Arpleymodeller

Time for an update! The majority of the basic ground cover has been applied using a mix of Hornby coarse turf and Peco 6mm long static grass which has been layered over the plaster cloth to create an overgrown and uneven texture. Also the freight terminal siding which serves the remnant of what was BSC Monks Hall Steelworks (purely fictional-real one closed in 1986) has been ballasted and Wills granite setts added to represent cobblestones as this was a feature of the old works. Pleased with how it's going together! The extra scenic area extension has added around another foot to the original 7ft and adds to the feel of space. Always careful to to make a scenic area "cramped" and too "busy". Added another section to the North Light factory just needs weathering and detailing. And finally....a taste of what this layout is all about ....MGR coal trains! 60039 waits to depart back to Liverpool Bulk Terminal with its empty HTAs.....Ahh the memories! That's all for now! Got plenty more thing I'm working on more photos to come in the new week. Regards Lewis

Been busy but big weekend update coming !! Lewis

Hiya Rich thank you very much! Fascinating to have your professional insight on these operations! The layout is intended to typify rather than replicate the exact line but hopefully when the scenics are done it will have the atmosphere of the "Low Level" line . Been doing an extension after I realised I had too much fiddle yard space so scenic section is now 9ft split on two boards. Got more photos coming tomorrow ! Cheers Lewis

Cheers mate! Yes I love Loadhaul too...was lucky to see 60059 when it was on the fiddler's ferry coal circuit in 2010 just before storage...this was the last Loadhaul loco in active service. Well that's the plan! Got some more on the bench and also the HAA fleet has been creeping up.....now stands at 27.....! Target is 40! Cheers Lewis

Progress report on the OAA, the MJT W irons have been folded and fitted with Alan Gibson 12mm disc wheels and Cambrian axlebox covers. Also the basic livery has been applied with the EWS maroon sides using Humbrol No.20 Crimson which is a perfect match for fresh painted EWS livery I think. Ends painted pink as per the photos and the faded grey near the solebars. Next job is to fit the brakelevers and underframe details!

One other recently finished wagon is my second BDA bolster steel carrier. Another reworked Bachmann model with the original wheels re gauged after filing the sides of the bogie frames. Screw couplings and air pipes fitted before a repaint into faded Railfreight red representing No.950240

Time for another update! The two MHAs which I was working on recently have been completed. No.394123 and 394228 join the others on my DB Schenker era ballast train. The usual modifications involve EM Gibson wheels, Lanarkshire Oleos and instanters plus air brake pipes as standard. Now this has been a fun build, the first of many SPA wagons for my steel train, this features a heavily faded and rusted Railfreight livery with patch painted stencilled 'EWS' logos and stencilled TOPS panels. Replacement brunninghaus springs, oleos and screw couplings have been fitted along with my scratchbuilt air brake pipes. A representation of the steel coil cradles which on the real wagon are laid out like this, these being made from hot drink stirring sticks glued and sculpted to shape!

Hello Jo thanks that clears that one up then! Yes I agree it would of looked smart if they applied DB logos to them in the same way the CDA China clay fleet has been treated in Cornwall. However....the stickers DB use tend to fade to nothing very quickly look at the front of DB 60s and you'll see what I mean! Shame how the HTA fleet has been decimated...as far as I know only 2 coal diagrams remain running using them....how times have changed from 2001! Cheers Lewis

Thanks for all the feedback much appreciated! Yes I think someone must of had a laugh and applied them all! Unless it was some tester to see what the logos looked like on the maroon background.. Well I wish it did have a sound decoder but can't justify spending £100 on one when I'm happy with how TTS decoders sound for only £34...waiting till a 56 is added to the range! I see they are releasing 08 sounds this year which is great! Cheers Will! I'm a bit hopeless with etched brass so I'm leaving it as it is! But look forward to seeing your work making one Cheers Lewis

Finally, I've finished my model of DB branded HTA No.310339 as it was in 2014, thanks to John at Precision Decals I was able to recreate the 30 x DB Schenker branding logos! Love how this wagon has turned out! Also fitted scratchbuilt air pipes from 0.6mm brass wire.

Also 'Shed' No.66019 has been completed in 2011 condition. The model used the excellent Modelmaster decals set with microsol. Silencer weathered with powders and Matt black acrylic from Lifecolor.

Thanks! It's been painted today some photos coming tomorrow! Meanwhile, I thought I'd share some of my latest loco and wagon projects I've been working on that are on my Flickr site . First up Romanian Grid 56003 in classic Loadhaul livery in 1999 condition (wish it was those days!) The loco has been fitted with DC kits 14mm disc wheels. Very fine compared to the original over scale Hornby ones.

More excellent work mate, think the floor looks very good on the OCA, maybe add some scraps of balsa wood or other "bits" that often get left in these wagons as left overs from loads. Also superb work on the MHA is this going to be the sole DB red one? My EWS one is ready for decals now, I've already glued the body to the chassis! Keep up the good work! Lewis

Thanks alot mate glad you like my wagon work got alot of inspiration from seeing your work to be honest. Oh I do too I remember getting MFA and MTA wagons for £6 each! Now they are more like £19 each! Also got a MOA one of the bogie EWS ballast wagons from Hattons for £14 in 2015....same wagons sell for £38 now! In addition to the fleet I mentioned before also got half a dozen VAA/VBA/VGA, a trio of old MEAs, pair of TTAs, 3 BDAs, 3 SPAs and currently working on a OAA! What will you be using for the brake lever upgrade on your MEAs? Id love to improve mine but they seem too much of an integral part of the chassis moulding to simply cut away Cheers Lewis

Bloody hell James you really have built up some gigantic stash of wagons no wonder they are so much second hand you own them all! Well your be interested in my latest wagons got a trio of 1 X VAA and 2x VBAs that are nearly finished! Totally battered faded pink railfreight your love them! Can't believe how much RTR models have gone up in price feels like not long ago they were under a tenner for almost any wagon now it's nothing under £20 for a 4 wheeler and £40-50 for any bogie wagon! Glad I was able to accumulate 25 HAAs,11 HTAs, 15 HEAs and a dozen MHA,MFA and MTA before the madness in prices set in! Your so lucky getting that VGA for a fiver literally a steal! Always following with interest mate keep up the good work! Cheers Lewis

Excellent work on the VGA James! Really captured the battered appearance some of these wagons. Have you ever thought about modelling some of the VAA/VBA wagons that were used on MOD work in the early 2000s? I've been working on a couple for an enterprise train and they make interesting variations from the bigger VGAs! Anyways always interesting to see what you've been working on! Cheers Lewis

Ahh it's okay mate! Cheers thank you! Well I do too it really looks so much more "right" when compared to 00 and it saves the hassle that moving to P4 brings. It's a happy medium. And the extra effort is applied to everything to try and create a realistic overall scene. Well got some updates coming been laying static grass, ballasting and also made a small 2ft scenic extension! Cheers Lewis

Cheers Will! Yes like the 60 hauled Redcar-Scunthorpe coke trains of yesteryear! Your dad had the longest rake of HEAs I've ever known has he still got them? Think he had 50 or something like that! So far I have 15 Cheers Lewis

Bit more progress on the OAA the Lanarkshire 18" oleo buffers have been fitted and the wagon given some coats of white primer. Also the S KITS MHA has been given some primer. Couple of my latest trio of HEAs I'm working on in the background too! More updates soon ! Lewis

Thanks mate well definetly got alot of models on the bench got about 15 becoming "ex works" ! SPA,MEA, BDA, and of course more MGRs! And some 08 gronks too... Yes it is a good time to model nice nostalgic memories early 2000s has for me! I model the era 1999-2014 generally speaking nice and varied! Cheers Lewis

Hiya mate thanks much appreciated! I'm modelling 100033 too! Was a typo don't know why I put 100031! Crazy that we will have models of the same wagon! Yeah the Colin Craig etches were never fully available to the public I don't think...best route now is to either use the Stenson models VDA levers or like I am and just scratchbuilt some out of 20 thou plasticard. I'll include some photos and step by step guide Cheers Lewis

Hiya Rich Well it's an often discussed topic whether you can reuse existing RTR wheels on EM gauge track. Plenty of pros and cons from both the regular modeller and the purists. However.....short answer is yes you can. In most cases I've come across it is perfectly possible to regauge the wheels to EM and refit them with only a few drops of loctite and some pickup adjustments needed. About 80% of my locos and wagons use their original RTR wheels and run fine on C&L Bullhead track and Exactoscale Flat-bottomed track. Also I have code 82 FB turnouts and they can run through that too although in some cases like the Hornby 67 the wheels are too coarse with thick flanges so replacements have been sought. EM gauge is a great compromise between looks of track and not having to replace everything and have much higher costs like P4. Id recommend you try it out on a couple of wagons or a loco see what you think. Hope this helps Lewis

Also got an OAA wagon on the workbench....a classic BR speedlink wagon. Been meaning to model one for ages. This is the latest project and will make use of the ancient Hornby model. The body is quite good and can be easily detailed further but the chassis is terrible and very "trainset" so was binned! First up a new floor was made from 60 thou styrene and then Cambrian solebars added. I am also going to fit Cambrian C40 w irons, springs and axlebox covers with scratchbuilt brake levers and cylinders. Lanarkshire 18" Oleos will be fitted in the correct position too. Interior has had some detailing to represent the plywood ends and the hinges. Will be finished as 100031 in RF red/EWS combo! As per photos from 2005. That's all for now! Got plenty more on the bench more updates soon! Cheers Lewis

Hello everyone! Long overdue an update! Been busy with more MHA wagons got 2 of the early bodied versions nearing completion No.394123 and No.394228. Also the first of a pair of the S-Kits later bodied versions is taking shape. Lanarkshire 13" Oleos have been used to replace the hideous Hornby sprung buffers.

Great work on weathering and representing rust I will have to try this out! Also great to see someone modelling the humble RUDD ! Are these the Parkside Dundas kits? Or Hornbys model? Also how do you get so many images on a post? Do you resize them? Lewis