Enfys_Rainbow

Hi all, I recently had a clear out of magazines. Typically, I'm now trying to find one of those that went! The issue in question had an article, by Tim Shackleton I believe, which included steps to replace Lima LMS GUV bogies with those by Bachmann. I bought all the bits to copy the process, but forgot to keep this article as reference! Any ideas? Matt

Thanks to the generosity of a fellow modeller, my Class 08 now has new rods. It's taken me a while to get around to fitting them but they're the regular Brassmasters ones, filed down to reduce the width slightly. Fitting them was the least fun I've had but the visual improvement is huge! I'm still having problems with the (Bachmann) pins popping out occasionally, does anyone have any clever solutions to stop this happening? Matt

Hello all, With work having started on some ballasting, my thoughts turned towards one of the two bufferstops. Given their close proximity to the backscene, painting and weathering, not to mention ballasting, would be very awkward if done after fixing them in place. First the bufferstop itself - this is one of the sublime Lanarkshire Models items supplied by @davefrk. Painting was actually trickier than I expected, my first few attempts were much too dark. After much mixing of various brown and orange paint, I've got a shade I'm much happier with. I decided to glue the whole thing to a piece of paper, cut to fit the exact space, then ballast it. This way, I can glue the more or less completed item in situ and then just blend in the edges at a later stage. All in all, I'm relatively pleased but happy to take feedback, particularly about the colour. Matt

Hi all, Here's the first layout photo I've posted for a long, long time! As can be seen, a small amount of ballasting has taken place, and also the first bit of scenic work has been added. Long time since I've done anything like this! Matt

Here's the painted gate. It's relatively dirty and rusted, but I figured a gate on a line such as this would only be closed when needed, which isn't often, so may have been neglected...my story anyhow! Bit rough and ready up close, but ok at a distance. Matt

Hi all, Latest bit of scratchbuilding! I wanted some gates at my road crossing. Having looked at those available RTR or as kits, I quickly decided to make my own. Inspiration is a combination of photos of gates from a variety of different locations found online. The gate itself is made entirely from offcuts of plastic section and rod, with the side posts being several strips glued together as I had nothing else suitable. The angled capping is yet more offcuts sanded to shape. Not perfect by any means, but an enjoyable afternoon modelling project, and continues my attempt to scratchbuilt as much as possible. Now I just have to make another set... Matt

Hi there, I've just built one of these (page 13): I can't remember which buffers I used sorry as I started it 4 years ago originally. As you can see, I also didn't replace the axleboxes. Railtec and Fox do suitable transfers. Matt

I'm in the process of painting a faded Class 08 myself: As others have already said, mixing your own shade is the way to go. Matt

Thanks both, I appreciate the comments. @bradfordbuffer - I can live with the incorrect spacing...and any other inaccuracies - they look ok to me! 🤣 Matt

Hello all, I'm no telegraph pole expert, but having looked at the available offerings in 4mm scale, I decided I wasn't keen. I might feel different if I had a 40ft long layout that needed 400 telegraph poles, but seeing as I only need a handful, I think I could and should do better. After a few hours with various offcuts of plastic and other (sadly) unidentified bits from the spares box, here's what I've come up with...or at least 2 of the 5 I'll need anyway! Very enjoyable! Matt

Sorry for dredging up an old topic, but does anyone have any photos of the Masokits telegraph pole steps? Are they etched in one piece or do they require assembly? Thanks Matt

Thanks Marc, appreciate you looking in on the thread!

Kevin - anywhere that sells Smiths couplings. Loads of places stock them.

@sb67 I used isopropanol to strip the paint, however I use acrylics so they come off easily. I'm told that this will also strip RTR paintwork, but I've not attempted it myself yet. Dettol has to be the worst method, I stripped a Lima Class 31 a while back...talk about a sticky mess!

Hello all, Not had a great deal of time for modelling recently, which has meant the motivation for ongoing projects (Class 08 in particular) has fizzled out. Four years ago my daughter had just been born, and in those limbo times where she, and my wife, were sleeping I managed to build a Dapol Class B tank wagon kit at the kitchen table. Despite not really having a use for it, I was pleased with it, especially given the circumstances under which it was built. It took me ages to finally paint it and when I did, it was ok, but I was never fully satisfied, despite working on it several times. Anyway, it's been in storage for a good few months. I dug it out this weekend with a view to sorting it out (again). I decided to strip the paint, and do various detail tweaks (not necessarily accurate!), the biggest of which will be an upgrade to the walkway using the @RThompson etched parts. Anyway, enough waffle - here's the state of play: In other news, I've started some scenic work on the layout. Matt

I've been building another tree. Last time, I made it using twisted wire, but this time thought I'd utilise some old plastic armatures I bought ages ago - think they were sold by C&L back in the day. These are pretty crude, and of course come in sections which means the joints have to be covered up. As this is intended to be against the backscene, I snipped branches from one side, and reattached a few using super glue. The joints have been covered with filler, and and I've also thinned down some modelling filler with cellulose thinner to blend everything together and for some subtle texture on the trunk. Incidentally my box of 15 year old seafoam which cost me £3.75 is running out. This stuff is crazily expensive now, can't imagine why! Matt

Hello all, Glad people (seem) to like the 08 so far. Believe it or not, this is my first "proper" attempt at detailing and weathering a locomotive. A lucky eBay purchase sees me take ownership of an Accurascale MDV. I couldn't resist comparing it with the kit version from Chivers, which is very nice. I've also started the first bit of scenic work on the layout by filling in the left hand side corner. As I want the buildings to be removable, all the scenic bits need to be constructed to allow this to happen. Cue a lot of hacking of polystyrene blocks! Matt

Hi all, The bonnet sides have now had some of the wasp stripes overpainted in yellow as per the prototype. All the markings have been applied - Railtec for the numbers, data panel and fuel tank lettering and Fox for the double arrows and warning flashes. The cab roof has been weathered - photos seem to show the curved part above the door to be quite rusty and the exhaust has been rusted up - I'm not sure how accurate this is though! And finally, a side photo showing the work so far: Matt

Another day, some more progress. Markings under way before more weathering. Matt

Hi Steve, yep - already purchased ready for fitting at the end.

Hello all, I've started weathering the 08's bodywork and am making slow progress. There aren't any photos (that I can find anyway) of the real 08945 being this faded, but....this is the effect I wanted to try and replicate. All the rusting has been done with enamel paint. Matt

Thanks Chris, I'm thinking about stripping it right down, but I've put it away for now - will come back to it at some point. Another (boring) 08 photo. Although it looks the same, I've actually done some more fading and started to weather the grilles. Long way to go, made stranger by the fact I can't really do much to the underside until I decide what I'm doing about the rods. Next will be some markings... Matt

I don't/won't use enamels. My opinion only again, but no one makes a good Rail Blue acrylic. I find the Humbrol acrylics to not be very good generally, and the Railmatch acrylics are more like poster paint.

Hi all, I agree Mike - coincidentally I've just bought a Hornby 08 (bargain price, couldn't resist) and it's undoubtedly the finer model in my opinion. But, I've started this so I'll persevere... Step 1 of paint fading completed. I had planned on mixing my own "faded Rail Blue" to avoid further use of the Lifecolor paint (nothing wrong with them, some people swear by them but they just don't work for me) but each of my mixes just looked wrong. In the end I had to return to the Lifecolor Rail Blue and add white. The colour is a lot better, but spraying was an unpleasant experience! Note that one side looks lighter than the other in the photos, this is nothing more than a trick of the light. Matt

Hi all, The 08 is edging closer to the weathering stage. I decided to add some details to the chassis, made from wire and offcuts of plastic rod and strip. These are not intended to be 100% accurate - representative only! Still contemplating the rods, may try some Hornby ones. The body has had an initial coat of Rail Blue (Lifecolor - horrible to spray but it was all I had) to cover the various scuffs and marks. Matt