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James Hilton

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  1. James Hilton
    What a quote - but yes a question I was asked at the weekend by an inquisitive brother!
    I spent this weekend with my two brothers helping out Mum with decorating. It was good fun but hard work - I did take over the Sentinel, hoping to grab an hour on the project after a hard day or between coats of paint - as well as show her off to my Dad.
    In the end I only grabbed 45 mins on Saturday night after painting near enough non stop from 9am to 5pm! I've fitted the roof ventilators, air filter and axle boxes. I've sourced some lead weight so the last job before priming will be to add the weight, fit handrails, secure the bonnets and exhaust stack and a few little details. Once she's painted there will be the window frames and wipers to fit along with the couplings and buffers plus air brake pipework
    Here are a few shots I grabbed when I got back this evening in the lovely sunshine - I'm off now to enjoy a cold beer and contemplate the 0-6-0 version and whether to try springing or compensation!
    A couple of low angle shots showing her in all her glory, warts and all. I'm hoping the finish will come together with a coat of primer to check for defects!


    Overhead shots show the roof ventilators fitted and air filter on the side of the engine casing in front of the cab. You can also see that detailing the cab was wworth while as it's pretty visible in these sorts of angles.


    Finally a few shots showing how small she is compared to a little TTA tanker - which is due to be sprung or compensated and converted to P4 as well for the project!


  2. James Hilton
    A trip to the Great Central Railway last weekend has spurred progress on my model of 37411.
     
    First up - Lostock and some Smoking Barrels and the GCR itself - what a wonderful railway and a great achievement to have 8 locomotives in steam on the Sunday! From the Jinty through to Oliver Cromwell, my daughter and I were very impressed. My favourite was the BR Std 2 tender engine, Elly's was the LMS red Leander.
     
    Some shots from the weekend - my favourite all weekend is the second one of Oliver Cromwell at Leicester North...


     
    Whilst at Quorn station we spotted a 37 parked up alongside the platform that was perfectly lit with a low sun - so out came the camera and I grabbed some detail shots.
     
    37255 parked up at Quorn in the sun...




     
    Here is how the Bachmann model is progressing - I'm hoping to write this up for Model Rail so just a teaser for now. It's all scratchbuilt out of plastic off cuts, 0.35 and 0.45mm brass wire plus one or two odd valve things from the Hornby Class 31 detailing kit and some white elbow pipes from the 08 detailing pipework.
     
    and the model...

     
    Comments and questions as usual welcomed!
  3. James Hilton
    Paxton Road has been going over 2 years now and after a recent spurt of activity I find myself lagging a little in enthusiasm. Paxton Road is a ficticious location based in 1998-2000, depicting a small MOD depot north of Winchester on the old Didcot, Newbury and Southampton Railway. I really enjoy modelling modern image (well modern-ish) and modifying RTR OO equipment and I also love Class 33s and Mainline freight livery which led me to the Southern location. One thing I miss though is the ability to base my model on the real thing; structures, scenery, setting, trackwork etc.
     
    I've been thinking recently about a photo plank style layout (seeing Jon's Brookeshire planks), to practice some scenic techniques. Unlike Paxton Road I would like this to be based on a prototype, a bit like RGR's Mossley Terrace from the old RM web. Living in Macclesfield I have regularly ridden my bike on the Middlewood Way but never all the way to Marple, and a little Googling after seeing a photo of a 101 in 'A Decade of Change' book on the Piccadilly - Rose Hill trip and Rose Hill seemed to be the perfect solution.
     
    Rose Hill is a single line terminus. The line comes off the mainline and travels about 2 miles down to Rose Hill. There is no loop or run around, just a single platform and building which houses a waiting room and part time ticket office. What makes it even more perfect is the road bridge (great scenic break).
     
    However to scale I'd need 10+ feet, and this amount of space just isn't available. This is supposed to be a quick project to get something finished and keep up motivation so things will be selectively compressed to about a 4' (max) scenic board with small bolt on cassette style fiddle yard.
     
    Stock movements are limited. The line is served by 150/1 and 142s (previously the last place to find the 101s) at least these are relatively short units. I'm lucky in that I have a first release Hornby Pacer (in original provincial blue) and a first release Bachmann 158. Both of these will be usable on the layout with a little work (repainting/detailing for the Pacer - possibly some minor mechanical upgrade, and just detailing for the 158). In addition I'll source a First NorthWestern Bachmann 150.
    Here are some photos of the stock fresh from being picked up from my parents home this weekend?



     
    The layout will not use any 'ready to plant' structures - the only off the shelf scenic material are likely to be some fencing with the building, bridge and bike lock up compounds to be fabricated from scratch. The layout will be deep enough to model the cutting so you'll view the station through a few trees and scrub with the cutting sloping down into the layout away from the baseboard edge.
     
    I've made a start on the station building. This has been selectively compressed to better fit the shorter platform, but maintains the character of the original. It will be finished to a high specification with signage and posters attached as finishing touches.
    Here is the work in progress, totally scratchbuilt from various grades and offcuts of plasticard.



     
    The last remaining question surrounds the possibility of using DCC and potentially sound - which would make this far from a cheap distraction but certainly a good place to experiment with a limited scope so to avoid massive expense in this area!
     


  4. James Hilton
    When Heljan released the Class 58 a year or so ago I swore I wouldn not buy one, until some kind soul posted a video link of one shunting an engineers rake during a weekend possession!! With Hattons selling them off at a bargain price I picked up a two tone grey Mainline branded example. The model runs very nicely and well captures the heavy utilitarian appearance of the prototype, but was put to the back of my modelling cupboard as a number of small niggles bothered me and meant modification was required rather than simple weathering...
     
    Out of the box the livery is well applied on the whole, although the spelling mistake in Mainline (spelt out as Mainine - comical) and the incorrect arrangement of cab window black surrounds is quite obvious - it was good to see the tricky painting of the grills in the side doors appear on this model compared tot he initial release.
     
    A read of an article in Rail Express Modeller, and a quick look around the model hi-lighted a few areas for improvement. The body side handrails were to be replaced with finer wire representations, the exhaust moulding was to have the ports drilled out, the numbers would be removed and the cab black surround modified, the model would be renumbered and then weathered to represent a locomotive circa 2000.
     
    So where are we up to?
    Well on the old forum I showed a teaser of the bodyside handrails. I've started to fit these as of this week, carefully slicing off the original plastic handrails leaving the holes plugged with the handrail moulding. I then cut down the twisted 5A fusewire eyelets to a shorter neater length, and offered this up to mark the new holes. These were carefully drilled and the handrails fitted with superglue. The long one with 6 eyelets was a pain, and some of them came free from the main handrail causing a few blue words!
     
    Photos of progress so far...
  5. James Hilton
    I've a peculiar habit - nothing like that! No I mean I've a habit of revisiting older models and bringing them up to my recent standards.
     
    This is most evident when I have more than one of a locomotive type - actually that's nearly all my stock (3 08/09s, 2 33s, 3 37s and just one 58). I find working on a newer model makes me re-evaluate a previous effort and look to improve it. I guess this progression is pretty natural and is a good way for a beginner to progress - so guys, don't be afraid of re-working models you thought you'd finished - it's very satisfying.
     
    So what is all this waffling about?

     
    Yup - my brace of 08/09s. I've a thing about the Bachmann model (although I reckon all three need tweaking mechanically to improve running a little) and it responds really well to weathering and detailing. The models were completed in the order EWS, RF Grey and most recently the Mainline liveried 09 (featured in December 2009 Model Rail ). As I've done each model I've updated the previous versions and after completing the last of the three and adding wire handrails to my Pacer project I wondered if the small short Gibson handrail knobs I'd aquired for that project could be used on the 08s?
     
    The answer - as you can see, is yes! Check out the revised foot step handrails!

     
    The foot steps need modifying first (as described in the article) with plasticard to make them wider. Then you can drill 0.5mm holes at the top to fit the knobs. Once these are fitted I added 0.33mm Gibson handrail wire (easier the thread then the 0.45mm - so less fiddly). I'm really impressed - so impressed that I'm going to roll out the modification to the other pair at the same time!
    I've also added improved pipework under the cab and revised the vacuum pipe. I also need to add one extra air pipe to each end - and then just touch in the details. These models are ones I'm really proud of - the humble shunter and mundane appearance of all three is perfect for my layout. I think the Bachmann model, with these small modifications really comes to life. I'm planning on fitting Brassmasters rods to all three at some point this year once I master soldering with my Judith Edge Sentinel kit in the summer.
     

     
    After my recent 37 detailing I'm planning to revisit my model of 37013 next - but have a plan of attack on Paxton Road thought out for the next month or so to try and progress the warehouse area despite the cold weather.
    Questions, comments etc welcome as usual - I'll keep an eye on the comments and respond as necessary. If you're interested in the weathering finishes I can elaborate as the original posts describing the work are now on RMweb 3 which as of this week is still unavailable unfortunately.
  6. James Hilton
    When I started the LGB project a few weeks ago I wasn't sure if it was going to lead here...


    But it has - so this first blog entry charts my first steps in transfering my 4mm detailing, painting and weathering skills to the larger G-scale. For those who aren't familiar with garden railways LGB is approximately 1:20ish, running on 45mm track with mainly European prototypes.

    This project is based upon the ubiquitous LGB post van that has been in the range for 30 years. Today I have stripped her down to the component parts, removed the existing markings, removed the horizontal bars in the guards compartment and applied the first coat of primer - and it's looking good so far.

    One thing you notice as you strip down a LGB model is how substantial everything is - very well designed with lovely screw and clip construction. Simply remove the roof (it unclips), flip the body over and remove 8 screws and you're pretty much there...





    So here was the state of play prior to the modifications. The model is currently in the kitchen drying off before I start the top coats tomorrow. I'll share some further photos with you then.

     
    Questions, comments, encouragement (as always!) very welcome. What do you think of my G-scale diversion?

    (Don't worry 4mm modellers - I've not abandoned the scale - far from it - as I type this the Class 66 is back on the desk and the 58 is begging to be finished off so I can weather her...)
  7. James Hilton
    I've started a Blogger blog to keep the history of this project in one place so please do check it out here: http://ejklr.blogspot.com/
     
    I will also make updates on this, my workbench thread for those 'smaller scale' modellers more interested in the journey than the details themselves.
     
    My father and I took a nostalgic trip down to Ontracks at Pontrilas today to collect the start of this project. It's a road trip that we used to make every year to see my Nan, Dad's step mother every Christmas so it was fun to make the journey together again.

     
    The model shop was very welcoming, and we picked up our stuff no problem. After a quick browse we headed for home via a stop at Llanfair for some photos and inspiration.


     
    A lovely day out and a reminder of how picturesque the Welshpool and Llanfair really is! Now roll on Christmas and a chance to play trains!


     
    EDIT (for Will):
    Revised MkIII plan - yet to go live on Blogger...

     
  8. James Hilton

    A potted history...

    By James Hilton,

    The end of the line?
     

     
    The Manchester Ship Canal needs no introduction – and to those interested in industrial railways neither does it’s significant sprawling web of rails – not only dock side but real lines linking places and businesses to both the canal and the wider rail network.
     
    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Ship_Canal
     
    By the early 1980s the system and the canal were in serious decline, and the small fleet of diesel hydraulic Sentinels and diesel mechanical Hudswell Clark's were mainly involved with oil and containerised traffic, with hubs reduced to Ellesmere Port (serving the oil refineries at Stanlow and Eastham) and Mode Wheel (serving Lancashire Tar Distillers and Trafford Park). When the Barton Railway Swingbridge no.2 was shut in 1981 it was inevitable that Mode Wheel would shut (1988) and new facilities were established at Barton Road (next to Kelloggs) and at Lancashire Tar Distellers near Weaste junction.
     
    In 1991 Peel Holdings acquired a declining, derelict and run down canal and railway system and looked to re-vitalise the Trafford Park area and re-develop the docks. The railway eeked out an existence and saw in it's centenary during 1994, but with closure of the Lancashire Tar Distillers facility railway operation north of the canal ceased in the same year. Operations at Ellesmere Port lasted a few more years but in 1996 the lines were mothballed with a decline in rail traffic to the refineries and the engines sold on to new homes. So, without fuss or ceremony ended 102 years of the Manchester Ship Canal Railway.
     
    Timeline of decline...

    1967 - Line to Eastham laid at Ellesmere Port
    1972 - Salford dock railways closed
    1978 - Through route from Weaste to Cadishead shut
    1981 - Last locomotive uses Barton Railway swing bridge No.2 - system severed
    1981 - Partington Coaling Basin closed
    1982 - Barton Dock Road shed opened (next to Kelloggs) for Trafford Park
    1988 – Mode Wheel closes
    1991 – Peel Holdings
    1994 - Centenary of Canal and Railway
    1994 – Operation North of the Canal ceases with Lanc Tar Distillers closing
    1996 – Ellesmere Port operation ceases

     
    Photos of the prototype...
    http://j-eyres.fotopic.net/c1374075_1.html
    http://murrayliston.fotopic.net/c1027937.html
    http://industrialrailwaysofthenorth.fotopic.net/c1711248.html
    http://www.shipsofthemersey.photos.me.uk/c1777293.html
    http://glazebrookeast.fotopic.net/c1547689.html
    http://www.geoffspages.co.uk/raildiary/nwind/index.htm
    http://picasaweb.google.com/montyburns56/TraffordParkEstatesRailway?fgl=true&pli=1#
     
    Photos taken at Ellesemere Port, February 2010...
    Rail operations at Ellesmere Port have re-started with imported coal being brought in, not from the original Cawoods dock facility, but at a wharf at the old Bowaters plant. A Freightliner 66 was observed hauling a loaded train away from the facility, a shadow of the former MSC Railway - but not forgotten.



     
    Next up is the concept... comments, questions, help, advice, memories - please post them all up for me - they'll all help
  9. James Hilton
    Countess coaling up [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], by fairlightworks (originally posted to Flickr as Countess coaling up), from Wikimedia Commons
     
    European coaches and small powerful steam locomotives on a picturesque line in mid Wales! The Welshpool and Llanfair has been a favourite of mine for many years - especially it's original steam locomotives with the GW rebuilt chimney, dome, safety valve and number plates. Chunky and purposeful.
     
    I have wanted an LGB garden railway for pretty much my whole life - I think it was my best friend Tim's Christmas present when I was 9 that started it all, an LGB starter set. His Dad soon purchased an extra locomotive and some second track and I remember the last summers of Primary School spending ages in Tim's garden created our very own railway properly playing trains rather than the finer scale modelling we both were into with our OO layouts.
     
    Fast forward twenty years and with Dad's retirement and Elly turning 3 this summer I'm in the mood for re-living those childhood memories, so I sit here with a 95% certainty that this project is a goer...
     
    So the EJ&KLR (Elly, James & Keith Light Railway) is born... with an LGB Big Train set and a Liliput diesel shunter plus some extra track. Where this journey will take us I'm not sure, but I'm hoping for lots of fun playing rather than modelling
     
    An exciting time - and I can't wait to share more with you all soon. I'll be posting regular updates on my standalone blog and on G-scale Central - along with occasional updates here on RMWeb. Questions, comments and encouragement ALL welcomed please!
    Diema and The Wasp [CC-BY-2.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], by fairlightworks (Diema and The Wasp), from Wikimedia Commons
  10. James Hilton
    Twice this month - celebrity visits to Paxton Road! Had a tip off that it might be worth heading down, so nipped out over lunch.
     
    However I expect 33108 wasn't happy to be there - dumped by 33202 earlier in the day she's failed and waiting collection. Arriving at Paxton Road I grabbed a few shots from the road bridge before walking down to the yard and looking for someone to ask permission to grab a few snaps.
     

     

     
    After I'd been given the nod (and a high vis) I grabbed a few shots from the yard before heading back to work.


     
    33108 is a Heljan model with end detail, weathering and the bogie spring mod - otherwise out of the box. Getting her out reminded me of what a good model the Heljan 33/1 is - it captures the prototype perfectly - and I do have a huge soft spot for Cromptons! Don't worry, as a model she's not failed!
  11. James Hilton
    Another mad-cap scheme... or the lure of the Judith Edge kit!
     
    I've long held a fascination with parts of the Manchester Ship Canal railway, the stub at Ellesmere Port and the network around Trafford Park. In the early days of planning Paxton Road it was a line that inspired some early sketches as to what this could look like and gave some direction to a layout that has gradually evolved into a completely different area and subject! Such is modelling fiction.
    http://railwayphotographs.fotopic.net/p48086712.html
     
    A chance browsing of this forum and seeing Halfwit's blog on the Steelman Royale taking shape and I found myself back on Fotopic searching out the snaps of the Manchester Ship Canal railway's Sentinel shunters.
    http://chris-lowes-train.photos.gb.com/p26212242.html
    http://tims-train-photos.fotopic.net/p24543965.html
    http://tims-train-photos.fotopic.net/p16154792.html
     
    I've not build a proper etched brass kit before - only brass chassis packs and one white-metal kit in my teens. I'm a little apprehensive about taking the plunge but a speculative email has been sent off to Judith Edge to check kit availability.
     
    So where does this project fit with all the others? Paxton Road is going to still be finished. Most of my modern stock will stay OO and for now this will be a great layout to use them on. Rose Hill is a foray into P4 and is proving to be worthwhile in polishing my whole range of layout building skills and I'm really enjoying it. Neither is the place for a Sentinel...
     
    Leading us to the only sensible outcome! A third layout - probably in 2011, probably VERY small (1x4 or so) to fit in my study. DCC and P4 so the Sentinel can be fitted with lights (and sound maybe?!) and P4 to try my hand at point building.
     
    In the meantime we'll see whether a box from Judith Edge arrives - and if I can keep it shut long enough to finish the other layouts!
  12. James Hilton

    Back up blog?

    By James Hilton,

    I've launched my own Blogger blog, to complement RM Web and to provide sollace for those dark days when internet gremlins make the forum un-available...

     
    Don't panic - I'm going to keep my blogs up to date on here with modelling progress. The external blog has feeds from the RMWeb blogs anyway... This will just give me somewhere to post other ramblings and have a play where I've a little more control over how the site looks
    Add it to your favourites!
  13. James Hilton
    I've had three models sat on Paxton Yard plank in my study for several weeks with NO progress but a surprise parcel from MG Sharp this week has spurred me back into action.

    I had some brake cylinders on back order and to be honest I'd forgotten about them so when they arrived it was actually a really pleasant surprise. So this evening I carefully dug out my modelling tools and made a start on bringing 37013 up to scratch.

    First up here is what the brake cylinders look like on a Bachmann 37/0 (or early revised EWS 37/4 and Transrail 37/5). Quite 'puny' and certainly not anything like the bulk of the real thing.



    So braking (pun intended!) out the Details Associates parts they instantly look more like the prototype and go together easily with just a little cleaning up of flash.



    I added the air pipes from 0.25mm brass rod - and I also took the chance to replace the original chain I had used with some finer 40 links per inch chain (also from Detail Associates - thanks Jon). The actuation arm is made from some scrap brass etch, cut to a point, threaded on and folded over - and the other end is attached to a hook that is then folded over made from 0.25mm brass rod. You can also see the knicker elastic (thank other Jon) used for the sand pipes added at BOTH ends of the bogie - the beauty of this stuff is it doesn't restrict bogie movement at all! The final touch is the foot step made from scrap stainless steel etch (I think it was from S-kits brake discs).




    So sat in Paxton Yard I think you'll agree it's worth while - I look forward to now adding some extra detailing around the fuel tanks before painting the details and blending into the existing weathering. Questions, comments and encouragment welcomed!
  14. James Hilton

    Big boys toys...

    By James Hilton,

    Sometimes you know it's ridiculous, sometimes you know it is a waste of money, sometimes you know there are some fundamental flaws in the model - but sometimes you're just very very tempted!
     
    The Barclaycard is in for a bashing. I've wanted a DCC sound locomotive for some time, and after taking some advice on the best RTR options I'm on the brink of breaking the seal and dipping my toe in DCC as well as sound for the first time.
     
    I've had a soft spot for 25/3s after seeing the one at Llangollen a lot in my childhood. Now that sounds wierd doesn't it! Remembering a locomotive in preservation and being nostalgic about that, not seeing it on BR! Well they were still about but I don't remember them! I was all about steam and GWR as a kid!
     
    So despite the window inaccuracies, the frame inaccuracies and an aging model detail wise 25095 still ticks all the right boxes! A shabby looking messy body design, short chassis, rattly Sulzer engine...
     
    So what to get to go with her? I'm thinking a set of the Presflo's from Hattons... but we'll see...
    At the moment it depends on whether I get my daughter the DCC trainset (with a controller) otherwise I'll need the money for a Dynamis. Either way, I'm sure my family will love all the noise on the dining room table trainset on Christmas day!
     
    So off to Fotopic for some research...
     
    At Watford Jcn, 1986
    http://sulzerphotos.fotopic.net/p25727834.html
     
    At Warrington, 1986
    http://eightiesbritishrail.fotopic.net/p53324507.html
    http://eightiesbritishrail.fotopic.net/p53324506.html
     
    At Victoria, 1986
    http://trackbasher.fotopic.net/p55956787.html
     
    At Bristol TM on Bridgewater flasks, 1986
    http://alisterbetts.fotopic.net/p38636355.html
    http://alisterbetts.fotopic.net/p35006692.html
     
    And scrapped by 1988
    http://keithmiller.fotopic.net/p42085796.html
     
    Am I mad? Probably
     
  15. James Hilton
    Well my parallel modelling in G-gauge (http://ejklr.blogspot.co.uk) and 009 continues (http://paxton-road.blogspot.co.uk), albeit at a reduced pace with a busy time at work and an even busier time at home (my second child is due in about 4 weeks)…
     
    It does seem a long time since I wrote on RMweb so in the style of Jon020 here is a bumper update. The Worsley Works (WW) kits are cheap, well designed but really are ‘scratch aids’ in that you get a body, possibly a roof, possibly a chassis and the motorisation/rolling chassis and other details are left to you. It’s a great balance of modelling – that with time and patience can produce a really excellent result. In a world of near mm perfect offerings in OO from Hornby, Bachmann, Dapol and the like it’s refreshing to work in a scale where true model making is still very much the norm, against the dumming down of the skills required by increasing standards in ready-to-run locomotives, rolling stock and now even ready-to-plant buildings!
     
     
    The Wasp…
    The ‘Wasp’, the standard gauge re-gauged inspection saloon that resides (albeit stored at present I believe) on the Welshpool and Llanfair (W&L) is now looking pretty complete – still some way to go (more on that later). I can’t quite remember what stage I’d got the model too in my last blog entry? After putting together the chassis and body in brass, fitting the KATO tram chassis I moved onto body detailing. I started with a 40thou plasticard roof, scored down the centre (on the reverse) and gently bent into a mild ridge. This was superglued to the brass flat roof on the WW kit, and the gaps at each end filled and shaped with Milliput Superfine. On the chassis the sandboxes were scratchbuilt from 10thou plasticard, very fiddly but worth it for the accurate shape, and sanding pipework added from 0.4mm brass wire. Other chassis details included some old staples for the foot steps and plasticard and brass rod offcuts for the battery box and exhaust pipe. In addition a few bits from the ‘junk’ box (I think from a US outline multiple working detailing set) were used to represent the valves and taps. On the body I added L section plasticard to represent the door runners, off cuts of sprue shaped to be a headlight at each end and then 0.4 and 0.3mm brass rod gently shaped to represent the windscreen wipers, and 0.4mm brass rod used for the handles.
     





     
    When complete a coat of primer transformed the meddly of parts into a coherent whole – and showed the promise of the basically ‘right’ character of the original WW scratch-aid kit. I left the Halfords Plastic primer to dry for a few weeks before applying Humbrol paints for the body colours. This started with matt yellow on each end, this was then masked with B&Q precision masking tape cut to the right size (using a scalpel and a metal rule on a small sheet of glass from an old clip picture frame). I then airbrushed on lightly the matt black – which means you get really sharp crisp lines and no build up of paint against the masking edges. Once dry the ends were masked and I applied the dark green body colour.
     




     
    You should also notice the wonderful etched brass works plates on each end – these are from Narrow Planet (www.narrowplanet.co.uk) and are painted by brushing on quite sparingly onto the plate whilst it’s on the fret, letting it dry a little (say 5 minutes for an enamel like Humbrol) until it goes tacky and then turn it upside down and polish on a piece of clean white paper – this gently removes paint from the raised surfaces. Then cut them out and gently burnish the edges to remove any paint left on those… They were affixed with a spot of Superglue on each end.
     


     
    This model is now ready for detail painting (headlights, wipers etc), then I’ll seal it with varnish. Then the order of tasks needs working out but I need to fit glazing, paint the interior walls, fit a engine cabinet, seats and driving controls and a gentle weathering of the chassis and body.
     
     
    …and the Viking…
    I did intend originally to progress these models separately but the Worsley Works (WW) Isle of Man (IOM) Schoema kit very quickly caught up with the progress on Wasp. This model also utilises a KATO tram chassis, and I last posted on here as the basic WW parts had all been fitted and I was about to move onto scratchbuilding the remaining parts.
     
    The prototype is of German origin and has typically a lot of chassis detail and a high running board. There was no way to escape this and provide only minimal detailing – the quality of the body etches were crying out for going to town on the chassis as well. Before starting I got together some plasticard round sections (an Evergreen variety pack I think) as working in plasticard can be quicker, although less robust.
     

     
    I started with the axle boxes – and found some white-metal castings left over from my OO days – these are S-kits ones cut from the Bruninghaus spring units I retro fitted to my old Bachmann PNA 2-axle hopper wagons. I then framed these with some L-section plasticard with TINY fillets of 10thou plasticard. This was a maddening job but well worth it on the finished model – I could only manage 10-15 minutes at a time on this job! These were fixed with Superglue to the brass chassis.
     

     
    The damper units were put together from some L, U and round section plasticard from Evergreen. The dampers are just two diameters of round section glued together. These were constructed off the model, and fitted after the brake reservoirs and pipework were fitted. The brake reservoirs (different sizes each side) were fabricated from round tube plasticard and the ends filled with white Milliput Superfine. The banding on these is just plastic microstrip from Slaters. The pipework on the chassis is from 0.4 and 0.7mm brass wire. These parts were Superglued to the brass chassis, and then the damper units were fitted, also secured with Superglue. The small valves next to the larger of the two reservoirs were from a Hornby Class 31 detailing pack that I had in my ‘junk’ box, and the brake hoses each end are, I think, Heljan examples from the Class 33 detailing kit.
     
    In contrast, the bodywork needed a lot less work. The handrails were fashioned from 0.4mm brass rod – and used Gibson short handrail knobs along the bonnet, and I added an A1 Models turned brass horn on the cab front sheet. The ventilators on the bonnet top were from the N-gauge buffers on the KATO tram chassis and the exhaust stack is just a piece of round section plasticard.
     

     
    Applying the Halfords Plastic primer totally transformed the model and showed the level of detail I’d managed to work into the chassis to good effect. Whilst I had the matt black paint in the airbrush from painting Wasp I also painted the chassis and underside of the body on Viking. This was carefully masked to paint the buffer beams, again airbrushed with a mix of Humbrol orange and red to give a faded colour. Unfortunately I damaged the front step handrails at this stage, so these now need re-fitting. I’m considering drilling small holes in the footplate to make them more robust. Once the red was dry I masked the chassis and buffer beams and then mixed up a custom blue from Railmatch Regional Railways dark blue, Intercity silver grey and Humbrol yellow, and applied this with the airbrush.
     


     
    The next step with Viking will be to apply some gloss varnish to the edges of the buffer beams where I intend to add white chevrons, then detail paint the cab window surrounds and touch in other parts like the vacuum brake pipes before giving the model a coat of matt varnish. I can then fit the glazing, the roof and apply some weathering.
     
    I’ve ordered some 009 Greenwich couplings that will also be fitted to this model.
     
     
    So there you go – a bumper update – I hope you’ve enjoyed reading. More regular updates can be found in my blogger blogs (see the intro paragraph), and now I’m pondering whether to build a micro 009 layout to use these models on…
  16. James Hilton
    After my introduction to P4 with Exactoscale track and it's steel rail I've wondered about tinkering with my Nickel Silver railed Peco Code 75...
     
    I'd read in Martyn Welch's 'The Art of Weathering' in my teens about using gun blue to get Nickel Silver to look like steel. I wondered if Carr's Steel Blackening fluid would work? (they do a specific Nickel Silver version - not sure whether that would have the same effect as this). So I tried it on a demo piece of spare Peco Code 100. Left hand rail was treated with the fluid, right hand rail wasn't - you can visibly see the difference.


     
    Success - I'd say!
     
    So on to Paxton Road!
  17. James Hilton
    I'd forgotten how much fun it is riding a BMX...
     
    Down at Paxton Road today 37013 had arrived from Didcot.


     
    So of course I've not actually ridden my BMX for over 5 years! But I've been tinkering on Paxton Road this evening. After my experiment with Carr's Steel Blackening on Nickel Silver rail I applied it to the rails on Paxton Road. A worthwhile transformation? I'll let you make your mind up - I think it's worth it - it definitely takes the golden tinge off the rail surface.


     
    I thought it might be worth showing a few overview shots...


     
    The warehouse is now placed on the layout - and I've painted the sleepers with Humbrol 98 - this area was originally planned to be a road surface with inset rails - however I don't think the overhead crane I was planning visually works, nor does it fit without cramping the MOD yard. So - this ware will be ballasted once the paint is dry!



     
    Anyway - I've enjoyed working on the layout again but I do find myself wondering about finishing, selling up and starting on another layout! I guess I just need a good running session!
  18. James Hilton
    Somehow even just mocking up something with wood and offcuts makes it all come to life in my mind...
     
    Rose Hill has the beginnings of a baseboard! If you count an un-cut 18mm sheet of plywood as a beginning. These shots show her mocked up with track, Pacer and the two buildings.
    A view from the fiddleyard/backscene end of the layout from both sides - note the planned curved end


     
    A few other shots... low angle and overhead


    A Northern Pacer waits with the 14:12 departure for Manchester Picadilly

     
    With the encouragement and progress of my other new project (Meadow Lane) I had worried that this simple single line branchline terminus might not hold my interest.
    I'd needn't have worried. Looking at these photos and working on the pub building last night have convinced me it's well worth finishing - even if only as a scenic exercise!
  19. James Hilton
    Inspiration comes in lots of forms, who would think the humble shed - the engine that marked the beginning of the end of heritage traction in regular revenue earning service with EWS - would fall into this category!

    Add to that huge potential in the lovely Bachmann model it seemed a no brainer for Paxton Road. Then it happened - Martin (Pugsley) showed photos of his Class 59 project and the decision was made... one day I'd do a 66! Tony's beautiful SD50 build showed a fabulous range of scratchbuilding techniques that both inspired and encouraged me to progress this project. My plan? To scratchbuild, kit bash and fabricate myself a super detailed Class 66 - complete underframe pipework, hosing, valves and chains to start with... and then a detailing and weathering job to show off the finished product!
     
    So a second hand 66 was picked up (it's actually 66022 - with sound decoded removed - not that that will matter as it will be renumbered) a few months ago and since then I've been aquiring the necessary detailing parts to make a start... This week the final pieces were purchased from the US and from Eileen's Emporium - so this blog post marks the start of the project and outlines the history of the class, the model and proposed parts list.

    History of the Class 66
    (Taken from Wikipedia)
     
    When Ed Burkhart bought Transrail, Mainline and Loadhaul (and later Railfreight Distribution and Rail Express Systems) to create English, Welsh and Scottish Railway (EWS) in 1996 he inherited many locomotives at the end of their useful life or of doubtful reliability. EWS approached General Motors Electro-Motive Division (EMD) who offered a derivative of the Class 59 with a more modern engine and traction package, designated JT42CWR. Additionally, the design incorporated General Motors' version of a steering bogie - designed to reduce track wear and increase adhesion on curves.
     
    In the end 250 were ordered by EWS (now DB Schenker) and orders followed from Freightliner, DRS, GBRf and Fastline. All build at the EMD factory in London, Ontario, Canada. Their reliability and performance have probably been a key factor in the continued existence of rail freight in the UK.

    Modelling Resources
    Brian Daniels: Class 66 Modelling Details
     
    Proposed parts list

    Bachmann Class 66/0 EWS Cannon and Company Dash 2 SD Chain Tensioner Cannon and Company EMD Fuel Tank Details Brass rod 0.35 / 0.45 / 0.7 / 0.9mm Brass section 1.5 x 0.5mm Copper soft wire 28swg Plasticard (various thicknesses) Hornby Class 31 buffer beam detailing pack
    First steps
    So what's next?
    Once all the parts arrive I'll strip down the Bachmann model into it's component parts carefully storing screws, fastenings and removable detail. I'll then start on the chassis, stripping down to just the chassis rails...
     
    Questions, comments, encouragement or extra detailing ideas, suggestions and photographs welcome! I thought I'd share progress on here as I go along so keep your eyes peeled in the coming months!
  20. James Hilton
    Slow but steady progress, that's what wins the day (so they say)...
    It's been quite a while since I posted up photos of progress with my Judith Edge Sentinel kit. To be honest, despite what appears to be massive progress it's not really taken much time to build the body - it came together surprisingly quickly - and I must add very easily due to excellent kit design and well fitting parts - quality etches I guess!
     
    The first stumbling block for me was mounting the Black Beetle - as the kit is designed for a Tenshodo Spud. I bodged a mounting bracket (a U-shaped piece across the footplate, with a L bracket to mount to the motor bogie boss - scratchbuilt from spare material in the kit). Once this was sorted I could move on to the body - as due to the way I've built the kit the bogie is now captive and cannot be easily removed. Perhaps an odd decision, but one I struggled to see an alternative too due to the design of the bogie. Mike of Judith Edge does state the kit isn't designed for the Black Beetle, and although I've shown it's a possible fit, it isn't ideal.
     
    The bonnet came together nicely, the fuel tank was more of a b**ger but I got there in the end with much cursing and burnt fingers - it's the grill detail that's difficult (for a beginner like me!). I used 0.3mm wire for the handles on the engine covers and also the sandbox handles on the chassis at this point. I also modified the engine cover doors by filing on a slight chamfer to the front top edge to match prototype photos of DH26.
     
    The cab sides and fronts went together fairly easily - I took the opportunity to replace the etched handrails with 0.45mm brass wire which visually makes a big difference. The folds were quite easy, but the lower edge of the side windows was difficult - even using the Hold and Fold - to get a sharp edge without visible deflection at the window pillars. What I ended up with was a bodge, but it's passable!
     
    The last step was to modify the cab floor and control desk to sit on top of the bogie and here she is posed in moody black and white on top of the Don Thorpe book on the MSC Railway - the bible (and a big thanks to Jan who earlier this year sold it on to me!).
     

    Next up is the cab roof dry fitting, making up some windows to fit snugly in the frames, finished details on the chassis before priming. I think I'll attach the roof and bonnets with glue once it's painted - but we'll see! That will also allow me to add some much needed ballast weight before firmly attaching them to the body. Questions, comments and encouragement welcomed! I'm proud to have got this far - I really am chuffed to have been able to produce something I'm really pleased with!
  21. James Hilton
    Today was the inaugural running of the EJ&KLR (http://ejklr.blogspot.com) and it has been a wonderful day.

    If success can be measured by the size of the smiles then it's been a triumph. The LGB starter set has run faultlessly, nice and quiet and smooth - and easy for my daughter to play with - expecially with the roof that pops off the coach to allow her to load up her Playmobil people.
     
    The more grown up LGB coaches are lovely and look wonderful behind the Stainz, and my little diesel shunter is also a fantastic runner - nice and heavy and lovely detail. A little 'American' but then it is based on the Davenport locomotive! Dad and I said we'd make up some custom EJ&KLR transfers for it we think.
    So here are some photos grabbed today in the heat of a running session - hopefully I'll have a chance to take some more arty shots in the next few days.

    Happy Christmas everyone!





  22. James Hilton
    I took my daughter for a trip out this afternoon to our local preserved railway, the Churnett Valley Railway at Cheddleton near Leek.

     
    We spent many happy days there earlier this year and were hauled on numerous occasions by the lines resident Class 37 due to a steam engine failure for a lot of the summer.
     
    The line is 'closed' during January but I thought we'd see something today, and since my daughter really wanted to see some trains it was worth a punt. Cheddleton was pretty busy and we found 37075 in the platform - much to Elly's delight! She loves the big blue diesel.
     
    Anyway since I'm about to embark on detailing my third Bachmann Class 37 I though it prudent to take a few chassis detail shots to help me with my detailing - and thought they might be of wider interest so have shared them here as well.
     



















     
    Hope they are of some use!
  23. James Hilton
    I'd heard via a reliable source that celebrity green 37411 was on the bi-weekly Didcot - Worthy Down MOD working this morning so on my way out grabbed my camera...

     
    I was glad I did as I managed to grab a few detail shots that might help anyone modelling a 37 based on the Bachmann model
    Just a light load today - traffic really seems to be dwindling, and in the 7 years since I last made the trip down we find just a solitary VKA making up todays load and a VDA down in the headshunt.
     





     
    After stopping for a quick natter with the crew in the cabin I pushed on for work. Hope you enjoy the pics!
     

     
    On a more serious note it's damn cold in the garage. I hope these photos also show the progress I've made with this model - and the detailed fuel tanks I'm particularly pleased with! No serious carving job here - just some extra detail and careful painting to highlight the detail whilst matt black on the rest!
    With the warehouse almost finished I'm ready to push on with the other end of the layout plus add the finishing touches (fishplates) to this end. I can't wait for a little warmer weather
  24. James Hilton
    So about 6 months into my 009 modelling career and the first two models are finished...

     
    Both the diesel (a Schoema prototype, currently based on the Isle of Man Steam Railway) and the railbus (a Baguley Drewry prototype, initially an admiralty vehicle I believe, currently on the Welshpool and Llanfair) are built from etched brass Worsley Works 'scratch-aid' kits. What does 'scratch-aid' mean? Basically you get an etched brass kit with some detailing but you need to source a chassis, detailing parts and sometimes fabricate a roof. They are well designed and cleanly produced and with care, really build into very characterful prototypes.

     
    My 009 meanderings have very little clear direction at present, hence the odd choice of prototype - I just liked them! They both make use of the excellent value and compact Kato tram chassis for N-gauge, available for around £20 delivered - which makes these kits excellent value at less than £50 each when completed. I sourced the plasticard, turned brass components and sections from the usual suppliers (Alan Gibson and Eileen's Emporium).
     
    I shall not give a full-build here - if you're interested they feature heavily on my external blog and I've also described the build, in patches on here. However in recent weeks I have got around to finishing them both off with a subtle weathered finish.


     
    The weathering followed my old 4mm techniques, that I had not used for sometime. Both chassis was treated to a dirtying up using enamels (Humbrol 33, 53 and 98), black, gun-metal and chocolate. When this was dry I dry brushed some more gun-metal on the step edges, cab door step and handrails and applied some Mig weathering powder on the chassis to give some tonal variation and accentuate some of the shadows.
     
    The body on the diesel had some wash (diluted 33 and 98) dripped into the panel lines, and carefully cleaned up to show only in the panel lines, and on the radiator grilles.
     
    I then used an airbrush with three different weathering tones to blend the wash and dry brushing together. On the diesel I used a grey (created from a black and cream mix) to 'fade' the roof to give a sun bleaching and dusty appearance. I then used a straight brown (chocolate 98) on the chassis of both engines, and a light spray from the underside over the buffer beams. I also drifted a little of this over the roof of the railbus. I then used a black (33) with a smidge of chocolate (98) to add some exhaust deposits to the bonnet and roof of the diesel.
     
    Once dry I sprayed a little matt varnish (that has ended up slightly satin - initially I was annoyed, but it actually adds to the effect I think) and added the glazing, before taking them outside for a few snaps... (the diesel will receive custom etched nickel silver plates from Narrow Planet).
     

     
    So what next? Well I've got two kits on order - a large scale 1:22 kit of a Romanian Faur L45H diesel (for the garden line) and a 009 Le Meuse 2-6-0T etched kit using the Graham Farish N-gauge 08 chassis. I have also been scribbling ideas for a small 4mm layout with a running 009 section and a static P4 siding or too, but as I've not really got any prototypes in mind it's proving difficult to focus my attention on something long enough to get a decent plan... at the very least I need a photo plank!
     
    If people are interested in the Garden Railway (1:22) projects I can share them on here too - they just don't often get much comment so I usually only update my Garden Railway external blog. Let me know. I'll continue to share the 009 meanderings on occasion on RMweb, but keep your eyes glued to my 4mm blog if you're interested in more frequent ramblings.
  25. James Hilton

    Dirtying her up...

    By James Hilton,

    My first kit built locomotive, the P4 Judith Edge Sentinel for Meadow Lane is 'nearly' finished.

    I took her outside for a few 'natural light' shots to show the weathering process has started. I find taking photos at this stage invaluable as it really helps you spot where you've missed a bit, overdone it or where a subtle effect could be created with a touch more effort.

     
    So far the effect is simply some very delicate washes brushed vertically with a dry wide flat brush, and some stippling of rust on the buffer beams and skirts. I've treated one side more heavily than the other as a bit of an experiment too - as you can see in the photos - but I'm not so happy with the wash on the dirtier side so have worked it back a bit with a cotton bud moistened with thinners.



    As you can see I've still to add the sand filler covers, the windscreen wipers and the headlights - and I also plan on dry brushing the step edges and further polishing the handrails to give a well worn appearance.


    Once those bits are done I'll break out the new airbrush for a dusting of grime up from the rails and a dusting from above with a little more black mixed in, trying to keep it subtle and sun bleached.

    Questions or comments welcome as usual!
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