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SEPTEMBER 2016 UPDATE
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KIER HARDY *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
HYWEL THOMAS *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
KEITH TRUEMAN *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
OCTOBER 2016 UPDATE
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PETE JOHNSON *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
HYWEL THOMAS *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
PAUL JAMES *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
GREG BROOKES *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
KIER HARDY *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
NOVEMBER 2016 UPDATE
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PAUL JAMES *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
KARL CROWTHER *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
KEITH TRUEMAN *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
PETE JOHNSON *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
DECEMBER 2016 UPDATE
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KIER HARDY *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
PETE JOHNSON *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
HYWEL THOMAS *****************************************************************************************************************************************************************
PAUL JAMES Image
of D5901 at Doncaster works courtesy of nigelmenzies on flickr
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North British type 1 number D8404 (class 16) is seen resting at Hornsey Road depot in the company of BTH
class 15s. This Heljan model is the latest to be outshopped by Paul James for his Eastwell fleet.
I couldn't resist including this pic, especially as I had to climb to the top of a lamp post to get it!
The 2 class 15s behind (8231 & 8225) are also visitors from Eastwell.
D8404 is spotted on a ballast train at the station, and will no doubt be making plenty of return visits.
It's anyone's guess why a brace of Claytons were captured in North London hauling Scottish girders.....
maybe for a new Barr's factory in East London, but a photo opportunity nonetheless!
This pairing is the latest by Greg Brookes for his Shenston Road fleet, and although they're not
particularly suited to his West Midlands area either, it's a nostalgia trip regardless of the location.
Last month featured the shops near the station, so recent work has been concentrated in this area
finishing the ballasting and making a start on detail for the platforms.
Another snippet from Hywel showing some of the latest cobbles & stones, again carved from modelling clay.
Lesney Park attended the Pine Rivers Model Train Show in Brisbane, Australia last month, and here's a
few snaps of the layout taken during the weekend.
A view of the yard and factory.
The off-scene traverser which attracted a lot of attention from the visitors and other exhibitors.
A big thank you to Mark (pictured with a passing admirer) & Anthony for their help operating the layout.
The attendees badge - a nice touch engraved with the layout details.
Shunting departmental wagons.
Some of the wagon projects pictured in June have made progress after a bit of a summer break. The
five Coil Js have been completed by the addition of roped tarpaulin covered loads, B386077, fleet number ‘45’, is pictured.
B387624 /’42’ is another of the group.
The Dia 1/005 hot pig iron wagon has been finished as B744647, in a well rusted condition. The only
remaining paint being where some protection is offered by the internal bracing.
An internal view show rust patterning on the sloping steel floor.
The two late-style Dia 1/208 standard vans are being finished in an almost new condition for use in
the early 1960s sequences on the layout. B777384 is shown after application of the works livery. It is hard to believe
that BR continuously built vans to this basic pattern for more than a decade, yet only 10 years later they were being
considered obsolete.
Intended for use in the same era is B954559, the Dia 1/507 late-style brake van, finished as it would
have appeared when new.
The Dia 1/500 brake van, B950328, is shown ready for weathering to be applied. As the same grime colour
is used for both weathering and underframe the latter remains unpainted at this stage. This model will operate mostly
in the early 1970s era, and is marked accordingly.
A wagon type I have wanted on the layout for a while is the post-war 20T Class B oil tank, typical of
secondary traffic flows in the 1960s. Bachmann have provided a nicely detailed model of this style of tank, but reference
to photos and diagram books suggests that an 18’ tank length was most common. This has lead to a 4mm extension of the tank
using 2mm black plastic sheet and epoxy putty.
Shell-BP No. 6340 is shown after basic painting and application of additional markings from the Fox Transfers sheet.
Another member of the three wagon string is 6401, with the fleet number relocated to the typical early
1960s position. Couplings and weathering will see these tanks ready to join the fleet.
The donor vehicle - a Triang Hornby Minix Vauxhall Viva HA. Here it’s been stripped down and had one door
and the bonnet removed - an engine block of scrap plastic will lurk beneath…
The new bulkhead of 20 thou sheet.
Here we see the interior progressing with various wire gauges used to build up the burnt out seats. The
engine has gained various lumps and bumps. All a bit abstract but hopefully it will give the impression of a long-derelict interior.
The body has been attacked with a soldering iron to show where the local youths have jumped on the roof.
The seats are now done and some pipework added to the engine. One of the headlights has fallen out.
The first few coats of basic rust have been added and some gunk on the engine. The missing door frame
broke off but will be added later.
A test fit of body and chassis balanced in its final resting place near the quay having been driven
through a fence. They pinched the front wheel but left the flat rear in place.
Sat on the road where it made its last journey, the final body colour has been added over the rust -
hopefully looking like a car that had been abandoned a few years before. The interior is burnt out but the fire was out
before the exterior blistered too much.
And here it is where the joy-riders left it back in 1970. The last owner, in Swansea, moved up to a
Victor once the insurance paid up.
With the vegetation nearly finished FCY 362C slowly returns to nature. The joy riders had tried to push
it over the edge into the river but the brambles denied them.
This Heljan class 15 was acquired minus motor, so a replacement was fitted (purchased from
Cambridge Custom Transfers) to good effect. The usual procedure was to send any finished projects to Greg for
spray weathering, but recently the Eastwell compressor & airbrush is finally getting some use as I practice
on this latest batch of rolling stock. 8201 is seen at Hornsey with a rake of mineral wagons conveying scrap metal.
The latest from DJ Models is this 060 saddle tank loco, which is posed on the branch line (and also
in the background of the picture above), destined for use in the Eastwell Ironstone Company fleet. It is still 00 gauge
and straight out of the box, so it will be interesting to see how easy the conversion to EM is.
Another project on the work bench is this Heljan class 16, which has had the cabside windows enlarged
to suit D8407.
D8407 at Hornsey Road MPD. For further details of the conversion (on a special page of its own), please
click here.
Next on the list is another class 24 from SLW. Having an affection for odd-ball locos,
5025 fitted the bill perfectly. After a visit to Derby Works for overhaul in 1970, the body of D5005 emerged with
control & internal equipment more suited to its new number 5025 rather than one of the early batch. It retained
the large radiator grill with its horizontal bar and additional small grill on this side.
5025 resting on shed in the company of D3312 & Warship D826 Jupiter, with an opportunity to see the other
side of the loco. The latest plans have been sketched for a follow-up layout to Eastwell, but for now there's plenty of
chances to capture my stock on Shenston Road or Hornsey Bdy.
It looks a more like Ealing Broadway with all this hydraulic activity! D1015 Western Champion and
D1012 Western Firebrand in maroon (both Heljan) is joined by Hornsey regular D1033 Western Trooper (Dapol) nearest.
A good side view of D1015 Western Champion. This was originally a Shenston Road loco, the detailing
and weathering having been carried out by Greg.
After spending some time around the steelworks, the ladle cars have been refreshed by adding to the dayglow
orange and yellow paint over a Playdo base. Manufactured by Walthers, these wagons can be easily adapted to suit a British scene and
adding slag and overspill to give that well used look.
A brace of molten iron torpedo wagons, again from Walthers and suitably Anglicised / detailed with a nice
build up of slag featured.
British Steel Shenston - wagons 35 & 14.
Small areas of the layout have received some scenic detail work, the latest being the merchants house
situated along Hornsey Road. This view shows the yard and its accumulation of scrap. The building and its yard are not yet
fixed in position, allowing for removal when the time comes to finish the trackwork in the depot.
With all the testing (playing trains) going on, it became apparent that the lack of signals on the
layout needed to be addressed, especially as the wiring and switches are already in place. 3-position 4-way rotary switches
are used with continuous rotation through the aspects.
Something quick and easy has been assembled using LEDs and slightly modified Econ kits giving that extra
play factor. They may well be in use for some time to come, so should warrant a bit of extra detail and identification.
Two 3-aspect colour light signals on the Down Lines. The catch point may one day be operational, but for
now there are other more interesting things to be getting on with.
The tail end of a Finsbury Park allocated Cravens class 105 unit can be seen in platform 3 on a service
to Hitchin, whilst a Stratford allocated Met' Cam' class 111 gets ready to depart platform 1 for Upminster. Detail and
finishing work has recently been carried out around the station and on the platforms, and with the imminent arrival of
the S&T department, the installation of signals should hopefully complete the scene.
More of the latest Eastwell goings-on snapped at Hornsey Bdy. The Heljan Baby Deltic has received
a facelift to the nose ends, in particular larger replacement headcode panels as seen here on D5908 (in the company
of D5905 & D5909 awaiting the same treatment).
It's definately a squeeze trying to get 4mm characters into the 'as supplied' panel, showing the
comparison between D5903 on the left and modified D5908 on the right.
The roof has also been reworked to move the fan grill & panel to match the position of the side
radiator grill, and fit an Extreme Etchings accessory kit.
As well as the above modifications, the DMU fleet has been dusted off and given a
spin along the main line. Here's a one time Wibdenshaw regular class 108 4-car set passing Greg's maroon
liveried Warship D815 Druid.
Park Royal class 103 2-car DMU dives down under the fly-over, whilst Deltic D9014 The Duke of
Wellington's Regiment heads north with a Pullman rake.
Another view of D9014 from Greg's Shenston Road fleet. It was rushed into service with just some
basic detailing and weathering when Bachmann introduced the model, but is now back on the work bench to bring it
up to a better standard which will include fitting of additional parts and elimination of the printed detail.
A brace of BRCW class 33 locos, 6575 & 6572 on a day out from the Southern Region (Heljan).
An outing for the layout to the ‘Expo Bowland’ meeting on the afternoon of 29th October
sees this view of the coal drops, completed at long last. The figures, also added just prior to the event,
are from the Pete Goss range.
A view of the footbridge ramp from street level.
British Rail Bedford HA van from the ‘Trackside’ range, with added wing mirrors and
windscreen wipers, plus registration plate made up from Railtec transfers.
A busy period in the yard at Hebble Vale.
Class 03 diesel shunter stabled in the yard while a Class 25 moves alongside in the headshunt
A Lima class 31 has made it to the work bench this month - the pancake chassis has been retained
keeping the original corner fairings on the buffer beams. The bodyshell has received a few careful swipes of the
file to reduce the height of the vents over the cab, and the engine exhaust ports are in the process of being
modified to suit a 1970s machine. Changes to the motor end to incorporate a 'bridge' made from 060" styrene to
accept the later Railroad style motor bogie.
About 60 holes on the roof were drilled out to accept the hand grabs which were bent up from 0.33mm
nickle silver (n/s) wire. The cab entry door hand rails, also shown, are from 0.45 n/s wire. Nose ends to do next!
The roof fan made from the Shawplan / Extreme Etchings range - Lima 31 (A) product, secured to a plastic
plate for attaching inside the body.
With Canada Street due to appear at the Hull and Portsmouth exhibitions during November several
of the projects on the go have been completed ready for these shows. Dapol Class 22 D6320, in a mid-1960s
condition, is pictured after weathering.
Classmate D6333 has also been finished, as it would have looked at the beginning of the ‘70s.
From the early days of BR diesels, Class 20 D8041 with just a couple of years of grime.
…and from the same era, but rather more work-stained, Southern Class Q1 33023.
A new project that has made very rapid progress is a swop-body for my Drewry Class 04. The
new guise of this loco is to run in a Southampton area 1959-60 sequence, and takes my diesel modelling into
the steam era number sequence for the first time. In this view the basic parts of the old Airfix kit have
been prepared before assembly.
A close-up showing the 0,3 brass wire grab handles on the bonnet sides.
Only a week later the model had progressed to this condition…..
Cut-to-size ABS glazing and small details in brass have been added.
A few days later, and the basic livery has been applied.
The finished model, 11224 of Eastleigh shed, as it might have appeared in 1960.
The BR Dia 1/500 Brake Van, B950328, with typical mid-70s weathering.
Fruit Van B875061 ready for service.
….and its companion, B875716, also in a 1966-‘76 sort of livery.
Standard van B768077 has been lightly weathered for early 1960s sequences on the layout.
Shell-BP Class B tank ‘6397’ – now weathered - is for use in the same era.
A new batch of hardboard/planed timber stock boxes are under way for safe storage
of the new wagon fleet additions…..
This Lima-based model of the BR Bogie Bolster E has had a load of steel bars
added using thick iron wire.
Finally the pair of Hornby Class 08s have now been re-wheeled using Gibson parts,
and appear in ex-works condition ready for a touch of grime. D3381 is for the early 1960s.
And D3316 in a colourful 1967 livery
A view looking north towards the station as a BR Sulzer type 2 heads back to the
Midlands with a rake of empty hoppers. The 'Committee' have recently been discussing semaphore signals,
fabricating suitable examples, and planting them in the ground to await eventual commissioning.
Deltic 9012 Crepello heads a rake of mk 2a coaching stock back onto the main line, as
a class 501 EMU leaves the station on its way to Broad Street.
This piece of 6mm plywood was cut to size about 5 years ago and has remained stable
enough to start laying track on it. This sub baseboard will need to be easily removed for access and
maintenance, the securing screws being hidden by manhole covers. Shown in the process of adding some
rigidity.
With all the rails heading for the same place, the sleepering can be guess glued down to
allow the trackwork to flow better.
Tackling the other fork so that both can come together further along the board. Bill has been
along with his chainsaw and trimmed all the sleepers to length!
Temporary tie bars fitted to the points, all electrically tested and given a blast of
Humbrol matt dark earth.
Some tie bars get damaged after ballasting due to being glued up, so the final arrangements
and control gear wait until after the ballast gang have gone.
Thin strips of balsawood have been bonded to the baseboard with wood glue, to represent
the concrete fueling point pad. The C&L chairs are fixed in place with a poly solvent.
The area after treatment of a mix of base colours. The Bachmann fueling shelter has proved
to be a handy prop, but will make way for some scratchbuilt concrete shelters.
Meanwhile on the work bench is this Hornby Gresley Buffet picked up at a bargain price
at a swapmeet recently. The bodyside conversion looks fairly straightforward, making it more suitable for
its blue & grey livery.
There's work required on the roof no doubt, and a bit of careful painting to do.
The existing glazing has been welded and filled as required into the bodyside.
Canada Street appeared at two exhibitions during November, in this view the layout is all
set for the start of the day at Portsmouth.
For local interest we opened with a new ‘1959 South Coast’ sequence, here scratchbuilt
Adams B4 0-4-0T ‘30083’ stands on the dockside.
During the same sequence an assortment of vans are pictured in the high level sidings.
Recently completed Class 04 ‘11224’ passes time by the Engineman’s cabin.
Creating the sea weed on the quay and pier - using dried tea leaves sprinkled onto rivulets
of PVA. The first picture shows them as glued.
Next they were sprayed with matt varnish to seal them and then painted with a black/brown
mix, sealed again and then highlighted with gloss vanish painted on to give the wet effect.
Finally the slimy algae finish was added above and below, with the landing stage in place.
A spur-of-the-moment weekend purchase of a Oxford Rail ex-LNE 6-plank open. I was rather
impressed with this – the moulding shows a great deal of finesse and was the easiest wagon
I’ve ever converted to EM!
I removed the brakes on one side (the brakes are wrong on the model), trimmed a bit off
the back of the remaining shoes, pulled out the Oxford wheels to EM, cut off the coupling blocks and fitted
links to the existing hook, held with a sliver of plastic strip. And that was that! Just a well-weathered
paint job, some new engineer’s markings and into service.
Class 23 Baby Deltic nose comparison - headcode photoshopped onto model. This is just a brief
overview of my headcode box modifications for the update page..... but if you want the full story
including the kitchen sink please click here.
Cutting, filing, shaping and experimenting with bits of plastic.
Reprofiling the nose where the top meets side.
Yellow ends reinstated, new headcode blinds made on the computer and printed.
Back into service and earning its keep on ECS duties.
A zoom-in sees Brush 4 number 1932 at Hornsey Road depot.
A glimpse of 2164 on shed.
A tool van and skip wagon at the siding end.
Whilst helping Pete out at Portsmouth, I managed to take a few snaps at Canada Street.
A Southern Region theme.
More shunting taking place.
A quiet moment on the quayside.
And finally, shunters awaiting the next train in... the background clutter having
been erased!
