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RedgateModels

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Blog Entries posted by RedgateModels

  1. RedgateModels
    I received the Bachmann class 5 bodyshell from Invicta on Monday so last night I set about persuading it to sit on the Hornby 8F chassis. First obstacle was the lower section of the smokebox which fouled the cylinder block. So out came the hacksaw and slitting wheel!
     

     

     
    I cut a slot in the rear of the chassis block to accept the mounting pillar under the cab and fitted the two together, or so I thought .... The terminal block on the motor fouled the extreme back edge of the boiler - such a shame as if the motor was 2mm further back it would be in the firebox with no issues. Quite a bit was filed off the terminal block and a little off the inside of the boiler and there was clearance (just!)
     

     
    I drilled and tapped a new hole 8BA behind the front mounting pillar and the two were together
     

    Next steps? - drill the tender floor to allow the sound to escape and then work out the drawbar. I've got a tender body on the way (thanks 34theletterbetweenB&D) so once I can offer up the tender to the cab I can see where the fixing needs to be. I also need to fabricate the firebox lower and fill a few missing bits of chassis etc.
     
    Looks good in lined black ........
     

  2. RedgateModels
    Way back in the mists of time (2007) I built my first BR Standard "neverwazza" the 8F 2-8-0 that was in the 1956 build programme but never made it into metal
     
    http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=8690&hilit=+93xxx
     
    It has run successfully on Summat Colliery ever since and always provokes a reaction when folks clock the number and count the wheels etc. However, it's tender drive makes it tricky to add sound to and as the only remaining tender drive loco in the operating fleet it's days were numbered.
     
    So, on to MKII - I had a spare loco drive 8F chassis, bought some Railroad 9F cylinders and valve gear. Bringing them together gave this:
     

     
    The original plan was to make a new loco and tender chassis and use the original bodyshells - quick job. However last night I spotted a Bachmann 73xxx body on eBay, so I bought it. The 5MT was always the better option as the boiler matches the weight diagram for the Standard Eight - it would also make better sense in the "standard" scheme of things to use an existing boiler/cab/running plate
     
    So, now I'm making a complete new loco, do I sell the original or keep it for posterity?
     
    UPDATE:
     
    Here's the chassis with one side of the valve gear attached
     

     
    The location point should be right where the gear shaft is on the 8F chassis! I drilled a small hole just ahead of the bearing slot and shaped the stub of the plastic "weighshaft" to fit. Then I softened it with Plastic Magic and bent the whole thing into position - it's remarkably rigid, just got the other side to do then that's the chassis more or less done.
  3. RedgateModels
    SWMBO has taken the kids and the MIL to the seaside for a few days, so while the house is my own, it's kinda turned into a workshop
     
    The long put off task of getting the track ballasted has took a huge leap forward with the end board having all the track ballast done. I've also fixed down the tracks for the camping coach to sit on.
     

     

     
    The steps for the camping coach have been offered up and found to be good - note I'm using the OTHER coach so as not to damage the finish on the actual camping coach whilst all the glue and stuff is flying around
     

     
    So, jobs for tomorrow - ballast the remaining track on the middle board and hopefully get the cinders down on both
     
    I also need to track down some clear matt varnish to waterproof all the walling that I've made ready.
     
    So to tomorrow .......
     
    p.s. not sure the new repurposed kitchen will go down too well
     

  4. RedgateModels
    The kitchen fitters have been and gone and the lounge is more or less done apart from the delivery of two 2-seater sofas.
     

     
     

     
    Think the kids have been playing with the TV channel, could have sworn I was watching Top Gear ....
     
    The gas fire is in and connected to it's chimney. Just waiting for the decorators to arrive and paint the interior of the coach walls then some tasteful artwork can be hung
  5. 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
  6. RedgateModels
    Made a start today on the camping coach for 4gig. I'd already donated a section of the interior of a Lima mkI, so I set about the remainder with a razor saw.
     

     
    The remaining compartments will be a bathroom and 3 bedrooms, so the seating had to go.
     

     
    I then filed the remains of the seating from the compartment sides taking e molded taper away at the same time. You can see one compartment to go in the pic - showing the amount of material removed.
     
    Next steps will to be to fabricate a new floor and compartment walls from card. I have ordered some quarter scale dolls house furniture from America to fill the spaces
     
    Scalescenes interior textures have been downloaded for wooden floors, rugs etc
     
    Should be a fairly quick makeover (he says)
  7. RedgateModels
    The polystyrene sheeting I ordered on Monday turned up today, so with a spare hour, a sharp knife, PVA and carpet tape I now have this
     

     
    The vertical edges will be faced with Scalescenes walling (already downloaded some ashlar brick in O gauge) and the sloping bits will be smoothed out etc
     
    Onwards!
  8. RedgateModels
    So this build has come to an end (almost) I must say I've enjoyed this trip into GWR land, something I don't normally do. First time with a Bob Moore lining pen too. Anyway, jobs left to do are blacken the buffers and fit them properly and fit some 3-links.
     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    So, that's it until the next one - an All Third to match, need to order seating from Slaters before I start that one though. Camping Coach next methinks ......
  9. RedgateModels
    Here I go again, dragging a build out with details that hardly anyone will notice, especially when the roof is on!
     
    First glazing bars on the luggage compartment doors. I started with some 0.5mm microstrip, taped it to the bench at 2mm intervals then slid some paper underneath and marked out the horizontals. These were laid and then the area flooded with Plastic Magic.
     

     
    Once hard, a scalpel blade was slipped underneath to seperate from the paper. After a quick coat of matt black and trimming to size I had these
     

     
    Got a bit Korea there ....
     
    Once Glue 'n' Glazed in place they look like this
     

     
    Next I cut up some strips of mozzy netting to add the luggage rack netting - silly I know, but it's there now
     

     

     
    I really should get on and get the step end handrails made and fitted, at least these are visible
  10. RedgateModels
    Got the whole backscene print fitted to the layout. Went on really well, can't fault the approach at all. OK it cost £44 for the whole 16ft print, but it does look good
     
    Next step is matt varnish over the main board scenes (the fiddle yard board has already been varnished) when we have a warm windless day
     
    Anyway, here's a few snaps
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

  11. RedgateModels
    So, the little coach has made another step towards completion. All the HMRS transfers have been applied and the end strapping has been painted black.
     

     

     
    Some pipework to attend to, all the brasswork (handles etc) to add then it should be ready for varnish
  12. RedgateModels
    Finally drummed up enough courage and with an hour to spare this afternoon I got the backscene on the fiddle yard/engine shed board. A good spray to the ply with soapy water and it floated on with little difficulty.
     

     
    Once it's really dry I will stick the edges round and then trim off the slight excess at the top edge. A coat or two of matt varnish will finish the job
  13. RedgateModels
    So,
     
    the lining is almost done, still got some tidying up to do, mainly just some re-lining where touching up has run into the ocre. I've also got the end strapping to paint.
     

     
    Despite the condition of the coach, no roof let alone windows and a strong smell of paint - some passengers have already taken up residence too!
  14. RedgateModels

    Backscene!

    By RedgateModels,

    Picked up this monster print from Acorn Signs in Mansfield yesterday - a 16' x 10" digital print of Andy Y's Staffordshire Moorland panorama (see panorama photo stitching thread in the photography section) printed onto sticky back vinyl with a protective clear overlayer.
     

     

     
    The plan is to paint the backscene boards with gloss white paint then I can "float" the print into place on a soapy film and squeegee all the bubbles out before it dries.
     
    Can't praise Acorn Signs enough, superb job for £44 - more expensive than a paper proprietary backscene, but (almost) unique and very hard wearing. I will spray some matt varnish over it once in place to get rid of the glossy shine
  15. RedgateModels
    So, the time is almost upon me when I tackle the Bob Moore lining pen!
     
    The first side is painted out, but I won't be putting the pen to this until I've practiced on the as yet untouched sides for the all 3rd
     

     

     
    There's still a few bits that need touching up, but I'm hoping the lining will cover most if not all of them, we shall see. The other side is still masked out waiting for the window frames to be painted.
     
    I've also repainted some of the cheapie eBay seated figures ready for fitting - the chap in the nice pink suit with pink shoes was first
     
    Still want some mountain bikes and baby buggies for the guard's compartment ....
  16. 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 ......
  18. RedgateModels
    I've been dropping a few status updates about this build and have been talking to Wenlock of this parish about the kit and some of the shortfall in the instructions. Pictures were requested so I thought I'd better get a blog entry going
     
    So the chassis is more or less done, footboards are waiting for a delivery from Eileens as the 8" Hold and Fold does not come with a centre screw and does not hold the full length of the etch well enough as it stands. Buffer housings will complete the job prior to painting. The wheels are only held in temporarily and the brake pull rods will be added after painting.
     
    here's some pics
     

     

     

     
    The safety loops are my best effort to understand the instructions before talking to Wenlock and seeing his photos. I might follow his lead with the outside legs and add a plastikard beam to the chassis to fix them to, as they are now they look a bit odd! On the other hand, no-one's really going to see them once it's on the track ....
     
    Observe the springs which were originally fixed incorrectly to the underside of the stop. The use of a scalpel to remove them and refit to the axleboxes resulted in a pretty deep wound to my left thumb which is still hampering my efforts to build this coach
     
    I also have an all 3rd (T9) to build so I'll probably end up finishing them together to cut down on airbrush sessions. Need to get to a show to get some PP cream and brown too - not my normal colours you understand.....
  19. RedgateModels
    Whilst SWMBO was decorating at one of the MIL's properties and the kids were being good (yeah, I know!) I managed to get the hanging basket liner down and the cinders laid around the engine shed.
     

     

     
    The water column is not glued down so I can remove it to paint later.
     
    Hopefully it will all be dry tomorrow and I can rip the plastic backing off the liner to pull up some nice long grass
     
    UPDATE:
     
    and now the backing is removed - here's a few staged photos with my Sentinel. Backscene next then some trees
     

     

     

  20. RedgateModels
    have had this loco in the operating fleet on Summat Colliery for years, bought from a fellow member back in early 2009. I got Roomey to weather it but forgot to add the detail pack etc. So as part of this project to add sound I also added the details.
     
    The black plastic parts were fitted and toned down with PP Weathered Wood which is a pretty good match for Roomey's base weathering. The 247 Developments fire iron rack was fitted and blended in too. I removed the fake coal load and made the bunker rusty and dirty black then added some real coal.
     
    The decoder was removed from the loco and a 4 way micro connector lead soldered to the motor wires and pickups to pass through to the tender. four small holes were drilled in the plate that carries the pickups and the wires passed through. These were painted black to disguise them. The Socket was "Man Glued" (Screwfix no nonsense mitre bond) to a slot drilled and filed into the tender floor.
     
    The fixings for the tender weights were removed and a speaker grille drilled to allow the sound to escape down towards the track. An ABS 40x30mm speaker was black tacked to the floor.
     

     
    The decoder needed a flat filing on the front of the speaker housing to allow it to sit on a slope matching the underside of the coal bunker, once this was done it was soldered to the connector and speaker and job done
     
    Final shot of the tender body before coal and decoder fitting
     

     
    and here's a link to the youtube vid
     

  21. RedgateModels
    So, the Crosti 9F and O1 are finished. The finishing touches are the crew - bog standard Hornby items, painted and weathered with black oil pastel.
     
    I had to cut the driver off his molded seat for the O1 as it comes with it's own very nice item as standard. The less said about the leg and foot surgery to fit them in the better
     
    So here's a couple of pics - I will do a full photoshoot next week as Summat Colliery is being set up for someone special to take better snaps than I, more of that later
     

     

  22. RedgateModels
    All ready for use on Fourgig East at this weekend's Mansfield Show the pug now sits in it's BR black livery. Transfers are HMRS pressfix and my usual several coats of Precision satin varnish.
     

     
    Windows have been glazed using Deluxe Materials Glue 'n' Glaze, used it for the first time since buying it at the BRM show Doncaster and am very happy with the result, works way better than Humbrol ClearFix which is now in the bin
     
    It will have a light "preserved" weathering at some point and I have a crew to paint and fit for it. but there you have it, a long journey but worth it methinks
  23. RedgateModels

    A dirty gathering

    By RedgateModels,

    After doing a little more tweaking of the Crosti I'm building for Gavvy2 I took the opportunity to take a low light snap of all three locos recently received back from Roomey.
     

     
    My Crosti is behind '021 with an O1 at the back. The O1 has had real coal added and the detailing pack fitted before weathering. A Paul Chetter (pauliebanger) L1 Zimo sound chip awaits, which whilst not strictly accurate is at least a Thompson 2 cylinder loco
     
    First outing for my two new locos will be the Lincoln show first weekend in June. I hope to have my class 20 disesel sound fitted too by then
  24. RedgateModels
    Even though it was originally green when I bought it, the Pug is now resplendent in it's BR black livery
     

     
    Bit of touching up needed around the red buffer beams and the cab interior. Whistle needs to be "brass" and then it's ready for varnish. Must get on with the DCC decoder/StayAlive ready for the Mansfield Show next month
  25. RedgateModels
    And lo the primer was warmed on the radiator and applied to the shiny brass
     

     
    There's one or two bits that could do with a touch of filler, so will wait until next week now until after the BRM SHow at Doncaster (see you all there!)
     
    It won't do any harm for the primer to harden off over the weekend anyway
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