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ullypug

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Blog Entries posted by ullypug

  1. ullypug
    In advance of the EMGS skills day at Kidderminster next weekend (hope the snow thaws), I've been finishing off a number of projects. They're all in P4 by the way.
    I'm doing a demo about the various springing systems for wagons that I've used/or not.
     
    First up is the Craig Welsh chassis for a RCH under frame. These are sold by the Scalefour society and fold up in a single unit. I really like them. I've posted pictures before and this sits under an ECC body I originally built (badly) 35 years ago. I've since detailed the sole bars with crown plates etc. The originals didn't survive the dismantling process.

    Next is one of Justin's rather spiffing Rumney Models wagon chassis kits, in this case for the 21T hopper. I probably should have started with an easier one, but I already had the Parkside body assembled in another frenzy of poor model making, hence it needed a new chassis. These kits are really good and I've a fair few more waiting to be built. They are an exercise in origami, but well thought through and if you take it steady, don't present any problems. The instructions are fairly comprehensive! The standard BR hopper did find its way on to the Cheddar branch for loading quarried stone.

    Then there's something a bit different, namely the Prickley Pear system. This is a hybrid between sprung and compensation. Both w irons rock but are retained by a wire at the outer edge which springs off a central evergreen square plastic section. The cosmetic springs were fixed to the w iron leaving a space under the sole bar to allow movement.

    The Toad has one of the Morgan chassis kits marketed by the Scalefour society and has adjustable w irons both laterally and at one end, vertically. Personally I think it's a bit over engineered. It's a lot of effort to avoid springing out the W irons when inserting the wheels. I've never had any issues with this on any of the other systems I've used, so for me anyway it's solving a problem (which it does well) that doesn't bother me. The instructions were very comprehensive too and the range covers just about every sort of GW wagon you could wish for,

    Then there's the masokits sprung chassis kits which form into pre-determined lengths around a chassis spine. The springs are thin steel strip. I didn't actually build the chassis bit but I have put it under the coal wagon.

    Lastly there's the Bill Bedford system, marketed now by Eileens amongst others. I must confess it's the standard system I use and get on well with.

    Not shown is standard rocking W iron compensation, which I will have on the demo stand and lastly, uncompensated. For every one who tells you springing and compensation is an essential, there are plenty of others who make do without quite happily.
    At the end of the day it's a personal choice. A bit like choosing the best auto coupling system...
     
    My personal choice? Bill Bedford W irons, Rumney Models and Craig Welsh chassis kits. They work for me. The others work fine, but building them hasn't persuaded me to change.
     
    edit for typo/grammar
  2. ullypug
    After a couple of weeks of distractions and other modelling projects, I've managed to set up the layout in the garage where I can get 6 of the 8 boards erected at any one time.
    Today was all about making a set of supports for the panel and connecting boards together.
    Pleased to report that everything towards Wells is now working, after one or two wires had to be swapped round (caused by the change in colour code scheme I mentioned in an earlier post). There'll no doubt be a few bits of track to fettle as the pannier I was using slows down and speeds up in some places (I'm assuming tight to gauge on straight track) but I've spent a good half hour driving trains backwards and forwards with a big smile on my face (and if I'm honest doing what could be vaguely described as some kind of dad dancing round the garage but I don't think anyone saw me...)!
    So I just need to swap out the two boards on the left to allow me to get all the Axbridge boards up to test those too and it'll be done.
  3. ullypug
    Coming thick and fast now, helped by the thinning out of track as I approach the Wells end of the layout.
    This latest board has taken very little time to wire up and (whisper it quietly) that should be all of them now done. I've just one board to check as it was done some time ago and I can't remember what state it had got to. I've certainly changed the colour coding for the wiring since I wired it up! I daresay there'll be the odd plug to wire up as well but that shouldn't take too long.
    Hopefully I can find some time to put a few boards together at the weekend and start testing. I know they all work individually and I've joined a couple together at a time.
    It feels like quite a milestone when the next step doesn't start with 'wire up board x...'
    Let's see how long before I can have a train traversing from one end to the other!
    Pictures attached. The board is rectangular despite appearances.
  4. ullypug
    Nothing particularly exciting to write home about, but the next board has been wired up in fairly short order. Only logical as there were no points and as I'm getting towards the end I'm running out of things to have wire up!
    The good news is that just leaves one to go. Then I can start assembling things and testing in earnest.
    I'd discovered since I built the track that there was a vehicular access route through the down yard to the goods shed which required a couple of crossings with check rails. Needless to say I hadn't put those in so a little bit of track lifting and re-chairing was required. I also had to extend the goods shed track and the back siding to the up yard across the board joint. Other than that it was relatively plain sailing.
    I've drawn the outline of the station building to get a feel of the layout and as you can see it'll take up most of the board!
    Still, it's all starting to come together!
  5. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 - playtime

    By ullypug,

    I've put the two latest boards together and after a little bit of fettling am properly playing trains.
    It only represents a quarter of the layout but by golly is it fun! I'm really enjoying shunting wagons around. Just playing for 5 minutes puts me in a better mood. Must be something in this hobby malarkey.
    It's quite interesting how the odd wagon derails occasionally for no apparent reason then when you really, really look, you see some tiny defect that explains why. Oddly satisfying.
    I've taken a couple of short videos. Hopefully the links work


    Up yard and twin train operation.

    I'm testing with class 08s only because they're the closest things I had to hand. The photo shows a more appropriate pannier shuffling about and the building mock ups add a sense of scale. The last photo shows the much improved alignment into the down yard which I'm much happier about.
  6. ullypug

    Cheddar P4 2018 review

    By ullypug,

    First of all, happy new year to everyone! Hope you had a good festive break.
    As we start 2018 I thought I'd do a brief review of progress on Cheddar.
    I spent the year wiring the s8dding thing. Seriously, that's it. Oh and doing battle with the lever frame, which is connected to yet more wiring in the panel. And I hate wiring.
    This may be why I was so easily side tracked building an engine for Clevedon and the PDSWJR brake van and embryonic cameo layout to match, and building a few wagons, and so on...
    At that rate Cheddar's never going to be finished so I'm going to devote a bit more time and attention to it this year.
    In my last post I'd already finished the board 4, which is the board to which the panel is connected and therefore from which all the wiring looms disperse. I was feeling really rather pleased that I could plug two controllers in and run two engines simultaneously.
    The next board towards Wells is number 5 and contains the signal box, goods shed and platform ends. Thankfully it only has three turnouts to worry about.
    Now originally I started building track at the Wells end and when I got to this point realised that the alignment in the down goods yard was not to my liking, requiring a sharp curve to meet the end of the incoming line from the slip. I was pondering whether to leave it as it is but as soon as I joined the boards together again the EM modeller in me became suppressed by the P4 alter ego and I realised I was going to have to do something about it.
    With a bit of realignment, principally involving the swapping of the hand of one of the turn outs, I was able to ease the curve and ended up with a much more pleasing flow. Trackwork was adjusted on the board top by eye, rather than with Templot. In effect the two ends were fixed anyway. All seems successful. The track in question is the far left under the wagon and yes I realise the wagon is not on the track either!!
    After this achievement, I duly set up wiring the boards, using my now usual method of Palatine droppers and a shed load of wire. Happily the board has just been finished which leaves just two to do and I think they're just plain tracks with no turnouts (hooray!!).
    So, an awful lot of waffle to say: board 5 track realigned, wired and working.
  7. ullypug
    So the good news is a week on and the panel and board have been connected up and duly tested. Trains have run, generally in the directions they were intended to and generally without falling off, though there is one rail in the slip that needs glueing to the slide chairs as it's wandering a bit.
    The only real issues were frogs wired up incorrectly to the tortoises, but that was a matter of moments to swap wires around.
    I can start fettling the track and test in earnest, though I really should learn to clean everything before I expect too much. However a selection of engines have pottered around, sometimes simultaneously as I've wired for cab control on DC to start with.
    With some time off over Christmas, I should be able to get this board signed off and ready to move on to the next one. The panel obviously was the key to everything and hopefully I can now make faster progress than I did last year.
  8. ullypug
    I'm glad I started to put the year in my blog updates as progress has slowed!
    Pleased to report that the panel/frame for Cheddar has reached my 'that'll do point', for the time being at least.
    I finally managed to get the MSE lever frame into some semblance of working order. I think it is probably one of the worst things I have ever had the misfortune to make. It certainly shows it's age and the fact that the art work for the etch was hand drawn
    If I was starting down this path again, I would use the Scalefour society's kits for these as they're much, much better in comparison.
    In the end I gave up with the sprung catch block because the parts as supplied had a working clearance of about 3mm on all sides, rendering them pretty much superfluous. I put the first one on but as it didn't work and had no bearing on the operation of the switches connected to the tail of the lever, I duly stopped. I also had to drill holes closer to the pivot of the lever so the arc equated to the throw of the DPDT slide switches shown in an earlier picture, but that's obviously not the kit's fault!
    I've put all the other switches in along with the ability to change from DC to DCC at a future point in time should I ever go down that path.
    To keep my sanity, I've also been building a couple of Slater's MR 5 planks for eventual use on the PDSWJ layout which may or may not be called China House Quay. That I'm still thinking about!
    So I've attached some really interesting pictures of the panel and the rats nest of wiring under board 4. It will get tidied up, I promise. At least with the panel finished I can carry on wiring the Cheddar boards over the winter. I'm sure I said the same thing last year mind you...
  9. ullypug

    WCPR No 5 - part 6

    By ullypug,

    Had an enjoyable show at Tolworth last weekend with Clevedon. Thanks to those who came and said hello.
    Alas I didn't get No 5 finished in time. Almost but not quite!
    Since the last blog I've finished off all the bodyworks and spent a lot of time painting various bits and pieces.
    The engine when originally purchased was a 'pea green' with black, yellow, red, yellow and black lining. The overall colour darkened to almost black as a result of years of cleaning (aka smearing the dirt about). Most of the photos I have don't show lining at all, but in some of the earlier ones it is just about visible. As I'm modelling the line circa 1936 I wanted some representation of lining, but not a sparking clean loco.
    I duly dug out the bow pen and compasses and had a go at the lining. I'm not Ian Rathbone by any stretch of the imagination and I found it a little tricky, but I ended up with something I'm not wholly embarrassed by, only partially!
    The engine was then treated to a serious weathering session with the airbrush; using metalcote gunmetal, dark grey and a little olive green for the body and the usual grey/leather mix for the chassis. There are a few areas I need to revisit and touch up a little but overall, I'm reasonably pleased with the results.
    The crew have been added and the loco just needs a trip to the coaling stage. The pictures show pre and post weathering.
    It's a shame that the next exhibition isn't until Uckfield next October, but I suppose at least it gives me time to bed everything in.
    I think I will have a bash at Coach No 18 at some point (the 'Taff Vale' coach) as this is the last major outstanding piece of rolling stock I need for the layout.

  10. ullypug
    First of all, thanks to all who came and said hello at last week's WCPR anniversary show in Portishead. Numbers were in excess of 750 through the door for the day and it was busy from opening all the way through until closure. So busy in fact that I didn't get to take many photos at all! Highlight for me was meeting Howard Carey, whose father was a guard on the line. Howard has been an amazing source of information over the years and his memory (given the line closed 76 years ago) is astonishing.
    All didn't go quite to plan on the layout front. Weston worked pretty well considering the lash up of a 43 year old Marshall transformer and a proliferation of crocodile clips. Clevedon however suffered an electrical failure on one of the cab control circuits which meant we had to improvise. Turned out only to be a blown fuse but it didn't help my nerves!

    Worryingly, I also bought a rather nice 7mm wagon from Antics to go with their WCPR Terrier. That's two items of O gauge stock...

    I didn't manage to get No 5 complete in time for the show unfortunately. Pressures of work during the week meant I didn't have enough evenings at my disposal.
    Since last week however, I've managed to fit and quarter the wheels and rig the motor and gear box. All appears to be well, though I haven't wired it up yet. I haven't fitted the worm yet as I wanted to check clearances with the body before I committed myself.
    The wheels still need attention; the semi-circular holes need to be cut through and the axles filled - for some reason I have a short set of Alan Gibson axles. No matter.
    The body has been undercoated and smokebox, chassis and roof given a coat of satin black. The body has been sprayed a curious pea green and I'm just looking at Ian Rathbone's book on lining before I attempt to find the bow pen. No 5 alas has a complicated lining livery and I want to do it justice.
    Anyway here are a few pictures of where we were as of last night. I've not taken one of the final coat on the engine yet.
    The layout's out and about at Tolworth on 11/12 November and I'm hoping to have No 5 running by then.

  11. ullypug
    Didn't manage to get too much done this weekend, but the odd evening here and there has seen some progress. I'm now adding bits of pipework and body fittings to the loco.
    The smokebox has been made from tube and the saddle added, the old Finney T9 lost wax smokebox door casting ground down to fit and the chimney soldered on. I think I may need to replace that with something finer as it's not completely accurate. Depends if I think I can get away without telling anyone. Oops...
    Handrails have been soldered up and left removable for the time being; the engine was a dark green with full lining and I want that bit to be as easy as possible. The good news is the smokebox, boiler and cab all separate and are joined with a few screws. I can take a disassembled shot if anyone's vaguely interested.
    The injectors have been fabricated from bits of brass, split pins, wire and the odd handrail knob. Remember this is EM and the 3 foot rule applies. There'll also probably be a wheel jack in the way!
    That said I think there'll be a fair bit of tweaking and twiddling to get a few things properly into line. Photos are great for showing up the blemishes. I've a load of solder to scrape off by the looks of it and a bit of filler will be required.
    The nice thing about these prototypes is they were completely battered by the end, so the odd dink here and there is completely prototypical.
    Still to do: Springs, smokebox door dart/wheel, buffers, cab roof, whistles, sandboxes, pipework and the tank filler are still to do too. Chassis wise it's the brake gear, pick ups and couplings. I'm probably not going to make it am I?
    Edit. Disassembled photos vaguely attached.
  12. ullypug
    As the car was in for a service today, I worked at home. This means I didn't have my usual 'joy' of commuting into Bristol. By the look of the state of the M5 again, I'm glad I stayed at home.
    What this really meant was a couple of hours that I would normally have spent gazing at the back of the car in front was put to better use. Much better use.
    I'd finished fretting out the cab sides and had soldered up the basic pieces last night after I updated the blog. Today was all about cutting and soldering the tank and boiler.
    I'm pretty much doing exactly what I did when I built the first Manning Wardle (No 3 Weston), except thankfully No 5 doesn't have any rivets to worry about, being all welded. So really it's all about forming pieces of metal with a scrawker and a piercing saw, then soldering them. This means I can make quite quick progress.
    The tank starts with a number of formers, made by sweating together 4 layers of Nickel Silver, then cutting out the outline and a semi circular inner edge for the boiler. The formers are soldered to two strips of scrap etch which form the tank bottoms, then the tank wrapper is added from 5 thou brass and the whole thing tidied up.
    The boiler is a length of brass tube cut to length, the upper half (under the tank is cut away) and soldered in. The motor should fit inside but if not I can remove some of the inner tank formers now the tank and boiler effectively form a box.
    I've a selection of brass tubes which telescope over each other which will make forming the eventual smoke box fairly straight forward.
    The smoke box door came from the spares box and is cut down from something left over from a Finney T9. The stove pipe chimney will also come from this source I hope.
     
    So, here are a few photos with the assembly roughly held in position with some strategically placed blu tack.
    Don't know how much more I'll get done this week, but we'll see.

  13. ullypug

    WCPR No 5 Part 2

    By ullypug,

    Managing to make a little progress with No 5 in-between getting Weston ready for the Portishead show in 3 weeks' time. Good news is the layout is now fully working, has a new temporary power supply rigged up (it shares the power box I use for all my layouts) and has had one or two running repairs.
    In the meantime, I've assembled the chassis using my Avonside jig and High Level horn blocks. As you can see it's simply compensated with a fixed rear axle. The footplate has been cut from 15 thou nickel silver and valences added from brass angle.
    The gearbox has been built, though I may yet change it for another type if it's noticeably visible through the cab sides and I've made a start on the wheels. The prototypes were sold disks, presumably to add weight. Trouble is in reality they made the engine prone to having hot boxes. I've had to remove some of the spokes from the Gibson wheels as there'll be 4 semi-circular holes through each one, then I've pressed super fine milliput filler into the spokes and then sanded flush with the wheel rims. Blutack keeps me from putting filler where I shouldn't.
    To break the monotony of doing the wheels (the first two took ages), I've also started to prepare the cab components. These are fretted from a single piece of nickel silver again, with the aid of a scrawker where I can. Results so far are shown below and I'm quite happy with how it's going. I know I could have used CAD and etched everything, but where's the fun in that?!
    I think I'll be lucky to have the engine finished by 22 October, but I like a nice deadline!

     
    edit: grammar
  14. ullypug

    Weston WCPR

    By ullypug,

    In 4 weeks time, Weston and Clevedon will again have a service provided by the Weston, Clevedon and Portishead Railway, albeit in 4mm scale (EM Gauge) at the Portishead WCPR group show.
    With the looming deadline, I've spent the day clearing a space in the garage so I could retrieve Weston from the dark recesses where it's been residing for the last 6 years since it was last out.
    After much effort ( I can see why I switched to lightweight foam baseboards ), I managed to remove the spiders, woodlice and other insects, put it up and assess the damage.
    The good news is that there's no major structural damage and that trains run from one end to the other. The bad news is none of the point motors work, which kind of suggests that there's a loose wire or a shorted connection on that circuit somewhere.
    Overall I'm not too disappointed as I was expecting to have to service the Tortoise point motors anyway as I was expecting an oxidisation of the contacts. So hopefully tomorrow I'll be able to get it sorted.
    For those of you who can't remember what the layout looks like, here are a few photos with Weston on track testing duties.

  15. ullypug

    WCPR No 5 - part 1

    By ullypug,

    Having redrawn the engine to what I think is a more accurate outline, I've set about making the chassis.
    I'm using 10 thou nickel silver for the rods laminated with three layers and 15 thou for the chassis mainframes.
    All were marked out with the vernier and cut with a scrawker into rough shapers before tidying up with files.
    The chassis frames were sweated together before I fretted out the outline and drilled holes for the brake gear hangers and compensation beam.
    The rods are hinged on the middle crank pin.
    Next step is to assemble the chassis using the jig and some old EM frame spacers I've got left over from previous kits.
    The chassis mainframes are only 11mm deep to give you a sense of scale!

  16. ullypug

    Manning Wardle No 5

    By ullypug,

    During the rather enjoyable exhibition at Expo EM Autumn this weekend, I started to think about the gap in my loco fleet, namely no 5. It was one of the engines that didn't have a name.
    This was one of the two engines the line purchased from new, the other 'Walton Park' being too heavy for the line was transferred to the East Kent Railway.
    No 5 as far as I have deduced was a Manning Wardle class L, modified with disc wheels. I'm still trying to find out whether an accurate drawing exists as the one published in the Colonel Stephens Society newsletter many moons ago has a number of errors.
    Assuming nothing will be forthcoming and armed with some decent photos and some known critical dimensions, I've sketched up a first draft of a working drawing. It's going to have to be a scratchbuilt job of course but I have wheels, motor and the gearbox so I should be able to start cutting metal soon. It's not terribly big, scaling out at 90mm and it sure is an ugly spud, but it had a certain charm!
    Also attached are a couple of photos from the weekend exhibition.

  17. ullypug

    Exhibitions 2017

    By ullypug,

    Morning all
    Just a quick note to say Clevedon will be at Expo EM Autumn next weekend 9/10 Sept at Partington
    Thereafter it will be at the WCPR Group show at Portishead on 22 October where it will be paired with Weston WCPR which is coming out of retirement for this one day, one off event.
    Later it will be at Tolworth showtrain in November.
    Good news is that the layout is up and working though I've a few little jobs to sort this week and I have a new wagon for the fleet. Ah, exhibition deadlines. I remember them!
    Come and say hello if you're passing.

  18. ullypug
    Work on Cheddar is so slow at the moment. I seem to be doing quite a lot but for minimal signs of meaningful progress.
    With the wiring on board 4 finished, I've started on the control panel that will be attached to the back of the layout at this point.
    I'm using 2 lever frame kits from MSE; one is of considerably older vintage than the other. I really liked having levers on Wheal Elizabeth, though that was only 5. Cheddar will have 25.
    I'm wiring the turnouts and signals to be independently operated from the track power, be it DCC or DC.
    So far I've made up the frame kits which were a bit of a struggle but once painted they don't look too bad.

    The levers will be linked to DPDT slide switches to change the polarity on tortoises for the turnouts/signals and I'm presently wading through the delights of wiring them up.
    Eventually the frame will sit in a box with just the top of the frame visible and the section/uncoupler switches located alongside.

    In between all of this I've been playing with the odd wagon to break things up a bit. The mink D & mink G were acquired part built in OO so have had springing and under frame detail added. The BR Fruit diagram 1/230 is a straight Parkside kit with springing.


  19. ullypug
    Health warning : it's not that interesting
    Glad I put the year in the blog updates...
    So, I have at least started the wiring of board 4. I do this with the board on end so I can see what I'm doing and more importantly, have access to the CD player to take away the monotony.
    Palatine droppers are soldered to the rail and tails soldered through. Most of the TOU's are in place and I can start wiring it all up. The single slip and double rail catch point makes the wiring logic interesting.
    There's going to be a 28 lever frame attached to the rear of the board here. Other than that, it's onwards at a dead slow pace.
    Told you. You should have watched Poldark instead!
  20. ullypug
    Haven't really achieved much of late, more kind of working on bits and pieces when I've time.
    The brake van has been painted and lettered. I'll give it a little weathering before it enters service and must put the stove chimney on and find a suitable guard to stand on the veranda.
    The ECC wagon has turned out nicely, once I'd scraped all the old glue off and rebuilt it on a Craig Welsh underframe. In my youth, I'd managed to put the end door on upside down. It's only taken 35 years to correct!
    Other wagons on the tinking table are an ABS LMS 5 plank and a Coopercraft V4 van. Lurking in the background is a Starfish, an open C and a couple of Private Owners. Some more Coopercraft opens didn't make it into the picture.
    Otherwise it's on with the wiring of the next Cheddar board which is really slow progress. I may post a picture in that blog.

  21. ullypug

    China House Quay

    By ullypug,

    Just a note in case you're interested.
    I've started a thread in the Cameo Layout Challenge section of my entry, China House Quay.
    This is set in the Sutton Harbour area of Plymouth.
    More detail here
    China House Quay
     

  22. ullypug
    Now that the evenings are getting longer and the weather a little warmer, I actually have a chance to get the airbrush going. I've quite a few jobs in the queue.
    The PDSWJR brake van is ongoing (more details to follow in another blog) but the Collett goods had got to the point where painting could commence.
    The chassis were under coated in etched primer and given a coat of satin black from a rattle can.
    The body was sprayed with railmatch BR (W) green from a pot which is almost as old as the engine itself.
    After a few coats of Johnsons Klear, lining was applied from an equally ancient set of HMRS transfers. I did add the boiler bands but wasn't happy so they've been taken back off.
    Cab side and smoke box plates were from Model Masters. Lastly a good spray of weathering gunk was applied which I may yet take back off, though I always wanted 2277 to be fairly mucky and the boiler bands may just clinch it. I've a Finney 2251 to do at some point. That may be cleaner...
    Still to do are the cab crew and tender buffers. I see I have a lamp iron missing off the front of the loco. Ah well. The engine and tender chassis will also have a weathering spray with a tad more tan for the brake dust. I mustn't forget to reattach the tender brake gear after going to the trouble of making it all.
    Given where I started from, I'm quite pleased that the engine hides its origins quite well in my eyes anyway and that's what matters!

  23. ullypug
    So whilst I was waiting for the family to get up this morning (they didn't), I spent some time adding all the remaining bits and pieces to the brake van.
    Annoyingly, I don't have any of the right pattern axle boxes but I'm sure I'll find something suitable on the 51l stand at Bristol in a couple of weeks.
    Just 3 links to add, along with the stove chimney on the roof (which isn't fixed down in the photo) and it'll be ready for painting. I'm quite happy with the week's work!

  24. ullypug
    I've been off work, staying the week with the family up on the North Yorkshire Moors. I managed to sneak a small modelling box of bits and pieces in the car 'in case of rainy days' etc. In-between chasing real trains and trips out, I've been busy at the kitchen table.
    The prototype in question is a PD&SWJR brake van, purely because I do have a soft spot for light railways and I recently acquired the Southern Railway wagons book with a drawing of it.
    I've also got one of Roger Slade's CSP kits for A S Harris (the line's 0-6-0 tank) because I saw it on his stand and liked it.
    So with a collection of Evergreen sheet and section, I've spent some evenings cutting, glueing, filing and assembling it to resemble the drawings as closely as I can.
    I've sprung with Bill Bedford's W irons and added coupling hooks from Ambis. Brake gear is modified Cambrian off on odd sprue I had lurking about. Handrails are 0.3mm brass wire. Individual bolt/rivets are small cubes of plastic rod.
    I've not fitted buffers as I didn't bring the right size drill bit and there are still lamp brackets, foot boards and a brake wheel to fit, along with a vacuum cylinder and the roof of course. Oh, and some more details, chimney, 3 links, pipes... The list goes on!
    Livery is red apparently and I'm not sure how I'll do the lettering. HMRS transfers possibly.
    And I've noticed the end vertical handrail stantions are not quite right. They'll have to be re-done at some point.
    And there we are for the time being. Home tomorrow via the York show.
    Just need a layout to run it on now!

  25. ullypug
    Evening all
    after a very inspiring but tiring day at Scalefour North yesterday, I found time to make a little progress on the Collett Goods today.
    The tender chassis is virtually complete and just needs the vacuum tank adding before its ready for the paint shop.
    The loco chassis now has pick ups too (36gauge phosphor bronze mostly hidden behind the steps) and bus bars with the final connection to the motor now in. I'm pleased that the CSB's are working well, even on the rear driven axle.
    I managed to pick up a belpaire backhead from 247 Developments so I can now concentrate on the loco body detailing; I'm not going to do much because strangely I want to keep the essence of the Replica original, so it'll just be a smokebox dart, brass handrails and a loco crew.
    Just debating what paint finish to give it...

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