Tom F

Having a break from the B1 and K1 (will get the bogie wheels painted tomorrow mind). Here is what is currently on the workbench (and I very much appreciate the off forum discussions with jwealleans on the matter).

Some of mine from Saturday of Clutton (iPhone quality I’m afraid)

Cheers 34C I'd probably go with comet chassis. I have a 3500 gallon LNER tender courtesy of Mike Megginson. I found an old thread of his and how he carved off the boiler bands off the body.....I must have a J39 kicking around somewhere!

I might be imagining this, but was a chassis upgrade announced several years ago for J39? I seem to remember a policy change that previously announced chassis only upgrades would now be fully upgraded body design too. Happy to be corrected mind. I may just look into building a chassis to fit under the older body if nothing new is on the horizon.

Scale Four North is always a high point of the modelling year for me, and today was no exception. Some superb layouts! Clutton is always a joy to see, and it was nice to see something a little closer to home in the form of 'Kettlewell'. I was able to get all the bits I was after (and a little bit more.....). Great to chat to old friends and some new. It was nice to finally meet and speak to Jol in person. I couldn't find 'Dart Castings' and after the second time looking I realised they wasn't here. Not the end of the world, I'll place an order on Monday for what I'm after. I live a good 70 plus miles away so sadly wont be able to visit again tomorrow, but if I was closer I certainly wood. Came away feeling inspired with several new ideas for my new layout I'm planning 'Askrigg'. A proper modellers show..... nothing quite like it

Andrew, would you mind posting photos of the rivet work on your LNER Toad D? I’m working on one at the moment

Apologies on the iPhone camera quality. That is the renumbering complete on the B1. First North Eastern Region loco of my own I've worked on for 5 years, not since my Leaman Road days. Cab sides have been sealed with Halfords Satin Lacquer. The Smokebox has had it's 51A shed plate fitted and I will be picking up Pacific Model front numberplate sheet next weekend. Obviously I need to paint the bogie rims of the Gibson Bogie wheels, but I also will be adding the row of Archer's Rivets along the front and rear of the smokebox. I also need to add the detailing bits supplied from Hornby. Then it will be time for weathering, not too filthy mind....probably similar to how I finished Tony's B1.

I've had that problem on a few locos Tony, of both Hornby and Bachmann orange. What I've found is that over time the oil begins to fade and eventually it blends in with the weathering. I remember chatting with Jonathan Wealleans about this some time ago. First side of the B1 has it's new numbers on.

Lovely Mike, thanks for sharing. There is an amazing colour photo somewhere (might be a Keith Pirt one) of an A6 on Starbeck MPD, Harrogate. Could have been taken yesterday it's that good!

Afternoon Tony I was always really pleased with the finish I managed to achieve on 61175. Has the weathering come adrift slightly on the tender, I can patch that up at some point if you like? You don't happen to have any photos of 61061 in your collection do you?

Sorry I wont get to have a catch up with you Al this time. Looking forward to going this weekend.

Thank you Tony. Yes I'll bring them both down with me and the camcorder too. Looks like you had a great day today! The Dave Bradwell chimney is now in place, fixed with Araldite. Gibson Bogie wheels fitted to both locos and the tender mods visible at the rear. Yes they will be, he only does the one type. They are superb, some may say a bit fiddly but I find them straight forward enough as long as you are careful don't use too much solder. You will need to purchase some lace pins too, to make the piece that goes through the hoop and the tommy bar. you could use wire, but the lace pin means one end wont need soldering. They are nice and robust and I've fitted them too all my stock over the past 4 years. The K1 has the screw links fitted and only requires the rest of the detail pack adding before renumbering to 62044 of 51J (Northallerton). The B1 as mentioned earlier will become 61061 of 51A (Darlington). I've also added some archers rivets to go around the smokebox edges.

Afternoon Tony, I hope you don't mind posting again (do say if so!) Some more work on the B1 and K1 tenders. The tender divide had a small lip at the rear, like the tender side edges. The K1 divide which had been cut to shape, obviously lost it's high up lip in the process, and the B1's lip had been damaged in a slip of the scalpel when using it to trace around. Therefore I've added a thin piece of micro strip to both, reinstating the small lip. The K1 has also had the masokit working screw links fitted that I made up yesterday. The B1's chimney is now painted and will be fitted this evening. I've decided to go with Darlington allocated 61061, which seems to have been a rarely photographed member of the class. I've found one early 1960s photo showing a front numberplate with Gill Sans sixes. With no other photos to go off, that will do as enough evidence on the front number plate front.

Morning John I’ve just purchased a Hornby K1 and B1. First job I’ve done is carve off the cast Nem pocket, and hack around the coal separation piece for an early 1950s locomotive (K1). Both are having Gibson bogie wheels, and on the B1 I’ve already carved off the chimney ready to add a Dave Bradwell casting. The B1 I paid around £30-£40 more than the price it cost 5 years ago.....does it matter? No, because essentially we are modellers....the basic model is just the starting point like a kit would be. Best Wishes Tom

Hi Clive Yes that's about right. It's something Hornby have usually got right, and was somewhat odd they had it in the forward position on this early crest K1. Couple of further clean up photos. EDIT Apologies, I hadn't seen Tony had replied to you Clive. I might be wrong, but I think Bachmann did two mouldings for differing coal space positions on some K3 tenders.

Afternoon Tony So the K1 tender coal space issue. I swopped the bodies over and all seemed perfect, now having a K1 correct for circa 1953......that was until I realised the Hornby B1 tender wasn't fitted with electric lighting and of course the K1 was! So I had a problem....until I decided to bite the bullet and do some modelling. I removed the separation pieces from both tenders. I used the early spacing as a template to make a rough trace around the later piece (not just making a hole for the water dome, but also cutting down the later piece in height so it but matches the tender sides in height and is less curved in shape. It was somewhat crude but could work. I began using Xurons to cut the separation down to size to be less dome like, and cleaned up with files and sanding sticks. The tricky part was to come, in cutting out the space for the water dome. The plastic is thick, and the cutting with Xurons caused the whole piece to snap in two. At this point I wondered if this method was not going to work.....however I soldiered on. Filing as I went a long, until each piece was a nice fit alongside the water dome, I then used Mek Pak to secure in place. I like Mek Pak, it dries quickly and doesn't leave too much mess on the bare plastic....plus it works as a nice filler! With some fettling, filing and sanding. I now have two tenders correct for the early 1950s.

That would be a fine one to weather Tony. It’s the trapped in dirt effect on the boiler I like to recreate. The scuffed effect I can’t work out is dirt covering the lining or scuffing.

I’m happy to just add real coal on top David, don’t really see the need to hack a Hornby tender around (as opposed to the old Bachmann tenders) especially as the plastic coal is removable.

Yes I believe is tan. You recommended it to me years ago when renumbering teaks where the teak finish had come away. Worked a treat.

Good evening Tony. After our discussion about the K1 I purchased at York, and it's incorrect coal spacing. I've picked up a B1 with the correct spacing which I will be swopping with the K1. The B1 wasn't essential, so I'm not too bothered about the spacing position. I'm in the process of modifying/personalising the B1. I've cut the cast nem pocket off (surprisingly came off with Xurons) and filed it flush. Bogie Wheels removed ready for the Gibson replacements. Finally I've removed the chimney to be replaced with this Dave Bradwell cast piece. It's not fixed yet but looks a big improvement. I will need to contact Ian about smokebox number plates. They are the best you can buy in my opinion.

Thanks Larry Would you suggest brush painting the 5 thou plasticard with humbrol 9? Worked a treat on patching Hornby teaks for renumbering many moons ago on your suggestion.

Thanks Steve I've removed a gangway just to see how things look. Those holes are going to be a pain to patch up in teak livery. Still thinking what to do on this one. Might be easy to just fabricate a door end, after all I'm not going to need to run it with another coach.

Cheers Steve. Do you have any photos? I'll look to pick some up at Scale Four North, are you going?

Evening all I'm wanting to add end doors to my Gresley Coaches (running with two Brake Comps with Horseboxes between as seen in a photo I have). I believe the Hornby gangways are too wide. Does anyone produce an end door suitable? Thanks

What a stunning photo Ken!....that could be real 'full size!' Pleasure to do my little bit on the door on Monday, sorry I didn't get chance to have a proper catch up.