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toboldlygo

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Blog Entries posted by toboldlygo

  1. toboldlygo
    It's finished at last!!!
     
    Well the 5,250gl tender destined for for Matt's (Bluebell Railway's) OO version of 34059 Sir Archibald Sinclair is at least. After a slight technical issue, Vallejo's Satin Varnish is glossy compared to Railmatch's. After giving the sides a light rub down with 1200 grit wet and dry, I've oversprayed with Railmatch Satin Varnish. Still after that I've ordered some Vallejo Matt Varnish as I have an interesting idea....
     
    Here is the aforementioned 5,250gl tender in all it's glory basking in the sunshine...
     

     

     
    Also basking in the sunshine, before she goes back into the paintshop to have her final coats of varnish and to be coaled up, is rebuilt West Country 34001 Exeter
     

     

  2. toboldlygo
    Everyone has that one kit that thwarts them - Matchbox's Fairey Seafox was mine.
     
    Previous attempts 30 odd years ago ended in failure, but not this time..
     
    The Kit, not much to it, but aftermarket decals were required..
     

     

     

     
     
    The build, straightforward - but I replaced a couple of parts with copper wire, to add strength.
     

     

     
    Airbrushed some silver, where it would be difficult to do once construction was complete.
     

     
     

     
    Getting into uncharted territory here..
     

     

     
    Boldly going where I've never gone before..
     

     

     
    Time for paint and decals and weathering..
     

     

     

     

     
    Final bits added
     

     

     
    Time for her debut..
     

     

     

     

     

     
    And the cameo..
     

     
    That's all for now
     
    TBG
     
    James
  3. 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.
  4. toboldlygo
    ... mad that is
     
    My workbench has been a flurry of activity, lots of locos have passed over it in the last month.
     
    First up here's another shot of Schools 30920 Rugby, basking in the sun:
     

     
    Then there's T9 30117:
     

     
    Next a reworked WC 34023 Blackmore Vale, complete with 71A (Eastleigh) shedcode, grime and coal:
     

     
    And finally my first tank engine renumbering M7 30049:
     

     
    All of which will be finding themselves on a certain auction site over the coming months
     
    But, I'm not finished there, there's another Bullied on my workbench. Another 'Wilton' donor which is currently stripped of all it's identity and waiting it's new one - 34019 Bideford (I've already got a Bideford, however not renumbered by my hands ), it had a mechanical gremlin which I've sorted out, now just got to retest and then I can get on with the renumbering etc.
     
    And before I forget LMS Twin 10000's derailing issue was sorted, purely by dismantling the bogies and opening up the holes where the wheels go into the frames
     
    That's all for now TBG
  5. toboldlygo
    Once upon at time there was a Castle Class on a Layout thread, far, far, away - ANTB (A Nod to Brent to be precise)
     
    An evil and cruel Weathering and renumbering outfit tried to turn her to the Darkside (well stripey brown if I'm totally honest)
     
    Her owner sent out a distress call to the Malachite Green & Sunshine Yellow Hospital for Sick Bulleids, in the hope that she could be saved from the Darkside...
     
    .. this is 5071 Spitfire's story of redemption and resurrection...
     
    A before picture courtesy of gwrrob.
     

     
    On receipt Spitfire was in need of intensive care and needed a clean to remove the weathering.
     

     
    Unfortunately the Darkside had not followed the owners instructions or used the Jackson Evans plates he'd supplied and used poorly printed tampo ones instead.
     

     
    Once as much of the weathering that could be removed was, I repaired and re-assembled Spitfire and re-applied the G cofa W to both sides of the tender.
     

     

     

     
    Unfortunately due to the damage to the name plate plinths some thought was required into how to fix them.
     

     
    In the meantime I sealed the newly applied tender lettering with satin varnish (after a sufficient drying time - 24 hours+ )
     

     
    A new set of nameplates arrived from Fox Transfers and I proceeded to repair the plinths and fit the new nameplates.
     

     

     

     
    Reborn Spitfire awaits return to the paintshop.
     

     

     
    All re-weathered and waiting her return to ANTB
     

     

     

     

     
    Till next time TBG
  6. 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
  7. toboldlygo

    Out with the old...

    By toboldlygo,

    Well a new RMWeb and a new start for the Bullied Nutters Lounge.
     
    New beginnings, but pretty much the same content;)
     
    First an update on the workbench
     
    30803 Sir Harry Le Fise Lake is now finished and ready to enter service:
     

     
    My first kit build is going along quite nicely the Parkside Dundas PMV kit has gone together pretty well so far and the various sub assemblies are painted. Many thanks to Graham (Muz) for his pointers as to where to find the appropriate transfers.
     

     
    Also on my workbench, though I haven't made a start on it, is Rebuilt West Country 34100 Appledore. This is going to go through the weathering process.
     
    Layout Update
     
    Not a lot to report here, except some track has been relaid on the Bulleid Branchline and the layout itself needs a good hoover after the recent work on the roof.
  8. toboldlygo
    It's taken a long time to get here, but I've just got the one Battle of Britain to go now (and yes I have the donor ) I decided with the penultimate one to do something unique, to photograph every stage of the process (alright I forgot the donor before photo lol)
     
    The donor was a R2458 '222 Squadron', the Battle of Britain she'd become would be 34080 74 Squadron, with a twist you see like the majority of the 34071 - 34110 series of Bulleid light Pacifics she had her 5,500gl tender swapped for a 4,500gl one when others of the class were rebuilt - hers ended up behind 34022 Exmoor and 74 Squadron ended up with Exmoor's tender!! That should of been it, however in April 1964 she had another tender swap, her tender was withdrawn with 34075 264 Squadron and she ended up with 264 Squadron's unmodified tender!! Which gave 74 Squadron a unique livery combination for the last months of her career.
     

     
    The donor loco stripped of it's identity and cab lining and detailing parts added - including a set of RT Models etched drain cocks on the cylinders
     

     
    Fox Transfers etched plates added and cab lining done
     

     
    Cabside numbers and late crests added to tender
     

     
    Transfers sealed with varnish and loco masked up ready for the paintshop
     

     
    Back from the paintshop and very dirty
     

     
    Final weathering is done by hand using brush, powders and pencil, then sealed with several coats of matt varnish. Before I oil her up using Tamiya Smoke, remove the last of the masking from the cab windows and fill the tender with coal.
     

     
    Final detailing parts are added and she's ready for her close up
  9. toboldlygo
    Having seen all the recent froth on the subject of what to use in front of Merchant Navies, West Country's etc. I thought I've give my perspective on it.
     
    Original - Fresh out of the Works, as built, later loco's had wedge cabs and other modifications from new so this covers them as well.
     
    Modified - Wedge Cab fitted, changes to deflectors, tenders etc.
     
    Rebuilt - The loco is radically change in appearance, though retains enough of it's original DNA to still be called the same class!
     
    Unrebuilt - used as way of differentaiting between the two sub-classes while they were running alongside each other.
     
    Hornby have yet to do an Original West Country or Merchant Navy for the matter when you take these facts into account.
     
    Rant over..
     
    Merry Christmas
  10. toboldlygo

    Risen from the ashes

    By toboldlygo,

    Well it's been a week and most of that without RMWEB. It's meant that I've been able to get one loco finished (T9 30717) and another almost finished 34100 Appledore last seen plunging to it's demise off the painting table!!! As they say we have the technology, I had a spare donor thankfully.
     
    All will be revealed as to what they look like when the final kinks are ironed out of RMWEB's server move. Little tip to the guys a server provider - use a bigger Hammer
  11. toboldlygo
    Due to the rate of progress and an interesting turn of events, I thought it wise to make an additional update.
     
    My completed commissions are winging their way north as I type and work has commenced on the next batch. The first of which is Original West Country 34020 Seaton with two more to follow - it's going to be a busy month. I've made good progress so far, so I should hopefully have her done by Tuesday.
     
    My own Q1 33040 is finished and I've finally got round to fitting the etched plates to 30850 Lord Nelson, a bit of pig to do as the original Bachy ones are a tad to large and have to be cropped back to suit the Fox ones. I pleased with the end result. Photo's of both are in my gallery album. I've still got the etched plates to fit to 30865 Sir John Hawkins that'll be fun - not!
     
    Aside from my Schools and Lord Nelson which are both awaitng their cabside numbers. I have two new rename and renumberings to do. First up is another Rebuilt West Country - 34101 Hartland and the second is something a wee bit special (that's a hint). I've had the nameplates for a while and I've just been waiting on a suitable donor, which I won on eBay tonight
     
    I'm not going to say anymore on that one, till it's finished
     
    That's all for now
  12. toboldlygo

    September Update...

    By toboldlygo,

    Layout
     
    All bar one of the points have power now. The last set is giving me some problems as the point motor is only firing in one direction.. grr
     
    I had to re-lay a section of track as it was causing one of the twins to derail. Now just need to order a lot of ballast!!
     
    Commissions
     
    The next two are done for my client, just 8 more to go (plus others no doubt) They are Original Battle of Britain 34064 Fighter Command heavy weathered in pre-April 1962 conditon only slight deviation is that my client has requested Late Crests on every Bulleid I do for him (regardless of whether it actually received it on a unmodified tender) and Rebuilt Merchant Navy 35015 Rotterdam Lloyd also heavy weathered.
     

     

     
    My Loco Roster
     
    There have been a few new acquistions, most notably King Arthur 30452 Sir Meliagrance and Original BOB 34090 Sir Eustace Missenden
     
    Several of my renumberings are on a backburner while I wait for cabside numbers, though I have managed to get on with my Q1 33040 at long last (still waiting on an etch smokebox numberplate - transfer version in place for the moment)
     
    Here's a sneak peak at 33040 still more grot to add
     

     
    That's all for now, another update next month or sooner
  13. toboldlygo
    Late last year, I brought the elderly Revell (ex Frog) Shackleton MR.3 kit with all intention to build it..
     

     
    Then early this year I saw photo's of a new MR.3 version, but couldn't find any info on it..
     
    Then last week I saw it in one of Phil Flory's live shows on Flory Models, a brief visit to Amazon and she was ordered and the Shack 3 arrived a day early on Tuesday.
     
    I've decided to a mini sprue review, before I eventually can get started on the kit...
     
    The box info:
     
    Kit No. 03873 209 Parts Length 39 cm Width 50.7 cm 2 decal options  

     
    The box is Revell's (annoying) end opening type.
     

     
    The instruction booklet is full colour and 28 pages in length (last two are relatively blank).
     

     
    There are 2 decal options: MR.3 (Phase.2) 206 Squadron, RAF, Kinloss, Scotland 1965 & MR.3 (Phase.3*) 42 Squadron, RAF, St. Mawgan, Cornwall, 1970.
     
    *Yes you've read it correctly - there's a pair of Viper's in the box!
     

     
     
    The decal sheet is printed in Italy, so it maybe by Cartograph..
     

     
    Sprue A - this comprises of the top halves of the wings, the main spar and various cockpit parts. The mouldings are crisp and well executed, with a wealth of detail - however there is some minor flash and some sink marks towards the trailing edge of wings (annoying, but fixable).
     

     
    Sprue B consists of the lower wing halves, the Phase 2 outboard engine nacelles, flaps and other small parts.
     

     
    Sprue C consists of the rear fuselage halves & tail assemblies.
     

     
    Sprue's D,E.F, consists of props, engine, inboard engine nacelle, undercarriage parts and few other parts (there's two of each sprue)
     

     
    Sprue I - these are parts unique the MR.3, the different nose, wing tips and of course the Viper equipped outboard engines for the Phase 3 aircraft.
     

     
    Sprues K & L again these contain parts unique to the MR.3
     

     
    Sprues M & O are the glazing, it's clarity is ok for the scale, but is far from perfect - especially when you compare it with the Airfix Shackleton's glazing.
     
    Final verdict (till I've built it), it's a decent kit and excellent value, plus compares very well with the Airfix Shacks (and revelation compared to the ex-Frog Shorty Shack), but is letdown with some minor QC issues. I'll give it 3 and 3 quarter stars out of 5 for now.
     
    That's all for now
     
    TBG
  14. toboldlygo
    Finally after what seems like an age, I'm making a start on Revell's take on the Shackleton - though in this case it's the MR.3 (Phase 3 version).
     
    Which means for those not in the know - Nose wheel rather than a tail dragger, wing tip tanks and in the case of the Phase 3: 6 engines...
     
    Forget following the instructions, each side of the fuselage is made from 2 parts - I decided to glue the two parts of each side together and using the bomb bay roof & wing spar section to ensure everything lined up, while the glue cured.
     
     

     
    With the halves cured I busied myself building up the interior and adding weight to the nose - the instructions say 30 grams, I doubled it!
     

     
    Now as you can see there's a circular hole underneath where the tail empernage goes, having going through the instructions and sprues thrice - there's no mention of it (must be from the AEW kit).
     
    So I filled it up using styrene & Perfect Plastic Putty..
     

     
    With the interior painted - I used Airfix and other references for the interior colours, rather Revell's. I installed the glazing.
     

     
    Far less interior than Airfix's
     
    With the interior weathered using Tamiya Weathering Powders - the cockpit & rear cabin were glued in place (no tape needed either).
     

     
     
    One last look at the interior, before the sides are glued together..
     

     
    I only needed Tamiya Low-tack masking tape to hold the sides together while the glue cures.
     

     
    Flashback to the AEW build - I deployed Insulating tape.
     

     
     
    Finally with fuselage sides together, I checked the CofG..
     
     

     
    I'm pretty much there with nose weight - I can still add more if needed
     
    I may get some building done, but I'm waiting for some aftermarket to arrive for her
     
    TTFN
     
    Toboldlygo
     
    James
     
  15. toboldlygo
    Going to keep these update blogs quite short - unlike the Shack which is huge.. (I'd forgotten that).
     
    The Aftermarket arrived from Hannants.
     

     
    With the fuselage fully cured, I gave the joint lines a initial clean up & added some more of the glazing, plus test fitted the tail.
     

     
    I turned my attention to the underside and fitted the bomb bay door's etc.
     

     
    Time to work on the wings and all 6 of the engines..
     

     

     

     

     
    The outboard engine nacelles are very different from my previous Shackleton builds...
     

     
    A slight diversion, but on with the build..
     
    Glazing all fitted and engine nacelles closed up.
     

     
    Disassembled for some filling and clean up..
     

     
    Last reassembly before it's painted, filling complete and a few more bits added.
     

     

     
    A few more minor mods to make and then once the primer arrives she'll be into paint..
     
    TTFN
     
    Toboldlygo
     
    James
     
     
     
  16. toboldlygo
    Okay, so were was I on the Shackleton build..
     
    Oh yes, I was busy getting parts ready for paint - including masks..
     

     
    Replacing the plastic aerials under the wings with something sturdier..
     

     
    Wings back from primer..
     

     
    Some painting done..
     

     
    Main undercarriage bays spray Insignia White & masked.
     

     
    Wings sprayed and temporarily installed..
     

     
    Masking up the fuselage for paint..
     

     
     
    Fuselage painted and unmasked..
     

     
    The Shack reassembled again..
     

     
    A gloss clear coat added - and the fun begins..
     

     
    A pot of parts left (minus the resin wheels)
     

     
    The nightmare begins applying the decals  
     

     

     
     

     

     

     

     
    And a proper jig, after a final clear coat.
     

     
    So far so good - you say..
     
    In part 5 the nightmare begins...
     
    Till next time
    TBG
     
    James
     
     
     
  17. toboldlygo
    As hinted at in part 4, the decals were going so well and then it came to the wings and silvering appeared everywhere! 
     
    After several days work and a lot of X-20A Thinners, I got rid of most of it.
     

     

     

     

     

     
    And finally the wings were glued in place and that's the way she sat for the next 5 weeks till work resumed..
     

     
    Yep the dark dirt wash is back..
     

     
    Props assembled and front undercarriage installed.
     

     
    Sitting on her undercarriage (and she's no tail sitter)
     

     
    Wheels on
     

     
    On her wheels
     

     
    Airfix to the rescue
     

     
    Props painted, nearly there.
     
    Ready for her final reveal..
     

     

     
    And an out of this world cameo..
     

     
    The final reveal..
     

     

     

     

     

     
    And then there was three..
     

     

     
    That's all for now (finally
     
    James
     
     
  18. 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
     

  19. toboldlygo
    I think I got carried away photographing this build - this entry is a whopper photo-wise:
     

     

     

     
    A slight c*!" up with the paint needed some remedial action
     

     

     

     
    I don't I've used ever used so much Tamiya Masking tape...
     

     

     

     

     
    With the bomb bay doors in place - the Shack reminds me of a pregnant fish...
     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     

     
    Sitting on her undercarriage for the first time - all the fettling to get a good fit pays off
     

     

     

     
    Edit (08/10/2017) decided to add the photo's here (with a couple of Cameo's )
     
    8 props, 3 blades per prop and three colours takes a while to paint... oh and transfers to add to them!!
     
    Yesterday
     

     
    4 props down, 4 to go...
     
    Today
     
    Last four props done and finally done (oh and the props all rotate independently of each other )
     

     

     
    A subtle cameo and now for a whopper of one
     

  20. 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...
  21. 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
  22. toboldlygo
    Time for another Shackleton AEW.2 Blog entry and it's rather large..
     
    Brief recap, I was in the final stages of prep and installation, before closing up the fuselage in the last entry and parts were missing (more on that later)
     

    Final parts added to the interior
     

     
    Fifty Shades of Shack (the fuselage halves glued together)
     

     
    As this is the AEW version - I decided to model the shorter weapons/bomb bay with the doors closed
     

     

     
    Sometimes a bit of gentle persuasion is needed to get a good fit!
     

     
    All the main assemblies built & dry fitted together.
     

     
    Then the problem's started, on opening the glazing bag it was apparent that some glazing parts were missing (along with a few other parts), after a number of emails (and complaints by me) the spares turned up - a few weeks later.
     

     
    I was busy with various projects, so the Shack would have to wait..
     
    ..about a week ago I restarted work on her (till the next batch of loco's and rolling stock)
     
    Glazing being added.
     

     
    The replacement tail wheel structure (original was 3 bits)
     

     
    Glazing all masked up and ready for paint (I used Vallejo Model Air 71.048 Sea Grey - more or less an exact match for Humbrol 164 Dark Sea Grey)
     

     
    Back from the paintshop briefly for the nose to be masked up.
     

     
    Masking removed (no paint touch ups needed on the glazing - a first)
     

     
    I decided that I wanted a different member of 8 Squadron to the two decal schemes offered by Airfix, so I acquired a markings set for the entire squadron...
     

     
    With a little bit of help WL795 Zebedee was chosen - after my experiences with the MR.2 build, I added the the decals to the tail fins before assembly.
     

     
    A few more bits will be done, before she has to be put to one-side for a short while - as a lot more loco commissions are waiting to be started.
     
    Till next time
     
    TBG
     
    P.S
     
    In true Empire Strikes Back fashion - No, there is another..
     

  23. 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
  24. toboldlygo
    Well a Bulleid down and an N15 on the road to being finished.
     
    34038 Lynton is finished and looking for a new home, there's a photo in my Bulleid Gallery, but here's another more frontal shot.
     

     
    Also before I get on with another Bulleid, I decided to rename my other Sir Harry le Fise Lake to something else (way too many Sir Harry's on ebay ) With a couple of hours work when the plates arrived from Fox Transfers, Sir Arry became 30794 Sir Ector de Maris on a 70D (Basingstoke) shedcode. I've tweaked the weathering a little and she's got the large numbers on her cabside (correct for the loco). Still have to reseal the numbers, etc.
     

     
    On a final note a trip to modelzone this morning has got me thinking about doing a N gauge Layout - Farish's DELTIC is crying out for me to do a little layout
  25. toboldlygo
    A quick update, two finished Original Battle of Britains, one depicted as the early BR Livery of Malachite Green, the other (well somewhere under all that dirt) is Brunswick Green
     
    First up is 34049 Anti-Aircraft Command as requested by my client to be heavy weathered. This used a Winston Churchill as a Donor
     

     
    Next up is 34050 Royal Observer Corps as early BR with Wedge Cab and standard BR font and slightly workstained appearance. I used a Sir Archie as the donor and swapped the smokebox door
     

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