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The Fatadder

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  1. The Fatadder

    4707 from the PDK kit

    By The Fatadder,


    Heavy Freight
    Background
    Ive always been a big fan of the 4700 class, whats not to like about a big 2-8-0 that looks like an express engine?  So it was always a matter of time until I got one.  I had a pre order in place for the Heljan model in this livery (if I remember rightly also as 4707 out the box), but spotting a PDK kit complete with wheels and motor for less than the price Hattons were charging for the Heljan one I snapped it up. 
    The build was enjoyable (and is detailed on my Steam Workbench blog over several posts), although I did fail in my original aim of having it finished before the Heljan model hit the shelves.  The model has been built as per the instructions, finished in G crest W green livery (unlined) and is now undergoing final commissioning.  There are a couple of features I am less keen on, the resin boiler no doubt makes the kit easier to build.  But it’s a swine to get enough weight in there, despite adding lead I have only managed to get the weight up to 280g  (just under that of a Hornby 38xx out of the box, while the Heljan model weighs in at 488g!)   In addition the Markits wheels included with the kit were only insulated on one side (and had standard Romford crank pins).  Not ideal for a DCC loco. 
    It has been finished in quite a dirty condition, as befitting something that mainly came out at night.  There was quite a lot of work with Vallejo colours to get the basic effect, before cleaning up the sides with IPA.  The clean sides were then given a going over with the Tamiya powders to blend it all into a single dirty mess.
     
    Work Remaining
    Once happy with the running it will need a decoder fitting, this needs to be small and come with an idiot proof warrenty (given it will be located between the brass tender frames.  While the tender wheels are fully isolated, the loco to tender drawbar is connected to the live loco frames (and goes through the brass of the tender).  The plan is to isolate as well as possible with tape…
    As well as a complicated DCC install, the loco also needs a crew, glazing the front windows, lamps and rear coupling changing (it is currently fitted with a screw coupling).  
     
    Usage
    Suprisingly 4707 is quite a useful engine, with potential running on the milk, at least one freight service specifically calls for a 47xx.  In addition it can also be used on passenger turns.  The only limiting factor is going to be the lack of weight, and any associated impact on haulage.


  2. The Fatadder

    47051 Railfreight Distribution

    By The Fatadder,


    1998 Locos
    After hearing mention of a spare Bachmann 47 body shell in RFD livery I snapped it up to build as a 2nd loco to run with my other RFD 47 on the Silver Bullets. 
     
    The plan is a little complicated in that I have got the loco running in its current guise, but it will eventually undergo a major rebuild.   My longer term aim is that I want to take the body and plastic frame comprising the head stocks from this model and use some Heljan bogies to make an unpowered partner for the other 47.  With the Bachmann block and bogies going under a Vi Trains body that was originally getting the Heljan bogies (but needs to be a runner).
     
     
    47051 was chosen because it had no name (I need to buy enough etched plates as it is), no tunnel ‘polo mints’ under the cab window, and some interesting weathering where someone had cleaned E W S in the pretty uniform body side dirt.  
     
    Today’s work was preparing the donor chassis (ex Class57) removing the sandboxes and changing the battery boxes.  I also modified the class 57s lights to fit the later class 47 design.
     
    the model as then renumbered (Microsol to remove the plates, numbers and polo mints) and replacement Fox transfers added along with a coat of mat varnish.
     
    A coat of weathering powders was applied to the side (using a wet brush to add the EWS), it needs the roof weathering along with various streaks etc (and more dirt around the door edges) before redoing the sides 

  3. The Fatadder
    One job that I have been putting off for some time is improving the awful tepid green that Hornby use to spray their GWR locos, last year I had a first attempt using Simon's clear lacquer on a Hornby grange.  The lacquer had been recomended elsewhere (I think @checkrail first mentioned it), but I have had mixed results.  When it works it is a great product, however a couple of times (the aforementioned Grange and on the tender for my 43xx) the varnish has reacted badly and resulted in a crazy paving effect.   I put this down to either spraying at the wrong tempreture, too much moisture in the air, or not shaking the can enough, so now will only use it in the warm after an extra long shake.
     
    The intention today was to have another go at seeing how much it can improve the tepid Hornby green.  
    Here is my model of 6000 King George V taken not long after I renumbered / rebranded the tender. 

     
    I masked the smokebox, footplate and underframe (along with the cab windows) and gave a coat of the lacquer.   The colour is still not perfect, but I think is a distinct improvement over the out of the box shade. with a little more richness to the colour.   Eventually I still think they will all need to be repainted, however right now I think the loss of colour is made up for in the better quality OEM lining.   The gloss black roof will get a coat of weathered black soon, while the rest of the black areas will get a degree of weathering eventually.  My hope is that once weathered it will take the edge off the remaining annoyance from the colour.    6000 can now  return to test duties on the layout, although at some point soon I really need to get round to fitting a Dingham into the tender as its about time I started testing with the planned couplings fitted!  


  4. The Fatadder

    6971: Aethelhampton (Modified) Hall

    By The Fatadder,


    Mixed Traffic
    Background
    Bachmann's Modified Hall was a bit of a disappointment when it appeared, having sorted out the firebox shape issues from its predecessor, but supplied  with the footplate front of a standard Hall.   In addition they have only ever supplied it in BR livery.  Starting with the most obvious error, Brassmasters came to the rescue offering a brass conversion fixing the front end (with a new footplate, frame extensions and smokebox saddle.)  Moving on to the body it needed to be rebranded into G crest W, not quite so easy as it also required the lining to be redone on the cab sides.  Which of course means that you have to redo the rest of the lining as well to get consistency (and remove the factory weathering to get to it).  So new lining was added using the HMRS transfers (my first attempt at lining out a loco).   
    Final finishing included some very light weathering (this loco is supposed to be pretty much brand new with the loco built in October 47 the same month as the layout operates).  Plates came from Fox, while it has been fitted with DCC ( a pig of a conversion due to the lack of space.)  The loco was chosen given it was one of the first Modified Halls to be out shopped with the Hawksworth tender (it was a tough call between one of those or one of the early builds without name). 
     
    Work Remaining
    I have had issues with the DCC install in this loco, with the decoder currently not working.  I have had this before with decoders which randomly dont work, before coming back to life when inspected on a computer.  I need to get an interface so  I can check, if not it will need a new decoder.  It also needs lamps, a crew and coal.
     
    Usage
    In the mixed traffic fleet, it will see use on pretty much everything.   

  5. The Fatadder

    1470 - GWR Black

    By The Fatadder,


    Tank Engines
    Background
    This is another "it looks nice" purchase, starting with a 2nd hand DJM 58xx in BR black I added the auto working bits (along with the ATC equipment).  The BR logo was removed (Microsol as per usual) and replaced with HMRS G W R transfers.  The BR smokebox door number was very well moulded on this model as a separate component, this really simplified removing the unwanted parts.  Research into the prototype loco highlighted that it had been renumbered from 4870 to 1470 before my time period, confirming the new number for the model.  There is a good photo online showing 4870 in 1945/6 in GWR Black prior to its renumbering. 
    One other key difference to model is that 1470 did not have the bunker steps that are moulded on all the DJM releases, lots of careful cutting and sanding and they were soon removed.   The impacted areas were given a coat of Vallejo black, with the smokebox getting grey black followed by further weathering with the Tamiya powders.  I have an Airfix autocoach which has been upgraded with the Dart Castings detail kit and repainted into wartime brown. 
     
    Remaining Work
    The model needs a specific sized decoder which I dont have available, so the loco has been awaiting DCC fitting since I bought it over a year ago.  It also still needs a crew fitting and couplings, I havent decided if it will just get Masokits screw couplings or Dinghams.  A lot depends if it will just run with the autocoach or if it will be used in general service, in all likelihood as its the only auto fitted loco I have it will probably end up only running together.   The autocoach which will run with it still needs to be fitted with laser glaze & passengers.
     
    Usage
    My understanding is that 1470 spent most of its time on the Ashburton branch, so as previously mentioned is not exactly useful for Brent.  Most of the passenger services were worked with a 45xx that was allocated to Kingsbridge shed, along with one of the two dedicated pairs of B Set coaches.  My thinking is that I will probably use 1470 + Autocoach as an alternative to this working (I have an Airfix autocoach with the Dart Castings.  
     
     
  6. The Fatadder

    7804 Baydon Manor

    By The Fatadder,


    Mixed Traffic
    Background:
    This loco was a very long term resident of my workbench, it is a Mitchell kit build for the body (using one of the last sets of etches / castings Malcolm had left over) along with a heavily modified Comet chassis which has been fitted with the Mitchel detail overlays, a PDK chimney and a set of Markits insulated wheels.  It has been coupled up with a Hornby Churchward 3500gl tender which was resprayed to match the loco.   From memory the tender has been fitted with a Dingham coupling (and I think there is a screw coupling on the front).  The loco is currently not powered.
     
    Remaining Work
    It still requires fitting with a crew, and the tender needs topping up with real coal.  Eventually it will require a High Level motor and gearbox and a DCC decoder to get it running.
     
     Usage
     
    In 1947 the Manors had yet to take over from the Bulldogs providing assistance over the Devon banks, but initially at least that is the use for which I will be using 7804 (along side my Bird).  Eventually it will get replaced by a second Bulldog at which point it will need to be powered to move to its intended use on secondary passenger / freight services.  
     

  7. The Fatadder

    4292 - GWR Black

    By The Fatadder,


    Heavy Freight
    Background
    4292 started off as an eBay rescue job, originally described as a pre-production Hornby sample (believed to be for testing the chassis).  It arrived unpainted, missing detail castings (including the chimney) and generally in a very sorry state.  
    Since then the loco has been fitted with a PDK models chimney, Brassmasters etched cab back, vacuum pipes from the scrap box and Mainly Trains tank vents.  A Gibson smokebox dart replaced the moulded Hornby effort, while the handrails have been prised out so they are no longer flush to the bodyside. 
    The body was resprayed into GWR wartime black, before weathering with a mix of Vallejo acrylics, a cote of Dullcote and various Tamiya powders to finish off.  The underframe has been further improved with the Brassmasters parts adding the rear bufferbeam brackets and more detailed rear frames (including the missing guard irons).   Once weathered the bunker was loaded with coal to finish off.  It is fitted with a hard wired TCS decoder mounted in the forward boiler section.
    Transfers are by HMRS and nameplates by Narrow Planet 
     
    Still to be completed:
    The loco still needs to be fitted with a set of Dingham couplings, front steps and a missing step on the passenger side.  Now that my silhouette cutter is back up and running its just a case of drawing this up.
    I have just spotted it is missing the boiler top handrails, so this will need to be resolved ASAP before I forget.
    It will also eventually require lamps and a crew adding
     
    Usage
    This loco would not have been a common visitor through Brent, and has only really been finished off because I like the prototype.  I have chosen a St Blazey machine under the logic that I can model it en route to Newton Abbot for attention, however I have no definitive proof of this!  As such it will only be seen on the up mainline at the head of a freight train, I think this should give ample justification for running it on the pick up goods... 

  8. The Fatadder

    7250 GWR Green

    By The Fatadder,


    Heavy Freight
    Background
    7250 started off as a Great Western liveried example from the last batch of Hornby 72xx (after they changed the chassis design to use brass bearings & added a separate smokebox door dart.) The printed Great Western logos were carefully removed using the Microsol method, although they did put up something of a fight.  New replacement transfers were added from HMRS along with a set of Narrow Planet etched cabside plates.   The Brassmasters bunker fender etch was added to the rear (painted green).  While the black areas were all painted with a grey-black mix of Vallejo paints, before spraying the loco with Dullcote in order to do something about the tepid Hornby green.  With that complete the body was given a light weathering with Tamiya powders to finish off.  Once dry the bunker was loaded with real coal, having previously cut down the Hornby coal load so that it would fit at about half height.
     
    The chassis had a further going over with Brassmasters detailing kit, gaining new sandbox mounting plates, frame extensions, lower reverser leaver and more accurate brake linkages.  I have not fitted the rear bufferbeam mounting bracket because it would obstruct the rear pony truck and is almost totally obscured by the rear step. 
    This loco is connected to a Lenz 1025 decoder via the 8pin plug, which just fitted into the boiler.  
     
    Outstanding Work
    Still a little more final finishing is required, as the model is in need of front steps, Dingham couplings, lamps and a crew.  Unlike 4292 7250 is a lot more difficult to remove the cab roof in order to access the interior.
     
    Planed Usage
    The loco has two planned uses on the layout, there have been many mentions that Newton had an allocation of two 72xx during the period to use as assistance engines on the Devon banks.  So one use is to have the engine either running light on the down line into the station before returning to Totness on the up line.  They were clearly also used on some freight services, as there is a 1947 photo of 7250 on the Colour Rail website showing it on the front of a Plymouth bound freight.  
     

  9. The Fatadder

    6808 Beenham Grange

    By The Fatadder,


    Mixed Traffic
    Background
    This loco started off as a Hornby Grange in "shirt button" livery, the 3500 Churchward tender was rebranded to G W R with my usual Microsol / HMRS transfer approach (which is nice and easy on a shirt button loco.)  It gained a new identity with a set of Modelmasters' name plates / cab side plates, along with the HMRS numbers for the bufferbeam.  6808 was intended as a guinea pig for improving the colour of the Hornby GWR green, as a result it was sprayed with Simons clear lacquer having seen it used to good effect elsewhere.  Unfortunately something went wrong (most likely either weather related or me spraying too much) as the paint reacted badly and bubbled up.  I was quick to wipe the mess off but it left me with a ruined paint finish.  Before dunking in paint stripper I figured it worth a go trying to save it, so there followed a lot of work with the fibreglass pencil and wet & dry paper to remove the imperfections.  Once I was happy with the underlying finish It had several applications of Vallejo acrylics, using various brown and grey mixes and the paint on wipe off method.  Before finally finishing off with a mix of Tamiya and Carrs powders, along with the usual loading of real coal. 
     
    I then dismantled the loco to do a DCC installation, the Grange being a little more involved as one of the earlier Hornby releases which dont have the decoder in the tender.  Getting inside I found the chip that I wanted to install wouldn't fit, and went to reassemble the body / chassis.  Unfortunately in the process the mazac retaining location which sticks up on the rear of the chassis sheared off.  So not only does the loco still not have a decoder, I have no way of securing the chassis!  Thankfully its such a tight fit between body and chassis its not a huge issue.
     
    Outstanding Work
    As with most of the fleet 6808 still needs to be fitted with Dingham couplings to the rear, a screw coupling which is Dingham compatible to the front, lamps and a crew 
     
    Planned Usage
    6808 is something of a surplus loco, being a duplicate of my other Grange in GWR black (which does have a decoder).  However once it finds its way into the fiddley yard it is a very handy loco with potential to use on most services outside of the mineral freight & express passenger. 
  10. The Fatadder

    4025: A nameless star

    By The Fatadder,


    Express Passenger
    Background
    The arrival of the Hornby Star was something of a disappointment, what with the combination of a full fat price but with detail to 1990s standards.  Thankfully the second hand market was priced accordingly and a BR Green example was sourced a year or two after release.  The original intention was to do a loco in unlined green, the typical livery for a Star in the late 40s.  However after coming across a photo of 4025 ex works at Swindon dated 1948 in plain green with British Railways on the tender, it got me thinking about GWR black.  Confirming the livery with the data in GWRJ no.7 the key resource for determining the livery of wartime 4-6-0s, resulted in 4025 being the loco chosen.  A handy choice when I later found a 1947 photo of the loco in Martyn Welsh's Art of Weathering.
     
    The work included: the removal of the moulded on cab side handrails and replacement with 0.45 wire, removal of all lining, careful removal of the smokebox number plate (and rebuild of the smokebox door strapping), steam pipes removed (and put away just in case they are needed for a future build), new smokebox dart.  The BR tender was rebranded to G crest W and coupled up to one of my Castles, while various Hornby spares (plus some Finney axle box castings) were used to build a new 4000gl tender.  With that done the loco was sprayed into satin black (Halfords).  Number plates were from Narrow Planet (which was handy as it avoided the need to buy a set of Italian Monarch names just to get the cab plates), while transfers were from HMRS.    One final detail which was required was the STAR CLASS lettering on the centre splasher, fortunately a member on the GWR Facebook group offered to create some for me which adds a perfect finishing touch.   The loco is fitted with a Lenz Gold in the tender (which required compete rewiring as Hornby apparently are not consistent with the pins used for the loco - tender connection resulting in a mystery short circuit which took an age to resolve.)
    Finally the loco was given some weathering as it was far too shiny and black, I started by painting the frames, footplate and smokebox along with the insides of the tender in various mixes of Vallejo Grey Black, along with browns and black.  It was then given a going over with  Dullcote to tone down the satin paint and to give a better key for the weathering powders which followed. 
    The one thing I havent done  is replacing the moulded vertical handrails, knowing what a pain they are to solder I really didnt fancy it with glue.  
     
    Remaining Work
    Unsurprisingly like the other "complete" locos 4025 requires Dinghams, Lamps and a crew to be finished.
     
    Useage
    4025 will see use on the various expresses and maybe the parcels, as one of my favourites it will be a permanent fixture in the fiddleyard. 
     

  11. The Fatadder

    6000 - King George V

    By The Fatadder,


    Express Passenger
    Background
    The first of 3 Kings in the fleet (and my favourite of them), King George V was re-branded from the latest generation Hornby model in Great Western livery using my usual Microsol method.  In the process of renumbering all of the lining has been removed from below the footplate, partly with Microsol and partly sanding / repainting.   It has been renamed/renumbered using Modelmasters nameplates, modified to cut the name away from the mounting bracket in order to be directly overlaid on the model without having to paint and line the splasher.  Extra details unique to 6000 include the brass bell on the front (PDK) and the two plaques above the number plate (Modelmasters).  Fortunately Hornby's omission of the red route indicators at least meant that I didnt need to remove them!   Finally the loco was given a coat of Simons acrylic lacquer, which makes a big improvement to the Hornby green.   It has been fitted with a Lenz Gold decoder in the tender.
     
    Work Remaining
    The loco is intended to be in a clean condition, but will still need to have some light weathering added to tone it down.  It also needs lamps and a crew along with the tender coaling.
     
    Usage
    Unsurprisingly it is going to be used on the main expresses along with the TPO, running along with an assistance engine as it clears Dainton bank.
     
     

  12. The Fatadder

    1004: An improved County

    By The Fatadder,


    Mixed Traffic
    Background
    As per a good number of my projects, this build was started by a bargain find in the old RMWeb classifieds.  It is a Hornby County body which has had the firebox fitted from a Hornby 8f (along with a plasticard lower boiler).  Replacement parts fitted for the chimney and safety valve bonnet, a new cab roof, separate steam pipes (from 247 Developments), sprung buffers and a handful of other detailing parts from the Jackson Evans etch.  The model has been resprayed in late GWR green and lined out with HMRS transfers.   I would not have chosen 1004, but a set of plates were included with the original parts so it made sense to make use of them.  Eventually I would really like a model of County of Middlesex given it was the only fully lined passenger loco for my period.
    The chassis is by Comet (and after loosing the wheels I have ended up buying two sets of Markits for it!), with the usual High Level / mashima motor.   The tender is a temporary addition from a Hornby Castle (and hence is the wrong width), I have a Falcon tender slowly being built to finish it off.    It has been through wired to the tender to make use of the Hornby DCC socket.
     
    Work Remaining
    The chassis is running however there is an unknown issue with the pickups not working.  The only job remaining on the body is to fit glazing, although I am not entirely happy with the weathering. 
    It will also need the usual gold decoder, crew, dinghams and coal for the tender.
     
    Usage
    The main use will be on passenger workings, a couple of which were regularly County hauled.  Along with the Milk and Parcels, sharing its duty with the Halls and Saint.


  13. The Fatadder

    4547 GWR Black

    By The Fatadder,


    Tank Engines
    Background
    Small prairies dominated the traffic on the Kingsbridge branch, so I have tried to keep a little variation within the fleet. I haven’t done a great deal to the Bachmann model other than a respray into GWR wartime black.  Transfers and number plates are the usual from HMRS / Narrow Planet, which the couplings are of course Dinghams. 
    I find that black engines need weathering a lot more than green ones, so as well as being the first to get couplings it is also the first of my 45xx to get weathered.  With the weathering done it was also given a full bunker of coal.  4547 was a Newton Abbot based loco which I have based upon a photo (in what appears to be GWR Black) taken near Exeter in 1947.
     
    Remaining Work
    Not a lot more is required on this loco, other than lamps and a crew.   Eventually I would like to look at adding some more finesse to the model, which to be honest is a little on the basic side these days.  Minor changes like adding etched bars to the bunker windows would be beneficial, and replacing the plastic lumps with detailed pony trucks makes a big difference.   
     
    Usage
    Initially as the most complete of my 45xx fleet it will be found on the Kingsbridge branch (mostly because until I fit couplings to the other two locos it’s the only one that can couple to the B Set.)   Eventually though it will be superceeded by a model of 5551, for which I currently have a body but no OO chassis.
    At that point there are two 45xx turns on the layout, a pick up freight to Kingsbridge which then runs a passenger service before returning with the freight to Newton Abbot, and an M Set working Exeter to Plymouth which was known to frequently end up with double headed 45xx.


  14. The Fatadder

    47016 Respray

    By The Fatadder,


    1998 Locos
    As is often the case over the summer my motivation to get on with any modelling has rather taken a battering, the loss of the exhibition circuit hasn’t helped given a decent show would normally reinvigorate the modelling mojo.  There are still a number of in progress projects which have been sat on my workbench since June, mostly awaiting me finding a way to fix my CAD computer so that I can run some needed parts through the cutter…
     
    But the past few nights have seen a return to modelling, first up being an attempt at finishing off an Express Models lighting install on a Bachmann Voyager (220001 fitted with etched plates).  Which got to the point which it needs the second accessory decoder installing at which point I realised I don’t actually know where it is!  Likewise I seem to have miss placed the OO wheels which I wanted to reinstall before listing the completed model on the Classifieds…
     
    Moving on to the real focus of this blog, I sourced a Vi Trains class 47 body off ebay for a reasonable £15 (trying very hard to forget that most of the other 47s in my fleet were only about £40 for a complete loco in a Hattons clearance several years ago!)    My freight class 47 fleet is a little light with just 47338 in Distribution and 47768 in RES).  My long term plans call for a further pair of freight 47s, another in RF Distribution (for which I need to source a Bachmann shell which will likely end up on a rebuilt Bachmann 57 chassis) and 47016 in large logo grey.  I was (and still am) tempted to do I K Brunel in GWR 150, but never found a 1998 photo of it in the south west to justify the build.  One day I will end up finding a cheap donor model….
     
    47016 was chosen given that it gives an interesting livery option, was photographed multiple times working in Virgin XC service in addition to the usefulness as a freight machine.  Upon arrival, I removed the printed BR logos / numbers from the large logo blue body and immediately repainted into large logo grey.  Transfers have been added from Fox given that I had them to hand, before reassembling (and loosing the marker light lenses in the process).   The body now needs a nameplate (the other side will have the outline added as part of the weathering), correct buffers, handrails, and a new chassis.  The latter is a little more involved, with the plan being to fabricate my own chassis block from brass which will be fitted with a pair of Heljan bogies & motor (which came from a mazac rotted Heljan 47) along with the twin battery box underframe casting from my scrap box.  (For photos it is currently posed on the chassis from 47768, hence the incorrect details).  Eventually it will also be retrofitted with a pair of Extreme Etchings roof grills to match the rest of the fleet.
     
    The orange cantrail line was an attempt at using a pen to add, having had success lining coaches with a similar method.  It was not completely successful and will need redoing...
     


  15. The Fatadder

    GWML TPO

    By The Fatadder,

    A little more progress on the TPO last night, with the yellow lines added for one side of each coach.  These were very old transfers (looking at the Fox logos on the packet I would say pre 2000 for certain), so I was a little concerned as to how well they would work.  While they were a little too brittle to wrap around the ends of the coach, they stuck well and there is minimal film showing (unlikle the ModelMasters transfers for the ER / Travelling Post Office branding which I cant remove without loosing part of the transfer.)   On these I have been carefully using a scalple to cut away the excess film.
     
    There are still a couple more transfers needed, the numbers, TOPs code and owners flash.  I have a sheet of numbers, but it includes NSX/NTX rather than NSA/NTA codes.  However I have spotted Fox do a sheet https://fox-transfers.co.uk/res-brandings-for-postal-vehicles which also includes the small RES logos that I need for a couple of coaches.  The forth will need an EWS logo, which is a little more tricky.  I think an N gauge loco 3 beasties will do the job.  
     
    I still can’t find the roof for the NTA,  I thought it lost behind the desk but no such luck.   For the moment I will borrow a roof from another mk1....
     
    At some point I will get on with finishing the other side...

  16. The Fatadder

    GWML TPO

    By The Fatadder,

    It’s been a long time since they were painted (although I did spray them again a few weeks ago to sort the colour issues).  Then bought some transfers from DC Kits, and this evening I made a start on applying them.
    First up the left hand side Royal Mail logo, the transfers i purchased didn’t include this particular transfer.  But did have a similar example with the crown and Royal Mail (with the words above each other) this could be cut in three to get the required transfers.  Two white rectangles were painted onto the bodies and the Royal Mail / crest were applied.  They are Modelmasters transfers so tomorrow I need to try and remove the film...  once all of the transfers are applied I will line around the logo with a white gel pen.  This needs to be repeated on the other coaches now, a slow process...
    This was followed by adding the ER crest to the right hand side, and the Traveling Post Office.  
    The black underframe and ends were then painted black.  So now it’s ready for the final transfer for the yellow lines.  Hopefully they will be finished soon.
     




  17. The Fatadder
    Way back in 2007 I purchased the then new S-Kits kit for a Caib KWA plant carrying well wagon.  A fairly simple kit comprising of a resin body (to which you attach the lashing eyes), headstocks and buffers, cast y25 bogies and a set of castings for the loading ramps.   At the time I built the basic structure (excluding the bogies) and put it away.  Last night I dug it out to finish off (before deciding if it ends up on a display shelf or the classifieds.)
     
    Paint was fairly straight forward, with the loading ramps finished in yellow and timber, while the wagon had black sides / deck and grey end platforms.  The bogies were built up using a set of Jon Hall's Y25 bogie etch (using up my last 8 brass bearings in the process).   While the wheels came from the spares box.
     
    As it comes the wagon rides rather height, I think it must have been designed for slightly smaller wheels as with a set of 11.5mm wheels in there the ride height is perfect (there is just too big a gap between body and chassis).  The solution to which is going to depend on what happens to the model, if I am keeping it I will fit with P4 wheels and modify the bogie mounts.  If I end up selling I will leave the small wheels in there to assist with the buyer potentially having tighter curves than me.
    The final job to do in order to finish this off is the transfers, which appear to be unavailable from the trade.  I have some old sheets of  home made transfer paper, so my logic is to use these in order to make up at least the main data panel and CAIB logo.  (I have to make some transfers for the sea urchin number panels at the same time.)  So will see how they come out….

  18. The Fatadder

    Sea Urchins

    By The Fatadder,

    I have spent the afternoon getting on with a few part built Sea Urchins In all cases transfers still need to be added (I have them for the EWS example, but will need to source for the rest).  The interior painting is just a rough first coat, needing more colours mixing in, while 4 of the 5 still need the suspension units adding.

    First up DC 110033 in Dutch (somewhere amid the rust), built from Cambrian bits, the rust is just a start point and will be refined further (but I am quite pleased with how it is going so far).


    Next up T110234 in Transrail, again from Cambrain parts
    Sea Urchins by The Fatadder, on Flickr

    Next DC200573 in EWS, scratch built with H section ribs.



    DC200613 in Dutch another scratch build as per 200573



    DC210239 in Dutch, S kits

  19. The Fatadder
    After a lot of work my class 37 resprays are now complete (with the exception of some minor work on the ends of the DRS examples.  
     
    they will now joint the queue for couplings and weathering, with 37057 taking the priority.  There is still an order to Shawplan that needs to be placed for Vikings nameplates and horn grills for 37607. 
     
    but for now attention will return to other projects, with my second GWT HST set or my Intercity liveried sleeper set both needing to enter the paint shop while it’s warm (and I still have paint repairs to make to my TPO (plus painting the yellow stripes.)   
     
    I also have a pair of S Kits nuclear  flasks which need stripping and respraying, which I would like to finish off to go with the 37s.





  20. The Fatadder
    A little more work on my latest respray projects 
     
    37057 has been reunited with its ends and had most of the transfers applied, it’s just missing the  ohle warning flashes on the sides (which will get sorted this evening).  The transfers were from Railtec for the EW&S logos (along with the ohle flashes) and a fox tops panel.  Really  impressed with the Railtec product, very easy to use, a much better colour match than Fox and ready made up numbers for your chosen loco.  
     

     
     
     
    67003 has had the remaining painting finished off, the roof grill and window frame etches added along with some minor paint repairs. It has also been reunited with its chassis (although I haven’t fitted the etched brake inserts yet while I decide what gauge I am going to be using.   (It is fitted with a set of Ultrascale P4 wheels for now). It still needs attention on the ends (jumper cables, lamp irons and paint. While on one end Ive spotted some file marks that I missed after priming, and will be a tricky fix now...   Finally the ohle line needs adding above the window (for which I intend to use transfers).
    I had planned to get the transfers applied on this as well, but I now remember that I gave away my set of Fox class 66/67 numbers (though I have the cabside crests and GM logos at least.  I will order some from Railtec at some point soon (likely along with replacements for my other EWS renumbered 37s
     
     
     
     





  21. The Fatadder
    Over the past few days I have been getting on with finishing off a couple more projects, spraying locos into EWS livery.


     
    first up was 67003 as seen in Newton Abbot in 1999 shortly after delivery.  This is a Lima model which has been detailed with my own etches for the grills, window frames and air horn grills.  (Along with a fully detailed chassis). There were some issues with the masking on the lower yellow stripe (I am hoping that I can get away with using thinners to remove it after the paint has dried else I will need to prime and respray the yellow).
     
    once dry I will mask up the body side grills and paint black, paint the radiators grey before  reattaching the roof grill, and window frames (which were painted black off model).  Not a particularly useful loco, nor is it as good as the new Hornby release but one I wanted to finish it  given the massive amount of work that went into the etched grills.
     

    i have also painted up 37057, the paint finish came out very well.  The only issue was the masking of the lower stripe which was cut far too think.  Unfortunately this is probably a live with it job, as I am not convinced a repair will work so well.  Hopefully after weathering tones down the brightness of the yellow it won’t be so noticeable...  Maybe something like this https://flic.kr/p/oBLBBY 

     
     
  22. The Fatadder
    Taking a break from my 1990s resprays, I have been cracking on with a long overdue project for a couple of brake vans. For Brent I have currently got 5 toads at various stages of completeness, 2 of the Hornby AA15 model which have been repainted along with new location branding & a weathered roof. A Bachmann AA19 which has had all of the bodyside handrails removed pending replacement with wire (using the MRD brackets), this one is approaching the top of the to do pile. Finally a pair from Oxford Rail (one AA1 and one AA3) which were last nights project.
     
    Now these are not the best models in the world, in fact the list of errors is pretty long. However with some work they do scrub up ok.
    The plan:
    Plate over front end / add Archers rivet detail & new lamp iron. This was added from 10thou plasticard cut to size before gluing in place.
    Plate over lower 3 planks of rear end (along with adding rivet detail)
    Modify the ends > removing the fictional window and replacing with a wooden drop panel cut from an old Triang conflat
    One has had the original 2 piece windows replaced with the one piece design (but I didn’t correct the size on the rebuilt version due to difficulties matching up with the frame
    Door to van, for some reason Oxford added another error on the door missing off the top 2 ½ planks (it almost looks like they added another fictional window)
    Repaint in GWR wagon grey (the colour the model comes in is almost LMS grey)
    Add transfers (HMRS for wagon number and G W logos, Railtec custom order for the locations (Bristol (West Depot) for the AA1 and Kingsbridge for the AA3. I couldn’t find a photo of a Bristol West Depot branded toad, so hopefully I have got the transfers right. The Kingsbridge transfer was a little too wide to fit (but the prototype clearly was fitted within a single panel). It looks like some (all?) of the letters were compressed, so I have followed the same route with the B, D and E.
     
     


     


  23. The Fatadder

    58015 Weathering

    By The Fatadder,

    Onto the next weathering project, the past few days effort.
     
    Again working from a photo from 1998, I have tried to replicate the characteristic build up of oily dirt on the bodyside.  The grills had all previously been repainted in the correct grey rather than body colour.  Underframe dirt was built up in several layers, along with an oily finish on the fuel tanks / battery boxes.  Cab sides and ends were relatively clean, (although I lost the numbers on one side applying a wash).
     
    I think there is something not quite right with it, but can’t put my finger on it...
     
     



  24. The Fatadder

    37672 Weathering

    By The Fatadder,

    Another day, another weathering project, although this one took somewhat longer than the previous two locos given the number of applications needed.  Another Bachmann model hitting the bench almost as it arrived from the shop, With 37672 being a  Cornish machine (and not an easy one to renumber due to the cantrail grills) it stayed as 672.  The model has so far been fitted with Dingham couplings (and P4 wheels) and was one of the better performers when Wheal Imogen was at last years SWAG members day.  It still needs to be fitted with the buffer beam details, which as with 521 will be fitted in the next few weeks before getting a weathering top up to blend them in. 
     
    Again I have worked from photos taken in 1998, which showed a few interesting features: The white streaks on the ends from china clay, a few rust spots on the side (including around the edge of a patch repair), a random dirty patch on one side and a dirty area on the cantrail above the big T.  In addition the roof weathering was quite different to the previous two locos, with a much smaller sooty area.  
     
    The process followed that of the others, applying various mixes of paint then wiping off with kitchen towel.
    Nose: One layer of a mix of white and sand applied to the areas where clay dust had built up, followed by a brown mix focusing around the bottom lip and the sandbox fillers.
    Roof: 2 shades of a dirty grey brown mix building up dirt against raised detail, before adding the black/gunmetal mix to add the exhaust deposits
    Sides: 3 mixes of a brown / grey / black building up the dirt on the tumblehome.  Dirt applied to the grills (and streaked down)  Various small rust spots added (along with the dirty rectangular patch to one side). 
    Chassis: The same mixes as the lower sides were used on bogies, while an oily black mix was used on the fuel tanks (blending in the edges with the brown mix)

    Next up will be some improvements to the weathering on a Bachmann 37670, which will just leave 667 in the queue of complete 37s awaiting treatment (and I need to resolve painting the filled in hole in the side where I had modelled the sandite port when I had modelled it in 2000s condition)
  25. The Fatadder

    60026 Weathering

    By The Fatadder,

    Continuing the theme of a little pre work weathering, here is the current state of 60026.  Class 60s are a bit of an oddity with my modelling, a class that I have always really liked, yet one on which I have not yet done a great deal with the models.  In fact while my Class 37 fleet only has one loco with its RTR identity (the ltd 37670) and my Class 47 fleet has none, I have never renumbered a Class 60.  It helped that of the 3 models I have, one is the GWR 150 60081 (which will eventually be hauling the track cleaner on Brent), the Loadhaul 60007 had a photo of the loco working on China Clay on the box, and finally 60026 in EW&S I don’t think I ever got round to finishing.  In the end I decided that one un named 60 is as good as another and left it alone.   As an aside I think I will be taking things a little further with my final 60 should I ever find a triple grey example at a decent price, to model 60090 in Coal Sector following some photos of the loco on Engineers in Dawlish c1999.
     
    Anyway back to 60026,
    So far the work on the model has included: P4 conversion with Branchlines wheels, fitting of the end details (obstical deflector, airpipes) and fitting with Dingham couplings (not the easiest job in the world with the cast metal chassis / very small hole)  From memory I think I modified a hook to reduce the part that goes into the headstock to 1mm in height, then soldered on a 2nd piece of brass to beef it up a little before gluing in place.
     
    The weathering for this will follow 2 stages.  The first step (today) was to dirty up the roof using a mix of 3 parts black, 1 part sea grey and 1 drop of oily steel.  It followed the same method as with 37521, painting about an inch at a time and then wiping off.  After the application of 3 or 4 coats it starts to look the part.  This was then followed by adding some streaks down the bodyside aligned with the channels on the roof.
     
     


     
    Looking at period photos of 60026, it was very dirty at the silencer end of the roof, but pretty clean at the other end.  The sides were on the whole pretty clean, while the underframe was the usual mess of brown  The latter will be a job for lunchtime…
     
    edit: speaking of which, it’s now my lunch break and 60026 now has a weathered chassis (a mix of 3 browns, grey and black).



     
    Advice on further improvements is of course always welcome. 
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