Time to start a place for what's coming through the SMR workshop. The SMR workshop caters for all the curly problems that others give up on, from the "it just won't go" to "I've got all the parts I think" usually missing that critical bit, Then there's the models that have met a sad end and a rescue attempt is under way. Some times the models in the works are new from modellers that decide pulling apart the latest purchase to install a decoder or lights isn't for them. Often these projects take up a good chunk of my modelling time But it is something a enjoy. (Explains why my plank hasn't progressed) So at the end of today 1 Broadway limited ON30 loco decoder recovered from being totally inoperative about an hour on JMRI and 2 Bachman locos fitted with decoders One a straight forward plug n play 21pin set up plus tune, the second a GWR ROD a curly one, a short if you plugged in a decoder ended up being the 21pin board with a miss trace that would short power to the function side of a decoder not good customer supplied a 8 pin decoder so the dodgy 21pin board was replaced with a 8 pin to end up with a plug n play for the owner and the decoder set up using JMRI Then on to a loco rebuild of a classic brass NSW 32 class was a basket case missing parts short in the chassis, it came to me in a couple of food container now a running example of one of these are valued around $800-$900 mark or £400 so it's worth fixing. So far so good and the loco runs again I need to source some correct screws to replace the missing / damaged ones and finish the tender rebuild bogies done body next and then fit the DCC decoder and speaker, correctly job for another day. A full bench of models Attached files
A quick video of the Brass 32 class all back together damage repaired, missing bits replaced and paint work repaired and having a test run. Click image below for video Brass NSWGR C32 class test run by CHRIS, on Flickr In the works
Thanks Toto it's gone back to its owner now. He should be happy Going for a trip to Sydney with a friend, in the morning to visit a few hobby shops to get a few Goodies and may be a shiny
Typical modellers work bench ! The 32 Class sounds great and looks great too, excellent video. I have a brass 32 in my collection which could do with your touch... Speaking of repairs, I have an old Bergs Brass 55 Class and a set of driving wheels has collapsed around the connecting rods. Would you be interested in looking at it ?? You can say NO ! So, are you shoe-horning sound into that little Sentinel ?? Cheers, Gary.
Gary wrote: No problems Gary re the 32 and the 55. Can't promise anything with the 55 I've come across a few with the cast section of the wheels gone porous and they just keep falling apart until there is nothing left but if it is reparable I'll get it rolling again. May be a case for replacing the wheel set altogether with the ones from the DJH kit "Romford" from memory. Sentinal No sound was just another basic DCC install it's the same as my NCB one needed a good run in on the rollers
Toto wrote: A successful day out 2 hobby shops a few bits at each then home intime for a trip up to the local train club to run a couple of trains I went halves is a box of 10 train storage boxes from Auscision 5 for me 5 for my friend Tim I now have a total of 8 storage boxes.to keep the models safe without having to go through the unpack and repack in the factory package each time I want to run a set Loco and carriages etc . One extra Orient express Reproductions Centenary Car to complete the South Australian passanger car set. Pts of detail parts Scale chain in several sizes, 3 tubes of phosfor Bronse wire, a set of bogies for a HO C38 tender to replace the plastic non scale ones on my old Lima model, bargin at $16 with all metal side frames and scale wheels. A few sets of flush glaze Windows for some overland cars I'm reworking and painting up for ANR red and silver Livery Several sets of decals for the ANR rolling stock. A couple of sets of Kadee whisker coupler's. Plus finally a nice book "A Railway to Cudgewa" Victorian railways a really interesting line the highest in Victoria one one that supplied a lot of the infrastructure on the Victorain side of the Snowy Hydro Power scheme. A quick snap of the haul Attached files
That's a really useful visit Chris unfortunately here in Spain I'm reliant on fleabay for bits but thankfully I don't need many ... ? ... or do I ...
ianvolvo46 wrote: Thanks Ian yes was a good days haul the small bits of detail parts etc you realy have to grab when you see it as they are often far and few between. I'm paying for the day out now with the body now complaining and I can't get to sleep I'll be a basket case all Sunday.
Hi Chris, Great stuff, you can't beat a shiny or two. I like the storage boxes. Now you just need to find somewhere to store the original storage boxes. Nice purchases. Toto
Giving new life to a oldie Wanting to have a couple of South Australian Lookalike passanger cars, without breaking the bank on 30 year old Lima models on eBay I dug out some old Hornby railways of Australia cars I had from when I was a young tacker thinking with a bit of a paint they may fit the bill. I remember asking Santa for these when I was 6 years old, 36 years ago and they would have been Santa hand back then to so they are genuine oldies. So with a bit of masking the paint went on with the cheap Aldi air brush, re the paint it too was a very old tin of Humbrol paint probaly 20 + years old as well. So this is what it looked like after painting the sides and the roof what a difference Attached files
Now I needed some bogies as the old Hornby ones are a bit clunky so I asked if any one in the local group had any spare suitable and I was happy to Aquire a nice set of local prototype bogies at last nights meeting. So I made up some mounts from evergreen strip to suit a screw on bogie as the Hornby bogies where mounted with pressed metal rivet's. Next a set of Kadee No5 were fitted and it was ready to test roll Next will be some stirrup steps for the door end of the car paint the underframe a mat black and get some decals these are coming from Adelaide so could be a while. Attached files
The Humbrol colour is a perfect match for the colour on the loco. just luck as it was the only colour I had that looked like it was close Possibly is very close to Crimson lake Attached files
And this is a similar style south Australian Passanger car (real one) it's a lounge car but will give the idea of the colour scheme I was trying to represent with the cheap and cheerful conversion. Attached files
This car anyway Paul I don't think these cars go for much these days I'll have to have a look on eBay before I ruin any more. A few years ago I couldn't even give them away Their good quality Made in England items too
Nice conversion Chris. Looking at the prototype pic, a little bit f putty in the windows and...., you'll have a closer looking coach ! Cheers, Gary.
Turning a very Shiny into a not so shiny. Start with a silver and blue model that looked all to clean and end up with a loco that's on its last legs before overhaul. I used the PanPastels to dirty up the body and bogies lots of soot coloured pastel on the roof then move to the Mig washes using the grease and oil stain and dark wash and aged wood Wash to fill in a few body seams with gunk. The 44 class roofs would always be covered in a layer of oil and soot that crept down the sides of the loco, the Mig grease and Oil covered this on the roof mixed with a bit of PanPastels And again the Mig G&O around the fuel tank for spilt diesel. CF4477 will fit nicely with CFCLA B76 as it Joins my Grain train loco fleet.