Teignford 3mm .

 As Teignford has been invited to be shown at the Salisbury Exhibition (in Wilton) the layout has been rescued from storage and is in the throes of being tested before remedial work is done.

A couple of dry soldered joints repaired and it all seems to work. However, I cannot recall how the second controller works to independently control the goods yard.

So- several pictures of the before!

Slaters O Gauge SECR PLV.

 This thing with building O Gauge kits is becoming an obsession.

Yet another too good to miss kit,  however,this one was unstarted.

Undeniably the largest kit I have attempted this one really goes together well. Perhaps it is the sheer bulk of the mouldings but it is much easier to hold square than other scales and, as such, is much more relaxing to make.

Several more things to do before contemplating adding paint- must find out if there is a spray paint for SECR brown available or if I will have to source a can from my local car paint supplier who do aerosol cans to order.

Slaters O Gauge 6wheel milk tank.

Sometimes you really find something that is too hard to resist and then you get it home!

I went to collect a kit and whilst browsing I found this milk tank ,which although well made, which had a less than pleasing paint job.

So- it will have the tank removed from the chassis and the paint removed. then it will be resprayed and some appropriate transfers applied.

Till then I must work out howto attach couplings!

Brynkits 009 Lynton and Barnstable Coaches.

Some time ago I bumped into Brian Golding of Brynkits fame.

He was discontinuing 009 models and was selling off the etches he had. There are no castings with the etches but no doubt these can be made from products from other providers.

This is how far I got in half a day- beautiful etches which go together very well and even better if you take your time (I did)!

One window dropper has been soldered into place which is probably the most fiddly bit having to line up the frame from inside.

3mm Scale Bulleid coaches.

After what seems an age, the Bulleid coaches have finally been completed bodywise.

They still need interiors but at the moment they are able to be test run.

This will probably be when Teignford comes out of storage to be readied for the Salisbury Exhibition next month.

So Set 806 will possibly appear together with the recently completed Collett coaches.

As set 806 is a 3car unit uncoupling will only be carried out on the complete 3 car set.

To this end, a simple hook and loop is fitted to the centre couplings . Shown here is the hook end of the centre corridor composite.

Worsley Works 009 GVT Clerestory coach.

 This one will complete the GVT coaching stock.

As usual an excellent set of etches from Allan- somewhat thinner due to the etched pannelling.

The roof was a bit of a fight to solder together four small, thin, etchings to make the clerestory roof.

After undercoating , the top coat has been applied ready for the white panel across the window area.

Just black to apply to the chassis and then glazing.

O Gauge Coke Wagon.

The Midland Coke Wagon has been completed and , after masking , has had a coat of grey primer.

One thing is that this will do as a top coat also so no need to apply a top coat- means I don't have to buy another tin of paint.

3mm Bulleids- 2nd coat of paint.

 After a light rub down with very fine wet and dry paper, the second coat of Passenger Stock Green has been applied.

Starting to come together with a final rub down and final coat after a couple of days drying.

Rotarail-Fareham 2019.

Hillbrow is appearing next weekend at Rotarail on the 27th April 2019.

3mm Bulleid coaches .

The Bulleid coaches have been given their first undercoat and I am pleased with how they look in photographic grey.

A few bits to clean up then-

Next stop is to apply BR(S) coach green!

Slaters O Gauge MR Coke Wagon.

I was lucky enough to find this unstarted kit on Ronlines of Southampton stand at the recent Fordingbridge Model Railway Exhibition.

It is a fairly old kit having Methfix transfers included.

After releasing the parts from the sprues and cleaning any flash then itis ready for assembly to commence.



First thing is to affix the underframe and floor together -location tabs  are easily identified.

Then it is a matter of attaching the solebars - carefully lining up with the end of the floor/frame assembly.

The bearing holes are cleaned out and  the bearings have been inserted and, my preferance- attached with a spot of superglue.

Below is the completed w iron with axlebox.

So onwards and upwards to assemble the ends with buffers and coupling hook before attaching.

Evening falls at Hillbrow.

Night falls on Hillbrow Station as the last couple of passengers of the day awaits the late departure.

Brynkits 3mm Scale Hawksworth Coach Kits.

 At the recent 3mm Wessex Open near Salisbury, Brian Golding had the range of his new kits for Hawksworth coaches.

Finely etched in brass with all castings these kits really keep up the quality we have come to expect from Brynkits.

Complete except for wheels ,transfers and paint, I am looking forward to starting to build this one which, as it is a Hawksworth- has no tumblehome!

Watch this space!

3mm Trio of Bulleid coaches.

 I have had these flat packs for some time so I thought it was about time I put them together.

I really like Worsley Works etched brass kits but because I have had them some time it is necessary to thoroughly clean before construction commences. If you don't clean off the oxidisation then the solder won't stick!

Three coaches initially have been made plus an all third which is still under construction .

Below is a BRCW corr comp which,because of no suitable vents will become an Eastleigh constructed coach.

A trio of 3mm Collet Coaches.

Rediscovered these three Collet coaches and all they will need is having the couplings modified.

If I remember correctly, one of these caused a short from one of the bogies so will have to test once Teignford is rescued from the loft to get ready for the Salisbury Exhibition in May

3mm Churchward Toplights.

Firstly is a new build coach from a Worsley Works set of etches.

I have gone to town on this one having fitted door and grab handles.

This one needs a 3 compartment assembly made then numbered , roof given a second coat and maybe lined and numbered before varnishing and glazing.

The second one has been revamped with door and grab handles and a fresh coat of paint.

This one has the wrong roof details but I don't want to destroy it trying to remove the roof.

I am also sure that the bogies are wrong which would mean redrilling the floor so I will probably live with this also.

What fun railway modelling is- when will the rivet counter strike?

West Wiltshire Model Railway Exhibition Tomorrow 6th April 2019.

As the heading says we are off to Holt tomorrow , with Hillbrow, for their annual exhibition- Come and say hello if you are there.

3mm LBSCR Push Pull.

I came across a flat pack LBSCR set by Falcon Brass (Ex Jidenco).

Literally flat except the roofs which have curved inside out!

The brass is somewhat thicker than I am used to and bending the base with tumblehome didn't go well but it will have to do!

Cleaned up, the brass solders well with multicore.

This is how far I have got with the driving trailer sat on its bogies.

Must decide what livery to choose, will be either Maroon or Southern Green- only have a photo of a unit in green but it will be some time before a decision will have to be made.