westernviscount

A couple of club nights has led to some progress. It took a while to work out and decide on the track bed position and which areas to create as high level. Everything except the upright supports remains loose so I assure you my carpentry is not totally appalling. The paper rectangle is the footprint of the goods shed which was 40' by 20'. There appears to be a difference in track layout from the ordnance survery from about 1920 ish and photographs in the 60s. I think, looking at this photo, I have made an error as widening of the embankment marks the line to the cattle dock which I think ought to swing out to the right at a steeper angle. I think a compromise between the early trackplan and photographs will need to be made. Looking "up" away from Wrexham, the headshunt/shunting neck on the left slew out towards the goods shed. The crossover is not positioned correctly here and should be nearer the camera on this side of the third upright which marks the position of the Salop Road bridge.

Forgive me, but I would suggest many of the respondents to these polls are thinking about their answer in terms of how they wish to be perceived. Status and the need to display personal greatness has never been more apparent and I am afraid an active interest in model railways does not fit the profile of your high flying, "lifestyle" person.

Can I ask any in the know if etch primer is ok to use on both metal and plastic please? I am moving onto my next 14xx and also it's companion, a br (w) auto trailer coutesy of wizard.

Many model a period, loco or place that they are nostalgic for, having grown up or had significant memories of. The discussion here has made me think on a few things and I realise My modelling "approach" is nostalgic in it's own right. I am trying methods and practices I admired when a child but did not have the ability to engage in. Above is an airfix 14xx I am working on. With the addition of finer handrails, a couple of white metal bits and a respray, I have managed singlehandedly to drag a late 1970s rtr model into...well, the mid to late 1980s!:-) However, this is the modelling I remember admiring at exhibitions and watching my Dad do and now I can, I also want to do it. Hence why most rtr stuff now is of no interest to me because I cant afford it (working, with young family) and I like tinkering. Is my approach superior to buying the lastest RTR? Well, yes but only to me and those who might admire my work or feel equally nostalgic for a modelling era. One extra thought to my ramble, I often wonder why I prefer to see spratt and winkle couplings to tension lock (auto uncoupling aside). They are almost as obtrusive! I think I just like to see "the artist's hand". I like to think of another human tinkering away also. There is a sense of shared values perhaps. I "register" the standards of a shiny rtr model, but I "admire" and am "motivated" by other's bespoke modelling.

Yes,but the wait has always put me off. May well give it a go though.

I am not sure yet hayfield. It is being buily at a club so time on the layout is limited but will pick up after finishing the track bed. I would be disappointed if I hadn't started to tackle the track by July. It will only be copperclad in construction btw. here is some previous work.

Current status of 1423. The cab roof remains loose to allow the windows to be inserted. The very obvious motor intrusion into the cab will be reduced by the coal being fitted in the bunker to reduce the amount of light and also the driver and fireman will be looking out for signals. An idea of how she will look like on her new home.

Thanks Melmouth, this is useful. The chimneys came from 247 and the service was excellent (no connection). Will check out the plates.

After a week away I have made a little progress tonight. Cross pieces added to the baseboard frames. The upright supports will be affixed to these. A taster of the effect I am looking for. A 14xx plodding along to Ellesmere from Wrexham.

Thank you beast. Yes I have seen this picture and as it stands it is the sole reference for the goods shed (barring footprint measurements taken from a map and a few blurry distance shots. The structures at Bangor on Dee are still extant and althought clearly different, some parts like the doors etc might give me some idea of how it looked.

Thanks Mike. The kit has gone together nicely so far and having picked it up for £3, its a bargain.

With a renewed sense of patience 1423 will now be left to cure for a while and attention turns to 1458. This one stripped down lovely except the red bufferbeam which isnt a problem. 1458 was finished in lined green with ferret and dartboard. I have never lined a model before so we shall see what happens. 1458 also did not have top feed in any of the pictures I have, so it has been removed. Luckily, the mold is solid on top so does not need filling. The bulk was snipped away then filed then sanded. Some jobs done, all handrail detail scraped away, top feed gone, whistle and shield removed and smoke box door filed down to receive the white metal casting.

After a disasterous time with the airbrush and the use of dettol to get back to plastic, I am happy with the latest efforts... As I should have done previously, I used halfords matt black over halfords red primer. I am glad I made a mess of the first paint effort as the total strip down has benefitted the finish. Everything is crisp and fresh compared with the cracked and flakey finish I had attempting to work over the original paint. I don't know how I thought I would live with this. Much nicer now and a better surface to take transfers which will simply be the cycling lion. Plates will be ordered from modelmaster soon.

A couple of Caia Road project stock items are on or near the bench. A ratio toad brakevan I am detailing. At this stage I have scraped away the handrails and am about to extend the side stanchions to below the solebar (see the geoff Kent 4mm wagon part 3). And for my birthday, I was treated to an a44 BR converted auto trailer to go with the 14s I am working on. Here is a lovely video of the line Caia Road is part of (not in the video of course!). Featured is the a44 autocoach. https://player.bfi.org.uk/free/film/watch-wrexham-central-to-ellesmere-line-1962-1962-online

A bit more progress this evening. Excepting the uprights, everything remains loose just whilst I iron out any problems and work out my next moves. I may need to cut parts of the lower plywood away depending on the height of the roads etc. Heading up towards Marchwiel. The gap nearest, under the trackbed, will be the Salop road bridge. Terraced houses will back onto the embankment from the second upright from the camera. This is mount street. On thebright will be at least part of the Anchor pub.

Hi Steve, good to hear from you. Yes it has grabbed me this project. The remains have always held intrigue and as I said above I grew up a fe hundred yards from the site, albeit virtually in the same state it is now, the line closing in '81 before I was born. I am particulary excited by creating the embankment and bridges, although having created 3 of the uprights which will hold the trackbed, I realise I have to think carefully about wiring access and point motors etc. Speak soon.

Hi Sitham, thank you for the info. This is really useful and I am more hopeful that pics and info will start to trickle in. Can I ask the title of the book? Is it one of Larkin's aquired wagons titles? Many thanks again.

A slight amount of progress with the first uprights to carry the trackbed put in place. Looking down the line towards Wrexham, stood on what will be Caia road.

A disclaimer for the above, stripping paint is a scary process and all the advice in the world, when the model is submerged it is all down to YOU!

As above, I was very disappointed with my painting of the 14. After coffee and reflection, the following course of action was taken... Somewhere in the murk is the 14xx I have been working on. I have previously used brake fluid but this is awfully...awful. I heard dettol was a good substitute so gave it a go With both the 14's and I am very pleased with the outcome... The pint is just to weigh down the paper of course. The Gnome is for moral company I suppose. This is the one which has no modifications and is what I should have done to begin with. Both were a challenge to strip as they has factory finish, then Dad's paint then in one case my primer, black enamel then glosscote. After 24 hours with occasional scrubbing the paint came off the unmodified 14 a treat, with exception of the red bufferbeam. Which was at least cleaned up. The modified one required a little longer and refresh of the dettol. Some advice based on the mistakes of others, clean away ALL paint with dettol and rinse with the dettol before going near it with water.

Whilst I reflect on a disappointing paint job on the first 14xx for Caia Road, I thought I would share some good books on the subject at hand Great photos in the Middleton book. The cover features the loco I am currently attempting to model, 1423 The Jenkins and Strange book is excellent and features the second 14xx I am modelling 1458. My Dad also has a BR book which describes the operation of the yard in terms of the rules.

Further evidence of the horrendous finish. The old impatience has taken over yet again! I clearly havent let layers cure properly hence the chipped paint already. Here, the tank side looks like the red primer is coming through! This was not noticable at all under normal viewing. So it looks like... But first...breathe.

I have decided to finish what was 1458 as 1423. My Dad pointed out that he had numbered the black 14×× as 58 but photographs suggest it was green during the period I am going to model (c1960). It was not until a few days ago that I realised I actually care about these things! :-) 1423 was painted plain black with cycling lion BR logo and had top feed as per the airfix model. So the 1458 plates will go on the second 14xx. This will be finished lined green and have the topfeed removed as per the prototype. This time I have elected to strip the paint and soaked it in dettol over night. It has shifted the majority of paint with a further soak and toothbrush encouragement to come later. 1423 was coming along nicely but I am very disappointed with my painting. I airbrushed revell black which left a very nice flat black as per the smokebox. However, things started to go wrong with the second coat which dried unevenly leaving a mixed finish. I then ploughed on with a top coat of humbrol glosscote sprayed on which has left a horrible, uneven, orange peal finish. I have for now retreated to a book and some coffee to consider my options. The dettol is on standby.

All your examples are excellent. The mark 1 does come across as particularly nice.