Enfys_Rainbow

XF-21 mixed with white I'd say.

Matt

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

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

42 minutes ago, marc smith said:

As ever Matt, some stirling work here.
I really like that faded blue 08 - top job there sir :) 

Thanks Marc, appreciate you looking in on the thread!

35 minutes ago, Kevin Johnson said:

Matt can I ask where you purchase your couplings from for your 4mm scale wagons. Great work BTW stripping off the paint.👍

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

Another day, some more progress.

Markings under way before more weathering.

Matt

35 minutes ago, steve1 said:

Are you considering Laserglaze for the 08 windows?

 

http://www.shawplan.com/extreme_Loco_Laserglaze_4mm.html

 

steve

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

21 hours ago, Gilbert said:

I strongly suggest you have a break from the project and review at leisure.

Looks OK to me anyway...

ChrisH

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

17 minutes ago, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

Railmatch faded blue is a good representation IMHO.

 

Mike.

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,

Just now, Enterprisingwestern said:

 

Agree with you on the rods, might not be an easy swap though.

The Bachmann version has the look of a later class 11 LMS shunter about it from some angles, hence my preference for the Hornby model.

 

Mike.

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