1/32 finescale in the garden
- Thread starter andrew60
- Start date
David Halfpenny
Western Thunderer
Thats potentially reassuring, thanks, Simon.
David Halfpenny
Western Thunderer
Penny drops!
Thanks, Andrew
andrew60
Member
Not much work on the garden line at this time of year, so attention has turned to some of the rolling stock projects, and after five years on and off (mostly off) I've completed my two Ken Martin SR PMVs. Those with long memories from a time when there was more 1/32 activity on here, may recall a 'PMV races' thread, involving several contributors. I was never in the race, but I feel like one of those London marathon participants determined to finish the course long after everyone else has packed up and gone home.
Building two has been doubly challenging, and due to bad technique, the amount of surplus solder evident in the picture has probably increased their overall weight. I went my own way on the chassis using Peter Korzilius' W irons and long-discontinued Roxey Mouldings wheels. Axleboxes are Peter K's white metal castings, individually sprung with roller bearings, and scratch-built axlebox covers based around Slaters plastic mouldings. Mostly they run like the wind, except on the sharply curved turnback where the long wheelbase causes a little drag.
Once painted in the warmer weather they will complete my parcels rake, along with the two Tower Models BR BGs and a commissioned Collett full brake. Needless to say, their current 'million dollar gold plus spilt solder' appearance will be replaced by 'total grime' weathering, which is how I remember them in BR service.
Building two has been doubly challenging, and due to bad technique, the amount of surplus solder evident in the picture has probably increased their overall weight. I went my own way on the chassis using Peter Korzilius' W irons and long-discontinued Roxey Mouldings wheels. Axleboxes are Peter K's white metal castings, individually sprung with roller bearings, and scratch-built axlebox covers based around Slaters plastic mouldings. Mostly they run like the wind, except on the sharply curved turnback where the long wheelbase causes a little drag.
Once painted in the warmer weather they will complete my parcels rake, along with the two Tower Models BR BGs and a commissioned Collett full brake. Needless to say, their current 'million dollar gold plus spilt solder' appearance will be replaced by 'total grime' weathering, which is how I remember them in BR service.
David Halfpenny
Western Thunderer
Thing is, Andrew, they look Right 
In particular, the wheels look right, in a way that G1MRA Standard' ones never can.
As for drag, they damned-well ought to slow down on a curve like that!I'm seriously considering guard-railing my 2m radius one, not so much to keep the stock on, as to signal, "Yes I know this curve is tight!"
On the solder front, my attempt to design a totally plug-and-play Resistance Soldering Unit has hit further snags.However a home-build RSU is still within reach for anyone who can wire a mains plug - a separate conversation of course.
(There's no significant cost saving in making one's own - it just avoids queuing for a small-batch commercial one.)
andrew60
Member
Yes, in fairness the PMV instructions advise using resistance soldering, which I didn't, although most of my problems were solved once I started using phosphoric acid flux. The main problems were that the sides buckled when attaching the vertical framing, and if I was doing them again I would consider first soldering strips of metal angle to the inside faces as strengthener. New techniques may render such elaborate etched kits obsolete, but as you say, they look right, and it's hard to beat the crisp edges of metal framework. There are other G1 versions which don't look right at all!Thing is, Andrew, they look Right
In particular, the wheels look right, in a way that G1MRA Standard' ones never can.As for drag, they damned-well ought to slow down on a curve like that!
I'm seriously considering guard-railing my 2m radius one, not so much to keep the stock on, as to signal, "Yes I know this curve is tight!"On the solder front, my attempt to design a totally plug-and-play Resistance Soldering Unit has hit further snags.
However a home-build RSU is still within reach for anyone who can wire a mains plug - a separate conversation of course.(There's no significant cost saving in making one's own - it just avoids queuing for a small-batch commercial one.)
I have thought about check rails on the curves but it would be a lot of faff, and that section is nominally non-scenic. The curve is 8'6'' radius approx and seems okay as long as I maintain consistent cant all the way around.
andrew60
Member
The garden line is emerging from hibernation, or more precisely mass invasive Spanish bluebell exhumation. I'm sure they will be back. On a more positive note, Druid is finally finished. Due to the nature of the beast I found the final assembly quite fraught, and it's been so long in the making I think I had a full head of hair when I bought it nearly a quarter century ago. Much ballasting, soil regrading and planting to do in the coming months.
Absolutely fabulous Andrew - the Warships were only around for the first seven years of my life, but they made a huge impression on me, both at home in the Thames Valley and on holiday in Devon. There was one wonderful afternoon in, I think, the summer of 1970 when my Dad took me on the train to Newton Abbot and we watched Swindon and NBL Warships moving around the shed and passing by on the main line all afternoon, and they were in pretty much all the possible livery permutations to add to the fun. My last trip behind one was in August 1972, when to my great delight Cockade‘s huge yellow nose appeared round the corner by Spur Junction and rolled into platform 4 at Reading to take us on holiday down the Berks and Hants to Dawlish. Your Druid is spot on in all respects - I am dead jealous!
andrew60
Member
Memories like that stay with us a lifetime, and help to bring our models to life David - thanks for sharing. You were lucky to get one down the B&H as late as 1972. Although we lived many miles from their home ground, I saw a few as a child, and we had 806 Cambrian on a returning Motorail from a Devon holiday - leaning out of the leading droplight next to that big bulbous nose as we powered across the Somerset levels.
The model should be on show here:
CameoOne32
On Saturday 20th June 2026, Wild Swan Books is hosting a small conversational gathering of like minded modellers and their models to promote and celebrate modelling in Gauge One at the scale of 1/32. 4 Tollbrdge Studios, Batheaston, BA1 7DE 10.30am to 4.30pm Admission £5.00 includes tea and...
www.westernthunder.co.uk