Captain Kernow

1 hour ago, down the sdjr said:

i had assumed an "x" would mean empty

It might just be a means of 'marking the spot!'

In my experience, the legends 'MT' or 'ETY' were often used to convey the meaning 'empty'. This also applied in a kind of shorthand when writing memos etc.

instead I use Humbrol smoke pigment, a couple of rust and brakedust pigments by carr's and humbrol decalfix.

The results are very good indeed, most impressive.

When you say 'pigment' are you referring to something liquid or perhaps particles suspended in a liquid, or are they what might also be referred to as 'weathering powders', please?

The underframe is dealt with by applying a brake dust pigment and decalfix solution like a wash. Then areas of build up are treated separately and rust pigment dusted over where appropriate. The dusting will hopefully be sealed by the still wet decalfix 

Again, may I request a clarification of this (and perhaps answering my first question as well) - are you dusting powders over an already wet surface, when it comes to the underframes, please?

Many thanks in anticipation.

1 hour ago, Strathwood said:

Have you modified the coupling rods, by chance as my two look very different?

 

Kevin

Kevin, not sure if you are aware, but the loco has a completely new chassis, which in my case is a Perseverance kit - 

In terms of the kit, I don't recall that I modified the coupling rods.

I was literally waiting for someone to spot that! I only realised this myself a few weeks ago.

Not to worry, in my timeline, the loco got a repaint and a later crest when it went to works for reboilering. Photos in the late 1950s show it with a top feed, yet the footage taken by Jim Clemens and subsequent still photos show it without.

I have a top feed example as well, which will be the other Kington goods loco - 1420, but I'm not messing with 1458 now, especially as I've just finished the weathering!

The first 14XX, with the Perseverance chassis, is finally completed, having been weathered over the last couple of weeks. Photos to follow.

3 minutes ago, JiLo said:

Very exciting about the plans to return to the moon, really hope it comes to fruition

Apparently it was meant to be in 2028 or by then, but apparently Trump has said it should be in 2024, 'coincidentally' the final year of his presidency, should we all be unlucky enough to have to go through a second term.

11 minutes ago, JiLo said:

50 years later, we've opened drive-thru Greggs.  Progress?

Rubbish, isn't it?

At least the USA now wants to return people to the moon within 10 years.

This is an interesting subject, Gavin, thanks for sharing your thoughts.

It is all too possible to analyse things too much and thereby become bogged down in a quagmire of planning, thinking about things, thinking a bit more and generally not doing anything.

One thing that I have found, is that when I have over-thought something for far too long, the actual execution of the job turns out to be a lot easier and quicker than I feared.

Like you, I have my P4 for times when I want to look fashionable in my hair shirt and OO for other times, except when I think I'm modelling in a more relaxed, OO kind of way, but forget that I haven't taken the hair shirt off. 'Bethesda' is getting a bit like that. I need to get on with it.

I take your point about the way that skills improve and older models are 'left behind' as regards the quality stakes. I don't have any easy answers for this one. It's certainly happened to me. In the past, I have had a go at rebuilding a model and on some occasions, it has been worth it. But mostly, I just accept that any given model is a 'snapshot' of that particular time and as long as it meets whatever basic criteria I have set for 'acceptability', I will use it on the layout.

Some models have been sold as well, as newer, better models become available. I have sold some older wagons and coaches on EBay, for example, to folk who were clearly happy to buy them, which was fine with me. I also have a very small number of my early models left, which have the status of 'museum pieces' with me. They live in their box (a display cabinet would do, if I had one), but don't get used on the layout. They are simply 'snapshots of the past', I suppose.

Your post has, however, prompted me to ask something that has been on my mind for a while now.

As we get older (I am now retired), we see that we have fewer modelling years ahead. The question is this, in our quest to get things finished (assuming that this is a priority, it probably isn't for some folk, which is also fine), do we deliberately lower our standards, in order to get the layout finished and operational, so that we can have some fun with it?

Or do we keep plodding away, working at the same, higher standard, where everything takes longer, but the finished result is probably of a higher quality, but with the increasing likelihood that we will shuffle off our mortal coil before things are finished?

I know what I think the pragmatic answer is for me, but as I said earlier, I keep forgetting to take the hair shirt off!

I liked the fact that you have expressed your views on this subject!

The 'like' button rules (and in some cases ruins) too many people's sense of calm and equilibrium. Too many people judge themselves, too harshly, because of this.

One way round this that I have found to be quite effective is not to care what people think!

(Of course, I probably do care more than I let on, but I do try not to, although I do know people, for whom the number of 'likes' that they receive is far too important a factor in their sense of self-worth (in my view, anyway).

PS. I think that some of what I said above is a rather less erudite version of what Edwardian said!

The weathering on the ash pits looks pretty good to me, Gavin!

14 minutes ago, Mikkel said:

 

not everyone has resonance.

Tell me about it, brother!

2 hours ago, Mikkel said:

Did I understand your Black 5 test right? If a Dean Goods looks like a Black 5, then is must be a Dean Goods?

 

Well, conceptually it rather depends on whether the aesthetic continuity of the natural lines of the Black 5 can be morphed into an analytical resolution of the internal dynamic of it's free standing resonance.

13 hours ago, Pannier Tank said:

How are the Stub Axles secured to the Gear Wheel on the original Dapol Wheel Set, are they a push fit, knurled or maybe glued?

I had to re-read my old blog to remind myself, but they appear to be a push fit. I don't recall much trouble getting the gear wheels off the original wheel sets. Please note, however, that the original Dapol OO wheelsets are based on a type of 'split chassis' principle, in that the 2mm axle is not continuous through the central plastic gear wheel.

19 minutes ago, Edwardian said:

 

Well, a G15 (Y6) has been seen on a light railway in Somerset .....

 

Outrageously improbable!

Top stuff, Gavin, many thanks for posting that.

I wasn't going to get one of these, because they're too far out of my geographical area, even for my outrageously improbable light railway, but then again, why shouldn't an outrageously improbable light railway have some even more outrageously improbably locomotives?

Glad KMRC sorted it out so quickly, but not surprised, they are very good like that.

13 hours ago, bgman said:

Dave,

I've found the one ( just one so far ! ) that I made about 6 months ago after looking at the Appreciation website and came up with this....

 

 

I just need to build the layout to plonk it on now ! 

 

G

I have to say that that is one of the most realistic wood grain effects in model form that I have ever seen, Grahame.

Were you aware that Alan Gibson does milled frames for a 54XX/64XX/74XX?

You'd need to supply hornblocks and fixed bearings, as there are rectangular 'cut outs' for all axles, but it's still a lot better than the old Stephen Poole option.

I am in awe!

Not only is there some superb work on display here, as one would expect, but I've also found out that there's a Telegraph Pole Appreciation Society and not only that, that our very own Andy York has material posted on it!

What's not to like?

I expect to see a Private Halt Platform added on Bleat Wharf for the Honourable Lady Sheepshanks.

Excellent choice, should be good!

Why is that local road named after a lawnmower, by the way?

That's not a bad look in any case, for a fairly new vehicle.

Will it feature any cute little industrials, Andy, or perhaps something a bit larger?

Interesting. What's the next step, then Mick?

(Are you also doing 7mm now, by the way, or is this for someone else?)

That looks really good, nicely weathered and very convincing.

I understood that the hues varied, depending on the way the site foreman mixed the paint and his interpretation of the 'official' colour charts?