EWS60065

Thanks for the close up shots, I wimped out of modelling the type of MLA with these doors!

Looking fantastic, I'm very jealous of your yard length! Dapol 59 looks good too, think it'll be fine on engineering trains for now. May I ask what the plans are with the HEA? I've got 4 myself but starting to regret getting them as they're a bit old for where I want to go now.

Just had a look at some information on the Hornby website and it states that they will firstly produce BR and LMS variants and then move on to others - so a good chance we will see the more modern ones too.

That's what I was thinking, as a modern image modeller I would love to see them

Of course, but not sure which of the Hornby models announced will actually use these more modern bogies (thought they were only covering the older plate bogie types)

There seems to be an ASF bogie on the sprue in the photos as fitted to the Salmons later on - didn't realise Hornby were producing this type but great if they are?

Thanks very much, apart from the first one they're not based on exact trains but with engineering pretty much anything can happen. The idea of Salmons and Falcons with a Bass in between is a common formation, however I only have one Salmon so it doesn't look quite right! The Sea Urchins are inspired by some of the UKRailwayPics photos from the early 2010s as well as the ones that were parked at Eastleigh until around 2016 (?). Both OCAs here are Cambrian yes but I do have 3 Bachmann ones too (not in that lovely Railfreight pink though!)

Thanks for the kind words, engineering trains are my favourite too

3 More Engineering Train Formations After the success of the first photoshoot on a plank with the Coalfish wagons, I've cobbled together some of the rest of the fleet, creating some more varied consists typical of 2010s engineering trains. Super Salmon carrying S&C rails Two runner wagons accomodate the overhanging load and timber dunnage can be seen carried in the rear Bass wagon. This is based on a real formation I saw a photo of. Empty Falcons and Salmon I want to increase the number of Falcons and Salmons in the long term but this still gives the impression. The newly built MLA is near the end and one of the mesh side OBAs is used too. This consist may be heading to a track relaying possession in order to pick up spoil/old track panels and deliver new sleepers and other supplies. Hauled by a Hornby Class 56 resprayed into Colas 56051 'Survival'. Loaded Sea Urchins An eclectic mix of worn out ZCA Sea Urchins all carrying new ballast behind equally weathered 66088. Inspired by the last Sea Urchin trains seen around 2015. These are a mixture of RTR, kits, and scratchbuilds. It's always nice for me to fully appreciate the hard work and time I've invested into these wagons and I hope you've enjoyed seeing the photos as much as I did setting them up.

Thanks for that Jack, interesting to know you've started one. I'll put it away and maybe it'll get finished day or maybe I'll just end up getting a YQA type Super Tench from Revolution and bin it! Either way it's a useful learning experience

Was yours an MLA or IEA?

Thanks for the advice, think that's what I'll do. The way I've been wanting to go is to build more bogie wagons as I have quite a lot of 4 wheelers so this felt a perfect project to pick up again. I'll put it away though and maybe give the doors another go another time. I'm starting a nice simple Cambrian OCA now (what could possibly go wrong!)

Well I've lost all inspiration with the FJA Super Tench... I've been working on it a lot recently and yesterday started to apply the first coat of Maroon. However, this has highlighted the poor quality of the mesh sides which I built a while ago as well as several other problems. The issue is that I started building this wagon a year ago and my skills have improved a lot since then - while I could finish it to an okay standard, I feel it doesn't meet the quality of my more recent builds. The only way foward would be to completely remake the doors. It's a case of how much more time do I really want to put into this wagon. Any thoughts about what to do?

Love the MXA, will look at getting some myself when they start to appear on the 2nd hand market. Are you gonna weather it?

Thanks very much. Need to buy some more Dapol JNAs now 😭

Thanks Andy, they're surprisingly nice to do if you're prepared to simplify it a little.

MLA Scratchbuild Well hot off the heels of the mesh sided Bass is my MLA Falcon wagon shown a few posts back. This wagon is a scratchbuild as no RTR models or kits are available, built from plasticard and a few spare Cambrian components. I've utilised Dapol HIA bogies here which are the same type used on the MLAs. The wagon has now received its top coat of NR yellow (intended to be slightly lighter than the JNAs) and a light weathering of rusty scratches. This has quite possibly been one of my favourite scratchbuilds, as the distinctive shape of the MLA wagon could be captured very quickly. And of course the best thing is that I've added another wagon to the Falcon rake for around £10-15 (materials etc.). In terms of things on the workbench, the FJA Super Tench has made a return. Photos of this will follow. Thanks for reading.

Thanks a lot for the kind words Jack. That's very much the idea with the Bass - I have one more left to do (grey OCA). I like how they break up the uniformity of Falcons or Salmons. I enjoyed seeing your old posts on Coalfish so that would definitely be appreciated by me!

Mesh Sided OBAs After months of slow progress and sitting around on the workbench, my mesh sided OBAs are finally finished. These iconic engineering wagons were converted by EWS to have mesh doors for ease of operation, however the only models available depict wooden doors. These models are Cambrian kits with new doors made from steel mesh with plastic framework. My first attempt at one of these wagons was getting on for 2 years ago - I'm much happier with these new ones in comparison, meaning the old one will be retired from the fleet. My 'signature method' was used to create the rust bleeding effect on the ends, using 5 different shades of orange getting progressively darker. Whilst I won't be doing any more mesh wagons (bar the Super Tench, more on that later), I feel there is still room for improvement on the doors. If I were to do another, an etched brass mesh may be worth using as well as making the frames thinner around the door. Despite this, I'm happy with the outcome and I look foward to seeing them carrying miniature engineering supplies at the front of a train of Salmon/Falcons.

Thanks, I also have a bit of renumbering to do on these!

Coalfish Photoshoot I've been out with a plank to see how the current Coalfish rake looks behind a class 66. Pretty happy with the length, obviously my MTAs are missing but I didn't have room to add them! Currently formed from Hornby MHAs, Accurascale MHAs, and Bachmann MFAs

Cheers, I've always liked the idea of 3D printing stuff but I can imagine it would be difficult to get the hang of. Out of interest how much would it have cost to print an MLA body approx?

Well the MLA has progressed quite a lot recently Various details have been added including spares from Cambrian kits and Dapol IOA buffers. The bogies are from the Dapol HIA. It's now in primer awaiting a nice coat of NR yellow. I've also been weathering my two clean JNAs I've gone for a subtle effect here and perhaps the darker interior colour is the most striking improvement. The weathering was achieved with a light airbush spray over the lower half of the wagons. This was followed by applying a dark wash over the body, streaked downwards. Engineers chalk markings and ballast residue have been added too. I'm in the process of weathering the OBAs so look out for those soon.

Thanks, that would explain the sudden dissaparence of it from Dapol's range. Shame, but if it allowed the JNAs to be produced instead then that's a good thing. I did consider doing a 3D print but decided fabrication would be easier for me. I'd be interested to see if you ever produce any from your CADs though

Thanks for the info, I've got some Dapol HIA bogies ready to put under the MLA which are of a Y25 design. I will be representing one of the Network Rail ones as opposed to the Metronet ones or EWS ones with different bogies.