Gallows Close

Hello Rod, I think that is going a bit far! . All I'm doing is copying the work of others in the mostly fun exercise of destroying perfectly good models and sticking them back together in a different order. I'm glad you like it though.... Best wishes, Chris.

Go on Alex - put them in.... Where else are you going to put all those class 20's you've yet to buy? Best wishes, Chris.

Hello everyone, With the unit finished, I have been busy today in getting the performance to where it should be. Considering the running gear, I have retained the Lima motor and bogies, however I discarded the 'rail roller' wheels and have replaced them with Romford 12mm disc wheels. This has been achieved on the powered car by direct replacement on the leading pick up bogie, and by cutting the gear from the back of the Lima wheels and glueing it on to the back of the Romford ones, before re-assembling the motor. This has allowed all wheel pick-ups to be fitted. A Lokpilot has been fitted for DCC running. The trailer car bogies required the plastic bearing for the pin point axles to be deepened as the Romford axles are slightly longer than the Lima ones. Initially the wheels were binding, but with care, trial and error I was able to get the vehicle free running. http://youtu.be/6Zlzd67i9T0 Here is a short clip showing the results. It runs very smoothly, and has power enough to pull a tail load as was common for these type of workings. Thanks for looking in, Chris.

Hello Peter, The steps for the headgear came from a gentleman who writes under the name Ifor Coggan on the Welsh Coal Mines Forum http://www.welshcoalmines.co.uk/forum/index.php Ifor is a skilled modeller, and had the etches made up for his own colliery model - I contacted him through the forum and he kindly produced a set of etchs for me. Best wishes, Chris

Hello Everyone, Today the class 114 parcels DMU entered service. With a BG in tow, class 114 DPU heads for Sheffield with second class post from Leeds. Hope you like it. Thanks, Chris.

Finished! Best wishes, Chris.

My 'Ladies in Red' scrub up well I think. Underframes next on the list to do with this one, and then re-assembly. Best wishes, Chris

Hello Cheesy, Close up photos are cruel aren't they? The cant rail is indeed a little wonky, but not half as bad as it looks on the photo. Best wishes, Chris

Hello Dave, Its nice to be an inspiration, thanks. I wish I could claim originality - there are a good few modellers who have inspired me over the years, and I only try to emulate them. I thought you might like to see my 'Ladies in Red' fresh from the paint shop. Just a quick snap taken in the kitchen for now. All being well I'll have them lettered up with their Royal Mail insignia over the weekend, and then I'll make a proper start on the undeframes. Thanks for looking in, Chris.

Hello everyone, I have made some more progress with the class 114 DPU. I have completed the basic bodyshells, added the roller doors to both cars and bodyside vents to the DMBS. That left the slow and not very RM WEB-genic body prep to do. The filling and sanding is almost over now, and I am in a position to show the two bodyshells in undercoat. There is still some small work to do with fine wet and dry, but it looks like there is no more filler required at least. I also will add the roof ventilators and the toilet filler pipes prior to painting the first coat of Royal Mail red. All in all - I'm quite chuffed with this one so far. Not a multiple unit project, but something I'm busy with at the same time is this Mk IId BFK. With the imminent new Mk II e/f coaches I decided to create a 1989/90 cross country rake from my 'old' mark two stuff. This will be a Mk IId BFK; Mk I RMB; Mk IIf; Mk IId; Mk IIc and Mk IIf to copy a rake I spotted on the Leeds branch of the ECML in 1989. The Mk IId BFK construction has been covered many times before, but basically it is a splice of a Dapol FO and a BSO. It will be finished in Intercity Executive livery. And what of the Mk IIc mentioned above? Well I have been messing about with a Dapol Mk IId and a Lima Mk IIb and this is what I've come up with so far. It will be finished in blue & grey as per the rake above. I think it has promise.... What do you reckon? Thanks for looking in and best wishes, Chris.

Its a stunner Brian. Best wishes, Chris

Nice pair. Best wishes, Chris.

OK, so - here is an update with photos. First up the completed DMBS. To get an idea of what it will look like when done I have plonked it on a Hornby chassis for the photo. Then to the DTC. One of the dillemas I have been facing is how wide to make the roller shutter doors. In the end I have gone for (guessed) 20mm for two reasons... The first is that I don't have a real class 114 to measure (obviously) and the second is that I have assumed that the conversions would have been made using the natural appertures and strong points on the body. Therefore taking the front passenger door and measuring from the leading frame to the rear most frame of the small passenger window you get 20mm. Simples. Well, if only... But after studying many, many photos it looks about right. The Fox transfers I am using have chevron stripes included, however these are 17mm in width - perhaps intended for the class 128 DPU? So it looks like I'm going to have to make my own chevrons for the new doors. The rear roller door requires part of one of the windows blanking off. So I have carefully removed the beading and using masking tape as a guide to the saw cuts I opened out the new door frame. Progress so far is not too bad all in all. Here is a photo of the two cars together still on their short undeframes - more to keep me motivated than anything else. Still to do is the opposite side of the DTC and then start the filling and sanding process. I will also make a start on the underframes. Thanks for looking, best wishes, Chris.

Hello Brian, Thanks for your comments, they are much appreciated. At the end of the day though cut-n-shut is what it is. For the most part I cannot claim any originality for the ideas either! I have managed to complete the DMS coach body today, and I've also fitted roller doors to one side of the DTC. I'm quite pleased with it so far - photos to follow. Thanks for looking in, and best wishes, Chris.

Hello All, A bit of progress on the class 114 DPU today. Firstly the driving trailer has been put together. I have reinforced the coach at roof level in preparation for opening out the roller shutter doors, and for this car I will do the filling and sanding after I have inserted the new doors. Below the motor coach has been fitted with its roller door on one side and is resting whilst the plastic hardens before I tackle the other side. I have spent quite some time sanding and filling, with some small areas still to do. Also, on the this coach a couple of vents still need to be installed in the body side. As I mentioned before the cars scale out at about 4mm too short - so I have decided to go with the Lima underframes and I'll cut out 4mm from these to make a bad job OK. Hopefully no-one besides you will know! Apologies, but the photos are all taken on the 'phone as I can't be bothered with the camera today.... Thanks for looking in, Best wishes, Chris.

Hello Shane, Those trailers look very well all painted up don't they. Nice. Is there any chance of a photo of the assembled train, and - one question - how have you tackled the glazing? Best wishes, Chris.

Hello Ron, The etches look well all painted up don't they. Lovely stuff, and I'm sure I'm not the only one looking forward to seeing them installed on the model. Best wishes, Chris.

Hello David, Have you managed a run with the new tractor yet? Looking forward to seeing it. Best wishes, Chris.

Hello all, A bit of quiet time over the last couple of days has allowed me to make a start with some of the many signs and notices needed for the layout. They are all home made using Crafty transfer paper and scraps of plasticard. First up, the rapid loader now proudly announces it is the property of British Coal A total of four different speed boards have been made and mounted on brass tube. In the backgroud the OLE warning board can be glimpsed. Lastly, all of the signals have gained an 'L' prefixed signal number plate - approximating to the actual area and signal number sequence. I have also added a warning to signal L 638 stating that drivers of electric trains cannot enter the colliery complex. Thanks for looking in, Best wishes to all for 2015, Chris.

Hello Lee, May be the Gricers were better behaved back then..... Aureol was withdrawn in February 1985 - Just noticed the HEA loaded in the background, the sidings should have been empty. Thanks for looking in, and best wishes, Chris.

Hello David, and all Thanks for your message - A great Christmas was celebrated here thanks. As it happens I have been enjoying a few evenings updating more old stuff. I have dug out my old Hornby class 91 and made a start in reactivating this loco. As I'm busy with the Mk IV coaches, I though it was high time I did something with the loco too. It has received a Bachmann drive and quite a lot of additional weight as well as lights and a Hurst models BWHSP. Still to do are the couplings and air pipes, the glazing over the light clusters, wipers and the fairing at the number two end. I will also super detail the pantograph bay. As it is Christmas - a railtour wouldn't go a miss I thought....... Class 400012 heads north with the "Yultide Collier" taking in Maltby, Kellingley, Frickley and South Kirkby Collieries and giving a 'toot toot' as it passes Kinsley. Another project almost completed - apart from suitable wheels is the class 142 reactivation. 142078 and 153315 head south with a local train during late 1992. Finally, what if..... Kinsley is almost the last deep mine in the country, let alone the Doncaster area - Kellingley and Hatfield survive with it. Freightliner have the contract to supply coal to the local power generators. Class 70006 propels empty HHA's through the loader. Thanks for looking in, and hope you like the updates. Best wishes, Chris.

I think they made fifty, so another 45 will do it... Best wishes, Chris.

You must be pleased with that Ron. Just out of interest, how heavy is the roof structure? Best wishes, Chris.