Liver & Fry's workbench

[Liver & Fry]

A semi productive night has seen me fit brake shoes to all four wagons.

The first job was to laminate the seperate shoes but then I made a slight modification. The etch provided had the guides as a 2D part of the etch. I've cut these out and fitted some spare guide loops from another fret I had to hand:



Now, admittedly, until the guide loops were secured, removing part of the original etch did considerably reduce its structural integrity. However, I feel the end result was worth it!

- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

I've spent most of tonight sorting through the etches for the GE opens, getting to grips with what's what and prepping the bits I'm planning to use next by trimming and grouping them together for each wagon.

However, I did manage to put the ironwork on one side of the Dia.48 body and I have to say, it is very pleasing on the eye!



- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

We have a Dia.31!



I did some more filling, inside and out, before doing the ironwork on the body and solebars. It's a much simpler wagon than the Dia.48, but it'll add some nice variety, especially as this can be done in the pre-1902 livery.

I've also continued working on the Dia.48, finishing the rest of the bodyside ironwork and adding the solebar detailing to boot:



I've also started adding springs and GE axlebox covers to the Dia.48, but only on the fixed end as I type this:



Still on course to finish all four by New Year...

- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

Made some solid progress this evening, physically completing two of the four wagons builds.

End stanchions, buffers, drawhooks, springs, axlebox covers and brake levers were fitted to both the Dia.31 and Dia.48 wagons and these can now go to one side whilst I work on the Dia.17s:



Whilst they are physically different wagons, the practice of building this pair should mean the two Dia.17s go smoothly. I'm hoping to start painting by the weekend!

- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

And now we have a Dia.17!

Decided to hit these one at a time instead of batch building sections on the two Dia.17s, mostly because I started on one and just kept going...

So with that, here is the first of the pair:



This one took me two nights, so by that logic, I should be ready to start painting by Friday?

- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

Going to be honest, I didn't expect to do the last one this quickly, but in one night I've managed to do all the detailing work on the final Dia.17. I guess all that practice paid off!




This of course means that, for the most part, all four builds are complete:



I say that because they will all get internal door strapping (tomorrow) and the two Dia.17s need their builders plates, when I've decided which style plate and livery combo I want for each...

Still, pretty damn pleased with the progress I've made this week!

- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

And they're ready to paint!

The internal strapping and builders plates on the Dia.17s are attached and so after tea I shall crack out the paint!



I've decided to do both Dia.17s in post-1903 livery, as the majority of my GE stock is of that ilk and so they'll fit that ratio better. That said, one will carry the earlier plates and the other the later style, for variety.

I'll likely provide another update later or tomorrow to show paint progress.

- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

A first coat of grey has been applied to the main bodies. These will definitely require another coat, but for now they give a good impression of what's to come:



Tomorrow I hope to get a second coat of grey on, as well as the base wood colour inside.

- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

Second coat of grey and first internal coat of "wood" complete!



Reckon at this rate we might see some lettering by Sunday night... But I do have plans over the weekend, so that may be ambitious. But the painting is certainly coming along nicely!

- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

Reckon at this rate we might see some lettering by Sunday night... But I do have plans over the weekend, so that may be ambitious.

It was indeed ambitious! I've only managed the black on one wagon today, but hey, some progress is better than none at all!



- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

Well, I may not have got the wood work painted, and certainly no lettering applied, but I did manage to find time to paint the ironwork on all four wagons over the course of the weekend:



Tomorrow evening will be tight for time, but I'd love to say I could get the internal wood work painted before Christmas. Even if I don't, I'm still on course to finish these by New Year and start 2025 on a clean slate...

- James

 

[Liver & Fry]

Alas, I did not get time to finish painting the wagons before Christmas, but I did pop the wheels back in now the black has dried.



I'll be back to working on these on 27th. There's time yet! For now, it's time to down tools and enjoy the festivities.

So with that, I'd just like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! I hope you all have a lovely time, whatever you get up to!

- James