justin1985

I've been focusing on trying to finish off a load of part completed wagons recently, not least as I'm helping Richard W to operate Lamboun at Epsom next weekend. Two that I'd been putting off finishing for a while were a pair of GER wagons (or NPCS) from David Eveleigh etches: a prize cattle wagon, and a horsebox. I'd been umming and arring about trying to tackle teak, or to go for post 1919 GER crimson lake livery for sake of ease. Inspired by Mike Trice's thread on painting teak in 4mm, I decided to give teak a go. I had tried the Phoenix Precision method of drybrushing a rich teak colour over a buff base on an offcut of plasticard as a sample, but wasn't happy with the texture. So I bought some burnt umber oil paint and liquin medium. After more experimentation on the offcut, I decided on Humbrol 24 as the main base colour, with some planks picked out in Phoenix's "teak basecoat" for variety. Then I set about using the oil and medium mix to add "grain". This was the first time I've used oils, and it took a while to get used to the paint coming off nearly as easily as it went on. I think I got there though, and arrived at a technique of long, slow, strokes using a small flat brush, leaving for about 4 hours, then using the same brush with some now slightly drier paint to go very gently over it again, smoothing out some of the texture from the first go, and adding a little more paint. I'll leave it a good few days before putting on some satin varnish, but I'm pretty pleased with the result! Justin

I think it's more that I just don't like inertia/brake generally, but I bought myself both the Blueline and standard types when I organised a batch of them for the club, but find myself always using the normal one. There are multiple options now for battery only, DC in only, both, and even panel mount etc. Andre is happy to give discounts for ordering a few at a time. Didn't you have one (branded as Z-Line or something) on your test track Richard?

Fox definitely do purpose made sheets for GW wagons in 2mm, including a few sets of large lettering. They also do some dedicated sheets for brake vans and Mica B etc. Surprisingly they also do some pre-grouping freight stock transfers for MR, LBSC, LCDR, LSWR and SECR

Sorry if it wasn't clear, but I wasn't suggesting blue on unrefurbished body was incorrect at all, far from it, as you say it's totally correct. I just meant that it is a shame that they chose to do the early variant (first?) as I find the post refurbishment liveries suit the 31 much better, and make it look much more charismatic. Just my opinion though! The "face" certainly captures the look better than the old version, I think primarily because the rubber grommits around the window are quite prominent on the 31. The old version also seemed to suffer particularly from prismatic looking glazing, which seems to detract from the "face". That said, it would be great to see a side by side comparison, if anyone has both new and old? I'm half tempted to try and pick up a cheap Chinese Bach-Far example and do a "full works" detailing job and repaint in either Dutch or Triple Grey. I believe the basic dimensions were all good on the old model, and the only obvious flaws were the missing panel lines and poor fit of the cab insert - both possible to sort out.

Just a light hearted entirely subjective personal opinion that I find transition era liveries boring! But yes, to judge from the 37/0 having been released initially, later followed by the refurbished variants of the 37, the 47/0 now being followed by the 47/7 etc., I take it as a good sign that the refurbished 31 will follow along eventually. However as has been commented in other threads, Bachmann seem to have taken their foot off the peddle in N recently, so I won't be holding my breath for a few years yet!

That fuzzy masking does look quite disappointing, given the price has crept over £100! Any idea if this is a one off bad model, or common to all in that livery? I'm less concerned with the moulded handrails though, as we saw with the 25, and frankly many other diesels recently, factory fitted wire handrails are far from always being preferable. I think they've become a "just because" feature to be ticked off as a positive feature, even when they aren't the best solution for the particular model. I'd much rather a neat and in proportion moulded handrail than an overscale shiny thing with very wide radius rounded corners like Dapol seem to fit, or sticking out a scale mile like the Farish 25. Kato seem to use moulded handrails on N scale European diesels as standard without widespread criticism (e.g. NOHAB and class 66). It is a shame that they've only released the early configuration bodyshell. I presume the logic was that the old (and not too bad) model was the 1985+ version, and of course that the (yawn) transition steam\diesel era tends to be a bigger immediate seller. I was planning on buying a blue one, but I might wait to see if any reductions appear after a few months ...

Its interesting that Dapol have done completely undecorated releases of several of their N gauge wagons recently. They haven't sold out that quickly or anything, but then Dapol steam era wagons in N don't anyway as many are slightly "representational". However I suspect the logic is that people are more willing to have a go on a wagon than a coach or a loco. I'm a big fan of unnumbered\undecorated models, BUT I recognise that the subsection of modellers who are sufficiently bothered about route and precise era appropriate numbering, specific locos for "their" area etc etc to want to apply their own numbers from decals, rather than having it ready out of the box, is basically the same group of modellers who are willing to get out the T-cut\scalpel and remove the factory numbering to do so!

Did we see any new Dapol N gauge mouldings in 2014? I'll believe in new Dapol models only when I see them, these days. It just goes to emphasize what a one man band Dapol really seems to be, product development wise - Dave was a N gauge modeller, so we got loads of new models; his part time replacements are O gauge modellers (correct me if I'm wrong) and so N gauge has really be left to moulder on the back burner altogether.

I would have thought that if anyone had the contacts to do this, it would be Ben! I'm still wavering - and have one question - how soon after the end of the appeal period would the cash be taken, if it goes ahead? I'm in the middle of having the kitchen replaced, and consequently even more skint than anticipated. If the money has to be collected in January, that might well rule me out. If it was in 6 months time, it would be fine!

There is a nicely illustrated list of Stephen's kits on the 2mm Association website - although it looks like it might not have been updated for a good few years, hence no mention of the tank kit the modfather mentioned. The models on the site are hand lettered, but I think you can cover most of them from the N Gauge Society\Modelmaster range for the 60s period, and from Railtec or using generic TOPS panels etc from the Fox range, for the 80s/90s period. http://2mm.org.uk/small_suppliers/stephenharris/index.htm

I'd also love to know where these etches are from! Justin

Great news on the J39 and Terrier - I'd like both! Have you decided whether they will be available from the Association shop or direct from yourself? Justin

I'd say it's really worth getting hold of the Stephen Harris etches for catfish and dogfish for 2FS rather than converting the Dapol ones - they blow the detail of the Dapol ones out of the water. The chunky axle guards, handrail detail and awkward coupling pocket that is integral with the deck just didn't cut it for me with 2FS track etc. the Harris etches are not an easy kit though, but worth it if you're confident soldering. However, for recent Farish wagons like the Seacow, OCA, TTA etc just use the replacement axles - double check the lengths for each type of wagon though - Farish fluctuate their designs. Oh, and welcome to the association - I've really admired your weathering on the forum for a long time!

Is it propped up against a wall of stock boxes there? Intriguing !

I'm currently reviving my plans for a model of the station at Snape Maltings, on the short branch off the East Suffolk Line, in 2mmFS. I'll use the famous maltings buildings as a scenic break - a first series OS map printed to scale fits nicely within a c.4' x 1' old IKEA storage unit which I'm planning to use as a ready made baseboard. As I'm hoping to depict the 1910's to 1930's, the Peter Paye book on the branch tells me that there was a small signal cabin, which replaced an earlier hut, located to the north of the tracks, facing the yard points (presumably just beyond the end of the station master's garden). This was removed (or at least decommissioned) in 1940, according to the book. However, I haven't been able to find any hint of what this structure might have looked like. The vast majority of the images I can find seem to be from 1958 or so, once the main goods shed building had been demolished, along with the signal cabin. If anyone can point me to any extra images of the station, or any other information on the site, I'd be very grateful! Justin

The TMC large logo blue 37/0 limited edition has sat around for a long time without selling out ... Perhaps people aren't so well aware of it, or assume TMC only sell it weathered at a premium? Currently 89.99 directly from them on eBay in basic condition. OR perhaps large logo blue isn't as popular as people think?

I'm glad to hear you're making good progress! Personally I haven't pledged (yet?) - mainly because I hate the real units with a passion for their absolutely terrible passenger environment (in contrast to "Pendolini" in Italy, Portugal and Finland) - and as none of my modelling interests overlap with the LNWR lines. However, I might be tempted to help tip the balance and help the project happen if it's looking a bit "borderline" at the end of the pledge period, with a view to reselling the model at some point afterward. Obviously it would be best if you could fulfil the pledge requirements from people who actually want one - but I wonder how many people share my willingness to step in ?

There are\were two types of the Polybulk, both built for service on the air brake network\Speedlink. Bachmann have depicted the smaller one, which was apparently mostly used for China Clay traffic and miscellaneous powders etc. The (I think more common) larger type was used for (less dense) grain traffic and were quickly branded "GRAINFLOW" - they are depicted by the N Gauge Society plastic\card\brass kit. Still, the Bach\Far wagon is so good, I couldn't resist buying one of each livery with the intention of running as a "grain" wagon!

The Polybulks (in green\grey livery), refurbished 37/4s and CCTs are all reviewed in the new Rail Express - which I had hoped would have meant they'd be on sale by now! No sign in Liverpool, at least ..

Hi Simon, As Stephen and Jim have said it was a very common problem with these Dapol wagons. I solved it on mine by judiciously playing with the combination of containers - different combinations of 20' and 40' etc - to get them to brace against each other and push the wagon deck downward, and fixed them with a few blobs of evostick. I think I used Farish containers, rather than the Dapol ones, which I somehow just don't find as convincing! Perhaps the Farish ones are slightly longer, which makes this easier? Justin

How is the motor retained Jerry? I can't seem to see any bracket or fixings. In the rather optimistic depths of my gloat box I have a spare Terrier body I picked up from, I think, a 009 modeller who had used the chassis. There are many more locos I need to finish before getting around to it. Your one is inspiring though!

Very tempting! Just a shame that the import VAT and Parcel force admin charge will bump up the cost a lot

This looks really good! I have plans to build a model of Clare myself, in time ... I'm intrigued by the drawing you have in the background, it doesn't look like any of the ones I've found amongst the GERS Journal? Its also very sad to see Clare looking so overgrown and boarded up. I'd heard that the council were trying to be shot of the country park, but I hadn't imagined things had got so bad

You can get very N gauge nice laser cut wood barrow crossings and level crossing surfaces that give a very nice representation of planks from Blair Line in a wide variety of radii. 'N-Tastic shop\County Rolling Stock stock them in the UK. http://www.ntasticshop.co.uk/9-75in-radius-fits-11in/dp/B008GG9XQC?class=quickView&field_availability=-1&field_brandtextbin=Blair+Lines&field_browse=1941955031&id=9+75in+radius+fits+11in&ie=UTF8&refinementHistory=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Cprice&searchBinNameList=brandtextbin%2Csubjectbin%2Cprice&searchNodeID=1941955031&searchPage=2&searchRank=salesrank&searchSize=12

I've just caught up on this thread, and, as always, the quality of your modelling had bowled me over. The thing that really caught my eye was actually the grounded Farish VBA\VCA vans outside of the shed. The weathering on the roofs looks amazing - I'd always been daunted by the prospect of weathering the large expanse of a air brake van roof. Did you use gouache?