Class 27 From kit to completion.

Here is one of the bogies dressed with brake rigging, suspension and cab steps. The eagle eyed will note that I had to remove the inner brake hanger pull rods because with them fitted they prevented the removal of the inner bogie ... a situation I don't believe will go down well with buyers of the new kit, so a quick discussion with Toto instructed me to keep these inner rods off from the build as they would not be that visible anyway. Another area I feel would benefit considerably in the detailing process is the inclusion of sandpipes and some of the air pipe plumbing for the brake pistons, all easily achieved and potentially a necessary detail.

 

Glad you like them Toto... so lets bring on the pre-production builds. I'll update the forum again at the weekend as the bogies fit to the mainframe and then the cab interior build. Highlander Models will certainly kick ass in the diesel kit build range for sure and I'm not being arrogant either just honest.

 

I suspect the situation becomes a trade off between achieving authenticity and producing a kit which the average "middle of the road" kit builder will enjoy making. All of us model builders here may well deal with 14BA nuts and screws and taking the challenges that come with such sizes in our stride, however Toto has to steer his product to avoid a reputation which frightens potential buyers because they may think the "buildability" is beyond their particular skill or their range of bench tools. From experience kits gain a good reputation if the build experience has been a pleasure and if it is a pleasure then the kit is worth the investment and the buyer will purchase more... I know which etch brass diesel kits currently on the market to avoid because they don't deliver on what their label says or their design falls short of an expected acceptable standard. I won't name names but I have a £200 conversion kit designed for a BBT Hymek which might as well go straight into the dustbin, such products should be consigned to a modellers museum to show how things used to be done thirty five years ago.

 

This is as far as the bogie build goes in grey primer, I'm going to spray it black now but before I do it seemed a good opportunity to take a few more pics on the now completed Llangollen display diorama as grey always photos better than black. I'm not going to do anymore on the diorama as I've taken it as far as possible without "overdoing" the foliage detail ... it looks a bit like the railway capturing the essence somewhere along the banks of the Dee between Berwyn tunnel and Deeside Halt, I just haven't modelled the full slopes. But then it could be said it represents anywhere.

 

And now reassembled again in a coat of black and straight out of the heater. Second bogie follows tonight.

 

Now this concludes today's work... a close up with detail against white background.

 

That is a good question Pete, I'm happy to do either, personally speaking I'd suggest maybe a light weathering as this creates a more natural type situation but I will be guided by the main consensus of opinion. As this is a Platform 1 venture it may be a good idea to throw this open to all members so get a collective viewpoint, I don't want to be seen to "impose" my interpretation but feel all our members should say and we go with the one that is most popular... a Platform 1 poll maybe? Bearing in mind that I believe LLangollen are expecting something in the green livery and not Rail Blue or Grey sector livery.

Over now to all you good folks out there.

 

like wot they say above ^ ... now I just got invited to join the Llangollen Diesel Group which is not a public site... OMG just LOOK how privileged I must be ... sorry chaps not going mad its just a current Platform 1 in house joke about responsibilities appertaining to Highlander Models seriously I have seen pictures of the repaint going on right now which is top class but interestingly the Group have opted for Green with Grey roof but no off white banding and full yellow ends, BR totem on sides also... an unusual and very nice choice. So I wonder if this livery variant is what they will be expecting? Lightly weathered wouldn't matter I don't think but it certainly makes air brushing easier for me as there is a lot less masking out for colour changes.