Steadfast

Mine arrived this morning along with a 58. Very very shiny! The handrails etc do look chunky in photos, and I was planning to replace them with TPM etches, but in the flesh they are more than acceptable. Nice one Dapol, roll on the weathered ones! cheers jo

Evening all! Thanks for those comments - the photos do flatter it a bit, but I'm pretty happy overall. Definitely needs the grubby tanks to go with it David, it's taken me long enough to do one, let alone two lol! I'm not looking forward to doing the cantrail stripe on 2 future 60s, after my eyes going funny on this one I enjoyed reading your article in Model Rail btw, nice one jo

The Graham Farish 150, like its bigger brother, is a cracking model of a common unit. When it was released, a lot of comment was made about the purple engine, accurate for Porterbrook owned units I believe. However, the ones in use round here tend to have noticably bright yellow engines, and it's amazing what a transformation a lick of yellow paint and some black dry brushing makes to the overall look of the model. Additionally, the seats were painted blue, which adds a bit more interior relief. I'm not sure how this unit will end up, quite possibly in FGW local lines livery if I can get the lettering transfers drawn up. Spraying the blue to purple fade is easy enough, as I've done it on HST power cars before, it just needs a steady hand...

Well, I guess this is what you call finished. There's the odd blip, as usual, but I'm happy to call it done. Paint is Tamiya sky blue with a drop of white, and the yellow is Railmatch late warning panel yellow (I forget the years they print on it, 88-03?), with a gloss black underframe, all given a top coat of Railmatch satin varnish to tone down and bring it together. Detail painting is mostly Games Workshop acrylic, with MIG powders for the roof weathering. I prefer to do locos in grubby condition, partly because it helps to hide the mistakes, also because I find the weathering effects easier to get looking convincing. It was a bit touch and go with the clag dirt on the roof, but it's looking ok now, and will be staying as it is, in roughly this condition from early 2009. All it needs now is for me to crack on with some Murco tanks! Needless to say, DB stablemate 60040 will be rather grubbier when I get around to modelling it. The transfers, nameplates and donor loco are waiting...

With traffic picking up hugely, and a shortfall in traction, more 66s are ordered for the lighter workings as they are cheaper to lease than class 70s. 66960-965 were delivered in Powerhaul style livery as applied to the 70s and 86637. Doesn't look bad IMO, the 66 seems to carry a lot of yellow well cheers jo

Ahh, I know what you mean about the myriad of projects James...mine spilled off the workbench ages ago Cracking paintjob on the Pacer by the way, goes well with the detailing! Can't wait to see it finished. I like the finish and texture of the brisckwork on the building, and the forgotten look of the shuttered window reminds me of Pilning, with one train each way per week, and plenty of tumbleweeds. Lovely!

With the purchase of EMD by Caterpillar, will we ever see them offering a rebuild with improved cabs and a Cat engine? The Cat corporate colours seem to sit well on the demonstrator 66. The yellow stripes are inspired by the original Yeoman livery on the class 59s cheers jo

Nothing from yesterday I'm afraid Trev, but did catch it on the 27th of May running as 0E41 light engine from Newport, having been to East Usk for fuel before returning the empty tanks to Lindsey from Westerleigh Part of this collection, including both Babbage and 60039 with tanks, as well as some EE powered fun http://joalder.fotopic.net/c1853891.html cheers jo

From what I've heard it's fixed already. Was pottering around Toton the other day apparently. Now needs tyre turning IIRC cheers jo

I thnk my main reason for my dislike of a BR blue is the dull monotony of absolutely everything being dull blue. As Paul has said large logo really did improve things, an on a 37 looks rather tidy IMO. Sectorisation, for me, seems the most interesting era of BR aesthetically, as you still have the variety of traction, though mixed with livery variety too, and in that variety were some stonking liveries. Intercity swallow, Mmmm... And now for something completely different: Kestrel style livery applied to my favourite Brush product, the class 60. Should a fleet refurb ever happen, paint the testbed like this? So, Europorte have got GBRf. They have a relatively large fleet in original style GBRf blue and orange, the barbie liveried stuff could be done with orange cab wrap vinyls, with full repaints only needed for the 92s. GBRf is an existing and successful brand, so why not stick with it? Stranger things have happened... cheers jo

Interesting to see the undercoat-esque Lion livery on the 47, doesn't work as well as Kestrel IMO, which really sits well on the duff. A few more 73 variations from me: So what if the LMS went for class 73 hauled electric trains over the Merseyside system? Not sure the livery sits that well on the ED... Just noticed the perspective on all the text is out too. Might start over with this one DRS compass on a 73 - a few grill and window issues as per the 37s So what if in some bizarre twist an ED or two had their traction motors isolated, but retained shoegear and got ETHEL'd with an upgraded ETH for railtour use. Driving capability is retained for tours operating with other 73s, hence the retention of the yellow ends So what if Network Rail stuck with the blue and red livery they painted some stock into in the early days? Looks quite smart IMO With all the rumours surround the GBRf sale, another name that I've heard mentioned is Wincanton logistics. I've seen continental locos with their logo on a sticker, so not as big a surprise as it initially appears! cheers jo

As I promised...plus a shot of the other tug into Westerleigh today, 60039, all part of today's fun at http://joalder.fotopic.net/c1853891.html Having been to Newport East Usk for fuel, 60054 returns to Westerleigh as 0E41, here passing Ram Hill Complete with its yellow plough, 60039 rolls down the single line past Westerleigh village with 6B13 Robeston to Westerleigh loaded Murco tanks cheers jo

Westerleigh - East Usk for fuel. Will put a shot of the return up later cheers jo

Love the black Peak Paul, which gives me an idea... cheers jo

Mmm, I do like a good refurb-tractor. 890 looks like an interesting beast, though aren't they all? Just hoping the Bach 37 gets shrunk some time soon

Well, I doubt anyone else will notice them, or the lack of. Sadly didn't get any pics, didn't bring the camera to the Member's Day [d'oh!], and the one on the phone is pants!

And the worst bit is that with the comparison pics I've noticed I left some off that I didn't mean to... Still, was nice to put it along side "big brother" at Taunton Yeah, I'm currently trying to work out a route to take with the JNA as clean-up is taking an age! I had a brain wave the other day regarding this, keep an eye on the blog soon Note: "Soon" isn't any defineable length of time, just somewhen after today, within the next couple of years

Well, 59004 is just about done. There are one or two tidying up jobs, and the skywards pointing buffer needs attention, but apart from that it is there. The Yeoman logos are printed from my artwork by Kelvin at Red Firecracker, and are white on a clear backing to allow the blue to show through. The same effect is used on my upcoming PGA rake, to avoid trying to colour match the blue on the computer with the paint Here are some general shots of the finished model And a couple of shots comparing prototype details with the model, showing how much has been left off, err sorry, my interpretation of it First up, fuel tank, battery box and air piping Secondly the fine brake piping above the no 1 end bogie I find it quite amazing to consider the finished model has essentially come from this computer model http://www.shapeways.com/model/43587/mendip_rail_ltd_class_59_0.html to a fully finished loco. A couple of years ago this would have been unthinkable! Back to the more conventional plastic and etches for the next post

Good luck with this, and stick with it! It's very rewarding in the end From my experiences, the white edge is exactly that - the cut edge of the transfer. Because the ink doesn't soak in, it only sits on the surface of the paper, leaving a white face when it is cut. Colour matching against paint is always a pain, for white details on body colour I now get them printed by someone with an ALPS pritner, so the original body colour shows through. Kelvin at Red Firecracker http://www.redfirecracker.co.uk/ has been very helpful for me, and provides a quick service. I draw up the artwork in Photoshop, as I would do anyway for my own prints, then email it off to him and send some money HTH jo

Hmm, NS and CIE are both interesting options. Give me some time in Photoshop... Surely most of a steam loco is hot, so all over orange? And if you did it on a diesel loco, most of it would burn off? Look at the exhaust area on most locos - rusty from the heat. Dayglo orange brake blocks? Dayglo orange hot plate in the cab? Dayglo orange light bulbs? cheers jo

I have been playing in Photoshop again, this time the 73 has come up for a good bashing. With DB Schenker winning the contract for Nertwork Rail test trains, what will they use on the Southern? With the rumours doming the rounds that GBRf are up for sale, could one potential candidate be Colas Rail, looking for further rapid expansion? Rumours abound that First are trying to offload GBRf. So, what if Europorte ends up buying the operation for an easy way into the UK market? The livery is based on RfD European as applied to the 92s With the rumours of GBRf being put up for sale refusing to go away, Freightliner is a name that keeps getting mentioned. So what about a green 73? All from my gallery at http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php/gallery/album/6899/468-jos-photoshop-fiddlings/ cheers jo

Ha ha! Know that area well David, having spent the night moored up in a canal boat on holiday a couple of years ago in the spur that comes off towards the front of the layout! Wandered to Deansgate and got the train to Piccadilly - saw my first Pendolino Good Luck - will be watching with interest

Nah, satin Railmatch enamel varnish. Spread it on the rear thinly with a cocktail stick, gives 10 mins or so of easy adjustment, then leave overnight to harden. You have a tacky hour or two if you do notice a slip, and once the top coat of varnish goes on, any slight spillage from under the plate is hidden. Also a top tip from Brian at Shawplan - use scissors to cut out nameplates from the fret. Worked very well, I used a pair with blades about 2inches long pinched from my mum's card making kit. Apparently it's the shear action that makes them better than side cutters

Mon-Fri. 6B33 runs (booked) about an hour earlier on a Sat, and can run an hour or more early on the weekdays it runs (T,ThO), so be if it doesn't appear one day, it may have gone early. The Westerleigh runs similar times on Sat to weekdays, presuming it isn't caped because of engineering work near Gloucester cheers jo

The loaded to Westerleigh passes through about 9.55 (6B13) The Westerleigh empties pass through 19.45 ish (6B47) This train is currently in the hands of 60074, and the loaded working tends to run to time (ish) but the empties can easily run within an hour early or late, depending on when it got away from Westerleigh The Theale empties pass by about 17.00 (6B33) The loaded runs overnight (6A11) This is in the hands of a shed or two, depending on the load HTH jo