EM Gauge Layouts, Models & Projects

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On the backburner for some time has been this collection of whitemetal kits, the unpainted cement mixer and dumper truck were from a Mendip Models flat-pack kit, kindly donated from the ancient stockpile at the Shenston Road workshops - the cement mixer is made from the same set of castings as the painted and weathered Langley kit on the right. I can't recall where the flat trolley came from, and the small cement mixer is a 3D printed model bought from the Brecon Swapmeet, again maker unknown.

With the Hornsey Workshops acting somewhat as a magnet for obsolete dust covered kits, a W&T modern road repair kit was donated from within the depths of the Eastwell Workshops. Consisting of a diesel road roller and 4-wheeled compressor, along with figures holding a pneumatic drill and thumper, it's yet to find a suitable spot on the layout.

The Mendip Models mixer and dumper truck are joined by a Ten Commandments L100 dumper truck (manufactured by JPG Models), obviously sharing the same family resemblance to the Langley RW8 Benford 1009 kit. Also from 10C is their L102 hand road roller with trailer compressor.

This accumulation of equipment is a good start for a plant hire business, now requiring a secure and under-cover area to store and maintain the growing fleet.

Carrying on from last month when the Accurascale kegs made a brief appearance (inset), these kegs for the Hornsey Broadway freightliner rake have been given various shades of silver and grey to represent the differences between old and new kegs stacked together. The distinctive netting is made from a piece of sinamay, and being straw based is easy to form when wet.

Showing the trimmed nets, which have also been given a light brown dusting from a rattle can. The one-ended containers are made from plastic card with applied styrene pocket detail along the sides, using Greg's container as a master to copy.

The bottom of the netting is glued and tucked under the lower row of barrels, with addtional securing ropes added.

The loads are stacked centrally for better stability, with access to stow the surplus netting at both ends. Once a familiar sight on a lot of the ECML freightliner services.

Here's a selection of snaps taken by the lineside by Paul and myself, starting off with Hornsey regular - BRCW type 3 number 6572 hauling a rake of 2-BIL and 2-HAL units for disposal.

BR Derby type 2 (Class 25s) 7576 & 5189 are held at the signals en-route to the motive power depot.

Another double headed pairing, this time D5385 & D5382 on a mixed freight. Both this and the following images feature locomotives from the Eastwell fleet.

5025 & D5033 are spotted heading north with a parcels train (both SLW Class 24 models).

Following on is another Class 24 number 5081 at the head of a mixed freight.

Making a rare appearance is the revised liveried Blue Pullman from the Eastwell fleet, still awaiting jumper cables to be fitted to the front end. A Bachmann model acquired as a special commission in this livery from Lord & Butler

This and the following images feature locomotives from the Shenston Road fleet spotted at Hornsey Broadway. BRCW type 2 loco's 5373 & 5397 head north over the flyover with a rake of loaded Carflats bound for Scotland.

1200 Falcon is seen heading for Ripple Lane with heavy oil tankers in tow.

Heading north with a car train is TOPS numbered Class 40 - 40181 in somewhat belated circumstances.

Peak D123 in charge of empty HAA hoppers heading back to the Midlands. This service to and from Northfleet cement works was a common sight in London, normally piloted by a Class 47 displaying 6E43 headcode. The missing Class 47/3 is nearing completion at the workshops and should be finished in time for next month's update.

Working an inter-regional freight is D6327 and D6326, waiting for a clear path ahead.

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GREG BROOKES

Meanwhile, back at Shenston Road, English Electric type 1 locomotives 8115 & 8064 prepare to leave the branch line from the steel works with a consignment of strip coil.

Spotted in the exchange sidings are a pair of Clark Kits 4SWK001A Industrial Skinningrove Open Hearth Wagons being shunted by a Sentinel diesel loco.

These are whitemetal kits and are used at BSC Shenston for the transportation of mill rollers.

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PETE JOHNSON

Class 20 ‘D8124’ in a 1960s livery has been finished with a light application of grime. It was a Scottish Region engine during those years, and retained the original GSYP livery right through to the end of the decade.

Although the layout wagon fleet includes Lowmacs and Weltrols the ‘Flatrol’ type of special fleet flat wagon hadn’t been represented. To fill this omission a Dia 2/512 ‘Flatrol MVV’ is underway based on some adapted parts from the Cambrian Loriot kit. Many Flatrols were built for the BR Departmental fleet, but the MVV has been chosen as the early examples were built for commercial loads, carrying B900000 to B900009, although these were later transferred to internal traffic.

Finished to a typical work-stained 1974 appearance, 37 243 is planned to accompany Class 53 ‘Falcon’ in a South Wales sequence on the layout. During the 1970s English Electric type 3s were the workhorses of the coal and steel traffic that was so widespread in the area at that time.

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HYWEL THOMAS

The return of the Photobox order meant I was able to complete the VTG ferry tank from the last update. Here it is with the new number panels in place and ready to head down to the chemical works.

The success of the initial conversion convinced me to get on with a few more from the ‘to-do’ list. Next up was this Liliput example. A different method of assembly from the Roco tanker meant the procedure for widening wasn’t quite the same but by this stage things were starting to come together.

And here we see the next tank completed. This example represents an Italian wagon so rather rarer than the VTG tank behind it. Both will have arrived empty for loading with agricultural chemicals at the works before returning to the continent via Harwich.

The next conversion will be slightly more involved as this sulphuric acid tank will slowly become a bromine tank. The extra length came from a handy static storage tank I wasn’t using. With a wrap of 15-thou plastic sheet it was the right diameter to add in. Hopefully this version will be completed by next month.

The only other work this month has concentrated on some detail work around the scrap yard. At long last the Hymac excavator rebuilt a few years back has gained a five-pronged orange peel grab more suited to the environment. This was scratch built from plastic and wire.

One corner needed a pile of swarf and this was made from some Skytrex sleepers, a few odd bits, some aluminium mesh and filler, bits of plastic and some iron filings from Goodwood Scenics.

The swarf pile can be seen in the background. Detailing work has also continued around the weigh bridge.

Finally, the yard required a gate. Just for fun this was connected up to an old high quality Swiss motor and gear box combination that came from a redundant scanner so it can be opened and closed. As the access line is on a very slight gradient a working wheel stop has also been provided so the approach line can be used to stable wagons.

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