87 101

Hi Jim I read somewhere about someone doing a similar conversion but filing the sides to match the mk1 profile. Is the profile of the mk1 suburban the same as the mainline stock or different ?

This morning the mold for the cab ends is ready for the first casting pics later. Last night I was sucessfull in getting the 117 coaches I need for my 304 project so looking forward to starting that project soon.

Up to your usual high standard John. I love the storm drain looks great !!

This morning I picked up the RTV silicone from the post office that I ordered mid week. This morning I will be making the mold for the 312 cab ends using the master I made last week... Im hoping that by modifying the master I can produce three variations of cab to cover an early 310, a refurbished 310 and the 312. If sucessfull the cabs will be available through my website. Adam at electra graphics is working on the vinyl bodysides for the 312 and I have to say that from what I have seen so far the finished unit should look great. Whilst browsing ebay last night I stumbled upon a job lot of two 117 centre cars and one driving end. This combination is perfect for another EMU conversion that I want to try so I have my fingers crossed that I can get them for a reasonable price. If sucessfull the three coaches will form the basis for a 304 conversion. Watch this space.

Made a start on producing a master for the cab ends....

The new Westcoast Miniatures website has just gone live and can be found at www.westcoastminiatures.com

News flash..... strange unit seen at Potters lane....

Yes it was me who was asking.

Following the last outing with Potters lane I decided that I realy need to do somthing about the lack of EMU stock ! Whilst working on the Manchester Piccadilly project last week I was discussing with the client about converting a lima 117 DMU to a 304 EMU by swapping the cab and gangway ends round and replacing the 117 cab with a 304 one from DC kits and replacing all the bogies with thompson ones from Bachmann. Unlike that thing that was sold on ebay the other week the conversion would look a bit more convincing !! This got me thinking about other possable conversions. The other EMU type that is associated with the WCML is the 310's. These units were based on the mk2 coach bodyshell that was currently in production at the time. So after looking for some decent pics on the internet an old Hornby mk2a made its way to the chop shop to have some serious modification ! Whilst not 100% correct the result is not that far off and would work out a lot cheeper than building the southern pride kit. What supprised me was that no sooner had I posted the first pics up on a forum I got a serious enquiry about building a second unit for someone else. This has got me thinking about producing the cab ends as a resin cast to make any future conversions easer as although I have modified the coach end on my unit I carnt get the slight angle of the cab right. My project started out as a 310 but got changed to a 312 as I want to finish the unit in blue/grey but the wrap round windows looked a bit difficult for the first attempt. The unit will be powered by a Hornby HST power bogie. I have mocked up the power bogie using an old Hornby unit and the wheel spacings are a perfect match for the B4 bogie sides off the original coach.

Its been a few weeks since I updated my blog so I thought I had better post somthing ! The YMR show went very well. The modular layout was great fun to operate and we were realy sad when it was time to pack it all up on the sunday. Here's a video that I shot of a couple of test trains on the saturday morning.. We ran a good selection of trains over the weekend including the odd steam special. Highlight of the show for me was meeting model rail editor Ben Jones on the saturday who realy liked the module layout concept and also commented on Potters lane. On the sunday we ran the two YMR traveling wagons down the layout. One of the wagons had traveled the uk whilst the other traveled the world the idea being that all the members could be involved in the show. The special was photographed by Ben as seen here.. Last weekend Potters lane was out on its own again this time at the local show at Shildon. For the show the colour light signaling was modified so that it was controlled by the passing trains. There is a slim chance that Potters will be out again at the end of the month so watch this space for details.

Most of you will be aware now that next weekend will be the first YMR show. As Potters lane will be one of the YMR modules lining up in front of the modelling press I thought that it would be a good opitunity to show off some of my westcoast miniatures so this week I have been building not one but four to take to Cornwall with me. Following on from my last commision I have built another N gauge station building and this is complemented with a matching N gauge signal box. Following a suggestion from another RM web member I have also had a go at building a typical WCML relay room as found at the feeder stations. Mine is based on the one at Rugby and thanks to google earth I have managed at last to get a few pics of it! So here's the line up of buildings.. Here's the 00 gauge relay room outside on my garden railway.. I still have a lot of stuff to do before the show like pat testing all the extension leads but now that I have the buildings done I can slow down a bit. I might even finish Potters Lane!!

A closer look at one of the fiddle yards..

Well not long now untill the big YMR show down in Cornwall. My layout Potters Lane is almost finished and will be taking it's place in the YMR modular line up. Currently I have stuff everywhere downstairs as im sorting out the fiddle yards, intercoms, extension leads, etc. Here's some details for those intrested in coming down... Jim will also be there with Birmingham New St so im looking forward to seeing that and meeting Jim. If any of you do make it down stop and say hi.

A few more piccys from the lane.. After removing the shelf top to give access to the depot I looked down and relised that I had forgot to put a path between the office and the shed so.. Whilst working in this area I also did a bit more planting.. I also took the oppitunity of taking a couple of piccys of the back of the office for the next website update... Work then continued on the shed with the walkways being finished.. The electrical gear that I fitted to the wall last year realy brings this scene to life. The fire extinguishers hanging on the wall are made from old electrical componants.. This is definatly where the camera on my phone comes in handy as it's impossable to get a normal camera in here! Another shot looking inside now all the lights have been fitted.. The scratchbuilt compresser has now been glued in place and the air hose attached.. As tonight is the last night of my holiday im planing a late one as I need to get the shed finished!

Cheers. I will be taking some video of the shed when I've finished showing the loco lift in action. B)

I have three but they wont fit my mobile phone

Work is progressing well today on finishing the shed. The rear wall has now been clad in brick paper and the walkways are being added on the depot floor. Heres some pics... 86 412 tries to hide behind the wheelie bin.. I love this pic as the shed is starting to look so relistic.. The same shot as the first now with the walkway added.. Just to prove that it's not real ! A couple of shots through the roof.. and one from the door. Just a shame that it's blured! More later.

Had a good laugh this morning when I opened my cards. Im going to frame this one and hang it in the railway room.. Now that I have some funds I think a shopping trip is on for some people and details for finishing off the layout.

Cheers James the layout will be taking part in the YMR show down in Cornwall in september. Pics were taken on my phone!

Here's the loco shed with all the windows fitted.. Before I can finish off the building I need to finish of the loco on the lift first. So first job has been to scratch build some bogies. Origanaly I planned to make a mold of some streached Hornby bogie sides but the silicon didn't set properly. Doing a bit of research on the internet yesterday I discovered that howes are supplying Heljan 86 bits as spares but as time is now tight I have had to make do with what I have at hand. The remains of the chopped up Hornby frames were sorted out.... and reassembeled on to some plasticard.. Now pics of the real thing are proving difficult to obtain although I did manage to take a half decent one of an 86 in mid air at crewe works in 2003. The other pics are from wnxx.com.. Due to the lack of information I had to do some guess work starting with the pivot point in the centre. This was cut from 3mm foamex.. The end sections were again cut from foamex and curved at the ends to match the pics. This is the underside showing the additional webbing added in the centre.. The missing pieces were replaced on the bogie side frames.. With potters lane I want to model stuff that is not normaly seen on layouts like the locos traction motors so again using foamex.. The motors again are pure guess work but as they wont be viewed close up I should get away with them. The motors were mounted into the bogie frames and then additional bracketry added again based on the limited pics I have.. A coat of black paint followed.. The second bogie was built in exactly the same way.. They should look realy cool when sitting under the loco body being lit from the pit lighting!

Just had an email from a very satisfied client letting me know that the building had arrived safely. Now im looking forward to seeing it on the layout when he starts a layout thread on here. B)