James Hilton

If you could cut out the over thick window frames on that Paul, perhaps getting a set from Michael at Judith Edge if he'd do a split from a kit, that's a good looking model.

Interesting! I think I'd be tempted to fit a knuckle coupler, at least for 'within' the rake (to mimic the prototype buck-eyes on Mk1s) as they're much finer in appearance. Have you considered trying something like that?

I've said it before and I'll say it again - this is an excellent little project and quite exciting. I look forward to seeing the finished '3D drawing' and the first prototype from the rapid prototyping process!!!

I can vouch for having multiple projects being a good and bad thing! Good - there's always one modelling job you want to pick up, but bad as slowly both project slow down and you pick up a third, then a fourth...... I'm onto 4 and counting (Paxton Road OO, Rose Hill P4, Meadow Lane P4 and now EJ&KLR G45)!

Jon if I can find the rest of my stash I can send you another bit for now if you like?

Wonderful attention to detail here Jon - the quality of the finish you're achieving is truly inspirational. I look forward to seeing her sprayed up in primer!

Jon a very enjoyable read of an update and the bulk heads look great - pity you'll see so little of them! I presume the windows are available as laser cut plastic from Shawplan for those etched surrounds?<div><br></div><div>As for the bogies - I found the Detail Associates ones I used on my 37013 a cheaper solution - although have considered doing a 37 with cast bogies and just using the 50 sideframes - I didn't realise you could actually get them as a complete spare!! Definitely a big improvement.</div><div><br></div><div>I've found that even with the chains fitted my 37s roll around Paxton Road which uses short radius Peco points - so even the smallest P4 Track Co kit should be fine for your diesel depot plank. When I build my first point I'll be going for one of the kits - handbuilt can come in the future, once I know I can do the basics!</div><div><br></div><div>Good luck and you've NEARLY inspired me enough to come back to 4mm for a while... </div>

Yeah me too - I look forward to being inspired to start work in the smaller scales again!

I remember reading about the initial tinkerings - this all looks very promising

Lovely - that is a cruel close up but I think it goes to show how worthwhile it was spending time getting the shape of the cabs right - I know you spent hours over them and it looks wonderful. I never saw these units in the flesh, but comparing to black and white photographs you've got it pretty much spot on for me!

I can imagine that's easier to work with - but I guess the curved backscene could have been mounted afterwards? How stable is the foamboard with glues and the like? (as this is the stuff where it's a card/foam/card sandwich right?)

Fiddly but good luck - I think although these things are frustrating and we wish kit designers had thought of them, they actually can be quite rewarding when over come

Lovely Rich, top stuff!<div>To reduce the silvering on any future transfers I find Microscale Microsol is a godsend! Even when applied to gloss varnished surface you still can get a silvering, but applying Microsol on top, neat and leaving for 5seconds and then blotting and pressing down hard - with repeat applications - you can get the silvering to completely dissappear. The Microsol dissolves the laquer/varnish a little, so it's careful work so as not to destroy the decal - I used it when I did my <a href="http://ejklr.blogspot.com/2011/01/zillertal-coaches-are-finished.html">ZIllertalbahn coaches for the LGB project</a>. These were quite tricky... as they looked ok but as they dried they kept showing up silver patches. The transfers are just the white bits, as I painted the black patches onto the body.</div>

Can't wait to see the cabs go on

Got a link? Then it's not dead...

All - thanks for your kind words and thoughts.

Jon - you summed it up nicely!

Mikkel - yes it's definitely an N gauge micro layout size!

A lovely looking conversion so far - goes to show what you can create from some of the Hornby old range. How does she run? If it's anything like my grandpa's old Lord of the Isles single then perhaps not as good as she looks?

Definitely worth ALL the effort on getting this right

Jon - thanks! I can just picture it now, a nice cold (but not too cold) Wychcraft and the U-class chugging around the flowerbeds, whilst reading a book on Austrian Narrow Gauge and enjoying the summer sunshine. Bliss! Yes Elly really loves these big trains - and now I've got this one the Stainz (shown in the second of the U-class photos for size comparison) is definitely hers... at least in the wife's eyes! For a sense of scale the U-class is about a foot long (30cm from tank front to cab back) and 17cm tall. Big (but not as big as Dad's Shay - that's nearly 70cm long!).

The 58 is coming slowly - it and the 66 as projects are quite interesting - both technically quite involved (for me) so should keep me engaged but I've never really connected with the prototypes and I find myself lagging, even considering finishing them to sell on. The 33s, 37s and my 08s I feel totally different about. Guess I never really grew up around 58s and the 66s are todays engine - and although I appreciate them as the saviour of British rail freight, I don't really have a connection with them.

I can see another project starting and finishing before they're both complete but we'll see - I think I'm going to finish off the 58 body mods quite quickly and get onto fading and weathering it, something I know I'll really enjoy.

Wow - this must be TINY! I've been working in G in recent weeks and it's refreshing to be handling such large models - this is the polar opposite and looks exquisite!

That's very good - initially I thought you'd gone overboard so thanks for sharing the prototype photo as well. I know acrylics are good in terms of speed of finish, but I don't get on with them for the same reason you've just described. Oils are much more flexible in my experience.

Tom I have to say I think it's going to be very successful - although I suspect points will be harder to achieve so nicely - are there any points that need to be sunk into the same ash mess?

Utter madness - and I love it! Inspiring in the larger scale as usual. G is even bigger, but I'm treating it like a toy rather than a finescale model. This is something else!

Looks like you're tanks will be empty from the look of those replacement springs then Martin

Well worth observing these detail differences - you might think the average punter won't notice but when you take photos, it's the layering of things like this that aren't immediately obvious but really really add to the realism. Good stuff.

Looking good. Deterioration is hard to capture but you're doing a grand job. You're modelling style is very consistent which works well across all aspects of Calshot. I love both the concept and the execution.