5Bel

Hi All, The model is now ready for the spray can. The bogie wheels arrived today courtesy of very quick service from Peters Spares. I will be settling on their 14mm coach wheels as standard from now on as they are an excellent product. The top two pics show my modifications to the Replica BR1 bogie into a representation of the real thing. It would be nice if someone did these bogies either as sides or a full kit. Painting will be later this week as I have to take advantage of the good weather and go gardening this afternoon! Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi All, Another long term resident of the loft is this DC Kits 3D. Because of their late build date the prototype units had beading around the doors and windows, a feature they shared with other late build EMU's. I wanted to replicate this and have made a start using the NNK etched nickel silver parts available from Precision. I think the overall effect is pretty good. While checking prototype pics of the TCL I noticed that the toilet window on the kit looked to large. Upon checking drawings it is about 3mm to wide. Not only that but there is too much plain bodyside between the toilet and compartment windows. Turns out this is caused by the kit design only catering for 2nd class compartments. This is completely understandable to keep the costs of tooling down but has given me another challenge. I need to splice in 2mm between the 1st class compartments which should hopefully remove the plain bodyside and shorten the toilet window. Maybe the 7mm Manor will wait some more now I've got my teeth into this. Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi All, The 33 and 73 are now ready for the pint shop. The roof clips on the 33 are small staples and the air horns on the 73 are nice brass turnings of unknown origin. I'm going to leave the moulded handrails on the 73 as they are quite fine and from normal distances once painted you won't be able to tell the difference. Hopefully I will be able to get into my garage this weekend to get the primer on. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, The underframe on the DTS has been finished today, again cobbled together from various bits of plastic and wire. The V hanger is the only piece of DC Kits detailing fret to be used. Just waiting on the wheels so I can complete the bogies which I detailed today, then it's ready for painting. That's three projects got up to the painting stage in just over a week. This lock down has it's benefits for us railway modellers, I haven't sat down and modelled properly for years. I think next week will be back to 7mm and a Springside Manor which has been abandoned due to lack of interest!! Cheers for now, Ian

Hi Keith, The 3D will make an appearance, can't decide whether to do that or finish a 7mm Springside Manor as the next project. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, Dave, thanks for the comment, without your photos this project would not have been possible. I'll be using Ceptic's underframe photos for the DTS tomorrow. I finished all the body detail today with the completion of the inner end. It's the usual mix of wire and plastic and the steps are NNK products which are sadly not available at the moment. I have modified the bogies to make more of a representation of the BR(S) bogies but need wheels to complete the unit. These I have ordered from Peters Spares along with enough for my DC Kits 3D unit. Finishing this unit has reminded me how good these kits are. They look like what they are supposed to be with the basic build but with a bit of work they can be elevated to a really good standard. Looking forward to doing the underframe tomorrow. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, I've finished detailing the roof, sides and front end. The roof conduit is 0.3mm steel wire held in position by wire and Southern Pride lamp tops. Vents are MJT. The cab front and cabside windows are from NNK. The door hinges are Roxey door handles and the door bumpers are 0.45mm wire. There is a bit of tidying up to do around the cabside windows. Next will be the inner end, which I have NNK steps for. The rest will be wire and plasticard with the central buffer from the spares box. I can't remember why I stopped this project (over six years ago!) but its only taken a few days to get it back on track. I've got all the bits for the underframe so that shouldn't take too long either. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, Along with the Loco's on my other thread, I have restarted this EMU. Can't believe it's been 6 years since I worked on it! With the DMBS today's efforts have concentrated on the DTS. All the holes were drilled in the roof ready for all the pipework, which will be put on tomorrow. I have all the detailing bits so hopefully it won't be too long before it's ready for painting. I wonder what my oldest project is that I can resurrect during these tough times. I have a MTK Cravens parcels unit up there somewhere but that may be a step too far!! Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, All the bogie pipe runs have been completed and other bogie detailing finished. It's starting to come together well. A little bit of body detailing will be next once my .45mm drills turn up from Germany. I've also restarted my Tyneside 2Epb since being locked down. This is the longest period of modelling time that I have had for years and I'm really enjoying getting projects from the loft and getting them finished. With a bit of work these old LIma models look quite good. I have a couple of 50's, a 47 and a couple of 31's in the queue. The 47 is on a Heljan chassis so this will probably be the next Loco to be done. Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi All, Had a busy period doing the underframe. Most of it is plastic tube and sheet but there are some parts of the Lima mouldings reused. It will be onto the bogies and all those lovely pipe runs this afternoon!! Andy, pictures of the 205 center car are very rare. As far as I can tell there is only the brake gear under there. There used to be a great site on the web with pictures of all sorts of vehicles from the 1980's but it hasn't been around for a while. That was the one I used when I did my Hampshire unit (since sold on) a while back. Cheers for now, Ian Just noticed that broken pipe!!

Hi All, Due to enforced leave during this difficult period, I have lots of time on my hands. I have started trying to finish a lot of projects that have been in the loft for a while. The first is a Lima/Heljan 33. I've always thought that the Lima 33 had a good shape so decided to see if a Heljan chassis would fit. By shaving off a couple of millimeters each end and relocating the bufferbeams the body went on with no problems at all. I also updated the bodywork to bring it into late 70's early 80's condition. I still need to add the clips around the roof panels but it's nearly done. I have also restarted a Lima 73 which I have rewheeled using Peters Spares wagon wheels. The bogie was bushed with 3mm outside diameter 2mm bushes and the gears carefully removed from the original wheels and refitted to the new ones. Extra pick ups have been fitted and it seems to run OK. I've spent today building underframe components and I'll put some pics of those on tomorrow. It seems a long time since I did any modelling at all and I am really enjoying it again. In current times it's good to have something to do. Cheers for now, stay safe, Ian

Hi Comet, I will be following this topic closely as I have one to do. Will be interesting to see your methods. Cheers for now, Ian

Richard, Jason, Thank you for pointing me in the right direction. My Q is a long term project so it will be good to get all the bits in prior to starting. Thanks again, Ian

Hi Richard, Great work on the locos. Can I ask where you got the chimney for your Q class. I have a Wills body and want to produce a model in the BR era but the model has the original chimney at the moment. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi Peter, I will be following this topic closely. I have just rewheeled a Lima 73 using your replacement wagon wheels by bushing the lima bogies and adding extra pickups. There seems to be no loss in traction, I have reused the original weight. These wheels could be a real boon to modellers with Lima models that don't have the money to afford modern alternatives. I will post some pictures of my conversion at the weekend if they would of be any use. Could we have some on 2mm axles to upgrade Hornby models as well please.

Hi All, Finally managed to get the primer on to the unit. When I put the first coat on to the coach with the painted bits the grey paint crazed due to putting acrylic over the enamel. I stripped the affected areas with Strip Magic but it started to melt the plastic on the cab end! Once I had neutralised the stripper it took a couple of days for the plastic to harden enough so I could rub down prior to respraying the primer on again. All ended well though and the unit is now in the queue waiting for it's topcoat of Rail Blue. I am repainting my green 4Bep and 2Hap into blue to change my modelling period so it could be a while until the unit is finished. My next unit will be an unpowered DC Kits 2Epb modified into a rebuilt Tyneside example. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, I've managed to get most of the detailing on the bodies over the last few days. Some of the bits I have used. In the end I used MJT cast domed vents and a different NNK pack for the cab window frames. To get the correct spacing for the roof vents I use a compass simply slid along the rainstrip which marks out the roof with a pencil line. I now need to find some pics of the coach ends so I can complete the detailing. I took some pics back in the 80's but mostly of front ends, oh for a time machine! The project is coming together nicely and I already have the next model on the workbench. This year I am concentrating on completing half finished models so next is my Tyneside 2Epb from a modified DC Kits product. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, A quick update on the 4Epb. All of the underframes have been completed and the final bits of roof and end detail have been removed. I have used the MJT cast motor bogie with their rigid bogie frames, the wheels are from my spares box. I think they are Kean-Maygib, I can't remember I have had them years! The DMBS underframes have been detailed with the Replica MLV pack. Now for the good bit, adding all the details. The roof will have MJT ridged dome vents, it's nice not to have to put on all the conduit associated with the earlier EMU's! Extra detailing bits will come from a mix of NNK, MJT and DC KIts. Hopefully I could have it in primer next week. Cheers for now, Ian.

Hi All, After the success of the 4Lav, the next EMU on to the workbench is a Replica based 4Epb. Having already made one a few years ago I have tried different methods. The power car is produced by using less of the MLV cab roof as it has a slightly different profile to the coach body. This makes it easier to get both roof profiles to match. The excellent Replica chassis is powering one of the trailer cars, this will allow me to put a close coupling mechanism in one of the DMBS's so I can couple up another unit. The chassis unit has DC Kits underframe trussing. These two pictures show the differing methods I have used to create the DMBS. The unpainted one is my new method showing how much less of the MLV cab roof I have used. The cream painted cab shows how much less is used. These photos show the Replica chassis with it's DC Kits trussing. Hopefully the trussing will become available again now that DC Kits have spares on their website again. They also show in the unpainted model how unobtrusive the Replica chassis is when fitted inside it's TS. You can also see how I have removed all of the roof and end details ready for replacement. This unit is not too far from completion as I have everything I need to finish it bar the glazing, it will be finished in BR Blue with full yellow end. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi Keith, Thanks for the comments. The beauty of using the Kirk sides is their cost. This unit has been completed for a fraction of the cost of the Resin bodied version and as you say looks a lot better. Brian, John I'm pleased the photos have been of use. I will be continuing slowly with the 6Pul but I have all the parts to complete another Replica 4Epb so that will be the next EMU onto the workbench. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, The 4Lav is now complete and ready to go. I have really enjoyed the process since I restarted the project. I now have a model that you don't see everyday, indeed I can't recall ever seeing a model of a 4Lav on any of the SR electric layouts I have seen. Brian I have taken some photos of the roof details I hope they are of use. The cars are coupled together with a simple bar coupling and will go around a 3ft radius curve. I just need a layout now to run it on!! I have a whole loft load of projects but have told myself I am only going to do one at a time, we will see how that goes!!! Cheers for now, Ian

Hi Brian, I will take some on Sunday as I am on days this week. John your DMBT looks good, that's the route I will take. Are your guards van sides the straight sides with a tumblehome put into them? I will try the 2Bil guards vans as I have some left over from the Lav. I have got Robert Carroll's archive on my favourites list, it is a great reference for EMU modelers. Kelly, cutting and shutting these parts is a good exercise and good value with the Kirk parts. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi Ian, Thanks for the link. I will be in touch. I may have to build a Brighton engine to use up the rest of the transfer sheet!! Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, A quick update on the 4Lav, I have added all the interiors and fixed the commode handles in place, the bodies just need a tiny bit of finishing and they are done. The headcode is from a Hornby 2Bil. I have painted out the yellow first class stripe as I have changed my mind as to what period I want to model my green SR electrics. Doing this also means I will have to paint grey panels on my 4Vep and repaint my green Bep and Hap! It's now onto finishing the underframes and giving them a coat of brown gunge, the power car has already had its motor bogie wired in and runs very well. To take my mind of commode handles I have made these sides. They are for a 6Pul trailer third, again made from Ian Kirk parts. The re- emergence of these parts is a real boon for us Juice fans, though hopefully this model won't take me the amount of time my 4Lav has! The Pullman car in this set will be cobbled together from a couple of old Triang Pullmans. Cheers for now, Ian

Hi All, I am in the process of repainting a Dapol 7mm Terrier into the livery that 2636 Fenchurch carried at nationalisation. The big stumbling block is the special LBSCR numbers that it wore at this period. Do any of you know where I could acquire any, I have tried Fox etc, but they don't seem to have any listed. Who would have thought plain black for a loco livery could be so complicated!! Thanks in advance, Ian