Jump to content
 

Etched Pixels

Members
 View Profile  See their activity

  • Posts

    2,006

  • Joined

  • Last visited

 Content Type 

Blog Entries posted by Etched Pixels

  1. 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.
  2. Etched Pixels
    Last packet of TPM buffers used up until the new ones arrive along with a pair of Ultima rubbing plates. This means one coach is approaching complete. I'm still not sure whether to redo the water filler pipes with wire because of the difficulty in first removing the plastic ones from the roof and repainting. The TPM buffers mean I can now fit much closer couplings - probably Red Caboose buckeyes.
     

     
    (There will now be a short embarrassed silence while I go put the rubbing plates back on the right way around)
  3. Etched Pixels

    Size Testing

    By Etched Pixels,

    Some further progress - the curved platform woodwork is down and the front edge is filling out slowly as I add the bank. Still trying to decide what should go towards the Padstow end in front of the station - waste ground or some kind of development.
     
    The math says that a five coach RR rake should fit into the island platform for summer special services.
     

  4. 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.
     

  5. Etched Pixels

    Paint Shop Time

    By Etched Pixels,

    Paint shop and decal time. Three LSWR wagons left to number, one done.
     

     

     
    Meanwhile in the coach shop:
     

     
    I've decided to the Thompson full brake in slightly faded BR blue, a livery that some of these vehicles lived to carry. I don't imagine much other matchboarded stock made BR Blue and it will make a nice mix in with the parcels rake along with the Siphon, BGs and at some point I probably want to add a Stanier or a Hawksworth just to break it up further. Now waiting its bogies and the gangways fitting.
     

     
    Tthe Gresley is now painted barring a final touch up on the and awaits the arrival of bogies (hopefully in a week or so) to complete the build.
     
     
    Further progress was delayed due to the outbreak of a rugby international, and shortly again by Dr Who ....
  6. 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.
     

  7. 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.
  8. Etched Pixels

    Maunsell Progress

    By Etched Pixels,

    It's now got an underframe, roof vents (doesn' t match the sides but its just a tester) and bogies on. No battery boxes yet. I've got some similar ones but I'm digging around for good shots/drawings of the actual Maunsell boxes so I can etch accurate ones.
     

  9. 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.
  10. 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)
     

  11. Etched Pixels

    Teak and tweak

    By Etched Pixels,

    I've been working on the UFO pile over Christmas and finally got around to painting the 2mm scale 51' full brake I built earlier in the year. It wasn't something I felt too confident attacking as it's a fairly complex livery.
     

     
    Still need to find suitable decals and to glaze it, but it's slowly getting there
×
×
  • Create New...