Kevin Johnson
Active Member
Matt it's nice to see your kit and model building is distracting you from other things in life. Sometimes we need an outlet to help.
Matt's workbench - current project: back to random modelling
- Thread starter matto21
- Start date
Chas Levin
Western Thunderer
I sympathise; personal life has likewise slowed my output. Tough break: hope things improve, Matt.
Loosely related to my current interests in that it's parcels stock, but otherwise a bit of an outlier. I don't think I was even aware of these before coming across some photos online. This, along with the lucky purchase of the Parkside PC40 kit from ebay gave me the opportunity to do a quick representation.
I seem to have a knack for buying kits with underframe parts missing or damaged and this was no exception. Nothing some plastic sheet and strip, plus some odds and ends from the spares box and a bit of scratchbuilding couldn't fix though.
As a bonus, it looks very festive in Santa's livery!
Now onto something a bit more "modern"!
Matt
I seem to have a knack for buying kits with underframe parts missing or damaged and this was no exception. Nothing some plastic sheet and strip, plus some odds and ends from the spares box and a bit of scratchbuilding couldn't fix though.
As a bonus, it looks very festive in Santa's livery!
Now onto something a bit more "modern"!
Matt
Wow, February already and I've not posted anything for 2 months.
Here's my latest project, been on the go in fits and starts since January 2023. Ancient Bachmann Queen Mary bought in a damaged state. Sat in the to-do pile for ages while I pondered the bogies, in the end I plumped for some Roxey Models ones.
I've added some rudimentary brake "stuff" underneath using odds and ends.
It's one of those models - on one hand I don't know why I'm bothering because I don't really need it. On the other - I've started it so I might as well see it through.
Matt
Here's my latest project, been on the go in fits and starts since January 2023. Ancient Bachmann Queen Mary bought in a damaged state. Sat in the to-do pile for ages while I pondered the bogies, in the end I plumped for some Roxey Models ones.
I've added some rudimentary brake "stuff" underneath using odds and ends.
It's one of those models - on one hand I don't know why I'm bothering because I don't really need it. On the other - I've started it so I might as well see it through.
Matt
Chas Levin
Western Thunderer
Wowsers, it's been over a month since I updated this thread!
HRH Queen Mary is now 99% complete, apart from painting...apologies if you've seen this photo elsewhere.
I've also started working on what, for me, will be my most complex and involved project yet - completely upgrading a Bachmann Class 37 using as many of the bits I've collected over the years as possible. Highly likely it'll be finished as 37505 or 510 in I/C livery.
This is a bit of an anomaly for me - I've recently sold several older 37's (and lots of other stuff) and used the money to replace them with the far superior "new tool" model from Bachmann.
This one was in a fairly shabby condition externally - the windows were missing, the lights didn't work and the previous owner had clearly been concerned that the various details would fall off - so had been very generous with the superglue! As a result, it wasn't worth the effort involved in selling it, but it was a rather good runner. I've always wanted to build a Penbits sprung bogie kit but, until relatively recently, did not have the confidence or skills to solder it. So this is the perfect opportunity to try...
In other news, I'm facing a fairly major change in personal circumstances in the next few months. You've probably noticed that I've done lots of building recently but very little painting. This will probably continue for the foreseeable future, at least until things are sorted.
I am in the early stages of planning a layout - it will be set in Scotland in the 80's and early 90's and it will mainly feature Class 26's and 37's. I'm not in a position to start a thread yet because I've not decided on a track plan or any of the other details - again, until my circumstances are resolved, it'll have to wait. In the meantime I'll focus on stock building.
Finally, in addition to the above, I'm also planning a small micro layout but, once again, it's very early days. I have decided on some of the principles I'll be aiming for, for both layouts, but that's as far as I've got with either.
Thanks for reading
Matt
HRH Queen Mary is now 99% complete, apart from painting...apologies if you've seen this photo elsewhere.
I've also started working on what, for me, will be my most complex and involved project yet - completely upgrading a Bachmann Class 37 using as many of the bits I've collected over the years as possible. Highly likely it'll be finished as 37505 or 510 in I/C livery.
This is a bit of an anomaly for me - I've recently sold several older 37's (and lots of other stuff) and used the money to replace them with the far superior "new tool" model from Bachmann.
This one was in a fairly shabby condition externally - the windows were missing, the lights didn't work and the previous owner had clearly been concerned that the various details would fall off - so had been very generous with the superglue! As a result, it wasn't worth the effort involved in selling it, but it was a rather good runner. I've always wanted to build a Penbits sprung bogie kit but, until relatively recently, did not have the confidence or skills to solder it. So this is the perfect opportunity to try...
In other news, I'm facing a fairly major change in personal circumstances in the next few months. You've probably noticed that I've done lots of building recently but very little painting. This will probably continue for the foreseeable future, at least until things are sorted.
I am in the early stages of planning a layout - it will be set in Scotland in the 80's and early 90's and it will mainly feature Class 26's and 37's. I'm not in a position to start a thread yet because I've not decided on a track plan or any of the other details - again, until my circumstances are resolved, it'll have to wait. In the meantime I'll focus on stock building.
Finally, in addition to the above, I'm also planning a small micro layout but, once again, it's very early days. I have decided on some of the principles I'll be aiming for, for both layouts, but that's as far as I've got with either.
Thanks for reading
Matt
John57sharp
Western Thunderer
I’ll be following the 37 saga with great interest Matt. Best wishes for the getting things sorted.
John
John
Thanks John, appreciate it.
Without going into too much detail, I'm facing having to look for somewhere new to live and all the complexities (including those linked to seeing my daughter) that go with it. None of it my choice I hasten to add.
The 37 is a long, slow project! I've never been a quick modeller at the best of times, and that, coupled with making this up as I go, make for a long term job.
The ends have had new lamp brackets added, soldered up from PHD etched parts.
The window frames are the ubiquitous Shawplan items. Adding these to a Bachmann 37 must be a rite of passage for D&E modellers!
Here's the current state of play - with the loco body just balancing on the bogies.
Matt
James
Western Thunderer
Keep modelling, it will help your head - it helped me in similar circumstances.
If you ever need anything give me a shout.
Kylestrome
Western Thunderer
So true, not so much a "right of passage", as a complete impossibility! Mine ended up in the bin and then I had to graft on replacement window frames from another Bachmann body. An absolute faff that I could have done without. What makes it even more galling is that the Shawplan items come without any form of assembly info or instructions.
David
James
Western Thunderer
It's described in MRJ 253 -
Paul Tomlinson
Western Thunderer
Just pulled it out for a quick look - yours was a fine article.It's described in MRJ 253 -
James
Western Thunderer
That's very kind of you to say, thank you!
It was indeed - have been referring to it a lot!
I started this back in November last year, but after a flurry of progress, it ground to a standstill - mainly because sanding down moulded roof ribs isn't particularly inspiring.
I dragged it back on to the bench tonight to finish this boring task - wasn't too bad once I got back into it.
This is going to be repainted into blue/grey - not quite sure how or when though. I've also started the process of blending the etched windscreens onto the 37 body. This photo is after the second round of filling and sanding...
Matt
I dragged it back on to the bench tonight to finish this boring task - wasn't too bad once I got back into it.
This is going to be repainted into blue/grey - not quite sure how or when though. I've also started the process of blending the etched windscreens onto the 37 body. This photo is after the second round of filling and sanding...
Matt
I've taken advantage of being by myself these last two days to push on with the Tractor. Slowly but surely, a phoenix is rising from the ashes [hopefully!].
Still plenty of work to do, but she's getting there...
The BG has also been sprayed into Rail Grey to serve as an undercoat - first time I've painted anything for about 12 months!
Happy Easter!
Matt
Still plenty of work to do, but she's getting there...
The BG has also been sprayed into Rail Grey to serve as an undercoat - first time I've painted anything for about 12 months!
Happy Easter!
Matt
John57sharp
Western Thunderer
Happy Easter Matt! The 37 looks superb!
John
John
