dj_crisp

There is something fishy going on - Sultan has the original moulded grille but the construction ones appear to have the etched grille. Personally I prefer the moulded grille so will welcome revised 33/0s with the moulded grille

Always nice to see Thunderer which looks excellent. I'm sure I went past the real thing at Bristol on Monday.

Modelling time has been very much at a premium since my last post and what little time I've had has been Vitrains 47 focussed. Sorry for the very naff photos; 47600 has had a bit of paint added - precision rail blue and railmatch yellow. I've got some tidy up painting to do around the cantrails and then add the warning stripe but when varnished I think it'll all bed in nicely. You can't really see it in my terrible photos but I've done a bit extra on the front. The Vitrains headlight always looked a bit long and thin to me so I was contemplating fitting a new one. However that was far too much work so I've simply filed it down and created new bolt holes with a light punch (the plastic is so soft it's dead easy). Also added a thin bit of plasticard to give an impression there are washers on the nose. Overall happier with the face of the loco now. I've always wanted to model 47401.... but on removing nameplates from the Vitrains release I made a right mess up of the paint. As the front needs respraying in a nicer shade of yellow... and the roof needs patch paintin at a minimum I've just decided to strip it and start again. The first 10 locos had different cantrail grills and I've lost a bit of sanity and had a go at representing them by removing the extra struts with a sharp knife. It needs priming to see if I've been successful... but I'll only do that when I've done the other side which might take some time! And a few more victims have joined the production line; Respraying the warning yellow really makes a difference! You'll have to trust me on that one as my photos are terrible. And I do like the reduced headlights. I'm not happy with the Railmatch NSE blue which looks dull in comparison to the original so this will have a coat of Precision NSE blue soon to try and patch paint bits in. I'm not sure what the roof colour will be. I'll probablly go for black then weather it down. If anyone knows please let me know! There is a little theme to these... I've found a flickr photo where they've been on the waterloo-exeter or paddington-oxford routes on passenger duties mostly looking battered. Thats kind of south west enough for me Happy Modelling Will

I wouldn't worry about isolated comments from someone who clearly has little ability to not recognise the awesome work you've put into this. Please keep sharing as your layout is continuing to inspire me to keep my 8ft effort going!! cheers Will

Absolutely right! A bit of an own goal there mocking compromises. I also don't think it's moaning providing feedback that I'd happily have paid more for better lighting.

I quite like the back scene's it does add some depth. Really tempted to go for a similar one on my layout.

I'd happily pay an extra 20 or so for more authentic lights. ... tbf I've not been happy with all manufacturers lights and have replaced all of mine as most are way too white.

My first thougt was light bleed but you're right they look like bi-colour lights and they should be warmer in colour. Otherwise a very nice model.

Hi Wayne An excellent respray on your 26! I'm looking forward to seeing your model of Tre Pol and Pen.... I've got a number of cornish 37s planned but am distracted with the layout and 47s at the mo As I picked them up cheap I've opted for vitrains 37s but haven't worked out a solution for getting the bogies to sit closer to the body and sorting out the underfram tanks cheers Will

Thanks Wayne. My photo setup is embarissingly simple - two white shelves (one upright propped up by a brick and the other flat on my garden table). I like to photograph outdoors so try to only take photos on a sunny day! I do use a tripod with my old bridge camera and tend to crop the image at the end (if I'm blinded by the sun and can't see my LCD viewer to get the right image). One day I plan on upgrading this setup to a more modern SLR camera... but models and shawplan stuff seem to take cash priority cheers Will

I just sent an email and I remember getting a very quick response. There are two types. The ones I've used on the bullhead track is shown with pictures of how to fold up on this link http://www.ambisengineering.co.uk/Products/Products_Index.htm There's also a slightly different version that I've used on my flat bottom track which I've found much easier to build. The etch has lots of other bits on it too for I think FB construction but I'm not sure. TBH my trackwork is mostly quest work from photos. Hope that helps and will do a few photos when I next get chance. Cheers Will

Thanks again Will! Totally agree laserglaze will make a difference. I haven't yet found any that fit and I've been badgering Brian to make some to match his frames.... however he's always got far more important things on the go! I've just fitted a crude approximation to windscreen washers and I'm now pondering whether the high intensity light is quite right. Changing that might be a step too far. Cheers Will

Hi Will Many thanks for your kind words! They're all AMBIS etches soldered to thin copper clad. I've got two types on the layout... although I'm not sure what version they are tbh! I need to build some more so if you're interested I'll post a few pictures hopefully in a week or so. It took a few attempts to get the folding looking OK. Soldered up they've made up into a pretty strong and flexible unit. On the tiebars attached to the TOU I've drilled some holes and soldered the droppers to them. I'm fitting two to each point which has really helped keep the flat bottom point's in gauge. Hope that helps! Cheers Will

I decided to have a rest from the layout and for a bit of light relief (?) I've had have a play with a Vitrains 47. I have to admit I'm growing to quite like duffs and until Heljan introduce their new and improved version the Vitrains version is my favourite. And I have a number of Vitrains to play with (cause they're cheap n cheerfull and are the easiest to convert to EM). 47600 is my prototype for trying to improve them. First up cool fan walls made from milput; I've also lost some more sanity and had a go at cantrail handrails form 0.2mm wire. I've made a jig and think I'm getting better so the next loco will hopefully be neater! I'd previously fitted the windscreens so today I've added a lamp bracket from Shawplan, (probably foldered up the wrong way but pleased with how it looks). Next up were handrails which have been made from 0.5mm wire. They all were drilled out to 0.5mm from exsiting holes. I did debate with myself on whether I should re-align the handrails by the tail lights as they're positioned a little wide but then decided against the effort involved! Maybe I've had too much sun this bank holiday and feel lazy!! Hopefully they look neat enough! In an attempt to create some uniformity I've created the hand rails from my super high tech Jig; I'll use this to create a load while watching some football on the telly. It's a shame the bank holiday is over so soon and wow it's been hot and sunny!! cheers Will

Thanks Jack! I think a man of your talents will really enjoy it cheers Will

I've been progressing with board two and trackwork is pretty much laid now. It's been wired in with the exception of installing point motors which'll probably be the next job. Plenty of detail work to do and loads of fishplates to add. Looking at this view there is probably too much track and not enough space for scenery but it'll be more fun to operate - I just hope I can come up with a convincing backdrop; I've put alot of effort into re-building the flat bottom point below but I'm really pleased with the end results; I've strengthen the extra bit of the tie bar by soldering a LED leg to it and soldered bit of brass tube to locate the point motor wire. It's practical but not elegant and hopefully I can disguise it better when I do a bit of scenery/ballasting/track detailing later, New check rails have been added and I've soldered these as well as the frog for a bit of strength. I've built a second adjustment switch and this one looks much better than the first; The original Bisley had a point built across baseboard joins which unfortuately had suffered damage.... it's now been rebuilt as a catch point with AMBIS point stretcher bars with droppers to attach to the TOU; The section of concrete track has had an attempt at elevation using my scientific (bodge it) approach of sanding down cork. I now need to trim the cork a little and hopefully I can build a platform edge that's a bit better than my pencil drawing in the photo.... Sadly there will no modelling for me for quite a while and if I get any chance it's probably going to all focussed on point motors tbh thanks for reading cheers Will

One of the flatbottom points is causing me a few challenges. It was slightly out of gauge which i think was die to it being all plastic sleeper construction and as it was a little out of position so I lifted it. My attempt at keeping it all in gauge and adding a bit of strength; I've decided to solder a couple of copper clad sleepers in the key places. The one on the left has been filed down in the middle to allow the point to switch easily. I've also tried out a different version of the AMBIS tie bars which went together better than expected. Fitting to has also helped keeping everything in gauge.... much like the real thing i guess; So far so good and a big improvement on before. I've done loads of filing of the rails and it all seems to work rather freely which is rather good especially as i can't imagine anything I've done is to be recommended by proper track builders!!! The extra long length of one of the tie bars is a give away that I've sighted the point right above a baseboard support. I'm really annoyed that i messed that up! Hopefully I can come up with a way of offsetting the point motor so it all works ok... we shall see. cheers Will

Totally agree. Really tempted to add some shawplan frames to Bachmann effort or respray hornbys efforts.... but then it all becomes a larger project.

Hi Fran and the Team! Thanks for sharing the photos. I'm really pleased you have as they have given me total confidence that when they arrive they'll be superb. The detail on them looks fantastic and I have no regrets selling on my kit built versions for these. I'm always happy to wait for a livery adjustment following seeing a model so please do share photos of all your projects going forward It's provided me with loads of confidence and I'll happily commit to your future projects that fit/loosely fit in my layouts (like a CDA Great Job Will P.S. As you've done the PFAs, now PTA tipplers which were all on my workbench to do I'd love a list of future projects.... Obviously that's commercially not viable but looking forward to the results of your survey.

Hi Rob I've also just discovered this. Looks excellent. As I'm about to head off to work and stay in hotels I know what you mean about lack of time! Cheers Will

I must be the slowest person to lay straight-ish track.... I've spent the last month or so on board two trying to do something easy. I always like to take a few photos to spot errors and things that can be improved and there are plenty of opportunities in these!! Thing is i don't find anything easy and found aligning track a little tricky tbh. This will hopefully be the middle board of the scenic section with a shorter board having a station building with the siding ends. The track leaving the top of the board is dead straight so if I ever get a bit more space I could (in theory) extend the sidings and station. The middle siding is the bay so for a bit of fun it's a combination of flat bottom and bullhead track. I've done track section panels which is probably overkill (and as I'm lazy not quite their proper length but rather suits the length of rail i had in stock as I just halved them ) If I'm being honest I'm not entirely happy with the sidings and how it flows as I messed up the siting on the sidings point on board one. Life is too short to redo that over! The long perspective and different coloured sleepers makes it look a little rough but I'm sure when painted it'll look a bit better. My long wheelbase wagons seem to stay on so it might just work! I do plan on playing trains and I think the longest traverser I can get away with in the space I have is for a 50 and four coaches.... so tried a few test shots ; The siding to the right of this is the fertiliser depot. As it's at the front of the layout i was thinking of keeping things low level but I'm getting tempted to build a larger building so that you have to look around it. When the layout has progressed a bit more I'll do some cardboard mock ups. and from the back of the layout with a DMU in the bay; Thats all for now. I'm moving onto building/fixing a few points which will keep me very quiet for a while! Please do comment and especially if you see something that looks rubbish/off and can be improved! Happy Modelling All Will

An interesting topic... after reading this on my 3.5 hour commute home (I seem to live in hotels) I'm sold on this retiring early concept. Also that despite the travelling my contractor lifestyle is ok as I really do not miss any of the HR fun! It's much simpler negotiating a rate for a bit of work/project. Some very interesting insights... thanks all for sharing. Will

To be fair that could be said about any mainstream manufacturer. They all have good and bad points. Personally I'm rather looking forward to Heljans version... Let's wait and see

Agreed - who knows as it's proabably an untested market. You could argue a great opportunity as no-one has done it before but far more risky than say a CDA Commercially I'm sure it makes better sense to sell something people buy in trainloads, like the PFA or PTAs as an individual customer will probably by quite a few per order (whoops).

I didn't vote for a 37 but a good one would save me doing loads of my vitrains.... and I'm sure Brian @ Shawplan is fed up of me asking for some underframe tanks And what better to go with a 37.. some CDAs.