Graham T

Prompted in part by wanting to build something for @Rowsley17D to have a look at, I made a start on this Slater’s cattle wagon today. Lovely crisp mouldings as you'd expect, and nice to see some metal wire for the guard rails and metal buffers included. There are even transfers for the maker's plates on the solebars by the look of it. A bit of a fly in the ointment with the roof though, which will need some filler in due course, as you can see... I've fixed some lead strip to the underside of the roof with contact adhesive, to give the wagon a bit of heft. I couldn't fit any under the floor as there is no space because of the chassis beams, and didn't want to put it on the wagon floor as I thought it might be too visible. Which brings me onto another snurgly. I fitted one of the solebars, allowed it to set, and then dry fitted the other solebar and the wheelsets. And then found that the wheels fouled on some of the undefloor beams. I can't imagine that this is an error with the kit, but equally I can't see what I've done wrong? So, I ground away some of the offending plastic until the wheels could spin freely, and here's how it looks at this stage.

Sounds good to me, thanks. If it looks right...

Hard to tell from that angle, but would you say the spacing between the lamps is about a coach length, give or take? Probably a little more?

Nice photo, thanks Rob.

Whose seats do you use Neal, or do they come with the kit?

Thanks Neal. As they would be all but invisible I think I can probably get away without those then!

Here are the Dart Castings lamps in position. I think the alternatives would have looked a bit overpowering. I've ordered another pack of two, which I'll add a bit further along the platform. There should really be some wall mounted lamps on the station building as well, I think?

Thanks Rob. Having had a look at Lambourn as per @Harlequin's suggestion, I think I'll go with those lamps as well. From what I could see Lambourn only had two!

Excellent idea - thanks Phil.

The other point to ponder is just where to put the lamps, never mind which ones. I guess there probably wasn't any such thing as a standard spacing, so I'm wondering if it would look about right with three evenly spaced along the platform between the running in board and the lamp hut? Or perhaps only two? If I used the approximately 10 foot tall lamps there, perhaps I could use the two Dart Castings lamps at either end of the station building? Any thoughts?

Interesting idea, thanks!

Thanks for that Phil. If I remove their bases the DCC Concepts and Layouts4u lamps scale out at about 10 feet (to the base of the actual lamp fitting), which sounds like it might be ok... I also had a look at the drawings and so on in this book, but the measurements are rather hard to read. Then the photo on the front cover jumped out at me! Although I guess that's a yard lamp rather than a platform one...

Thanks Neal. Please don't trouble yourself about a photo though, I've already been back through the Henley thread to take a look at your lamps.

Thanks Rob. You have indeed helped - it's always really good to get other people's perspectives on these things, I find. I can feel an order to Dart Castings coming on...

This sounds really interesting, I'll be following it. Have you seen Geoff Taylor's layout of Barmouth? Also, please could you re-post your plan? Perhaps I'm being a numpty - it's been known to happen - but I can't see it. Thanks.

I'm hoping that one of you kind people might be able to help me out with some advice, or at least an educated guess! One thing still missing from Chuffnell R is platform lamps. I've just got some through the post from DCC Concepts, and also have some from Layouts4u, as well as some cast ones. Here's one of the DCC Concepts ones on the platform. I know that GWR lamps varied in height of the columns, but to my eye this one just looks way too tall. Here are all the three kinds lined up together, with a figure to give some idea of scale. From left to right: DCC Concepts - Dart Castings - Layouts4u* As mentioned above, the full DCC Concepts lamp just looks too big. And the Layouts4u ones are a similar height. Whilst the Dart lamps just look a bit too, well, puny really! However, the bases of both makes of LED lamps can be removed, which brings the height of the columns down to about 11 feet, which seems a bit more reasonable. So, the $64,000 question: which ones do you think I should use? * Less than half the price of the DCC Concepts ones...

Thanks, but it wasn't my idea - that was the one I stole from @SteamingWales!

Ok, I've tried to be restrained, not quite sure if I've managed it though. As planned, some graphite on the steps, spots on the buffers, and some powders below the footplate. Starting at the front, Cookham Manor now has a red lamp. Not sure if I might have overdone things here? And similar treatment applied to the tender, plus an extra little touch that I have shamelessly stolen from @SteamingWales's thread. And finally an overall view, where most of what I've done seems to disappear...

Thanks for the input gents, always much valued. I'll do those few little bits as mentioned, and then leave it alone for a while. Perhaps weather some other poor unsuspecting loco...

So, a little bit more progress with Cookham Manor. Here's how she looked this morning, with just the dark wash and some smoke powder applied so far. And as she is now, after painting the smokebox, top of the tender, footplate, and running gear with a mix of Vallejo black and leather brown. I must leave her alone now until tomorrow, to let the paint harden. Then there will be a bit more detailed weathering done: oily spots in the centre of the buffers some graphite on the steps and handrails a very light touch of brown and rust powders on the brake hangers and so on possibly some dry brushing on the tender axleboxes Anything else I should do? Pick out some of the pipework under the cab perhaps? (If I can get to it)

That’s really positive news Jonathan, great to hear!

Wow...

Slightly nerve-wracking to start dirtying up such a nice model, but here we go. First stage has been a liberal application of Mig dark enamel wash. This was left on the loco for 5-10 minutes, and then most of it wiped away with cotton buds. I used a soft brush to tease the excess out from behind the handrails. Then a very light brushing of smoke powder along the top of the boiler and firebox. I really don't want this loco to look very dirty at all, but equally I do want her to look as if she's actually working for a living. Here's a before and after shot to begin with. There's still a bit of a sheen from the wash. That may dry somewhat duller, but if not I think it probably looks more or less ok as it is? A closer look at the effect of the smoke powder on top of the dark wash, and on the cab roof... And an overall view - I could do with better lights on the layout I think. You can see here how the enamel wash darkens some of the paint on the smokebox; I'll probably go over that with a black/leather brown acrylic mix once it's dried, and will use the same colours for the footplate and everything below.

They're a C31 and an E88 according to the boxes.

I added some coal to Cookham Manor last night, and am going to make a start on the weathering now. Must try not to overdo it.