Pugsley

In my day I'd have had to be happy with a bit of balsa wood turned up in my Black & Decker, all held together with Cow Gum!

That was the back up plan

Thanks both. Dennis - I'm glad it's been of use to you.

Cheers. The program seems every bit as capable as Solidworks, though I can't say for sure as I've never used it. I've only scratched the surface of Alibre, but I'm pretty impressed with it so far, it'll do everything I want it to, and no doubt a lot more besides!

Thanks all 8)

Nick - You could do it with anything. You just need the dimensions and develop the skill of breaking down a part into shapes you can create with the drawing package. It's a state of mind as much as anything!

James - It most certainly is, I wouldn't have imagined doing half of what I've done in the last year or two when I started out in 2005.

Craig - The rest of the wagon is coming, just very, very slowly This particular part is drawn at full size and will be scaled when it comes to the printing. The scaling will take into account any shrinkage in the moulding process, so the print will be slightly larger than 7mm scale.

Guy - Tempting! I wouldn't say the 3D design is a distraction from proper modelling, it is more like delayed proper modelling

Just ask them what they used for the rodding on their layout, that normally shuts that kind of numpty up

Glad you managed to get it sorted to your satisfaction B)

Great stuff Al B)

Thanks Nick. If you let me know what issue it was in, I've probably got a copy squirrelled away somewhere.

Thanks all!

hymek - Yes, you only get one pair of eyes and I wouldn't want to get any of that foam stuck to them!

I believe the technical phrase is 'Oh bug*er!'...

Yes, that was one of the many expletives that were uttered once I realised what had happened!

It was the experimental varnish that caused the problem, I must have picked up too much matting agent when I took it out of the bottle, as they went all white and speckly. Still, a bit of deft work with some wet and dry and a respray in the case of the TTA has sorted things out.

James - It's not so much patience, as refusing to be beaten!

Chris - It's always nice when something good comes out of a near disaster!

Thanks both B) B)

Paul - there is definitely scope for additional weathering of the roofwalks, I've found a couple of photos that show grubby walkways on clean tanks as well as clean ones, like this:

So I can now add a bit more variety in terms of the top weathering.

No problem B)

I think you're being a bit too hard on yourself, seeing as this is diddy scale these photos show it at, what, 4 times it's actual size? Not much of my stuff would stand that kind of scrutiny.

I think it looks great, but one thing you could do is un-fade the black on the nose slightly, it looks a little too light, and that really is a minor, nit-picky, point to make.

Cheers Paul. There probably is scope for additional weathering to the roof walks, I just haven't managed to find a good photo taken from above yet. Now that Paul Bartlett's site is back up and running, I'll have to have a look through and see if I can find something suitable.

Class photo will come shortly - possibly tomorrow

Well spotted on the slight gap - I need to gently add a bit more paint in there. It's amazing what the eye doesn't see, but the camera picks up!

Thanks everyone B) B)

Will, yes, they definitely add something to the model, so much so that it's going to become a standard technique, I think. The closest thing to a filter on this is the dabbing on of the different colours to add the variation in colour on the barrel. The best way to describe a filter is a coloured wash, that adds depth to the base colour. From what I can gather, grey normally responds best to a blue filter, so I added more blue dabs than any other colour. I'll do a step-by-step for the next one to demonstrate what I mean. I'll demonstrate the filter on something else, I've got a Dutch 33 about to enter works, so that might be a good candidate.

Good stuff, I love what you've done with the tanker. I've resisted the urge to add much in the way of detail to the ones that I'm working on. The S Kits detail pack does make a vast improvement, I've done 4 Esso style ones now, and will be doing the Shell/BP style shortly.

I'll be keeping any eye out for your progress 8)

Thanks Pix, you're too kind :blush:

Hopefully the JSV will be released in its current form, as it's got great potential. I've never experimented with inks, but the same as you, have thought that they could be useful for some things. It's something I'll give a go at some point, but will watch what you do with them with interest.

Thanks both. Jon - give them a go, you won't regret it and they'll have applications beyond wagon weathering. I'll be giving them a go on a loco soon.

Now there's a challenge! Thanks Jamie, you're too kind.

I'd recommend Humbrol Mattcote as a matt varnish for brushing, suitably thinned with white spirit. I've used it in the past and it does dry nicely matt without much in the way of visible brush strokes. The varnish I've used on this wagon is experimental and not commercially available, but the Mattcote should work pretty much the same.

Thanks Nick, I look forward to seeing how you get on.

Pix - I suspected JSV might be spirit based. I'll give it a go on something, by brush, at the weekend and see how it responds to cleaning up with the thinners I've already got. If it all goes OK, I'll run some through the airbrush over the completed tanks and see how we go.

I'll be very interested to see how you get on with the oils.

I take it you'll be tapping Pixie up for discount

Not on goods from the 'enemy'.

Of course! Having said that, I think conventional oils would work in exactly the same way, but there would be an increase in the drying time. The ones I'm using dry pretty quick, but not as quick as gouache.

Excellent work Martin, I really will have to give these a go at somepoint. Like Bryn says, they've got real potential in 2mm for subtle effects. Have you had a chance to try out the 'Jo's Sister'; varnish yet?Pix

Thanks B) I haven't had a chance to try out the 'Jo's Sister' varnish yet - did you ever find out if it was spirit based, or acrylic? It doesn't matter if you haven't, I'll give it a go at the weekend on something and will find out that way. If it works as well as I think it might, looking at it, it'll be good for finishing off the tanks, as I want them very matt.

They should work pretty well in 2mm, using the same techniques, but with much smaller brushes

Dave - Thanks for the kind words B)

Can you tell us what make you're using - or do we just go into an art shop & ask for water mixable oil paints?

Yeah, that would help, wouldn't it! I'm using the Winsor and Newton Artisan range, which, as far as I know, are the only ones on the market. I got mine here:

http://www.artsupplies.co.uk/

for great prices and great service. The paints themselves aren't cheap, but they'll last virtually forever, a little goes a very long way indeed. I'll edit the post with some pics of the unsullied tanks shortly.

Bryn - You're too kind :blush_mini: I'll be interested to see how you get on, I take it you'll be tapping Pixie up for discount supplies...

Jon - The black ones are a different kettle of fish, with the dirt slightly less noticeable. I liked what you've done with yours (gave you a +1 for them )

Thanks Wayne, I look forward to seeing what you do with yours B)

Thanks Mikkel. The water mixable oils are proving rather interesting. They're like gouache in a lot of ways, but seem to be more permanent. I've been told that they can be re-wet, like the gouache, but I haven't tried that yet. They're not as opaque, so an all over crud job, like the former Esso tank in a previous post, would be trickier, but I think they're going to be ideal for subtle weathering jobs.

I hope you go for the same idea with your GWR opens, a kind of multi-layer modelling as it were. On the face of it, those above are four virtually identical wagons. Look a little closer, and the difference in the markings will be apparent to the casual observer. If the hardened wagon enthusiast looks closer again, they may notice the subtler variations that divide the four into two distinct types. Something for everyone!

Thanks Jo. Yes, I'm looking forward to the weathering - after what I've managed to achieve on the TEA, the water mixable oils look to have real potential