46444

Thanks David, It's not a bad kit essentially. Thankfully my kits were staight/square helping the build. Some concentration is needed when mounting the bodywork on the chassis. Like Mike and Al eluded to above, the older Airfix kits may be worth seeking out. It will be good to see your take on the build. Cheers, Mark

Morning Andyman, What with Sir David quotes and the history of Rosebud I better not give up the day job. Thanks for the history and the Pathe News film. I never realised that Rosebud eventually moved to Wellingborough. Thankfully the range of OO kits which made it into to Airfix/Dapol ranges are a blessing for modellers today. Cheers, Mark

Hi Pete, Blimey! Mike Yarwood. There's a blast from the past. Best not trying any Sir David impersonations by the sounds of things.😅 Thanks for the kind comments. It will be good to get these wagons weathered. The ex-works finish is a bit bling. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Al, I would agree some of the Dapol released kits with the soft plastic are certainly distorted. The Presflo kit was one of the worst. Thankfully the BR brake van and 16T mineral wagon do not suffer as badly in my experience. Cheers, Mark

I do remember your build Alex. Very nice it was too posed in Diddington Yard. It would be good to see the MRJ article. I would agree that etched ladders would give the kit a bit more finesse. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Andy, It's lovely to see your modelling once more as well. I would agree with your sentiments regarding the soft Dapol plastic versions. It's a bit of a minefield. Thankfully these two kits were not too bad, but the silos took some cleaning up as you say. I remember seeing your Keyhaven layout when you were exhibiting at either Aylesbury or High Wycombe a few years ago. It was a cracker of a layout. If I remember correctly there was a bag of wet seaweed for the full effect! Were there recorded gull effects as well? Cheers, Mark

'Hello. Welcome and Good Evening' as a well known TV presenter who once lived in Raunds, Northamptonshire might have said. Sat on my workbench for a number of years have been two partially completed Dapol/Airfix Prestwin wagon kits. These kits stem from Airfix, being released in 1964. However, Rosebud/Kitmaster originating from Raunds had been taken over by Airfix in the early 1960's. From memory the current incarnation of this kit from Dapol has soft recycled plastic. Thankfully they still go together nicely. Originally, I was batch building four of these kits. Two were for good friends and were completed. With a recent week off work I decided to clear out a number of outstanding wagon projects including the two remaining Prestwin's. Both kits had Alan Gibson wheels fitted. In addition to this Mr.Franks finest Lanarkshire Model Supplies (LMS) cast buffers and coupling hooks were fitted. Sprayed with Halfords grey plastic primer Revell and Valejo acrylics were brush applied. Once dry a light coat of Halfords Satin Varnish was applied. Transfers are from Fox and sealed with Johnson's Kleer. Once more a light dusting Halfords Satin sealed everything. Weathering and couplings await. These old Dapol/Airfix kits build up nicely, and once more show a cost effective means of acquiring new wagons. What with the Kitmaster and the Sir David Frost connection, as well as the shoe factory famous for the 'Kinky Boots' musical, Raunds should certainly be on the map. Cheers, Mark

Looking fantastic in every way Alex. The snaps look as if Ben Ashworth had been teleported back to the Forest in the 1960's. The identities of the Pannier's and the Class 14 certainly add to the Forest setting. With Accurascale producing the riveted tank Pannier no doubt 8745 will be making an appearance. Cheers, Mark

I have been working on three of these Chivers BR Diagram 1/107 kits. As ever with Chivers kits they are almost 'shake and bake' Tamiya style, being easy to assemble. Only wheels, bearings, paint and transfers are required. These kits are finished with Revell acrylics and Fox Transfers. Well recommended. Weathering awaits.. Cheers, Mark

A bit of weathering on the LMS version. Purely fictitious of course... Couplings to be added and light weathering to the BR version. Suitable loads to be fitted. A well recommended kit. Cheers, Mark

Mr Frank's at Lanarkshire Model Supplies is your friend... http://www.lanarkshiremodels.com/ Well recommended and first class service.

Thanks Mikkel, The Sharpie method was certainly taken with a leap of faith. With the windows dipped in Johnson's Kleer left to dry, I took the plunge with the silver Sharpie. Although the lines over the raised window frames were irregular, using a cocktail stick I was able to remove the excess cleanly leaving crisp lines. Cheers, Mark

Thanks Robin, ebay is your friend.. Cheers, Mark

Thanks. I would agree with you. Flattening the tyres is on the cards. I may shorten the axles as well to fit in the wheel arches better. Possibly angling the front wheels will give more realistic look as well. Cheers, Mark

With regards to Ian, I can wholly agree with Tony's sentiments. The products are excellent and Ian is great to deal with. Recently, I asked him to make up a couple of sets of Western National bus destination screens. Supplying him with the protype information and measurements he was able to produce the following: Blog entry here: Really pleased with the destination blinds. A well recommended service/product from Ian. Cheers, Mark

Lurking on the work bench have been two EFE Western National, Bristol LS' which I have been detailing. Both were picked up for less than £10 each secondhand. Inspired by the Lincolnshire Road Car Bristol LS on Tony Wright's Little Bytham I asked Ian Wilson at Pacific Models to make me up some printed destination screens for this pair. I supplied Ian with the dimensions of the screens, destination and route numbers. In this instance services which would have originated from Tavistock, crossing the River Tamar at Gunnislake. For those who have never used Ian's products they are easy to use and in this instance self adhesive. Link below to the Pacific Models website: http://www.pacificmodels.co.uk/ The turn around tine was excellent and the destination screen sheet arrived quickly with plenty of spares. Both models were broken down into their component parts. Using a new scalpel blade, the destination screens were carefully cut out using a steel ruler. Being self adhesive they were applied easily over the existing factory finished ones. Using Halfords Satin varnish light coats were applied to seal the destination screens as well as dull the high gloss finish. Numberplates were included for suitable prototypes as well. The window mouldings were dipped into Johnson's Kleer and allowed to dry. Then the raised window frame detailing was inked in using a silver Sharpie permanent marker. Cleaning up was carried out with a cocktail stick. Scale Link produce a sheet of etched brass vehicle door mirrors (Sheet SLF 137). This provides the drivers rear view mirrors for this brace. A coat of Halfords grey primer, followed by their satin black gave a good finish. I am not sure if these mirrors should be green? The silver Sharpie helped give a mirror effect. Using prototype reference shots the mirror fixing points were ascertained and holes drilled for them. The Scale Link mirrors were fixed with contact adhesive. In my eyes this does help to lift the EFE model. Essentially the detailing work is finished. I will paint the wheel arches and lightly weather both buses. Driver and conductor figures as well as passengers will be added. With a bit of work these older EFE models can certainly be lifted to another level. Cheers, Mark

With the brilliant announcement of the above L&Y Diagram 3 Covered Van I thought I would show you progress of my builds of the Diagram 1 Low Goods wagons. Further weathering awaits! Lovely quality produced kits and well recommended. Cheers, Mark

Very nice work once more James. I must admit that I do like 47206. The 'Morris Dancer' nameplates certainly gives it character. Cheers, Mark

Thanks for your reply Paul. Like you say I have heard of the 'CO' standing for construction as well. I wonder if over time the 'CO' letters meaning changed?. Cheers, Mark

Brilliant! Captures the area nicely. A trip to Wells beckons this Summer. Cheers, Mark

The flush glazing has certainly lifted the vulnerable Airfix model. Nice finish and weathering effects to.. Cheers, Mark

Very nice work! You have certainly lifted the basic medium to another level. I did attempt the same amount of work on 6 of these blighters before losing interest and selling them on. The transfers have bedded down nicely. I presume they're Railtec's finest? Nice work all round. Cheers, Mark

Hi Paul, I obtained the information from your website: Link below: https://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/gwrtunnyzco Apologies if I have misquoted you. Cheers, Mark

Blimey! There's another Herring Meister out there too!

Hi Jonathan, I think you've hit the nail on the head with the Cambria Herring kits. You must be on the expert level after building six of the things? Certainly one to be savoured and not quaffed... I have built one of these kits and they are certainly not 'shake 'n bake' Tamiya style. The main concentration centres around getting the hopper support brackets in the right sequence. Something I failed on and had to correct retrospectively. The shoal of Herrings kits awaits! Cheers, Mark