wiggoforgold

The truss bridges were all between Huntingdon and St Ives, which is where the weight restrictions were. In the "what if" if you assume the EWS loco came off at Huntingdon, or the section between Huntingdon and StIves had closed there seems to be no reason why one couldn't appear at Buckden. The had things like 8fs at the Kettering end of the line, and a Jubilee appeared I think, and wasn't the dreaded "Blue Pullman" tested on the line?.

On a more practical note, I like the track. What are you using?

EWS at Buckden!!?

This is really good, and I'm looking forward to seeing the end result. Given the number of conversions of the Airfix/Dapol Pug kit over the years, it has always surprised me that the rtr mdel hasn't received the same treatment. Yoiur model shows what is possible and I'm pleased you are redressing the balance.

There's really not a lot wrong with card building kits. I was once challenge to see how far I could take the detailing of a card kit, and the answer is a very long way. There's plenty of examples of detailed card kits on this forum and in magazines such as MRJ to show what is possible.  The basic materlal, if properly assembled, will last for years. Take a look at Pendon - the buildings are made from card, some of which have been in existence for over 50 years.

Use a sharp knife, colour the cut edges and make sure its properly braced. Look  at areas where you can add additional  relief. All this will result in a model you can be proud of.  Looking at the pictures of your signal box, you are on the way.

I reckon the moulds for the Airfix/Dapol kit will wear out before someone produces a better model, so it might not make its century.

Did you change the buffers, or are those the ones in the kit?

That Airfix/Dapol kit is so good. I know about the roof and the ducket height but you have demonstrated its potential.  Will the Bachmann and Hornby ones be around in 50 years time I wonder?

On a different subject entirely, I do like Juniper Hills fences.

There's a picture of the bridge in the background of a pic taken at Buckden 1n 1952 in EH Sawford's "Cambridge-Kettering Line Steam". It looks like a plate girder - similar I suspect to the one that I think is still in situ near Grafham (or it was last time I was there which was a few years ago!) I think there's a picture of the Grafham bridge in one of the books 46444 mentions - I'm not sure which one - perhaps he can help.

I've added a few more pictures to my blog entry.

I couldn't see how to add the pics to my post, so I've put them in a blog entry. This is a link to it. As you can see, the box was painted green and cream. I'll scan some more pictures and put them in my blog later. Would Kimbolton be of interest as well? http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/blog/1362/entry-11926-buckden-station-1978/

Preshading looks very effective. I particularly like it on the panel lines.  Military modelling techniques are well worth looking at as there is a lot to learn.  I remember when they started using dry brushing about 20 years before it was mentioned in the model railway field.  Beware though the trap some modellers have fallen into of finishing models to comply with accepted techniques, which can produce a rather stylized result, rather than a realistic one.  I remember the experiences of one military modeller, who entered a model in a competition, realistically weathered. The judges ignored it, so he refinished it using the recognized techniques of the day, it looked less realistic, but it one more prizes because it was finished in a way the judges expected to see.

On the subject of airbrushes, I have found that some acrylics (not Tamiya) dry so fast that they can dry in the airbrush, causing it to clog up.  Dunking the whole thin in cellulose thinners unclogs it, but there is a gentler war, the use of an airbrush cleaner such as "Spray away", which can be found in some Model and Art shops.  Tamiya thinners are expensive and I have looked at alternatives. Isopropyl Alcohol (if you can get it from your chemist) works, mixed 50/50 with distilled water.  I'm experimenting with car window washer fluid, but experience suggests they may no all have the same chemical composition.. Halfords works, some of the others don't appear to.

I kitbashed a model of the box from the Airfix/Dapol one many years ago. I think if I was doing it now I'd use the Ratio one.

I'll post some pics of the box I took at Buckden.

I didn't realise the box was now at the Spa Valley. A friend lived near to Tumbridge Wells West station and I've been there several times, but hadn't seen the box.

They scrub up well don't they?

Tim beat me to it re the numbering.

Don't know about the Teign Valley Rob, but there's a pic in "Steam in Cornwall of a 57xx hauling a local passenger train of what appears to be LMS period 2 stock at Mithian Halt in 1961.

Hi

Looking forward to seeing this.  I can only echo what Mark says above about the character of the whole line, and he has given you the same list of sources as I would have come up with. 

I was brought up in Hemingford, and Buckden Station was on one of my regular training rides.  I visited the station when it was still largely intact in about 1978, and took  a load of photographs, particularly of the signal box, which was a prominent feature from the road in those days. It appeared to be doing duty as a greenhouse.  It still exists ,I believe, in preservation (North Norfolk railway?).  If you need any photos, I can help.

Good luck with this. I'm looking forward to more.

Alex

Now you know why I'm pushing for an RTR J15.

Hi Derek

I used to enjoy reading the RM articles on the Aire Valley and still have the RM's for April 1968 and April 1975.   Weren't the clinker block works inspired by John Ahern's brickworks in the Madder Valley? I always saw the Aire Valley as something of an heir to the Madder Valley.

I reckon the way to make sure of an rtr Bachmann standard 2 is to convert an existing Bachmann Ivatt into one. Who's going first? (You may not even have to cut anything. I've got a Bachmann 04 which I intended to make into an 01. I have been overtaken by events.)

You've made an improvement there. I think I may have an Ivatt chimney you can have - assuming its the right one for the number!

Very nice. Makes me want to go and tweak mine!

Looking good Mark. You're going to shame me into cutting loose on some of mine. I tend to regard summer (?) as the close season for modelling anyway so you're excused.

Hi Marc

Theres a photo in my gallery called "Diddington - aerial view" which is intended as a substitute for a plan.

It shows all the turnouts. It was taken a little while ago, so there's been some changes to the scenery as well!

Alex

...of course if I'd read a bit further into Andrew Stadden's website......

That started an interesting little trip round manufactures of figures on the internet! I think Any Stadden is the son of Charles Stadden who used to design whitemetal kits of model soldiers. I think he had his own range at one time.

It does look nice. The Lima model is dimensionally pretty good. Before I did mine I compared it wioth the LMS society drawing in the Railway Modeller (about October 1964 I think) and found it pretty close. The big letdown was the bogies and the Bachmann ones are a good idea.

Ian

The Horsebox kit is Parkside.

Pennine

The LMS van is the Cambrian one.

Neil

Definitely. I'll give you a ring.