Steadfast

Well today I got some Milliput - it seems to have worked ok despite my inability to do anything straight or level by hand I'll pop a picture up in the morning, the thruth will be told once its primed! Thanks Bernard! jo

Cheers, they seem to be a cross between the HHA coal hopper and the HIA stone hoppers that Freightliner use in terms of design. Looking at wagon ''families'' it seems common for coal and stone hoppers to have the same profile to 2/3rds, with the top panel being 1 piece for stone, or two pieces/angles for coal As for project Peak...yeah you could say that! Luckily at the moment its mostly in my head, and I think I've got enough 60s already... jo

Thanks for the tip Bernard, I'll be looking to get some new Milliput soon then! The current pack is rather dry and solid! I've got a few other projects where wetting and shaping sounds like it could be the answer, too. Here's a few pics of the wagon as it stands now. It certainly looks a lot better to my eyes now it's full height. The triangular fillet used to fill the angle between the vertical and angle side panels is planned to be rubbed down. However, I might see how it looks with a coat of primer, as there's a weld line at this height so it may stay. We'll see... jo

Hi all, Update time! This is one of those projects that's been put off and put off due to realising how much was involved in rebuilding the sides. However, the trip to Peak Forest on the way to Showcase really got me into wagons again, and I remembered this project, so off the shelf it came. Looking at what I've already done, I decided it was easier (and stronger) to shorten the wagon, and then add the rebate. Also, I wasn't overly happy with my work on the rebate, so off it came. Instead of using the orginal wagon body to create the piece above the rebate, I used some 1mm x 1mm strip. The strengtheners in the rebate are a 2mm length of the same 1mm x 1mm strip. The solebar is clad in 0.25mm x 1.5mm strip. The second side is ready to have the rebate and top strip added tomorrow once the glue's dry. The clamshell doors have been shortened and glued onto the shortened hopper bays. This is a job I'm glad is done! Here's the shortened chassis and body reunited. Once both sides are to this stage, I'll move onto the ends and adding the top angle. I think it may need to be glued as a single piece once I get to this stage for strength. The comparison shows roughly how much height is missing at the moment, and how much longer these wagons are than the older RMCs Finally a couple of shots from Peak Forest More soon, hopefully tomorrow after work jo

Thanks Jon, it's a shot I've wanted to do for ages! One from a couple of weeks back here, 60074 on 6B33 Theale - Robeston at Shrivenham 31/5/12 Today saw a 60 on Mendip stone for the first time in a few months, last autumn if my memory serves me right. 60011 powering 6V18 Hither Green - Whatley past Edington, a few miles east of Westbury 11/6/12 jo

A few recent class 60s from me. A little further afield than normal aswell! I'm really thinking the title of the thread should be changed now, too! Here's 60079 on 6B33 Theale - Robeston passing the Roman Road (Fosseway) near Hullavington 24/5/12 On the way to Showcase (1/6/12) we went up to Peak Forest. 60059 was on the Tunstead - Oakleigh circuit, here approaching Peak Forest with 6H03 to Tunstead The loco then returned light to stable, seen here before reversing into the sidings Later on, the loco returned to Tunstead... ...before emerging with the loaded hoppers on 6F05 Tunstead - Oakleigh. Does anyone know is it just a single set of hoppers with a couple of spares? Turn around seemed very swift at Tunstead, particularly a Freightliner stone that came in after the 60 and left before it Good to see the name retained Finally 60059 departs Great Rocks Junction heading for Peak Forest and onwards to Oakleigh. It was great to hear a 60 getting 2400t away with ease, it sounded fantastic jo

Thanks for the comments guys, all in all the weekend went well. Friday's photography trip was rather productive, and has given me bad ideas! A few photos from Friday first, more of which can be found in the thread here 66601 pulls away from an extended wait at Great Rocks Junction working 6H80 Ratcliffe - Tunstead 60059 powers away from Great Rocks Junction with 6F05 Tunstead - Oakleigh 56094, freshly painted into Colas colours and refurbished, leads 47739 at Stenson Junction working 6M08 Boston - Washwood Heath The layout was setup Friday evening, all set for Saturday. I've made lots of detail additions, mainly around the grounded van bodies, which should hopefully be clear in the photos. Aplogies for the quality, they're just grabbed on the phone over the weekend. I don't think much of First's new nameplate policy. Might foul a few bridges/stations/tunnels/everything! The layout operated well in the main. I lost one of my core items of stock early on Saturday with a motor burnout in the FGW 150/2, and several items of stock that worked fine at home didn't like certain joints or points. I've got a few things to look at before Chippenham show in September, but nothing too major. We should see the debut of the fuel tanks then, too! When I got home on Sunday, the loadmaster and his assisstant were on hand to help manage the unloading It was good to meet a few new faces of RMwebbers too, and some interesting conversations were had. Watch this space, the shed won't be empty for long! Finally thanks to Jack for his company, humour and help operating all weekend! Now the show's out the way I can go back to some non FGW modelling jo

That's it done, the layout's packed in the car ready to head off in the morning. I'm shattered and I haven't even left home yet! Up to Peak Forest for some photos then down to Burton to set up. Say hello if your passing over the weekend! jo

Proud is certainly the right word Harry! Yup, well the Rapido end is. The other end's metalwork is based on a wagon on departmentals.com That's a good shout, I'll probably revisit it post Showcase, currently the grey is under a thick layer of Kristal Klear glazing material, which does add a natural glassy sheen when seen "in the flesh" jo

Thanks Guy, well it couldn't be any less advanced than the previous fiddle yard, which actually took a lot longer to make! Here's a bit of progress on a couple of little bits, the coupling converter wagon and the Golf. The second shot shows the modification to take a Microtrains coupler, and two of the four Farish wagon weights fitted. The Golf looks a little blobby round the edges thanks to my wobbly painting, but is ok at normal distances jo

Less than a week to go! I've soldered up barriers from rail sections, and little bits are being tidied up in time for the weekend. Pictures later all being well! jo

Cheers Shane, the first link is the kind of golddust I was looking for 18 months ago. Hopefully it shows people not familiar with the site what part I've taken inspiration from. It's also given me some new ideas... Where's the 'love this many times' button? Lol! jo

Thanks for the interest guys! I thought the Golf might be of interest! I get to miss the whole event thanks to a combination of Showcase and work...oh what a shame. Still fancy a photo of 43186 mind, purely as a record of course B) Cheers Pete, well Jack's Escort is the right colour, and I do have the artwork. Or is it closer to DRS blue.... jo

A shame you can't make it Stu, but please feel free to fire away with any questions. Worryingly it all seems under control at the moment! jo

Hi all, Today has seen the creation of the new fiddle yard. It's longer and thinner than the old one, and will have capacity for two or three tracks, plenty for what I need. In a novel move from the previous fiddle yard, the track will be glued down and not require a roll of masking tape under it to keep it level. From this at 14.00.... to this by 14.45. Within an hour it was primed and sprayed black I'd like to see that kind of speed with wood. In fact, if it was wood, I'd still be brewing the kettle umming and arring now. Signage has been attatched to the front of the layout. It's velcro'd on, so if I decide to backdate to some of my earliest memories (Intecity Swallow), all I need to do is print off and laminate some new interchangable signs. There's another "Embankment Road......" sign at the other end too A converter wagon was hastily concocted prior to Stormex last year using a Farish VBA chassis. I've added a deck and some engine carrying metalwork based on my photos from Laira and pics on departmentals.com. The real one has two racks like the one on the left, but I fancied a bit of variety, and couldn't really face chopping the uprights again. Maybe I should invest in an NWSL chopper? I'm saying one is for MTUs, the other for the EE lumps on the 08s. After all, it's my layout! And since it's my layout, and it's Sunday, there was a prototypical service level earlier on. Not sure I could get away with this at Showcase, mind you... Finally a white metal lump picked up at a recent exhibition that'll add some car park variety once it's finished jo

Thanks all for the kind words, it helps keep me going when the motivation runs low! Hmmm Intercity you say Alex. I do love Intercity Swallow livery, and I have a 50 to be working on. Covering over the First Great Western branding in places wouldn't be too hard. Throw in an RfD clay 37 for good measure of course... Here's some pictures of whats been going on lately, filling the big open area at the front of the layout. It's all just loosely placed at the moment to see how it goes, there's more to add as well as some fuel storage tanks. Residents of Bristol should keep their eyes on these in particular... The container is Dapol, the truck an Intertrans (Farish) model which is meant to look like an owner driver's custom sprayed metallic rig with a scabby trailer from the company he's doing work for. The van bodies are Farish VBAs, the crates are PG Models Ammo crates and the forklift is a GHQ kit. Think that's all for now jo

So only 3 weeks to go until Showcase. Work is progressing on lots of little jobs, tidying bits up and some new additions. Here's the current progress More soon! jo

Best looking? No competition... Mind you a Western on matching stock does have a certain ring to it... I'm surprised no one's mentioned my second favourite...an iconic classic jo

Got a feeling it's 66745 again today. It was at Gloucester yesterday. I presume the return is tomorrow? jo

Oooh what a colour for a 60! Nice progress on the 37 too. I do like the etched doors with integral handrails - it was these and the windscreens I was thinking of for the newer model 37. Hmmm too much else to get done before 37038 comes out again...or is there? jo

It was looking rather less charred on Monday when it worked 4O51 Wentloog - Southampton. Here's a link with a picture of the smouldering 70 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-17632580 jo

About 2 hours earlier you should get 60063 on 6A11 Robeston - Theale. Other than that, not much hope I'm afraid jo

Nice work there Simon, interesting new 37 bits from TPM. I wonder if they'd fit the new model too....I beleive red is correct for DRS 37 fans by the way. I must get round to fitting mine really. What livery will the 60 be emerging in? jo

Nice pic - I still can't get used to 60054 being red. I still think of Petroleum sector when it's mentioned! Here's a few recent red 'uns from me 60007 stabled at a very quiet Margam Knuckle Yard on a Saturday evening 24/3/12 60007 thunders past Charfield loops with 6B47 Westerleigh - Robeston empty Murco tanks 30/3/12 And finally today: 60079 approaches Brinkworth with 6B33 Theale - Margam. The unusual Sunday running was due to the train arriving at Theale around 400 minutes late the day before. Amazingly it had taken 55 minutes to reach here from Theale - normally it takes about 2 hours 1/4/12 jo