Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Lovely. Definitely looking the part. Kudos to your eyesight!
Cheers
Jan
Cheers
Jan
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
Finally back to the CCTs, framing didn't prove too much of an issue.
Then onto the roof sections - these have a natty press jig, the utility of which is currently up for debate. Looks like a burnish followed by a skim of filler will help.
I will need to figure out how to clamp and solder these lips to get the roof sitting snug on the gutter piece.
Then onto the roof sections - these have a natty press jig, the utility of which is currently up for debate. Looks like a burnish followed by a skim of filler will help.
I will need to figure out how to clamp and solder these lips to get the roof sitting snug on the gutter piece.
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
Well, it's been a while...
I cocked up the second CCT roof and put them to one side until I'd built something else, which turned out to be a shot down Dragon models Taff Vale brake van - which is mostly done once I've cobbled up brake linkages, picked axle boxes and bought more drill bits to start the handrails.
After receiving a package from CCT, I also decalled some things, but ran out of time to dullcote them before going away for five weeks to the UK. It turns out these things are not best saved up for later - especially the umpteen on each conflat.
I then packed a bag and headed back to the UK for the first time in 5 years! Larkrail was great and a good chance to catch up with friends and conspirators. I had a good rummage in my stash of 00 and P4 bits and found new homes for them all then found time to relax. First stop, the West Somerset after a day walking in the Quantocks with a surprise guest in steam.
Hannah and I also went to Modelu and got ourselves scanned - 2mm and 7mm Matt are both looking concerned at the state of my workshop.
After traipsing to the Lake District, the Cotswolds for a wedding and Sussex we finally had an actual holiday - three days in Radovlica, four in Ljubljana. I strategically missed the train between the two and made Hannah wait and watch a procession of freights hauled by vintage Alstom locos and modern Taurus (she particularly liked the OLE maintenance drasine). They adopted a 3kv system from the Italian neighbours which has left them mismatched with many neighbours. Luckily the OBB Taurus were happily flying through.
Ljublijana hosts the National Railway <Museum, which is little more than a passenger rolling stock workshop the National Railway company has finished with, crammed with steam locos and surrounding by rotting freight stock. The curator let slip that they don't expect to receive funding in the next budget and that often they have to figure out if the broken relic left in their yard was intended as an exhibit donation or just somewhere for SZ to store it.
A brief pause at the station for refreshment gave me pretty much one of everything on the network, from modern Stadler FLIRT/KISS units through Ansaldo electric locos to 80's DMUs and shunters. The favourite for me was the license built US style locos idling away, the driver was keen to show me how to loadbank the engines on the dynamic brake grids (a fairly common test, even in NZ with GM locos). I'm pretty sure I'd have been dragged over the coals for leaving a loco on notch 6 at Paddington when I was out on the network!
Returning back to Wellington post jetlag and tummy bug I started unpacking the modelling goodies that I had been collecting - enough 0.3mm wire to circle the world and more point motors and decoders than I need. During this process I realised that Bryn had kindly gifted me a 13t hopper kit that he wasn't going to get round to. An hour or so later, I was sitting staring at most of a wagon, strapping laminations and such to follow tomorrow hopefully.
I also treated myself to a weekend block of line in the Wellington weather supervising the track gangs fitting a level crossing in the rain - a rude wake up after 36 degrees by the Slovenian lakes!
I cocked up the second CCT roof and put them to one side until I'd built something else, which turned out to be a shot down Dragon models Taff Vale brake van - which is mostly done once I've cobbled up brake linkages, picked axle boxes and bought more drill bits to start the handrails.
After receiving a package from CCT, I also decalled some things, but ran out of time to dullcote them before going away for five weeks to the UK. It turns out these things are not best saved up for later - especially the umpteen on each conflat.
I then packed a bag and headed back to the UK for the first time in 5 years! Larkrail was great and a good chance to catch up with friends and conspirators. I had a good rummage in my stash of 00 and P4 bits and found new homes for them all then found time to relax. First stop, the West Somerset after a day walking in the Quantocks with a surprise guest in steam.
Hannah and I also went to Modelu and got ourselves scanned - 2mm and 7mm Matt are both looking concerned at the state of my workshop.
After traipsing to the Lake District, the Cotswolds for a wedding and Sussex we finally had an actual holiday - three days in Radovlica, four in Ljubljana. I strategically missed the train between the two and made Hannah wait and watch a procession of freights hauled by vintage Alstom locos and modern Taurus (she particularly liked the OLE maintenance drasine). They adopted a 3kv system from the Italian neighbours which has left them mismatched with many neighbours. Luckily the OBB Taurus were happily flying through.
Ljublijana hosts the National Railway <Museum, which is little more than a passenger rolling stock workshop the National Railway company has finished with, crammed with steam locos and surrounding by rotting freight stock. The curator let slip that they don't expect to receive funding in the next budget and that often they have to figure out if the broken relic left in their yard was intended as an exhibit donation or just somewhere for SZ to store it.
A brief pause at the station for refreshment gave me pretty much one of everything on the network, from modern Stadler FLIRT/KISS units through Ansaldo electric locos to 80's DMUs and shunters. The favourite for me was the license built US style locos idling away, the driver was keen to show me how to loadbank the engines on the dynamic brake grids (a fairly common test, even in NZ with GM locos). I'm pretty sure I'd have been dragged over the coals for leaving a loco on notch 6 at Paddington when I was out on the network!
Returning back to Wellington post jetlag and tummy bug I started unpacking the modelling goodies that I had been collecting - enough 0.3mm wire to circle the world and more point motors and decoders than I need. During this process I realised that Bryn had kindly gifted me a 13t hopper kit that he wasn't going to get round to. An hour or so later, I was sitting staring at most of a wagon, strapping laminations and such to follow tomorrow hopefully.
I also treated myself to a weekend block of line in the Wellington weather supervising the track gangs fitting a level crossing in the rain - a rude wake up after 36 degrees by the Slovenian lakes!
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
In a bout of enthusiasm from this year's Railex vist, decals were dug out - I'd forgotten that the CCT decals require you to paint your own black patches so I've substituted Railtec decals supplied through the association for the unfitted wagons.
...apologies for the terrible photo!
...apologies for the terrible photo!
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CCT
New
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
Like many others here, motor has had a slump lately. The perpetual rounds of restructure and redundancy in the real railway haven't helped.
Chancing upon a cheap Dapol CCT on the lesser known auction site in NZ, I dug out a replacement chassis kit and set to. For anyone following in my footsteps - open out the clasp gear holes and score the lower footstep fold...
Before/after - this is why we persevere!
Goodness knows what Dapol were thinking with the lower door steps - shouldn't take too long.
Fingers crossed it'll leave the workshop in grotty carmine to join my ragtag parcels fleet.
Chancing upon a cheap Dapol CCT on the lesser known auction site in NZ, I dug out a replacement chassis kit and set to. For anyone following in my footsteps - open out the clasp gear holes and score the lower footstep fold...
Before/after - this is why we persevere!
Goodness knows what Dapol were thinking with the lower door steps - shouldn't take too long.
Fingers crossed it'll leave the workshop in grotty carmine to join my ragtag parcels fleet.
Lyndhurstman
Western Thunderer
Very nice. Railtec do black patches too. I’ve used them, and they’re fine. It makes the numbering longer in duration, but they save a lot of Faff.
Cheers
Jan
If painting black patches doesn't appeal, I offer Sheet BL7 - an A6 sheet of plain black decal, which can be cut to the required size.
One sheet will provide for many, many wagons.
John Isherwood,
Cambridge Custom Transfers.
Matt.S.
Western Thunderer
That's handy, thanks John - I'll add one to my next order!