Steadfast

So, lets kick off the blog! As a bit of a trial of the blog format, and because I've got this week off, in between getting the car to the garage, some fotting, and generally wasting time I'm attempting to detail, weather and document the process with the recently released Graham Farish Dutch liveried class 37. Hopefully it'll end up as a blow by blow account (yawn ) of the work done. The aim is, by the time I go back to work at 14.30 on Mon 23rd, to have the loco finished. Today I made a start on the work, breaking the loco down to the component parts. The first photo shows the loco as it is, out of the box, albeit with the thick yellow paint stripped off the bogie axleboxes. The other two shots show the current straight of play. Detailing so far has comprised of adding the speedo drive to the bogie from brass wire and scraps of plastic. Removing the footsteps does make working on the bogies that bit easier. They area piece of cake to pop off, just slide a scalpel blade up between the bogie and the steps. Some pipework between the tanks too - this was formed from some nickel silver wire, soldered into a T-shape for the cross pipe, and some shorter bits glued on for the drains/overflows. The bogies have had the couplers modified. One has had the pocket removed, the other has had the mount for the NEM socket severely trimmed to reduce it's visual impact. The end with no coupling will be fully detailed, and is prepped for plough fitting. The ploughs are TPM, with some wire soldered to the back to give a semi-prototypical mounting method. They are only placed on the loco at the moment, to prove the concept, but will be glued once they're painted. I don't think this mounting method will work at the other end due to the coupler, I think they'll need attaching to the bogies unfortunately. I'll try to get some better shots tomorrow of the mod work in daylight. Ok, so to a bit of an admission, I don't really have a use for this loco I just bought it because it looked nice. I've since found out that the loco didn't make it to 2001, so isn't suitable for the early era I model. It may see use on Hedges Hill, or more likely, I may sell it on. Because of this, and difficulty in matching RTR paint shades, the shell will be staying as it is, although really the bodyside steps and water filler should be plated over, and the only Dutch splitter to retain this wasn't a Canton machine (to make use of the etched plaques) so a re-number isn't going to happen. Anyway, enough of the waffling, I'll update it tomorrow, hopefully with progress! iechyd da jo

Well, I've got to say, embarrassingly, it's growing on me! Though it does look like a hamster stuffing it's cheeks when it's sat next to the shed Looking at the photos, it does seem to explain why the horn grill looks like it's on upside down - otherwise the wipers wouldn't meet in the middle. I wonder if the lamp irons are retractable, or whether they were added at Newport, as that's the first time they appeared in photos. Has anyone worked out why there are yellow circles on the buffers? Not a "grease here" point for the American builders is it, given they don't usually have to deal with buffers? cheers jo

As I type this they should have not long arrived at Stoke Gifford yard (basically Bristol Parkway) with 66585 as motive power. Either later tonight, or tomorrow night, 70001 will head north to Lawley St. Not sure if it'll stay here, or be moved again for crew training, as I've also heard of it heading to Ipswich and Leeds. All from reliable gen sources too cheers jo

Yeah, looks ok, pity about the jumpers though. Couldn't they have hidden them somewhere? 70001 and 2 have arrived at Newport. 70003-6 are the ones due for loading in the US soon. These 6 are the pre-series locos, for initial testing, then the remaining 24 will follow on cheers jo

The first pair arrived at Newport yesterday, so they are here! cheers jo

Thanks guys! good to know there's more than one way if I do mess it up! I think a trip to buy some paint is a little overdue I just love the greasy look to the rods you've achieved on the 09 Martin - perfect to try and aim for on my EWS livery gronk

Hi Martin, Stunning as usual! I'm watching closely as I've got a couple of gronks to do. For some reason I just don't seem to be able to get up the will to do them - I think it's the underframe weathering. I can cope with the fading ok, just, but there is something about that greasy look. Perhaps this is the kick up the backside to get at least one of them back in the paintshop, and hope the techniques scale well :-) jo

Nice variety of tractors there so far. Of course 37047 is unusual in that it's an ex split box rebuilt with centre code, looking rather strange with the horns above a centre code box! Here's a couple more for the collection, both standard centre box refurb ends, one with ETH, one without. There's also a bit of variation with the lamp irons too cheers jo

David, that looks great. It's really good to see some more pictures of the finished layout, and it sure does give you a nice scene for photographing new models. The 150 sure is a stunner, I've just taken delivery of a Reggie 150/2 and I'm wowed by the detail. Nice 92 btw, maybe one day for me... cheers jo