My random workbench thread

Some painting progress tonight and a long way to go. The surface texture takes paint well though, which is not always the case with laser-cut structures in my experience.

Matt

 

Meant to be Far North Line, mid-80's. Difficult to find definitive photos of the prototype Cabin in that period.

I can't tell if the original was white or grey but the woodwork appears to be faded blue.

It certainly wasn't cream, so my box is already being re-painted as I type!

Matt

 

Thanks both for the replies.

I got my first round of painting badly wrong - I used a very pale cream colour and then, concerned at it's pale-ness, tried to tweak the colour using oil paints as a filter. But I got carried away and overdid it and ended up with an almost yellow shade!

So, back to the drawing board with round 2. Having trawled Flickr and my reference material, I think a pale grey, as per York Paul's comment is more appropriate. I'm mid way through the repaint now and it's certainly less garish!

Matt

 

Hi all,

First a disclaimer: I'm no expert when it comes to coaching stock. I've never paid much attention to them, real or model.

Over the last ten years or so, I've bought the odd coach when a bargain presented itself - all Mk1's or Mk2's. My collection now stands at a mighty four!

Despite this, they've never been run and in fact the only times they've even been out of their boxes is to be looked at occasionally.

Recently my interest has been piqued. I started looking around at blue/grey Mk1's and two things jumped out at me:

1 - they're in pretty short supply and the prices can be eye watering at times.
2 - my coaches are the earliest releases with really prominent roof ribs.

So, not being one for an easy life, I've decided to sort the roofs out the hard way - sanding them down by hand.

It's not a difficult job, it's just really boring and you have to be careful not to damage the vents.



This is an FK in case you're wondering.

I did think about sanding off the vents and replacing them after, but decided to do it the long way.

Anyway, this is what a Sunday evening of sanding gets you:





I'm going to make a few basic detail tweaks to mine, but nothing major as they're good enough for me otherwise.

Matt

 

Hello all,

I'm planning a new layout in the far future, and one thing I will need is some parcels stock.

The first item is an ex-blue spot SPV, built from the Parkside kit. I had one of these "in stock" but for some reason, it had no underframe parts at all. I've no recollection of what I used the parts for, or if I bought it without for some reason, but either way, I've had to scratchbuild everything from the body down.





I decided to really push myself so the solebars are plastic and the brake gear is a mix of scratchbuilt, adapted and bits of etch.



The roof isn't fixed in place yet hence the gap visible above the door.

Apart from axleboxes, this is now ready for painting.

Next is a Lima CCT. I bought two of these second hand over five years ago, and they did feature intermittently on my old Talerddig thread. I never really finished them though and they went into storage several years ago.

I'd originally grafted some Parkside w-irons in place and my initial plan was just to accept the inaccuracy and detail it up. Unfortunately the glued joints had become quite brittle over the years and didn't last long. Plan B was then to fit etched w-irons by adapting the Lima underframe.

Unfortunately I carelessly sanded the solebars too thin and they snapped which meant plan c was required!

So a new floor and solebars have been built to allow the etched w-irons to be fitted. I'll be re-using the original battery boxes as they're pretty nice. As with the SPV, the remaining brake gear will be a mix of parts.



Matt

 

Thanks Paul!

I'm going away with the family for a few days as it's half term, so progress is inevitably going to stop.

I have now transplanted the battery boxes across and made a start on some of the other underframe details - all from the spares box so far.



I've also made a start on sanding the roof ribs down. Please also note that the buffers are yet to be glued in place - so if they look wonky, it's because they are!

Matt

 

I went away for a week with the family - which was great - but it ruined my enthusiasm and flow at the bench!

I've plodded on very slowly with the CCT and carried on adding details to the underframe and solebars.



I've also sanded down the roof ribs and fitted new vents.



Matt

 

Hi all,

Somewhat predictably, parcels progress has slowed with both the SPV and CCT. Rather than force the issue, I've done what all good modellers do - turn my attention to something different!

A few posts back I mentioned coaches. Once again I must reiterate that I'm no expert, but whereas before I had no interest, I do now.

I started building up a small collection of Mk1's, but came to realise I can justify a few Mk2's as well - especially the aircon variety.

Most, if not all my coaches will be blue/grey so this being inter-city executive is an exception. I picked it up from ebay for a bargain price and being an outlier, it made it a good place to start practicing the modifications and details I intend replicating across all my Mk2's.

Initially I looked at the Bachmann Mk2f's, but I'd need to remortgage the house just to buy a handful, even at used prices, so quickly settled on the Hornby Mk2e and f's. They're not as refined, but I have been able to buy a few at far more wallet friendly prices!

The first job was to remove the four lumps on the roof that are meant to represent the grab handles and replace them with wire.



That done, I turned my attention to the bufferbeam steps. I pondered these for a while and considered leaving them off. But, having noticed them, I couldn't ignore them.

I read a thread where someone used some Stenson HEA steps, but in the end made my own from scrap etch folded and soldered together.



A small detail, but hopefully worth the effort.

Lastly, I replaced the handrails with wire and added some cosmetic detail to the corridor connector (the outer one only).



Please note that the body isn't clipped in place here.

I'll also be repainting the body - the ends need patching up as visible here - but also I've filled (and sanded) the moulding pips on the roof, and there's some scuffing on the bodysides too.

Matt

 

Quick Sunday project - finishing off the interior of my Parkside 13t wagon after 6 months!



Certainly better than unpainted plastic!

Matt