The Fatadder

@James Makin what was the area under the old logos like after removal? Would you say acceptable for an unbranded loco? (thinking ghost remains for the old logo etc as opposed to shinyness that can easily be sorted with some varnish

The next batch of Cavalex CDAs are now complete, todays work included adding the streaks below the slots on the sides and the rusty marks on the other side. Once dry this was followed by another wash of white/cream, before finally finishing off with white weathering powders. This means I can now have two CDA sets in service at once.

All five of the Cavalex CDAs have now been given the white paint treatment, along with a second coat with a random off white mix. The hoods will still need more attention to blend in, but from memory on the first batch it was the powder stage that really bought this area together. I have also got out the yellow paint and picked out the brake leavers / lamp irons. The usual white paint to identify the brake leavers doesnt really work when the wagon is coated in china clay so presumably at some point during the wagons life it was changed.

On the workbench today 5 Cavalex CDA finally getting weathered. So far the 5 have been fitted with air pipes and instanter chains. The first has also been given the first coat of white. my process essentially consists of an application of white over the whole wagon Then a second coat dry brushing with different shades (a mix of white and a couple of creams) Add the signature streaks Finally a dusting of weathering powders (and clay dust) given just the basic coat of white on one wagon took about 40 mins, it will take a while! But once done will mean I have 13 completed wagons, even though the layout can only take 7…

If you are looking to tackle an etched wagon or coach kit before moving to locos, for GWR prototypes the two kits Warren Shephard released in 4mm were very good https://www.warrenshephard.com/wagon_kits.htm Wizard Models have the Comet range of coaches and chassis kits, they also have a construction guide

2 more wagons, first a Cambrian starfish that fell on the floor and broke part of the underframe now fully repaired. I had a tray of leftover ballast so I’ve also finished off it’s load. Next a Bachmann conflat, an older model from my 90s trainset. It was rebuilt with a new chassis about ten years back but never finished, I’ve added buffer heads and Dinghams, along with some weight and it’s now ready for service. I think that means I’m now down to 7 wagons needing buffers/wiron and couplings, plus the two private owners which need transfers and couplings.

While I was spraying yesterday I could hear an air leak from the joint between the regulator and the compressor, something of a concern given the previous Machine Mart part's spectacular failure when the thread sheered clean off at full pressure and fired it across the garage. So with the plan being that I would spray the white on the NVA over lunch today in order that I could complete it over the weekend, the first job was checking the regulator was tightly attached (it was) then angling to compressor away from where I'd be standing. Im glad I did because as soon as the tank was up to pressure the regulator blasted off into the wall! So once again I am now without a compressor. This time I cant be bothered to go back to Machine Mart and get another replacement, I think I have two options, either replace it with a new one or replace the broken fitting with a better quality part. I have unbolted the remains from the regulator and I am now looking for approx a 40mm BSP extension adaptor that is male to male (alternatively the pneumatics supply company I bought the last two extenders from sell a male to male nipple which would do the job (in Stainless rather than Brass). Though of course I need to buy yet another extender as the end of the thread is still jammed in there... Given the current paint queue consists of the NVA, a bunch of 37 ends and the NSE 159 (plus a bunch of weathering jobs) its pretty gutting for the compressor to fail during a period of ok spraying weather... So instead this evening ive converted another Bachmann mk2f into a mk2d TSO Window has been filled on one side / cut out on the other, logos removed, I have reused the original glazing for the new toilet window. On the roof I have removed one roof vent (while the two missing ones will eventually be added with a print.) A few other jobs included adding an orange cantrail stripe, and fitting a set of Hurst Models CDL lights It still needs a respray of the grey band, Intercity transfers, the aforementioned roof vents and the new bufferbeams adding. Ive yet to print the buffers so that wont get finished until later in the year. i also finished painting the Barbel, though I think the grey could do with fading a fair bit

I tend to use the rolling road for running in for the same reason, either I will have it running on my desk while I am working or I have added a short live track in the fiddleyard so that a loco can be running in on the rollers while I am having a running session.

The final step for the moment, with the black bits added before work this morning. Next step will have to wait until I get the transfers ordered from Railtec before I can get stuck into the rest of the weathering

Typical formation in the later half of the 90s was a BSO, TSO, FO, 3 or 4 sleepers depending on the day and a mk1 BG, with the forth sleeper and BG coming off at Plymouth.

Thats annoying, I'd be inclined to go down the same route. Certainly I find with the clips at the outer end and a single screw at the inner end its plenty to hold the sideframe in place. A very productive lunch brake today, taking advantage of the milder temperatures to spray the roof on 37025. Phoenix Rail Grey is always a joy to spray. Just the black left to spray tomorrow and it will be ready for transfers, so I guess I had better get some ordered from Railtec. Based on todays success, I’m hopeful to get the blue sprayed on the NVA as well tomorrow…

After adding some transfers last night (actually lifted off the incorrect end) and a quick dusting of varnish this morning, I have reattached the modified end to 37674. Annoyingly when refitting the light lenses I managed to crack the headcode box so it will all need removing and refitting once I print a replacement. However will do the job for now. Lesson learned, if a part wont fit into a 3d print, dont just apply more force..... when putting it back together the no2 bogie frame fell off, so it gained the screw modification I’ve used already on the no1 end. Much better than the rubbish clips Bachmann used (thankfully they switched to screws on the 2022 model)

A bit of spraying yesterday evening and over lunch today, with the Class 37 ends, 37025 and the barbell all getting sprayed yellow (while the motorail van was primed). The yellow ends mostly need another coat of yellow tomorrow (assuming the rain holds off), those for 668 / 674 both needed a slightly different shade to better match the Bachmann colour on the other end, so a thin coat of 70% signal yellow, 30% GBRF yellow was brushed on. They will need varnishing before they can be fitted. The rest includes the ends for 510 (all be it the old version that will be sold rather than the new one), 902 and a spare set which should have been converted to the new headcode boxes for 670 but now will likely return to the scrap box. The plan had been to only prime them (to ensure the removal of the ETH bits was acceptable) but I forgot to remove before applying the top coat. The plan is to get the 37 roof sprayed next (probably on sunday if the weather holds to forecast), with the plan being spraying the motorail van at the same time. In advance of this I’ve sanded back the yellow overspray and touched in with Vallejo grey black in order to get a consistent base layer. i really need to build a lot more of these, they make for interesting little projects

For me it is the tail lights I find particularly annoying on older stock vs the latest models where you can turn them off at the press of a button. All of my Bachmann / Heljan / Vitrains stuff has been rewired now to get rid of it, but the Hornby 60s remain a frustration thanks to Hornby's stupid wiring...

They have the grubby look of the period down to a tee, unusual to see one with the visible plating on the window modelled. Youve got me thinking about another project to work on now, I think I still have enough of my BG window blanks to do something similar...

Just primed the test build for 668/674 over lunch, so I should get a coat of yellow on it later this week looking at the temperatures. I will be able to run off a small batch of them later in the spring once the evening temperatures have improved enough for the printer to work properly if anyone is interested. Of course there is still a chance after painting it doesnt look quite right and needs some cad work, but it will be there eventually (at which point I will be replacing the boxes from 37670 as well)

Still can’t believe Bachmann haven’t followed up the Earl with a Bulldog given it was clearly designed with that in mind. I need to try some scale sized wheels in this to get it into service. I have a cunning plan to fit Bachmann Earl wheels to save a few pounds…. The white metal body is now in the classifieds for what I paid for it. So will see what happens

View Advert Cast tank conical tank ends Pair of conical tank ends for TTA and other tank conversions, Cant recall the original manufacturer. Advertiser The Fatadder Date 24/01/24 Price £3 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert Ultrascale P4 Wheels - Hornby ex Lima Class 73 Here we have a set of Ultrascale nickel silver wheels for a Hornby ex Lima Class 73, I believe they would also suite the ex Lima HST powercar or any other 2 axle ex Lima model with the new Hornby motorbogie and 13mm wheels Drop in wheelsets with gear Advertiser The Fatadder Date 24/01/24 Price £14 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert Bachmann Class 37 - 37607 DRS Tripple Grey OO Bachmann Class 37 in DRS branded Tripple Grey livery. Ends modified with DRS multiple working socket middle grey resprayed to increase depth etched Tunnle plaques Extreme Etchings roof grill weathered Working Lights boxed Advertiser The Fatadder Date 24/01/24 Price £120 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert Hornby Class 50 50001 P4 fitted NSE Here we have a Hornby Class 50 in light blue revised NSE livery renumbered to 50001 and fitted with etched plates Details fitted to both ends Working Lights DCC Ready The model is fitted with the Hornby screw couplings, but has no NEM pockets P4 wheels Can supply more photos on request Advertiser The Fatadder Date 24/01/24 Price £100 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert Bachmann GWR 45xx body Here we have a Bachmann 45xx bodyshell in GWR livery, I think I bought this back when I was modelling in P4 with the intention of fitting it to an etched chassis which never actually happened. (If I can find all the parts said etched chassis will be on the chopping block soon...) The model is missing its steps, however does have the pipework for under the cab taped inside the boiler for safe keeping Advertiser The Fatadder Date 24/01/24 Price £18 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert Bachmann Class 37 Body - Mainline Blue Here we have a Bachmann (last generation) Class 37/0 bodyshell finished as 37047, this was a unique locomotive which had the body of an early build 37 (with riveted roof) but was rebuilt with centre box ends. As there were no cab roof recesses for the horns they remained fitted to the cab fronts. It has been fitted with an Extreme Etchings roof grill, 1 piece headcode boxes per the prototype, and fully resprayed. The photos highlight the carrier film around the transfers a lot more than in the flesh There are no working lights unfortunately as the lighting boards were missing when I bought the body. I will also soon be selling bodies for 37510 in Intercity and 37230 in Dutch for £30 each plus post Advertiser The Fatadder Date 24/01/24 Price £25 Category OO / 4mm scale  

View Advert OO Bulldog body - white metal Here we have a nicely built white metal body for a GWR Bulldog, One of those projects that I am unlikely ever to finish so makes sense to sell on to free up funds for other projects. Advertiser The Fatadder Date 24/01/24 Price £40 Category OO / 4mm scale  

I’ve been looking at my Bulldogs with the intention of getting something finished. I currently have 2, the Bird detailed a while back in the thread (for which the chassis doesn’t run freely) and a k’s white metal body built to a high standard which needs a chassis. I also have the brass lump that was under the bird when I bought it (alas with far too small wheels) and a Falcon chassis kit. I’ve been looking at getting some wheels ordered, frustratingly the price of loco wheels is astronomical these days. Even Gibsons are now £10 an axle (excluding the outside cranks!). While Markits don’t even tell you the price (they show 2013 prices, and a note saying the price is something like 2015+a percentage (but not how to get from 2013 to 2015…). Wizard have annoyingly been out of stock for years now….. This is the current state of the chassis, having removed the too small wheels and given it a good clean. I’m tempted to bore these out to accept bearings. All I want is a free running chassis that can be pushed by a King / Castle on a set of 8 coaches… This is Bulldog no2 The question now is whether I will finish both locos, I’m considering selling the white metal one to free up funds to buy wheels for the brass one (particularly as I can’t see when I will actually finish the is one).