     
    These have been on my mind for a while now and as usual, the only solution was to experiment!
     



     
    I have been growing my own asparagus fern for a while now and today was my first harvest. It needed doing as some of it has started to die off. Armed with this crop and a packet of Tescos finest bamboo skewers I attempted my first ever pine tree.
     
    The bamboo skewer was cut to a more suitable length and then using my dremel I sanded it down to a tapered point at one end. Once I had cleaned up all the sawdust I then started at the base of the tree drilling a small hole through the trunk where I then superglued asparagus fern trimmings into the hole. I worked my way upto the top and once finished the whole tree was given a trim to tidy it up a little. To paint I gave the whole tree a base coat of brown (from an aerosol) and then the green (BR loco green!) was added with my airbrush.
     



     



     
    Im very pleased with the results and at about an hour from start to finish it isnt that time consuming. Even close up it doesnt look too bad!
     
    Missy
  25. -missy-

    Tanks a lot...

    By -missy-,

    Hello Again
     
    I have indulged myself a little over this weekend. I did plan to get some more point rodding completed but instead my test etches turned up in the post...
     



     
    Part of this etch was a long waited for Anchor mount tank wagon chassis, its something that has been on my to do list for a while now as they seemed to be the mainstay of oil traffic along the DNSR from fawley in the south. Sadly there isnt anything in 2mm that fitted the bill so armed with a scale drawing (which took some finding, thanks Andy) I drew up a chassis etch.
     
    Itching to give the etch a go I made a start. Now, one of the difficulties with the chassis was the fact you could see so much of it so I couldnt really use a 'standard' 2mm chassis etch as the base is very solid. Using an idea I got from one of Stephen H absolutely fantastic kits I came up with a solution to adding the cross members under the chassis...
     



     
    It made into a surprisingly strong chassis (I can now see why they did it in real life!)
     



     
    The tank itself was made from a piece of brass tube but for the next batch I am hoping to get the tank cast in resin. I have now given it a coat of black paint ready for transfers and weathering..
     



     



     



     



     
    To be honest I didnt expect the etch to go together as well as it did. There are some tweaks to do to the drawings but there wasnt anything that stopped me from building this one. I must be getting better at this etching lark! Only about another 29 to build now, along with CoT MkIV, Peckett MkII, and of course, more point rodding.....
     
    Missy
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