Downendian

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

A few snaps from me after a very enjoyable weekend playing on Phil’s monster train set. D1000 held at Norton junction signals on the 6M52 St Blazey-Stoke on Trent clayliner ^ phil’s late body style class 22 D6342 on a rake of Herrings paused in the up loop at Abbotswood junction hymek D7054 on a Worcester bound service leaves Norton junction GSYP peak on a Northbound service (sorry didn’t catch the headcode!) whilst a class 22 held in the down loop at Abbotswood souvenir ticket given to our younger visitors on the Abbotswood bridge the extensive fiddle yard- I’m pleased to say all went extremely well, save a few minor niggles, and given the huge complexity of the layout was very impressive. Phil, ably assisted by James have done a superb job, and it is very spectacular in the flesh - the photos don’t do it justice. Strangely I didn’t capture any of the many warship workings. I’m sure Phil will give corrections and identify the peak and class 22. I’m pleased to say my clayliner rake largely behaved itself only two wagons needed attention. As you can see Phil has still some scenic work to do but the terrain looks the business and the perfect easel to work with in the coming months. Neil

Smiths throughout Mike - the hooks are oversize but makes coupling up a lot more sane. A compromise I’m happy with. You’re right the Instanter stock pile has vanished and I’d bought a new stash from wizard models recently. However I used the coupling hooks supplied with the Chivers kits they’re rather nice. Layout this morning, after sorting out a short circuit a double slip at the start of the helix needs new servos fitting- probably the most inaccessible turnout on the whole layout. I’ve just sorted one of the two. Once that double slip is sorted access to the lower deck should be complete and trial runs will start in earnest. Neil

Well this weeks instalment - completed assembly of the Parkside rebodied 21T hoppers. A lot of work! Still more to be done - a £50 plus order of bespoke railtec transfers to add to this lot when they arrive, tweaking to handrails to get all as level as possible, another coat of white (currently added primer) to handrails, brake and hopper levers and finally weathering. Half this lot will get coal loads, half empties and weight to be added to the latter under the hopper. Half will be added to the eastbound STJ-Acton rake and half to the return empty working. The limited prototype photos I have of the real workings have a mix of both 21.5/24T minerals and 21T hoppers. Fitted instanters to 25 wagons yesterday - tedious but necessary. A triple pack of Accurascale MDOs have arrived yesterday to supplement the empties working. Now a few days on the layout - to get some errant point motors back on line so the new kit builds have space to live. Plus the 6M55 rake needs weathering and test running because our intention is to give it a run of Abbotswood 2’s first outing the weekend after next. Neil

Deposit paid. I can finally kiss goodbye to another project, Lima power cars with grafted Genesis HSTP ends. Hopefully matching dummy and mark 3s to follow, otherwise another long-term modelling project. A true icon, I well remember 252001 arriving on the WR, yours truly and my old friend Danny even featured on BBC points west when they filmed its arrival at Temple Meads as admiring trainspotters. Neil