Squirrel Rail

Few completions from the workbench so starting with a before and after. Factory weathered 47625… has now become 567 Red Star and completely re-weathered Another banger blue is 33111, a renumber and removal of the cant rail to give an earlier period than the Heljan original 1st generation DMUs are always nice to work on - funny how I used to hate them back in the days they were running! The 117 re numbered & weathered Followed by a pair of bubble cars- NSE And Silverlink, Last up decaling the first of the South African Logic locos. The artwork was done by my son and a cracking print by Steve @railtec-models really sets the livery off.

The GC 90 is now finished and on its way home; Taking its place on the workbench are a 117 and a couple of bubble cars. The 117 is a renumber and a few detail changes, and then onto starting the weathering likewise with the bubbles, NSE first and then Silverlink, with the engine and under frame responding well to treatment!

They’re from a Bachmann 158 supplied by the owner. They could really do with some mods but that wasn’t in the brief! This made your London Midland 150 look like a 5 minute job but worth it in the end

Think I’m going to rename this the TFW work bench thread after all the 153s and the 158 as I have finally finished the last pair of TFW subjects. The longest project was the 175 which had been on and off the workbench for what seems like ages but here it is: The other TFW project was an ex Anglia 170 in TFW with NHS rainbows- And rainbows…, All the decals for these are by John at precisiondecals so big thanks for sorting these. As a change from units the GC 80 has all its decals and details painted-

It’s been a challenge but I’ve learnt a lot from doing it - be glad to get it finished but sad to see it go!!

Been stop start progress so finally got a few bits and pieces for an update. The long term 175 project has had the bodies added to the chassis and the lights fitted. with this all sorted I’ve been making the windscreens and sorting out the panel lines and door seals which are now on- A nice job has been some light N gauge weathering with the Cemex Hoppers finished and the car carriers too before the start of another light weathering job for the Dysons, Keeping with Electric traction the grey has gone on the RES 90 and started on the cant rails on the GC one

After the Christmas shutdown, that didn’t really happen thought I’d better update! I try and do some non railway modelling at Xmas and this year it was the repair and refinishing of a pair of 1/9th scale WW2 motorcycles from this pile of bits… To this… and it’s finished partner…. Right back to railways. Two 90s are in for respray, here they are rubbed down then primed RES red for one….. and GC for the other …. Wagons next with a load of Cemex hoppers and Cargowagons in for light weathering.. and the TFW 170 in the background is being decaled at the mo so will appear in the next update. Last up I now have everything to finish this pair of South African logic locos so a good polish and gloss cote ready for decals before tonight the resin cab and control room windows have been added. That rounds of the Christmas break so happy new year everyone!

The Royal Mail delivery tortoise is obviously struggling so have cracked on with the 20s but before them have been experimenting with clear resin and tinting dyes. I’ve made some moulds to cast a few windows for the 166 and made a whole side for the 175 and here’s the 175 Onto the 20’s- there’s a few…… The Harry Needle pair are straightforward weathering, and the DRS pair are renumbers and weathering, quite grotty these two, and to give a better idea, The railfreight pair were a renumber for one to become 132 and a few detail changes across the pair… and with the nameplates, last up is 107 a renumber and detail. Really good to do some of EE’s finest and may even get round to doing mine soon!

It’s a mix of frame dirt, bit of brake dust & track colour with some weathering powder sealed with a Matt varnish, cheers Jerry

They’re those magnetic couplings look good when joined together!

Stuck waiting for decals due to the post being behind so the DMU projects are on the back burner. Replacement decals for the. 66 arrived, this set are from Precision and settled down a treat so 66793 is now finished light weathering to the roof and the bogies on the Hatton’s model always look good! Still clearing the backlog so new to the workbench are a number of 20’s these for renumbering, individual details and then weathering. 20107 is a renumber of 034, new BR arrows, cant rails, etched headcode discs are a few changes before weathering The DRS pair have new identities as 308 & 309 again weathering has began and 20132 another renumber and detailing as on 107 ill post some more pics as they progress!

Hi Rob, the weathering comes off easily with thinners - just watch out for printing as that goes with it!

Few pics from the last couple of days. The 73 had its BR blue at the end of last week and whilst that was hardening off I did the pick up mods before it all went back together and now looks like this… and lightly weathered last up one of the many DMU projects had the white added- couple of corrections to do around the doors but pretty happy how it’s looking.

Hi Rob, pics to follow of the 33. The Bachmann 66 is a bit of a mare but no where near as bad as a Hornby 67. I wouldn’t touch TCut as you will definitely be into paintwork! I normally use a cocktail stick - keep trying them - as some work and some don’t- then a little white spirit to clean up. 99 times out of a hundred I end up spraying the gold band back in as most decals don’t match the EWS writing on the other end! I use Phoenix paint EWS with a bit of yellow to get it to match the Bachmann shade- I think there’s one I’ve done in this thread or if not on my much neglected Squirrel Rail website. Good luck, cheers Jerry

There’s loads of unit schemes crying out to be done but it’s the the decals that are a problem- I’m getting my lad to draw these all up and then get them printed so it will be in the holding pattern for a bit!!

A few bits and pieces from yesterday and today. The black window surrounds have gone on the 175 so most of the big paintwork is done The 150 has had the blue added and a new project a Dapol 73 going from green to BR blue has had its primer. Be good to see a Dapol 73 in the right colour last up been decaling the 66 but I’ve got the hump with them as they just won’t settle- new set on order and will redo it!

Still working through the backlog which I hoped to have cleared by Christmas but struggling. Will be taking on stuff in the new year but unfortunately will be limited for a while whilst we sort the oldies!

It’s been a bit of a job and I’ve still got to sort the windows - that will be fun- but it will definitely be worth it when finished!

Managed a couple more bits today. A pair of DCR greys complete and ready to go home. 60046 a respray of a previous respray and likewise with the 56 The other job was the roof on the 175 so next up will be the window frames to go black

As usual apologies for a delayed update but quite a few bits and pieces. Paint jobs on the go include this DCR pair, both resprays of previous resprays… followed by another inherited job of a 150/2 in original sprinter livery, still tidying this one up but getting there Another one being tidied up ready for decals is the TFW 170 and another unit in progress is the 150/1 going into a centro livery. I’ve already sprayed the roof and doors so the lower green was next Last up paint wise is the 3 tone 66 which has all the colours on Finally the rescue 450 is complete. I posted earlier in this thread before pics so won’t repeat them but here it is…. A massive thanks to John at Precision for all his help with the decals

A quick up date from very limited rail time- red doors on the TFW 175 and 170 Then the rail grey on the retro 66 followed by starting the “lovely” job of cant rails on the DCR 60 next job was to get the yellow panels on the 175. I wanted to get these on first as I think it will be easier to mask them out before spraying the red roof stripes that come down the sides of the cab: and then with the masking off-

Hi Jack, I had a quick look on the website but nothing listed. I have a few other bits to order for other projects so will give them a ring- as you say they’re always really helpful, cheers Jerry

Hi Owen, they’re ones I cast myself as this one had them missing too! Cheers Jerry

Few odds and ends over the past few days with the resin coupler and deflector having a test fit on the 450 60021 has been finished losing its Colas branding and having its Bustler nameplates added. No detail packs or weathering so it can be on its way home and from the other side Roof painting next on the 175 and 150/1 then a couple of days later the silver grey doors on the 150 Last up TFW 170 getting it’s Anglia grey bottom and then with the masking off Hopefully get the red doors on in a few days so will update as and when!

Apologies for lack of updates but workdays are now booked with old folks so weekends and evenings are Squirrel Rail times. Had a long day doing this lot so here goes with the update:-This is most of the current projects, at the top left is the TFW 170 that has had its final primer today, as has the 175 which will also be TFW. The 73 in the right will be going blue and the 150 in front needs light blue bands the the final white stripe. The DCR 56 and 60 are ready for decals and the 450 is having a few tidy ups The 450 is a respray of a respray. Unfortunately during its other “paint job” the light units have all gone missing as well as the light tubes My 350 on the left shows what’s missing…. It’s also missing the dummy coupler and valence, I will give Bachmann a ring tomorrow but don’t hold out much hope so have made a resin copy and may even try and do the lights,… The DCR pair had the black grills sprayed, and the retro 3 tone 66 had the roof painted Varnish next as the rebranded and named 60021 gets its finish restored Another DMU project now with a 150 going from Northern blue into primer before going a bit centro but first primer. I always use Tamiya primer as it gives a much finer finish than those designed for cars last up from earlier in the week 43185 is finished and off home tomorrow.