Bryn

Mikkel,

What a great find, I've never seen a picture of Mr Nevard's lighting rig before. It is pretty much exactly what I envisage to build. Even the colour is the same!

The only problem I find with standard, front only, letter box views is that it can give a 2 dimensional feel to small and shallow layouts (especially in this scale). I'm hoping with having a 3/4 view it will still give the viewer freedom to roam and look into the layout.

Anytime Pete, credit where it's due!

A quick measure shows the legs to be at 1300mm, but I might cut them down at a later date. I need to find a comfortable level to operate the fiddle yard at first..... to be honest, I need to build the fiddle yard first!

Surely an AWS test magnet could be aquired to rescue said items?

I'll leave that method for retrieving trailer car side bearer dowels

Thanks for ego boost Matt

Thank you all for taking the time to reply. Some nice ideas.

From the above I am now thinking about a lighting rig which extends a few inches beyond the baseboard and add a radius (6") to the floating corner. Hopefully this will reduce shadows and will be visually easier on the eye.

Kemp - Anything you can dig out will be great. We can then have a indepth, sensible discussion on the issue on Saturday evening.

Joint? What joint!

Top fettling Missy

I've never seen CNC cut ply before, it's usually MDF. It's given a really nice result, one to remember!

Cheers for the history, model and prototype. I had a feeling it had a 7mm background, but this confirms it. It has scaled down quite well, considering.

Thank you all for positive feedback. Nothing helps the modelling process, like a few nice words.

I was pleasantly surprised how well the kit went together and the w-irons where a perfect fit between in existing sole bars (I had to notch the w-irons slightly to allow the brake shoes through, but this wasn't too bad). I've only seen two or three built in the last decade, which is surprising considering how nice it builds up.

One concern, I would of preferred nickle silver to brass. The brass is a bit soft and things like the top of the window frames, on each end, can easily get bent while constructing the kit. Once the roof is finally on, I'll be ok then.

The etch also contains a 16T LMS brake:

http://www.2mm.org.uk/products/images/s2-515.jpg

Simon,

I've got very little prototype information on these brake vans. I only know I need one " 'cos it's in the pictures".

Buffers are 3-511 from the 2mm Scale Association shop (LNER buffers, square base).

More cross bracing required

Not only have you increased the quality of 4mm weathering, you have opened up a whole new world to us smaller scale modellers. This technique will scale down very nicely. Every step you take forward, we follow in your wake. I've got a good feeling about this

Well done that man!

Thank you all for the positive words, it means a lot.

Now the running qualities are getting somewhere near, I can now finally start thinking about scenics and fiddle yard matters. Even ballasting seems like a welcome change!

Kempenfelt - I'll fit some beer mats before June

Clever stuff! A lid and a lighting rig in one, genius.

What a fantastic little etch, it really does stand up well to the macro mode. Lovely work Missy

I wouldn't worry about hammering out the bolster end plates, it's much easier than it seems. I did mine over 3 years ago, all came out right first time, the jigs provided are very clever!

(All typos are down to a crushed finger and sharp blow to the head last week )

That bogie bolster E is looking very nice, Andy. Some beautiful soldiering too, top work!

MIG Powders - Mine turn into paints too, when mixed with Humbrol enamel paint thinners. Slap it on nice and thick onto the RTR gloss finish and leave it to dry.

Brush off excess when fully dry. I used a large paint brush to smooth over the roof black and a glassfibre brush on the sides to allow more blue to show through.

BUT... I hand painted the yellow ends with matt yellow enamels, the powder will stick to this like glue. Here I used a VERY thin wash of black powder and thinners (about 20:1 thinners:powder) and applied it with the tip of a fine brush.

DGs - I just glued it to the buffer beam, nowt special

Simon,

I made these from soft iron wire. Each pair of MW pipes under a buffer are one piece of wire doubled back in a U shape. As in real life, they pass under the buffer beam and not through it.

And who said the skill is going out of the hobby? Top engineering B)

Push or pull, it works quite well. Any slight imperfections and it rides up.

Thanks for the updates Andy, inspiring stuff. Who's doing the 04 chassis etch?

What a stunning little casting, looking forward to seeing the chassis build for this!

Awesome B)

I can't find the link now. In short, he modified the original 4mm cab by enlarging the windows and changing the roof profile.

Has anyone got the link to his thread? I'm struggling to find it.