JCClark

Good evening everyone A couple of photographs this evening, one showing the completed bridge cladding, washes, weathering etc and the other can only be termed as a lesson learned!! After cladding the laser cut bridge with Slaters stone plasticard, I gave the completed cladding a coat of Halfords grey primer. Followed this with a dark wash from the Hornby enamel range and then dry brushed a few different coloured tones over the stone work. I finally used some different coloured earthen crayons to complete. I am hoping the bridge will now blend in well with the proposed scenery around it - we will see!! The lesson learned was that no matter how small a loco modification you are going to carry out - ensure you do your homework thoroughly!! I purchased some excellent Freightliner Class 70 Fan unit from Rainbow Railways (already pre-coloured) to affix to my two Class 70s - 70001 and 70004 as I had already completed the same modification on my Colas class 70. As you can see from the attached photograph, Freightliner obviously re-applied a smaller Logo after the fan modification! you can see that the original as bought Bachmann locos have the letter "r" on the door that takes the fan and, on the other side, the door has the letter "F"on it!! I am not really inclined to remove the Freightliner legend just to get the fan mods installed, especially as 70001 is a Freightliner Limited Edition so have decided to leave as is! I will ensure that any other loco work has my full attention!! Thanks for looking at the Parkway and any comments or advice are welcome. Regards John

Hi Danny Thank you very much for the kind words. Thought I had bitten off more than I could chew for a while but getting there I think. The electronics were the big challenge as I had never had all my accessories controlled by DCC before. Roy has been the main man behind all this and, thankfully, the layout is running really well now and just been making up routes on the ECoS controller. What an awesome bit of kit ESU have turned out with this item. I am making a conscious effort to get going on the scenery so, hopefully, the layout will take on a considerable different aspect. As always, open to any constructive criticism and advice. Best regards John

Hello Vulcan Product fan Thanks for posting the photos - a real interesting time wasn't it? I was pleased with the re-spray results and nice to have done an unusual livery for Roy. Will get some video done next time Roy visits and hopefully get his Scotrail 125 running also. Best regards John

Hello everyone Hope you enjoyed the video posted by Roy yesterday. You can see what I mean about my diverse rolling stock from the stock I was running! As mentioned before, I can run an all 80s set up or complete modern day. The track, as per video, is all weathered now and preparing a start on scenery. I intended the country end had a stone road bridge over the double track so purchased a laser kit which was ideal size for my requirements and went together very well. Unfortunately, when painting up, I was very disappointed with the "flatness" of the bridge facing so have bitten the bullet and overlaid some profiled plasticard to achieve more detail. I have attempted to replicate the arch by applying some air dried clay and scoring the arch to look like original formation stones. A before and after photo attached for comment. Plan is now to coat with primer and start dry brushing for the correct effect! I have also now completed 37403 "Isle of Mull" in Large Logo as per re-painted by DRS and have added a couple of photos of the loco crossing the canal to the TMD and one on the main line next to my Hornby class 67 re-spray 67004 "Cairn Gorm" paused on the up sleeper. Not all goes well though, I made a real mess of my GNER TGS coach when attempting to take apart. A major run off with a Stanley knife made an awful mess. Luckily I have managed to replace the coach for £19 off Ebay so will get back to the drawing board as I slowly complete my re-spraying of a full rake of GNER Mark3 coaches. As always, please feel free to comment on progress. Regards John

Hello Simon Thank you very much for that information. Did not realise it was pre EWS livery and not Trainload. Makes sense and did not think EWS was all those years ago. By the way - see you are in Northwich, I was at my daughters down there two weeks ago and also was there in 1965 when there was 28 steam locomotives on Northwich shed! Best regards John

Thank you very much Class 66. I have just edited my previous post where I said livery was early 80s - complete rubbish!! The photos I used for livery were taken at Thornaby in 1996 and, supposedly, this was a primer coat. I believe some class 60s were also turned out for a short period like this and all were prior to receiving their sectorisation liveries. Although a simple livery (except for masking for the grills!) I think it looks really unusual and a nice edition to the fleet. John

Hello everyone Just a quick post to keep the Parkway flowing. I have completed all ballast and the point problems are all sorted now thank goodness! Had a final go round all the track to ensure that all tracks were free from any bits of ballast that might have got where you don't want it to get!! Definitely ready for the airbrush now prior to getting some scenery on the go. Meanwhile, a few photos to show you what else has been going on since the previous post. Treated myself to GBRf 66711 "Sence" so a couple of photos of it on it's first duty which was to haul a couple of Drax biomass wagons to their destination. Just to be clear, I only have the two wagons (one of each design) and that is it!! The other photographs are of 37682 which I have completed for my friend. As mentioned previously, it has been re-sprayed into the "Ghost" livery of silver white with flint grey roof, bonnet tops, front windows and all grills except those on the nose sides. I am quite please with the result really and it is an unusual livery but accurate for the time it was done in 1996. Don't think it lasted long like this but a nice loco to add to the ERA 8 fleet. Just about completed 37403 "Isle of Mull" as per DRS re-paint, so will post some photos on my next posting. As usual, please feel free to comment or pass on any advice. Regards John

Hi Mick Looks like this is going to be a cracking good layout. Will be following with interest for ideas that meet my needs on Parkway. Regards John

Hello Dave Thank you for your comments and, no, they are not all sound. I have a few locos with sound but still not fully convinced that it adds value to all locos. I do like the sound of the 37s and 47s though. GBRf would be a great collection and they always seem to keep their locos nice and clean and, of course, they do some great variation liveries as they have just done with Chinook etc. I am just away at the moment but when I return, must get the weathering completed on the track and start on the scenery. Will get more photos on the forum as the layout progresses and any new resprays I complete. Regards John

For some reason, when I changed from my Lenz system to the ESU ECoS controller, I had some odd issues with both Hornby Sapphire decoders and some of my Lenz silver decoders. In both cases I went for a factory reset (CV8 to 8) and re-programmed without any issues. Hope that helps John

Cracking layout Simon, hope I can achieve the same standards with Parkway John

I have used them a few times and found them very efficient and some great items in stock John

Morning Gary Once again, many thanks for the advice, it worked a treat and all points working great. A final clean up around the inner edge of the rails and it will be out with the airbrush for a bit of track weathering. Meanwhile, another couple of purchases have arrived for a future re-spray project. I have bought the Wipac style nose ends from Rainbow Railways (ex R3Sprays) which are complete with electrics and etched roof light. Also purchased another 37706 Conidae which will become 37608 in DRS blue with Phoenix decals. Regards John

Thank you Gary - appreciate your advice and will try this today Regards John

Just a quick update on Parkway. I have now completed the ballasting required on the upper level but a small problem being sorted out at the moment. Although I masked the point mechanisms, I have a couple of points where the glue has run under the sleepers and jamming the points. I have done one flush and got them working OK but once dried, they seized again. Would appreciate any suggestions anyone may like to put forward! Once this issue is sorted, it will be out with the airbrush to carry out some weathering. I also need to complete the concrete apron around the TMD before I can say I am really up and running with the scenics. Made a couple of purchases since my last update - covering both ERAs that I model. Bought 6 Bachmann OBAs that are being cleared by the box shifters at bargain prices for ERA 7/8 and for ERA 9 have bought a couple of pairs of Dapol super low IDA intermodal wagons and also managed to source a brand new East Midland HST Power Car set. Bought this as they are regular performers up to Aberdeen on a set of VTEC 125s. I am about to put a coat of gloss on my two latest class 37 re-sprays - 37682 in "Ghost" livery which I have sprayed in Silver white with flint grey roof and vents (except the nose vents). Looks reaaly good and unusual. The other 37 is the DRS large Logo 37403 "Isle of Mull". To complete this posting, I have added some photos of 37099 "Merl Evans" and 67023 "Stella" on the newly ballasted track. Both locos have had some final touches completed on them. 37099 has had new LED lights fitted into re-positioned Hi intensity lights and etched plates from Shawplan fitted. 67023 has had a chassis clean up completed and etched "Stella" plates fitted from Shawplan. Both locomotives run really well and I am delighted with them. As usual, any comments or advice will be welcome. Best regards John Good morning all

Hi Paul Thank you very much for your comments. I would need a mega layout for all my stock as it stands at about 270 locos so just have to work with the space I have. Stock has increased since I took on the re-sprays which I thoroughly enjoy. Just about completed the ballast now so pleased with progress but still messing about with re-sprays. I am currently part way through 37403 Isle of Mull in Large Logo for myself (that is the today version as used by DRS) and a "Ghost" liveried 37 for my friend which will be 37682 in Silver White with flint grey bonnets, roof and body side/roof grills. Something different anyway! Best regards John

Hi Simon Definitely a bit of a problem! My stock is a mixture of two eras - 80s and modern day era 9. I also have, more or less, a full set of Large Logo 37/4s and a total collection of more than 70 class 37s in total. Definitely some kind of problem Thanks for your interest and compliments Best regards John

Good morning everyone I mentioned in an earlier post about a possible obsession with Colas locomotives so I thought I would prove the point by taking a couple of photographs of a "Group" gathering! 18 locomotives in all which comprise 5 x class 37,2 x class 47, 3 x class 56, 4 x class 60, 2 x class 66, 1 class 67 and 1 class 70 (with additional vents). 8 of the locomotives have been stripped and re-sprayed by myself, 4 were re-sprays by the talented Andi Walshaw prior to my getting into the air brush myself, 3 locomotives are re-number/re-work and 4 locomotives arestandard issue locomotives (Bachmann 37, Heljan 47, Hornby 56 and Bachmann 66). Will now clear the layout and resume ballasting etc and take a break from the re-spray projects!! Happy modelling Best regards John

Hello Shoey With my Colas 60087 I removed the Clic Sargent plates and cab and front numbers by patiently rubbing them gently away with a Brasso soaked cotton bud. Where the removal took place a nice gloss area was left for the new numbers and Railtec nameplate. Where the end and side graphic for Tarmac was required I brush coated with Johnsons Klear and applied all decals when dry. Once all decals had dried, I removed body from chassis, masked windows and air brushed a coat of Phoenix enamel gloss over the whole body. Satin can be used as preferred. Results as per photos on Parkway layout. Regards John

Good evening everyone, Well, finally completed my clutch of 5 locos that I have been working on - 4 Colas and one Engineers Grey. I have attached several photographs which mainly depict the last two Colas locomotives I have been working on - 37099 Merl Evans which is a re-work/re-spray of 37114 City of Worcester and 60076 which is a re-number of Hornby's latest Class 60 60087 Clic Sargent. I have done 60076 with the Tarmac graphics that were applied when the loco did its' early runs to Aberdeen from Oxwellmains shortly after taking the contract from Freightliner. All decals are from Steve at Railtec and were so easily applied and no problem when oversprayed with an enamel sealing coat. I have completed both locos in a Pristine Gloss finish which is how they looked ex works. I will probably apply a little track dirt to the bogies at some stage as it does not take long to accumulate a bit of colouring as they run around the network. 37099 required a bit of nose end work to re-position the Hi Intensity light and I used a Hornby class 31 housing from Peters Spares. Not 100% correct but most will not notice! I have used this posting to add some photos of Colas pairs so my newly completed 37254 Cardiff Canton and 67023 make an appearance. I have promised myself that I will put the rest of my GNER coach re-sprays, my First GWR green Power Cars, Large Logo 37403 Isle of Mull and Large Logo 37116 Comet on hold for the time being and concentrate on some layout work for a while. I need to complete the ballasting and the shed area and then crack on with the scenery to ensure it starts to look like a proper railway so watch this space, as I will keep you updated. Meanwhile, enjoy the photos and I look forward to at comments or advice you may wish to pass on. Best regards John

Hi Simon The layout is looking really good. Must crack on with Parkway as you are putting me to shame! Regards John

Thank you Simon Hoping to post photographs of 60076 Dunbar and 37099 Merl Evans in the next couple of days. Must be a bit of an obsession as now have a collection of 17 different Colas locos as 37/47/56/60/66 and 70. Appreciate your interest Best regards John

Hello everyone Just for your information, I have just used Brasso and a cotton bud to gently remove the name and numbers on the new Hornby Colas 60. All went perfectly and I now have 60076 Dunbar complete with Tarmac graphics thanks to Railtech and Steve's excellent decals. I am sure the Hornby Switch on for Safety logo on the DB 60 could just as easily be removed and then new numbers etc applied. Best regards John

Good evening all Thought I would take advantage of a rainy day and do more work on the re-spray projects. Colas 60087 is now 60076 with Tarmac graphics and I have decided to give both this loco and 37099 a final coat of gloss so they look ex works. I have also completed re-spraying the doors and waist stripe on another GNER TSO and next will be a coat of gloss and decals plus Shawplan laserglaze.Photo attached. Colas 37254 "Cardiff Canton" is now complete and I have attached some photographs of the loco. The donor loco was banger blue 37254 so had to utilise different nose ends to ensure there was a High intensity light both ends.Not that I have also added the top lamp iron which 37254 has at number 1 end only! Please feel free to comment Best regards John

Good morning everyone Progress has been slower than I hoped for due being away etc. Not much done o the layout unfortunately as I have been trying to complete a batch of re-spray projects as mentioned in my last posting. I have added a set of photographs of two of my latest projects yet again adding to my locomotive stud. the photographs show a completed 37098 which depicts the locomotive in Engineers grey in 1990 - this was prior to the Yellow upper line being applied for the "Dutch" livery that was so popular. I had to remove the Hi intensity light and smooth down the connecting doors for this model. It is the first all grey loco in my fleet and I am pleased with the overall result. The second set of photos are of my Colas 67 project which was a bit more difficult to achieve what with the ribbed sides etc I have done 67023 using an EWS donor loco and the latest decal set from Railtec. I am awaiting an etched nameplate "Stella" from Brian at Shawplan to complete the loco. Note the buckeye uncoupler on the front of the loco. I will not be doing 67027 as I have just not long ago completed that loco in DB Red so was a bit annoyed when they decided to sell that one to Colas. Two more locomotives nearing completion now before I really get cracking on the layout. 37254 in Colas livery just needs a coat of satin on the nose ends, stick them on and then it is finished. 37099 Merl Evans - just completed the cantline and decals now to be applied prior to final satin coat and then "Merl" will be ready for re-assembly and testing. Finally, just bought the new Hornby Colas 60 so already de-numbered and new decals should be with me today. Loco will become 60076 complete with Tarmac branding as per early days when running the Oxwellmains to Aberdeen cement. I will post photographs when these three are all complete. Please feel free to comment or offer any advice if I have got anything wrong with these locos. Best regards John