ianLMS

Thank you for the kind words Mike. Yes Chas, def something to have a long think about. Its the track building element of P4 that is the most daunting. Oh and choosing the right LMS station small enough for me to do it justice. Out will come the sketch book and LMS stations books!!!

I might just have to give a Paletine underframe and bogies a try. Just in two minds whether to continue in 00 or go for the plunge and try EM or P4. A new layout would be required which means destroying the old one to make space. Eventually i plan on an 20' x 12' outbuilding for my railway room but thats a few years away.

Next up is a 57' Brake 3rd Corridor. For this one, i will use a Comet 57' underframe which saves a little time!!!!

Completed BSL 57' Vestibule Composite D1903. There are a few areas i am not overly happy with but hopefully a few lessons learned to take to the next coach.

Look for business type databases designed to manage inventories on Google Play (if he has an android). I searched for "Databases" in Google play and several apps came up. Bound to be something you can customise for your needs.

Another option are these resin kits from Skytrex. I have their tunnel mouths and are quite nice, easy to cut, modify and paint. https://skytrex.com/collections/bridges-arches-tunnels

Being a fan of anything LMS, you can't beat a collection of Jube's. Well, except for maybe a few Black 5's, some Jinty's and a brace of Patriots!!!!

Severn models do some very nice brass kits in n gauge and can be built using superglue if you arent a fan of soldering. https://severnmodels.com/epages/eshop1179816.mobile/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/eshop1179816/Categories/"N+Gauge"&Locale=en_GB Ian

Slowly getting there! Sides epoxied on with microscope slide covers for the windows, Rizzla papers for the 1st class curtains, blue tissue for the 3rd class and Pressfix decals. Lining was applied with a bow pen. A bit too thick but hoping to refine for the next batch of coaches and get better at it. Next up is a bit of light weathering and attaching of the bogies, buffer heads, corridor connections and coupling hooks, then on to the next one!!!!

In the beginning to help me understand basic concepts of wiring a layout, both analogue and dcc, i always referred to the website below. It explains, with diagrams how to wire up layouts and covers issues including the one you are having. https://www.brian-lambert.co.uk/Electrical_Page_1.html Ian

I use Phoenix matt black but i dont believe they ship overseas. You can add matting agents to satin or gloss but havent tried it. Or, if you can get Vellejo in Australia they do a brush on acrylic matt varnish. It works well to dull down satin and some gloss paints. Vallejo Model Color 500 ml Matt Acrylic Varnish https://amzn.eu/d/5fGoJb9

I used some Greenscene (now sold by Squires i believe) textured yard paint and rolled it into tiny balls, piles etc. You may want to get the tiniest static grass fibres to replicate undigested hay if you want to go that far. https://www.green-scenes.co.uk/store/product/gs446-texture-paint-yard-filth-mucky-brown Textured paint is easily made using cheap emulsion or poster paints/artist paint and mix with fine sawdust or ultra fine ballast, powders, dust etc.

I used ash from my fireplace for texture and used weathering powders to give variation in colour. Being quite powdery when crushed its not too coarse. Ash is a lot cheaper than the weathering powders!! BBQ ash might work as well.

The picture attached should show you the correct position the rod should be at with crankpin at the 6 o clock position. ian

I was looking at the 9' twin bar bogie kits that were on the same page as the underframes.

Are the bogies P4 or OO? I am OO at the moment but am seriously contemplating ripping up the layout and building a smaller, portable EM or P4 layout! Just need to build up courage (and funds) to do it!!! Will mean of course new chassis for over 30 locos i have built, but then i doubt i would build a layout big enough to use them all!

I usually use Brass Black on the rims and motion gear once its been tested so thats another job for the very near future.

I am now !!!!! The etches look very nice!! Have bookmarked the site and will place an order very soon! Thank you for that Mark!! I am in need of a 4 x 50' underframes which is a pity. Even Wizard are out of them, so those i may end up having to build similar to this one.

Roof prepped with a coat of Shelac (Colron French Polish) to seal it, vents, roof strips and water fillers fitted and test fitted to the coach. Interior from Comet made up over the weekend. Will be primed then hand-painted. Once everything is primed and given a coat of black for the underframe and ends and grey for the roof i can assemble it ready for the sides to go on after thwy have been painted Crimson Lake and lined.

Thank you John. I do enjoy building these kits, practising my skills and testing my patience!!! Most of the cheap kits i got off ebay have wooden roofs which can be a pain to work on. I prefer the aluminium roof, but the ends are profiled for the wood and not easily modified to be compatible. I usually use Comet underframes attached direct to the floor with the Comet solebar trimmed off. Makes building them a lot easier and the etches are finer than what i can make. Everything is then positioned correctly. The next one will have MJT bogies and a Comet underframe.

Completed underframe with PC Models bogies, step boards from scrap sprues and all ready for etch priming.

Underframe almost complete. Had some Comet detailing parts so used those. Now working on a couple of very fine PC Models 9' etched brass bogies. They didnt have the axle boxes or springs with them but i had one spare so i cast the others out of resin. Not perfect but will be ok. I have now fixed the ends, scribed the doors in the sides and all will be ready for a coat of etch primer tonight or romorrow. Will post pics of those later.

I used these fixed down with no more nails. Difficult to follow contours exactly but doesnt look too bad. https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/50-STONE-WALLING-00-GAUGE-BROWN-SCENERY-NEW-/364173652298?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&_trksid=p4429486.m46890.l6249&mkrid=710-127635-2958-0 I have seen hand-built ones using a thin layer of DAS clay which has dried then broken up into tiny peices to give the thin stone layers you may be after.

Now focusing my attention on a few BSL/Phoenix coaches i have collected to go behind the Jubilee! Starting with a 57' Composite Vestibule which i think is designed to be either D1862, D1984 or D1903. No diagram sheet with the kit so will prob go with D1903 as there were around 29 built between 1934 & 1939. (According to the book "LMS coaches An illustrated History" by Mr Jenkinson and Mr Essery)! It appears they were often used as dining cars so best i have a kitchen car to go with it!! Currently working on the underframe using 1mm and 0.5mm square brass rod.

Not sure if its someone getting rid of a few spares they have accumulated or if they are making the etches and trading. Either way, they only seem to have a few left.