7mm Slaters 6 wheel Milk Tank.

Well, the chassis is just about completed so attention is turned to the tank.

As I am on a mission to use what I have on the shelf the tank barrel has been painted Humbrol 163- Dark Green Satin..

Once dry the filler and vents will be picked out in black before the transfers are applied.

3mm Pull-Push set completed.

 Well, it had to happen.

Glued the roofs on both of the coaches, secured with rubber bands to hold in place and ensure the roof curvature touched the sides. Nice and square then caught the corner and hey presto- creased!

Still the roof is  not going to be removed as it is so thin that removal will completely ruin it so I will live with it.

Not too bad for a kit that the brass was too thick to fold except for the roofs which were too thin.

3mm LB&SCR Pull push set 605.

 OK so I am aware that the set number and the coach numbers are incorrect!

However, I had these set numbers in stock and didn't want to expend more money for one set.

So these Modelmaster numbers were applied and do the job.

The Maunsell conversions being built will also have 4mm numbers for the same reason-

Ex LSWR 02 0-4-0T.

 The 02 has finally been finished!

Am I pleased with it? Not really. I feel i could do better and with three more kits I may eventually produce a good one.

It  does,however run well so that is something to build on.

Next one is an Isle of Wight version and then another mainland runner.

The numbers have to be small so rub down 'n' gauge transfers from Replica Railways were rubbed onto a  black waterslide transfer and then applied to the loco-simples!

3MM LB&SCR Pull Push coaches.

 In view of the impending BR(Southern) layout- several of the passenger carriages are to be pull-push units.

The book shown is a must have if contemplating stock of this kind.

Not only doesit give diagrams of the built and converted stock, it also details where each unit worked.

It does not, however, detail modellers license!



The ex-LB&SCR unit has been primed- this is an ex Jidenco kit and the brass is very stiff and the defects which will show themselves later are purely from my inability to fold on the designated lines!

Moving on, the coaches have been primed and undercoated and ready for the final colour to be applied.

Undercoat is from my local discount store - In Excess.

It is amazing how much a decent undercoat hides-Lucky me!

3mm Scale BR(Southern) 02 0-4-4T.

After priming the 02 has had a coat of satin black.

As the Adams Radial I am using 00 scale lining transfers as they are a lot less fiidly than the 3mm ones which have a habit of the lines separating when soaking.

Not particularly happy with the bunker lining which will have to be re-done.

Must order the smokebox number and shed code from Narrow Planet.

3mm scale locos and little and large!

 This is how far the 3mm scale 02 has progressed. It has been sat on the rolling road and performs well.

Lead has been added to aid balance and this appears to have made to haulage capability quite acceptable'

Bear in mind that this loco will probably pull no more than a push-pull set, it will be left to other classes to fulfil the roster capabilities.

Below is the 02 surrounded by completed SR roster. Just need to add interiors to the Bulleids!

O Gauge Cringle Street- just about completed!

 The latest addition to Cringle Street is the canopy for the truncated bay  platform.

The supports are from LCut with some plasticard tube for supports topped with artists mounting board and faced with my old favourite fine wet and dry paper.

Below is the depot awaiting traffic and at the bottom some wagons have arrived to be loaded.

So- just about finished-need a few detailing bits including a crane and then off to exhibitions-hopefully!

3mm, 4mm and 7mm models.

 Other than 009 all other scales I model in are shown here. I started off by modelling 3mm in BR (Western Region). 4mm or OO scale was BR (Southern Region) and O gauge was pre-war.

However, this has been stretched somewhat and I find myself adding Southern Region stock to the 3mm collection and just about anything for 4mm.

O gauge is the most recent after 009 and Cringle Street Goods is the only layout that has  never been exhibited.

Narrow Planet 3mm Scale numberplates.

 I ordered these some time ago but knowing the quality I was going to receive then the 6-8 weeks lead time is not excessive.

And I wasn't disappointed- these are excellent and entirely legible by far the best 3mm plates I have experienced.

Easily parted from the carrier etch, a deft touch with a fine abrasive pad to remove the nub and secure in place with a couple of spots of superglue.

These are superb!

3MM Scale Southern 02 0-4-4T.

The 02 kits in varying states of assembly have been in the to do box for too long. So out with the etches and let building commence.

To the right is an Isle of Wight version with extended bunker. This still needs the near side splasher attached and handrails put in place.

As this will be a push-pull loco the various castings have been obtained.

Below is the mainland version already sprayed black waiting for transfers before finally finishing.

M&M ModelsB.R. 20 Ton Brake Van- O Gauge.

I had seen these kits before, indeed they were produced at an address about half a mile away.

Excellent etches but need wheels and transfers to complete.

Although out of my era, it is a way of furthering my knowledge of building O gauge kits which will stand me in good stead when continuing with the Blacksmith Toplight.

Slaters O Gauge 6 wheel milk tanker.

Those of you who have been paying attention may remember a post about a bargain buy of a 6 wheel tank wagon that had been painted with a tar brush.

Well- as the weather is awful out came the box and the said tank was taken apart.

First all parts were cleaned and stripped of paint before superglueing the displaced parts back into position.

The tank was covered in paint stripper to remove a couple of coats of paint which had been applied without primer or undercoat .

The wheels on the chassis were masked and both components were primed and undercoated.

The seam on the tank needs filling and then the top coat can be applied.

The chassis will be sprayed in satin black and the tank in green before the CWS methfix transfers are applied.

The tank has been placed on the chassis to ensure the fit will be satisfactory plus the centre wheels replaced!

GWR track chair 1:1 scale.

My wife thinks I am building a full size railway in the garden- fat chance!

This chair, which I have recently re-painted came from Staverton Bridge Station on the South Devon Railway.

It is heavy and anything tied to it stays put in even the strongest of winds.

3mm scale BR&CW Type 3.

 In an effort to complete the 'Crompton' I took the easy option and used things which I had available rather than going and buying things which would have one use.

OK- I know the numbering is too large and the stripe is too wide but I had these available.

Moving on , I now have a green Crompton which can be used on all of my layouts.

Now for the Hymek!

O Gauge Cringle Street Goods.

Just a few images of the start of detailing Cringle Street Goods .

The fire buckets, trolly's and sack trucks are all by Skytrex.

The doors are from LCut and save a lot of time against the reasonable cost.

Bert the shunter is by Springside and required his hands holding the hook glueing into his wrists.

I actually built the fence from thin card and a balsa wood frame .

The brickwork looks quite good considering it is a printed sheet - from Howard Scenics.

Our Isle of Wight adventure.

We drove onto the ferry at Lymington and began what turned out to be an excellent weekend.

After a good pie and chips we found our guest house and then ventured into Lake for a pint or two. That turned out to be an experience not to be forgotten at The Stag.

Next morning after an excellent breakfast we quickly found the hall and set up Hillbrow.

An excellent day surrounded by layouts we hadn't seen before. A good crowd and chat.

Below is a couple of souvenirs of the day.Both are limited editions by Upstairs Downstairs and Wessex Wagons. The Terrier is too late really butwill do until I find my Olive Green one.

7mm Cringle Street Goods Depot.

After the excitement of exhibiting Teignford and Hillbrow over the last couple of weeks it is time to do some work on the O Gauge layout.

The sign- yes I know I missed out the ampersand- was made from some vinyl lettering sourced from Frome Models.

The recently completed PLV is pictured in the bay siding. This vehicle won't be used on Cringle Street as the Torpedo Vents are out of gauge for the bridge-Well planned-Not!

3mm BR&CW Type 3.

The 'Crompton' livery was outside my era so out with the paint and brushes, take your life in your hands and paint!

This side has had a couple of coats of Humbrol Acrylic Loco Green and the contrast is seen here. Quite happy with the coverage and will look better once the roof and handrails have been painted.