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Mikkel

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Blog Entries posted by Mikkel

  1. Mikkel
    What goes through a modeller’s mind? 'Very little', my wife would say, and she’s not far off! Am I the only one who enters a Zen-like state of mind when operating the layouts?
     
     


    It begins like this. You decide to run some trains, forget all the worries. Get the gear out, set up on the dining table.

     
     


    The engine purrs into life, pulls a train off the traverser. You get down to eye level, begin to dream. What if there was something else behind those windows?
     
     
     


    Distant spires maybe?
     
     
     


    Lots of spires!
     
     
     

     
    Then even that melts away, and you enter a world of dreamy blue skies.

     
     


    Floating freely…
     
     
     


    …in an uncomplicated world…
     
     
     

     
    …where time…
     
     
     


    …stops…

     
     


    …and the light…
     
     
     


    …is mellow.

     
     


    Peace, man. 
     
     
     


    Then reality kicks in.
     
     
     


    It seems I’m expected to lay the table. 
     
    Ah well! 
     
     
  2. Mikkel

    The mists of time (and all that)

    By Mikkel,


    Musings
    This may not be to everyone's taste, but I've been playing around with some photos of the Victorian coaches that I recently dug out (see last blog entry). For some reason, out-of-focus photos of historical stock have always captured my imagination. Like ghosts from the past, or whatever. These manipulated images are a quick attempt to recreate something similar.
     
     

     
    This shot somehow looks quite "real" to me. Perhaps a reminder that there are other avenues in layout presentation than the picture-perfect images we all tend to pursue?
     
     

     
    Of course, it's important to emphasize that this isn't modelling - it's just photos that try to emulate other photos. And some will feel it's just plain cheating, since the blur and the lack of colour hides all the give-aways that would otherwise reveal it as a model... a valid point.
     
     

     
    Right, better get back to some actual modelling now!
     
     
  3. Mikkel

    A Pantechnicon for Farthing

    By Mikkel,


    Horse-drawn
    A horse-drawn furniture removal van has appeared at Farthing. The kit is a reborn Gem product, marketed under the John Day Models label alongside other re-introduced whitemetal ranges. It’s all run by Daryle Toney who is very helpful (no connection).
     
     

     
    The main parts are a fair fit. As usual I used Loctite Gel to stick it together. Unlike most superglues it does not require a perfect join to bond well.
     
     

     
    Some parts did require fettling. This is the front of the van. I filed the sides a bit and shortened the supporting bracket.
     
     
     
    Coming together. It’s quite a beast. If Wikipedia is to be trusted, Pantechnicons ranged from 12-18 ft in length. That’s 49-72 mms in 1:76 scale. The kit is 67 mms long. It’s also quite tall, more so than the common types seen in photos.
     
     


    For some reason the parts for the end section get in the way of each other, so required a bit of work. First the brackets on the end panels were shortened, using the “Salami method”.
     
     

     
    The lower floor casting doesn’t line up with the end panels. The instructions suggest shortening the panels, but after consulting prototype photos I chose instead to saw off bits of the floor casting itself. 
     
     
     
    This allowed everything to line up nicely, with a section of styrene employed as gap filler. 
     
     


    I then entombed the ghost of Mrs X in the van. Mother of a childhood classmate, she once tore into me for spilling cocoa on her sofa. It wasn’t my fault, her son pushed me, but she wouldn’t listen. I hereby condemn her to travel forever in this empty furniture van, with not even a pillow to sit on.
     
     

     
    Two padlocks seal her fate. Goodbye Mrs X, nobody messes with a railway modeller.
     
     


    I couldn’t find room to fit the rear springs properly, so cut a notch in them for the axle.
     
     

     
    You can’t see the dodge once the wheels are on.  I would have preferred slimmer wheels but couldn’t find appropriate replacements. Filing the spokes rarely leads to good results, so I’ll live with it.
     
     

     
    A simple piece of plastikard prevents the fore-carriage from dropping off, while still being free to rotate.
     
     
     
    The driver’s seat was filed to a more discrete size. Judging by preserved Pantechnicons, it was actually more common for the driver to sit on the roof, but I did find one or two photos with a lower seat.
     
     

     
    Bits of 0.45mm wire were added for arm rests and supports. The foot-rest was raised a bit to match the driver. Forgot to scribe it but managed it later.
     
     
     
    The shafts are fitted with bits of wire, which plug into holes in the fore-carriage.
     
     

     
    The horse is included in the kit. The driver is a seated passenger from Andrew Stadden’s range. 
     
     

     
    At this point I was confronted by a delegation from United British Draught-horses for Liberty and Equine Defence (UNBRIDLED). They informed me in no uncertain neighs that a large Pantechnicon requires at least two horses.
     
     

     
    So I hastily fashioned a two-horse drawbar...
     
     

     
    ...and ordered a couple of Shire horses from Dart Castings.
     
     

     
    Fearing further industrial action, I added some steps and grab handles for the driver. Then primed the whole thing.
     
     


    Next, the livery. The prototypes were often extensively lettered.
     
     

     
    And colourful. I normally go for subdued colours, but it’s been a dreary winter and I felt like a bit of Rock & Roll, so took inspiration from this striking example.
     
     

     
    I spent some time drawing up various designs in Microsoft Word, which has more options for sizing and spacing text than is at first apparent.
     
     

      
    The curves were made to fit by importing a photo of the model into Inkscape, drawing the appropriate curves and then copying the shapes back into Word.
     
     
     
    I printed selected designs on paper, sprayed them with matt primer to protect the colours, and cut them with a fresh blade. Paper is of course a bit crude compared to DIY transfers, but it’s straightforward and you can test designs directly on the model. @kirtleypete has even used it for locos.
     
     

     
    The van was painted yellow and black, and the paper then mounted with a thin layer of lightly diluted PVA.  
     

     
    Final details included a driver’s handwheel for the brakes, plus tarps, rope and other rooftop clutter. 
     


     
    I added some chains from Cambrian Models and finished off with MIG weathering powders. The odd-looking loading flap is prototypical, if rather chunky.
     
     

     
    I also fitted chains to the Shire horses, mounted with a wire loop drilled into the harness. Looks like the Oryx wants in on their gig, probably an agent from DISRUPT (Dissident Ruminants for Progressive Transport).
     
     

     
    As usual, there are no reins. My layouts are set up and dismantled all the time, so the normal solutions – e.g. fuse wire - are just not practical. What I need is something thin yet robust enough to fit quickly with a pair of tweezers. Ideas welcome.
     
     
     
     
    As you can see, Bailey & Sons’ strategy was to locate their offices at railheads along the Berks & Hants line. This worked well and the company grew to become one of the major removal firms in the area.
     
     

     
    Yet for Mr Bailey, Senior - lover of all things yellow – it was a source of constant irritation that his horses didn’t match his vans. 
     
     


    Eventually Mr Bailey proposed to dye the horses yellow. 
     
     

     
    But his sons - brought up in a sickening sea of yellow - finally rebelled and said no, father, enough now.

     
  4. Mikkel
    Just a silly little video clip here, fooling around with an off-cut from another Farthing video. It seems Shunter George "Bulldog" Mullins had a bit too much of the good stuff last night.
     
     
     
  5. Mikkel

    Messing about with trains

    By Mikkel,


    Videos
    ‘Mess about’ 
    [British, informal]
    > to spend time doing things that are not useful or serious: to waste time
    Merriam-Webster dictionary 
     
    Here’s a 1½ minute video showing my new traverser in action. Or frankly: Just a bloke enjoying his layouts. The trains run daily at the moment, maybe it’s operating in a living room environment that makes it a more natural and sociable part of my daily routine.  To my surprise, I hardly miss my man cave in the old house.
     
    Not to everyone’s tastes I’m sure, but I’m enjoying it.
     
     
     
     
  6. Mikkel

    Dusting off the cobwebs

    By Mikkel,


    Structures
    Forget glacial progress, this is more like continental drift. After a good start, work on The depot has been all but stalled since spring. But with working hours beginning to look more reasonable again, I took the plunge and dug out the layout in the basement today. See if you can spot the layout in the photo above! Funny how I can spend days working on some minute detail of a layout - only to abandon the whole thing for months afterwards in a remote corner of the basement. But that's the nice thing about hobbies: They're always there, waiting patiently, unlike everything else in our lives.
     
     
     

     
    Found it! Dr Livingstone I presume?
     
     
     

     
    Next, locate the workbench! I blame Ikea for this, almost all the clutter in this photo is from there.
     
     
     

     
    Right, so where were we? The only real progress over the summer has been cutting out the brick sheets in order to dress the inside and outside of the main foamboard structure.
     
     
     

     
    I originally planned to use Slater's English bond for the job, but then noticed Jim SW's comment that the SE Finecast brick sheets give an older more rounded appearance to the bricks. Thanks for the tip, Jim. A further advantage is that the bricks will match the embankment brick walling on "The bay" - also from SEF.
     
     
     

     
    The sheets measure 14" x 9". Lengthwise, that's not quite enough for the depot, so the necessary joins were concealed using this simple old trick.
     
     
     

     
    I'm now fitting the cut-out sheets to both sides of the foam-board base, a satisfying job. Sadly, it seems clear that The depot won't make it for the RMweb Challenge deadline, but I'll continue working on it. You never know, I just might make it in time for next year's challenge deadline 🙂
     
     
  7. Mikkel

    Copenhagen to Penzance by rail

    By Mikkel,


    Misc.
    Back in June I had some work to do in London. I live in Copenhagen, so a devious plan was hatched to extend the work trip with some time off for railways and family. I even managed to do a bit of research for the Farthing layouts.
     
     

     
    I went by rail to London. It was 16 hours on 5 trains, but I enjoyed the views and got most of a day’s work done on the laptop.
     
     

     
    Early departure from Copenhagen Central at 5.44. No rush to the airport hours before, no security checks, no queues, no boarding hassles. Loved it.
     
     


    We crossed the belts from Zealand to Funen and then to Jutland. Part of me misses the old ferry crossings with the coaches on board, but the bridges are certainly faster.

     


    I got off at Fredericia, an important Danish junction. While waiting for my connection I watched the trains divide for different destinations in Jutland.
        
     


    A lengthy car train had come up from Germany. Quite a fortune here.
     
     

     
    Modern day shunter at work.
     
     


    Then on to Germany and Hamburg. I’d chosen an itinerary that gave me 45-90 minutes at each interchange. It avoids the stress of small delays and allows time for a quick bite or drink.
     
     

     
    That proved a good idea. In Hamburg the schedules are tight and platform space limited. There was a 15 minute delay and we went through a series of “platform hopping” exercises. I watched a tired and rather sarcastic train manager on the platform:
     
    Passenger: “What platform for the train to Bremen?”
    Train manager: “It has just been announced”
    Passenger: “Yes but we couldn’t hear it”
    Train manager: “Then you must listen better”.
     
     

     
    Next was Cologne, with its light airy feel and the iconic advert for “Echt Kölnisch Wasser” on the end wall. There’s a lovely vibe to these big German stations in summertime.
     
     

     
    But for some it’s just work of course!
     
     


    Then on to Bruxelles Midi (French), a.k.a. Brussel Zuid (Flemish). I liked the large destination board, no tiny screens here!
     
     


    Next the Eurostar, my first trip. TBH I was a bit disappointed, a dull interior and the Chunnel completely dark. No starched uniforms, no silverware, no sips of champagne. Oh well.
     
     


    St Pancras made up for it though, sleek and modern yet carrying history forward.
     
     


    Outside St Pancras, the old Midland hotel beckoned. Fat chance on my budget! I headed for my drab little hotel nearby, with a tiny basement room where you could hear the Tube rumbling by. At least it felt real.
     
     

     
    Next morning I had a few hours before work began, so took a walk and paid my respects to the other termini in the area.
     
     

     
    King’s Cross first.
     
     


    I liked the architecture here, those arches mix aesthetics and function so well. Good looking trains too.
     
     


    I’m a steam type but can appreciate modern stock, and Kings Cross was full of it this morning. 
     
     


    The booking hall also works well, I think. 

     


    Then, er, Euston. 
     
     


    Good idea.
     
     


    But I enjoyed the outside seating area. I understand there was quite a commotion when the old station was demolished. No wonder.
     
     


    The stone lodges are among the last remains of the old Euston. The station names are a nice touch. It's now a pub, but sadly too early for beer.
     
     


    After a week of work I had a weekend + two days off, and duly headed for Paddington.
     
     

     
    They say that time travel is impossible. But sometimes if you pause and squint a little…
     
     

     
    … it is not so difficult. (Source: Getty Images).
     
     
     


    Nice trains too.
     
     


    When at Paddington I have a tradition: A Cornish pasty and a mag from Smiths. After a long absence it was nice to repeat it - though I doubt that the Kernow fraternity on here would approve of mass-produced pasty!
     
     


    I headed West, stopping first at Reading to see if anything remained of the old goods yards there.
     
     

     
    I was especially interested in Vastern Road Yard, photos of which I have often pored over. The tree-lined perimeters provided inspiration for the goods yards at Farthing. (Source: Britain from Above).
     
     


    Well, there are still trees. The rest is a shopping center and car park. Such dazzling ingenuity.
     
     


    I looked for the site of an atmospheric photo that appears in the excellent GWRJ articles on Reading goods workings by Chris Turner and John Copsey (Nos 81 and 82). 
     
     


    The view today. Ho-hum.
     
     


    Further down the road, the old King’s Meadow Goods Yard is now an office/ industrial estate. But the bridge that carried the GWR over the connecting line to the SECR remains.
     
     

     
    A Google Earth view of the bridge. Seemingly the connecting line to the SECR is still there. I couldn't spot the track from the ground though, has it been recently lifted/re-arranged?
     
     

     
    Anyway, here’s one for @Compound2632, who has an interest in the Huntley & Palmer’s biscuit factory. If I’m not mistaken this is the “Biscuit Tunnel” through which the factory sidings connected to the GWR yards.
     
     

     
    The tunnel can be seen from the other side here, in 1928. Huntley and Palmer’s at the front, with the outer reaches of King’s Meadow yard top left. (Source: Britain from Above). 

     
     
    And then it was Newbury. I started my model of Newbury's main station building during the pandemic, so it was quite an occasion to finally arrive here.
     
     

     
    We pulled into the old Didcot bay and I alighted from our set of clerestory coaches.
     
     

     
    Oh sorry, wrong century. Here we are in 2023. Same bay platform, though the footbridge disappeared recently to make way for the OLE.
     
     

     
    Newbury station was rebuilt to this condition during 1908-1910, with through lines in the center and loop lines along the platforms.
     
     
     
    The core of the layout is still there, as are the main station buildings and original canopies.
     
     


    I spent a pleasant couple of hours photographing the station for my model. 
     
     


    The station buildings have been through major refurbishment recently, and the approach is still being developed.
     
     

    The canopy is a standard design used elsewhere on the GWR.
     
     


    The supports can be found in the Ratio GWR canopy kit, seen kit-bashed here at Farthing.
     
     


    The buildings may look intact but have seen multiple detail changes over the years. This, for example, is the front of the old tea rooms, next to the refreshment rooms. The window on the right has been blanked out, the other windows are modern, and until very recently there was no door here.
     
     
     

     
    I took many nerdy photos. Let me know if anyone wants the rest. My build has benefited greatly from photos shared by others, thanks again gents!
     
     

     
    I walked up the embankment. These are the Lambourne and Winchester bays (left and right) in their heyday. (Source: LVR website).
     
     

     
    The view today. Both bays gone. At least the biodiversity benefits!
     
     


    The old GWR spear railings still linger. Note nonconformist pattern top right. A replacement? Model that!
     
     


    I said goodbye with a coffee and cake from the café, still housed in the old 1910 refreshment rooms. One hundred and thirteen years of munching and slurping, right here.
     
     


    I then met up with mum. She turned 90 this year and I invited her on a trip to Cornwall. After visiting old friends Up North she joined me on the GWR to Penzance.
     
     


    Along the way we enjoyed the breathtaking views and glorious blue skies, enhanced by the spotlessly clean carriage windows.
     
     


    Then reached the fabled Penzance, bang on time.
     
     


    The next three days were spent exploring the delights of Cornwall, staying in some wonderful B&Bs.  Everyone knows how Land's End looks, so here's a shot of the fish & chips at Sullivan's, just across from Penzance station.
     
     

     
    Luckily mum enjoys a scenic train ride, so St Erth-St Ives was a must.
     
     

     
    The semaphores at St Erth were a complete surprise to me. I had no idea that they were still operational.
     
     


    Great stuff .
     
     

     
    The box at St Erth, built 1899.
     
     

     
    We also visited the Helston Railway. 
     
     

     
    I was intrigued by the forest environment at Prospidnick where the line starts, a lovely atmosphere. This is, I think, BR Mk1 suburban brake No. E43147.
     
     

     
    Hauling power was 0-6-0 No. 2000. 
     
     

     
    Class 127 coach No. 51616 at Truthall Halt. The line ends here, but extension to Helston is planned. As always, I’m full of admiration for the preservation movement.
     
     


    Changing the lamps for the return trip. I’ll end the tale here too. It was a great journey, though time was short. Isn't it always.
     
     
  8. Mikkel

    My friend the operating chair

    By Mikkel,


    Musings
    Before you think RMweb has become a dental forum, I am referring here to a new chair that gracefully supports my backside during layout operating sessions.
     

     
    Strangely, neither my wife nor teenage kids have been able to mobilize any enthusiasm for this great find - I guess they have finally given up hope in me. So here it is on RMweb, a place where people are able to appreciate the finer things in life. It is in fact an old hydraulic barber's chair that the founders of my workplace picked out of a scrapheap when they first started the business (well we all have to start somewhere!). It was duly employed for many years as an office chair and became a sort of symbol of the company's humble beginnings, until it was finally considered too outdated to match the fancy new postmodern office furniture. How unjust the world can be!
     
     

     
    So I saved it from a return to the scrapheap and it has now quickly become a good and much valued friend. You will kindly note the lambskin and the glass of whiskey. Life can be tough, but it does have its moments!
     
  10. Mikkel

    God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen

    By Mikkel,


    Videos
    Here's a short video to round off 2023.
     
    I won’t forget this year anytime soon, it’s been an emotional rollercoaster. Our first grandchild was born, my brother got married, our daughter turned 30, mum turned 90, and then in September dad died.
     
    This christmas I want mostly to do simple and uncomplicated things while pondering it all. So here’s a little project that began in our attic.
     
    Merry Christmas and Happy New Year everyone!
     

     
  11. Mikkel
    Here are some illustrated notes from experiments with brick- and mortar-colouring for my 4mm scale station building. Please note that these are just my own bumbling exercises. There are no silver bullets here.
     
    Method 1: Flood & Wait
     

     
    So far, my standard method has been the well-known "flooding" method. I paint the brick sheets dark red (Vallejo 70.814 Burnt Red)…
     
     

     
    … then when dry flood the sheet with a milky white wash (Vallejo 70.918 Ivory). This is then left to dry.
     
     

     
    Sometimes I’m happy with the result, as on my stable block above.
     
     
     
    But at other times it comes out messy, like here. These are SEF brick sheets. I find that the method works best with Slaters sheets which have more sharply defined mortar courses. But my Silhouette cutter doesn’t like them, so I'm stuck with the SEF sheets.
     
     
    Method 2: Wipe & Go
     

     
    Looking for more control of the results, I tried another time-honoured method - i.e. painting a brick sheet, then wiping off the paint with a finger. This leaves paint in the mortar courses. Not a bad result for a quick effort, though it only adds colour, not texture.
     
     

     
    Another attempt with the same method, using a darker paint for a different look. I know most people use a cloth or sponge to do the wiping, but in my view nothing beats the subtleness of a finger.
     
     


    Lovely mess! I’ve always liked Phil Parker’s credit to “painty hands” in his blog tagline. I agree, it makes you feel alive 🙂
     
     
    Method 3: Polyfilla Pointing
     
    Turning to another method, I looked at @GWR57xx's lovely 7mm coaling stage, where the mortar is done with filler, using the technique described by @47606odin in this useful video:
     
     
     

     
    I have only seen the filler method used on 7mm scale laser cut structures, but decided to try them on 4mm embossed plastic sheets.
     
     

     
    I first tried rubbing lightweight Polyfilla directly onto an unpainted SEF sheet. Decent result, though the Polyfilla fills up the mortar courses almost too efficiently.
     
     

     
    I then tried it on painted test pieces. Here the Polyfilla absorbed some of the paint, turning pink. The paint had dried for 24 hours, maybe longer is needed. And I see that @GWR57xx used Halfords spray paint, which I think is enamel. I used Vallejo Acrylics, maybe that’s the problem.
     
     

     
    I also had challenges with the Polyfilla acting as a kind of abrasive when I wiped it on, removing the base colour (right). But these could just be teething problems, I may revisit this method later.
     
     
    Method 4: Paint & Pigment
     

     
    The Polyfilla method gave me an idea for an alternative approach. I painted a piece of SEF brick sheet… 
     
     
     
    …and immediately stippled on MIG modelling pigment (Sinai Dust ref A. MIG-3023) while the paint was still wet.
     
     

     
    I then quickly brushed most of it off again with a brush. The remaining pigment sticks to the wet paint.
     
     

     
    Finally I used a damp (not wet) finger to remove the pigment on top of the bricks. I found that a “prodding” motion worked best, along with an occasional diagonal wipe. The things we learn!
     
     

     
    I like the matt texture and slightly uneven look left by the pigment. The mortar courses are overscale, but that seems to be the case on most brick sheets.
     

     
     
     


    Here is the Paint & Pigment method used on Slater's brick sheets. Incidentally, comparing this photo to the previous one highlights the differences between Slater's and SEF sheets (different bonds notwithstanding). The Slater's bricks are more sharply defined.
     
     


    The surplus pigment is not wasted, I worked on a newspaper so most of it was re-used.
     
     


    The method does have issues. The pigment transforms the shade of paint, so I had to experiment carefully with different colours first, as above. The outcome is also affected by the thickness of the paint, the relative mix of paint and pigment, and how quickly the pigment is brushed off! The type of pigment used also matters, e.g. Humbrol powders didn’t work.
     
     

     
    So I had to go through a good deal of trial and error with this method. On larger surfaces like those above I found that I had to work quickly, or the paint would dry before the pigment came on.
     
     
     
    I liked the results though, and eventually ended up using it on my station building, as seen here.  
     
     

     
    I’m modelling my station in newly built condition so I assume the bricks and mortar should be fairly clean. Although I’m not quite sure what happens to the colour of mortar as it ages?
     
     


    In any case, a bit of weathering may be in order. I’m currently experimenting with that. I revisited the old trick of rubbing a colouring pencil diagonally across the sheet. A very soft pencil seems to be vital, or it will rub off the paint.
     
     


    I got better results with very careful dry-brushing using a dark brown colour. I think I’ll try a bit of that on my station building.
     
     

     
    So that’s where I am at currently. The “paint and pigment” approach has worked out OK on my station building, but it involves various variables that can go wrong. I’d like to find a method with fewer risks and more control. Or maybe what I really need is a therapist 😊
     
     
  12. Mikkel
    My GWR E37 tri-compo is ready for painting, built from the Slater’s kit. Earlier I did a blow-by-blow account of the C19 build from the same range, so this post will focus on new experiences and things that were different.
     
     
     
    There was more flash around the windows than in the C19 kit, especially at the bottom. The window edges are quite thin and hard to distinguish from the flash, and therefore easily damaged when the flash is removed. Inspecting the sides from behind helped.
     
     
     
     
    This time I remembered to drill out the holes for the door furniture before assembling the sides.

     

     
    A drawing of the interior layout can be found on the excellent GWR Coaches website. The E37s had two lavatories at the center, accessed from the neighbouring First Class compartments. The kit does not provide for this, so I rebuilt the arrangements to indicate it. No arm rests though, or loos in the lavs!
     

     
    I fitted the seats with a slight gap each side. I find it easier to fit the glazing that way.
     
     
     
    The bogies in these kits are designed for inside bearings, but I prefer ordinary pinpoint bearings. So as in the C19 build, I applied a bit of freestyling (thanks again @Darwinian for the idea).
     
     


    I used Wizard waisted bearings (ref no. 40002), with the tip filed down to accommodate the axle boxes as can be seen on the r/h bearing here. The axles boxes themselves also had to be opened up inside to fit over the bearings, done with a round file as shown.
     
     


    The brake shoes were a very tight fit against the wheels and tended to jam. I know others have had the same problem. I found that it helps to bend the folded brass tabs that hold the brakes backwards, then gently bend the brake shoe itself forwards to align with the wheel.
     
     

     
    The E37 kit has Dean 6’4 Bogies (left) while the C10 kit has 8’6 bogies (right). Selecting coaches with different bogies is a nice touch by Slaters.
     
     

     
    The two types of Dean bogie in direct comparison. On top is the Dean 8´6 wheelbase bogie, which actually has a shorter overall frame and springs than the 6’4 wheelbase bogie below it. Queen posts also positioned differently.
     
     
     
    The queen posts have to be cut to allow the bogie to swivel.
     
     


    Trial fit of the bogies.
     
     

     
    I then fitted the underframe details. A slight problem here: If fitted as per the instructions, the vacuum cylinders collide with one of the bogies. So I moved the cylinders a little to one side.
     
     

     
    Next, the footboards.  There was a factory error with one of the long footboards and one of the solebars, both oddly divided at one end.
     
     

     
    So I built up new end parts from styrene…
     
     

     
    …which wasn’t too noticeable when fitted.
     
     

     
    The lower footboards were then fitted to the bogies. I used my own spacers (in the box) to adjust the ride height of the bogies. I find the etched ones that come with the kit a bit fickle.
     
     

     
    Once I’d found a good ride height for the bogies  (i.e. the minimum required to let them swing freely), the center footboard sat too high.
     
     

     
    The brackets for the offending footboard only have one fixed position - so I resorted to a crude fix, using pliers to first straighten and then gently re-bend the brackets at a lower position, as seen here.
     
     

     
    The kit provides for sprung buffers, but I went for fixed ones.  A great drama ensued. One buffer ram got stuck in the housing too far out, locked solid by Loctite. I raged at the injustice, the Universe darkened, planets imploded. Eventually I managed to remove the buffer beam, carve out the buffer housing, cut off the buffer ram, shorten it, and butt-solder it back on the guide. Given my soldering skills, that was a miracle. The rest of that day I was Alexander the Great, conqueror of worlds. Modelling involves epic battles every day, who needs TV 🙂

     
     
    The gas lamptops and piping were fitted using handrail wire from 51L. The lamp tops for the toilets add a bit of character. I did the piping for these with microstrip (later filed neat).
     
     

     
    It strikes me that toilet lamp tops are poorly covered in the literature. Can’t think why. They are rarely seen in photos, but I assume that’s what we see in this Paddington shot, on the second coach in platform 5?
     
     


    As built the coach weighed in at 87 grams. That felt a bit light. I believe Iain Rice said 25 grams per axle. I like my stock a bit heavy so went for 110 grams total.
     
     

     
    The extra weight was added using Liquid Gravity from Deluxe Models, stuck down with thinned Card Glue from the same outfit. I’ve been monitoring that combo on other stock for 10+ years, so far all is well.
     
     
     
    So that’s where I’m at. Didn’t have a coin to indicate size, so grabbed an Oryx. Very disorienting, scale is an interesting thing.
     
     

     
    Door handles, vacuum pipes, couplings etc will be fitted after painting.
     
     
     
    I’m pondering the livery. The plan was to go for the full pre-1908 chocolate & cream as per my normal modelling period and illustrated on the box. But the 1908-12 all-brown is growing on me. Decisions, decisions.
     
  13. Mikkel

    Midland Railway D299 Open

    By Mikkel,


    Wagons
    As Stephen has highlighted, the Midland Railway D299 Opens were built in such large numbers that they appeared in almost any pre-grouping goods yard at some point.
     
     

     
    So I dug out my Slater's kit for this diagram.
     
     

     
    The kit had some rather bare looking insides.
     
     

     
    I therefore scribed on some planking detail.
     
     

     
    For the rest of the build I followed Stephen's info, including removal of the number and build plates, as prototype photos show them positioned in another place.
     
     

     
    The built-up wagon.
     
     

     
    Weighted with the excellent Liquid Gravity from Deluxe models.
     
     


    In primer...
     
     

     
    ...and painted.  The MR transfer sheet I have is from Fox (edit: which has issues, see below). The sheet doesn’t provide for the number plates, so I found a photo of another MR wagon on the web, cropped out the numberplate and worksplate and photoshopped them to suit.
     
     

     
    As usual the camera exposes all the little detail issues. The door patch should only have 4 bolts, the 3-links should be blackened, and Stephen is not happy with the proportions of the "M" on the Fox transfer sheet. 
     
    Overall I'm content with the wagon though. Thanks to Stephen for the help on this build.
     
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