Atlantic's works: Portable layout - Scenic details next

[Atlantic 3279]

ocean swell

Sorry Mr Thompson, on my first reading I missed that reversion to the puns that featured near the start of this A2/3 account! Thanks for the praise, fellow Mariner.

Now I know my "deal" with Simon was that he would get this loco back in only primer, and he would have to sort out the Brunswick Green (spits in disgust!) for himself, but.......I was getting annoyed at the ease with which the red oxide primer in particular was rubbing or chipping off from any raised metal, such as running plate edges and handrail knobs. It seemed to me that the vulnerable areas would (eventually) arrive in his hands in much more satisfactory condition were they to be protected by some harder-wearing Halfords satin black top-coat. I also felt that whilst I had reached the stage at which all of the body changes in the green areas appeared perfect, or virtually so, when in patchy grey primer, I didn't want Simon to find that it was a different story once he applied some even colour-coat. I'd already checked with Simon to see what kind of green top-coat he was planning to use, and it will be good old enamel or acrylic model paint as opposed to nearest shade of car aerosol, so I had the perfect excuse to not only finish off almost all of the altered black areas of the loco "to match" but also to apply a trial green "undercoat" to much of the remainder.
It just so happens that the shade of the trial green undercoat, which went on very satisfactorily, was Doncaster Green . So now my urge to see the loco in proper colours (albeit lacking most of its lining) is satisfied, and I can show you roughly how it looks:

As you can see, I am yet to reinstate items such as whistle, front steps, fall plate, couplings, hoses and so on. The paint is still too soft for much handling, and some of the stuff need not really go back on until that Swindon paint job is inflicted.

[Blink Bonny]

Abolutely top-hole. AND you've filled a gap in ECML steam power.

Pleae keep us posted re whether or not you intend marketing this.

And to think it was I who said "Not I'd model personally but..."

[manna]

G'Day Gents

Stunning, absolutely stunning, if my efforts turn out a loco half as good, I'll be happy.

Whats next ??.................really

manna

[S.A.C. Martin]

An A1/1 Great Northern from a Bachmann A1 if I can convince Graeme to do the dirty deed...!!!

Damn it Graeme,

I get off the plane at Luton not less than an hour ago, glance at this thread and see you've given me a very difficult choice now as it does look much better in apple green!

I think I will sleep on it and send you a full Pm when the brains not so addled from the flying.

But, dammit, it does look fantastic in Doncaster green. Only problem is that weathering really...

[Saint Johnstoun]

Fear not, Saint Johnstoun at his Kinnoull Loco Works is on the case with GREAT NORTHERN. A Hornby A3 is the best start for this conversion.

I will post pics as I progress. The whole project is also part of my producing a new version of the proposed 4-8-2 - by combining parts from several bodies I finish up with two locos.

[Atlantic 3279]

Only problem is that weathering really...

I have been finding that gentle but persistent use of a (well broken-in) glass-fibre scratch pencil, with its fibres moderately extended, removes Tom's weathering without destroying the much harder Bachmann paint and insignia beneath. I've now cleaned up the tender sides (tanks only, not frames) in readiness for a picture of the loco in a more finished state. You might get away with the part-cleaned-up, part-repainted Doncaster green under a unifying coat of satin varnish. I suppose it depends on whether it fits your overall scheme, and on whether you want to do the elaborate lining of the cab and the firebox plugs.......

[S.A.C. Martin]

I suppose it depends on whether it fits your overall scheme, and on whether you want to do the elaborate lining of the cab and the firebox plugs.......

It's the lining out which scares me to the point where I know in my head that I'm right to go for the full brunswick green finish.

But you've done an impeccable job Graeme, and who am I to rob you of a little fun with the Doncaster Green paint?

[davidwest]

Looks quite excellent - far better than my DJH model.

[Atlantic 3279]

Thanks David.

But Simon, it looks so nice in this colour, especially with the steps, the whistle and the cylinder drains refitted, the cab roof in black, the sand fillers all painted to match, and the tender sides un-weathered, although I'm not volunterring to do the lining in this case. Surely Mick will tell you how to line it out easily to a perfect standard in no time at all

In a short while (food first) I'll show you what the front end now does on 2nd radius curves...

[coachmann]

Writing as a champion of the A2-2 and A2-3, it is the best looking model of a Thompson A2 I've seen. I'm pretty sure we will get one from the plastic RTR guys one day and so it must be the ferocious prejudice of so-called LNER enthusiasts that have held things back for so long. I cannot imagine this happening on the LMS with modellers saying they dont want a Black Five because it was designed by that pesky Swindon chappy.

I suspect the green part of the roof should be black. While it was undoubtedly painted green in the 1920s it seems to have gone over to black paint when the non-GNR type tenders came in with thier tops painted black.

[S.A.C. Martin]

I tell you what Graeme - if we can find someone who'd finish it off, paintwise, "on the cheap", I'll relent and keep it as 60500 in the LNER apple green livery with BR branding...! (My compromise to the proceedings )

I'm utterly convinced by the merit of this conversion and have already begun hoarding another Peppercorn A2 to get another in a slightly different guise with a banjo dome and lipped chimney. Overall Graeme, you've worked your magic once again, we have what can only be described as "perfect".

[Saint Johnstoun]

Superb Work Graeme, its a shame so many people decried the work of ET but to be historically correct every LNER or Eastern/North Eastern/Scottish Region layout should have one!

ATC

[Atlantic 3279]

it is the best looking model of a Thompson A2 I've seen

Praise indeed. You are too kind!

I suspect the green part of the roof should be black

Always an awkward decision, although I imagine your wealth of painting experience ought to put you in a knowledgeable position on that point. One image of No 500 in the RCTS book provided a faint suggestion of possible green livery below the rainstrip, whilst all other A2/3 images suggested black paint or black grime in that area. It occurred to me that it was less bother to later apply black over green as a correction, than to apply mid green over black...

Kind words again from ATC too, for which I am very grateful.

Do you know any first class painters who do work on the cheap Simon?

IT WOULD SEEM THAT I NEED TO GET ON WITH WRITING UP SOME DECENT, ILLUSTRATED DETAILS OF THE VALVE GEAR ADAPTATION, WITHOUT INCLUDING ANY DODGY HEATH-ROBINSON TECHNIQUES, AND THEN WORK OUT COSTS FOR PARTS AND / OR ALL-IN CONVERSIONS. Will an orderly queue then form

Now returning to behaviour on second radius Toytown curves, I think I've arrived at the best possible compromise, but we are down to "fag paper" clearances at the opposite extremities of the bogie depending on precise track conditions.

In this first image, the loco is "deep into" a 2nd rad curve, the rear wheels of the bogie (now moved back a little) are brushing lightly on the cylinder fronts and drains at times, and both the leading wheels and the frame of the bogie have brushed by the rear of the steps and gone outboard of these, but at no time was the loco reluctant to enter/follow the curve. Note that I had, in the end, to take off the rear projection of the lower step tread:

In the second image the loco is in transition from straight to curve, with the leading wheels just brushing past the lower corner of the steps, but at this stage there's still daylight between the rear wheels and the cylinders. The features on the front frame extensions also show up properly in black.

[S.A.C. Martin]

Do you know any first class painters who do work on the cheap Simon?

Only the dodgy ones!

I'll have a think about whether I want to go LNER livery or BR livery. The attraction of the BR livery is that I know I can do it: I have never done a full LNER repaint and I'd be a bit out of my depth.

However, there's a first time for everything!

Will an orderly queue then form

*Queues up dutifully.

Now returning to behaviour on second radius Toytown curves, I think I've arrived at the best possible compromise, but we are down to "fag paper" clearances at the opposite extremities of the bogie depending on precise track conditions.

In this first image, the loco is "deep into" a 2nd rad curve, the rear wheels of the bogie (now moved back a little) are brushing lightly on the cylinder fronts and drains at times, and both the leading wheels and the frame of the bogie have brushed by the rear of the steps and gone outboard of these, but at no time was the loco reluctant to enter/follow the curve. Note that I had, in the end, to take off the rear projection of the lower step tread:

In the second image the loco is in transition from straight to curve, with the leading wheels just brushing past the lower corner of the steps, but at this stage there's still daylight between the rear wheels and the cylinders. The features on the front frame extensions also show up properly in black.

It'll be fine for my toytown curves, I am sure. It won't be doing anything particularly arduous for a few years, until I start dismantling the current set and replacing it with a much better (fourth radius) roundy round...!

[S.A.C. Martin]

I suspect the green part of the roof should be black

Always an awkward decision, although I imagine your wealth of painting experience ought to put you in a knowledgeable position on that point. One image of No 500 in the RCTS book provided a faint suggestion of possible green livery below the rainstrip, whilst all other A2/3 images suggested black paint or black grime in that area. It occurred to me that it was less bother to later apply black over green as a correction, than to apply mid green over black...

Sorry, just noticed this. Page 112 of Peter Grafton's book shows 60500 in apple green livery, numbered 500 (but with British Railways on the tender), no front numberplate, four piece boiler bands, and the roof painted black to the outer edges, and below the rain strip. The photograph below that one shows 511 with the same arrangement on the cab roof. I can only speculate that this didn't change when painted dark green?