4mm Llanfair ....

[LarryG]

It is times like this that I think back to when I rid my shelves of most of the wagon books that had accumulated over a lifetime. That's it, I thought. Wont be painting anymore wagons.

1½ hours were spent this morning on the darned computer sorting out a hack that my new firewall had highlighted. Of course, being new, it had diligently scanned my PC and found old 'breaches' dating from 2016-19! Of course, I didn't know this before I went through the rigmarole of changing passwords! Then I had to pay £3.50 unpaid postage on something that wont now turn up until next week ~ if they're not on strike!

Getting there very slowly. The etched brake safety loops were a neat touch in this Slaters kit. The parts are a good fit, when I work out what's what and where it goes... Yup, I'm at the brakegear stage....

 

[LarryG]

The door springs wouldn't have lasted two minutes on my layout if glued on, so I drilled and pinned them using Peco track spikes...




Vacuum-braked layout...

Slaters 7mm 7054 GWR Dia.W5 ready for the spray shop...

 

[Phil O]

Larry,

I have been thinking about your signal box and sighting, conundrum and a possible solution would be to attach the box to the goods shed, the box at Moretonhampstead was part of the loco shed, so not totally unprototypical.

 

[LarryG]

Larry,

I have been thinking about your signal box and sighting, conundrum and a possible solution would be to attach the box to the goods shed, the box at Moretonhampstead was part of the loco shed, so not totally unprototypical.

Thanks Phil, that's a new idea. But I'm thinking that moving the shed back that far would allow the signalman a decent view of the line from a platform-mounted box. Actually, it's what I've done. I decided to do the necessary and move the whole station and track set-up closer to the front of the baseboard to leave space at the back for a decent road into the goods yard.

 

[LarryG]

The cattle truck was sprayed with Halfords Red Oxide Plastic Primer and 2 hours later with my glossy cellulose red oxide. Gloss is used even on wagons because it is better for 'Methfix' and waterslide transfers...



Trying to mask vehicles such as this is an impossible task and so I over-mask with the aim of brush-painting the solebars and buffer plank afterwards.....


After the underframe was sprayed Halfords Matt Black, it was lightly over-sprayed with my weathering colour. As it happens the overspray has saved me hand painting the solebars....

 

[LarryG]

Finished a cattle truck for Llanfair Road 7mm. Transfers were 'Methfix' and Cambridge Custom. I'll stick with the latter from now on. Halfords Satin and Matt lacquers, plus diluted dirty black and powders for weathering. The eagle-eyed will note I fitted tiebars....

Yes I know, paint those ruddy couplings. They should be screw but I ain't got any. I like this Slaters wagon......Couldn't have asked for better....

 

[LarryG]

Next in line is an early LMS goods van. I did not follow the instructions concerning the vertical bodyside stanchions that project below the floor. Instead, they were carefully cut off and shaped them before gluing them back under the bodyside....

Removed where the purple rectangles are....

Each side was cut back with a sharp knife... Showing before & after....

Then the corners were rounded off....

Refitted below bodysides...

Van so far......

 

[Stephen Freeman]

Finished a cattle truck for Llanfair Road 7mm. Transfers were 'Methfix' and Cambridge Custom. I'll stick with the latter from now on. Halfords Satin and Matt lacquers, plus diluted dirty black and powders for weathering. The eagle-eyed will note I fitted tiebars....
View attachment 174325
Yes I know, paint those ruddy couplings. They should be screw but I ain't got any. I like this Slaters wagon......Couldn't have asked for better....
View attachment 174326

Yes, as the chassis has a compensated unit (one axle fixed the other rocks) fitting the tiebars imparts a springing effect and makes for improved running.

 

[LarryG]

The LMS goods van is in the paintshop, but before finishing construction, I removed the pips on the sliding doors and drilled out for wire handles...




Meantime, lost-wax brass castings arrived from CPL Products and so the 'T' door handles were fitted along with brass wire handles. Another item destined for winter hibernation until a layout is built...

 

[Brian Wainwright]

Extraordinarily nice work. I love the cattle wagon in particular, but they all look great.

 

[Geoff]

Extraordinarily nice work. I love the cattle wagon in particular, but they all look great.

I'll second that, such lovely neat modelling Larry!

Geoff

 

[LarryG]

I'm afraid things have gone a bit higgledy-piggledy with rain preventing the LMS goods van from being sprayed.

The laser cut signal box from Rail Model arrived yesterday so I started on that. The kit will build a model of the box at Llansantfriad and so I have had to reverse the ends to put the steps at the RH end. Fortunately, the parts include interior walls and seeing as they were the reverse of the external walls, I simply used them on the outside of the box...Clever bugger!



The external walls were used as internal walls to strengthen things....


The back external back wall had to be altered so that the chimney stack was at the RH end....


The entrance door now has a locking room door below it using parts from a Peco signalbox...

 

[MoatLane]

Aah, locking room door, so rarely modelled...

 

[Focalplane]

I enjoyed my Rail Model experience, Larry, even though I also did a lot of chopping and changing as you are. And I didn't need the two outside ladders, the entry to the box being at ground level with stairs inside. The choice of which box to buy is almost always going to be a compromise.

Paul

 

[LarryG]

I enjoyed my Rail Model experience, Larry, even though I also did a lot of chopping and changing as you are. And I didn't need the two outside ladders, the entry to the box being at ground level with stairs inside. The choice of which box to buy is almost always going to be a compromise.

Llansantfriad box is similar in many respects to the one further down the branch at Llanfyllin, so it was a no-brainer especially at the price. I find altering things very satisfying. I painted the black patches on with cellulose paint so that the HMRS 'Methfix' BR transfers would adhere...

 

[LarryG]

Signalbox built now, although some parts will not be fitted until after painting. The roof trusses were glued in place then when set, were cut away except for the stumps showing on the outside of the building. A Peco plastic roof from a scrap signalbox was cut to size ....




The box looks almost 4mm scale...

 

[chigley]

and they say size doesn't matter

Ken

 

[LarryG]

Tackling things in between showers, the LMS van was finally weathered and varnished today. Photographed in drab light, which suits this ready-for-the-knackers yard unfitted van...

 

[LarryG]

In a spare moment, a shed door was knocked up from 80 thou Plastikard and old plastic sprue to make the runners/wheels...



'Plastruct' 'U' section was cut along its length to make 'L' section for the top of the running rail and glued to the horizontal beam...



Only just spotted that I put the horizontal strap on the rail instead of the door..... Old age or bloody stupidity....

 

[LarryG]

Getting there ever so slowly.... The cream started as white and a small amount of cream that I use of BR coaches added. Brown is PPC GWR Coach Brown.. Note the loop on the gate to keep it shut, which was easier than messing around with plastikard...