46444

Morning Jamie, Standard 2 would be good. I just know Bachmann will produce one soon-so I keep telling myself!!!! Cheers, Mark

Nice work on a beautiful model Jeremy. Are you sure 56013 never made it down to Moorswater? Cheers, Mark

Morning Ian, Would love to have seen your restoration at Peterborough this weekend but sadly I'm working. Be interesting to see what you do with the chassis. I've added so much weight to the loco and tender which has certainly helped running quality. Re: 46466 in unlined black large logo and large Eastern numbers. The picture I found of this loco was in 'British Railways Steaming Through Peterborough' (Page 34) Someone may have a copy to hand seeing's your in Peterborough for reference. To make things even better the loco is clean and on a local passenger. I may do this loco in the future using a Bachmann model.

Thanks Andy. She doesn't look bad does she? The lining is farly straight forward on these Ivatt's and the Fox decals produce a first class result. Just a shame they don't put a few more corners in though! Hint

Thanks Pete. Don't worry I have three Bachmann Ivatt's one being 46444 of course! Thanks for the comments too! Easy project really and it's amazing what a tin of Halford's Satin Black will do!

Here's a few shots of the Hornby Ivatt finished except the crew insitu. Alex (Wiggoforgold) came up trumps with a Comet chimney. I was going to do Cambridge shed's 46466 in unlined black with late crest but had a change of heart. Instead I finished this loco as 46483 another Cambridge engine in lined black with early crest. The model was primed with Halfords grey primer then Halfords satin black. Tamiya NATO black was then sprayed on the smokebox and roof. Lining and decals are from Fox. Real coal was added to the tender before I gave the model a quick blast of Tamiya NATO black/Dark earth mix. Everything was sealed with Valejjo satin varnish with a drop of matt as well. Lamp from Springside. Overall I've enjoyed this project. It was quick and reminiscent of 'Old School' modelling-infact almost adding a Crownline detailing kit to the loco. Yes, the Hornby Ivatt has its failings. The tender is too long and the valve gear is chunky and over simplified. Saying that the loco bodyshell isn't too far off the current Bachmann version for shape. Having changed the tender and pony wheels and added shedloads of weight to the loco and tender has improved the running too. In this day and age of economising perhaps revisiting models such as this may be the answer-though I guess a secondhand Bachmann Ivatt can be found for around £30-£40. Food for thought!

Beautiful shot Pete with loads of atmosphere Good choice of loco too Cheers, Mark

Evening Andy, That it a nice piece of work and looks great under D604. Beautifully finished loco with a close atention to detail. Cheers, Mark

Nice looking model and a good right up too. The 07 is a loco that is crying to be made as a RTR affair. Perhaps by the likes of Model Rail following their USA Class release.

Beautiful piece of modelling. Cheers, Mark

Beautiful work Nick. The attention to detail has certainly paid dividends. Look forwards to seeing futher instalments. Cheers, Mark

Lets not get too carried away! Thanks for the comments Pete and Alex.

As some of you may be aware a mate of mine was given a box of tat-namely old 1970's/80's Hornby and Lima stuff. One of the locos was a badly repainted Hornby Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0. Now I'm fully aware of the misproportions of this model and it can never be compared to the current Bachmann RTR offering or the Comet kit but I thought using some bits and pieces I had to hand a few cosmetic adjustments could improve the look of this loco. Also I have a real soft spot for these little Moguls and the BR version. A trip to the GCR at a Loughborough now provides 46521,78018 and 78019. Working from pictures and one of my Bachmann models details were added as can be seen using Microstrip and scrap bit of brass etc. Moulded handrails were replaced-missing ones added. Excess plastic was removed from the tender chassis to represent a resemblance of an Ivatt 2MT chassis. A Parkside NEM coupling block was fitted along with a Bachmann coupling. Additional weight has been added to the tender and the loco itself using alloy wheel self adhesive wheel balance weights. The front pony truck wheels were replaced with a Romford set I had to hand. The tender wheels are Hornby spoked wagon wheels out the spares box. These will need spraying. Comet buffers were fitted and Comet water filters were added to the tender. I have some Comet steps to add to the front of the loco and the tender. Sadly, Comet couldn't come up with a spare chimney so I'm in need of a replacement chimney. I see 247 Developments do an Ivatt 2MT chimney which may be suitable (Are there any other suppliers of Ivatt chimneys?) Here's a few photos I took this morning on a mate's layout hauling a brake van special (See earlier post-not finished yet!) Once I've obtained a replacement chimney I'm planning on spraying the loco in plain black with late crest as 46466-a Cambridge shedded Ivatt. Finescale modelling it is not but I have learnt from this quick project. It's also been enjoyable and the loco will quite happily run around a layout. Slow speed shunting is out though! Next installment soon. Cheers, Mark

Good point David re: the vacuum pipes. They will appear in due course and once I've got the decals sorted. Cheers, Mark

Hi Chris, This sounds like an interesting challenge-though think you may and well truly break the proverbial bank. The Slater's wagon kits are superb and fit together beautifully. They will certainly warrant a blog entry in their own right. Cheers, Mark

Sadly the missing parts of the jigsaw never turned up today in the post. Nevertheless it will be worth the wait!

Nice work Pete, There's been a lot of progress made on PW of late and the trackwork looks neat and tidy. Ah! Dodgy soldering skills-Join the club! The buffer stops look really good as well. Cheers, Mark

Thanks to everyone for there replies. I'm planning on doing some more work on them this evening-applying numbers/lettering etc. Thanks Andy, Wait till you see the Ivatt!

Well fans of Ozzy and Hawkwind will be familiar with the title. Once more this has nothing to do this 1970's rock outfit. (He says listening to this song ) Recently a mate of mine was given a box of old Hornby/Lima locos and rolling stock (Tat )including a Hornby Ivatt 2MT 2-6-0 and a Lima GWR Railcar which had seen better days. More of these in future instalments . Some of the tat was kit built including few Cooper Craft GWR wagons and a rare SILVER and BLACK Airfix BR Brake van. It looked like it belonged to the LMS 10000 test train-except for the thick gloss paint. However, as with many things in life looking beneath the surface revealed a suitable project to add to the ever expanding work bench. I was already building an Airfix brake van and fancied doing an unfitted version. A soak in Mr Muscle oven cleaner removed the silver/black livery and work commenced. Both of these brakes were treated the same. Firstly the moulded handrails were removed and holes drilled or wire replacements. The same applied for lamp irons which were bent up from scrap etch or staples trimmed. The door and window frames in the verander were thinned down as well. The step boards were filed from behind to help them sit more closely and the stays were thinned down as well. It is well documented that Airfix got the chimney and roof vents in the wrong place. I corrected this using some spare Cambrian vents and aluminium tubing. The buffer heads where replaced with turned H & A Models ones and both brakes run on Bachmann wheels I had to hand. I soldered the horizontal handrail to the two verticals by tinning the ends of the horizontal piece, positioning it and holding it in place with Blu-tac before soldering in to place. Believe it or not it was the first time I did this. No burnt fingers or melted plastic (I placed a small piece card behind the vertical handrails) After a coat of primer the chassis was finished with Tamiya Nato black. I pre-shaded the brakes as well. Colours used include Tamiya JN Grey, Dark Earth and Hull Red. Vallejo acrylics were also used . Then they both received a coat of Johnsons Klear ready for decals. I will use Crystal-Clear for the windows. I'll update on these soon. I'm pleased with the results so far and it goes to show how well the Airfix Brake Van kit can scrub up. Also I received this confirmation from Narrow Planet that the custom nameplates for the Sentinels will be with me soon. Now do I keep the Sentinels black or respray them green? Also the Hornby Ivatt 2MT has had a thorough going over. It is awaiting a new chimney and buffers and I will post a photo soon! Finescale it is not! Cheers, Mark

Hi Jeremy, As Pete says congrats on the all of the above! Blimey! Looking good. Nice of Dapol to oblige with the Class 56 as well. Didn't this loco make it down to Moorswater? Cheers, Mark

Beautiful work Ian. Look forwards to reading the MR article.

Beautiful work Alan. Fencing is looking really good. The Grey Cars Bedford OB is a nice touch as well Cheers, Mark