JustinDean

Hi Steve, This is the stuff I’ve used for the limestone loads: I’m curious about your tender; mine were 3D prints, not resin casts. Here’s another photo of them on Llanyblod before they were painted and weathered. There was a lot of fettling involved to get them to a reasonable state. The print didn’t allow for correct size wheels so I had to cut slots into the underside to accommodate. Handrails needed to be fitted along with buffers and couplings. I made brakes from brass strip and plasticard. All of this was made more tricky because the print was really brittle and parts would break off if you just looked at it.

Time turn my attention to J94’s…. 2x DJH, 2x Dapol, 1x Hornby and 1x Mercian models kit. The Hornby model of 68006 has an incorrect bunker and is a shockingly bad runner so went straight back in the box. Middleton Top saw five J94’s in service over the years: 69006 17C 1959 68012 17C 1963 9L 1967 68013 17C 1956-62 68030 17D 1956 17C 1959-61 68079 9L 1965 DJH’s 68012 is pretty much there and just requires some details along with center steps. The other DJH and Mercian locos will receive new numbers while the two Dapol locos are going to get some surgery to sort out the terrible mould line/joint along the underside of the tank along with improving the sillouhette of the chassis. All will get 3 link couplings, smokebox door number/shed code (where appropriate), cab covers made by the local crew, lamps, coal, crew and fire irons. 68006 and 68030 also need additional ladders on the rear of their bunkers. A lot to go at! Jay

John, I can only hang my head in shame. Guilty as charged! I will be purchasing some high gloss varnish and will endeavour to do better mate. Jay

The Gannets are done. Gibson sprung buffers and Smiths Instanter couplings are fitted. Weathering was achieved using a slight misting of Tamiya earth from underneath followed by Humbrol Smoke, Earth and Black powders applied with a make up brush then sealed with Matt acrylic spray varnish using the techniques @NHY 581 has described on his thread. Transfers came from @cctransuk as prescribed on a previous page on this thread. Disc wheels from 51L to complete. For the load I used limestone from Scale Model Scenery. Having investigated a few types and brands this was visually the closest I could find to what I’ve seen in photos. A piece of card was cut to sit snugly into the hopper. Glued to this a a pair of think paper cones to form the heaps followed by a decent coat of PVA and the limestone. Once set a self adhesive wheel weight was attached to the underside as the wagons were initially very light. Quite pleased with how these have turned out! Jay

I’ve just remembered @MarcD requested I repost the photos of the Furness brake van. Only about 6 weeks late - sorry mate! A pair of HC Casserley photos taken at Hopton: First one enlarged: Finally my 4mm scale version using Marx’s excellent 3D print: Jay

This is a lovely model and peaked my interest (pardon the pun) as I live about 100 yards away from where Charles Wright was located. I’m sure you’ve seen this entry on the Wirksworth page but just in case you haven’t this may be of interest : http://www.wirksworth.org.uk/b53-cwri.htm Jay

Success!!! Followed the advice posted here and filed those bushes to an appropriate length. I now have a functioning chassis. I’m very relieved; I was started to lose the will to live on this one. Valve gear, brakes and pick ups next. Here’s a photo with the body plonked on. Jay

A really good point well observed! Jay

The viewing height thing as been a source of a lot of debate over the years. While I prefer Rob’s approach so you can stand and look into a little world, this can be restrictive to shorter people, kids and folks in wheelchairs. I’m going for 4’ with Middleton Top as I’m going to have to reach over the backscene to couple/uncouple. Jay

The Gannets have had a coat of grey primer, then red primer followed by black for areas under the hopper. I used Hycote rattle cans for this. Some print lines have become apparent. I’m yet to decide how bothered I am about them as these will get covered in dust. I also managed to drop one. The print survived thankfully but one of the buffer shanks pinged off…lost to the abyss of Cazz’s kitchen. I haven’t any spares so annoyingly wil have to order more. This thing keeps glaring at me. I’m going to attack it with files tomorrow. If that doesn’t succeed I may resort to a hammer. Jay

I reckon wide enough so you don’t have to do a half relief version of the goods shed should be enough. That building forms the focus of the site. I understand the space constraints though; I should have considered them more when building MT! Jay

You know it makes sense.

An unexpected and welcome view of Little Muddle shed. Another one of those zoom in and find all sorts of details photos. Fantastic and inspirational Kevin. Jay

Progress! Nice one Nick.

Good to meet you Brian and thanks for tagging me here…I’ll have a good look at your thread now! Jay

Spot on assessment on the Stafford show there. Loads of space and loads of good layouts. A few more specialist traders would have made this perfect but that’s a tiny gripe. Warley has become more of a shopping trip for me these days! Jay

Likewise Nick! Operating is a pretty loose way of describing what was going on so no worries there mate.

I spent today assisting @NHY 581 with Bleat Wharf at the Stafford show. Good to catch up with some RMWebbers in real life and see some very nice layouts. A really excellent exhibition all round. Here’s a snap of Bleat Wharf:

An excellent day at Stafford helping out the sheep meister at playing trains. Met some of the good RMWeb folk too. Here’s some photos of Bleat Wharf: Jay

I’ll be playing trains on Rob’s layout tomorrow so his sheepness can be unleashed on the public. Let’s just say he likes to chat. A lot. Probably worth factoring this in if you’re visiting Stafford and actually want to see some layouts. Jay.

@NHY 581 you’re going to have to give me a crash course on how to use the Powercab malarkey. Hopefully not so much of the crash element. Jay

I’ve never been called glamorous before. I’ll take that. Jay

I’ve used AG wheels on my previous Dock Tank project. If memory serves me correctly I chose the Sharman wheels for the NLR Tank as they were the only correct ones available. I’ve read on Tony Wrights thread some time ago about the various wheel perils! Jay

Really excellent advice. Thank you G! Jay

Thanks for all the responses! This is all very useful to a beginner such as myself. @micklner - they’re Sharman wheels. The rods are sat on the supplied bushes and they’re too long allowing too much side play. This will be the next step. @cctransuk - these are bushes the connecting rods slide over. As per my comment above they need to be trimmed down. Thanks for spotting the ‘pimple’ - I’ll get a file on that! @MrWolf - cheers Rob. Unlike the Dock tank I made earlier in the year the pins are bang on. @Rowsley17D - I think that’s a wise suggestion Jonathon. When I’ve shortened those bushes that will be the next step now. Jay