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RedgateModels

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  1. RedgateModels

    Not another Neverwazza!

    By RedgateModels,


    General
    A spoof photoshopped photo posted on Facebook has coincided with me having a Triang Evening Star with a disintegrated tender frame going for spares. So ladles and Jellyspoons, we have the BR Standard 9MT Tank Engine
     
     

    Black outline is the stock 9F, red the 4MT Tank. Green is the extended tanks and bunker (well it is a 9F) which also moves the rear pony to a more suitable place. The blue line is where the bottom of the tank front needs to be raised to clear the weighshaft and line up with the bottom of the footplate.
     
     

     
    Looks do-able with a bit of cutting and shutting etc. Also got to get motor drive down to the 9F drivers as the donor is tender driven. Might use the Bachmann 4MT motor etc, might not. Time will tell.
     
    Just need a cheap 4MT tank engine now, oh and some time LOL
  2. RedgateModels
    It had to happen, didn't it? It always is the way with my projects, start out with a quick and dirty build and end up counting rivets (more of that to come!)
     
    So thanks (I think) to Robert Thompson of RT Models for supplying lots of detailed photos of Isebrook, I have started getting far too detailed for my own good!
     

     
    What I assume are linkages to the sanders (?) have been added from scraps of etch and 1mm 10 thou brass strip
     

     
    The roof has received it's rainstrips and I have scribed the panel lines. The chimney area has been pimped with a chimney cover - again scrap etch and 0.7mm wire and various pipes from spare tube and 1mm copper wire
     

     
    Oh and I've added footsteps at the tank end using the spares from the kit and extra handrails above, again 0.7mm wire.
     
    So that's about it for now until I can pick up the following:
     
    Brass whistle
    Vac pipes
    Brake shoes
     
    Hopefully at the Derby Show this weekend
     
    Archers rivet transfers anyone?
  3. RedgateModels
    The Hymek took a turn on Fourgig East at the Mansfield show and after a few initial hiccups performed well. I quickly learned that due to the large overhang the loco could not shunt wagons in the goods sidings - buffer lock was the order of the day. So one of the shunters took over these duties whilst the Hymek simmered next to the camping coach.
     
    Traction was also an issue, ok on the straights but couldn't get more than two wagons and the brake van into the goods loop. It was happier on passenger duties ans settled into this for most of the weekend. Ivor hardly got to pull the pretty GWR coaches LOL.
     
    I've been working since them to convert the undriven bogie to a driven one using spares kindly donated by Lord Flasheart. Successful running tests last night mean that I now need to sort out the lead ballast more evenly over both bogies and that issue will be put to bed 🙂
     
    Cab details and handrails left to do along with the wiring up of the LEDs too.
     
    here's a couple of snaps from the Mansfield Show
     

     

  4. RedgateModels

    Getting to the Point

    By RedgateModels,


    General
    Following a shopping trip at Wycrail 10 a Peco SL-E191 short radius point and a pack of PL-9 mounting bases hit the workbench.
     
    So last night whilst watching TV I prepped the point before fitting it to the layout (a bit of a first). The pic below shows what I do to all electrofrogs, nothing new, it's all in the accompanying leaflet, apart from the hacking off of the solenoid mounting points!
     

     
    I've also fitted the solenoid (an old PL10 with extension pin, bought way before they did a PL10E) to it's mounting base and sorted out a microswitch and mounting block to do the frog switching.
     
    So, next job is to spray the point matt black before digging up the cinders ballast ready to lay it in place.
  6. RedgateModels
    While I wait for the new year to start the Mikado I am pottering around with the first of two DP1s on the bench. Over the years I have amassed a quantity of conversion kits/bits etc for DELTIC and now find I have enough for TWO!
    The first is for me - Dapol body with A1 grilles etc, Fox transfers and plates, SE Finecast flushglaze and a Bachmann Deltic chassis. The idea is to produce a good loco but 1/3 of the price of an NRM one.
     
    The Second loco will be a Craftsman conversion kit applied to a Lima Deltic which will be destined for the classifieds/eBay once finished.
     
    So, for the Dapol one. The body sides and nose ends have had all their raised detail (chevrons, stripes, representations of plates etc) removed and grills cut out ready to take the A1 etched versions. The bits are now cemented together and ready for the roof to be fettled and fitted.
     

    oh how cruel are these close-ups!
     

     
    Next installment - roof
  7. RedgateModels
    Quick before and after, I've started removing the detail from the nose ends of a much played with (by me!) Lima Deltic ready for application of the Craftsman DP1 conversion kit. Note poorly applied white window surrounds that will have to be stripped back before painting and holes drilled in the headcode boxes for some long since gone home made directional lighting ....
     
    Before
     

     
    After
     

     
    Anyone want a spare "Meld" nameplate, only got the one, send an SAE and I'll pop it in the post
  8. RedgateModels
    This week I have mostly been building the "WH Smiths" kiosk from the Scalescenes Station Structures kit. Again enlarged by 175% on my printer to make it O scale.
     

     

     
    As it's O gauge, I have put a bit more into this kit to add relief detail and have popped a cheap eBay figure sitting on a left over doll's house chair.
     
    Not sure his reading matter is suitable for an Ivor the Engine event though
     

     
    also a bit of self promotion, quite proud of that mag cover
     

     
    The roof will be glued in place once the inside is varnished
  9. RedgateModels
    At long last the eBay seller has come back on line and I was able to order the sofas for the living room. I've not had to wait that long for the real thing
     
    anyhoo, a couple of snaps of them in place in front of the TV ready for occupants
     

     

     
    Just waiting now for Black Cat Tech to finish getting married/moving house (bless) and then I'll fit one of his lovely universal lighting kits to the roof
  10. RedgateModels
    So the Duke is back on it's chassis for the first fit with it's new Golden Arrow rear pony. I have had to move some of the under cab pipework to clear the pony swing bit it's not looking too bad. The front bogie is also attached with a new bracket - this had to be shorter than the one from the current kit again suggesting that the earlier 71000s were made too short!
     

     
    Note I've fabricated the tender drawbar as per the DJH instructions but have not set the length. I'll attach the tender body first and check clearances on R2 curves before finally setting the cab to tender gap. Still not sure if there is enough front bogie clearance for R2 but we shall see .....
     
    I've also received another set of GWR lining transfers from the HMRS - so nothing should hold me back once the chassis is sorted - apart from finding the time
  11. RedgateModels
    Armed with nothing more than a few paperclips, scraps of card and Post-It notes two bunk beds have been fabricated for the other two bedrooms
     

     
    and here they are in place
     

     

     
    a couple of ladders might be an idea, wonder if OO Britannia tender ladders will fit .....
     
    Keen eyes will also spot the livery change to choc and cream, if I have the transfers I'll brand it as a BR FK W13227
  12. RedgateModels

    Goods Shed Done

    By RedgateModels,

    So the goods shed is done, save for some much needed weathering and fitting out etc.
     
    Here's a couple of snaps of it in place on the Templot plan.
     

     

     
    Next step is to get some Peco flexi and a couple of wagons to check clearances etc
     
    Cost? - a 20 ml tube of UHU - £1.50 ish, 2 36g gluesticks - about £1. Scalescenes download £4.99 Card was salvaged from work and the prints didn't cost me owt either
  13. RedgateModels
    As most people (me included) will spend their time looking down on the Hymek I thought that the roof deserved more attention than say the underframe. Sadly this is the weakest part of the Triang model, apart from the roof section joins everything else is either wrong or missing!
     
    So first to the fan grille, which should be offset by quite a margin. Existing grille filled and flattened and then a card template made with a 38mm hole fixed in place to mark out the new hole
     

     
    I have bought a DJ Parkins diesel detailing kit which includes amongst a host of detailing parts a suitable grille, this was carefully cut out and fixed in place with a very thin evergreen plastic strip behind to support it. The kit also included a fan although it had 12 blades so every other one was removed....
     
    Undermeath I formed a 42mm diameter tube from plastikard and shaped it to fit under the grille. This is to take the speaker for the sound chip later. A cross bar was added to fit the fan to.
     

     

     
    The main exhaust holes whilst in the right place were far too small, so they were drilled out 6mm and the rectangular preheater exhaust marked out (3 x 5mm) from the prototype dimensions and drilled and filed
     

     
    Finally the engine roof roof vents were fabricated from 1mm plastikard 3 x 5mm each and glued in place. A pin proved to be the perfect spacer to get the gap between them
     

     

     
    How did I get all these dimensions? - a chap who works for us volunteers at the WSR and is busy feeding me info every weekend LOL
     
    Just need to paint the edges body green and fix the fan in place and it will be ready for varnish
  14. RedgateModels
    Following on from a help topic here the O gauge pug has progressed to the point where the chassis is ready for paint after a bit of a clean up
     

     
    Now all the paint is off the loco body I think this is an etch, although the chimney is hand made. The chassis is scratchbuilt, you could see the marking out for the axles on one chassis plate and not on the other. The chassis has been detailed with some PH Designs etched brakes left over from the Sentinel project and I've added the brake pull rods.
     
    Should have this little fella running on Fourgig East come the Mansfield Show (www.mansfieldmodelrailway.co.uk) in March
  15. RedgateModels
    OK, so as I have hinted in SUs etc I have decided to take a break from the layout to get the second coach built in time for RMweb Live! Last night I spent a productive hour getting the basic frames together.
     

     

     
    This is an old kit I have had for some time - bought second hand off Ian Morton, so the etches are quite tarnished. I will need to clean the parts that are soldered but for now the cyano sticks to tarnished brass just as well as shiny
     
    This kit did not come with the later moulded seats, but I have bought two 7203 sets from Slaters, so it will match the T34 brake third. It's the fiddly suspension units next according to the instructions ......
  16. RedgateModels

    Power to the Servo

    By RedgateModels,


    General
    First problem I had with wiring up the MSE servo unit to drive the signal was that of power supply. My Accessory power bus on Summat Colliery is driven by a laptop psu and whacks out 18v DC, great for supplying CDU units but likely to fry the controller box that needs 12v DC.
     
    Now, the MERG pulsed accessory decoder boards I use also have an option of an on-board 12v regulated supply to drive small steady state devices. These parts are optional in the build, but thankfully I saw fit to fit them "just in case". 5 minutes probing with a multimeter told me that I had 12v across the small capacitor next to the voltage regulator so two wires were soldered to either end of said cap and threaded through to the controller box
     

     
    The controller box was screwed to the underside of the baseboard and wires were run from it to a switch on the Peco point solenoid (controlled by the MERG decoder) and power applied
     

     
    Dynamis connected up and hey presto, fire the catch point and the servo does it's thing 😁 - now to fix the servo and connect it to the signal
  17. RedgateModels
    OK, I admit it, I played with the 2-8-2 for a lot of the day at Trains4U and it behaved itself quite well. Stuggled over the "hump" that appeared at one baseboard joint and proved that 14 wheel pickup isn't necessarily enough
     
    Lots of questions from customers about what/why etc it has been modelled. Anyway here's a few pics
     

     

     

     
    So now it's on with the bodyshell detailing. I bought some brass tube to fabricate the counterbalance spring for the RHS weighshaft bracket and some 10 thou' evergreen sheet to do the cab doors/fall plate etc - more to follow!
  18. RedgateModels
    A few productive evenings has the coach up to the point of paint (nearly!)
     
    just got the gas control gear to add to the non-step end and that's about it until it's painted. I hope to get to the Derby Show to pick up some paint, so progress will halt at this point for a few weeks. I'd better get on with the layout
     

     

     
    I've added the luggage racks but as yet have not raided my wife's wardrobe for some "mesh" as alluded to in the instructions! Some cheap seated figures are on their way from China via eBay to populate this and the S9 all third so the roof will not be fixed down for a while yet.
     
    So, finish the end detailing and get some primer on then ......
  19. RedgateModels
    So the fitting out of the coach begins,
     
    thanks to Keefer for supplying loads of info on MkI interiors etc - so we now have somewhere to bathe and the "1st class" sleeping compartment has a bed.
     

     

     

     
    The plan is to have bunk beds in the remaining two sleeping compartments with room for storage etc. Kitchen fitters have yet to turn up and fit the bespoke oak topped units
  20. RedgateModels
    So '23 is resplendent in ex-works shiny black
     

     
    Just the plates to fit, then off to Roomey for weathering.
     

     
    Narrow Planet's work, painted with white enamel, left 24 hours, overpainted with matt black acrylic and immediately wiped off with a finger. Note two sets - the ones for '021 are for the similar version I am building for a member of this parish at the same time.
     
    Roomey's going to be busy as that's two Crosti 9Fs and my Hornby O1 to deliver to him at the Doncaster show.
     
    EDIT:
     
    and here's '23 (with '21 in the background on my ELH Bogies paperweight) in grey primer, you can see the detail better
     

  21. RedgateModels
    Lima body is all primed and ready for the blue paint
     

     

     
    I now need to get the Dapol/A1 body to the same state of readiness
     
    Once the blue paint is on I have a decision to make. Should I nick the nice Craftsman etched whiskers and side stripes for my Dapol/Bachmann/A1 version and use the Fox transfers on the Lima/Craftsman one? :icon_e_confused:
     
    Also, how am I going to stick the etches on? I could do with some kind of slow setting superglue .......
  23. RedgateModels
    Been a while but here's the start of another budget loco build for Fourgig East - A Triang Big Big Hymek.
     
    I bought a pretty good example for £39 from eBay and the process of converting it to a running O gauge loco has started.
     

     
    First off the raised lettering on the side has been scraped off and the moulded handrails removed. I've also filled in the fixing holes on the roof and fixed a crack. The switch assembly has been removed ahead of filling in the body sides.
     
    The plan is to retain all of the below solebar items, including the bogies and motor. Thanks to Lord Flasheart I have a spare drive bogie on the way too which should help traction, although on my little layout pulling heavy loads will not be needed with this loco!
     
    I have replaced the wheels with Slaters 7125 ones - at 3'7" they are technically too small, but are bigger than the original Triang plastic ones - a good compromise. I may even drill the four holes as per prototype, but they are not that noticeable on the real thing.
     

     
    You will see that I have used the Slaters bearings on the undriven wheels - I drilled through 2.5mm from the outside and then pressed the bearings in from the inside. It's a tight fit to get the axles in, but with care it is possible. A bit of filler sorted the holes. Next step is to remove the front parts of the bogies where the coupling attached and add some bracing at the new front edge and then pickups.
  24. RedgateModels
    No, not vanished, varnished
     
    Two coats of fresh PP satin varnish applied by 6 quid eBay airbrush, used just under half a tinlet, so the thinned varnish went back in the tin for next time
     

     
    Will let it harden off overnight then commence assembly. After that it's coal, weathering (light!) then glazing and crew. Decoder will be a TCS-DP2X
  25. RedgateModels
    A commission one this, for our local vicar and follows on from the Golden Arrow Crosti 9F that I did for him. The loco was in a very sorry state, it had not been put together very well, although the finish was not bad. Quite a lot of the original detail parts were never fitted (blower tunnel etc) and It had suffered at the hands of someone else who had attempted to add weight and get it to run on trainset curves.
     
    So the brief was to make it look and run as well as my Golden Arrow 71000.
     
    Into the Superstrip it went and it promptly fell apart. The tender needs less work, just a refinish really so lets concentrate on the loco. Here's how it stands at the moment
     

     
    The intention is to solder the boiler to the firebox and then firebox to cab using the running plate as a guide. Still undecided about soldering the boiler assembly to the footplate, they bolt together by design, but it might be a more robust loco if it was all soldered.
     
    I have an old Crownline Brit detailing pack that I robbed some parts from for my 71000 build - there is a blower tunnel in there at least plus some other detailing parts that will be added in due course.
     
    Once the body is done and primed I'll switch to the chassis (which is a mess!)
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