Downendian

Indeed Phil, some routine maintenance on the 6M55/52 rake over the next week. Very much looking forward to the Redditch show. Neil

This months progress. Hugely time consuming task of getting the 21T hopper Tytherington fleet together. All handrails added (the toughest part of these Parkside kits). Decals now beginning to be added and some preliminary weathering, plus liquid lead added to the underside of the hopper, plus instanters. These will be running as a fitted head with a mix of ex LNER 1/100 and BR 1/146 diag in both bauxite and grey livery. Both original and rebodied wagons are to be in the rake. Stone decals applied to the first few- I’ve no way of matching original running numbers as photos just aren’t there- however I’ve done my best to match livery/rebody to prototypical wagons. A rake of 14 wagons so far aiming for 20 or so plus a pair of brake vans either end. Neil

Well I’ve not posted for a while but now the garden workshop is complete (lighting rig installed yesterday) and nice and warm (courtesy of a Mr Dyson product- excellent!) I’ve spent more time in my cabin of tranquility. Four broad projects - 1. MSOs :although out of my 1973/4 time frame I do remember these in the late 1970s (they were 1977 rebodies of clapped out 21T minfits). Four more added to the rake now making a total of 15, probably to be headed by six Accurascale MSVs. A very easy Parkside kit to put together. Awaiting railtec transfers 2. Four SPVs to add to the Manchester-Bristol 4V20 rake; which will be a motley collection of four wheel parcels vans- hauled by a CD based type 2. My excuse to include 24s which were sporadic visitors to Bristol before their demise from 1975. All midland based according to my RCTS 1976 coaching stock book, transfers will be from Railtec and have already applied some from Fox. 3. HOP21 and HOP21VB From the venerable but fiddly Parkside versions. Five1/146 and one LNER design 1/100.Two more kits won on eBay last night. I remember these both rebodied and these unmodified versions in stone trains (branded STONE) from Tytherington quarry before the MSVs and PGAs took over the flows. Getting images of these trains has proved challenging, and certainly I won’t be able to get wagon numbers right for these rakes. They will be a mix of unfitted (both bauxite and grey) and fitted (bauxite) hoppers. I’d converted one Parkside 1/146 to Vac brakes by adding a spare catfish vac cylinder, brake pipes and replaced the bulky end supports with six pieces of microstrip. Handrails to add, and again railtec transfers to be applied followed by copious weathering. A lot of rebodied hoppers appeared in this rake so I’ll be looking to build these in the next few weeks. As always David Larkin books and Paul Bartlett’s zenfolio site have been essential in building these. i think I’ve eventually got the hang of these hopper kits. The most critical stages are getting the hopper body free of gaps- the end supports need filing to 45 degrees to facilitate this, plus getting the hopper bottom right so it doesn’t snag the wheelsets. EM-gaugers have of course much more room to play with but as I model the narrow gauge clearances are very tight and needs fettling to get the wagon to run sweetly. Class 205 3H centre car glazing units reinstalled yesterday and a test fit of body to chassis this morning, roof re sanded and fits to body OK and ready for the paint shops. I’m pretty certain that all three cars will need their roofs resprayed to get uniformity in the unit.. Some fettling is needed as the surgery used to create the centre car body has resulted in it being slightly shorter (less than a mm out) but it will fit. I’m awaiting replica seating units and end pipe work then I can put the 3H together finally, and test run . Hopefully I’ll given fuller details when this project is complete. Finally merry Christmas and happy new year. I hope 2024 will finally get these rakes running and I can focus on getting some diesels detailed to do the new wagon rakes justice. Neil

You’re absolutely right bigherb, I’ve several Bachmann 40s all green/blue with full yellow ends, and the nose join is barely perceptible. Images of green small panel and no panel 37s show an unsightly nose joint, something I’ve not noticed before. Neil

Indeed - exactly what I have done see earlier this thread.

If the Heljan peaks had removable noses like the newer Bachmann 37s and 40s, could be an easy job to create 9/44009 post replacement nose. I have one Heljan peak (D15) haven’t checked but I assume not, otherwise it would have been mentioned previously. edit: lighting arrangements aside Neil

Well I may go for 44010 Tryfan - nice to see the heavy grilles being modelled. I’d also like to see 44009 with its replacement centre headcode box at some point, I’d bet on many 1970s era modellers bucket list to do. I’ve built one, using Pete Harvey etches for the grilles and Bachmann 46 replacement cabs. However, schoolboy error in that I omitted to include the body framing behind the grilles which definitely needs redoing now. Heljan could have saved me that job, but plod on with it eventually I will. 44s were real highlights of the day when you saw them- especially “out in the wild”, my first one was 44005 at Washwood heath on my first trip to York, plus others seen at Burton on Trent, Peterborough and March in the late 70s. Most of course were stabled at Toton over the weekend. Somehow 44001 eluded me though. Neil

Mine are strictly Westerns with the occasional class 46 or 47, although pics have emerged of class 45 workings in this period, I’ve got a stash of Dapol 1/032 bodies which are overheight. With suitable cutting down and under sheets they’ll be put on Parkside under frames to add more variety to the Northbound rake. Neil

Update : workshop progress. Awaiting wiring and lighting (early December install), but the first five kits to emerge from my new workshop are underway four Parkside 21T 1977 rebodied minerals and one Parkside SPV to replace the errant Hornby versions. The 4x3M building currently surrounded by leaves from our large but beautiful acer. the workbench (ikea) with five wagons undergoing construction the storage units - liberating valuable space from the layout room - about 8 large plastic boxes worth. I’ll eventually compose an excel spreadsheet so I won’t need to keep opening- again from ikea. I might well order another as now these two are full. the railway library - in process of moving all my railway related books out here - much easier to find now! About 80% of my collection some still to be moved from various household bookshelves. it’s lovely in here down the bottom of my garden, full internet coverage, but at the moment work is restricted to daylight hours coupled with a portable heater and my smart speaker. Neil

All my loco renumbering nowadays are from railtec. E.g https://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=3186 for £2 a complete number set, and complete removal of the factory applied number is always done. Applied with decalfix or similar it’s very difficult to see any film, but of course will vanish under a good coat of varnish. Neil

Not got to the lights yet- bodywork first. I’ve had to fill a few light pips and will need patch painting when I get around to it.I have a spare chassis so may have the necessary LEDs for a headcode illumination but of course will need moving as the boxes are mounted higher. Neil

The D600 boxes are exactly the same size as those used for the early D6300 conversions. https://www.kernowmodelrailcentre.com/p/77703/K2600-84G-D600-Class-41-Warship-Diesel-headcode-box-surround They’re £9.99 a set. Only issue with them is the headcode numerals need removing with T-cut and patience. They fit perfectly to disc headcode class 22 shells. I used precision labels headcodes. Neil

Indeed as Phil has mentioned, my progress on D6324 with the aforementioned D600 headcode boxes obtained from Kernow. We’ve had a few exchanges over the pig-ugly headcode boxes. project stalled at the moment due to considerable house remodelling - new workshop located into a garden room. Neil

I feel the same regarding the early casualties - specially as I had started spotting in 1972/3 and lost the numbers before buying my first combine. I’d probably seen most of them plus a few extra Hymeks and maybe even Warships. My true records began in July 1974 and I copped D1066 at Winterbourne on 25 July, seen her again at Paddington working on 26 October, and then defunct at Swindon works on 26/1/75. I’m grateful for those 1974 memories however, several I saw only a handful of times whilst in service, including D1061, copped a day or two before withdrawal. Neil

Three Bachmann mark 1s in SR green for £26, 3/4 of the way there for my class 123. Overlays and repainting anyway so was delighted to pick them up, bargains can still be had. Neil

I’ve just received this book (volume 5), and spent a good hour perusing it. Fantastic level of detail, and although some of the material is already in David’s previous books, this a hugely useful resource for those modelling the early BR period as much more detail in included. I count myself in that bracket (1970s) and it’s quite remarkable how many ex-big four vehicles lasted until the 70s and 80s. I just wish it were available before I embarked on building my clayliner and ballast wagon fleet- there are superb photos useful for modelling purposes which I would have shamelessly copied. I’m sure I’ll get round to purchasing all of this series, I already own volume 2. Neil

I’ve converted my rake of Lima PGAs to run on standard Bachmann/Hornby wagon wheels. After cutting back the inside of the axle boxes with a Xuron and filing flush I used this reamer https://www.dccconcepts.com/product/bearing-reamers-set-of-two/ most run extremely well, but a few need converting to brass bearings as the wheels keep falling out. However as Halvarras has said, wheel prices have recently significantly increased. I was lucky to have a large stockpile. Markits do the Lima wheels as well, but they may be the same ones as Peters Spares. Lima wagons can be pretty good, the PGAs are a hybrid of two early diagrams and with a clean up and improved running they look good behind a Western -how I remembered them. Neil

With no railway modelling taking place since August, I have been busy. I’ve built a garden room from a Dunster house kit approx 4M x3M where all my future rolling stock detailing will take place. it’s been a long gestation- I had to create a recess in a garden wall shifting several tons of soil, new patio, shifting several tons of MOT 1. Then this, SWA cable laid already inside the cabin from under the patio, fascia boards, rear guttering, flooring, painting and finishing including the all important wiring still to do. Simultaneously a new kitchen diner has appeared, both projects causing considerable household disruption. A few mistakes in the build (hindsight a wonderful thing) but very pleasing to see this appear at the bottom of our garden. I’ll be able to declutter the model room considerably when the workbench is transferred here. Neil

Parkside kits now on hold - the venerable 16 tonner is an excellent choice, I’ll certainly be buying a few packs. I hadn’t attacked my kit pile of 1/108s yet, glad I didn’t, fortunately I don’t have that many. Reference to the excellent Larkin books shows the huge variety in this staple of BR rolling stock. Accurascale still continue to grab the hobby by the scruff of the neck and drag it in the right direction. I’m guessing the 21T hoppers won’t be far along the line either. Neil

And in the early 1980s (which I missed railway wise as was living in the USA) the 3S15 Bristol-Glasgow parcels was rerouted along the Marches line and was diagrammed for a class 40. There are plenty of photos of this working on Flickr at Bristol Temple Meads.

Yet more fun with the excellent Merlin app. Fished all day Monday and identified the usual suspects plus this gem - a Redstart. Since the age of 7-8 when I was bought my first Observers book of birds I always wanted to see one- never have until today. Merlin identified one calling in an Oak tree directly above me, alas unable to view the bird properly but I did catch a brief glimpse of it flitting between branches. I’ll be on the look out next week for it for sure.

No action for the past few weeks, as my dining room workbench has been suspended! We are having a major house overhaul, walls removed, extended dining room, new kitchen etc etc. A garden room has also been ordered which I’ve been allowed to develop as a workshop, at least part of it. With steels going in under the model room and kango hammers thumping away I’ve kept out of there for the time being. However I’ve progressed the 3H centre car, splicing two 2-EPB bodies together which I’m rather pleased with. Most parts for the project can be obtained from Bachmann spares (4-BEP chassis with two couplers, lighting PCB and main PCB, bogies, and seating) cost a fair bit but so be it. Photos to follow, but house slightly chaotic at the moment. A second replica Western name/number plate has been bought to keep D1001 Western Pathfinder company. D1012 Western Firebrand, so quite a lot to keep me busy in the next few months. I can thoroughly recommend the laser cut timber tracks nameplates - easy to put together and look the part. Only problem is which loco to choose. Neil

Markits do Oleo buffers which I’ve used on my Lima 47 builds. https://www.hamodels.net/romford-oleo-buffers-black.html they certainly are a big improvement on the Lima offerings but are not sprung. edit - I’ve used the Bachmann spares class 47 tanks too, another big improvement Neil

I forgot to post after the GWSR diesel gala three weekends ago. I helped out on @Phil Bullock excellent Abbotswood 2 layout which got its first outing at Winchcombe station. I also took the opportunity of running the loaded clayliner rake using Phil’s model of D1000 which was running the correct headcode for the time period 6M52. Thoroughly enjoyable weekend, and as ever learnt a lot from Phil’s operations and dedication to the hobby - his signals are a work of art. The clayliner rake largely behaved itself with just four cripples out of a rake of 21 wagons. One had a coupling hook missing, one pulled out in action, one needed back to backs adjusting. Another wagon had lost its whole bufferbeam somehow. All have been remedied. I took full responsibility for coupling up the instanters. lovely to play trains on an enormous train set and to see the glory years of my youth pass through with classes 20, 24, 25, 37, 45 and 47 all in operation plus their two car class 117. D1000 held at signals at Norton junction with the northbound 6M52 St Blazey-Stoke clayliner. Brake vans were used as “adapter” wagons. One wagon will gain tension locks for Abbotswood outings. classic BR diesel traction in action at Winchcombe ±

Progress over the last couple of weeks. I’ve managed to get the point motors working on a key double slip and the throat of the fiddle yard under my layout, so hopefully trains can now run up the helix OK. The 21T hopper builds have progressed to having decals (the always excellent railtec transfers, using the bespoke TOPS panels but using HOP21 and HOP21VB pre-TOPs lettering) added and coal loads to six. Some light weathering to these wagons to reflect that in 1972-6 they would have been only a few years out of the wagon shops. Paul Bartlett’s photos show some ex-works at Swindon in 1975. These six will form part of the East Usk-Acton/Temple Mills trains. the other 6 have seen slightly more weathering as they will be running as empties, weight added beneath the hopper. As a part of my “whole train” approach, I have in my collection this wonderful image of D1036 in Sonning cutting in 1976. Although rather fuzzy it primed my memories of seeing brake tenders in these Severn Tunnel bound/origin freights, and noting at the time that strange ancient angular tenders were sometimes seen. Of course with my then complete ignorance, I didn’t realise that these vehicles were Stratford built dia 1/558, of which there were only 6 built. I just had to recreate this photo. so here’s my go at the 1/558 brake tender. Based loosely on Tim Shackleton’s excellent project described here https://www.keymodelworld.com/article/mixed-media-modelling-diesel-brake-tenders the body was obtained from eBay for £12, it probably should have been sent back for a replacement as it had a few scars, which I hoped to mask with weathering. I replaced the end stanchions with cut down mini staples as the 3D print didn’t bring these out very well, and mounted the bogies (I used comet heavy duty 9’ Gresleys) using the conventional nut and bolt method with washers to be able to adjust the ride height. However there is a slight overhang of the bogie at both ends, I think they should be 8’6” bogies but none are available in kit form - did they ever exist!? A schoolboy error needs correcting (brake handle at wrong end on one side) plus vac pipes need adding, plus bogie weathering but a nice little project that took just a few days. I’ve started the 3H centre car in the last few days- removed glazing from the donor bodies and summonsing up the courage to cut them very very carefully to sure minimum filling is required and the new centre coach is the correct length. Awaiting some bits from Bachmann spares and will proceed with that project- one not to be rushed. Neil