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Etched Pixels

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  1. Etched Pixels
    Actually its an X-Fish
     
    Test etches for converting the N Gauge Society sausage van & stove-R chassis into the LMS van in question. I've just glued it together quickly and dropped the roof loosely on top to check it fits - still need to remove the battery boxes (no electric eels in transit clearly) and add the bracing along the bottom of the axles.
  2. Etched Pixels
    Done a bit of filling and painting work so 10203 is beginning to take shape. Still need to sort out the battery box further and fit the handrails, folded headcode discs and the other grilles. Then of course paint the chassis/battery box silver.
  3. Etched Pixels

    1020x Progress

    By Etched Pixels,

    Having finally got a bit of modelling time I've also started putting the cab roof profile onto 10201 and 10203. Trying Daz clay this time to see if I can get a better finish than will milliput.
     

     
    So far the finish seems nicer but its a right pain to get Daz to stay stuck to anything while being shaped, that or there is a trick I don't know !
  4. Etched Pixels
    The open coach I built a while back has died somewhat so it seemed to be time to build something more robust, and perhaps a little less "garden railway" looking. The body is a narrow gauge coach off Shapeways which has been slightly anglicised by paint job and then fitted on a scratch built chassis using T scale parts to run on 3.1mm soldered track.
     
    The weight may need adjusting - with a vehicle that size on 15" track the weight needs to be low but at the same time the mechanisms can't haul much weight,
     
    The Eishindo 103 has a separate gear box and motor so I may just have to put a "proper" motor unit together - that would also improve running considerably although I have a few things to do before I can really test the weight and motor situation out properly.
     

     

     

  5. Etched Pixels

    A Brief Update

    By Etched Pixels,

    I've been catching up from the joy of exams and next day a brief business trip to Tokyo. The only real plus point was a ride on the N'ex and a view out of the hotel over five tracks of suburban lines, two high speed tracks and a guided overhead thing. It's quite amazing at 7am watching Shinkansen after Shinkansen, mostly full, roll through Tokyo.
     
    Wadebridge modelling will now resume but in the meantime I've been doing some further research and found pictures of about half of the loco-shed side of the island platform building. I've also found some very interesting 1978 pictures that not only prove the diagram of the late layout of Wadebridge in the North Cornwall Railway book is wrong but even better that British Rail kept the same additional crossover I added to make the layout work. So I am in fact inadvertently prototypically correct. I was also amazed to discover that the goods shed siding had been filled in at one point and then late cleared and returned to use.
  6. Etched Pixels
    I got distracted (again) adding another experiment to the corner of an etch sheet, which I've now been assembling (and editing with scissors a bit as I goofed a couple of bits of the design on the first go)
     
    Some of the terrier photos I've always loved are the tiny terriers dwarfed by the biig Marsh 'Balloon' trailers. I wanted to do the first ones - the 'classic' shot of the originals with gangways, but in the absence of good enough drawings I moved on a couple of diagrams.
  7. Etched Pixels
    The solebars need finishing and I am currently pondering the buffer beams. The real lightweights had a most interesting buffer beam arrangement that isn't going to be trivially replicated with a bit of styrene strip.
     
    (and a 24/1 with some paint on it)
     

  8. Etched Pixels
    The backscene has grown a little bit more vegetation, the fences are temporarily positioned to check the look and the greenery has extended. Carved a couple of blocks of foam to form the dip in the scenery to the front.
     
    Need to let it all set then fit the point motor in the yard before I can progress the scenery any more.
     

     
    Meanwhile the Gresley full brake has finally received its LNER lettering and numbers, a mere three months on.
  9. Etched Pixels
    As part of continuing the Ultima resurrection I needed to test build the bits so I spent a bit of the bank holiday assembling the pantry third because it looked interesting. I've now discovered it only ran in a pair with another coach so I guess I'm building one more etched Thompson than I originally planned. Looks ok to me although I need to fit partitions and the like. Plus the buffers are a bit of a guess. I've not found a definitive reference as to whether it should have oval or clipped buffers. I've fitted clipped ones as I had them handy, which no doubt means oval is correct.
     

     
    Was going to finish the handrails on the Hawksworth inspection saloon but the light has dropped and 2mm handrails really do need proper sunlight.
  10. Etched Pixels
    Wadebridge is going to need stock and some of that is Mark 1 regional railways stock for the summer services at least (I've even got an 'Atlantic Coast Express' headboard waiting to get etched to fit on the 31 8)).
     
    The Farish Mark 1 was a superb model for its age, and Bachmann have really brought out the best in it with the newer printing/paintwork, bogie and wheel updates. Unfortunately there are three things that totally suck (plus the couplings): the buffers, the lack of proper rubbing plates and the underframe. So as well as interior painting the RR stock is going to need a bit more work.
     
    Bernard (TPM) does some nice buffers for these coaches which can also be fitted in retracted position mid-rake allowing very close coupling. Cheque in the post for more buffers very soon Bernard . The gangway rubbing plates are fixable with etched overlays and the underframes with the Ultima bits
     
    So just how bad is the Farish underframe to make it worth fitting etches, cutting off and filing smooth the original underframe ? Having done one I'm converted and I shall be doing the rest of the rake ASAP.
     

     

     
    I got the regulator box a bit wonky and I still need to fit the wire for the brakes but its getting there. Next to tackle the ends.
  11. Etched Pixels
    Assembled and given an initial coat of paint it still needs some tidying up and glazing, as well possibly as doing some minimal interior work.and detailing with pipework etc
     

     
    It really ought to be lined out but its way beyond my skill level and I suspect any attempt to do that would make it look worse not better
  12. Etched Pixels
    Some more modelling done despite the weather. The SR USA tank now has glazed front side windows and the buffer beam corrected, the next Balloon trailer is under way (and in SR green this time) and I started building a Bain Clerestory. This latter one is a shrink from a 4mm PC models etch so a bit fiddly. It also has sides with folded in solebars and overlays that join to separate ends and various cross pieces for the buffer beam and underframe bits.
     
    In the end I assembled the ends, buffer beam and framing and buffers into two units and fitted those to the sides as one piece, just so I had something less fiddly to join the bits together at each end. The footboards then also got soldered on. For the main underframe detail I think I'm going to assemble a plasticard floor and glue them onto it rather than fiddle soldering them across.
     
    The one good bit of news is that Chris Higgs resin roof fits beautifully so one part of the model will actually be a lot easier than the OO kit it's based upon!
     

  13. Etched Pixels
    I've been rather busy and come holiday time busier still as I've been taking all the kits I seem to have acquired and building them. At the moment my desk is occupied by a Worsley Works 02, and 10203 which I'm currently attempting to produce.
     
     
     

     

     
     
    I've also got a part built SHT Peckett but just discovered there are multiple versions of the Bachmann 0-4-0 US dock tank and that I've got the wrong one. Grumble.
  15. Etched Pixels
    Its that time of the year again and another freebie to print and fold up in card or photo paper. For best results print the tiff one at 1200dpi, but there is a jpeg as well. For larger scales either adjust the DPI or scale it in a print program accordingly.
     
    In N this fits the Peco 15' wagon chassis (or brake van if you think Santa needs footboards)
     
    Alan
  16. Etched Pixels
    Bit more time working on the Thompson over lunch. Botched up the underframe out of some Ultima bits, a proper version of this is going to need some tweaking but most of it works out as is.
     

     
    Now what colour should the interior be ?
     
     
    I've also finally resolved the problem of the 57 with split gears. After various circles with parts and service suppliers who said they couldn't get the bits for it and that they were not available, plus no email response from Bachmann I eventually phoned Bachmann's service folks. Five minutes later the problem is solved and the needed axles are on their way. - excellent service.
     
    It does look like a one off fault - the early Farish 66s certainly split a few gears (and parts are available) but the 57 was a new one. Coupled with the fact it split four axle gears rather suggests a few dodgy gears than a trend.
  17. Etched Pixels

    DEMU/EMU ends

    By Etched Pixels,

    Just got back the first castings from a first adventure into actually making new white metal casting masters.
     
    (forgive the lousy image)
     
    The master itself is layers of brass to build up the levels, plus top detail layers all then glued firmly together with the help of a vice.
  18. Etched Pixels
    So the forestry commission moved in last night to deploy the first wave of trees. More and a few bushes are needed, plus a bit of paint for some of the slightly more luminous and cheap trees. As there will be about forty trees in the end its all from the cheap end of the market or special offers!
     

     
    The class 20's are an It's N Gauge respray, one of which is going to end up as the sound system shortly.
  19. Etched Pixels
    I thought I'd start with NN3 trackwork on the basis that I was doing the first test build with a roller gauge and no jigs, along with no experience. I figured that however dodgy it turned out it wouldnt be totally amiss as an industrial narrow gauge siding. It's also using Z standards so its a good deal more forgiving and coarse spec than 2mm trackwork proper.
     
    I have learned several things
     
    - that the ends of the rail are sharp and next time I should cover them in tape so less blood is involved when cleaning up with a file
    - that I need to make some jigs for more serious NN3 trackwork
    - that the pritt stick cheap clone I used to stick the sleepers down ready to solder turns into a strong glue once soldered (next time I may try photomount)
     
    I'm still stuck on a few things
    - The best way to paint it given the sleepers are metal - all over attack with Games Workshop skull white and then clean the tops of the rails ?
    - How people get small neat blobs of solder and don't have to spend an hour cleaning up the joins or removing and replacing some of the worst excesses (would solder paint be better)
    - Would it be better to find matching plastic strip and glue every 'n'th sleeper and just fake the rest, especially on the NN3 bits where realyl the rail ought to be flat bottom on clips or nails/
     
     
    But it works, it's to gauge and you can run things on it. I'm almost tempted to attempt some dual gauge trackwork after I make sleeper spacing jigs so I can get it straight. That is once I figure out the right way to make the jigs.
     
    Alan
  22. Etched Pixels
    It's slowly taking shape. The underframe is now fitted and the various white metal bits hung off it barring the dynamo. The roof has its vents and I've put the handrails on. That leaves the end gangways and some spots of filling to sort out.
     
    The buffers are fun as they have to be held in a pin vice and filed to give the Gresley style flat top.
     

  23. Etched Pixels
    The empty space in front of the headshunt has now gone from foam to landscape and been walled and vegetated. I've used a couple of different ground colous at different level to try and suggest stratification. Still not sure about the left hand wall so that isn't stuck down or painted up yet. I'm torn between the modern concrete wall, brick wall or having a go at modelling a wall with a large hole in it (as if someone at some point put some heavy machinery through it) and fencing.
     
    The sheep are however in place along with a suitably modern looking shepherd (none of this twee outfits and crook stuff) plus dog, trying to herd the sheep towards the gate on the other side - and probably not assisted by having a DRS 20 running around its train the other side of the wall.
     

  24. Etched Pixels

    Gresley Bogies

    By Etched Pixels,

    All been a bit hectic and I seem to have spent all my modelling time on real work and also Ultima sorting. Finally got a bit of time however so the Gresley now has bogies. Don't yet have the NGS bogies for the Thompson but I do have the TPM goodie bag so I can get cracking on the rest of the Regional Railways rake.
     
    I've also now got a nice set of "Atlantic Coast Express" plates which will go nicely on the SWT 159 in modern image mode. Wondering about destructing a Dapol 153 when the prices come down (ie after few more releases) and doing a custom 'North Cornwall Line' livery with stuff like Tintagel, Arthur and Obby Oss on it.
     

  25. Etched Pixels
    A quick detour from the Thompson to another bit of Ultima stuff. The sides, roof and ends are not a problem but the original aluminium floor is long deceased. Worse than that the price quotes I've got for a new die to extrude the stuff are not really viable with the Dapol Gresley stock on the market, nor would have space to store the typical "minimum order"
     
    So to see what was needed and as a planning aide I cut a floor out of 1mm plasticard 117mm x 16mm to go with the roof and ends. Then I stuck 3mm or so square plastic rod each side between the ends and stepped slightly out to line up with the profile on the ends both to give the sides somewhere to sit and to stop the chassis from bending. The solebars are plastic U channel about 2mm high and the rest of the underframe is Ultima parts built to the original instructions.
     
    No bogie mounts yet (or bogies in fact) but one problem at a time. I also need to work out which interior strip goes with each coach, which isn't helped by the fact they are labelled by some old numbering system with things like "N27".
     

     
    When it comes to teak printed sides are a definite winner even when not yet stuck down (need to paint the rest first)
     

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