Steadfast

A few more, including an APT modification for Mr Delamar. The black side window surround is a pain to fit in! To include the windscreen would have looked even weirder! jo

In true Team America style, we have a montage. It was quicker than cropping and uploading 3 pictures The bodywork needs another coat of paint and some detail picking out still. The hydraulic lines on the crane are cotton superglued on. I'll be adding a load under a tarpaulin too, so I'm not too worried about adding the dividers between the 3 drop side panels as they won't be seen. I'm glad to get the crane finished. Although I have Network Rail transfers, I'll proboably knock something up in Photoshop and print on white paper for the rear logo. The cab needs priming, painting, and decalling, as well a new grill drawing up and adding some more MAN shaped details. I may well just fit a plain white Hino cab for the time being to get it finished for the weekend, and have the cab facing away from the front of the layout. Hopefully a small layout update or two before Saturday aswell jo

Hi Stu, Yep, the Japanese stuff is 1/150, much closer to British N's 1/148 than the Euro 1/160. It'd be nice if they developed some more European looking trucks, as although Hino, Isuzu and Mitsubishi trucks are seen in the UK, they're nowhere near as common as Scanias, Dafs, Volvos, MANs etc. I've mainly picked them up from exhibitions, there's normally a couple of stands selling them at big shows like TINGS and Warley. eBay and Osborn's Models have also come in useful, I tend to choose models on their "bashability" than particular livery or bodywork jo

Here's a couple of photos of current progress, the crane is just resting on the lorry whilst I make the pallet grab attachment It's nearly ready for a coat of primer to see how it's all looking jo

Hi John, Thanks for the words of encouragement! Yes you're right about mind over matter, indeed since Merf's pictures I've completely rebuilt the rear end and done some more crane work. It just would've been much simpler with a model of the right make of truck to use as a base! More photos soon I hope, jo

Hi Pete, Progress looks great! It's nice to see some rolling stock in the right places to give the sense of scale. Yes, Mark's 153 is done using my transfers, and a good job he's done too! The working gate would set the layout off a treat, as you say drawing and waiting while it opened would be an interesting operation to watch. As for the Monopoly empire, it'll look great once painted, it's got the feel of it already. Besides, all the monopoly jokes are done now, so I'll bow out peacefully haha

I've had a play in Photoshop to put some older liveries onto the Pendolino jo

Thanks for sharing those pictures Merf. So it's out with the plastic tomorrow, rebuilding the rear end then haha. That's the first time I've seen one with the tag axle lowered, too! Yeah it's in N, would be much easier in 4mm, even with chopping down an Oxford MAN or similar. jo

Thanks for posting the pics of the Network Rail stuff Andrew... it's inspired me to crack out the tools http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/20276-embankment-road-trsmd/page__st__125&do=findComment&comment=785743 jo

Today I started a mini project that was inspired by a chance sighting on the 'Railway Motors' thread, a Network Rail MAN TG-A. I dug out the box of Japanese road vehicles, and began chopping and swapping. The chassis started as an 8 wheel chassis on small wheels, being cut down to 6 axles and larger wheels fitted. The cab is a Mitsubishi Fuso, the steps and bumper area being quite similar to the MAN TG-A being modelled. I couldn't decide whether to model the one in the thread, or the shorter bodied version, as seen here on Flickr. An executive decision, otherwise known as cutting the plastic too short solved this problem! The crane isn't perfect, but should be ok once painted and weathered. I couldn't find a rear shot, but guestimated based on the side on one above It should give me something a little different in the car park at the front of the layout at the Chippenham show jo

Here's 60007 on today's 6B33 Theale - Robeston passing Callow Hill about 45 mins late jo

Hi Ian, Thanks for that, yes fateful is a good word to use! I have a few ideas for details and cameos to add, so watch this space! Hello John, Thanks for the compliments, the boards seems to be standing the test of time so far. It's amazing how much some paper mâché and paint makes things more sturdy. The buildings were key to getting the feel of the location, indeed a few exhibition visitors have recognised the location! The next outing is the Chippenham show on 29th Sept, so there's some updates and little bits to do before then, more of which soon jo

Indeed! I do have a version in 'Barbie' livery too, but will have to wait for when I'm back on the laptop. I plan to do a TPE style version of dynamic lines too jo

Hi Simon, Sadly it's a bit far for me to be able to afford to do both days, and one day is tiring enough! jo

A quick bit of progress on an older project - the IIA! I've managed to get the blue and yellow on. All that remains is the grey solebar then it's transfer and weathering time. Also as this is likely my last update of content on the thread before TINGS at Leamington on Saturday, here's a sneak peak of what will make up part of the DEMU stand. I'll have the IIA and TDAs with me if anyone fancies a closer look. Please say hello if you're passing! I've still not decided what to actually model on Saturday, yet, though... jo

Thank you for the etching comments guys, definitely food for thought! I downloaded DraftSight, a free 2D cad application a while ago, but struggled to even fathom out what did what before getting fed up with it. I'll give Inkscape a go, which as a 'drawing' software rather than a CAD software may work better with my brain. Etching is something I've wanted to try for a long time, but never got around to it. So many little bits here and there, or to add detail to a 3D print it'd be a useful tool to have available. Hmmm best get downloading! jo

Terry, yes there's plenty of white painted trackwork at Woodborough. I'm a bit lost with regards to the ground signals though. The one for the headshunt is the only one I can see? I did wonder if you were out for it Tony, though at Wickwar you should've got a pair of 60s, 040 and 007? jo

Thanks Bernard, I'll have a look and see what I have. Sounds a lot more sturdy than a superglued on piece of etch. And I have the 47 markers as a fall back if needed HI Ben, thanks for your comments. I have considered etching in the past, but I've got to get my head around the software to do it first. Photoshop I'm fine with, CAD is another matter... It's certainly something I want to try in future, I have a few potential ideas lined up for it. Yeah I knew about the difference in the bogies, but it's the nearest I'm going to get, as you say. jo

Thanks for the comments guys, good to see some interest in this subject Today's 6A11 conveniently had 85939 in the consist, I managed to get a roof shot, with added foliage I definitely need to redo the roof walkway now I have that shot! I managed some primer on the wagon when I got in. Apart from one or two small surface blemishes to touch up, and a definite need to replace the barrel end details with something smaller, I'm happy so far. Great though 3D printing is, injection moulded plastic is much nicer to work with, none of the flexing, or the need to clean up any 'stepping' jo

Ian, I've also seen them loaded with Land Rovers and trailers, as per Brian Daniels' flickr site: http://www.flickr.com/search/?w=63011416@N05&q=oca jo

A bit of an unusual one - 6A11 Robeston - Theale loaded tanks caught in daylight! 60063 complete with a recently added Margam sheep sticker, passes Woodborough working 6A11 Robeston to Theale. Normally running under cover of darkness, delays to this train South Wales meant this picture was possible. The time was 13.40, usually the return (6B33) would have just left Theale 28/8/12 jo

I should imagine the VGAs and OCAs are likely to be on MoD traffic being taken north on the Wagonload network. More than likely come from places like Marchwood, Bicester and Kineton to Didcot, then gone back out on 6X65 Didcot - Mossend. I like the work on your Chiltern office unit, very smart. I'm looking forward to seeing the layout at Leamington jo

And Batman too? jo