TT100 Diesels

So, we can rush headlong into part 2 of the snow plough retrospective ! The easy bit was painting them black. A bit harder to get the yellow areas nice and neat. But the plough stripes were a challenge. To be able to place the lengths of Tamiya masking tape correctly to paint the black stripes, I resorted to applying two marker tabs, one near each end. These were hard enough to do accurately but at least allowed the lengths to be then applied accurately up against the marker tabs. And repeated through the process. With tape lengths applied, on with the matt black. And the result of the first stripe painted on both ploughs. Look closely and there was some bleed under the tape for touch up / rework. Same for the top stripe not unsurprisingly. Once the stripes were finished, on to the fitting and painting of the wire handrails. Also, the decals were in progress as well, the OLE flashes were Fox 3mm, all the others were from Woodhead 3mm modern image sheets. The number digits had to be cut out as individual numbers and applied one by one, a very painstaking and tedious task. The ex works pair, pre weathering and pre rattle can varnish. This view also shows the shelf above and across the top of the buffers. These were made from plasticard. The tension locks also fitted in this view. Must have been giving them a test run 😁. ADB965204 and ADB965243 were the numbers selected as they were vaguely central England allocated examples at my layout period. I had some good pictures of the Inverness pair to work from, same livery as these but did not want an IS allocated pair on the LM region. Various web searches made sure these numbers wore this livery in the late 70's, and there was quite a lot of variation out there. Again, picture size limits conclude part 2, so a final posting will follow with part 3. Thanks for looking in.

Great stuff, once you get your membership pack through, I would urge you to join the egroup, you need to do it through the membership sec, he is the moderator. There are a lot of fine scale / 14.2 / scratch builders / chassis - mech builders on there. It is the place to throw all your questions into the ring. Also, you will get access to the shop, Richard who runs it is a very helpful chap (and on the egroup) and also a 14.2 builder (the lot, steam, diesel, electrics, MUs) so he knows the score so to speak. However, very few are on here, hence being serious about 3mm it is worth the price of lunch to access these fonts of knowledge. Unfortunately, you get me here, I am at the opposite end of the 3mm scale, I err towards TT rather than fine scale and am not a builder. But anyway, welcome to the 3milliverse (again), I very much hope it goes to plan for you, and I for one look forward to seeing your cameo / plank come to life. Cheers and good luck, TT100 Diesels

Hi, To be honest, I am not really the sort of person to be able to provide "deep" advice on 14.2. I dabble in 12mm and get by, and follow the path of least resistance, i.e. Peco HOm track, LL locos mainly, doing up triang stock, some kits, a bit of kit bashing etc. It suits my purposes and I am happy. All I can say really is if you want to take a punt on the £20 membership fee, you get access to the shop and also the egroup where a lot of the fine scale / 14.2 modellers reside, just the sort of people like you who dabble in 3d print, have engineering tools available like you. Folk that are way above my levels of knowledge when it comes to properly building stuff. Otherwise, like you say, there are other modelling scales open to you which you may feel more comfortable with. Good luck with whatever you decide to do. Cheers TT100 Diesels

Hi Lacathedrale, First question is are you 3mm society member? This gives access to the shop. Point 2 rolling stock you want should be available as kits and no problem with 14.2 axles. A lot of wagon kits are available from the shop, parkside and the like. Can't guarantee they have everything you want, but stocks are (anecdotally) pretty good, but the odd one may well be out of stock, but its overall quite healthy stock situation. Point 1 motive power, 17 and 24 dead easy on 12mm, now available as ready to roll from lincoln locos. I am not sure if Lenny is yet able to offer this in 14.2. You could ask via the contact option on his web site. Again, the society do etched diesel bogies so would enable 14.2, but motors and gears do need a bit of research, (3mm shop have some and so do 3MSR) but again if a member, question on the egroup usually solves problems. Would also required cosmetic side frames, Lenny did these as whitemetal but now they are integral 3d prints on the ready to roll chassis. Again, might be worth asking what side frames he might still have in stock via his web site contact. I myself am 12mm and very much into Lenny's Lincoln Locos one stop shop, so am not so up on the finer points of 14.2, so sorry only giving a generalistic feel above. There are one or two 14.2 folk on here, who hopefully can put more meat on the bone. Cheers TT100 Diesels

So, another retrospective build feature, topical since TT Pete was asking just in up thread, the pair of independent snow ploughs:- We have a pair of resin casts, which were kindly given to me by Phil Mason. As can be seen, they also have various recesses on the underside for mounting some sort of wheels! As these are not planned to run much, I decided to not raid my stock of pin point axles, but to chop up a couple of spare Triang wagon chassis, to just retain the wheelset bit, i.e. very crude W irons type set up. In the picture, the undersides have been hollowed out sufficiently to allow these wheelset units to fit in. The centre axle is simply a chopped up wheel cut away so it clears the track but not yet fitted here (like the way the Triang TT 31 centre wheelset is configured). Both have the wheelset units fitted to test for fit. Looking closely at the resin casts, there are a number of defects that required attention, cleaning up, filler etc. Looking from underneath, the ex Triang wagon wheelset units in place for overall concept testing. Triang TT tension lock couplers are fitted, with a screw self tapped into the resin buffer and a brass rod dowel in the opposite side. I wanted to be able to have removable tension lock couplings so I could run them but also remove for periods when the ploughs would be long term stored / stabled in the yard and thus look more realistic. Buffer beam details added, plus the under buffer snow shields. These are not quite full depth, due to requiring a gap to fit the tension lock couplers. A locating dowel can be seen. Also, up at roof level, the more correct shaped snow shield arrangement has been fitted from plasticard. Compare with the as supplied shield, as integral moulding seen on the first two photos. When checking photos of the real ploughs, this shield is angled upwards, but would have been a lot less robust had I tried to copy that, so I compromised my version for ease of construction and robustness. Underside view of same end showing the snow shields and also a feel for how much more opening out was required to fit in the wheelset unit. Both resin casts required a lot of fettling, in this picture we see the point where they were primed up. The moulded hand rails removed and holes drilled to accept wire hand rails. The access steps on the sides are recessed on the prototypes and these were replicated on the resin castings (see first two photos). However, they were quite rough and full of hard resin beads. They required the whole area opening out and inlaying with plastic card and then re drilling and opening out. I went for the easy option, I filled in and smoothed off the rough footstep holes and added micro strip to represent external foot steps, another naughty compromise ! That wraps up part 1 of this retrospective build feature at a convenient point. Thanks for the interest shown just up thread for the snow plough test run train pics.

Hi Pete, West Byfleet sounded good with a lot of various stuff added to your stash ! Re the platform edges, I would suggest resin casting, but having never done any, I can't actually help with the technicalities. If its just the 4 sections, I would probably bite the bullet and scratch build from plasticard. Sorry, not that much help I suspect. Cheers TT100 Diesels

Hi Pete, They were resin casts from Phil Mason (Bluish layout). Quite rough, needed a lot of cleaning, fettling and filler. Plus a few of my own detailing tweaks. But I remain very grateful to Phil, who scratch built one for himself then took some resin casts. There is a colour pic of Phils scratch built one in Mixed Traffic. I think its one of the late 20 teens post AGM editions. Probably the most difficult aspect of the build for me was the painting, especially the stripes. Its all hand painted and a lot of Tamiya masking tape. Taping up was a job and a half as well. Also it did not help that 5 seconds after the final matt varnish spray coat outside in the garden, one of them fell off its stand and hit a patio slab, causing some damage to be repaired and redo some of the stripes, hey ho ! I will have a look at my photo collection, and see about doing a build feature here. Cheers TT100 Diesels

Hi folks, been a good few weeks since the last layout update. I have got an 08 in the oven but that is on 3 mm workbench thread as it is current WIP. A dip back into my photo collection, and its "testing time" at HPJ. 97201 had arrived with the tribometer text train, but needed to be uncoupled, they had a power fault and after a bit of fettling, just needed to run up and down a siding to make sure it was all ok again. Meanwhile, 25071 is coupled up to an independent snow plough, as a pre winter snow plough refresher run was booked for HPJ crews. After a lot of shunting faff, 97201 is back on the trib train, waiting for a booked test path later in the day. Meanwhile, the snow plough refresher test run formation has been formed up, with 25071 and 25125 doing the honours. A closer view of the Derby Sulzers as they await the yard exit dolly to be pulled "off". Hopefully of interest but I am kind of running out of fresh locos to show, I am afraid I cannot nip out and just buy more in this scale. However, if I can pull my finger out I do have more projects in the stash, headcode 31, split box Peak, another 47, also Birmingham Sulzer 26 and 27. Shunter wise, the 08 is underway and an 03 remains buried in the stash. Cheers TT100 Diesels

An apology, in my quoted post I incorrectly stated that Heybridge Wharf layout was due to appear in the Jan 24 Modeller. It is in fact Exebridge, another of Paul Hopkins 3mm exhibition layouts. Paul is the creator of Portsea, a fine layout that is also on the circuit and has appeared in a number of magazines. Sorry, I don't have access to any photos of either layout.

Ahh, one of the last few Lincoln Oaks clas 07's, very nice. I will look forward to seeing this progress to completion on here....... (No pressure !). I remember going to Pentonville meet,I was in the society for a year or two circa 1980. But Was strictly Triang TT then, well still am now second time round, well some if my stuff is. But don't really remember the names from the time apart from the East Mids folk. Hope West Byfleet went well yesterday, Cheers TT100 Diesels

Thanks, yes they strongly suggest black continues over the top of the radiator, So that is what I shall do.

Another 3mm 12mm gauge layout, if I may, Phil Masons "Bluish", a cameo of Reddish ETD. Its on the exhibition circuit. Some of my pictures shown, have been posted elsewhere on this site, but just a few for a flavour. Phil is a scratch builder. The class 76 (EM1) are his work, he crafted a master then had a batch professionally resin cast. Any other locos in these pic are mine and thus discussed up thread. He posts in the main layouts thread, so more of this this in that area. Apologies, we were gently easing over to steam outline, but back to D & E outline. Picking up Heybridge Wharf from just up thread, it is also on the exhibition circuit and I believe will appear in the Jan 2024 Railway Modeller. It is a 14.2mm fine scale work of art, and I will stick my neck out and say it is possibly the best example (on show) of what can be achieved in the scale. Best wishes TT100 Diesels

Nice to see the photo posts at the bottom of page 3053 illustrating a much wider spread of 3mm modelling than my blue diesels shown a few pages ago, much more typical of what has been and indeed continues to be built. I hope that those pictures help to illustrate the depth of modelling in 3mm scale, as a further response to the question posed by Tony in his 3mm Jinty kit post wondering what was out there. To further the cause, if I may, I have included one of my photos from a recent society open meeting of the modelling display table. Models from both the main gauges, 12mm and 14.2mm (most of them 14.2mm). Steam, diesel and electric outline, mostly scratch built or complex kits. The blue diesels at the far right are some of mine, so resin / 3d print. Best wishes, TT100 Diesels

Hello good people, I am looking for a bit of "livery help". I have started an 08 build and at the painting stage. It will be a late 70's standard blue machine. Having had a skim through a few pages on here, I cannot seem to find a radiator end shot from above. I am looking to confirm the colour on top of the radiator. The chevrons go up the sides where the ladder once was, and goes black at the top. I am assuming it is black all across the top of the radiator? Some pics of privatisation era and preservation era machines hint at that (but livery details can change over time), so a late 70's pic from above would nail it. The 08 by the way is a Lincon-Oaks nearly ready to run in 3mm scale. Its on scale specific /3mm / what's on workbench thread. Thanks in anticipation. Best wishes TT100 Diesels

Hi, stunning work as usual, the 40 is dead subtle weathering, absolutely love it. The seven next door is looks rather nice too. Best regards TT100 Diesels

Nice work TTPete, Getting way above my pay scale, etched brass 24/25, 47's, 50's, and that D600 Warship, fantastic work. And the 3d print Hymek on a cobbled chassis, that surely must be one of THE first TT120 non rtr loco modelling in British outline? Kudos to you. It would be great if we got some 3mm finescale steam outline on here as well, to be honest. I put out an appeal on our society e-group this morning to try to persuade 3mm folk to post on RMWeb either layouts or locos, there is a lot of great stuff, mostly steam outline. And a lot of talented modellers that have fought with un-buildable kits to end up with great models, such as the WD 2-8-0 that won this years steam outline modelling competition at the society AGM. Best wishes TT100 Diesels

Thank you to everyone's very kind reactions to my 3mm modeling post just up thread. In all honesty, I would not normally post on this thread, because I do consider it to be a haven for scratch built and complex kit built locos and stock but predominantly steam era locos. It was in response to Tony asking if anyone has any 3mm to share. I acknowledge that there is a lot of modelling content in my stuff but it is different from the core modeling content on this thread (and I do think the standards of work I see here are consistently very high). With me, traction and rolling stock wise, it is much more about doing up old Triang, kit bashing, plastic kits, resin and 3d print loco bodies etc. So my stuff is posted on my "High Peak Junction" thread in the main layouts topics section, if folk are interested, there are a few show and tell loco builds on there. Up thread, I was posting finished pictures, so just a quick shot of my 25/2, Lincoln Locos 3d print body shell with mods and detailing plonked on a LL motorised chassis with white metal side frames and a scratched up fuel tank / battery box module. Boiler roof gubbins scraped off (its a non boiler loco). Gives a flavour of the build process. I will leave it there with my stuff, hopefully other 3mm modelers might post something on here in response to your request Tony, because my stuff is very much against the flow in the 3mm society and is not particularly representative, there are a lot of fine scale soldered brass scratch and complex kit builders with a demographic that errs predominantly towards steam outline that would be comfortably at home on this thread ( but I don't think they post on RMWeb). I am a new kid on the block, exploiting the recent Lincoln Locos 3d and resin 3mm stuff. Also just like to say, I think Little Bytham is fantastic. Best wishes, TT100 Diesels

Hi, just picked up on this review of the Jinty post. I model in 3 mm scale but more of a leaning to the TT aspect than the fine scale side of things, such as I use incorrect Peco HOm proprietary 12mm gauge track and I use some modified Triang TT 3 stock and use Lincoln Locos resin bodies and 3d print bodies on modified triang chassis and LL own motorised chassis. However, none of it matches the modelling standards of anything that normally appears on this thread and its not steam either (but diesels are a tiny niche within the niche that is 3mm). Anyway, you asked if anyone has anything to show, so some pics of my stuff on my High Peak Junction layout. Hopefully it might be of some interest but sorry no LNER pacifics ! 3d print class 20 body and motor bogies, and chassis. My detailing (handrails etc). Air braked vans are 3mm society kits. Lincoln Locos 25/1 resin body, 3d print bogies and chassis, whitemetal bogie side frames, a lot of mods and detailing by me. Resin snow plough, from a 3mm scratch build wizard mate who scratchbuilt one and took some resin casts, they were a bit rough so a load of cleaning up but nevertheless I am grateful. Same 25, rake of triang TT 3 16t minerals, re wheeled to pin points, repainted. Plus a done up triang 20t van on the back, again with pin points added. 1975 BR Research trib train. lincoln locos cl 23 resin body plus 3d print power bogies, my chassis, my underfame module and detailing and hand cut flush glazing. Tribometer test vehicle is a Cov-AB 3 mm society kit with suspension mods by me and scratch build gangway connections, the lab 11 is a kit bashed kitmaster half brake and the auto trailer is a kit bashed kitmaster half brake. Same 25 as before, 47, that is a big kit bash project, resin body started life as a 56. A very old one quite woeful, bashed into a 47, my chassis and underframe module, triang tt3 31 power and trailer bogies, mazak side frame detail ground off and 47 style cosmetic frames scratch built. One of my first ones so still on horrible glue n glaze windows, need to re do now with flush. Probably enough pics, all my stuff is all hand painted and weathered by me, most locos now have hand cut flush glazing. Buildings scratch built. Turntable scratch built and electrically operated with my own gearbox, made it from pictures of the one at peak rail. Like I say, its probably all a bit out of place in your thread which I appreciate is more about complex loco kit building, which is what quite a lot of 3mm society folk do actually, so their stuff is a lot more relevant than my blue diesel stuff, but you did ask, and not many 3mm folk post on RMWeb. Best wishes TT100 Diesels

Yes, interesting analogies which I would not disagree with. I personally think TT120 will just grow and grow. Not just the current target of "train set" sales, and that it looks a success and thus bringing in new blood can only be a good thing. As for 3mm, that was and now always will be a modellers scale with no prospect of any commercial rtr. Yes there have been a few cottage industry very limited run rtr stuff (great), and with technology advances, I personally would not write off further limited cottage industry type rtr in the future. Indeed, only in the space of a few years, Lincoln Locos offerings have come on in leaps and bounds, with some nice ready to roll stuff available. BUT still need painting, coupling and glazing (but glazing is on the hit list). But what I am seeing in TT120 is massively higher fidelity in rtr than anything but the most skilled modellers can reproduce in 3mm (not me by the way) so I think that of the folk beyond the train set entrants, who may have glanced interestingly towards 3mm in the past now have a fantastic fully commercial rtr alternative in TT120. Indeed, I am finding it very tempting myself, especially as I run 3mm / 12 mm gauge, can see a few 120 locos appearing in the future on my layout, but would flip flop the roster of one type or the other. Best of both worlds. Having said all that, with the developments in 3mm, it is also a good time to get involved as a modeller, it is more accessible than even a couple of years ago, and the difference between 2.5 and 3mm / ft does give 3mm appreciably more "heft" (to my ageing eyes anyway !). But I totally accept, it remains a modellers niche sideline compared with what TT120 is currently and will no doubt become. Perhaps the hobby has never had it so good ? Best wishes TT100 Diesels

Another masterclass........ Agree with you about the livery, it does very much suit the 47.

Got Fox 3mm scale wasp stripes, numbers and OLE flashes in stock, from the 3mm society shop. Wasps are good, see my Class 14, they are the Fox 3mm ones and well pleased with that one. Re origin of your username, yes you guessed correctly, I remember the story in the 3mm e group. Also, just edited the progress post with newer pics and more details in the description.

Oh, ok then, how about, hmm pottling into Bradford Forster Square driving a Class 306 EMU and a brake chest failed, thus reducing the overall unit brake force and how shall we say, the buffers were kissed. Just a wild guess.......😁😉 Meanwhile, dragging back on topic, been doing a bit more on the 08, see below. Filler applied and sanded on front end blemishes plus window top edge repair. Can doors handrails fitted plus bonnet longitudinal handrails fitted. Buffers placed, there loose and wont be properly fitted till buffer beam detail sorted. Etched balance weights fitted to wheels Probably hard to see but 0.35mm dia holes drilled ready for rad filler pipes on front end. But wont make and fit till after painting and wasp decals fitted. Front buffers placed and rad placed, rad will be painted as a separate item to aid the wasp stripe decal job. This sides handrails can also be seen, all of these are 0.3mm n/s rod. Anti climb patches (plastikard) added to bottoms of radiator side vents. So there we are, properly away from the starting blocks now.

Two ! Greedy....... 😁 Well, that is the first 14.2 08 I have seen running, very nice indeed. But, seeing as I have now started the completion tasks on my 12mm 08, I look forward to seeing your progress..... gauntlet down etc..... Interesting you are doing later eras, hey, I don't get these era things, its all made up, I much prefer, I model BR late sectorisation, or I model, mid 50's ER steam. Its much simpler to my fuddled brain cells..... But anyway, I really do look forward to seeing any completion work updates on either of them. Oh, and please be careful with your test track, it was an awfully long drop and not even a buffer stop in sight... Even if a Bradford Buffer was driving it 😆

Class 08 pics sent via PM to 03060. Quite a few, so did not want to clog up the workbench thread with stuff that to me anyway is a purchase, It was Geoff Helliwells handywork.