21A Desperado

Its currently shy of 02.30 and i cant sleep. Thought I would do a bit on the wagons. Just for a bit of fun ive added some ballast to see how it looks, and i think its not that bad. Looks like the local 'artists' have been busy!

Finally....!

A couple more pics

I have been carrying on with several jobs on the SKOG Dogfish, - Instanters, fitting the wheels, and other bits. I am also making a spray booth, and will post some pictures if it works!

The Shapeways 3D components:

Today I have received a parcel containing a 3D printed TUA tank wagon from Shapeways. It was fairly expensive, however the delivery was pretty good. I need to source some PVC pipe for the tank barrel, and the buffers and a few bits and bobs. I also ran a dirty mix over the two SKOG Dogfish Im working on and made a start on the rusting, working from pictures from Flickr. Im not sure if Im happy with the result yet...

Hi Peter They were my staple motive power around these here parts! Thank you! I've got a long way to go to reach your standards 😆 Its getting the old mojo back slowly Trev

Tonight Ive managed to finish work before 9PM (the joys of the construction industry!) Ive applied Railtec transfers added to a couple more of my SKOG Dogfish. Ive also started tarting up the paintwork, in particular the white bits before weathering (maybe tomorrow) and have ordered a fan and components to make a spray booth. Unfortunately I sold my last one (galv steel, hand fabricated with internal lighting). Regret that! Details to follow. Trev 😊

Thank you Mervyn! 🙂 Trev

I spent a couple of hours at the bench earlier, having done a serious clean of my fish tank filter and ended up slicing each of my index filters on the glass edges, which really didnt help when it came to my intended afternoons' work of adding waterslides to some of my wagons! I also fitted a pair of instanters to my Tope. Living the dream or what?!!! 😆😄 I also added a layer of rust to the inside of one of my Dogfish. This will look a lot better when I get chance to do the weathering. Still I managed to get the transfers done despite the mortal wounding to my digits(!), with the first transfer going ponto. I think the transfer had a reaction to the Microsol I was using.The others I only used water. Thank you for looking! Trev

I hope to as the majority of my engineers stock is vac braked 🙂

Thank you (again!) I really appreciate your help! Trev

Some good food for thought there! I will investigate these methods, thank you! Having an hour or two at the bench later, so I will attempt to make a couple of springs, Many thanks Trev

I went for a hole in the bufferbeam approach as its so much easier than having to attach the pipe to the chassis from the bottom. I did toy with the idea of sticking it to the underside of the chassis, but it would take a fair amount of bending to match the chassis profile, I know its less prototypical, but..... Ive had to use vac bags in a previous life, and know all too well what fun they are, especially when cold! (shudder!) I will check out the Slaters ones, thank you! Trev

Haha! Love it! @Nick GTBH you have got some cracking 08's, I am very jealous!

I really think that doing some modelling is helping my mental health. I'm also a keen angler, but the recent cold has made my arthritis go bonkers, so Im waiting for the weather to get a bit better before heading back out onto the bank, opting for a nice warm garage instead! Ive had a couple of productive hours messing about with a few projects, (I'm yet to still finish one! 😆and cracked on with the second Grampus, concentrating on the running gear and brake hangers (getting them right this time around!) All was going well until I was fitting the coupling assembly and the spring pinged off into the ether. Unfortunately this is the second time this has happened and I havent learn how to control the damn things! Does anyone know where I can get replacement springs at all please? I will try Peco first off. My main achievement was the development of my vacuum bag. Having scoured the planet, I could not find something that gave a true representation of the dreadful things. (Those that have wrestled with them know what I'm on about). I had an epiphany - Make my own! My basic idea is to strip the insulation off some single core cable and wrap it around a section of brass rod and solder the ends, possibly using a drill to expedite the process. Sounds simple, but its bound to go wrong. Anyhoo, fast forward and its not gone too badly. Ive managed to solder stuff up, only get burnt once, and it looks okay. My next goal was to create the actual bag and opted to retain a short section to pass into the bufferbeam, which proved to be more challenging than I expected. Its getting the curve right that proved to be the issue. Also the length. The next one I do will be shorter and straighter. Thanks for looking.

Thanks @37114Rob, I'm getting there slowly!

Its infectious! 😄

Soooo, Ive had a couple more deliveries, (two Dapol Turbots and a 20T Dutch liveried brake van (also Dapol). These will be weathered and will have loads added. I've also spent a few more hours on the Grampus, with my enthusiasm rapidly turning into frustration with the instructions, which in fairness are bl**dy awful. I've made a couple of mistakes, mainly with the brake hangers so please don't look too hard at the photos I am about to upload! The next wagon I do over the weekend will be better as know I understand where I have gone wrong. The loco stud is now up to the the following in terms of strength: 1 x EWS 08 (I plan to respray this into blue (having been inspired by @Nick G's amazing fading skills) 1 x RF Coal 31. This will be renumbered to 31201 and will receive a yellow cab door and heavy weathering 1 x RF Petroleum 37/4 (37418) this will remain in this livery and will receive decent plates and weathering 1 x Intercity 31. This will become 31405 'Mappa Mundi' 1 x Railfreight grey 31296. This will remain as 'Tren Nwyddau Amlwch/Amlwch Freighter' Lots to do still, lots of detail to add, sound to add, pipework etc! Thanks for looking Trev

Isnt it just! Its getting out of control! Oh blimey!

The postmans' been again......!

Woohoo! I have had a delivery today of two Grampus kits and some rail. Ive made a start on the Grampus kits and they look like they will be good fun. Ive measured and cut up the rail and have dry fitted to the Mullet that I have been working on. Each rail will be painted soon. One thing I am struggling with is the ratchet straps, and I was wondering if anyone could suggest how I could replicate them please? Cheers for looking Trev

I didnt manage to get in front of the workbench last weekend due to family commitments. (Don't they know that the weekends are for modelling?!) I am keen to get on with a couple of ZKA 'Barbel' ive started, and did a bit tonight, concentrating on the brake handles and vac gear. Its not 100% reflective of the real thing, but is good enough for my needs for now. Ive also treated myself to a RF 31....

A little weathering tonight with another Dogfish. Its not finished yet, more to do over the next few days. Trev

Hi Dan, I have noticed that the Dapol TTA's are fitted with an approximation of vac bags, and Im looking to cut them off and replace with air pipes, courtesy of my mate Antonio at West Coast Models. Thanks for the compliment about the weathering, its much appreciated. Cheers Trev