Phil Mc

Having seen the model in the ‘flesh’ at the Heaton Lodge show…. I have to agree with the previous comments, it doesn’t quite capture the look of a 47 for me, but I’m not really sure why !! The front looks flat, but maybe that’s to do with the figment of the plate in the head code box, I’m willing to reserve judgement until decorated samples appear. Was just underwhelmed by it somehow, which is a shame, as I really didn’t want to be….. Didn’t like the look of the Peak either, but that could just be because of the livery !! cheers, Phil.

I see you’re still ‘L’earning to drive the fridge….…… unlike a certain member of your operating crew, who appears to be an expert at it…… cheers, Phil. obviously, only joking !!

50008, stood at Eastleigh this morning. Cheers, Phil.

Thanks buddy ! The inside walls of the wagons in those pics seem to have more ‘stone’ staining toward the top edge than any other pics I’ve seen ! The last pic is the nearest I’ve ever seen to a view of the floor inside one !! I guess some ‘residue’ is left in them after unloading….. More research needed ! cheers, Phil.

I can’t seem to find any pics of the inside of these wagons while unloaded, so if anyone has some, I’d be interested to see them !! cheers, Phil.

The inside of the wagons were weathered first. Using Humbrol weathering powders, mainly 'dark earth', but with 'iron oxide' and 'rust' added, mixed to a fairly thick consistency with Decalfix liquid. This was daubed onto the inside and floor, allowing some onto the top lip of the bodyside. I used this method as I think it creates a random(ish) finish, and hopefully portrays the look that box wagons often seem to have, of being damp. Before & after.... Close up of the inside of the rear wagon, showing the wiring to the light.... All the interiors completed.... I then noticed the grab handles below the buffers should be White, so painted them all. Next a thin mix of 'frame dirt' was airbrushed around the top edge of each wagon, inside & outside, to blend in the stark edges of the powder mix.... The bottom of each wagon and all the bogies were airbrushed. Before hand painting the inner & outer face of each wheel.... All the buffers had a spot of 'grease' added. It was then a case of cleaning all the wheel treads, and putting the bogies back on the bodies.... I even managed to get a pic with the rear light 'on' ! The coupling bars seem a bit too long and thin to my eye, so I'll get some metal tube of the correct diameter to form a sleeve, to allow me to shorten them. They should also be Blue not Black, so I'll sort that out when I do them !! Cheers, Phil.

Yeah, eerrr no !! cheers, Phil.

It seems like forever since I did any modelling !! So I wanted a nice little weathering job, to ease back into it.... This box seemed to fit the bill... Straight out of the box.... First stage was remove the bogies, to allow matt varnish to be sprayed over the bogies and lower part of the body, to take away the factory sheen. It doesn't show up too well in pics, but I think it does make a difference... It was about now that I decided that I would explore the possibility of adding a working tail-light. Which I thought wasn't going to be easy, seeing as I was going to run the rake unloaded !! A trawl through various options brought up a flashing light kit from Illuminated models, so 2 days later it was on my workbench, to explore the possibilities.... Came to the conclusion that this would be the best place to hide the circuit board.... (I've already removed the cam mechanism from what will be the rear wagon of the train) I checked the board wouldn't be too visible in situ. View of both sides..... (the missing handwheel was glued back on !!) That encouraged me that the plan would work. Just had to sort a tail-light, and hide the wiring !! The metal lamp bracket was removed, and the hole it left behind was gradually increased in size until the SMD in the kit would just slide in flush with the internal face of the bodywork. The actual lamp is from my spares box, originally from a Bachmann mk2f. The mounting peg was shaped to fit around the shape of the wagon end rib, so that the light guide was in line with the SMD. Once I was satisfied everything was lined up and working, the lamp was glued to the outside, and the SMD glued flush in the body. Black paint was applied around the back of the tail-light housing. The wires for the SMD were fed through a small hole made in the floor, and then painted with a rough approximation of the internal colour.... Pick-ups are the same DCCconcepts ones I used on the MMA wagon recently. I've only got the 2mm version, which doesn't quite fit over the axle, so I wound a small round file into the centre of them, to increase their diameter. It works, but they don't look half as neat as they would if I had the 3mm version in stock !! One axle from each bogie picks up from each rail. Pics show my shonky soldering skills..... Testing followed to make sure all was well, before proceeding with the rest of the weathering...... Cheers, Phil.

If she's anything like my Son, she'd only look up, if her phone told her to...... Cheers, Phil.

That would have saved both of us some modelling time…… cheers, Phil.

Try typing 'topless glory hole' in Google, you may be enlightened..... Cheers, Phil.

There's also a Green 31 on site. Guess it's 31452, but couldn't read the number. Cheers, Phil.

The 2 shunters currently on site at the reactivated carriage sidings at Great Yarmouth. Cheers, Phil.

37069 & 37425 TnT a RHTT working away from Great Yarmouth. The last pic actually has 2x 37's, 2x 08's, & a 31 in it, who would have believed that would happen in Great Yarmouth !! Cheers, Phil.

37069 & 37425 leaving Great Yarmouth. Passing the reactivated carriage sidings. Heading towards Berney Arms. They're in view for quite some time !! Cheers, Phil.

755422, leaving Great Yarmouth on its way to Norwich a couple of days ago. Cheers, Phil.

That would be pleasing some of the people, some of the time….. and we all know how that turns out….. cheers, Phil.

One swing of a big hammer ?? cheers, Phil.

Date and location are different for me, but that's exactly my philosophy now ! When 'limited edition' stock first started to appear, I used to run it but not alter it in any way, because it was 'valuable'. Then I realised that I was tending not to run them, because they stood out for being 'box fresh' in a 'weathered' world. I'd bought them because I wanted a model of that particular thing, not because there were less of them made,etc, and I've no intention of selling them. So now, everything gets the same treatment regardless.....tested....detailed/weathered....goes on the layout. I've no problem with how others treat the hobby, if they want to keep stuff in boxes, or run a random mix of whatever they like, if it makes them happy....it's all good !! I do tend to have that kind of view on life in general too... ...Do what makes you happy, as long as it doesn't hurt anyone else, and you don't try to force your views on anyone... Cheers, Phil.

How do you carry milk in a web, surely it would just run through the holes ?! cheers, Phil.

Don’t lay tracks, just put a ramp on each track…… cheers, Phil.

But what a great noise…… cheers, Phil.

What about 91128 & 82209 in the Christmas livery ? I'd have thought that was a ready-made twinpack !! Cheers, Phil.

Paper masking tape, or multiple layers of, over White LED's, can tone them down to more acceptable levels. Insulating tape will obliterate Red LED's. Both methods are easily reversible if the need arises. Cheers, Phil.

That's just confirmed my suspicions !! Great pic. Cheers, Phil.