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46444

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  1. 46444
    Over the weekend I picked up two very cheap Airfix/Dapol wagons. Both of these had LMS origins and as I had two Ratio 10ft RCH underframes in my spares box I thought they'd make a nice couple of projects. So off with the original chassis' and the wagon bodies were put in a plastic bag with copious amounts of Mr Muscle Oven Cleaner and the paint speedily stripped off in less than an hour.
     
    First up is the Dapol LMS three plank which I believe is based on a D1927 wagon. I think Mainline and now Bachmann use this moulding. The body was mated to the Ratio chassis and them given a coat of Halifords grey primer.
     
    Wheels for both wagons are Hornby, and they were both weighted with alloy wheel self adhesive balance weights (10g).
     
    I wanted to finish this wagon in wartime austerity livery-i:e the wood planks not being painted, just the iron work and underframe. A mixture of Games Workshop and Valejo acrylics were dry brushed on, followed by a mucky wash of Valejo black and dark earth.
     
    The black panels were masked off and sprayed and HMRS transfers used to represent this wagon, that was in reality built at Derby in 1945.
     
    A dusting of traffic grime on the underframe and wheels was sprayed using a mixture of Revell and Humbrol enamels before being sealed with Precision matt varnish to blend things all together.
     

     

     
    The second wagon started life as an Airfix private owner, but looking in my Essary and Morgan 'The LMS Wagon' identified it as a D 1892 wagon built in the mid-30's. I wanted this one finished in BR livery though as a fitted example.
     
    The procedure was almost the same for this wagon, except I had to shorten the brake levers and sourced 4 more brake hangers from the spares box. Finishing as above.
     

     
    Finally, I recently got one of those Hornby Trackside Ruston Bucyrus 19-RB excavators and thought it to would make a great little project. The worst thing about this model is the solid cast chassis and caterpillar tracks. I wanted to try and make it more realistic and bring out the detail.
     
    The chassis was taken off and sprayed with red primer, followed by spraying the underframe and running gear with an Humbrol grey enamel I had to hand. Then each of the links on the caterpillar tracks was sprayed in a variety of Humbrol/Revell enamel shades of black and brown to give some variation. This was followed by a dark wash of thinned enamels and left to dry.
     
    Then, some MIG weathering powder was used-dry and wet to represent earth on the tracks and running gear.
     
    The body was then attacked. I lightly sprayed Revell No:365, which is a slighty lighter shade of green compared to the factory finish around the central area of all the panels to represent fading. Once dry a dark wash was applied and wiped off before finishing with some MIG Powders. Then the chassis and body were sealed with Precision Matt varnish.
     

     

     

     
    Three quick projects and two cheap wagons to boot. Perhaps not one for rivet counters but this project used up some left over bits in the spares box and gives a fare representation of these LMS wagon diagrams. In some respects it shows how well Airfix/Mainline produced such good quality mouldings in the 70's/80's, and by updating the running gear a reasonably cheap wagon can be made-or two!
     
    Cheers,
     
    Mark
  2. 46444
    Evening,
     
    Here's a few bits I've been up of late-namely a brake van marathon!
     
    Here's the first one-a Parkside LMS brake finished with Valejo acrylics. I tried the pre-shading effect on this model as well as the Stanier Reverse Brake and the Cambrian SR Brake shown below following on techniques aquired from my aircraft modelling days. This technique has recently appeared in the latest version of Model Rail. Next to it is a Cooper Craft GWR cattle wagon finished in BR colours that appears in an earlier entry. The GWR version is also completed.
     

     
    Here's the Stanier Reverse Brake which Alex (Wiggoforgold) gave me the idea for as he had already done a conversion. It's basically an Hornby model with modified veranders, wire handrails and NEM couplings added. It's not a true representation as the ends should be planked and the arch filled in below the roof but I can live with that!
     

     
    The Cambrian 25t SR Brake was originally built in Plymouth Freedom Fields Hospital Nurses Home in 1993 whilst doing my training. It was originally handpainted and had plastic strip handrails. It had been given to a good friend of mine who is a BR (SR) enthusiast and was returned to me in a poor state for renovation. This consisted of replacing the handrails, using staples for the foot board stays and lamp irons as well as the preshading and respray. As with all the above models they were finished with HMRS Pressfix decals and some MIG weathering powders.
     

     
    Also, her's my namesake hard at work on Brian's layout on a Kettering to Cambridge train in the mid-50's.
     

     
    Thanks,
     
    Mark
  3. 46444
    Evening,
     
    Been very quiet of late, mainly due to a course I'm doing.
     
    Have managed to do some modelling (hopefully some updates soon) and am getting into the swing of things again.
     
    However, a group of us meet at Brian's for a running session once aweek. He happens to have a very posh shunting plank in a spare room.
     
    Being an ex-Wellingborough (15A) fireman there is obviously a BR Midland theme though anything goes as long as it's steam. The only diesels seen on the plank have been an Heljan Class 14 and Class 15.
     
    I've supplied the Ratio Midland signal box and a few other pieces including the scratch built platelayers hut which is based on one that stood opposite Wellingborough Station.
     
    Here's a few photos taken on my phone:
     

     
     
     
    Said box and hut with a young Brian chatting to the signalman

     
     
    One of Brian's old engines he worked on. This is Wellingborough's (15A) 48671-that belongs to him which I've renumbered and weathered for him.
     

     
     
    Then Kettering 15B's 46400 on a Kettering-Cambridge train in the early 50's. This is a repainted Bachmann loco, and as you've guessed is one of my favourites.
     
    Just need the J15 now!
     
    All I'll say is this an excellent layout to spend an evening pottering about and shunting. Work continues, but I can't persuade him to get rid of the foam underlay and put some ballast and greenery down-which would certainly make a difference on appearance.
     
    Thanks to Brian for is excellent hospitality and allowing us to take over his layouts.
     
    Thanks,
     
    Mark
  4. 46444
    In between messing around with other projects I've started work on one of the Narrow Planet (NP) O&K 40HP contractor loco kits designed by James Hilton.
     
    http://shop.narrowplanet.co.uk/collections/loco-kits/products/npl-003
     
    The kit is designed to go on a Minitrains Kraus chassis and does so easily. The quality of the 3D print is superb and with a soak in white spirit to remove any residue left from the printing process as well as a clean up of the sides with wet and dry paper a lovely smooth finish can be achieved.
     
    The etching is also well thought out and is gradually added to build up the detail. Obviously you can add as much or as little detail as you would like but I thought I would add some panel lines, add rivets from Archers transfers and a few other cosmetic details. I'm using the NP Bosna couplings which were fitted with the aid of a Greenwich coupling height tool.
     
    Here's the state of play this morning:
     
    O&K 1 29-9-15 001 by Mark Branson, on Flickr
     
    Various gauges of brass wire has been used as you can see and further pipework needs to be added. I've added the flanges to the clack valves as well as the valve on the side of the dome from plastic rod. Lines have been scored on the cabside and rivet detail will be applied.
     
    I've also reduced the the size of the dome shape on the smokebox door and added details from Microstrip and wire. The wheel is from a Mainly Trains etch.
     
    O&K 1 29-9-15 002 by Mark Branson, on Flickr
     
    Lamp brackets have been made from staples and the cylinders are in the process of being modified to bulk them out slightly. The chimney will be reduced in height and receive a lip as well.
     
    Here's a side on shot showing the added detail so far.
     
    O&K 1 29-9-15 004 ps by Mark Branson, on Flickr
     
     
    Steam pipes are to be added along with roof and whistle and the wheels and valve gear painted.
     
    Out interest does anyone know what the cab flooring is made from on these little O&K's. Is it wood or steel?
     
    Livery will be plain black but I'm in the process (Still!) of designing some decals for John at Precision to print for me which will be old gold for the locos and coaching stock of the FBLR. The loco's are to be named after sea birds, local folk and locations around Filey Bay.
     
    This is a lovely kit to build and I'll be ordering a 20hp version once this one is complete.
     
    More soon.
     
    Cheers,
     
    Mark
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