Departmental203

Excellent work Trev, like how you have resurrected a Lomac and the BDA looks super! Wish you good luck on the layout (I do wonder why stantions on steel wagons are so flimsy in real life) Jules

Just discovered this thread, taking a glance at the photos, it looks excellent!! I have a soft spot for early EMU's, will follow with interest Jules

Yes there is Lewis, just couldn't get the time to post! All my MHA's are done, buffer wise and they look so much better for it The MHA on the left had the existing bufferplates reshaped with a scalpel and a tooth saw but it was torturous for the wagon! For the other two, I used 20 thou plastic card cut to the right size, as per the wagon on the right Next jobs : add new buffer hooks, get rid of the glue marks, renumber the wagons (numbers are WRONG for this type of MHA), paint the interior and weathering! Maybe that explains why I can't finish a project and exams get in the way too, so please bear with me Cheers Jules

Really nice work here! Jules

One down, three to go! Cheers Jack Jules

Buffers have finally arrived! Picked up a few packs of Accurascale of the OLEO 13" sized ones, a friend from Scottish Modelers told me they were suitable for the HAA/MHA wagons. First job is to remove the old buffers and I used, pliers, a twisting motion, and a bit of force to pull the old buffers away, which I think I may reuse later... After a look at a reference photo, I realised I would have to shape the buffer backplate to size, as the Accurascale buffers did not have these on them. One scalpel job later... The areas of white Posca pen highlighted the size difference (left one being the original, right one modified), as the camera could not pick up the detail!! A new set of pin vices from Squires were required for the next job, making a representation of the fixing bolts for the buffers, I used spare (very fine) brass tube to represent this: I used a combination of EMA plastic weld and superglue (used sparingly, to avoid seizing it up) to attach these new buffers. And oh boy, they are a sharp contrast from the old chunky buffers as these photos show. Thanks for reading! Jules

Good progress with the layout, Jack, things coming well nicely with this one. Good luck with your debut with this layout, being small, all should go well... Looks like I need to get cracking with my layout very soon Jules

Loving these very tasty projects Lewis! Especially 56003, the Loadhaul livery is beast but has quietly faded into history Would have loved to have seen these colours with my own two eyes... Ah well, that's why we model things These wagons would look nice slung behind a 56 or 60, you have done an excellent job on these Jules

Hey Will! Haven't heard from you in a while, I guess it's from the pain from work etc etc! In a couple of years time (or sooner?), some loco projects might end up on the workbench, in fact, my Bachmann 170 is awaiting wiring as the pickup wires came off after too much vigour with the fiberglass pencil. Dirtiest pickups I've ever seen (cleaned now) Also, ta for the 56 advice Thanks as usual Lewis! Probably use some greys, browns and greens to further refine the floor (and the striped insides of my sole OBA 110516) Certainly will add some sort of junk that always gets left on these wagons. And yes, I guess this will be the only DB liveried example of my fleet (unless DB decide to repaint some more wagons including ZCA's, MTA's YGA's or if I decide to model 391034, which Jack did a nice model of) For decals, I will probably ask nicely to Railtec to produce some for me Thanks Teacup, I did read George's tip on his Definite Guide To Painting and decided to give it a go. It's just that I can't be bothered to apply an entire model of gloss varnish, just applying patches where the transfers go seems to work for me! (for wagons!) I hope you wagon projects are coming on well, thanks! Cheers for these comments, gentlemen Jules

These photos will explain my method of attaching the body to the chassis on the MHA A piece of 40 thou plasticard that fits into the shallow recess of an HAA/ MHA body forms my simple aligning "mechanism" The body will remain separate from the chassis until it is decalled and varnish, it may be a while before body and chassis is glued then! That's it for now if I can push myself, some other projects may takeoff soon (which could also take a while!) Jules

Top notch as usual Jules

Another wagon update (for the umpteenth time) ZBA now (finally) has an identity and warning flashes I've been having a little problem with the Railtec flashes, as they seem to curl up the second they see Micro Set/Sol and couldn't stick it behind the handrail on the wagon ends. (Handrail is scrachbuilt from brass wire) I used a George Dent method, I brushed some Humbrol gloss varnish and stuck the transfer while it was still wet. It is probably due to the small size of the transfer or lack of surface prep that causes this, or that Railtec transfers just don't like Micro Set/Sol. As from the second photo, that method worked a treat. I then used some Humbrol rattle can varnish to seal the transfers in, I'll apply a second coat tomorrow! The same varnish dulled down 112144 very nicely, as it was a nice gloss, after one coat!! Still will put on a second coat though. Any comments on my attempt on painting a wooden floor? I'm trying to replicate a Tim Shackleton method, but I don't possess anywhere near his talent! Thanks, Jules

Completely forgot to read the new update here, I was too busy counting wagons!! Nice work here Lewis, as usual, and I think your move to go EM was worth it. Looking forward to more progress! Jules

May be a little difficult coming up to Scotland... wish I went to Glasgow last year! Jules

Have read on this layout on Rail Express Modeller, the attention to detail is very nice and your Manteworg Road-also very nice For some reason, I quite like small layouts! Jules

Just found this thread after following your Instagram a few weeks back, and you do sure love some Tug action! By the way, are you making this layout OO fine scale, EM or P4? Look forward to its progress, will look out on Instagram Jules

Oh yes please, Lewis! I've also have a Hornby OAA (if you have a look at my workbench, she's there) to make it into a (quite) clean 100033, click here I've been pondering on getting the brake levers, as the Colin Craig etch has quietly faded away... Keep up with the good work, love wagon enthusiasts Jules

With the mentioned rusting method, it is too easy to get the colour too dark, like I got the MHA I'm building! Sandpaper flattened this and I'll probabaly start again! Always make sure you get the Humbrol 62 Matt Leather coat smooth, otherwise the Revell 84 looks too rough. And yes, I use Parkside kits for the Rudds, I was so desparate to include Parkside kits in my fleet, I added them to the current day layout despite being withdrawn in 2008! (And the photo of DB986446 dates back to 2001!!!) About the images, the camera I use only captures a small area, so it was no problem for me!! (but the quality is terrible, sorry!) Hope I have answered all of your questions, mate! Jules

Cheers Lewis, I hope to order parts as projects go! Still trying to get used to the new RM Web update, but it's brilliant! Time for paints (again) mostly involving these two colours! As recommended by Tim Shackleton as two excellent rust colours : think he is truly correct! First stage is a SMOOTH coat of Humbrol 62 , as shown on (going to be) ZBA DB986446 Then a coat of Revell 84 (shown on ZBA DB972761), I try to get the brush strokes horizontal, to represent rain water washing down Also did it on OCA 112144, Revell 84 next. On one of my MFA'sthe running was erratic and after a couple of tests, the wheels were the problem (thought it was the chassis' fault!!) Swapped the wheels with another MFA=perfect running! However, the "donor" MFA is using Gibson wheels, so, I tried to paint the brake pads (Humbrol 27002, if your'e interested) Finally, some progress on the Hornby TTA, namely removing the horrid mould line in the middle. I'm trying to model a short TTA rake just like the Fort William workings with 56302 up front, I'm struggling with the tank numbers right now If any reader can post some info, that will be appreciated Many thanks Jules

Hey Lewis, haven't heard from you in ages! It's nothing special, for the vertical ribbing 1mm x 1mm Plastrut Section was used, the sides used 60 thou plasticard sheet to counter warping...as seen on the Hornby MHA's! The top ribs, was a 2-step process, as I laid slithers of 20 thou strip sheet and put 2mm by 1mm strip on top I think, shaped to the angle found on these MHA's with scalpel and sandpaper and do it with care, as I shaved a huge chunk off and repaired it a small piece of plastic sheet.. I did sand the inside of the ends, and sides with Tamiya paper, to kind of thin them down...but not as thin as Hornby did for reasons above!! Don't forget to score the groove found on the lower part of the ends, I almolst forgot!! I used photos, simple maths and measurements from a Hornby MHA to build the body up, this MHA has 11 side ribs, spaced equally from each other. I'm just working on how to attach the body to the chassis, epoxy resin is on the horizon... Also, I'm wondering how to get an SKits catalouge, as they do not have a website.. This is a lot of reading, but I hope this (sort of) helps Any questions just ping a PM and good luck! Jules

Again, the Cat is going strong! BTW, I'm just curious what wire are you going to use for the handrail? As the handrails have flat faces IRL I think the revision books are calling my name... Jules

I think I heard that Precision Labels stocked some Johnson's Klear a wee while back, not sure now... Jules

Somehow got away with using a can of Halfords in Scottish (freezing!) weather in the backyard! The Cat's coming on well, I must say.. Jules

A quick little update during prelims (pratcice exams), have been fairly busy... On the MHA, adding the yellow band And removing all of the brake pipes and realised I needed to retain them on one side As well as the odd small job and been working on a MFA, for a while now... More for later Jules

Fair enough... Same with me, I coundn't possibly come to the DEMU show etc etc!! Nice 68 BTW, looking to aquire a Scotrail example later on... Jules