dj_crisp

Hi Andy Thanks! I've resprayed a Mainline liveried 37 used exec grey and it has a brown tint to it which doesn't match the power car. Looking at the photos that were kindly posted, the Lima colour looks closer to the prototype to me so I'm tempted to try and find something. cheers Will

I've long admired many projects and people's workbenches featured on RMweb so thought I'd share a few of mine in the hope they may be of interest to others. Also maybe my photography skills might improve!! My overall project is somewhere in the south in the 1990s. I'm not too bothered about being exact so some of my stuff is late 80's eventually creeping into 2000. I've decided to try EM out... mostly as i want to have some kind of wheel standard so decided to replace RTR wheels and EM seemed a logical choice for my slap dash abilities. Anyway waffle over, here's a Heljan 58 that I'm progressing. Some door protectors to fit and then some weathering. I've done some homemade glazing from lexan plastic sheet as I'm not a fan of the factory fitted stuff A few livery details have been corrected (black door and picked out the side grills). I also had an old railmatch grill which I've fitted, mostly because my model had some damage in that area and i've had a go at suggesting a few cab interior details (What i like about photographing my models is other than focussing on my mess ups I notice things like a missing cab step...! No idea where that is.) Finally a rather nice Express Models Lighting kit has been added, a decoder, kadees and a set of Blackbeetle 14mm wheels from Branchlines. I do have a soft spot for Cromptons and Eastleigh was one of my favs so had to have a go. I can't decide if with a few roof mods I can get away with the old Heljan 33/0. I think it looks a little better with some filing but is probably stil too flat And compared to a 33/1 Happy Modelling cheers Will

Well project HST has started.... This ones going to take a while (I've ordered some ultrascale wheels.... but i bet they arrive before this is finished) Basic project will be upgrading two lima HST sets, one in exec the other swallow livery. They'll comprise of about 5 coaches each due to my space limitations. The warning panel yellow was really rough where the paint had been badly sprayed by lima so I started sanding it down assuming I'd have to respray. It smoothed off nicely and I've coated it with a satin varnish and l think I'm going to get away with it. The white line has has been touched up in parts and handrail picked out. So onto a colour match test for my MK3s.... I just happen to be repsraying a Vi 37 into general grey and thought I'd try Halfords volvo dark grey for the roof. This has also been varnished and I don't think it's a good match for the Lima power car... And then looking at the power car the grey is quite dark, closer to falcon grey of the swallow livery. My experimental MK3 has had it's window frames removed and sanded down. Next time I'm going to gloss varnish the red and white strip as the "protective" masking tape took the lining clean off in places!! So I'm not sure what to do with the paint match issue as I want the set to look like a.. set. cheers Will

Your Vi 47 is looking great! I'm looking forward to seeing how this turns out. The one good thing about Vitrains is I'm learning how to feather in with Railmatch paints! (Nameplates always seem to be oversized) Cheers Will

That is an excellent spot.. Very interesting and the band is noticeable on the buffet. Cheers

Thanks! I'm always interested in using halfords rattle cans for bulk spraying of roofs and things like that. Which livery did you match volvo dark grey with? cheers

Thanks! I shall try out Railmatch and see how it looks. I'm just experimenting with one coach at the moment before attempting sound a batch. Will put up some photos when I'm a bit further down the line. Thanks for the photo... really helpfull. that's the first I've seen with the beige being a bit higher on the roof line. I'm attempting a the revised version so I think I'll simply the whole roof. Cheers!

Hi I'very just started my HST project... A lima Intercity Swallow and an Intercity Executive set. This'll keep me busy for a while! I'm updating the lima mk3s and will be fitting shawplan's window frames. It means that I'll need to paint match Lima's Executive Grey and Swallow Grey. Does anyone know a good paint match? Also on the executive version I noticed that lima painted a beige strip onto the roofs. I can't find a prototype for this... is it correct? A number of mine have damaged roofs so I think I just need to respray them into the same grey as the side... but wondered if I should include the beige. Cheers Will

Yep I agree on the front windows being slightly out on the 33/1. I think as soon as heljans horrible glazing is ditched for laserglaze the model looks pretty good. I'm happy with some compromises but can't get over the new roof on the 33/0 which is mostly what I'll be looking at!

The most successful 33/0 I've seen are modifying a Heljan 33/1 body shell. One day I think I'll have a go...

I commuted for 2 years to west croydon around 2003. I remember the connex slam doors were quite good fun... jumping out onto the platform just as the train stopped!

Looking good and great progress!

Hi Shed Thanks for the photos. .. They do look good. Which means I'm really looking forward to seeing your efforts as I'm sure they'll be even better! Cheers Will

Hi Shed I'm really enjoying following your progress. .. Some great stuff that is helping me keeping motivated in my projects! Did you (in an older thread) once build the stewarts lane shed... I seem to remember one that looked superb. Cheers Will

I also had problems with the chassis of 31110. ... although managed to source a new one off ebay and sold the disintegrated one to someone fitting a lima body. If course I now fancy doing the same!

Exactly my thoughts. .. I thought they'd messed up the roof profile but there are prototype photos that appear to have this indentation. It's strange though as on some it looks less noticeable. Overalll looks a great model

An interesting read. I was just trying to paint match a vitrains 37 using Railmatch rail grey and have the opposite problem... it's too grey without the brown tint. When searching on rmweb archive there is someone who matched the same loco perfectly using rail grey.. !

I ditch Heljan circuit boards and lights... (have a few spare if anyone wants them). I either do home made circuits using leds or be lazy and fit express models kits, which are rather nice. I believe Brian at shawplan is planning some bodyside grills... everyone please pester him! He'll certainly sort out the look of the bodyside

It's a no win situation! However the new 33s are anything like the older ones it's easy to pop the details off the buffer beams. The old details were so brittle they seemed to brake themselves in my case... Vitrains get critised for all the bits to fit yet I like them for that reason.... stripped and ready for improving!

Their class 60 for me. Although the o1 looks very smart.

Evening all. Thanks for the photos! I like the new roof profile.... looks about right to me and overall the front looks good. I notice there is some improvement with the bogies too. Being picky... the bodyside grills don't do it for me. I prefer the molded versions but I reckon should Brian @ shawplan have a go the side profile will look good. It's probably just me but it's the first time I've noticed the front handrails looking heavy. I was very interested in the construction livery version... numbering spoils what is a nice livery. My guess is the bodyside lifting handles will prevent the loco going round 1st radius. It's nice that we're spoilt these days with excellent models

Excellent photo! Thanks

Thanks Peter! Will have a go myself (as soon as I some 1mm rod!) One thing that sticks out to me is the body lifting handles (especially on mine as the 33116 had them painted them yellow). - Have you had you tried anything? Also i hope you don't mind one last question - how did you get such a clean cut for the centre bogie springs? Thanks again Will

Excellent work. I'm in the progress of improving my 33s and saw this thread. What size brass rod did u use for the exhausters? Thanks Will