MoonMonkey

Thanks Roy. I had a look around Google for images of coal from that era, some great ones exist of wagons with varying sizes / grades (not all in the same one though). There are also images of locos with coal - some from ye olden days with what appear to be boulder sized pieces. Coal in tenders does seem to vary in size somewhat. I think I'll have a go at crushing it up a little and going with the Gaugemaster stuff unless it shatters into dust.

Thanks Graham, interesting video... I also noticed how 'un-dirty' the wagons were, I'd assumed they'd be muckier especially in a colliery, although they are metal not wooden planks, so maybe not a direct read-across to discolouration of 1940s plank wagons. I was looking at images I found in google searches, the coal does seem to vary in size, in wagons and tenders. I think I might crush up the Gaugemaster stuff a bit and see how that looks in a tender before trying real coal.

Wickes? I shall take a look... I hadn't thought of that, must be head going mushy during lockdown. Thanks for the direction.

Here's to the 'in person' exhibitions coming back again. I'm fingers crossed for more exhibitions next year. Although if we all have to wear face masks, we are going to look like a bunch of ninjas. I wonder who will be first to get some face-masked characters at 2m intervals on their layout? I have to say that it isn't on my modelling wishlist!

Hi Jason, very many thanks. The links are great... I'd found the website in general but not those pages. I'll save the bunker hooks for a tank engine I still have in a box and awaiting introduction to the layout.

Hi Duncan, that's great, very many thanks. I'll paint them, and place them accordingly once the weathering and coal and crew are sorted.

Hi, I wonder if anyone can help with this? I have a pack of Dart Castings "L122: LOCO FIRE IRONS (3 PLUS BUCKET) Finescale, set of 3 with bunker hooks and bucket for Tank Locomotives" as per photo. I also have a Dean Goods loco (era is supposed to be 1945 GWR) as per t'uther photo. I have no idea where the 3 fire irons and bunker hooks would go, although I'm hazarding a guess that the longer tools would go in the trough alongside the coal bunker supported at one end by the u-shaped bracket. I also guess the bucket would go somewhere out of the way in the cab. I'd like to get some semblance of realism. I'd be grateful if anyone knows how they would go and illuminate me accordingly. I don't think there is an existing thread on the topic, but if so please point me that way if you like. Many thanks in advance if anyone reads this!

Hi, I have a bag of Gaugemaster 'coal' as I've used it in some wagons, but no actual coal fire, nor a coal merchants nearby that I'm aware of. Does anyone have a view on how realistic the Gaugemaster 'coal' is how close it comes to the real thing? I attach a photo of the wagons with the Gaugemaster product for reference if you haven't used it yourself. I'm thinking of loading up the coal on a Dean Goods loco with it. Period is WW2 so I gather there is more leeway in the quality of prototype coal that was used around this time. I'd be grateful for any (constructive!!!) thoughts on this product...

Thanks Mick, that's most helpful. Now you've pointed that out, it does have the look of an oily residue, and my model does look just like the images in your PDF. I shall look into isopropyl alcohol (IPA) although an initial web search suggest this is rare stuff now due to some coronavirus-related purpose. I suspect it will need a removal of the loco body (which I gather can be a bit tricky if the screws are stuckfast from the factory assembly process). Hmmm. I shall see how it goes. I might also apply a coat of varnish to the inside of the body to try and seal it against further oil egress. I wonder in future if an initial few coats of the spray varnish will seal the body gaps before applying powders, or if the sprayed on varnish is actually porous too. If I learn anything meaningful I'll post it back up here. Thanks again!

Hi Nick, I finally signed up to RMWeb after following the Much Murkle thread and a few others for the last few (6+) months. I also had the pleasure of seeing it at some exhibitions. I just wanted to say that your layout has been an inspiration for me to actually 'model' something rather than just have a train set. While my bank account and free time have taken a hit, it's been thoroughly enjoyable especially during this period of 'lockdown', so many thanks, and keep up the fantastic work, it isn't wasted!!!

Hi KNP, I finally signed up to RMWeb after following this thread and a few others for the last few (6+) months. I just wanted to say that your layout with your journal of progress and thoughts and humour, have been an inspiration for me to actually 'model' something rather than just have a train set. While my bank account and free time have taken a hit, it's been thoroughly enjoyable especially during this period of 'lockdown', so many thanks, and keep up the fantastic work, it isn't wasted!!!

Hi, I just signed up to RMWeb to ask about weathering powders interacting with spray varnish, having come to railway modelling again recently. I just found this current thread, hopefully this doesn't count as hijacking it! I have a problem... I managed to get the powders to stick (a combination of Humbrol and Mig), and I then used coats of Humbrol matt spray varnish to seal the powder. I've already tried this on wagons and had no problem. But I then braved it and went for a Dean Goods loco (Oxford Rail but with new transfers and plates to go for a GWR wartime black look). After the powder/varnish dried, I ended up with what looks like a water mark in some places. I wondered if it was because I'd applied too much varnish in a layer. So I let it all dry and applied another coat of powder to 'hide' the stain, re-varnished, and it looked ok. Then the next morning, same again. I'm not sure if the patch is expanding like some sort of creeping death for my weathering, or if it is now stable. But before I just try the same 'hide and varnish' routine, has anyone else got any idea about this? I've put a red ring around the areas in the pics attached. Am I doing something wrong entirely? It might be that the patches are passable as prototypical where water has washed the dirt, although the layout is supposed to be mid-summer. Any help would be gratefully received.