The crane is looking good, great work. Nice haul of items from Dapol, Bachmann, Lima and PD. I'm guessing the Bachmann bogies are replacements for the Lima bogies ?? The flanges on the Lima models is deep enough to cut a deep base pizza ! I have used the Bachmann bogies on my old Triang/Hornby Mk1s'. The difference in how free rolling they are (now) is a massive improvement. Cheers, Gary.
Yep, the Lima bogies are also the incorrect type. The Bachmann ones are both the correct type and have better running qualities!
Merry Christmas/Nadolig Llawen everyone! I'm always looking for cheap ways to add to my wagon fleet and recently uncovered this Red Panda Sand Tippler that I must've built 10 years ago. I actually hadn't done a bad job and the weathering was decent but for some reason I hadn't fitted the brake shoes in line with the wheels. So, after an extended bath in some Fairy Power Spray and some butchering of the plastic, I'm about able to start reassembling. Matt
Continuing my random journey, I made a u-turn today and started work on a Dapol brake van kit. Unfortunately the floor was badly warped, and all my efforts to correct it failed so I cut the centre section out (which was the worst part) and assembled the body around the two end pieces. I debated replacing the handrails with wire but decided not to - a) they'll look ok when painted and b) I'm terrible at soldering! I've added an overlay of plastic sheet at each inner end to hide the huge ejector pin marks and some some strip on the outer ends to conceal the join. Other than that my work has been limited to security rails from 20 thou rod and making the window in the door into 4 panes. I've also sanded the lamp iron brackets to make them thinner. I'll take some better pics tomorrow if I can but here's a quick one to show progress so far: Matt
So far, the model is looking good and from your past experiences with kit building, this I guess will be a cracker ! Just out of curiosity, did you use the hot water method to remove the warp in the floor ?? Cheers, Gary.
I did but unusually it didn't cure the issue this time. Thanks for the compliment about my kitbuilding - one day I may be able to show you something painted too!
I'm wondering if Dapol are using recycled plastics in their kits now... I know that Lima (possibly Hornby after take over) started using a different formula of plastic in their models which meant cutting and shutting coaches became harder to do as the plastic was a lot more brittle and didn't score/cut like they once did... Cheers, Gary.
You might be right - the Dapol plastic is very soft which leads to warping of parts in all the kits I've built. I've never built an original Airfix, but I believe the plastic was much harder. Somewhere in the middle would be good!
Morning all! Some slightly better photos of my progress as promised. This is the plastic sheet I used to hide the huge ejector pin marks on the inner ends. The windows converted to four panes. Although they don't look it, the pieces are straight in reality! Note, I'm not bothered about the pin marks above the door Finally pics of progress so far including a start on replacement bufferbeams. Matt
Looks good to me Matt, though I agree the ejection pin marks are a PITA. If they were raised they would be easier to sort. The die maker must have thought " that'll do" . Pete.
Thanks for the comments and interest guys! I guess I can't complain too much given the age of the moulds! Last night was spent fabricating new bufferbeams from plastic sheet, and after a few false starts I got them how I wanted. I've placed an order for replacement buffers, roof vents and vac pipes to use too. I think I've also decided to stick with the kit footboards - there's no doubt these could be improved by replacing them but it's a question of time, cost and effort...all of which are in short supply! Matt
Happy New Year all from the land of the unfinished and unpainted models! Hopefully next year I'll paint something! All the very best for 2019! Matt
I believe the modern Dapol kits make a thing about them all being made with recycled plastic. It certainly has been the case with all the Dapol buildings I have bought in the last 2 years, and there have been a few of them. The thing I've noticed is the inconsistency. Some are quite bent and respond to treatment, others are much thicker and different. I suppose it could be down to the face that the moulds would come from a long variety of time and designers, some would have been designed to make thick walls, some thin. There may well be differences in each batch of recycled plastics. PS, admiring your work on the van Cheers Tony
You're dead right Tony - the solebars in my kit were horribly bent too but would not straighten, regardless of my efforts. I had a nightmare last night trying to assemble the chassis and keep everything straight, level and square. I just about managed it but it took a lot of faffing to achieve! #hny Matt