dibateg

Thanks for your interest chaps:-

Martyn - that might be a good idea, I was considering Micro-sol to try and set it, so I will try a small sample section this morning, varnish might well be required. Thanks very much for the advice!

Hello Mike - I shall have to check progress on your 40! The Black 5 is a mates, and I have a David Andrews kit in the cupboard to build. So it is an interesting comparison ( see Charlie Kings DA 5 build in Dec BRM ) . The Chang 5 is very nice, for me ( and I'm picky ) there are a few minor detail compromises such as there is only the outer side of the valve guide and the motion lacks forked joints and other details, also I don't like visible cross head screws - but this is a ready to run model, so you have to be realistic about the commercial viability - it would probably cost twice as much as it does with what I would want on it! Having said that, from normal viewing distance it is a fine model and it would be difficult to resist one at a good price!Steve has already added some extra detailing to it.

Rob - the cast door stops I get from Westdale - you have to ask for them and they are a tad pricey! The brake standard comes with the Sidlines LMS inspection coach, it would be worth checking with Malcolm Binns if he would sell one seperately.

Regards

Tony

Thanks Martyn- yes I use Hallys cellolose filler.

I'm struggling with the Fox lining tho' the second layer of white/red is lifting the 1st layer grey... grrr. I'll have to try leaving it a bit longer.

Thanks JB - I too, am hoping that the paint will subdue the rivets!

More transfers, it's the first time I've used Cambridge Custom transfers for the container, they seem quite delicate, but go on well and look good. They are wetted on the model rather than soaked in a dish. Some weathering will tone them down.

In the background, I'm also lining Steve's San Cheng Black 5 with Fox lining, just the grey is done so far, which is a fiddle, but looks ok when complete. I must learn to use a bow pen!

The Ivatt is undercoated, but I'm not happy with the fire iron tunnel and a couple of other gaps, so a little remedial work is required before the top coat.

Hi Ian - possibly camera angle, they are 0.7mm heads, the heads are fully domed. I needed something there after seeing Dikitriki's Chinese RTR one, that has them in place, so they were fitted as an after thought! The fact that the DJH etched rivets are a little flat probably doesn't help. I think they do make smaller ones have a look on their site:- www.scalehardware.com.

Regards

Tony

Thanks for the pic Martyn - nicely dirty!

I seem to have been lining and numbering for days, but I'm getting there.

The Pressfix lines are not to bad when viewed side on, I line them up by looking along the coach. Just waiting for the numbers to come from Fox - its pretty well a next day service:-

Most of the wagons are done now, I just need to seal the transfers with some clear acrylic before they can be weathered.

They are Maroon Martyn - the lighting makes them look a lot lighter than they actually are. The paint is JLTRT Maroon sprayed over Halfords grey acrylic primer.

Cheers

Have a chat with Malcolm Binns when you buy the kits!

Hi Clemf - I'm pleased with them - they go together well, and I'd say that they are like a big 4mm Comet kit. The main things I've changed are to add cast door stops, and some extra details on the underframes - fuse and switch boxes. I've also bought the suspended gangway kits from Sidelines, extra expense, but that's my choice. The trickiest bit is forming the tumblehome.

Or is it the Heyside line?

And this is a more interesting pic than the LMS coach that has been here for years

Anyway - time to get back on line after hanging about for ages. Having been busy with house and work stuff. Now with a bit more time available, and after completing some Heyside homework, I have lots on the workbench at the moment.

The Sidelines LMS coaches are just in the processof being painted, now the underframe detailing and interiors are complete. I just used up 3 cans of Halfords paint in the workshop doing the underframes and bogies!I added the fusebox made from brass channel filed up and some brass wire poking out of the lower edge, and what appears to be some sort of switch box on the inner rail.

The interiors are pretty well complete.

So I've got these to line ( after getting the dust off!:-

And all these wagons to number and weather!

The Ivatt 2-6-0 is now complete, just needs painting, the final act was to add Scale Hardware rivets to the rather plain tender top. Preserved loco's seem to have welded tops to their tanks i.e no rivets!

Latest arrival is the Tower J39, a great model, which will receive a little tinkering before entering service.

So as you can see - lots on the go!