-missy-

Thank you guys

Im afraid that is as close as my camera will do. I have all my macro lenses stacked on top of each other to take that picture! I think I will have to get a magnifying lens though. I am starting to struggle a bit with them.

M.

Hi Missy

 

Loco looking good, did you make the bushes or buy them?

 

Are you still entering the challenge? I've been forwarded an email about it and neither of us appear to be on the list! Got to chase that up this week.

 

Peter

Hello Peter

I pulled out of the challenge earlier this year. I decided to concentrate on Highclere isntead of starting another layout. That doesnt mean you can though! I made a drawing for the bushes with the plan on getting them manufactured but happened to stumble across some in the Oxford groups vault of spares! I think they are from the association but are years and years old. I have quite a few so if you need some let me know.

Out of interest, what did you use to blacken the wheels? It looks very nice, top conversion

Hi Bryn

Thank you. I use the Birchwood blackening fluids. See http://www.eileensemporium.com/index.php?page=shop.browse&category_id=29&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=26

Well, somehow you've made a Q1 look good Missy, quite a feat

 

Those wheels look superb! How long would you say this conversion approximately took you to do?

Hello Mikkel

Thank you. As mentioned before the Q1 is my favorite engine, I really like the functionality of them. Its surprised me how doing something as little as chaging the wheels for finer ones has changed the appearance of it. So far its taken me a weekend to get this far but as mentioned there is still quite a bit to do. I have nearly finished the engine now so its the tender next. Im going to have a go at machining the tender wheels from N Gauge to 2mm finescale myself as a bit of an experiment.

Missy

Hi Missy,

Good to see that you and Highclere are here at last, I am most impressed with the Pannier is it reworked the same way as John Greenwoods articles in MRJ ? (I think thats the right name) The tank wagon is also a work of art............well the whole layout is come to that.

 

Backscenes as you say can make or break a layout, get it right and it opens up a whole new dimension. I was advised to go for a low horizon and lots of sky. So as to give a feeling of depth and space. Whatever you should decide to do then I am sure it will be up to your high standards.

 

Shame I can't view the Q1 yet but it will be something to look forward to.

 

Cheers,

Geoff

Thanks guys

Hello Geoff. I ended up scratch building a chassis for the pannier tank. It started off as a conversion similar to that article but I was told it had to have daylight under the boiler so the original chassis had to go!

Missy

It did look as good as you described it. Did you drill out the centre pins from the wheels, then put in the plastic bush before adding the nickel rod? If so that would appear to be a solution for lots of steam locos. Was it easy?

Hi Kris

Thank you I did it exactly how you described it there. As Nigel mentions its quite important to get the hole in the wheel in the middle so fortunately I have a small lathe with a collet chuck so I can get the wheel turning very true. I cannot see any reason why anyone cant use this idea for any of the RTR engines but remember the 2mm SA are in the process of producing drop in wheels for engines and no doubt will be available soon If you have the right tools (lathe and wheel quatering jig) I cant see any reason why anyone cant do this, its not that difficult, no.

Missy

Hello

They look really cool and a refreshing change from men in orange jackets, although it was a bit weird to read...

"They will shortly be joined by Mrs Longbottom??

How big (long x high) does your backscene need to be? I have the ID Backscenes here but they might be more suitable for the larger scales. The biggest problem I have with all of them is the height. I believe a backscene directs the viewer down into the model and therefore should be at least 600mm high to achieve that.

Hello Ian

I have just measured the wood for the backscenes and I need a backscene roughly 300mm high by 3200mm long to be split into 2 half way along the length.

Missy