Len Cattley
Western Thunderer
That looks like a really nice loco, I have two Brassmaster kits to do (Black5 and Jubilee), I think I might be asking you for help with them. I would love to build them as good as yours.
Len
Len
Tom Mallard’s Workbench L&B in 7mm scale, CR 828 in 7mm, GWR Saints in 4mm
- Thread starter Tom Mallard
- Start date
Dikitriki
Flying Squad
Hi Tom,
What an exquisite piece of modelling.
I saw it at Bristol, and the pictures belie the size. Having been in 7mm for a number of years I forget how small 4mm is, and the picture shows how much detail you have incorporated in the smaller scale. I suppose we are used to seeing larger images and taking everything for granted, but it really is tremendous.
I saw your ad in the GOG Gazette, and while I won't be responding, I am very much looking forward to seeing what you can do in the larger scale.
Regards,
Richard
What an exquisite piece of modelling.
I saw it at Bristol, and the pictures belie the size. Having been in 7mm for a number of years I forget how small 4mm is, and the picture shows how much detail you have incorporated in the smaller scale. I suppose we are used to seeing larger images and taking everything for granted, but it really is tremendous.I saw your ad in the GOG Gazette, and while I won't be responding, I am very much looking forward to seeing what you can do in the larger scale.
Regards,
Richard
Tom Mallard
Western Thunderer
Hi Tom,
What an exquisite piece of modelling.
I saw your ad in the GOG Gazette, and while I won't be responding, I am very much looking forward to seeing what you can do in the larger scale.
Regards,
Richard
Thankyou Richard,
that is a most generous comment. I often get highly blinkered myopia on proceedings, so this kind of feedback is appreciated! I had worried that after visiting the Bristol show with its 'massive' content, I'd have trouble re-calibrating my eyes to the titchyness of 4mm scale.
I am glad the advert has been noticed, and fingers crossed that I get the right kind of interest...
Thanks again Richard, I look forward to seeing your future updates on Heyside.
Tom
Tom Mallard
Western Thunderer
A look at the Guy Williams Saint in pristine post-war GWR livery.
The paint on the body work was mostly cellulose Deep Bronze Green BS381/224 as recommended by Malcolm Mitchell on top of two part etch primer, mixed maybe at between 5 and 10:1 with some slower drying thinners. I sprayed through a large nozzle on my airbrush using a lot of air, maybe at 25psi except when doing in the nooks and corners. This covered the model uniformly in a layer which stayed wet slightly longer than normal.
All the black (Humbrol Satin 85) is brushed on slightly thinned. The red is two coats of Phoenix Precision GWR Signal Red brushed on a fraction thinned, the tender tranfers are by Methfix, with the buffer beam transfers by Fox. Sealed over with 50/50 satin to gloss Railmatch varnish, thinned at least 3:1 with Phoenix Precision Quick Air Drying Thinners and sprayed through a fine airbrush nozzle at relatively high pressure in excess of 20psi. Apart from sealing over the transfers, the varnish is valuable in that it ties the different paint finishes together and unifies them.
V grainy picture, but the sun wasn't out today.
Best regards
Tom
The paint on the body work was mostly cellulose Deep Bronze Green BS381/224 as recommended by Malcolm Mitchell on top of two part etch primer, mixed maybe at between 5 and 10:1 with some slower drying thinners. I sprayed through a large nozzle on my airbrush using a lot of air, maybe at 25psi except when doing in the nooks and corners. This covered the model uniformly in a layer which stayed wet slightly longer than normal.
All the black (Humbrol Satin 85) is brushed on slightly thinned. The red is two coats of Phoenix Precision GWR Signal Red brushed on a fraction thinned, the tender tranfers are by Methfix, with the buffer beam transfers by Fox. Sealed over with 50/50 satin to gloss Railmatch varnish, thinned at least 3:1 with Phoenix Precision Quick Air Drying Thinners and sprayed through a fine airbrush nozzle at relatively high pressure in excess of 20psi. Apart from sealing over the transfers, the varnish is valuable in that it ties the different paint finishes together and unifies them.
V grainy picture, but the sun wasn't out today.
Best regards
Tom
Attachments
Tom Mallard
Western Thunderer
Back to the K3 for the forseeable.
Pattern making again this time as I work to get castings returned by the end of the month. The approach has been to generate drawings of each item in a way which I can use directly in turning or machining parts or by cutting them out as templates for pantograph milling. There is still no imminent switch to the utopia of CNC machining or rapid prototyping for me...
Once the group of parts was made on my pantograph milling machine (templates at 10x component size) I turned all the parts I could on my lathe before finally being forced onto the milling machine for everything else. As can be seen with the water gauge, a number of facets have been cut to form the bulk of the pattern. the rest of this blank was turned before the locating holes for the tap/firebox unions were added.
The Dreadnaught combination ejector has had me at my limit for 4mm scale, with the limitations of resolution, drill size and basic smallness being a constant battle. It is a sandwich of 4 separate profiles, with multiple turnings added for the small details. For the next pattern of this type, I would try to pin more parts or use smaller spigots on the details.
Nearly every hole has been manually drilled with my preferred archimedian drill. I never use the feature after which this drill was named, but it feels comfortable in my hand, and the rotating top is useful. I started with a pinprick mark from my scribe, which I enlarge with either a very small ball ended burr (0.5mm or 0.7mm) and then onto a drill smaller than the desired hole if possible. This was not really an option on some as the hole was only 0.35mm or so.
So a few more patterns to go, but hopefully no more super tricky ones. K3 patterns 1 shows the madness of it all - but at least we know it's there!
Tom
Pattern making again this time as I work to get castings returned by the end of the month. The approach has been to generate drawings of each item in a way which I can use directly in turning or machining parts or by cutting them out as templates for pantograph milling. There is still no imminent switch to the utopia of CNC machining or rapid prototyping for me...
Once the group of parts was made on my pantograph milling machine (templates at 10x component size) I turned all the parts I could on my lathe before finally being forced onto the milling machine for everything else. As can be seen with the water gauge, a number of facets have been cut to form the bulk of the pattern. the rest of this blank was turned before the locating holes for the tap/firebox unions were added.
The Dreadnaught combination ejector has had me at my limit for 4mm scale, with the limitations of resolution, drill size and basic smallness being a constant battle. It is a sandwich of 4 separate profiles, with multiple turnings added for the small details. For the next pattern of this type, I would try to pin more parts or use smaller spigots on the details.
Nearly every hole has been manually drilled with my preferred archimedian drill. I never use the feature after which this drill was named, but it feels comfortable in my hand, and the rotating top is useful. I started with a pinprick mark from my scribe, which I enlarge with either a very small ball ended burr (0.5mm or 0.7mm) and then onto a drill smaller than the desired hole if possible. This was not really an option on some as the hole was only 0.35mm or so.
So a few more patterns to go, but hopefully no more super tricky ones. K3 patterns 1 shows the madness of it all - but at least we know it's there!
Tom
Attachments
Len Cattley
Western Thunderer
Hi Tom, how can you see them? I could only see them with a magnifying glass.
Len
Len
Tom Mallard
Western Thunderer
Hi Len,
You get used to it I suppose, plus I have the relative benefit of being short sighted rather than long sighted! I am pretty sure I have literally gone cross-eyed trying to focus on work, but bright light helps too.
Best regards
Tom
Tom Mallard
Western Thunderer
Thanks for the kind words everyone - it is always appreciated.
Here is the group of patterns ready to go to the casting people. They said not to bother with feeds unless strictly necessary as then they could choose where they thought was best. We will see.
Some sort of scale is definitely needed, so I've used my hand again.
Back to the engine again tomorrow...
Best regards,
Tom
Here is the group of patterns ready to go to the casting people. They said not to bother with feeds unless strictly necessary as then they could choose where they thought was best. We will see.
Some sort of scale is definitely needed, so I've used my hand again.
Back to the engine again tomorrow...
Best regards,
Tom
Attachments
Last edited:
john lewsey
Western Thunderer
Hi I don't know how I've missed this but the B2 is just stunningly superb
Tom Mallard
Western Thunderer
Here's a bit of progress on the K3 bodywork.
Plenty to keep me amused as the late contractor builds on which the model is based had a number of detail differences which are not all shown on the drawings I have. The steam pipe and cylinder covers are pretty awkward and are machined from solid. Snaphead rivets on the smokebox replace flush riveting, and the boiler has the Thompson pattern of washout plugs.
The oilpots and anticarbonisation fittings are next.
Best regards
Tom
Plenty to keep me amused as the late contractor builds on which the model is based had a number of detail differences which are not all shown on the drawings I have. The steam pipe and cylinder covers are pretty awkward and are machined from solid. Snaphead rivets on the smokebox replace flush riveting, and the boiler has the Thompson pattern of washout plugs.
The oilpots and anticarbonisation fittings are next.
Best regards
Tom
Attachments
Tom Mallard
Western Thunderer
The chassis and body united for the first time as I had to refine the fit of the motion bracket against the valence.
The footplate mounted lubricator pots are now in position and were a pest to get right... happily the backhead and cab interior were simpler to get to grips with.
Best regards
Tom
The footplate mounted lubricator pots are now in position and were a pest to get right... happily the backhead and cab interior were simpler to get to grips with.
Best regards
Tom
Attachments
Tom Mallard
Western Thunderer
Cheers Tony,
I've been following your work on the 9F's and the Standard 4's before that - you really have the bit between your teeth on these. Most impressive.
The K3 is meant to be done fairly soon so I am hoping that once the fittings are on and the wheelsets then a sudden transformation will take place. I take it from your description of the Proscale K3 that you used to do 4mm modelling? If so, what drew you to 7mm scale?
Best regards
Tom
Tom Mallard
Western Thunderer
Well JB, it is slightly complicated by a few issues...
My clients subsidise the etch design work for the 4mm scale model of their choosing so they have invested a substantial sum of money (hundreds or thousands) even before a model is built. So to then sell the resulting etches to individuals who haven't had this 'privilege' causes me a number of ethical concerns. Secondly, the etches are designed to be of use solely to myself and hence might have components deliberately missing, not to mention being of an uncomprising nature and consequently tricky to put together in some areas. Thirdly, I don't have instructions written for them for obvious reasons. Fourthly (is that a word?) one would still need to make all the fittings and so-on. Fifthly (definitely ditto) they're not to 7mm scale, and from what I understand of the process regarding etch factors and fold lines it isn't necessarily appropriate just to scale them up by 75%.
I have been asked this kind of question a number of times and while I really appreciate the compliments, it is unlikely that they'll be made available for general purchase.
Sorry to put this damper on such a splendid idea.
Best regards
Tom
dibateg
Western Thunderer
Thanks Tom, I moved to 7mm scale after I had acheived my ambitions in 4mm scale with Charwelton. I had thought of doing Bulwell Common at home, but was tempted away by Dikitriki and the offer of keeping a kit if I wrote about it in BRM. So I have enjoyed the new challenge and have enjoyed working in both scales.
Regards
Tony
Regards
Tony