Jack374

Nick,I find the flanges on the 'Megafrets' are really wierd.... Too thick and wrong shape, so I replaced mine with some others found at a show (very sorry, can't remember manufacturer...), and they are fine now!... Dunno about the cartics, but small wheels are a pain... HTH, Jack.

Hi, Things are coming together now 'tractor' wise...the noses look how I want.... The cluseters were glued to thin strips of styrene, then more and were filed down so they fit OK, and I will fill them later This pic shows the clusters glued in place with the hole(s) for the MW socket drilled. This when the MW socket has been cut out more with a knife, and sanded smooth... ...And placed next to the body to give me an Idea of where i'm up to.... Thanks, Jack.

Evenings, What interesting weather we're having (Here anyway...lightning bolts and earth shaking thunder! ) Following a bulk order from Howes, I can progress on the 37... first some cast class 60 buffer to replace the spindley plastic ViTrains ones... And to transform the nose, 'oOo' wipac clusters, that i've drilled out... and placed on to see...IMHO it looks quite good! I've also added etched windscreens and cast horns at this point... They transform this 'toy' immensely! Thanks, Jack.

Thanks Mick, I haven't forgotten (Yet... ) I may try to light it using an 0603 micro SMD LED, I'll see... Jack.

Evening, Not had time to update recently, but things have been fairly busy on the bench, including some Weathering / Kitbuilding . I have decided to fill and modify the ViTrains noses instead of buying the PHDesigns resin ones, as I'm on pocket money and am currently skint! This is what I'm aiming for, a plated over centre headcode and new WIPAC 'oOo' clusters... Being prepped for filler: Filling In process.... And after 2 fills and primer coats, the result thus far... Maybe 1 more fill, but i'm nearly there! Now.....I had 3 Hornby EWS mineral wagons, and weathered / modified them and they looked OK, but were far too high compared to Bachy's/Hornby's 'Super Detailed' offerings. So as an experiment I have decided to chop one down, add a new floor and see if the time taken is worth it for the finished effect... IMHO it looks alot better. So....which is better? Scratchbuilt or cut down? (Comments/Views welcome ) This is how my workbench looks now with 6 wagons on the go... And lastly, I have finished the 67's front ends and they look ace! WIPAC clusters are in the post.... Thanks Jack.

Fab photos Jim, not too sure whether I like the grid in that colour though... Just received the latest Rail Express, like both the photos in there , maybe some of these will get in How much do REx pay for photos anyway? Jack.

Thanks Ian, it definitely won't be ready for this year, but I may submit a form for next year's open day at Kingmoor Jack.

Hello... Not much has been done because of many other commitments (Grade 6 drums/Duke of Edinburgh's award/EXAMS!!!). I have managed to rub down the rest of the decals on the DRS 37, so I can prime the body once all work has been done (new windscreen etches/grille/nose ends) Also the wheels with their white tyres: Now for something completely different... A steam train! I know others have already had a go but it's my turn to make the most of the 'Great British Locomotives' Mallard representation. I started by fully dismantling it (Much to Dad's dislike!), then assessing what could be done before I decided to take the bulky handrails off, remove the glazing and the lamp brackets too... This will hopefully become 60019 'Bittern', and I will employ a Brassmasters 'Easichas' chassis without a motor to allow for it to be towed around inside a diesel. This should prove interesing as I've never worked with brass before... The body compares almost exactly to the Hornby offering, so the nose is almost the same, unlike the Bachy model... The driving wheels are a 1 piece white metal moulding, so I could use them on a depot or as scrap: The tender wheels are without axles, so I could glue them together to be posed as replecements at a depot or similar; This project may get restarted sometime, but for now that's it! Thanks, Jack.

Great vid dt, must get meself a camtruck, you can have loads of fun with them. What's the yard the other side, that looks great too... Jack.

All the locos look great, Did you put the lights in the MPV? They look particularly good.... Jack.

Jaz, I did do it with a cotton bud, but after I'd cleaned it the old numbers still showed through so I rubbed it down with very fine wet and dry... Do Phoenix still trade in the UK does anyone know? Looking at acquiring some superstrip... Jack.

Hi, Not alot has been done recently for various reasons, but today I strted a new project as others have been finished.... a DRS 37/0 (to become 37259): first I took out the wheels and lined them up ready for painting (Now done with white tyre marks)... Then when the fuel tank has been removed (For switches), the chassis looks like this, Next the plasticky ViTrains buffers were cut off and smoothed down... Then I cut off the ETH cable holes and glued on some end pieces to the bufferbeam... These are the (frankly stupid) ViTrains lighting arrangements, which vaguely reach some fibre optics on the nose of the body, with extreme light bleed... These have since been taken out and would have to be replaced anyway because the new noses (PHDesigns) will have WIPAC clusters. And finally... I attempted using T-Cut to remove the numbers, but the paintwork was so thin it took it right off! Full strip and repaint is in order me thinks! ... Thanks, Jack.

Bet he's only doin it cause he seen it with some yellow! Be great to see the tamper progress... Jack.

Nice work here...you have a great taste for modern image! A DVT with a name? What's it called? Jack.

Hi... I've not disappeared....just not got much done due to relentless homework and exams..... I have finished the turnout by cutting the sleepers/rails, and it now works... Next stage is starting assembly! When I'll upload some pictures...,watch this space...(not literally.....) Thanks... Jack

Jaz...................................................................... Good.... STUNNING!....... AMAZING!...... ....work, really looks the part.... (Giving Mr.newbryford a run for his money now.... ) Don't forget to renumber it though (Not that you would ), I don't recall 66722 ever having that colour scheme.... keep it up, but with MORE PICTURES!!! Jack.

Anyone (Jim?) know when I might see one up north (Preston way on?) Not that I desire to see a 'cugly', just another number in my Ian Allen ABC... ..... Jack

Cracking!... If you were home Mick, how did you miss 3 of EE's finest thrashing?? You need a hearing aid... Jack.

Looking spot on Jaz... I don't think I could bring myself to do one... (If you don't like the livery, you could sell it and get about 3 more locos out of it ) Jack.

Brill work Neil, it really does look so realistic, specially the pillbox... Jack