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WhitehouseFilms

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  1. WhitehouseFilms
    Over the last few months I had been collecting various bits of rolling stock to add to my collection for the layout. Some would be of a specific make while others are made from scratch using photographic evidence. Annie and Clarabel are one of these examples. At first their model were made from cut down Tri-ang coaches but these had trouble navigating around the bends so some new models were needed. Looking at various research and photos I found that the original models were made from plywood and the chassis was of a bogie bolster wagon. At the time I didn't have any plywood so thick card from file blocks was the alternative. From what I can remember from the build, I spent the most time cutting out the windows and getting blisters on my hand whist trying to cut each window out. The end result for these models was okay but not what I hoped. When the time came to make a new Ffarquhar exhibit layout, I decided to rebuild these models again. To assist me with the build I arranged for a private photo shoot of the original models with thanks to the Talyllyn Railway's secretary, David Broadbent. Once all the photos were taken, I dismantled my card models and began planning out their new bodies.



    I painted the models in their late 60's livery, Brown sides- black ends, but I'm thinking of repainting them again someday where they were just brown all over but for the moment they are fine.
    The roof vents I got from a pack on eBay for £2 and the custom decals were made for me for free by a friend at a miniature railway club. There is still the addition features such as door handles to be added but they can be sourced out when the time comes.
    Annie and Clarabel have been such perfect runners on the Ffarquhar branch replica and certainly look the part behind Thomas while running on the layout.

  2. WhitehouseFilms
    The next models that would need new models made are Toby the tram engine's rolling stock, Henrietta and Elsie.
     
    As the character bio describes, Henrietta is Toby's coach, a 4 wheel balcony coach used on the Wisbech and Upwell tramway. She has been with Toby since he was given the task of running his own line somewhere in East Anglia after working at Great Yarmouth Docks, Norfolk. Elsie is Toby's Luggage van, based off the no.9 luggage van of the W&U. When Toby's line closed in the 1950's due to bankruptcy, the two were brought along with Toby to work on the North Western Railway where they are still in working order to this day, taking quarry works to Anopha Quarry.
     
    The original models of Henrietta and Elsie are still operational when the original model of the Ffarquhar Branch is on exhibition. Henrietta was a brass kit which the Reverend Awdry didn't know how to assemble. It was given to a modeller called P.R.Wickham who got it put together to go with the Rev's model of Toby. Elsie was a simple model to make. She was made from 1mm plywood and card and her chassis was a cut down screw on wagon chassis. Both models were fitted with Spratt and Winkle MRK1 couplings.
    When I began modelling the Ffarquhar branch, Henrietta first started off as a Tomy Tomica toy, screwed to a wagon chassis. But this made the model too big and sometimes catches the tunnel walls. A second model was knocked together using an old broken Marklin Tinplate coach that I got from a bargain bin for 50p. This model was alright but wasn't what I wanted. The third model was a lightly modified Bachmann model which only required the balcony gates to be moved further in and a small repaint. A 4th model is in the building stages and it is a 3D printed model that I found on Shapeways. in order for the wheels to fit, the axle boxes had to be drilled out but these will be filled in when it comes to the painting stages.



    Elsie's model also went through several builtins stages. the first was made from scraps of balsa wood and glued to a coach bogie. But this model looked too crude and bulky so I scraped it and made a second model. This was made from scrap bits of Ratio kits. The model performed alright but still wasn't right. The third model was made using a scaled drawing of the van and WILLS plasticard. This model is still being used to this day and is a much closer version to the real van. A back up model will be made from 1mm ply using photo reference of the original model as guidance. I will need to find a suitable chassis first if anyone has any suggestions?
  3. WhitehouseFilms
    A while ago i mentioned that I was converting an old Tri-ang Hornby Loco (a Class E2) to be fitted with Romford wheels to run better on my layout. After looking at a few posts here I got a rough idea as to how the conversion is done.
    Simply take the wheels off the model and take the axles out with the aid of a wheel/gear puller. Some new wheels and axles were bought and were fitted on. Some fibre washers were added to areas to prevent any shorts from the wheels touching the chassis block.
    But when the model went through testing something went wrong. Somehow a short has developed and theres no way of knowing what has caused it or what went wrong during the conversion.
    Would anyone here know where I went wrong, please? Thank you.
    The type of chassis that is being converted is the one with the X03 motor geared to the front axle with slotted prong pick ups on the right hand side.
  4. WhitehouseFilms
    There are some modellers whom I have met sometimes store their modelling tools in large tool boxes, others would use a handy biscuit tin. Some would spend a bit of money and would often buy those small set of drawer dividers to keep any small items such as crank pins, screws etc.
    For my tools, I find an Ikea Drawer cabinet to be quite suitable. Easy to put together, this unit can be very useful and a good edition for any modeller's workbench.


    As you can see, the drawer units have a good deal of space to store all my equipment as well as my paints. To give the cabinet a good workshop look to it, I gave it a coat of 'Antique Pine' wood stain and finished it off with some embossed labels (Not Pictured).
    I might also fit a handle on top so that the unit can be taken to exhibitions so that all my modelling tools are ready at hand and can be easily packed away.
    On the mention of exhibitions, I have also made up a tool kit for whenever I take my layout to any events.

    Available from places such as Poundland or Homebase, these little storage sorting boxes come in handy whoever you want to keep any locomotive parts or small tools at the ready. they can also be used for when servicing a locomotive takes place and you need somewhere to store all the bits.
    Pictured here is when I was giving my model of Daisy a servicing using Chamb123's guide on servicing the Tri-ang motor bogies. You can see how handy the divided section were to keep everything in it's place.

    So above all these two items could be useful for any beginners workbench.
    Running at a RRP of £20- drawers & £1/2.99 - mini storage boxes, it would be a wise investment to get started in your modelling experience.
  5. WhitehouseFilms
    Hello there.
    Some of you may know me on YouTube as WhitehouseFilms.
    I thought I'd share with you a new project which I began at the start of 2015 in hopes what would be my final effort to reach the goal on which I set out to reach. Now, for those who've seen some of my videos will know of some the items which I cover. If not then I'll explain.
     
    I began modelling railways at the start of 2002 when I wanted to get into the hobby and also wanted somewhere to keep my model trains that didn't agree being packed away in a cupboard all the time. My first attempt was the summer before when we tried to make a layout in our garage but due to the damp conditions the trains didn't agree to it that well and so the idea was dropped.
    My Parents got me a baseboard with an operating hole for me to stand in and to be able to retch across when fixing a derailment of sorts and also for the development of scenery. With some modellers, your first attempts don't always go according to plan and your ideas start to develop. The original idea for this layout was to make it similar to that of a Harry Potter based one that I came across in a Model Rail Magazine which had several articles relating to it's construction, right down to modelling miniature broomsticks. Before it's dismantling in 2008, the layout looked more like the Beeching's Axe had a fair whack at it and several buildings were looking abandoned. So the idea of making a new start was needed and so in the autumn of 2007 the task was set. But what should I model?
     
    It was during this that i discovered The Real Lives Of Thomas the Tank Engine that I came across the models built by The Rev W Awdry as well as a few articles on some of the layouts he built in his time. All were very well made and also were used to help the artists of the books get a geographical idea on what was needed in this location. One location which was modelled a lot was Thomas' Branch line which went through 4 versions throughout the Rev's modelling era. The first was a small section of line which was part of The NWR layout, the second was the same in a Mrk2 version. The third was a portable exhibition layout showing the top station, Ffarquhar, as well as the small village of Hackensack which was the home of a small community of people which the rev wrote stories about. The forth and final version was a smaller portable layout of Ffarquhar which was made to fit in the railway room when the Reverend moved to Stroud. This layout now sits in the Narrow gauge railway museum in wales and still operates for exhibitions on special occasions.
     
    With the 3rd version of Ffarquhar looking like a good beginners layout, I chose to replicate this and set to work planning and gathering the essential items to order to build it. It was a good Christmas that year and soon by April 2008, the layout was completed. It was built to contain a mixture of the original layout and the one in the books which I used for reference a lot. Later that year an extension was made which allowed the line to go a a sheds area to store my locos. This was made with encouragement from none other than Christopher Awdry himself whom I met while visiting Devon that Summer. This extension was rebuilt in 2010 after a rain leakage damaged part of the original and ruined several scenery parts. During 2008, a final extension to Anopha Quarry was made but up till it's dismantle in 2010 was difficult to work with and just didn't capture the look I was hoping for. A small diorama model might be made to replace it but no conformation has yet been made.
     
    In 2011, I was asked by YouTuber, NewController01, if I had any plans of taking my models to exhibitions. It hadn't crossed my mind but then it would be something of an experience to tryout. My response was a smaller version of Ffarquhar station which can be transported to shows in the boot of a car. There was one problem with this layout and that was it just didn't feel like Ffarquhar to me and even though many fans of my work liked it, it just didn't have the right look to it and didn't have that much scenery. In 2014, after my last model exhibition, my Dad suggested I'd have one more go at Ffarquhar. Only this time making it the proper original that I wanted to model 7 years ago. Time to think it over took a while but in the end I agreed and so the materials and items required were ordered that Christmas.
     
    During the build I have made a series of videos which you will be able to see on my channel:
     
    I'll have more info on the build later but if anyone has any questions on the build, I'm more than happy to answer them for you.
  6. WhitehouseFilms
    During my time modelling the Ffarquhar Branch, I have been looking at he ways some of the rolling stock and engines are built and how one could do this if he'd have the chance.
    One engine which I'd like to have a go at, to use as a spare engine during shows, is the Third model of Thomas made from a Hornby E2.
    The conversion of this model to make it into Thomas is quite simple but one issue has been troubling me. The wheels.
    The Rev Awdry replaced a number of the wheels on his models with Romford ones so that they would perform smoothly on his layouts but after looking at some posts on line about fitting them on Triang locos, I'm still left puzzled on how the process can be done.
    Truth be told I tend to understand these methods by seeing a visual guide but I haven't seen one done before online in regard to this type of conversion. Most of them would just show the finished product. If some one here were to take the time to provide a step by step visual guide to the process of this conversion I would be most grateful.
    It may sound silly but I find this helps a lot in my opinion. It's best that I ask now before I go and buy the needed items only to find that I bought the wrong ones.
  7. WhitehouseFilms
    As mentioned in my last entry I have been thinking of how the conversion of Tri-ang Locomotive wheels to Markits type could go ahead.
    I have taken a look at some topics on here that share info on the conversion but often left puzzled by not knowing exactly what items were used. So it was really down to instinct, trial and error and this is how, using what information I could find, the process of converting a simple Tri-ang model, say a Jinty for example, could go about.
     
    First, I remove the side rods from the model before removing the wheels using a wheel puller. I change the axles of the Tri-ang model to the RMA165HK & RMA165HP axles. Then put fibre washers on the outside of the axles so the wheels don't short against the chassis. I also read that bearings could also be used but wasn't sure.
    ​Then attach the wheels to the axles and quartering them accordingly before fixing them in place using the screws on the axles. Then finally screw the Tri-ang side rods to the wheels.

    So that's roughly how I think the process goes but if there is something I've missed out please be sure to inform me. This is a method that I, and I'm sure many other modellers here would like to learn so that their Tri-ang models can still be used on modern track.
  8. WhitehouseFilms
    During the Ffarquhar Branch's time on the exhibition circuit at the start of the 60's, several changes were made to some of the structures on the layout. This was mainly swapping some of the Bilteezi card buildings to the plastic Airfix kits. One building which had this change was the main station building. originally the Bilteez country station kit, the model was replaced (Perhaps due to water damage during it's time) with a new building made up from a modified Airfix Church. When i first read about this build I was puzzled as to how this conversion could have been made. This answer was solved while I was looking for a copy of the December issue of Railway Modeller 1959. The only way I could get a copy was to buy the whole collection of RM magazines from 1950 for a fair price. Anyhow, while I was reading them I found in the July issue an article on how to convert the Airfix Church into a station building. The model showing in the photograph had a very similar appearance to that of the MkII building on Ffarquhar Station. After looking through the article and through several reference photographs I had, I ordered the church kit from Dapol and set to work on the kit bash. At first I wasn't sure on how it was going to turn out but as the build progressed I was surprised to find how simple and easy the build was. Most of the kit was used to make the main building but there were some other features that need to be ordered in. So once they arrived in the post yesterday I set to work on getting the building stages finished that afternoon. Now the station building had another small building (Toilets) next to it but the kit didn't have all the part to make it so In order to make that building I'll have to order another church kit from Dapol but for now it can wait. Next stage is the priming and painting.







    More to follow soon.
  9. WhitehouseFilms
    One model which I've been gathering bits for is 'Spare Percy'. This model was made for emergencies around the 1970's when the original model of Percy showed some signs of bother and would often be 'Awkward'.
    Now the items that are needed to make this model are as followed
     
    X1 Tri-ang Nellie
    X1 Airfix Pug kit
    X1 Ex-Kitmaster J94 Kit
    X2 Tri-ang Princess valve gear (L&R)
    X4 Romford 18 spoke driving wheels (2 Plain 2 Insulated)
     
    You will also need some strong glue, plasticard strips, paint, red lining and LMS number decals.
     
    Now I've been gathering these bits over the last few months and have been scavenging around eBay for them incase I should find any bargains. Some were hard to find and some were a bit expensive. The hardest out of the lot was the J94 Kit. Now I read somewhere that the original models for this kit got damaged which is why you don't see it in the Dapol range. Which is a shame as I think it would have saved a lot of stress. But anyways I managed to find this kit which included most of the parts I needed to make the model. The Reverend Awdry wrote in the 1980 Annual on how he made Percy which is as followed.

     
    So let the build commence so first we will need...
    One Nellie

    And one Saddle tank kit.

    I had to cut through the footplate which is fitting because thats what happened with the original one. I will be thickening the sides of the footplate so the cut line can be hidden but after sticking the footplate bit back on and keep the two halves aligned it seemed to work out alright.



    A few small fixtures were also needed to the sandboxes on the model which I did my best to try and avoid cutting but you don't always get the best results. A small bit of Humbrol filler helped fix this and a bit of paint will soon hide the marks.
    Once it was dried I trimmed the saddle tank from the Airfix kit to fit in the gap.

    Just going to let it set over night and then see about filling in the gaps with plasticard and filler then seeing about what to do about the toolboxes. I'll be extending the front buffer beam later when I'm fitting on the cylinders which I've saved from a Dapol kit that I bought some years ago.
    More to follow soon
  10. WhitehouseFilms
    While studying the Ffarquhar Branch, I found out that the Reverend W Awdry made 3 models of Thomas for his layouts. From the late 1940's to the late 60's Thomas was portrayed by a Stewart Reidpath tank engine. But as the manufacturer was no longer in business, some spare models were needed incase anything should happen if the Reidpath model should fail or would require servicing. Thomas' 2nd spare model was a repainted Tri-ang Jinty and this was put into service when The Reverend built his last model railway, Ffarquhar MrkII. Then sometime afterwards Hornby Railways brought out the LBSCR E2 locomotive. This was then used as Thomas' 3rd spare model and unlike the previous two, this model was a close representation of the character in the books before his incident with the station master's house in Book no.16.
     
    To replicate this model was very straight forward. Now you will have read in my previous blog post that I was looking information in various items. One of which was converting the model to have Romford wheels. At first I thought he procedure was difficult as there was very little guidance/video demonstration on how to do it. But after some time and experimenting with different wheels, the conversion was easy enough to do. With the wheels fitted and the chassis tested, the next stage was modifying the bodywork. the first thing I had to do was to strip off the yellow lining and lettering from the model. This was done by submerging the body shell in pure Dettol for 24hrs. The black areas still showed once i washed off the Dettol but that didn't matter as it was going to be painted black again anyway. Now one thing I noticed with the Reverend's models was many of them had very basic buffer beams. By meaning is that they were simply a flat service and buffers, no coupling hooks and very rarely, brake pipes. This could be due to the S&W coupling system the layouts had and this would have prevented the coupling hooks from catching on any features of the locomotive. This was carried onto the model and the footplate was also altered to have the back dip straightened. Now please bare in mind that I made this model using only one photograph of the model which you can find here on this website: http://www.pegnsean.net/~railwayseries/thomas.htm
     
    The extended tanks came next which were easy enough to make up and fit on the model.
    The last items to fit was the buffers and some spare steps.


     
    After applying filler into areas where gaps could be found, I primed the model and painted it up in Thomas's livery. Paints I used are as follows:
     
    Humbrol Paints

    109 WWI Blue 60 Scarlet 33 Black 54 Brass

    Now there are some areas where I need to apply the Brass colour but for the moment this can wait.
    For Thomas' lining I tried out 0.5 red pin stripe. Now this mightn't be the best method to go by but it turned out alright. a touch of varnish and that should seal it in place.
    The last thing was to give Thomas his famous No.1, which is an LMS number decal, and add loco crew into his cab.

    Not a bad wee model to build and hope it will provide good service to the Ffarquhar Branch at it's next show.
  11. WhitehouseFilms
    It is not rare that we would like to feature a guest engine on our layouts.
    In the Rev Awdry's case with his Ffarquhar layout, guest engines would sometimes make an appearance. 'Duck' being one engine, though he is more of a spare engine than a guest engine. The guest engines would make an appearance during the third or ending of the layout's operating sequence and would be in charge of an enthusiast train which would comprise of two modified Airfix Railbus kits. For my layout I will be replicating some fo the guest engines and will begin with the first, Stepney.
     
    Stepney was a visitor for Thomas back in 1963 when he came to the North Western Railway from The Bluebell Railway. Since his arrival he has worked on the Ffarquhar Branch as a spare engine and helped double head an express with Duck after a visiting diesel failed. To help the artist of the book which features him, The Rev Awdry made a model of Stepney using a K's/ Keyser kit. After Stepney's book was publish, the model went on to being a regular visitor to the layout at shows and still runs to this day.
     
    Bringing Stepney to the Ffarquhar Branch would be something special and also something new for visitors to see.
    The first thing was to find a terrier kit, the same as the original. As chance would have it, one came up on eBay.







    It was halfway built but still had all the essential items that were needed to make the model. Some non essential items that were attached to the model had to be removed before any painting could be done. Once the model was prepped and went through test run to see that everything was in working order, the paint could be gathered. Now Improved Engine Green is what Stepney carries for his current livery but the original model of him carried a different shade. Back then, you had to make do with what colour suited best and in Stepney's case, the Rev Awdry painted him in a colour which close to represent IEG. Using profile photos I took of the original model back in 2016, I went through different paint charts to find the right colour. In the end, Revell 17 "African brown" was the chosen colour with Humbrol 20 & 30 for detailing features.




    One thing that I had to be aware of was that the lining on Stepney's original model, except the boiler bands, was hand painted. So with the use of a bow pen I carefully did my best to replicate Stepney's livery. With one side done, the model starts to look like the engine. His name and number will be done last as I will need to carefully mark it out, ready to be painted on.


    This is how Stepney currently looks right now and I think he's starting to take shape. What d'you think?
  12. WhitehouseFilms
    In the TV series, the models used were made to the scale of 1:32 or Gauge 1 using a series of Marklin parts and perspex sheets and tubing.
    Recently I've seen fans of the show tackle at making replicas of these models using the same parts that were used, some going as far as to fitting a working eye mechanism and smoke. It's quite impressive.
    But I've also seen fans and also a few modellers making their own Thomas by means of a simple conversion of a simple toy. The die cast company ERTL once made an RC Thomas which was a larger version of their pull back and go toy. Two versions of this toy were made, the second being used as a money box. But the boy it's self is a suitable size of gauge 1 and this is where some modellers use it for their advantage. Some years ago I came across modeller Ronald Pointer's model of Thomas which was made using an ERTL body as it's basis. He simply made an RC chassis for it to run on as well as adding a few extra items such as steps and a chimney cap and that was that. You can find photos of that model via the link here: http://www.wisbechstandard.co.uk/news/gallery-hundreds-celebrate-100th-birthday-of-thomas-the-tank-engine-author-1-919838
    Having a g-scale garden railway of my own, I thought it would be fun to have a gauge 1 Thomas to run on it. So using Ronald's model as a reference, I set to work on gathering up the items to make it. The first thing to get was an ERTL Thomas. Luckily for me I managed to obtain one off eBay for £1 - what a bargain.



    I next then had to see about what chassis I was going to fit it with. The best one i could find which also had the correct wheel spacing was the PIKO motor blocks which can be available to buy from g-bits.co.uk


    Finally are the buffers and couplings. These have been ordered from Walsall Model Industries so once they arrive I can fit them on.
    In the mean time I can see about getting the motor block to fit onto Thomas' body. The body comes away by two screws and the footplate the same. Now I had to cut a small amount away from the middle of the footplate to allow the top part of the motor block to fit in snuggly. This also gives me enough room as well to store the LGB MTS decoder as well.




    Now lets see how Thomas looks with his body now back on.


    So far so good. There are a few gaps that can be filled with some postcard which will also give the motor block extra support. I will also see about making up some steps as well to add a bit of extra detail to the model.
    Finally I had these side rods made for me by a friend in the USA. They slot into these plugs which are made to fit into the holes in the wheels. Just need to get some E clips to secure them on and that should do it.




    So for now this is how Thomas currently looks. As soon as the buffers and couplings arrive, I can make a start on fitting them on and start repainting the foot plate as well as repainting the motor block.
    Part will cover all of that.
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