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toboldlygo

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Blog Entries posted by toboldlygo

  2. toboldlygo
    From previous blog entries, my fellow RMWebbers will know that I've been building a few van kits. Up first are my Parkside Dundas duo of PMV and Plywood sided CCT.
     

     
    This just need transfers and weathering to complete
     
    Up next is a fantastic, if slightly fiddly kit to build Ratio's SR 28 Ton Bogie B Passenger Van. This needs the glazing and roof fitted, along with Transfers and weathering.
     

     
    Also there has been a surprise arrival in the shape a Bachmann LN 30850 Lord Nelson. Runs beautifully. I've drilled the chimney out and it is currently in the paintshop being weathered... I'll post pics when it is complete.
  3. toboldlygo

    A Bulleid Named...

    By toboldlygo,

    With some help from my fellow RMWebbers a name has finally been decided on for Bionic Bulleid 3. Though not the clear winner in number of times it was suggested, I liked the sound of it (besides they will all get done eventually ) and that's what matters.
     
    Drum Roll Please....
     
    ....Bionic Bulleid 3 is going to be...
     
     
     
     
     
    34014 Budleigh Salterton
  4. toboldlygo

    A Bulleid Conundrum

    By toboldlygo,

    Ok folks, sorry for the lack of updates, but have been busy with modelling and returning to work after a long layoff.
     
    As I have said a few times (not in these exact words though ), there is no such thing as a dead Bulleid.. Yes I'm talking Appledore 1.0 here, last seen festering on my layout in scrap condition. The loco body is completely U/S, but the rest is ok (tender top needs repairing though). So I'm talking about another Bionic Bulleid, I have the parts (another shop soiled rebuilt and the technology to rebuild...
     
    All I need to do is decide on an identity for Bionic Bulleid No. 3 (the others being Wadebridge II and SR Fighter Pilot) and that's where my good friends on RMWEB come in. I want to do one that I haven't done. So I've made a list and with your help, be able to whittle the list down to a shortlist of 3 or 4...
     
    With a 5,500gl Tender
     
    34004 Yeovil
    34005 Barnstaple
    34012 Launceston
    34013 Okehampton
    34014 Budleigh Salterton
    34017 Ilfracombe
    34021 Dartmoor
    34022 Exmoor
    34042 Dorchester
    34044 Woolacoombe
    34047 Callington
    34095 Brentnor
    34097 Holsworthy
    34101 Hartland
     
    With a 4,500gl Tender
     
    34009 Lyme Regis
    34032 Camelford
    34096 Trevone
    34108 Wincanton
     
    Oh well back to the model kits...
  5. toboldlygo
    Another week flies by and another dirty Bulleid rolls off the production line. In this case 34093 Saunton
     

     
    Also another kit build is nearly finished, in this case a Parkside Dundas SR Plywood sided CCT van will post some photos once it is finally assembled. Had a slight problem with the floor being twisted, but have sorted it out, using a bit of creative thinking
     
    Shock of shocks though I've ordered another kit to build....
  6. toboldlygo

    34100 Appledore

    By toboldlygo,

    After the tragedy of losing Appledore off the paint stand, she's well and truly risen from the ashes. Here in all her grubby glory, may I present 34100 Appledore 2.0
     

     

  7. toboldlygo
    As sneak peaked in the last part of my Shack build, the mighty Sea Vixen was my next build from Airfix.
     
    I have history with the real Sea Vixen, I worked on one during my time at Dunsfold - speaking of which here she is..
     

     
    The kit itself is very well molded, the fit is very good - though there's been a few issues, more on those later in the blog entry..
     

     
    Cockpit assembly, I replaced the ejector seat loops.
     

     

     

     

     
    Cockpit fully painted
     

     
    Fuselage buttoned up
     

     

     
    Flaps on the the underside need some fettling (and will need some filling later)
     

     
    Over 40 grams of ballast have been added forward of the nose wheel
     

     
    Alas more railway commissions beckon, so that's it for now..
     
    TBG
  8. toboldlygo
    After nearly four months off the workbench, due to Railway Commissions - the Shack is back to be finished.
     
    To be honest there wasn't a much to do - main undercarriage, wheels, props, a few aerials/pitot tubes, some painting and an awful lot of transfers!
     
    Prop assembly - 3 parts to each prop, 8 props and once painted 9 decals per prop!
     

     
    Painting the main under carriage wheel bays - while I was doing this, the wheels & undercarriage struts & doors where in paint.
     

     
    Adding the transfers - there's a lot!
     

     
    Once the wings where decaled up underneath, I fitted the undercarriage. Props test fitted at this point and rear props had the shaft hole opened up to ensure they rotate (no innuendo please)!
     

     

     

     
    Both wings done and glued on.
     

     

     
    72 decals later the props where added.
     

     
    Finished Shackleton and a cameo...
     

     

     

     

     

     
    And a Christmas treat - The Three Wise Avro's..
     

     

     
    Till next time
     
    TBG
  9. toboldlygo
    A slightly different format for this blog entry, I've decided to group several builds together - as they were quite simple builds.
     
    Higgins LCVP
     
    The Higgins is quite a new tooling and went together very quickly - however progress was slowed somewhat due to the large amount of Loco/Rolling Stock Commissions I have..
     

     

     

     
    It took just over a month to get back to work on her, painting didn't take too long - even with the camouflage scheme..
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    LCM Mk.III & Sherman
     
    Both kits in the box are quite old toolings, however once all the flashing is clean up they went together very well - though some filling was required.
     
    I started off with the Sherman - a Tank kit is a first for me.
     
    Lots of little sub-assemblies for the wheels, it went together quickly the only issue was welding the tracks together!
     

     

     

     
    The LCM needed quite a lot of fettling, but went together quite quickly and the paint scheme was straight forward.
     

     

     

     

     
    With both the LCM & Sherman painted it was time to add the transfers
     

     

     
    The completed Sherman
     

     

     

     

     

     
    The completed LCM & Sherman & a guest - plus a cameo..
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Till next time TBG
  10. toboldlygo
    I promised the Shack would return in 2018 and she has albeit as a different version - the AEW.2.
     
    The build so far, is pretty much the same as the MR.2 version I built last year and so far easier the second time around (I guess).
     
    The photo's are pretty self explainatory, so I won't go into to much detail - unless I have to.
     
    Basic cockpit assembled
     

     
    Using the fuselage halves as a jig to ensure fit and alignment
     

     
    Seats painted & fitted, along with the base of the main console assembly.
     

     
    Console assembly painted & installed along with the various partitions (frames) - I used the fuselage to ensure everything was in the right place.
     

     
    Next three photo's show the painting and assembly process, prior to close up*
     

     

     

     
    *However I managed to hit a snag, the seat base for the front observer/ bomb aimer went missing - so I had scratch build a new one.
     

     
    That's all for now
     
    TBG
  11. toboldlygo
    After a brief interlude (okay a month), due to GWR Loco's - I finally resumed work on the Bf 109...
     

    Before I masked up the underside, I painted the wheel wells and radiators.
     


     

    I masked up the underside and parts of the cockpit canopy - which had I pre-painted prior to fitting and masking up (next three photo's show that sequence)
     


     

     

     

    Once the topside of the fuselage had been given a few coats of BS Dark Earth and allowed to dry. I used the blu-tak & masking tape (or MORPH) method to layout the camouflage.
     


     

    Once painted the masking was removed and too my surprise it had worked very well, with only a small amount of touching up needed.
     


     

    Touching up done and the guns & exhausts added.
     


     

    Today I busied myself painting and assembling the undercarriage, along with a few more parts. However to my dismay I discovered a short on the sprue and a missing part, so I've got to scratch build a Pitot tube assembly.
     


     


     

    That's all for now
     
    TBG
  13. toboldlygo
    A slight case of deja vu here, the first Airfix kit I built on returning to Aircraft modelling was the 1/72nd Scale Boulton Paul Defiant NF.I, a few months ago Airfix released the 1/48th Scale Version of the NF.I and it was to tempting to resist...
     
    It's a very straight-forward build, though I chose to use the Eduard Zoom Photo-etched cockpit and masking set as well.
     


     

     

     

     

     

    A successful use of the masking set on the turret.
     

     

     

    A trial fit of the turret after painting
     

     

     
    Masking up all done and ready for some paint
     

     
    Back in black and final assembly in progress..
     

     

     

     

     
    Ready for transfers..
     

     
    Transfers done - I chose to do the 264 Squadron version.
     

     
    (Spoilers of the next big build in the above photo)
     

     

     

     

     
    Two Defiant's, two different scales...
     

     

     
    Until the next Big Build
     
    TBG
  14. toboldlygo
    ... Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water
     
    Another update on the Shack..
     
    The devil is in the details, Eduard's etched enhancements are everywhere on this build (see if you can spot them):
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Wings temporarily fitted
     

     

    Details added to bomb-bay doors and tail wheel doors
     

     

    Glazing fitted to the wing spotlights
     

     

    Main Cockpit canopy glazing fitted.
     

     

     

    First major external components fresh from the paint shop
     

     

    Fuselage ready for paint
     

  15. toboldlygo
    In between Loco Commissions, I started on another plane - the Avro Shackleton MR.2 by Airfix. I'm doing the 'A' Version which flew with 224 Squadron out of Gibraltar - ironically 224 Squadron was my Grandfather's Squadron during WW2.
     
    The interior - with the Eduard Photo-Etch parts (some of them anyway)
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Buttoning up the fuselage and adding more bits...
     

     

     

     

     

     

    To be continued TBG...
  17. toboldlygo
    Well it's finally time for an update, well it has been over 6 months lol
     
    I've been so busy with Loco's going across my workbench that it's been difficult to keep track.
     
    As it stands today the tally for West Country's/Battle of Britain's stands at 105 of the 110 strong class covered by me... so far. With 3 more donor's awaiting their turn on the workbench - 34086 219 Squadron (Last Air smoothed), 34032 Camelford (1st Sound Fitted and penultimate 4,500gl tender Rebuilt) and 1 other which identity remains undecided. I just need donors for the other 2 now.
     
    From January 2013 to today, the loco tally is pretty scary...
     
    Southern Region: 8 x WC/BoB's, 3 x Merchant Navy's, 3 x King Arthur's, 1 of each Q1, M7, N, Standard Arthur, Schools
     
    Western Region: 1 of each 28xx, 57xx, 45 xx
     
    Midland Region: 2 x G2a, 1 x Patriot
     
    Eastern Region: 1 of each B1, O4, L1, D11
     
    That includes these two that are currently on my workbench (plus a glimpse at one that is to come..) :
     
    King Arthur (N15) Class 30781 Sir Aglovale (a Sir Lamiel used as donor)
     

     
    D11 Class 62663 Prince Albert (with a B17 lurking behind)
     

     
    30781 is just waiting to be masked up ready for weathering and 62663 has just had most of the detailing parts added. As I have found with virtually every Bachmann Loco I've worked on, it will need to be degreased thoroughly before I go anywhere near it with a airbrush, as the lubricant they use just seems to spread everywhere... grrr!!!
     
    Along with the two mentioned above, there are 16 more Loco's that are on the books with more to come...
     
    Just for a treat here's one I weathered earlier
     

     
    Till next time
     
    James (toboldlygo)
  18. toboldlygo
    Equals another milestone - the last Air Smoothed West Country 34094 Morthoe!
     
    Take one donor, in this case a R2282 'Weymouth' and swap the 5,500gl tender for a 4,500gl one.
     

     
    Remove all traces of it identity, carry out repairs (fill holes where crests were), fit details and renumber and fit new nameplates etc.
     

     
    I've also included a close up of the front end work - replacing a lamp bracket that snapped off, adding RT Models drain cocks and removing the fairings in front the cylinders.
     

     
    Masked up and get out the airbrush and add that dirt.
     

     
    Then I hand finished the weathering, sealed with several coats of Matt varnish, before adding the final details and the job is done.
     

     
    6 left now, but up next is something smaller
     
    That's all for now TBG
  19. toboldlygo
    It's been a fair while since I last did a Standard Arthur, makes a change from the usual Bulleids etc.
     
    I'd had the donor for sometime, plus I'd also acquired Irwells: The Book of Standard Class 5... While reading the book and comparing it to Bachmann's model of the Standard 5, I noticed there was a few things missing to make it a true Standard Arthur - namely lamp brackets and few minor improvements to make.
     
    After discovering that the smoke box door popped out easily (only lightly glued in fortunately). I removed virtually all the detail from the door, including the part moulded smoke-box dart, the top lamp bracket (way to chunky), the hand rail (which was damaged) and the moulded on shed plate. After a fair amount of fiddling and fettling (not to mention crawling round on the floor once they'd gone ping!!) I had fabricated new lamp brackets for the door (and two for the tender) and then fitted all the new bits to the door, along with the etched number and shed-code plates and ended up with it looking like this:
     

     
    Next up I turned my attention to the rest of the loco, first up I added the additional lamp brackets to the tender and fabricated a fire Iron tunnel for the bunker - as Bachmann have the hole in the tender for it, but have not modeled it. Then I had the fun task of removing the front NEM pocket which is an absolute pain in the backside to do as it requires a near full strip down of the chassis to remove it!!! After this, removing the cabside numbers was simple!!! 73117 Vivien seen here with name plates attached and cab-sides varnished with gloss for numbering.
     

     
    Numbers and water treatment symbols were added, before the whole thing was made ready for the paint shop.
     

     
    Next was a trip to the paint shop, I always start at the bottom of the loco and work my way up so on go the lighter weathering colours first and then the darker. I also run the loco in-between coats to ensure the wheels aren't patchy. Once back from the paint shop I remove the masking from the cab and the front end before getting on with the hand weathering.
     

     
    Once the hand weathering is done, I return the loco to to the paint shop to seal all the weathering in place with a few coats of Matt varnish. After it's dried I added the oil and grease deposits and the final detailing is done:
     

     
    That's another loco done, next up is the final Air Smoothed West Country...
     
    Till next time TBG
  20. toboldlygo

    100 not out....

    By toboldlygo,

    Finally my 100th West Country/Battle of Britain arrives on the workbench
     

     
    A not quite finished 34021 Dartmoor (well the front half) sits next to donor for her yet unnamed and numbered sister loco - 34009 Lyme Regis!
     
    At this point in time I haven't started applying transfers or numbers as other loco's needed to be finished. Dartmoor was finished today and my first B1 61313
    is now close to completion.
     

     

     
    Till next time
     
    TBG
  21. toboldlygo
    It's been a long time since I've written a blog entry, health issues amongst the reasons I haven't posted much - thankfully it looks like I'm on the mend.
     
    A lot of locos have passed across my workbench this year, for those keeping tally:
     
    12 West Country's/Battle of Britain's;
     
    Here's the 12th (number 99) awaiting masking and it's visit to the paint-shop 34021 Dartmoor
     

     
    5 Q1's
     
    2 M7's
     
    2 T9's
     
    2 School's
     
    2 Granges
     
    An A4
     
    1 28xx (though this ones, not finished as it not on the production slate for some time)
     
    1 N15 (That surprised me, I thought I'd done more of them than that)
     
    1 Merchant Navy
     
    And finally a B1;
     
    This is one of 2 Bargain B1's I picked up from Rails, I had to swap smokebox doors to create the correct one - 61313:
     

     
    Since I took this picture, she gained numbers, crests and Shed code plate (41D), though she ended up on Southern Rails for a time
     
    (Tender and Engine are separate at the moment, hence it looks odd in the picture)
     
    There's a whole load more on the slate too:
     
    The 28xx I mention above
     
    8 more WC/BoB's (Number 13 will be started in a week or so all being well, that will be number 100 for those keeping count) - 2 are return to works.
     
    2 N15's (including a mismatch tender )
     
    Another Q1, plus a N class, another B1, a 57xx and a Standard Arthur - haven't done one of them in a long time.
     
    There'll be more I know.
     
    That's all for now
     
    TBG
  23. toboldlygo
    February and March have flown by and there's me too busy to post and update.
     
    Well here goes, my Bulleid plans have been tweaked and several other locos have been slotted into the mix.
     
    T9 30718 was in works and was subsequently completed:
     

     
    These locos have been completed:
     
    Q1 33034, I really love weathering these. This is the 6th Q1 I've renumbered so far, it's also the first loco I've used etched route indicator discs on.
     
    An 'Inworks' picture taken prior to weathering
     

     

     
    M7 30053, 2nd M7 I've done, this one had to be recrested back from a late to an early crest, again I've detailed up the top of the water tank with the fireman's tools (Hornby ones painted )
     

     
    BoB 34084 253 Squadron, 93rd Bulleid light pacific I've done not including repeats . It caused a bit of head during the research during the quest for crests, as it appeared to have run briefly in 1959 with a 4,500gl unmodified tender with a late crest, before having it's 5,500gl one back with it's Early Crest!
     

     
    WC 34108 Wincanton, 94th Bulleid etc. This one caused a bit of confusion as according to Irwell Presses 'The Book of West Country and Battle of Britain Class Pacific's' she was rebuilt with a 4,500gl tender and then had it swapped for a 5,500 gl tender in 1964 end of story you'd think. However when I was looking for photos, she's clearly seen on the end of steam specials in 1967 with a 4,500gl tender again - bangs head against brick wall lol I still modelled with the 5,500gl one as I had photo's of her with it phew
     
    An 'Inworks' picture taken prior to weathering
     

     

     
    There would have been a couple more but things got slowed down by the renovation of my Pond
     

     
    Up next to the workbench is another Q1 33033, then WC 34106 Lydford and MN 35013 Blue Funnel.
     
    That's all for now TBG
  24. toboldlygo
    A brief update first A4 60001 Sir Ronald Matthews is nearly completed, just coaling and oil required, here's a quick snap I took prior to the hand weathering being done and the head lamps being fitted.
     

     
    T9 30718 is progressing smoothly, though she is just a rework thankfully.
     
    On to the subject at hand Bulleid Light Pacific's, I suddenly had a brainwave - I've got a number of perfectly good donors up in the loft doing nothing so why not re-purpose them It's going to be 2009 again for those of you who remember my Bulleid exploits from then So once Q1 33034 and M7 30053 are completed, it's going to be the rest of the year on Bulleids. Here's which ones are going to be coming:

    34084 253 Squadron (605 Squadron as donor - though I'll probably use 222 Squadron's tender top as she'll be modelled as prior to Hither Green 02/1960 and she had a late crest on her tender.
    34096 Trevone (Westward Ho as donor)
    34097 Holsworthy (Yes Tor as donor)
    34108 Wincanton (Sir Trafford Leigh Mallory as donor, tender top will be swapped with Lydford donor's one)
    34106 Lydford (Weymouth as donor, tender swap with above)
    34005 Barnstaple (Plymouth as donor)
    34009 Lyme Regis (Sir Fredrick Pile as donor)
    34032 Camelford (213 Squadron as donor)
    34042 Dorchester (17 Squadron as donor)
    34044 Woolacombe (Ottery St Mary as donor)
    34047 Callington (Sir Keith Park as donor)
    34079 141 Squadron (222 Squadron as donor, spare 4,500gl cut-down tender top will be used and re line cab)

    Should keep me busy
     
    That's all for now TBG
  25. toboldlygo
    A busy month as usual, lots of cursing and swearing with nameplates etc, but I've got there lol!
     
    First up the completed victims - sorry loco's in their various states of dirtiness
     
    First up is Q1 33035 now complete, done and very dirty:
     

     
    Next is a very lightly weathered 34057 Biggin Hill on an Early Crest and unmodified tender:
     

     
    Finally for the completed loco's is Grange Class 6800 Arlington Grange looking remarkably clean compared to her sister loco 6870 Bodicote Grange (see previous blog entry):
     

     
    In the paintshop currently is my first renumbered/named A4 Class - 60001 Sir Ronald Matthews on an Early Crest, single chimney, 52A (Gateshead) shed-code. I've fitted her with a decoder and yes she's going to be very dirty! Here's a quick snap of her in between second and third coats of dirt.....
     

     
    Prepped for a return trip to the paintshop once the A4 is done is T9 Class 30718 and after that will be another Q1 which will be 33034 on an Early Crest.....
     
    That's all for now TBG
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