4mm & 7mm Llanfair ....

[LarryG]

The new signal box is pretty well finished now. After fitting an interior, I found the roof had bowed over the past few days and so I rook a roof from a scrap signal box and made a new roof over the toilet....


I recommend ensuring the windows are a loose fit in the apertures to allow for the thickness of paint. All the box needs now is a nameboard...


The signal man can be seen...

 

[Captain Kernow]

Scrubbed up nicely, Larry!

 

[LarryG]

I picked the signalbox up this morning and the stairs completely disintegrated and it brought to mind the bad old days of cast whitemetal vac pipes, whistles and even coupling rods. With laser cut kits, it seems we are back to the days of one material suits all and it is asking a lot of unsupported 1mm square MBF to act as banisters etc. Plywood would have been a bit stronger. I am busy this morning trying to patch up the damage, but I think it's time to look for a new way of passing time.

 

[Pencarrow]

Definitely a case of just because you can laser cut from MDF it doesn't mean you should.

 

[simond]

Plastruct do a very good 1/48 open tread staircase, and rails to suit. Might be a bit wide for a box. I believe they do something similar in 1/76 or 1/87, might be worth a look.

 

[LarryG]

Hi Simond, I bought a Plastruct staircase and a Peco plastic one in the past. I would produce etched brass cosmetic sides if I were still etching coaches. Anyway, it's been patched up using parts from the odds & sods box. Awaiting painting....

 

[Paul Tomlinson]

Hello Larry. Brassmasters do this etched LNWR kit. Looks fiddly, but they do include an assembly jig.

Etched brass scenic details

 

[LarryG]

Been providing the layout with a goods yard store for animal feeds utilising a Wills SS63 plastic kit, but I left off the bargeboards...

Much diluted PPC P990 'Weathered Wood' used for general weathering...


In the end I settled for GWR dark stone with brown gutters for paintwork, and very dirty light stone for the walls...

This photo was taken with daylight flash. It records a truer rendition of the indeterminate colour of the walls...

 

[LarryG]

Done.........New nameboard (by Intentio) and repaired steps painted.''

It was only a trial and I am sticking with the Cambrian signalbox.

 

[Dai88D]

Where did you get the signal box nameplate from?

 

[simond]

At a guess, Intentio….

 

[Dai88D]

At a guess, Intentio….

Ha ha, I’m sure that’s a different plate from the one I enquired about! Now I’m wondering whether I ‘ve had a senior moment!

 

[Pencarrow]

Been providing the layout with a goods yard store for animal feeds utilising a Wills SS63 plastic kit, but I left off the bargeboards...View attachment 203050

Much diluted PPC P990 'Weathered Wood' used for general weathering...
View attachment 203051

In the end I settled for GWR dark stone with brown gutters for paintwork, and very dirty light stone for the walls...
View attachment 203052
This photo was taken with daylight flash. It records a truer rendition of the indeterminate colour of the walls...
View attachment 203053

Can't beat a grotty shed for adding some character.

 

[LarryG]

Ha ha, I’m sure that’s a different plate from the one I enquired about! Now I’m wondering whether I ‘ve had a senior moment!

Hi, Don't worry....you didn't have a senior moment haha. I altered my caption to answer your question. 'Llanfair' was cut from the original 'Llanfair Rd Signal Box' nameboard. In this respect, I copied the style on the Helston signalbox on which the signalbox kit is based.

Can't beat a grotty shed for adding some character.

I agree, although I may yet give it a much diluted wash of GWR Light Stone without removing the muck.

 

[LarryG]

BR 78xxx with fluted coupling rods in the throes of being renumbered in the 'Cambrian' series, probably 78002 in large numerals. 78054 with rectangular section rods may also be renumbered. I though these and the Ivatt's looked weird in green...

Did all 78000 - 78008 W.Region 78xxx's get green at their first repaint or did any stay black? Assistance gratefully received....

 

[Paul Tomlinson]

Larry, I've pictures of 78004 in lined green, no electrification flashes, in April 1962, and 78000 in August 1961 in unlined green, large crest, GW route disc. According to my Jarrold booklet, "the first ten went to the Western Region, where they were soon repainted in green livery".

 

[LarryG]

I've found a photo of 78002 carrying well-worn lining on its black black cabside and small LMR size small LMR numerals at Crewe in the 1960s. So I'm thinking this loco just might never have carried green....

 

[Dai88D]

Hi, Don't worry....you didn't have a senior moment haha. I altered my caption to answer your question. 'Llanfair' was cut from the original 'Llanfair Rd Signal Box' nameboard. In this respect, I copied the style on the Helston signalbox on which the signalbox kit is based.

I agree, although I may yet give it a much diluted wash of GWR Light Stone without removing the muck.

Phew, I can rest easy!

 

[LarryG]

Paint a loco unlined black or green and it could look a complete ugly duckling. This is how I see the BR 78xxx class, and yet I've done one as a result of making a complete cock & balls of a simple renumbering job.

How come? I lightly sprayed the cabside with cellulose clear so that the 'Methfix transfers would adhere, forgetting I had 'Pressfix' transfers for renumbering.

This is the state of play so far while I await a new airbrush for weathering this once lovely model....

 

[Paul Tomlinson]

FWIW I think the unlined finish suits the "Standards", at least the small ones, better than the lined, which to me harks back to a previous era? I must also say how much better your model looks now you've obscured the garish painted brass? copper? piping. I say you've greatly improved an already fine model. Before I turn round you'll probably have presented it in lined green...