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The Fatadder

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  1. The Fatadder
    Scaleforum has yielded another batch of new projects, though my other half taking our puppy on an emergency trip to the Vets while I was at the show limited the budget somewhat (and hence I havent quite been able to make a couple of purchases.)
     
    The B Set project has gained a set of ABS battery boxes, but still requires new Vac gear and some of the Model Railway Developments square GWR buffers once they get some stock in.
     
    Picked up a pair of GWR Collets (Bachmann break and Mainline) from Mr Easter, both of which will be getting improved underframe details and flush glazing (once parts become available!) One needs to be re lined and will be partially resprayed, while the Bachmann break needs the roof respraying to look closer to the Mainline one (much too glossy). Its a bit odd that the paint on the older release looks a lot better than the more recent one!A co
     
    A couple of mainline locos which will be getting High Level chassis, Lots of detailing is going to be needed (in particular I need to source a casting for the back of the boiler thats visible from the cab in both locos. Not sure where to go for that...)
    The Collett will be the first build, chosen because that was the only one High Level had in stock. But I still need to buy a set of Gibsons and some form of jig before I can build. That said in the mean time I am planing to build some of the sub assemblies that are separate (make con rods, break gear etc) Wheels and Jig will follow next month after pay day!
     
    An open frame siphon, need to get some MJT 9ft American bogies for it and finish off the detail work for seperate pipes etc (and again give the break gear a working over. MJT were out of stock.
     
    Bachmann 45xx with angled tanks, along with a drop in pack of Gibsons. Should be enough to get a loco working once I get a decoder in there, (fingers crossed its not a loco that requires a small one!)
     
    Finally, a set of sprung W irons for my fruit d, and correct patten wheels for my horse box.
     
    Thankfully that does leave a couple of tasks (fruit d, horse box and 45xx) that can be worked on now) Just need some free time to do it in!
  2. The Fatadder
    Hopefully this is the penultimate blog before the Bird enters the paint shop, (so I really need to confirm its colour!)
     
    The first job was a couple of minor repairs after cleaning and priming the model, a handrail had come unsoldered and somewhere along the line a lower step had broken off.  These were quickly soldered back into position before the real work could start.  This was followed by gluing the reverser cover into place (which should have been fitted the night before…)   There were also a couple of areas which needed a small amount of filler.
     
    With that done attention turned to the smokebox, using Archers rivet transfers to add the ring of rivets around the front and rear edge.  This was my first time using the product and I have to say I am impressed.  It now needs another coat of primer to seal them all in before the next stage of work on the body.
     
    Next up the bogie.   As mentioned last night the bogie fitted to the model appeared to be scratch built, and had a number of errors (no rivets, missing the raised sections behind the wheels and the wheelbase was about 3mm too long.)  The solution to which was to use a Bachmann spare bogie which was included with my City of Truro.  However this only provides the frames, so it needed something to hold the axles in place.  Looking through the scrap box I found a single Y25 bogie etched inner frame with the right spacing.  Naturally this was wider than the bogie, my solution was to remove the two side frames and solder them to a Comet OO bogie spacer.  A couple of modifications to the ends (removing the NEM socket, and removing plastic from the rear to clear the linkage) and it was ready to fit.  The inner unit semi clicks into position on the plastic bogie frame, and is held into position by a bolt running the whole way through to the linkage.  (Note at this point I still have the old wheels which came with the model fitted, as they are rather crude they will be replaced with some Gibsons at some point in the future.

     
     
    However once the bogie was fitted it was apparent that there was a problem.  I already had suspicions that the model might originally have been a scratch build, now I am even more convinced.  The outer frame for the front half of the loco is too thick (so the bogie is stuck in the straight position).  This is compounded by the left hand frame being almost a mm deeper than the right.  Some work with a file got them back to the same thickness, but I think is still too thick (it certainly still fouls the bogie).  I need to dig out the drawings in Russell and check the thickness as I think it still looks too thick, with as much as a mm of metal needing to be removed.  All very annoying as it will risk damage to the smokebox, hence no work can be done until I have given the rivets a coat of primer to seal them all in!

  3. The Fatadder
    A long time ago I started a respray of a Hornby Class 31 into the Wessex Trains pink livery as part of fleet of stock in 2006 condition. I got as far as converting the body, repairing the damage due to the original chassis expanding, and painting the yellow ends.
     
    As part of my process of finishing off old projects either for use on Wheal Imogen or for sale, I have dug it out to finish off.
     
    First off a decision was needed on which livery to paint it in, a toss up between Fraggonset Black, Large Logo Grey or EWS red. I have no photos of a class 31 working in Cornwall on anything other than a rail tour, so which ever option I went with the loco wouldn't be of much use on this layout (or my very long term project based around the Cornish mainline).
     
    An identity
    Up until yesterday the front runner was to be Large Logo grey, particularly as I have a Class 37 to paint in that livery. However while looking through Flickr for inspiration I came across photos of 31466 in ex works EWS at Totton in 1998. I have always had a soft spot for a Class 31 in EWS, there is something very interesting looking having such an old machine in a (then) modern livery. So that made the decision for me. ​Still no idea what on earth it is doing in clay country, so I suspect the old get out of jail free card of running it on an engineers train will be the obvious answer...
     
    ​Recapping the work so far,
    I started with a body shell in BR blue, stripped the paint to remove the raised beading and removed the bufferbeam cowlings. a roof fan cowling from a Dutch Hornby model was added, as was a Shawplan etched roof grill. The headcode box was plated over with a Shawplan etch (but looking at the photos needs a little more filler). Ffinally a central high intensity headlight was fitted to the ends (the configuration that I do not believe Hornby have ever tooled up). ​For the moment this is non working, but eventually it will have to have an LED fitted...
     
    ​It was then primed in white, had the warning yellow ends sprayed followed by brush paining Wessex pink for the joint between yellow and the windows. The concern was that given the location of the pink - yellow joint masking had a high risk of failure, so brush painting here allowed for an overlap of the joint when masking.
     
    Getting on with the model
    I started by spraying the gold, foolishly I did this yesterday in sub zero external temperatures (although I did have the garage heater on full for 2 hours before spraying.) As a result I cant determine if my painting issues were down to poor mixing of paint or the cold. Either way the 31 was just about ok for a first coat, while the 37 / 50 that I was spraying yellow ends were total failures. Today I have been brush painting some repairs (as well as getting paint on the tricky to reach bits). This was followed by overpainting the Wessex pink with EWS maroon. this will be cut back with some fine emery paper before spraying. I also noticed the yellow is approx. 2mm too high for the new loco identity, so this will need overspraying with maroon when I eventually get round to it.

     
    Once it warms up I will be taking the loco to the club along with my airbrush to spray under supervision, aiming to identify any issues with technique before I mask up and spray the maroon.
     
    Then I can get on with painting the grey 37 and LL blue 50.....
  4. The Fatadder

    Pdk 47xx part 2

    By The Fatadder,

    Making use of one of my few remaining Friday afternoons off work I have cracked on with the 47xx body.
     
    It has now been fitted with all the remaining castings (epoxy) and etches (soldered except for the footplate steps under he smokebox which were too fiddly for me.)
     
    The pipe along the right side of the boiler was formed from brass tube, I pinned the cab end onto some 1mm brass rod to hold the two together
     
    This was followed by drilling holes for the handrails.
     
    There are three tasks remaining on the body
    > fit boiler hand rail
    > add step and steam lance to smokebox door
    > add cab details (after painting)
     
    Next will be working on the chassis, it needs slide bars/ motion, brakes and a round bar filing flat then drilling as a mount for the pony truck. We are out with friends this evening, so it will have to wait until tomorrow now.
     
    Once I have the final bits glued on, attention will turn back to my 1998 class 58s to get them finished off before it’s back to the 47xx chassis
  5. The Fatadder
    Ever since it’s release I have wanted to get a DJM/ Hattons 1400 class, the only problem being that while Newton Abbot had a number of them allocated, they were not used on the Kingsbridge. (At least I have not seen any evidence of use on the branch). Further more there were no mainline turns en route to a different branch which would have taken one through Brent (other than a 1400 stationed further west en route to NA or Swindon for a works visit.
    This said, in the post war period there were a lot of odd things happening, as you get into BR days more records of these odd workings are maintained (see examples of a 94xx seen on the Calne and Cheddar lines which weren’t red coded). My logic is that imideatly post war similar exceptions must have been happening due to shortages etc, just people didn’t record or photograph it.
     
    Anyway this leads on to my 14xx, my logic is that the auto set has been borrowed to run on the Kingsbridge branch due to a fault on the usual set.
     
    Onto the model, this all came about after finding a cheap Hattons model on eBay during the middle of Hurricane Irma (while I was stuck in a hotel in Orlando with the eye approaching.
     

    The model was a 5800 in BR black (unlined), the BR logo was hard to remove (I used microsol)
    this has left some residual scratches which will need weathering (as the W is slightly to the side of the br logo.
     
    Bufferbeams gained a new auto gear box, and of course the hmrs numbers (which really didn’t want to stick to paint)
     
    The depot plate was filed off the smokebox, while the very nice seperate br number plate was snipped off and the residual holes filled. (This now needs paint)
     
    The final job was to add the rod linking the hole in cab roof to the auto linkages, this was formed from wire, painted black and glued in place.
     
    The final task tonight was the removal of the etched plates (which stand just proved of the body side) I will fill the gap (either filler or a bit of 10 thou cut to size) prior to fitting the new plates. I now need to order them from narrow planet!
     
    All that’s left is to weather it (for which it is near the top of the pile) and fit the plates plus a driver. Oh and detail an OO auto coach for it.
     
    There is one final error I haven’t sorted, it shouldn’t have bunker steps
     

    As it started
     

    A quick comparison, on the left a DJM 58xx concerted to a 14xx, on the right a Hornby 14xx converted to a 58xx (heavily detailed with new boiler underside, firebox detailing, new smokebox door/chimney, new handrails and flush glazing plus a high level chassis.
  6. The Fatadder
    In the companion topic focusing on the construction of Brent, I recently touched upon the subject of the growing backlog of loco projects that is currently building up stored on one end of the fiddleyard. There are currently 8 locos in store on the layout, along with a couple of extras awaiting component orders (notably bodies for a 94xx and a 64xx which are awaiting High Level chassis, and the Finney and Mitchell kits for which the intended use is still tbc.)
     
    Yesterday the focus was on resolving running issues with 3817 and rebranding the tender of 6027 to GWR.
     
    Next in the queue is Eynsham Hall.
     
    As has previously been mentioned, this is a Bachmann body / tender which I have adjusted to Post War livery, and is fitted to a Comet Chassis (for which I can take none of the credit given it was purchased from the late Geoff Brewin's estate and if I recall correctly was given the once over by Mr Wright to ensure it was in tip top running condition prior to sale.)
    The first task at hand was to try and recover the windows, in a moment of stupidity I forgot to mask the windows prior to revarnishing it. Naturally that means they are now very cloudy, my solution was to apply a thick layer of Klear onto both sides of the glazing. This has had the desired effect and now there is a lot more transparency to the window.
    In the longer term I intend to repaint the loco into Wartime black (given that Eynsham Hall was repainted black circa '44 and hadnt had another major works visit post war.) When this happens my plan is to plate over the windows to solve the problem permanently!)
     
    Moving on to the real reason for digging the loco out, I want to introduce this loco into the testing routine. The logic being that as such a good runner, it should be ideally placed to differentiate between the route cause question as to whether it is the loco or the track). The problem is that the loco body is stuffed full of lead, so there is absolutely nowhere to put the decoder. There is however a loco to tender connection to link to the tender pickups, the inside of the tender has a massive amount of space (given there is no representation of the coal space). So the plan was simple, hard wire a decoder into the tender.
     
    I started by connecting the track feed wires from the decoder (an old Lenz 1025 in this case) to the copperclad strip for the tender pickups. Next the motor wires were unsoldered from the loco pickup strips, the grey / orange wires were then threaded through a hole in the front of the tender chassis and soldered onto the loco.
     
    Once put back together the loco was then given a good test, (and immediately highlighted a problem with the track on the door flap where the up main has a circa 1mm step.)6808

     
    The rest of the evenings work was focused on finishing off a few more locos; 6027, 5029 and 4085 were all treated to a repaint of the lower black areas to remove the last remaining traces of the pre war lining.


     
    Now off to Sevilla for the week, so not a lot more progress any time soon.
     
    I still have a few more locos in the awaiting work queue:
    4547 needs etched plates (yet to be commissioned), 7250 and 6808 are complete and need to be fitted with decoders. (As does Thomas and Percy)
    5071 has an electrical issue, and needs investigation as to why the loco is not running post decoder install.
    6013 still has some prewar lining to remove
    5029 needs the Great crest Western replacing with G crest W on one side.
    Finally 2846 needs a set of tender wheels, but is otherwise finished.
     
    On top of that, there are the more involved projects.
    5108 is probably the top of this list as it needs the least work. The slide bars were missing off the cylinders on purchase at a bargain price, i had planned to just buy a replacement set of cylinders for a few pounds and get it running. The downside is that none of the Hornby spares provides have this in stock, and on eBay they go for more than I paid for the hole loco! My plan is to fabricate the support bracket (either using some old etches left over from a 43xx or from brass strip), then add the slide bars. I have some etches, but not sure of their capability to be fitted to the Hornby cylinder or work with the Hornby cross head. Instead my current logic is to replicate the Hornby arrangement with square brass rod replacing the long lost plastic. Once that is complete the loco just needs new logos and a decoder (although it may yet join the black locos as I have still to find a 1947 photo to verify the colour.)
     
    Beyond that are projects like the Saint and County which are much further away...
  7. The Fatadder
    Operation of the Kingsbridge branch requires 2 small prairies for passenger duties, one based in Kingsbridge and the other arriving during the day to cover the busy period in which a train runs in each direction at the same time. There is also a need for a third small prairie to run with the second loco above on an Exeter Plymouth working based on a memory from gwr expert John Lewis of a double headed 4575 power.
     
    The first loco was renumbered a while back to 4582, a frequent visitor to the branch which has been included in photos in one of the Brent books. This was a straight renunber of the Bachman model, and now sits awaiting purchase of a small DCC decoder to be fitted.

     
    The second was on the bench this evening, chosen to be a Newton Abbot 4500 class 4526 to give an it of variation in tank design. First up the Bachman printed number plates had to be removed (they are huge!). This was accomplished easily with microsol, as were the numbers on the ends. Plates from Coast Line models were then painted and fitted to the cabsides along with the usual HMRS transfers for the numbers.
    A bit of damage to the black paint on the footplate was repaired (the perils of eBay), and it now joins its sister at the top of the decoder queue.

     
    There is still further work to be completed, 4526 was incorrectly modelled with portholes on the cab front (why on a post war loco when Bachman have the correct cab tool!). Fortunately I am sure I have an etch somewhere that just needs a coat of green paint)
    Secondly is the GWR logos on the tanks, the Bachman printing is a bit rubbish. The density of colour is poor, and they seem a bit too big. They will be removed on both locos and replaced with the HMRS version. Furth r detailing, coal, lamps etc will be completed in phase two along with the rest of the fleet.
     
    So that is everything numbered for which I have the parts. The remaining 4 locos (plus 4025 for which I still need to find a reasonably priced Hornby Star to buy) have just been ordered from Narrow Planet, very good value at £3 unpainted (but not quite as good as Coast Line were!). Looking forward to their arrival, to finish off numbering the 72xx, 42xx, 51xx and 28xx (and hopefully the Star!)
  8. The Fatadder
    A little more work this morning while waiting for the inlaws to drop Evie home.
     
    After rereading the instructions with a clear head, I now have a better idea of the firebox construction (picking up on a paragraph I missed last night in my sleep deprived state.
     
    So first up was the profiling of the corners of the firebox, using detail photos of the preserved loco as a guide. I think it needs a bit more material removed, but want the boiler before I file any more.
     
    Once I had finished with the file, I soldered the firebox to the cab front (followed by more fettling to clear the splashes. Now I am getting very close to the limit of construction without any rolling bars...)
     
    There are still some small details awaiting soldering, but most I would rather wait until it's further progressed.
     
    I also did a little more to 3215, adding a Gibson brass chimney to replace the thin Bachmann one. It's missing the deflector lip around the top front that's present on the Finney casting. Now needs a touch of paint. It will get the spare cab sides and roof from the kit
  9. The Fatadder

    Wills Saint

    By The Fatadder,

    A while back I picked up a bargain part built Wills Saint from the second hand stand at a preserved railway, with the intention of rebuilding it as St Dunstan in post war livery (St Dunstan being the name of the junior school I went to as a child).
     
    Upon stripping back the components, it was clear that some of the components were in a worse state than others (in particular the boiler which had a large cutout for an X04 motor and a lot of rivet detail missing on the top of the boiler.
     
    After soldering together the foot plate, and the boiler as two separate units I added a new lower boiler from plasticard (following the same approach I used on 5813) I have been fitting new rivets by drilling hole and fitting a small length of brass wire filed to size. Time consuming and tedious, but its looked pretty good so far.
     
    The boiler has now been fitted to the footplate, although the fit is not great so it will require a bit more work to finish.
     
    Now need to decide if it will be finished to P4 or remain with the OO Romfords it came with....

  10. The Fatadder

    High Level Chassis

    By The Fatadder,

    Over the past week I have been building a High Level kit for a 58xx chassis to use with 5813. Given the number of very good threads detailing the construction of these on here, I wont go into detail. Just a couple of photos.
     
    Construction broadly followed the instructions, the slight differences were adding the horn blocks to the sides using my Avonside jig before adding the spacers.
     
    I have also removed the springs to enable the removal of all axles (ive yet to decide on how I will keep them in place).
     
    Testing has so far been promising, I have noticed that one part was missing from the gearbox which allows the first idler to move on its shaft and disengage from the worm (this will be rectified today!) After which I will give it a proper test run up and down the test track, then get it going on the rolling road to run in the gearbox.



     
    The final jobs are to fit the remaining handrails to the body and to build the brakegear (ensuring of course that it is fully removable) I want to get both of these sorted tonight / tomorrow so that I can have the loco finished (well ready for painting) before I make a start on the next project.
     
    High Level have now released a horn block bearing for a 3mm diameter axle, as such as soon as my order arrives I will be able to build my High Level chassis for 2220. This is going to be my first attempt with CSBs... This will need some major modification to the Ultrascale wheels (reducing the boss thickness and removing the original gear) however it seems that the going rate for RTR conversion ultrascales on ebay is a significant saving on buying 1/8th parts new (this set was cheaper than a set of Gibsons!)
     
    However the temptation may well be to start on my Dean Goods, given that I will be picking up the Finney kit on Sunday. The intention with this is to take inspiration from Martin Blackwell's MRJ article on building 2 locos from one kit, and to build myself a pair of them (with the second getting a High Level chassis, and the first getting the Finney working valve gear If I can manage to get it working...) The first is going to be 2340 (given the photo of the loco on the branch in 1949 in one of the Cheddar books) For this one I want to ensure all the details are correct, so will need more research to start identifying footplate / firebox / cab type identification.
    The other is undecided (and will depend a lot on what is left). I'm not sure I even need two Dean Goods so it may well end up on Ebay (though I doubt I will want to part with it once finished). If it turns out to be suitable, I quite fancy doing the one they have at Steam given the number of photos I took of it when I was there the other week.....
     
    I think the sensible option is going to be the High Level kit, particularly as I need to use the 1/8 inch hornblocks to use the chassis jig when fitting the horn guides (logically I should then be able to replace with the identical 3mm component afterwards without any issue....)
  11. The Fatadder
    Having debated buying a jig for some time now, I have finally taken the plunge and bought an Ultralite version of Avonside's Chassis2 jig
    Which I think with a couple of modifications (such as adding my own Tufnol plate), should serve my needs well at a fraction of the full jig's cost.
     
    As a quick test, I have taken my Mitchell 43xx chassis (purchased off ebay without wheels). Thankfully after setting the jig by the con rods, it sits perfectly (so I am hopeful that once I add the wheels this should prove for good running.)
     
    Now either need C&L to start selling Exactoscale (so I can get some 3mm ID hornblocks for my 2251) or else its going to be a wait until Christmas when I should be getting the chassis for the 58xx and pannier
     

     

    The second photo shows the start of my new work station, (saved from a skip). The intention is to add a 1.5 inch width shelf on the back (at the top hight), and a lower shelf half way up with holes for files, glue bottles etc.
    Once I buy the 4mm ply for baseboard construction, there aught to be ample left for this.
     
    Once finished it will let me work on models downstairs (and hence keep an eye on the dog at the same time.)
  12. The Fatadder
    In an attempt to distract myself, having reached saturation point revising for next weeks Strategic Cima exams, I have spent a bit of time working on 5813 today.
     
    As discussed in my previous blog, I had completed work on the boiler adding the mainly trains detailing bits along with scratch building the missing lower boiler (probably the most noticeable modification)
     
    After finding some suitable etched doors in my scrap box, I have decided to model on door open and the other closed. It seems that a lot of 14xx photos (along with the few 58xx I have found) have the cab door open. looking at the sole photo I have found of 5813 on the Cheddar branch, it does look as though the door may be open...
     
    At any rate, this will give a better view as to the detailed cab interior.
     
    I decided to rectify another issue with the airfix model while I am at it, the gap between the cab door and the footplate. (moulded flush with the door)
     
    The next job was to add the cab floor,
    I started by adding the missing front bulkhead, adding the materiel surrounding the backhead (which will be added post painting). Once this was fitted I glued in the new floor. This was formed in 2 parts, a 40thou base (resting on 2 supports that were measured to get the high correct). On top of this is an overlay of 10thou which sticks out to form the cab steps.
     
    Once the floor was finished, I added the rear bulkhead, this was again formed of a couple of bits of 40thou. Detailed with a couple of etched seats, a plasticard coal hole cover, and the break leaver recessed in as per Castles photos in this thread
     
    It has also had the box shown in Castle's photos on the left hand side. (again made from laminated plasticard)
     
    This is all a bit of a guess, but will hopefully look close enough.
     
    The next jobs:
    There is still one pipe remaining on one side that should be removed for a 58xx. I'm a little concerned with this one, as there is so much rivet detail near to it that will make removal difficult...
     
    I also keep looking at the sandbox operating leavers on the front, thinking about replacing with brass strip. At the moment I am thinking against it, but I suspect given how long it is going to be until I can paint the loco I will attempt it at some point...
     
    Finally, the boiler washout plugs still need to be added. I have successfully replicated Buffalo's method, but the brass tube I have has walls which are too thick. it either takes a lot of fettling to thin them, (or more likely I wont get the rest made until I buy some thin walled tube!)
     
    Photos:




  13. The Fatadder

    GWR Toad pt1

    By The Fatadder,

    Going to need to model a couple of break vans for Cheddar, a topic on which I havent much research yet.
     
    To start with I have an old Bachmann 20t model
     
    The first thing to go were the moulded on hand rails, a pig of a job carefully carving with a new scalple then finishing off with a square ended blade. At the same time I removed the moulded on lamp irons, and the break shoes.
     
    The planed work:
    New sprung W Irons (just need to confirm which type)
    New hand rails, still debating which method to use, draw it up as a flat etch (and hence avoid the issue of fabricating the shape) or to solder up from brass wire. Either way the distinctive mounting brackets will be included on my next etch
    New break gear
    New lamp irons,
    New chimney (from brass tube)
    Shawplan glazing
    A few other details on the end
    I am debating about modelling the door open and including more internal detail. Its my assumption at on a hot summer's day, the guard will be wanting to try and get it as cool as possible in the van, so the window hatch and door would be open.

    Going to try and work out which other break van diagrams can be used on Cheddar. Hopefully I can justify a few more different versions....
  14. The Fatadder

    37667

    By The Fatadder,

    Finally got on and 'finished' 37667 today, fitting the Shawplan etched headcode boxes to the end. These were added after suffering issues with seepage under masking tape when I originally tried masking off the black head code boxes.
     
    Still not happy with the look of the sandite port, suspect that I am going to end up having to replace this with a custom etch at some point to add the missing bolt head detail (I know the etch came with half etched marks to press through the bolts, but having cut out the centre to get the correct depth it resulted in an etch that was too fragile to press out the bolts. The photo I was working from showed it at a slight angle, though I think I might have it set at slightly too much of an angle. Again not a lot that can be done there.
     
    Still needs to get a new roof grill and correct nose grills (both will get done at the same time once parts are available), and there is a need for some chassis detail (air tanks & separate fuel tanks) but thats going to have to wait until I decide what I am going to do with the loco.
     
    With this loco nearing completion, its got me thinking about my Class 37 fleet, and the feeling that I have too many of them. The class 37 is a very odd loco, I think the real thing is actually rather unattractive, as are a fair proportion of the liveries carried, so given I make a lot of my decisions on what to model based on looks I cant quite understand why I have so many. The noise the prototype makes would have something to do with it (and I guess that recollection of them from uni).
     
    As mentioned before, I have 4 main operating periods, (all be it with 2 of them on hold for the time being).
     
    1998/99
    37672 - Transrail, this is a Bachmann model which has been resprayed to correct the colour of the grey's used.
    37670 - EWS - modelled with no sandite gear limiting it to 98
    37521 - EWS - again modelled with no sandite gear.
     
    2002/3
    37667 - EWS - As detailed above with detail variations
    37612 - DRS - currently awaiting repainting to fix where the paint peeled off with masking. Again details such as the reinforced windscreen limit this to post 2000.
     
    I suppose it is possible to just run 670 and 521 in the 2002 period with the sandite side facing towards the operator, though saying that I think 2 locos per period is probably enough, so maybe adding sandite to either 670 or 521 once I have sorted the new etch would balance things out nicely.....
     
    There is also another pair in 411 and 417, both of which are out side of my time period and really aught to be sold on. However they are the only locos in my fleet that I really have any connection to the prototype (bringing back memories of them thrashing out of Queen Street past Cardiff University's Engineering department), and as such I'm rather attached to them....
    37417 - I dont think this was named until 2004, however this and 411 are really good memories of my time in Cardiff (with the Engineering department next to Queen Street station, and Class 37 loco hauled workings going past. One thing I really missed when I was studying at Loughborough was the lack of a railway line & Class 37s passing by the window!)
    37411 - Completely out of period and cant even be slipped in on the edge of period like 417. Following my new 'rules' for clearing out surplus stock, I really aught to be getting rid of this (and 417) but for the time being sentimental value is over rulling common sense. I suspect that one day when I have a proper railway room, these will be joining the prototype deltic and my sole remaining Hymek in a display case..... (or I suppose I could just build that Cardiff layout.............)
     
    For 1984-5 there are 3 locos
    207 - Cornish Railways
    235 - BR Blue
    196 - Large logo grey
     
    and for 1987-88
    412 - Large Logo blue
    673 - RFD
    675 - Redstripe
     
    Again I think for both of these its probably one loco too many, however for 80s China Clay running the 37 is such a critical loco its probably handy to have a third on hand in case one of the other two dies. In all this seems to have been a rather silly exercise writing this all up, given that I dont really want to part with the only 2 locos which are out of period/area. Still, the next job is going to be going through my Class 50 fleet and deciding which of those are surplus, going to be some very hard decisions there! Made even more difficult by the forthcoming release of more detailing bits for them from Shawplan, which sadly makes it look like the pride of my fleet, the weathered Implacable & Victorious will be the first to make the trip over to the Classifieds

  15. The Fatadder
    Another quick project which has very little use (prototypically at least) for the new layout. I'm back home in devon for a few days, and given the weather isnt good enough to do the painting I had planned I have dug out a quick project to keep me occupied, converting my NRM deltic to P4
     
    I'm going to set about doing this slightly different than usual, this time using Exactoscale 14mm wheels. My reasoning for this is three fold, firstly the wheels were purchased with the intention of fitting them to my CDAs, however unreliable running (followed by the decision to mill out the wirons to accept Maygibs (and the prototypical break disks) resulted in these wheels not having a use. This loco is primarily intended as a display piece, a good reason therefore to go with the best profiled wheels. Finally, I know that the Bachmann all axle drive chassis can be something of a dog running wise, so I am hopeing that through using a combination of a tricky chassis with wheels that are the most sensitive to track imperfections, this loco will be ideal for testing trackwork on Bodmin (under the assumption that if this will work through it, anything will!)
     
    So onto the conversion...
     
    The first problem is that the wheels are designed to use Exactoscales own design of axle, which even for its intended use I really do not like. For this use its a complete no goer, given the need for a 2mm axle to accept the gears/bearings. So the first step was to modify the wheels to accept a 2mm diameter axle. thankfully the boss in the centre of the wheel has a 2mm OD, So I placed the wheels over a slightly open vice so that the inner face is on top, it was then gently hit with the flat side of a pair of pliers to knock the boss through the wheel, and in the process break the bond between it and the plastic surround. The next step was to use the pliers and pull the boss out of each wheel (being very careful to ensure that it comes out perpendicular to the wheel face and not mess up the alignment.)
     
    Once the wheels were all sorted, I made up some axles. these were taken from some OO wagons that were due for conversion, pulling off the wheels and then filing off the pinpoints before fitting one of the new wheels to each axle.
     
    The rest follows the standard procedure for loco rewheeling, pulling off the gears and bearings from the Bachmann axles and replacing them onto the new ones. Annoyingly I havent got my back to back or gear puller to hand, so this will have to wait until Ive returned to bucks later in the week (unless someone has one at DRAG tonight.)
  16. The Fatadder
    A quick update to follow my previous blog post on Gunnels, finally got five minutes internet access so can upload the photos from my laptop.
     
    I have now started the next couple of wagons, so should end up finishing a couple more soon...
  17. The Fatadder
    Finally made a start on detailing up my first Class 50, something of a test bed to decide what exactly I am going to do to the rest of them in the future.
     
    So far:
     
    Roof grill, replaced the Hornby grill with the Shawplan etch. Didnt get on too well with the etched baseplate and ended up scratch building my own. followed by fitting the etched fan.
     
    Moving to the exhaust, I removed the Hornby detail first carving off the worst of it with a scalpel then tidying up with wet and dry glued onto a plasticard offcut
    Still need to add the no2 end etch...
     
    On the sides, I removed the the lifting eyes and break linkages to replace with plasticard and shawplan etches respectively
     
    Finally for now are the cab windows, again another shawplan etch (which will be followed with some laser cut glazing
     

     

    I also have a set of Jon's cast 50 grills which will probably get fitted.
     
    Other than the above, I am debating repowering the loco with modified Vi Trains bogies (given the improved running qualities they offer) but first will be testing to see how much running improves with Ultrascales over the Gibson / Branchlines conversions I am currently running.
     
    As for what the loco will be finished as, current thinking is to go for Hood or Defiant in preserved Large Logo given that they would be of use for my current layout plan, Hood is already in my fleet so would be a sensible choice given my intention to go through the lot gradually replacing each loco with a more detailed equivalent.
    This is about it for now, need to strip the sides before I do much more there.
     
    Will be ordering a set of Shawplans deltic etches later in the week, so that should be my next project...
  18. The Fatadder
    After being given a Hornby Networker shell by a mate on Friday, yesterday I got back to work on my 325 conversion.
     
    First off I repeated the process removing the end, side and roof detail on the other 3 doner coaches. With that completed the next step was to replace the glazing strips, I had originally planned to use plasticard for this (thinking it would be a more consistent base for paint than the clear strips), but when taking the dimensions off the Hornby strip I realised that it actually was made to the profile of the coach (and as such required reusing the Hornby window strip.) This was cut into 3 lengths and then glued to the coach side with a gap between them in the location of the doors.
     
    With that done the next step should have been adding the doors and corridor connection recess, however I was a little impatient (and for once it looks like that impatience has paid off). the process was a simple one, cutting just behind the cab door on the new cabs and at the appropriate place on the coach. However once you try to match the two parts up you realise that there is a pretty significant difference in profile on the lower coach side (would require approximately 1mm of materiel removing along the length of the coach to get it to match the cab profile.)
     
    So this then got me thinking about alternative methods,
    - The first option is to modify the cab to match the coaches, I think that if you cut back the moulding to remove the cab doors then glued to the coach and filed the final 10mm of coach side to taper to the cab front (then added the door detail) would blend the cab into the coach.
     
    - Knowing that people have had success converting a Bratchel kit I broke the cab off one of my 456s and test fitted the networker cab to that. Here the side profile is closer (but still there is a difference of just over .5mm at the base) this is compounded by the Bratchel body being slightly wider than the Networker cab. I dont really want to pay upwards of ??100 for a kit to convert thats still going to require major work. However I then got thinking about the 456, it dosnt fit with my 3rd rail plans, and the 2nd unit still requires a scratch built underframe and cabs to correct the rubbish that came with the kit. One option would be to convert this to built the 2 driving coaches, and use with a pair of converted mk3s for the centre coaches.
     
    - While thinking over the bratchel option I started looking at the networker shell again, thinking that at least the cab will be a direct match with it. I believe that the body is a bit long for this application (by about 6mm or so) so it would need to be shortened. theres also a potential problem with the inner ends, which lack the taper in on the sides that the prototype have, and are a lot flatter than the mk3/bratchel (though I'm not too sure which the prototype matches, as the only end on photo I have found does look very flat (plus has the other details matching the networker.)
    The big problem here will be sourcing the required components, I already need one more body (along with the one I have) to provide inner ends for a 465, in order to do a 325 I would require 6 bodies (4 forming the coaches, and 2 extras to get the additional inner ends that would be required.) I suppose that this could potentially be reduced slightly by casting the inner end, but I think the extra effort wouldn't be worth the cost saving.
    A couple of years back there were always hundreds of networker shells on Ebay, not to mention the likes of Model Spairs et al. now they appear to be a lot more scarce.
     
    - The final 2 options are probably a bit less viable, but worthy of consideration none the less. First there is the simple give up, the units would almost certainly never be seen on my planned layout, let alone be a common sight. So it wouln't be any real loss if I gave up on the idea. The other rejected option was to etch sides/roof/end along with the Hornby cab, While this would work nicely, it would be much too high cost (particularly allowing for the number of dud test etches before getting the profile right!), and at the end of the day is too much work for something thats not really needed.
  19. The Fatadder

    Clan Line's Tender

    By The Fatadder,

    Dont you just hate it when you spend absolutely ages looking for a photo, and then when you find it realise that theres a lot more work to do....
     
    Came across this photo last night, http://www.jason-cottage.fotopic.net/p51561520.html, which gives a pretty clear view of the top of the tender. In the process confirming what I was afraid of that the recess cut into the back of the tender does have an open top (all be it with a grill over the top). The problem is that with a thick sided plastic moulding, even drilling it out would result in a much too thick side.
    My plan here then, is to draw up an etch for the grill which will be glued on as an overlay to the top of the back, and not model the hole under it.
     
    The photo also shows what I was originally looking for, in that the water filler cap has been replaced with two flaps (one on each side) which will now be added from 10 thou plasticard.
  20. The Fatadder
    Not really a lot to say on this, other than its a much more difficult conversion than Clan Line was. The big problem at the moment is that there is not enough space inside the splashers to fit the new wheels. Off the top of my head the 'front to front' width of the new wheels is 22mm, the rear and centre splashers have a clearance of 22.5mm between them, whereas the front wheel only has 21.5mm clearance.
     
    I can see 4 possible courses of action:
    1) give up - not really an option given that it will take so much effort to rebuild the chassis to get the loco in a sellable condition, unless I could make back what I paid for it this just isnt an option.
    2) file out the splashers to get more clearance on each one, by my reckoning the middle and rear splasher are each about 0.8mm in thickness, I hope to be able to reduce this by half without weakening them too much (thus getting 1mm or so clearance on those two axles). The big problem is the lead axle, while the rear/centre splashers are attached to the boiler, the lead one is attached to the running plate (thus a lot harder to remove and less of an indication as to their width. in order to get enough materiel removed I am worried that it will go through the plastic
    3) I know that with other wheels Gibsons are often a bit wider than the alternatives, it would be interesting to know the width of the Ultrascale option. The final option would be the Exactoscale product (which from experence are normally a scale width and will fit where other wheels wont. But I doubt they could be made to work with the Hornby chassis
    4) which leads to option 4, by far the most expensive option, use the exactoscale wheels along with an etched chassis
     
    For the time being I think the best course of action is going to be to put it all to one side and concentrate on other projects. Firstly I really should find out just how well Clan Line works before starting another large loco, secondly the Hornby A3 chassis has taken a backward step from that in the MN in that they have got rid of the sprung rear axle. This does result in a bit of a worry as to how well a completely solid chassis will run (baring in mind that it has 4 fixed axles). Tis all a bit of a shame really, as I really fancy getting a Castle at some point and that suffers from the same issue what wheels probably wont fit.
     
    Hopefully Gibson will soon have the drivers for City of Truro available and I can get on with converting that instead!
     
    A quick question, just to set my mind at rest. what should the distance be between the outside face of the splasher and the outside edge of the plate it sits on?
  21. The Fatadder
    I've now added most of the transfers to one side of the first wagon. (just needs tops code and number)
     
    The Fox sheet is intended for the 2nd version of the livery carried by these wagons, this has a slightly wider blue band than the 3rd version of the livery that I am doing.
    If the transfers were straight it would be a simple case of cutting them down to size, but of course they aren't.....
     
    _
    I started by trying to fit as intended, but as I suspected the new ribs stop this from working (the Lima rib is more of a / \ patten, whereas mine are square.) I then carefully applied the transfer for the first letter and first rib, then made a cut before the 2nd letter (repeating for the rest). I found this rather difficult to get them straight, so the next one I will try cutting before fitting (a little more tricky as they arnt all the same width.) I have 2 wagons worth of spare transfers (the transfer pack comes with 6 wagons worth) while I would much prefer to keep these for use on future wagons (no doubt I will end up wanting more PTAs at some point!) it does at least give me some spares to expiriment with.
     
    Will have a try at reducing the hight on the next one as well...
     
    As for this one, my plan is to let it dry, then carefully cut a straight line on the top and bottom of the logo at the correct hight, then scrape off the unwanted bit.
     
    I am missing a couple of the small logos (the blue one on the right hand side is the most noticeable)
     
    The final decision I need to make is what to do about tops codes / numbers, the sheet includes transfers for both PTA, JUA and JTA. I assume that JUA/JTA are specific to inners and outer wagons (JTA and JUA respectively) and would be more appropriate for wagons in my era. Saying that, this gallery http://wagons.fotopic.net/c1490381.html shows a couple of PTAs in Yeoman in storage/scrapping in the late 2000s still with PTA branding (the only photos I have seen with JTA branding are a set with all the logos painted out on Martyn's fotopic.)
     
    The numbers are a bit of a pain really, sadly the sheet dosnt come with any made up number sets, but has got the PR 14x done. However looking at photos I havent seen a Foster Yeoman PTA in the 14x number series, they are all numbered in the 26x series (and looking at photos on Paul's fotopic, they were in the 26x series in both previous liveries (including the one the transfers are designed for.) Were any PTAs numbered 140xx / 141xx /142xx ?

  22. The Fatadder
    This post will make a lot more sense to those who have a copy of 'Bridges for Modellers' by L.V. Wood........
     
    I've been spending some time today thinking about what to do with the 3 bridges on the layout.
     
    For the bridge at the platform end I have decided to go with something very similar to the prototype at Botley, in having an arch bridge of brick construction with no wing walls. As with the prototype the gap between the inside of the arch and the edge of the platform will be quite tight.
     
    The footbridge I am still undecided on,
    I am favouring the idea of kitbashing either a kit or rtr bridge (mostly because I would prefer to avoid the expense of etching components for the mesh), Of the designs I have looked at it seems to be between the two Ratio products, although both would need fairly hefty modification to get the bridge to carry across to the road. I really like the new covered type discussed in this thread, particularly after looking at Chris Nevard's photo showing a similar bridge on the SE division. The biggest problem is that its not a stright topped bridge, and the lattice would mean buying 2 of them in order to extend to the road. on the plus side the painted finish makes things a lot easier to paint.
    The other option is Ratio's concrete footbridge, again this is the high centre type, but this is slightly less of an issue given the concrete design will be very easy to expand with plasticard on one side. Not keen on painting and weathering concrete though.
    Not sure which I will go with yet...
     
    Finally there is the farm bridge at the other end, this is where the book comes in, figures 93, 118 and 120 show the bridge I am planning on basing it on. This is a brick arch over the mainline and a girder bridge over the branch. will be based off the drawings in the book, adapted to fit the location.
  23. The Fatadder
    This morning was spent working on 47709, which has now been sprayed up in Fraggonset black. other than a few of the usual areas which could do with some minor touching up its gone on pretty well. Once again the masking tape has failed to do its job so the cantrail stripe is going to need to be repainted (along with touching up the paint on one corner of the cab roof).
     
    Now that the paint has dried the next job is going to be preparing the ends to be resprayed. Most annoyingly will have to prime first given I need to paint out a black headcode box at one end, so thats an extra days work and another layer of masking. Still, have saved some time by reusing the Vi Trains roof colour (although at some point the panel over the boiler port needs changing to the rectangular type which may mean respraying the roof to match...
     
    In readyness for painting tomorrow I have set about tidying up the cab front removing the mould line above the handrail (normally the handrail seems to hide it pretty well, but i figured since I'm respraying I may as well....
     
    Ended up heading into town to do my christmas shopping today, and stopped by Hobbycraft on the way home hoping to find some weathering powders. Ended up with two sets of the Tamier ones which I have been trying out on 47768,
    So far I have had a bit of an issue getting the colours to go around detail (ie where I want to be dirtiest) but quite happy with the look of the bogies.
    The affect around the exhaust port could do with being a lot darker, so I think will have to get on and buy some mig powders to do that!
     
    Again the photo is pretty poor quality given the lighting conditions need to get a finer applicator to refine the dark stains under the roof panel joints, and give the roof a much better going over once I have some different powders to use. I do think that these tamier colours are pretty handy for building up road dirt on a flush sided loco though

  24. The Fatadder

    Warley 2009

    By The Fatadder,

    Had a very busy day at Warley today,
     
    First up the shopping list that seems to be a prerequisite of a post Warley forum posting...
     
    As mentioned elsewhere I've been very good this year, with all but ??16 of my spending coming from the cash I brought with me, and the sales of some etches. Those who know me will probably be amazed
     
    First up was the all important rail for my 2010 challenge layout, 2 packs of Exactoscale FB steel rail. I'd like to thank Exactoscale for the exceptional service I got to day, truly it was above and beyond what was expected!
     
    Next up, and keeping with the P4 theme is a set of Gibson wheels for Clan Line, another one of those jobs thats been on the todo pile for far too long! This will be a straight rewheel of the Hornby model to begin with, with the intention to then go and do some extra work increasing the width of the main chassis and some significant work on the tender to get it to preserved condition. Looking forward to hopefully getting it finished before I next go to DRAG so I can give it a proper test run...
     
    After chatting with a mate early on in the day who had just got a Vi 47 at the bargain price of ??50 I couldnt resist, and then followed a wild goose chase around the hall trying to find said trader. Having finally found them (MB Models if anyones interested), I then handed over the notes for 47401. This is now going to get detailed up, and will be resprayed into Large Logo grey later in the year (unless of course Vi bring out a large logo grey machine in the mean time, in which case either Blue Pullman (if I havent sold the rake by then) or Fraggonset would seem likely alternatives.
     
    My final item was a set of Shawplan's new Class 47 roof grills. These have now been fitted to what will become 47813, a lot of care was needed with this as Vi Trains have got the roof grill too big, so the frame needs to be completely removed and there is only just enough materiel left for the new mesh to sit on. Also included with it is a multi part etched brass fan comprising of about 7 different parts, this was glued up and fitted to the Vi Trains mounts. Will be getting some photos of this uploaded this evening (right now I need a rest after being on the feet practically the whole day!) While the etch dosnt come cheap, I'd go as far as saying that its probably Brian's finest grill work yet and does include a fair few more bits than the existing 37 & 20 or the new 56 grills.
     
    <Photo to come>
  25. The Fatadder
    Following on from my last blog 'Second Thoughts' I've been thinking some more about where I see my modelling going over the next couple of years.
     
    First up the two baseboards that I have already are slightly too big for the 2010 challenge, which does add an extra complexity to my deliberations (mostly stemming from the fact that I dispise any form of woodwork, and while I do keep having thoughts about building a metal framed baseboard, it dosnt suit its self to the sort of odd shape that I would be looking at building for a challenge layout.
    That should be the end of it, but.......
     
    The first problem is with stock; As I have mentioned before, I have currently got stock for 4 main periods focused around the south west, This includes the early 80s, late 80s, 1998 and 2003-2006. On top of this there is also a bunch of stock still left over from some previous projects.
    This really is just a bit too much stock (I think I have 7 or 8 Class 50s, getting on for 15 37s, umpteen 47s etc etc etc) even with a large continuous run layout, there is still way more stock than I will ever use.
     
    So the logical thing is to try and thin some of it down, getting rid of some of the 'its nice but little use' locos, (Just to stop the pms before they start flooding in, this is not intended as a For Sale thread. That will come later (if at all), more a case of putting thoughts into writing to try and get a clearer idea of what I actually want.
    Looking at my fleet, am I ever going to need 4 different mainline steam locos? (particularly as the Mallard never ran in my area) Alas the Scotsman I have is half dismantled and will probably never be finished until I end up building a new chassis for it (more on this in a couple of lines time)
    Similarly I have a pair of 456 kits that are half finished (still requiring a fair bit of scratch building on one of them) and a pair of 466 one of which is in bits half way through a motor swap. A box of Lima Class 73s (again all motorless awaiting Bachmann 25 power), a full set of blue pullman mk2s that still needs the buffets painting & upgrading + locos buying, again which falls slightly out of period.
    Then we get onto things like the HSTs, and the long ballast rakes, ideal if a large continuous run is built, but will those models still be current when (if) that ever happens, and if it does happen I suspect I would wait for Showcase or Scaleforum to save on the hassle of postage etc.
     
    So the logical thing is to sell it on, they are a sunk cost after all, not going to appreciate in value and it will give me a nice bit of extra income (that could be used to pay for building a new layout. The problem here comes back to that business with the 466 and the Scotsman, in that so much of it is only partially finished, meaning that I'd take a huge hit on the original (or finished) value of the item. I dont like loosing money.....
     
    After thinking about all of this, I then started thinking about it all a little differently. At the moment I keep trying to make layouts which will serve as a background that will let me run a few bits of stock I really like. the early 80s gets me 37207, clay hoods and my peak, the late 80s gives redstripe, NSE 50s and the first period that I can properly remember from childhood, 98 gives GWT livery (my all time favourite) along with a really interesting traffic mix, while 2003-6 gives a period which still has a lot of interesting stuff, but more importantly is after the use of digital cameras became widespread, meaning most research can be done online (which suites me a lot better than books).
     
    So maybe I am doing this the wrong way, maybe I should be continuing to build up a fleet for a 1998 layout that isnt China Clay meaning I keep the majority of my modern fleet (all be it with the later 2000s stuff slimmed down) and try to find a location which gives some of my other interests. That way the clay stuff can be kept to the 80s (minimising duplication of stock) and I can slim out a big chunk of duplicated models.
    I do quite fancy something in early privatisation that has bother GWT running with some 3rd rail stuff......
     
    After all of this, I return back to the 2010 challenge. I mentioned in the previous post that I am looking for a challenge with my modelling again, I want to try something that is a different challenge. Maybe if I went thorough with this cull, I may actually be able to do that. A couple of thoughts last night were looking around the southern region before the end of the slam door stock, though it does have the problem that while there is a challenge in the fact that all the stock needs to be kit built, they basicly share the same construction process so after one CIG I suspect the challenge will have worn off and be back to the dull repetitive stuff I cant really be bothered with.
    The other idea was well and truly out of the box, which was to have a go at Broad gauge steam, practically everything would be different to what I'm used to, with having to build a different style of track, everything from kits etc. Of course there is the other option of just deciding that maybe its the hobby as a whole thats not doing anything for me at the moment, and that maybe selling most of it up and trying something else for a couple of years might be a good idea.....
     
     
    Anyway, if anyone is still reading this nonsense, thanks for sticking through it. Suspect that Warley could be interesting this year, as it would be good to sound a few more people out on a few ideas...
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