Steadfast

Having picked up a handful of the new Farish MBAs over the weekend, today I thought I'd set about adding body mounted knuckle couplers to them. The outer ends of the outer 2 wagons retain Rapidos in NEM pockets for coupling to locos. The inner ends of these two, and both ends of the inner wagons have been fitted with a Microtrains coupler mounted at bufferbeam height. On the buffer fitted wagons, this represents the swinghead coupler, and the inners are fitted with a fixed knuckle, though of course on the model the only variation is whether it has buffers or not The original bogie mounted Rapido in an NEM pocket which is retained on the outer end of the outer wagons Before and after - note the coupler pocket had to be trimmed to allow for bogie swing. The lid of the coupler box has been left off, using the base of the wagon as the top. To aid construction, one end of the spring was glued to the top half of the knuckle head piece Doesn't look too shabby once coupled! The coupling gap is closed up a bit with the knuckles fitted. It could be shrunk further by setting the Microtrains coupler further back into the wagon, but this would restrict bogie rotation for tight curves Both with an without buffers, side by side I'll wait until I have a couple more wagons to make up the set before weathering and making a scrap load. A complete aside from the rest of the post, I do like this Windows 7 malarky, got Raiders of the Lost Ark playing in the right window, and I'm typing this in the left window. Ace!

Yup, sounds very much 6M55, usually through Caerleon about 8.20 IIRC, runs from either Avonmouth or Portbury HTH cheers jo

As far as I'm aware both 6M55 and 6Z70 (and their respective empties) can run every weekday. Not sure on weekends. As Dave has mentioned though, M55 is booked a shed, and dependant on availability can appear on this or Z70. Sounds good Craig! So assuming 006 is staying down here, we'll have half the fleet operating out of Bristol, so hopefully they'll start appearing on more than just coal cheers jo

70006 was on the Rugeley run yesterday, but no gen today so far. It was on 6M55 yesterday, which is into Rugeley luinch time-ish HTH cheers jo

Tidy! There's just something about it that shouts baby HST at me! I'd certainly bash it for haulage

The claim involving flames was to do with a wagon, if it's the reports I read last week. People were reporting that 60071 was a no-show at Water Orton and similar places on the Westerleigh-Lindsey run, and there were other reports talking about the Fire service in attendance. 2+2 was made to equal 5, with the presumed 60 failure, it was a hot box on a TEA IIRC cheers jo

Yeah - the CFPS with 40145! Seriously, I haven't yet, but they are on my to do list. 37 style DBS anyone? cheers jo

I did have the thought of trying it on a duff... At the moment I don't have the time to sit down and knock something together about my methods, but perhaps it maybe worth a thread in Photography? I'd be interested to compare notes on techniques with Paul A quick pair for tonight, some Pendolinos DB Bahn (West Coast) winning the WCML franchise when it comes up If the GWML is ever electrified, what about Pendo power? I'm not particularly happy with this, it just doesn't look right, particularly the high gloss blue. Maybe needs another try Both are in the gallery http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?app=gallery&module=user&user=6899&do=view_album&album=468 cheers jo

David, I did this take on the green a while back I can't stand BR blue personally, but I may give it a go some time cheers jo

That turbo looks rather tidy Paul! WSMR seem to have a livery that transfers well to other stock Here you go Jon, along with a couple of others I've done today cheers jo

And yet it doesn't look old or outdated. Nice job on the AGV by the way, not sure I like the styling of the train though. I assume from what you've written this is intended as a free for all thread? Here's a few I've played with recently All of which can be found in here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?app=gallery&module=user&user=6899&do=view_album&album=468 cheers jo

It's the details that set it apart, isn't it Martin! That's some impressive work going on with the 455, needless to comment on the patience needed Nice touch with the handrail rebates btw, presumably due to the end jumpers not present on other mk3 units?

The nose dirt was a bit touch and go at one point - I just couldn't get a clean edge, but I tried using the side of a cocktail stick, and that worked. Holding it at the right angle, the side of the stick will wipe the weathering paint off the shiny RTR finish - hey presto! It's proved the technique for use on other tractors in the future, and the photos in pt3 show how rough and painted on it looked before the cocktail stick treatment

Uh-oh! Wasn't the 59 trial out of LBT a bit of a let down compared to how the Tugs handle it? Oh well, spose it'll get 204 away from the Mendips - it seem to appear every time I go fotting round there cheers jo

Today, 60045, one of the active 4 (plus the two WNTR that are about) worked Lindsey - Westerleigh, plus the 6E41 return, seen passing Hall End between Yate and Wickwar, which sounded in fine form, a nice loud approach as was expected cheers jo

Bettys...Fuglys...Predators...whatever we call them, they sound mean. Just like a TIE fighter, with some added chugging. Far better than the whining from a 66 working hard. Maybe Twin Ion technology is the answer for future traction Here's 70003 passing Hall End with 4Z70 Rugeley - Stoke Gifford coal empties about 25 to one this lunchtime. Man it was cold out cheers jo

Nice bit of weathering there with the coal streaking, I keep meaning to add it to mine over the brown rusty look. It's good to see someone else has had a bash at doing the weld lines too!

There were a couple of days in early September when that happened, here on 1/9/09 Hope this wasn't the last Tug I fot for a while...and beast's hints are usually pretty reliable I still find the fuel economy and build of the 66s a real shock in comparison to the 60s, and double heading can't be a realistic long term option, as Martyn says train lengths would need a huge increase for this to work long term. Markets are still down, so hopefully as they pick up, a need for more traction, and heavier trains, could see a pick up of the Brushes. Only time will tell, think positive in the mean time cheers jo

Well the supposed Saturday cut off hasn't happened, several are still out and about in the active WC** pools, and 60041 is allocated to tonight's Lindsey-Westerleigh and tomorrow's return... I did hear from a very reliable source (ie, he'd been to Siemens earlier that week) that Siemens may be looking at buying some cheap from DB, and re-engine with a Cat lump and use them as hire locos, either UK or Europe. The shells are in good condition, with very little, if any, rust on the very worst examples. Siemens and DB have a very good working relationship apparently cheers jo

Some of you may remember the 3D printed class 59 bodyshell I was fiddling with on old RMweb http://www.rmweb.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=8&t=10057&start=234 Here is the current progress, once it's done, I'll do a proper step by step blog entry covering the shell, and also the underframe work

Well some more progress has been made on the grotty Dutch tractor. Inbetween scratching the weathering and throwing my paintbrushes out of the pram, I've attacked the underframe with some powders. They still need some work, but the variation in tone is getting there - in fact it looks a lot more varied, yet subtle to the naked eye than in the photos. Somehow I'm going to add some satin bits to the black on the underframe to give that greasy look, probably a powder and varnish mix. I'll probably add some drybrushing to the steps too with gunmetal or similar. The front end details are done too, pretty happy with these, and the scratches of yellow showing through on the centre plough. Not sure whether to cut back and redo the bodyside brown weathering to remove the scatches, or live with them. We'll see!

Thanks Graham. I seem to be really yo-yo-ing with this one. I'll look it over and be really happy with it, then look again later and the weathering looks really course and over done. Though later I'll look at fotopic and the grotty shots compare well to the model. I just don't really seem to be able to get "in the zone" with this one - perhaps it because it's not a 60! Maybe it's the pressure of wanting to do a decent job because I know I'm probably going to sell it on once it's finished. Meh, whatever, I ain't no psychologist!

Thanks guys. I feel another visit to Mr Daniels' fotopic site coming on for weathering details. The 'cows mind are a long term project, you know a bit here, and a bit there, like today because I already had the airbrush loaded with brown. Also got to do some fiddling with the ploughs on the tractor, and sort the bufferbeam pipes out. There are a nice looking set of air pipes in the Fastline IIAs I had delivered last week...

So, had a good session with the airbrush today, got a decent layer of brown on the underframe, and dustings on the bodyshell in the right places. It finally feels as though it is coming together now! Still need washes and powders on the underframe, but its moving in the right direction. Also gave some Seacows a dusting over with frame dirt at the same time, these had already had a series of brown and grey washes already. I've also glued on the detailing bits. Looks like they may, just, still make it round 9 inch curves. Further detail painting will follow, along with some stone dust and a load. Mmm, rusty cows Should like nice with the OBAs and Autoballasters in a long engineers working behind a tug or a maroon tractor or two

Wow, it sounds like something off Star Wars in that video! cheers jo