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James Hilton

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Blog Entries posted by James Hilton

  1. James Hilton
    ...see the trains all in a row! (or not in this case!)
    Well with other projects on the workbench it's been a while since I posted any updates on the Rose Hill P4 project, my 2010 Challenge entry - well it's not going to be finished but things are progressing still, albeit very slowly.
    The Pacer is coming along but most effort has gone into 'finishing' (for now) the station building. This is a 80% scaled version of the real building at Rose Hill, in length, so has a few comprises but I think it really captures the character of the prototype and I'm really pleased with it!
    The building is scratchbuilt in plasticard, using Slaters embossed sheets, various plastrut sections and some thin wire section along with various plasticard offcuts. It's painted and weathered with Humbrol enamels and I'm 95% finished with it - it still needs some fine details adding, and touching up here and there!
    The signs and posters are custom made - drawn in Adobe Illustrator and printed on photo paper before being cut out and applied with Superglue - I'm particularly pleased with these! Anyone who wants a set I've got 2 spare sets of posters and signage, suitable for any Northern branded station!
    Anyway enough waffle, here are the snaps:



    I'm really pleased. Any questions or comments are welcome as usual
  2. James Hilton
    You know it was one of those lazy afternoons - the sun gently warming and the light pleasantly hazy... the gentle rumble of the EE 350hp unit thrumming away letting you know that despite appearances some movement was afoot.



    09007 is a modified Bachmann model. I've made some good progress on Paxton Road in the last fortnight but until the forum thumbnail issue is sorted I'll point you in the direction of my blogger blog for your image fix! I've taken a few of the new fence and the groundworks.
  3. James Hilton
    My P4 project, part of the RMWeb 2010 challenge is a model of Rose Hill, Marple. It's a toe dipping exercise in prototype observation - not 100% to scale (something more like 80% with the station building and pub) but with the definite intention of 'feeling right'. That means fantastic observation of prototype and artistic colouring.

     
    The only rolling stock required (until Bachmann release a 150/1 in Northern Rail) was deemed to be a Pacer as I had one of the original Hornby ones to hand from my childhood. Over the past few months this has undergone a massive transformation (more details on RMWeb) but I reached 2 milestones today. 1) Ready for painting and 2) Ordering the custom decals from Precision Labels!
     

     
    One thing I'm particularly pleased with is the underframe. I've not gone to the extent of massive rebuilding but with new front dams, beefed up suspension units and some judicious cutting of the box for the weight I've got something I'm happy with.

     
    I'm also pretty pleased with the new exhaust pipes - the pipe at the bottom will be glued to the underframe rather than hanging down once the body is painted.

     
    So now I just need to source some suitable paints!
     
     
     
  4. James Hilton
    ...and you can start to see the layout emerging in line with my initial sketches and ideas.
     
    Reading a copy of Barry Norman's 'Landscape Modelling' that I picked up from the Bridgnorth station shop on Saturday is proving to be quite inspiring and it's one of the driving forces behind this renewed vigour. Rose Hill is the perfect layout to try some of this observation and careful scene selection, compression and impressionism out on - and will be a great lead into my Meadow Lane project which is evolving slowly as well.
     
    These photos are not great - they were taken in bad lighting and Photoshop has only half rescued them - they do however give a sense of where we are, where we're going and what's next.


     
    Not a lot of progress for my 2010 challenge entry really, no real layout to speak of - but promise I think... it's certainly got that!
     
    Thanks for your recent encouragement - I hope to post some Pacer progress next week, and have some scenery to share with you all by the end of October.
  5. James Hilton
    This weekend is (approximately) the first anniversary of my garden railway...
     

     
    The past 12 months have proven that a ground level line, built with good solid foundations, left floating in the ballast can survive the worst the British weather can throw at it, from baking hot summer (well spring!) days, torrential downpours, hard frost, deep snow. It is anything but maintenance free, requiring the ballast topping up, 'tamping' areas where the sub-layer subsides, and regular weeding - but it feels like you have you're very own full size railway, it's actually a relaxing side of the hobby I had never appreciated.
     

     
    And what of the line itself? Well I've scratchbuilt a few buildings and signals, repainted and refurbished a lot of LGB rolling stock and have even scratchbuilt some rolling stock. It's been truly refreshing to work without the constraints of the 'mainstream' scales, and I hope, despite all the scale in-accuracies and other compromises in the models that I have gone some way to capturing the spirit of the narrow gauge lines in Austria during the late 1950s through to the 1980s.
     

     
    So what for the next 12 months? Well I've another scratchbuild rolling stock project, and a third building I want to create. I've also got a big Eastern European narrow gauge diesel kit on order from a small supplier in Germany. Along with another LGB trainset I'm getting for my birthday, I've plenty of projects to maintain my interest.
     

     
    Some of you may have spotted a longer 'photo' update in the 'Outdoors' section of the forum, those that missed it, it's here...
    Introducing the EJ&KLR
  6. James Hilton

    The Concept

    By James Hilton,

    The Concept?
     
    So now you've read the inspiration and learnt a little history. Logically I should share the concept before I get into the murky depths of random modelling blog posts!
     
    I have an Ikea book shelf in my study. For a long time I've pondered about building a little diarama to sit on it - originally thinking OO and using it as a photo plank. I'm not quite sure what kicked off the interest in the MSC really, but this little foray in to P4 seemed to fit on the shelf top without having to worry about the physical size of my other P4 project (Rose Hill). The track plan is really simple and something I've had in mind for a while, combining one point with a sector plate and cassette/traverser.
     


     
    Note the hidden sidings shown in the second plan (on the left of the scenic section) will not exist as the shed will feature a fully detailed interior

     
    Complications
    A little quandry comes from the fact that it fits perfectly within the realm of the 2010 Challenge!! It even has five new elements for me (P4, track construction, point construction, etched kit construction and aiming to finish something!). Whether or now I swap my entry will depend on progress on this and Rose Hill in the coming weeks.
     

    A further complication is that with a little tweaking to the planned size the layout would fit within the S4 Society's Armchair challenge!
     
    Future Expansion
    One thing I am concious of at this stage is the opportunity for future expansion and with this in mind I'll be building the baseboards using decent alignment dowels - despite currently only planning a simple set of fiddleyards. Current thinking is that with a little more space I could model the exchange sidings with BR, off to the right of the plan (instead of the sector plate) and further again I could build a fiddleyard off the back left track and a further scenic expansion off the front left track, perhaps serving another refinery. Still following me? Good. I'm not crazy then! Questions, comments, support and more information always welcomed
  7. James Hilton
    Welcome to part 3 (it's been a long time coming) of my re-working of a Bachmann 'Shed'!

    Work has been non-existent in the past few weeks, however before modeller's block became a problem I had made some good progress with the fuel tank area that it is worth sharing to show progress so far and the standard I'm aiming for in this area.
    I made extensive use of the 'Cannon and Co' EMD fuel tank detailing pack - along with various sizes of brass wire (including 0.25, 0.31, 0.9mm).




    Reference was made to Brian Daniel's excellent snaps which made detailing up the end of the tank a breeze!
    Now 'plastic' has been cut there is no going back so the next step will be to start to fabricate the pipe runs along the chassis frame - which I'm going to build up in stages leaving each sub-assembly loose until I'm sure I've got things in the right order - it's going to be a challenge but I'm looking forward to it.
  8. 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!
  9. James Hilton
    This week I've found myself 'playing' on Paxton Road quite a lot with my sound fitted green 37...
     
    So this evening I did some work on the layout too and started on the security fencing around the warehouse, using the Knightwing plastic stuff. It's quite a close fit in the front siding but I think it looks good - and the cinders ballast needs some weathering and overgrowth adding but I will do that before the fence is fixed in place!

     
    I love my new airbrush too...

    This is the £99 deal from Expo tools and I'm really really really impressed! It comes with a simple top feed dual action brush and with the pressure set at 30psi, and a 50/50 thinned Humbrol paint decanted into the cup I managed to get some lovely results on my pair of 37/4s (incidently that share the same number! 37411!). I dusted over the bogies which blended my previous washes and powders together really nicely and then dusted a little upwards along the tumblehome - an effect that is really subtle but you just cannot achieve without an airbrush - but was really easy to apply. I also tried adding the weathering to the bonnet noses on the EWS loco to good effect! I can't wait to use it on my other models at some point.






    I've also FINALLY finished my Railtrack PNA opens with the interior weathering. This is simply Humbrol enamels (98 and 100 for the sides and a bit of 64 added to the floors) applied with a little thinners - and then whilst wet stipple on 64 to the sides to give the effect of a previous load. I've then added some granite ballast using Woodland Scenics scenic cement to the insides using photos in Nigel Burkin's 'Detailing Modern Wagons in 4mm' book as a guide - to simulate where mechanical grab unloading hasn't got all the contents out of the wagons...



     
    So as you can see despite being quiet on the forum I've actually managed quite a lot of output recently! Thanks for looking - and any questions, comments or encouragement welcomed in the form of comments on this blog entry
  10. 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
  11. James Hilton
    Well it seems to have been an age but progress on Paxton Road has been made, despite the distractions of a new project!
     
    The warehouse that was constructed right back in the dawn of the project before even the boards were built has been brought inside for 'finishing off'. The layered plasticard construction has caused a little warping in places that I've tried to put back with some thick bracing and superglue. The roof is going to need totally replacing.
     
    I've started to detail it a little now so I could get a sense of it was worth rescuing.
     

     
    The warehouse is supposed to represent a rail served MOD depot just north of Winchester at Worthy Down and is completely ficticious. Obviously the compound will be secured by security fencing and regularly patrolled by guard dogs, but in addition and in this day an age the norm, the MOD have added CCTV - two camera can be seen on the north end of the warehouse.
    These are scratchbuilt from various plastic offcuts and some etched stainless steel fret left overs.


     
    I think these look less clumsy then those available cast in white metal and I'm very pleased with them.
    In the top photo you can also see some external pipework and the CCTV control box added. I have to decide next where I'll locate exterior lights and if these will be working or not - and then I'll be onto gutters before re-roofing. I'm pleased with it so far though!
     
    Also worth mentioning is the Ratio gantry crane I've started putting together. I envisage this will be located on some hardstanding outside the warehouse to enable offloading of large items of equipment that can't be fork-lifted or driven out of the vans and opens that visit the facility. It's a very nice kit and I've been very impressed with the quality so far.
     

     
    That's all for now. Slow but steady progress - these two structures really need finishing so they can be built into the scenery as it progresses from front to back on the second half of the layout
  12. 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!





  13. James Hilton
    Progress does feel like it's been a little slow in the past few weeks... I've snatched a few hours here and there to progress my Judith Edge Sentinel P4 project!

    Never the less this evening saw another milestone as I fitted the cab glazing after painting the interior and adding some extra detail! Those who are regular readers will remember that I've got the kit with a Black Beetle bogie - this required some modification (read bodging) and that's why I've ended up in the off situation of having to glaze and detail the cab ahead of fixing on the roof!

    Never fear I do intend to solder this on and round the corners off as per the prototype! I've checked and the glazing should be ok as long as I'm quick with the iron and tin the roof well before I start!

    Other keen eyed readers will see I've also fitted the brake shoes and rigging I'm really pleased with this now - she certainly looks the part. Michael Edge has done a fantastic job on the kit design - it's been a pleasure to put together and as an etched brass kit beginner I've found it relatively easy to get in to and it certainly has improved a lot of my modelling skills

    Anyway here she is with the bonnets and roof placed loosely on - and posing with the Oxford Diecast XR3i.


    and here are some really cruel close ups of the cab area with the roof removed to allow some light in!


    and finally a couple from above showing the transfers I've used to give it some character, and the extra levers I've added to the control desk!


    So what's next? Well I've got so clean up the edges of the roof and solder that on - and then some detailing bits and bobs - find some lead weight to go inside the bonnets and then into the paint shop!
    I'll add the swords and windscreen frames after it's all painted!
  14. James Hilton
    The wonderful thing about model railways is that it's a hobby with so many different areas to maintain your interest...
     
    Take the garden railway in these photos, a totally different scale, with a totally different prototype - needing lots of research. Then there is the building of a layout and buildings, then modifying or building your stock. Throughout the whole experience there is photography.
     
    Adjusting photographs to improve their realism is nothing new in the hobby. These days with multi mega pixel cameras and photo editing software features you can do miracles - however that doesn't get away from taking a good photo in the first place.
     
    The big advantage (sorry no pun intended) of working with G-scale in the garden is that you always have natural light to play with, allowing faster shutter speeds and the ability to soften the background by zooming in to the subject.
     
    All these photos were taken in colour - and were lovely - but by going monochrome it's removed the distractions and helps the eye even more naturally settle on the subject matter. Not only did I convert to monochrome but I have also adjusted the darkness, contrast and shadows using the standard editing features in iPhoto.
     
    Once happy with the settings the next step to improving realism is careful and complementary cropping out of foreground blur or background distractions.
     
     

     
     

     
     

     
     

     
     

     
     
    I think the results speak for themselves - I'm really pleased with them - the only thing missing is some 'steam', but I don't find the smoke effect generated by the locomotives built in smoke generators particularly convincing so until I can do some photoshop trickery these examples will stand as they are...
     
    As well as maintaining my external blog (http://ejklr.blogspot.com) for my garden railway project I also keep a 'photo' thread up to date on here from time to time (http://www.rmweb.co....cing-the-ejklr/).
  15. James Hilton
    Not another one I hear you shout! Paxton Road is 2 years in the making and still only 60% finished - and Rose Hill is barely 3 months in, what is he thinking?!!
    As readers of RMWeb will be aware this week I've been musing over building a 230hp Sentinel shunter - a chain driven one based on the Manchester Ship Canal examples - using a Judith Edge kit. This would ideally be P4, DCC and possibly even sound fitted. It would definitely feature working headlights, cab light and flashing beacon on the roof.
     
    An aspiration since I started the pointless (as in no points - not as in no point!) Rose Hill was to try my hand at building my own track in P4. Now I've got the confidence I can do this I wondered about a small diarama and out came the sketchbook.
     
    I think it holds some charm - an overgrown down at heels track across the front, a road crossing going to a small yard and warehouse with overgrown rail access. Behind the back security fence is the link to the mainline. Off to one side is either a traverser or cassettes and on the right is a simple sector plate.
     
    We'll see I guess - 50% certain this one's a goer!
     

     
     
  16. James Hilton
    This G-scale stuff is quite addictive and I'm finding that you can get as good a finish as 4mm...
     
    Part of me wonders whether to 'thin' and 'focus' the 4mm stuff sooner rather than later?
     
    Anyhow, this blog is about recent progress on the G-scale project, the EJ&KLR. I've 90% completed the brake van and started on the shunter. First up let's talk about the LGB post van that's been modified into this brake van. I've refurbished the lighting circuits, modified the body by removing the horizontal slats (from the window that now has a yellow frame below), resprayed the whole model in a dark grey with black roof and added my own custom decals (printed by John at Precision Labels). I've also sourced a replacement buffer for the one that was missing thanks to a kind chap called Dave from G-scale Central forum.
     
    From this...

    To this...


    Today I added a waft of satin varnish over the model - to seal the transfers and hide the gloss varnish from behind them - and tomorrow I'll fit the glazing - then she's finished!
     
    I also mentioned the Lilliput diesel shunter. This is based on an American prototype model made by Bachmann - and although the lamps and exhaust stack go a long way it's still fitted with a cut bar and running boards on the buffer beams. These are simply removed with screws - I've then re-fitted the screws in the holes which gives a rugged industrial look to the buffer beams in my opinion. I've also 'bodged' on some LGB locomotive buffers, but the shanks look too weedy so these will be beefed up tomorrow night. This model is still waiting on it's custom EJ&KLR name plates on each side of the cab - also tomorrow hopefully. It's a lovely runner but is visually quite a lot smaller than the rest of the stock - perfect for it's role on the line as it will only ever be used on short infrastructure and PW trains.





    Those that read the EJ&KLR blog will have seen that on Monday my father passed away in his sleep. He has been ill for a long time and this G-scale garden railway project was a last hurrah for us both and something that he'd really thrown himself in to - I hope that by continuing the work, and modelling in general, that it will be a fitting tribute to a man who was an inspiration to me - a wonderful father and someone whom I'll never forget.
  17. James Hilton
    I had a lovely weekend visiting both the Llangollen Railway and the old Manchester Ship Canal Railway at Ellesmere Port...
     
    Saturday I headed over to Llangollen. It's my favourite preserved railway - really beautiful scenery and in recent years it has also really tidied up the sidings and yards along the route and appers much more clean, tidy and professional. Very well presented!
     
    Anyway it was a sunny day and my daughter wanted to travel on a diesel and a steam engine. We started at Carrog on the return DMU service before spending an hour in Llangollen and then back on the steam service. Car parking is free and a lot easier at Carrog! On the DMU we sat at the rear of the train and I took some photos through the cab - it was really great to see the line in this way and it makes you appreciate how spectacular some of the scenery is - it's a shame you can't see it normally.
     
    Anyway - it makes more sense in reverse so we'll start at Llangollen and take a short guided tour...
     
    Llangollen and the Class 104 from the road overbridge and the end of the line. When they've extended to Corwen I wonder if they'd ever consider trying to push south to Ruabon and the mainline?


     
    Leaving Llangollen you cross the Dee on the old bridge.

     
    Approaching Berwyn.

     
    The longest tunnel on a preserved railway (I think), Berwyn tunnel approach and exit.


     
    Glyndyfrdwy approaches.

     
    and then the last shot I took (well first actually) between Glyndyfrdwy and Carrog.

     
    Finally a few detail shots.



     
    A fun day out and it brought back a lot of memories for me - it's the first preserved railway I actually remember being taken to see as a child with my Dad - and seeing Foxcote Manor which for a long time was my favourite steam engine.
     
    It's funny what nostalgia does to you - I spent a happy hour when I got to my parents digging out all my old Mainline and early Bachmann steam engines and having a good nose at them! Maybe one day I'll clean up my old steam era layout in the garage in Chester and take some photos.
  18. James Hilton
    I got an hour clear to spend on Viking today...

     
    I only had a few parts left to fit in brass, namely the hooks on the buffer beans and the foot steps. These went on without too much drama, using low melt solder and holding the parts with tweezers or pliers whilst the solder took a second to cool.

     
    The steps at the front are formed from two pieces, but went together with ease. There are no locating half etches on the underframe for either the front or back but they went on ok, but I did have to keep tweaking them until the were straight, they're not perfect but the advantage is how strongly attached they are over the superglued ones on Wasp.

     
    Next I'll start building an axle box assembly and then see if I can take a mould from it to cast my the four I need, or whether it will be just as easy to build them all by hand.
  19. James Hilton
    Christmas and New Year were great fun, but combining the family commitments and putting together an issue of my mountainbike e-zine I had very little time for modelling. The first two weeks of January have seen a reversal with a snow bound last week and issue deadline out of the way.

    So what did I get for Christmas and what have I been working on recently?
     
    I treated myself to the Bachmann sound equipped class 37 (in Railfreight grey) and a Dynamis controller. This has proved great fun (although I've yet to stretch her legs on Paxton Road). After posting up a thread before Christmas asking people to help me decide on a repaint I happened to mention in my status I'd fancy a swap. Chris56079 PM'd me offering a swap with his Bachmann Collectors Club 37411 Caerphilly Castle body, a locomotive I'd lusted after when it was released! Despite being well off period for Paxton Road a swap was duly arranged and since receiving her from Chris I've added the etched plates from Fox.
     
    The etched plates from Fox fitted and the body placed on the sound chassis. When I got back into the hobby in 2007 this was one of the locomotives active on the mainline that I always wanted to model. It doesn't fit my layout time period but who cares! Now I can have a 2007 period with a few of the more modern vans when I want! As long as she never appears with my other 37411 we'll get away with it!


     
    This model will be the third 37 I've worked over (previously a Mainline freight liveried 37/0 and an EWS 37/4) and I intend to build on the experience of the other two with this one! She'll receive snowploughs (thanks to Mark Miller), new buffers and MU socket, bufferbeam plumbing and ETH cable. I'll add speedo drive, brake actuation chains, sanding pipework and some detailing around the fuel tanks before a very delicate weathering with a little road dirt on the chassis, ploughs and some exhaust staining and dirt on the roof panels. I'll also try opening out the face of the air horns with a small drill bit as well as I've looked at the turned options from Markits and A1 models and I don't think they really capture the size of the 37 horns accurately.
     
    Expect some photos posed on Paxton Road when the weather warms up!
     
     
     
    A humble EWS liveried Bachmann Seacow also appeared on my workbench over Christmas and was far too pristine with it's crisp grey interior to not undergo the weatherers brush (so to speak).
    I've always had an issue with the paint finish on Bachmann Seacows; when weathering with Humbrol enamels it's very very difficult to build up layers of grime successfully as the paint doesn't ever seem to dry and adhere to the paint permanently so that when you apply a second colour, the white spirit in the wash starts to soften and dissolve the earlier layer. This is fine in little areas as it gives realistic scuffs in the dirt, but across the whole wagon side is quite annoying. Anyhow, moan over suffice to say I've got one side I'm happy with and the other has been rubbed off with a cotton bud for a second attempt.

    The side I'm happy with pictured below, along with the other Seacows that are in use on Paxton Road, whose weathering and detailing is described here.

     
    The start of the effect is simply a liberal coating of Humbrol 98 (Matt Chocolate) all over! The bogies, wheelsets and bufferbeams all get it neat whilst the bodyside and ends get a thinned down wash applied. Once this has thoroughly dried I mix some Humbrol 33 (Matt Black) and 98 together and slightly thin this. This is applied over rivet detail and fabrication edges before being sponged off with a cotton bud in a vertical brushing action (top to bottom). I'm quite happy with the side that's pictured, the other side ended up with too much thinners added and the whole finish coming off with the cotton bud. Take this stage carefully building up slowly or use acrylics or a varnish coat between weathering.
     
    This wagon now needs a decent internal weathering to match it's sisters on the layout, something I'll get round too in a few weeks when I come back to finish the second side.
     
     
     
    As well as making a start on the second structure for Rose Hill I've also dug out some other older models to progress with for Paxton Road. The rake of PNAs is progressing nicely with all 4 now fitted with Brunninghaus suspension units (as per this description on my blog) and have the initial chassis and bodyside weathering applied. Still to complete is a dusting of powder on the chassis to build up the shadows and texture, painting the buffer shanks silver and applying weathering and some remains of a spoil load to the interiors.

    The PNAs here are 75% complete and bookend the main era of Paxton Road (1998-2002).

     
    So that's it for now really. Expect more in the coming weeks as I've some detailing bits to start adding to Paxton Road, along with progressing the scenery around the MOD depot building pictured a few weeks before Christmas.
     
    Comments questions and anything else welcomed, please use the comments feature or contact me by PM.
     
     
     

  20. James Hilton

    Ready for action...

    By James Hilton,

    My Mainline freight liveried tractor is finished for the third time and I'm absolutely thrilled!

    I've really raised my game on this one and she's a worn worn super detailed stunner with faded paint and much finer detail then I've managed before. This evening saw the finishing touches and a dusting of grime over the weather finish applied by hand to the underframe and lower body. This has pulled the previous powder/paint/dry brush/wash finishes together an absolute treat.
    She started out as a Dutch liveried standard release. I've repainted, then weathered, then detailed the buffer beams, then narrowed the bogies, then re-touched the weathering, then added the finer detail and new brake cylinders and now airbrushed the final weathering. A lot of work but cumulatively a fantastic project and a model that is both unique and something I'm really proud of! Questions and comments welcome guys
     
    (DCC now too!)
  21. James Hilton
    An exciting looking pair of parcels arrived this morning, just after I got home from town rather chuffed to find my article in Model Rail (see my other blog)...
     
    A long thin tube and a big jiffy bag nicely labelled up from Exactoscale! My P4 track components (and gauges) plus some OO stuff to compare as well!
    Then I had to go out so I spent the whole day itching to read my article and put together a few trial sections of P4 track.
     
    I finally managed it about 6pm this evening and after a quick check of the Pacer's back to back I connected up my controller for an inaugral run... and success! The Pacer moved from one end of the 0.5m section to the other!! Excellent.
     
    The Pacer and progress on Rose Hill to date - slow but steady. This end on shot will be possible on the finished layout thanks to the plan to be able to view on 3 sides, including the bufferstops.

     
    The track goes together very easily. I opted to try steel rail this time, which seems ok so far, and a lovely realistic colour to it! The Exactoscale components are well packaged and nicely moulded and a 0.5m section like this goes together in about 5 minutes. I could build all the track I need for Rose Hill in under an hour!
     
    Here are couple of other shots just to show how excited I am - and impressed with the increased fidelity for virtually no increase in pain. Mind you this layout doesn't need any points - so that's a bridge left to cross before I throw myself completely to the finescale wind!


     
    Hopefully over Christmas I'll put together some base boards to allow progress to start on scenery. Before then I should really work out how much I'm compressing the plan by! Oh well. Mustn't be distracted by the myriad of other projects on my workbench!
  22. James Hilton
    I visited DEMU Showcase over the weekend and found myself both inspired and over-awed with the quality and scale of a number of the layouts there. It was a great show and re-ignited my enthusiasm to get something finished and fit to 'run' so to speak.
    On top of that I've promised Richard at Traction an article on the finished layout and some exclusive photos - so that's motivation too!
     
    So what have I been up to? Well the warehouse is glued down and the ballasting has been finished. For the yard I've used cinders (as I'd run out of brown) but it's actually turned out to be a nice contrast. I've also painted the rails with a mixture of Humbrol 98 and 33 (with a touch of orange as well). This is likely to receive some sort of toning down wash, but I'm not sure what or how yet - to pull the cinders and sleepers together a little. I knocked off one of the security cameras (doh!) and I need to fit railings to the ends of the platform and infront of the Fire Exit door too! I then plan to fit bollards across the end of the warehouse to the grassy bank - and there is security fencing to be installed (including gates) around the perimeter.
    I've finished off my first sheet of Mini-natur static grass sheet - so £20 ended up going quite a long way - I think I'll need another half sheet to finish off the layout. This has been glued down with PVA and the edges started to blend in with Woodland Scenics medium green turf ground foam.
     
    Running the 08 was a little dis-illusioning - as the running quality of the layout isn't great (I've learnt a lot in the process about wiring up points which I'll do properly next time). I've also found the cosmetic fish plates need 'tickling' a little in places as they do cause the locos to click running over them.
     
    It's nice to be able to show a loco with lights (proving the power was on) even if it was just connected up with crocodile clips!
     
    Anyway enough talking here are some progress photos!
     
    Overview shot:

     
    The 08:

     
    37411 arriving and shunting the MOD vans from Didcot :





     
    before running around and heading back down the branch to Winchester:


     
    Comment. questions and encouragement welcome!
  23. James Hilton

    Inspiration?

    By James Hilton,

    Inspiration?
     
    Now picture this, a warm balmy summer day. The air is warm but not sticky, comfortable t-shirt weather. Bright blue skies, windows down and the low burble of the exhaust of your brand new Escort XR3i. A light breeze is blowing across the meadow and a short horn blast sharpens your senses as a small 0-4-0 Sentinel shunter ambles across in front of you with a short train of work worn fuel tanks, reminding you that these days this is oil country.
     

     
    As you rumble over the tracks into the yard you crane your head to catch a glimpse down the overgrown tracks towards the exchange sidings, desperate for a glimpse of something more exotic then the usual Rat.
     

     

     
    Parking up in the shade of the building, the quiet calmness of the weekday afternoon reminds you of those long summer afternoons of your childhood. The gentle melody of Morrisey creeps into your consciousness as the workshop radio plays This Charming Man through an open door. A quick look around and the place is deserted so you grab a few photos, soak up the atmosphere before jumping back in the car and heading home, quite oblivious to the significance of recording the Indian Summer of these mundane industrial workings.
     
     
  24. 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...
  25. James Hilton

    One small step...

    By James Hilton,

    Just one small step... that's all this is - one small toe dipped in the P4 water...
     
    With the excuse of the 2010 challenge I've finally decided to scratch that itch so to speak. P4 has intrigued me for a number of years with the increase in fidelity appealing to both my engineer and artistic natures. Rose Hill will be an exercise in restraint, in prototype observation and a bit of fun - not too much of a distraction from my real love - Southern region late 90's stock.
     

    photo © and (P) Stephen McKay
     
    So where is Rose Hill?
    It's perhaps the modern quintessential branch line terminus? A single line terminus, one platform, park and ride style car park situated in Marple on the outskirts of Stockport (itself on the edge of Greater Manchester). The branch is a little over a mile long and leaves the Hope Valley line (Manchester to Sheffield) after Romiley. There are about 3 services an hour into Manchester Piccadilly.
     
    I plan to model the station with the road bridge as a scenic break. I will model the carpark and fuel yard in their entirety as well as what I believe was an old Hotel on the main road.
     
    Here is a plan of what the layout will cover - easily within 13.9 sq ft with fiddle yard in 4mm.

     
    Rose Hill is not a new project for me entirely. It's been on my workbench for about 2 months as a possible layout idea. The 2010 challenge has given me the impetus to try something new (P4) and model it accurately.
    You can find my previous posts on my Paxton Road blogs here:
    A distraction... Rose Hill, Marple
    Pacesetting...
    Pacer progress...
     
    So what next? Get out the credit card and order some P4 bits...
     
    On a more serious note can I thank all of those who responded to my thread in the 2010 Challenge forum, and in particular those who have today offered a great deal of support and advice in taking the P4 plunge. Thankyou. I hope Rose Hill will be a credit to me, the scale and modern image modelling.
     
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