Atlantic's works: Portable layout - Scenic details next

[Atlantic 3279]

Okay, so I know I'm stretching the "LNER" envelope somewhat here, but Bulleid was for long an LNER man, was thoroughly involved in the P2s, I read somewhere that he wanted originally to build 2-8-2s for the Southern, and we've been on a bit of a naval theme above anyway (albeit Royal rather than Merchant). In order to help to cheer up any sad soccer fans amongst us after THE INGERLAND's utter humiliation by Germany, I therefore offer the amusement of an outline of what might have been Bulleid's Boat-Train Bruiser:

[mistahjim]

I can live with the envelope being stretched in those directions. The locomotive doesn't look like too much of a stretch from the original either. A use for that Dapol kit I have lying around maybe....

[52D]

Im sorry Mr Bullied but your 2-8-2 has been catching fire in its oil baths can you please rebuild it.

[Atlantic 3279]

Going back to the earlier discussion about printing namplates. Not so "simples" I found. Firstly, using my programming, it was not possible to reduce the plates to scale size unless the pixel count in the original image was reduced (giving unnacceptable final image quality) or the plate image was first pasted into a larger image and the bigger picture then reduced. Some silly quirk relating to a minimum image size I guess?
Also, the "brass" areas of the plates did not print out to anything like a brassy colour when using the original settings, in fact they were virtually white. I had to re-colour these areas of the image in a much more vivid orangey yellow.

[coachmann]

Re the Bullied 2-8-2, a letter from the board....

"Sorry Mr. Bullied but enough is enough and we are turfing this one out. We have no doubt it (2-8-2) will cure the slipping problems of the Pacific design and it might give a more direct line to Devon when it straightens out the curves, but our shareholders are looking enviously at the LMS Ivatt designs, fearing your Pacifics might tip our company into bankrupcy should Nationalization exclude the Southern Railway. With this in mind, we feel your novel designs might be put to better use in one of the emerging plastic raincoat factories."

[Atlantic 3279]

It seems like nobody understood poor Ollie.......

[S.A.C. Martin]

Here's one I forgot earlier - how the 4-8-2 might look with double chimney as "Indefatigable".

Looks good to me!

Loving the way you've created the spare chimneys, inspirational.

[rob]

Wow on the whole project Graeme,really interesting and great work on the chimneys,I know how horrible polyester resin is to work with,really ingenious stuff all round!
May I formally request you proceed with the Bullied as per plans depicted?!....theres always the later rebuilt version too...I tend to agree with 52D,can't let those oil bath fires continue!

[Atlantic 3279]

As you'll see Rob, I've replied on your territory.

Whilst I've not posted any progress with the 4-8-2 during my spell of "O4 variant mania", I have been getting on with further coats of matching blue on the body alterations and some satin varnish to those areas. I've also been making yet more adjustments to the nameplate colour prints that I mentioned earlier. After becoming dissatisfied with the "vivid" colour of the letters that I'd tried, especially when seen in daylight against the truer "brass" paint colour used to touch up the cut edges of the plates, I've now moved on to a "two-tone" toffee colour for the characters and edgings with jet black for the whole background, which looks reasonably realistic, as I hope I'll be able to show in due course.
Still got numbers, cab window details, and primer+black paint to add to the chassis extension. Will I paint the backhead details too? No rush to decide/do that at this stage.
If all goes really well a set of better valve gear may be deserved.

[mick b]

Try here for nameplates

http://www.narrowplanet.co.uk/?utm_sour ... paign=post

[coachmann]

Thanks to the person that directed me to Isinglass (my memory is lousy at present), the scale drawings for class 04/7 arrived today. I'm now on the lookout for a suitable post 1940s short chimney and flat top dome....

[Atlantic 3279]

Thanks Mick B, I've added that one to my "favourites" list, although for the moment I'm determined to get something out of my printing process now that I've spent so much time trying!

[Atso]

Looking good Graham. If you're looking to create the name plates using a printer why not try printing onto vinyl? You can get hold of inkjet printable vinyl from a well know internet auction site. I've used this method in the past for my LNER version of Green Arrow (although I've got some etched plates now to fit) - the look is acceptable in N although a plastic backing plate would most likely still be needed for a 4mm loco (I just can't call your models OO! ).

[Atlantic 3279]

I should be able to reveal some nameplates printed on photo paper shortly, but here are a couple of pictures to show one of those resin copies of a double chimney fitted (temporarily at present) in place of the single chimney that originally graced my 4-8-2. A little filing of the sloping (and slightly too curved) base of the chimney was neeeded towards the rear to flatten it off so as to sit more neatly on the slope of the firebox front, and there's still a slight gap mid way along each side of the chimney base which will need no more than the adhesive to fill it, I believe. The primer-coated surface of the chimney still needs a little cleaning up, and the whistle needs to be re-fitted in its new position, but I'm happy that all will be well.

Here's the area that needed a few light strokes of a flat file:

More time for modelling this weekend than I anticipated - day trip to NYMR cancelled as Mrs Atlantic3279 not well enough to go.

[Atlantic 3279]

After positioning the dry chimney "by eye" and double checking by measurement that it was central, I decided to apply some masking tape to the smokebox front in order to act both as a position guide and to shield the paintwork from any overspill of glue.

I then cleaned and abraded the base of the chimney and contact area on the smokebox, and used quick epoxy to fix the chimney in place.
Those pieces in the background are the firebox backhead and the spacer that makes the backhead protrude further into the cab as if the firebox were longer, as per the drawn scheme for the 4-8-2 in RCTS 10A.

For the purposes of showing the fit of the resin-copy chimney (with one quick coat of black paint and whistle blu-tacked into its hole) and some of the printed alternative nameplates that I've produced, here are some more images. Feel free to pass opinion on the printed plates (not as good as etched ones, I know) and on the names, i.e. "vote" if you like.

Chimney fit in close up, front/left side