jonas

They are some of the most realistic photos I've seen in a while. The whole railway 'picture' looks complete. Cracking stuff.

Best of luck!

Have you thought a about casting these, maybe in resin?

Thanks guys! Really pleased with these two.

I would love to know how you glazed it too!

Thanks for the encouragement! I've built up the inside with foam board so I think this will be a perfect winter project!

Robbo - I did contact Bachmann to see if the coils were available as spares, but unfortunately not.

Very nice. Thanks for your comment on my blog - I only just picked it up - I think you are right, these are definitely the way to go. I will be following your progress with interest!

Impressive progress! 

Very nice. You can't beat the texture you get from powders in my opinion. Looking really good!

Good to see you back in the game. That mineral wagon needs some serious attacking with the rusty and chipped paintbrush though!

Dropped onto the are of pigment. You can also make a mixture of powder and thinner, paint it on, let it dry, then manipulate it with a dry brush, which is how I tend to use it mostly.

You can use acrylic paint thinner - the one I have is artisan water mixable oil thinner, which does the job.

http://www.artstore.co.uk/winsor-and-newton-artisan-water-mixable-oil-thinner-250ml-c-336-p-3450

Thanks! I have been playing with some cheap oil paints I bought from the Works and it basically involved painting a black / burnt umber mix stripe down the wagon, leaving it for about 40 minutes, then using a large-ish brush with a touch of thinners to manipulate it.

Not an exact science I'm afraid - I just played with it until it looked right to my eye (as usual, the effect looks harsher in the picture than it does in real life).

Thanks gents! I actually picked up some more couplings today so the rest of my steel wagons are now converted to Dapol knuckles. So maybe my mojo is back!

I haven't sealed it no - I don't think any of my models have been varnished. I sometimes use neat White spirit as a fixative for powders, another tip nicked from the military modelling fraternity!

I've been following these builds on your external blog - lovely work. Looking forward to watching your next project!

That is some seriously impressive structure modelling - I'm looking forward to this layout's development!

Thanks for the kind comments. I'm glad the weathering in the rake as a whole ties them together as I have done them one by one over a few months. I do wonder if it is possible to replace the plastic handrails with wire...the seacows have much finer appearance thanks to it.

The plank has been a worthwhile exercise and one I would recommend-still plenty of techniques to try out on it yet mind!

That's really nice.

Thanks gents! I used humbrol acrylic rust colour (402, i think) to weather the rail - with a steady hand a small brush.

I suppose there is nothing to stop me trying out some backscene techniques too - like I say,this is all a learning excersise!

Aren't the plough shields on the same etch as the hand-wheels? (or have you just not got round to fitting them?) Happy modelling. Steven B

I have just not got round to fitting them!

Thanks gents! It looks a lot more green in the photos than in reality...

Pete and Bryn - Don't worry, I will be following the 2mm wagon challenge with great interest! Its something I want to explore in the future for sure but since I rediscovered my railway modelling mojo I haven't built anything substantial. Once I can have something to play trains on I will get serious about soldering! The finescale stamdards look great though, the improvement is clear.

DId you use that weight in the end, or just letting the plough castings compensate for it?

I did chuck some chunks of metal in the cabin until it weighed about the same as the dogfish, using the scientific method of weighing it in my hands.

Yeah its the same ref, weird they missed the break discs off mine. Hey ho. Etched replacements will look the biz anyway!

As you know there is another wagon but I'm saving it until I do the photoplank after next weekend. If I could please have that bit of foam board that'd be mega!

I have today added the vac pipes and pipe details to the cab end of my 08 - now that was interesting!

Thank you Mr. TPM - looks like I will be in touch soon to order some hand wheels soon!

One thing missing from that model is the handbrake

You know, I noticed two small holes in one of the bogies. Could it be I'm missing some detailing parts? I did get the stantions and air pipes in a little bag, but no discs. Hmmm...well I guess it will give me an excuse to try some etched details out!

Another vote for the photo plank here - that BDA really does deserve to be shown off with a more realistic background.

Thanks for the encouragement everybody. I will get my thinking cap on...