Ben Alder's workbench

Thanks - butchering locos is something I've had a lean towards all my adult modelling life; it's the only way to get things running on those swathes of the network ignored by the RTR firms...

I'll take a quick look at another build now, which grew in the making. I had done an M7 to Caley tank conversion some years ago, when the new model appeared but it had serious flaws in it, so a plan was hatched to buy a DJH kit to copy from and then sell it on once the job was done. Eventually I got a bargain one from ebay and started to alter the existing one, but along the way it became apparent that it would be easier to build the kit and scrap the old body. This was done, and it shows in one or two of the photos. However, this is an aside because I came across GA drawings for three proposed HR 0-4-4 tanks, a large, medium and small version. The small one was the only one of the three to make it to reality, and the last survivors worked the Dornoch branch till their end. The large proposal screamed M7 at me - although not a Drummond engine, it seems likely that the two brothers conferred on this as dimensionally it is almost an exact copy of the LSWR engine.

Here is the drawing.



And an M7 set in front of it.



Work on it was straightforward - widen the cab doorway, raise the bunker section, replace boiler fittings and put together again... just like an Airfix kit really Couple of shots of WIP here.











And one of the conversion in front of the inspiration.



The Caley tanks were widely used throughout Scotland, so it is likely that the HR one would have been a useful addition to their fleet, but never came to pass.... except here; probably the only model around of this type.....

As you can see from the photos, I like to have two builds on the go at once - it means I can flit from one to the other while things are setting or a problem arises that needs some pondering... The DJH kit was a treat to put together, mainly soldered with 100 degree solder, and a Hornby chassis fitted. The rear bogie is off a bit, but isn't noticeable to the eye.

Addendum - I didn't bother with original HR boiler fittings as these things were changed around a lot during refits, so used ones that other Highland engines carried in later life, to a uniformity in these matters.

 

Cheers; no further work planned on it - one of the advantages of a never was - you can do what you want with it to an extent....

 

Thurso shed has had a make over - its origins go back over thirty years and has been on at least three other layouts before this one, but it was intended to replace it at some stage. It was rather generic, with Airfix windows and roof vents, and made with Wills sheets butt jointed and a floor built in which has actually proved surprisingly robust and warp free over the decades. Here is a shot of the rather basic construction.

The white reinforcers are new additions; I obviously decided against such fripperies for the original build

Anyway, it arrived at the bench for dismantling and to act as a template for its replacement, but when I examined it I realised I could get away with an upgrade rather than a complete new build. Basically the near side was replaced and the existing walls padded out to a more prototypical thickness. Lochgorm arched shed window etches were used this time and apertures were cut out of Wills stone sheet and trimmed to fit - a time consuming job with some filling and shaping but eventually got there. I made them so that the etches just sat in the openings to give a measure of depth to them - the existing windows were flush with the outer surface, which had niggled me for some time now.



Here is a shot showing the prepared side with the etches glued on to glazing sheet that would hold them in place. This didn't work out as well as I had hoped - started with Klear and had to resort to superglue for some of them; which was a bit annoying as I have used this method before successfully -



The insides of the shed were given a layer of 3mm foamboard attached with solvent free Evostick - window apertures cut out beforehand .

Then a Slaters stone sheet was added on top of it and eventually whitewashed and weathered.



I didn't take many pics of all this but here is the new wall being tried out against the carcass.



Further work included fitting smoke vents and lowering some of the office windows and shifting and adding chimneys - a lot of new images of the HR scene have appeared these last thee years or so and I have gathered much more than I had in 2012 when I last altered this, and hopefully it now is more passable than before. I also put in the circular opening above the doors that was a feature of several such sheds, although by the time I model most were boarded over or slatted, but I have left it glazed. Lochgorm also do a set of shed doors, which I am swithering over as few survived in use latterly although Wick still had a set at one end of the shed. I might do them as a plug in add on for photos if I ever run out of things to do...

An interior was added with inspection pits and boarded flooring, using cut down Peco pits as I couldn't face the destruction that would ensue by cutting into the blockboard tops, but I had enough depth with the foam topping and track height to get by with a shallower pit. HR pits were not deep anyway, usually only three steps down.

Finally, a couple of shots showing it bedded in on the layout - it is removeable to allow for access.

And some light filtering in from outside...

 

Coming....!