westernviscount

It also appears to have arrived through the station building! I believe this was Victor's Escher period. This thread is not so much about triggering serious enthusiasts, more triggering anyone with a reasonable sense of basic perspective.

I was looking forward to taking it to the club and seeing the coach on it's rightful home which also motivated the quick action! Yes it is not as neat as it was and I was quite angry with myself for the mistake, I am still pleased with the model generally and "lessons have been learned." Nearly forty more windows to go!

I must say I was very proud of the cab front and the lining so proceeded with the cab window. As has become pretty standard for my modelling I knock up something I am really pleased with and promptly ruin it. This time, the pleasing results barely lasted 12 hours!! I added the front window, cut to size to allow flush glazing. Whilst trying to achieve the pressure fit, I pressed from the inside out and was appalled to feel the top of the cab face move forward, cracking the paint along the upper lining which is where the brass meets the aluminium roof!! The lining crinkled up amd chips of paint fell away. The two images above show the window in place and the top of the cab resprayed, re-lined and matt varnished. I Knew I had to just fix it straight away or there was a risk that the model would have gone in a drawer and ignored, possibly having been stamped on!!

So far I was a little disappointed with my painting. It is by far my weakest area of modelling, mostly due to my impatience in terms of prep and waiting for optimal conditions. Lining out was completed as best I could using the few photos I have of the vehicle I am modelling (there seem to be very few). An ancient HMRS pressfix sheet was used for all elements. I had never used them before and realise that perhaps teh age of them worked against me and my lack of understanding of how they work. I moved them an awful lot after initial placement which made the adhesive cover larger areas than I wanted. The lining over the can window was a bit tricky, needing to be sliced incrementally to form the curve. This can be easily spotted but not bad I don't think. The numbers are placed individually perhaps need to be spaced better but what is done is done! The thing that satisfied me about the paint job was the coat of halfords matt lacquer. The lack of reflection makes the pitted finish of the maroon less visible. Oh the roof was airbrushed Humbrol satin 163 I think. Lots more work to follow including glazing and the interior...oh and weathering!

Onward to painting. I used Halfords etch spray which I used in what I now feel was the completely wrong way. I went for very thin coats which seemed to build up as a powdery surface. I think applying wetter would be better. Much sanding was needed and more than I ended up doing to be honest. A coat of Halfords Ford Burgundy over the top made things look slightly better but I was not happy with the texture. I also would mask the roof in future. The chassis is Halford Matt black which is more satin than matt but this suits me at this stage. A test run on my Dad's layout led to a total shorting out or everything. Turns out I had not taken note of how I inserted the wheels, these being insulted only on one side! A screen grab from the bfi player shows the vehicle no. as W 6818 W.

Further to the above, the model proceeded onwards rather nicely... buffers come with the kit and I added additional coupling hook and vacum hose by LMS and my own steam heat pipe using guitar string. The join between the roof and end is filled and sanded in an attempt to make it as flush as possible. The electrical connectors come with the kit but the alarm gear is made fir .5mm wire and the handles (i think they are handles) are part of the extra detailing fret. The end steps are also part of this fret and I think really set things off! Here you can barely see the dynamo belt which I made from brass fret waste. I can confirm that now the chassis is sprayed black the belt is impossible to see. Also, in this shot I had had to move the dynamo back away from the bogie and here there is now plenty of clearance...with the bogie casting on! Another move followed shortly.

I am going to record a couple of recent projects here involving kit-built rolling stock. The items are built specifically for a new project, Caia Road Goods Yard in Wrexham circa 1960. This is a change in era for me which means the requirement for new stock items. So far I have renovated an airfix 14xx which were the main motive power for passengers trains with them being paired with an auto-trailer or two. Hawksworth and collet autocoaches were the norm for my selected time period but there is a lovely video on the bfi website of the Wrexham Ellesmere branch, which Caia Road is part of, with footage of a 14xx paired with a BR autocoach, diagram A44. Comet coaches do a kit for this vehicle so I thought is proper to give it a go. Here is the free film on the bfi player which is great! Watch Wrexham Central to Ellesmere Line 1962 online - BFI Player So to the model... The end are soldered to a box which is folded up to form the structure which will join the body to the chassis. Here, I have "sweated" the regulator mounting to the outside of the cab end. Notches are etched to map out where the handrails and step will go and also the gong. Sadly, the placement of the gong, regulator mount and window wiper hole are positioned as a mirror image to reality (unless I have totally misread how to build this). I have chosen to add handrails and steps early on. The drawback of this is that the detail hinders use of a square when soldering to the sides and also lining out later is more difficult as two handrails are on the line of the central lining. I enjoyed doing the steps as I used .4mm wire to form the rivets which I think looks rather neat, Details are added to the sides. handrails at the ends using .4mm wire. Door bumpers are .4mm wire cut and filed to make small protrusions. Door handles/turns come with the kit but sadly in my case not enough. To the scrap etch box!! Hinges come on the additional detailing fret. Short ones used for the upper and middle and the bigger ones for the bottom on teh tumblehome. The tumblehome is preformed but to my eye is incorrect against the ends and I had to reform it. I still didn't get this right but I was a little nervous of ruining everything. Here, the sides have been soldered to the ends with the sides mounted outside the ends as per the instructions. The roof was cut slightly too long to allow it to be filed back flush with the end as per the real thing. The roof is glued in place using impact glue. I made a rather huge mistake building the chassis, cutting where I should have been folding! there is an upward fold which makes the chassis rigid and register with the body. I thought I had ruined it but some patient soldering averted the problem. The trusses needed cutting the right size and the lateral supports between the queen posts are not part of the kit so added them myself with L angle 1mm brass. I do not know if this is prototypical and there are likely more central posts. Details are whitemetal and these were soldered as per the diagram which was another mistake as the battery box, brake gear and dynamo all fouled the bogies so the placement here is of my own decision making.

Here was the small success by the way...in my opinion. I am modifying a ratio brakevan in the Geoff Kent style and started on the handrails. Quite pleased. If I pull my finger out I could finish it by tomorrow morning and I see it has given rain so will give it a blast with the spray can....nooo!!! Stop!!!

I attempted to "notice" my thinking tonight and left my main project well alone and returned to a "stalled" project. I was more successful than I thought and immediately wanted to do more, despite being a bit tired and also starting to feel impatient (I noticed my thinking). It all sounds a bit new age but it helped. I immediately set things aside, came on here and am now going to tidy my bench. Lets see how that goes!!

Thanks Barclay. Yes, totally agree with the Halfords rattle can approach. Again, used many times previously but...i didnt have any right now!! As ever, I did fix the above situation with...halfords rattle can applied in good conditions, shaken for 2 minutes and not a second less and applied in light coats and allowed time to cure. Why dont I just do this every time!!!

My mojo is off and running at the minute. A new layout on the go, new avenues of research and new focus stock/era wise. HOWEVER, I am finding myself frustrated or disappointed with my results. The hobby is characterised often as requiring super human levels of concentration and patience. "I wouldn't have the patience to do that" etc etc. Well, it turns out in areas other than paid work I do not have a lot of patience! I frequently rush processes and attempt things with the wrong tools or under the wrong conditions or use inappropriate materials to "just get it done." This has led to disappointing and frankly terrible results. The frustrating bit is knowing the choices are not going to lead to a good result but going ahead anyway (see above) I admire and envy the modeller who can do a bit here and there and step back and let the glue dry or the paint cure or see its raining and dont go near the spray paints! When I read "let the glue harden over night" or "spray under warm, none damp conditions" I squirm!

The track bed embankment is reaching completion woodwork wise. The goods yard is truncated but should still give a feel of the real thing.

As a visitor I used to take one of these for my daughter to stand on. https://www.dunelm.com/product/addis-folding-step-stool-1000070053 I have been to exhibitions where these or similar were handed out to visitors for free. As for providing them as an exhibitor I would not even consider it as it is too risky.

Thank you @The Johnster. I think it's turned out quite nice. I have taken a bit of a knock mojo wise as when I ran it last it was horrendously loud. Smooth and slow but loud!!! Not sure I will be able to put up with it so considering next steps ay the moment. I will proceed with 1458 soon. I am going to tweak a few things this time. Lamp irons on the bunker possibly, finer pipework along the sides with better fitments (not just glue!). I am also going to use thinner brass for the steps and perhaps punch some rivets. We will see. I am looking forward to doing 1458 out in lined green. Should look smart. The layout is coming on nicely (caia road) and I am happy with the a44 coach although I trusted the diagram of the battery box layout too much!! The trip back to the early 60s continues.

I realise I haven't updated here for a while. Progress is slow but steady. Most of the woodwork was left loose in this shot but I have since screwed everything down. The mock up goods shed has really helped with visualisation. This gives a feel for the feel of the layout. I like how the goods shed will dominate the scene. An update on stock. 1432 is complete in terms of modelling a painting. Weathering next. And a diag a44 driving trailer. Cheers for now.

Here is a quick look at the accompanying coach for 1432. This is a comet kits diagram A44 BR(WR) driving trailer. Should look nicely at home on Caia Road.

Roxey do an etch you can assemble to make some nice looking, usable screw link. They supply long and short "chain" pieces and the screw piece so they can be made easier to use. https://www.roxeymouldings.co.uk/product/465/4a111-screw-link-couplings/ No connection with company. Happy customer.

I think it is time to declare 1432 finished in terms of being fully outshopped in ex-works condition. Here is how she arrived at the works. I just noticed the rear facing BR lion! As I have slowly proceeded with this model I am so impressed with the original base model. I can't imagine how revolutionary the mechanism must have been in the 70s. So a list of jobs seems appropriate. Full strip down paint wise (after a ridiculous start Handrails shaved away and replaced with wire Smoke hand rail replaced with better profile Mainly trains detailing bits. Smoke box door etc Hooks on bunker Whistle and shield by modelu Chimney and plates by 247 dev. Sprayed halfords mat black Lamp irons on front Transfers by railtec Roxey screw link. Dummy at front. New real coal crushed and added to the bunker. The smokebox door number makes me very happy. I am likely to start a new thread for weathering soon...when I am brave enough.

Intaglio is a type of etching, scribed/incised onto metal, usually by hand and usually printed from.

Advice was duly taken and a set of lovely 247 developments plates have been applied. I am particularly impressed with the smoke box numbers. Very finely etched. Now all that is left is the glazing, coal, coupling hooks and cab roof fitting and handrail, crew...oh and weathering. Since dismantling again for the chassis to be painted the running is still good but very very loud. It will never be quiet but it might benefit from some attention. 1432s partner rolling stock is coming along also... And the home layout proceeds at a relaxing pace...

Steady work here at Oswestry shed. A few jobs remain. The glazing and some coal for the cab, coupling hooks and some tidying up of some rogue paint splodge. Then finally some etched plates...oh and weathering!

Two tinkered pics for atmosphere... Up towards Marchwiel And down to Wrexham.

I have built a quick mockup to get a feel for the look of the shed. I only have access to 2 useful photos. They suggest a tall building with a lean too type canopy. The above mimics one of the photos I have access to... I am looking forward to putting this onto the layout so I can get a feel for the proportions. At this point it might be a tad narrow from front to back. I am working off the footprint being 40ft by 20ft. The ends look square so I assumed the height would be 20ft up to the gutter line.

And one more update to the stock Work has begjn on the dia. A44 auto trailer. No expert here at the brass so slowly does it at this stage. And finally the two 14s continue. The nearest will now be 1432 with topfeed and the green one will be 1458 in...green. I have had some lovely cycling lions from railtec and added then to 1432. I have also matted up the smokebox and will take a photo soon. I intend to get plates from 247 dev as reccomended elsewhere. They also supplied the lovely chimneys. No affiliation just pleased with service and product. Al the best for now.

Here is another piece of 'stock' ready for Caia Road. Dad gifted this van to me for display as at the time I was firmly modelling pre tops 1970s so wasnt intended for a layout. However... I've started adapting it, spraying it matt amd replacing the side and rear windows with clearfix to make the moderately more flush. I also set the front wheels in a turn position for more realism amd added wing mirrors. Since the photo I have dulled the tyres and now need to do some very light weathering. Onwards!