My models (some LNER)

[Manxman1831]

Today marks the first major running of 'Warspite' on any metals, and I'm reasonably happy with the performance. Just need to get a hold of works plates (possibly Doncaster for this and Darlington for 'Leader'), give it a number (maybe 4915) and buy nameplates from 247 Developments when I see them next.

http://youtu.be/F0DbCIEuPXc

[2002EarlMarischal]

Striking models showing great imagination and bravery, produced in double-quick time too! I'm sure they will generate much comment wherever you run them.

[Manxman1831]

Afternoon, folks. Been playing trains rather than trams recently, and got a few shots off. Also, a bit of a puzzle at the end... "Can you guess what it is yet?"

[WOOTANG]

manxman
some quality modelling
1 thing can we have a closer look at the beyer garrett please

[Manxman1831]

The P2, W1 and railcar are all my dad's models (Lord President built for my sister who started off wanting an A4, then saw this chunky one in the RCTS volume - now there's a story for another time).

The U1 is someone else's model, but is not all that photogenic. Best viewed from 4-5ft or more, and has been bent to blazes in a lot of areas. I will photograph it next time I'm down at Ruddington, but you have been warned.

[Blink Bonny]

Ay up!

Another 4-8-2, eh? Looking forward to this!

[Manxman1831]

Ay up!

Another 4-8-2, eh? Looking forward to this!

Not quite. An alternative body for the 4-8-2, as I don't have enough bits left over to do a full chassis for another one. I'd need to source valve gear, front bogie and hanger, Cartazzi frames and a full tender set-up. Not this time around.

[Manxman1831]

Today's progress so far. Yet another scrapped plastic body wrap with a bit saved to act as a fill for the outer skin over the firebox. My intent is to plug a double-sided former into the smokebox end to hold the shape of the boiler 'tube' and to start the actual shape of the smokebox with its deflector assembly.

Looking ever more closely at the pictures I took of the drawings in RCTS 10A, I'm more convinced than before that the '46 designs were to have been 4-cylinder machines.

[Manxman1831]

And a bit more progress from today. I've set myself a deadline of getting this body ready for display purposes if not fully completed by next weekend. Model show down at NTHC near Ruddington, Nottingham, just off the A60 towards Loughborough, that weekend.

[Manxman1831]

After my controversial musings on Bachmann A1's, I thought it best to show some of my own progress for today - giving my representation of the Feb '46 4-8-2 a face, going with my own notion that at least one of the designs from 1946 was to have been a 4-cylinder monster, I've gone with this one. No idea why, it just seemed right looking at the layout of the front end.

Looking at the proposed design, there appears to be a cut-out behind the upsweep of the smokebox cowling into which the superheater snifter valve would have been located. Is this a case of my eyes playing tricks, or is this really the case? I'm holding off building the surround until I know more.

[Manxman1831]

Today's progress, and it's only lunchtime...

[Manxman1831]

Final one of the day - wet paint kind of stops more progress.

[Manxman1831]

A little update with my representation of the Feb '46 4-8-2 - hope this gives a few ideas for you, Jim.

[2002EarlMarischal]

Brian,

I am most impressed by your ability to create these interesting shapes, and so quickly too - very well done.

I have really struggled so far with Plastikard, but I am concerned about the textured finish which has resulted from your clever use of paper. I see that you have of course painted the models, but I wonder whether you have any ideas for achieving a smooth finish using this method?

Perhaps thinner Plastikard would be a viable option? Trouble is, I find that the glues I use actually melt Plastikard if I am too generous with application!


Jim

[Manxman1831]

Don't worry, the textured finish will "hopefully" be getting smoothed out by using an old sanding block, and plenty of care, to take the paint down to the paper. Any paint in the 'cracks' should help with the smoothing. A healthy coating of varnish and a few more coats of paint also help with smoothing put the final appearance.

I've only been using the watercolour paper as this is what my partner had to hand at the time of my making the production Hush-Hush, and had plenty left over for this. I have tried to make the wrap out of 10thou plasticard, and found that the glue was eating at it (too much glue with hindsight, and should have used superglue). Another thing I have found - using the elderly plastic FS body, the plastic is a lot less friendly towards the more modern Humbrol and Revell liquid glues, hence the reversion back to the method I know and has worked in the past. I don't know why there should be such a difference in the plastic between the 60022 and the 4472 bodies, but there is.

With much hindsight, I perhaps should have used plain thick paper, or thin card, instead of the watercolour paper for the bodies that I have used it on, in order to get a smoother finish, but I can work around it. My story for the W1/3 is that rather than it having a strapped on cladding, the wrap is welded together - covers the lack of absolute smoothness with the paper. For the Feb '46, I'm going to be painting/varnishing and smoothing until it is at an acceptable level. And then, I apply boiler bands to break up the large flat surface and hide any lasting imperfections with the finish.

I think that in future, I should stick to 6-coupled locos, or smaller, particularly if I wish to run them on the trainset at my parents.