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46444

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  1. 46444
    Whilst perusing a well known auction site I came a cross a rather sorry looking Hornby M7 which had been converted quite crudely to a Caley 439 Class. 
     
    Now I have seen conversions of M7's to 439's that have been rather good such as Ben Alder's of this parish.
     
    Like many I would like to see a Class 439 produced to complement the Rails/Bachmann Caley 812 Class. No doubt we will eventually see a ready to run version.
     
    The badly converted M7 was purchased and arrived safely. It had been de-Southernised with removal of the additional route indicator disc brackets on the smokebox and rear of the bunker. 
     
    The original M7 number had been removed damaging the paintwork and poorly applied numbers for a 439 Class had been applied. 
     
    The whistle was missing as was the attached pipework. A few other minor jobs were needed to reconvert the Caley conversion.
     
    I should have taken some snaps of the loco when it arrived but set too quiet quickly on the project.
     
    Here it is in its completed state.
     

     
    Dapol B4 spares are available from Peter's Spares. I ordered a set of lamp/disc brackets which having made good the damage from the previous owner certainly looked the part.
     
    The smokebox door dart was a replacement from RT Models and has the correct profile. The original was missing.

     
    Replacement middle route indicator brackets on the bunker. Real crushed coal added.
     

     
    The smokebox and cab roof received an airbrushed coat of Tamiya Flat Black to blend things in.
     

     
    The missing whistle again came from Peter's Spares and is a standard Hornby affair. A piece of piano wire replaced the missing pipe to it.
     
    Cab spectacle plates came from a Mainly Trains etch available from Wizard Models. Microscale Liquid Glaze made up the glass. 
     

     
    I asked Steve at Railtec to make me up one of his excellent 3D printed smokebox numberplate/shed code plate combinations for Bournemouth 71B's M7 30107
     
    These 3D printed numberplates  are released in water like normal waterslide transfers then allowed to dry on an old tile.
     
    I edged in the number plate sides carefully with a black Sharpie. Then both plates were fixed in place with matt enamel varnish.
     
    These 3D printed number/shed code plates are well recommended from Railtec and great service as always from Steve.
     

     
    Here is the other side. I have inked in the wheel rims with a black Sharpie. Also the connecting rods have been treated with a silver Sharpie. 
     
    Replacement numbers on the bunker sides are courtesy of Fox Transfers. Then to seal everything a coat of airbrushed Tamiya Satin Varnished completed the detailing.
     

     
    I will lightly weather the loco and also add in a piece of plastic tube to replace the centre gap between the vacuum cylinder ends as well behind the front buffer beam.
     
    A nice project and it has been good to reconvert the converted, bringing a model back to its former glory.
     
    Cheers,
     
    Mark 
     
  2. 46444
    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 
     
  3. 46444
    Recently Hornby have released their 6 wheeled Sentinel in the guise of L81 which represents the first of three Sentinel's acquired second hand to replace the venerable LT Pannier tanks.
     

     
    Unfortunately with the prototypes their wheelbase was insufficient to operate track circuits on the main line. To address this a tender was attached fitted with a trip cock. 
     

     
    The tenders were manufactured from 'Q' stock bogies. The tender and Sentinel carried conventional coupling gear as well as Ward-Lock couplings.  This allowed the shunting of other Underground stock. 
     
    Difficulties in fitting the Ward-Lock couplings made fitting of normal buffers to the Sentinel's problematic. To address this wooden buffers we're fitted to the Sentinel's front end with a Ward-Lock coupling.
     
    The tenders were able to accommodate Ward-Lock couplings as well as standard hinged oval buffers. 
     
    CDC Kits have come to the rescue with a 3D printed tender. A choice of buffer positions are available.
     
    https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/225753447991?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=0CsmXNqgQWK&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=MNMqJGNPSxi&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
     
    I chose the buffers down version. On arrival other than paint and couplings the kit is ready to go. Unless...
     
    If you look at prototype pictures of these tenders coupled to the Sentinel's you will see tender runs at the same height as the Sentinel's buffer beam.
     
    The CDC kit is supplied running on 12mm Dapol wagon wheels. This then gives a stepped appearance between tender/Sentinel.
     
    To address this holes were drilled out for brass axle bearings. Then Gibson 10mm Lowmac were fitted which lowers the ride height of the tender correcting it.
     

     
    In using tension lock couplings, lowering the tender then ensures coupling height is the same as the representation of the Ward-Lock coupling housings on the tender. 
     
    As you can see from the photo below markings have been set out for drilling holes for Bachmann NEM fitting tension locks.
     

     
    Finer handrails will be soldered up for the tender as well to match the Sentinel. 
     
    Livery wise on the prototype the tender was finished in black with a red buffer beam, white handrails and collector shoes. 
     

     
    More soon once I've fired up the soldering iron.
     
    Cheers,
     
    Mark 
  4. 46444
    A while back a built up four Cambrian Kits with a Southern Railway theme.
     
    They were given a coat of primer and have been awaiting spraying as well as the internal planking painting on the open wagons. 
     
    One of the newer Cambrian Kits is the LSWR 10T van kit. I understand the S&DJR had some of these wagons as well. The SR classified them as D1410. 
     
    The kit itself goes together nicely. I've used Gibson wheels and brass bearings. 
     
    I've sprayed the underframe in Tamiya Nato black and preshaded the bodywork. The main body colour is Tamiya Hull Red. I think the sole bars should be brown also. Can anyone confirm this?
     

     
    Buffers are from the excellent Lanarkshire Models range. I just need to fit a rain strip on the roof and paint it.
     
    I'll finish this wagon in mid-30's-40's livery with smaller lettering from HMRS.
     
    Here the van is seen in the company of a SR/LNER 12T Mineral Wagon built between 1945-1946 at Ashford to D1390/D192. 
     

     
    Same process again with painting but I've feeling I need to repaint this wagon in unfinished wood effect with painted in iron work. 
     
    I'll put an order in with Eileen's soon so will order some metal strip to make door bangers. 
     
    Below are the last of the SR builds for the time being. From left to right are an 8 plank 12T D1379 wagon as well as a 5 plank D1380 wagon. 
     

     
    These are built and finished the same as the first two kits. 
     
    More soon and apologises to Sal Solo for the title of this entry. 
     
    Cheers, 
     
    Mark
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