009 A1 Models Box Cab Kit.

These have lain unfinished for some time.

On receipt of a couple of new KATO 11-109 motorised bogies it seemed the right time to compare the new offering with the original 11-103.

Firstly the A1 kit builds to a very solid 009 model with little cleaning up of the etch and once a quick swipe with a glass fibre brush solders together easily.

Once assembled they were both given a couple of coats of red primer before the final coat of maroon was applied. When dry the roof was hand painted dark grey and numbers added. Then a coat of satin varnish sealed it all before glazing from a kit bubble card was fitted using canopy glue.

The only modification to the body was a couple of brass rod pieces attached at the lower part of the body side to aid attaching to the KATO bogie. I must add that spacers need attaching front and rear of the motor bogie to keep the body square. This is because the fitting clips are offset on either side so will skew if not retained..

This shows the differences between the two- the 109 is the lower chassis. They are totally interchangeable and will be run to ascertain the running differences. All I need now is a couple of model generators to fit so you are unable to see straight through the finely etched grills!

3mm BR&CW Type 3.

The transfers have finally been affixed and I am very pleased with the result.

Rather than having to fix individual numbers, often from several sheets, Railtec provide them as a complete loco set- everything you need on one sheet. They even supply an extra transfer in case you muck one up.

Steve is very helpful as to your needs and the service is usually very quick- allowing for present circumstances.

3mm Hymek Chassis fitted.

The chassis has been fitted to the Hymek. Also the first couple of handrails.

I am waiting for the numbering transfers to arrive from Railtec.

Once these have been applied then a coat of varnish before the windows are fitted.

These, as also on the 33'swill have to be cut individually or ,as I intimated before, I might try Glue N Glaze.

https://www.railtec-models.com/index.php

Ratio 4mm GWR Water Tower.

Pufferwillies delivered the water tower a few days after ordering.

It has reached the stage shown after a couple of hours work- reminds me that I have a white metal example in 3mm to finish as well.

The kit goes together well after cleaning up the areas where released from the sprue.

All of the plastic pieces have been assembled and a start has been made on adding the extremely fine brass etches.
https://www.pufferwillies-stm.co.uk/

3mm Scale type 3 Diesels- slowly getting there.

The tedious bit is touching up paintwork and colouring the various grilles and windscreen surrounds. One of the Crompton's and the Hymek are just about ready for transfers to be applied. Then a coat of matt varnish before the windows are cut out and fitted although I might try 'Glue and Glaze' this time.

Platform details for St Mewan- 4mm scale.

After what seems like forever, the figures and station furniture can be started on.

In idle moments I have painted numerous figures- not all 4mm.

The ticket collector is having a chat with a passenger. Both are ,I believe, Slaters figures.

A porter and the cleaner have a chat while a passenger waits for the branch train to arrive.

Opening the platform store. Kits were sourced from The Railway Conductor, Pufferwillies, Jacksons and others. Trying to support smaller suppliers who respond excellently.

Loading gauge for St Mewan.

The Ratio GWR loading gauge builds to a lovely model but boy is it fiddly!

Eventually , after trying to use the enclosed ,that looked like fishing line, I decided to use .33mm nickel silver wire. Then given a coat of matt white primer then the lower part matt black and ready to plant!

This not only, to my mind, looks better but makes the structure much sturdier.

Just the question of where best to place it is the next decision.

3mm Diesels.

There has been a couple of days I have missed posting.

Due entirely to me being busy painting and making things.

Firstly I have  painted the first of the Type 3's into original green without warning panel as delivered.

Some touching in to do and buffer beams painted red. The indicator panel will be black with code then glazed.

The engine room windows will be black then either glazed or glossed with varnish- not sure yet.

The Hymek has had the first coat after the Sherwood Green lower stripe has been applied- shown masked. It is amazing how long this takes and to be honest have lost track of time hence no posts!

3mm BR&CW Type 3 Chassis.

The dummy bogies have been fitted with sideframes.

Checking to get the chassis level took a bit of time as did working out the height that the body had to be mounted.

Haven't yet decided how the body will be secured to the chassis but there are bogies to paint first.

Now the chassis for the type 3's and the Hymek have been completed itis time to turn my attention to the paintwork to be carried by each model.

3mm BR&CW TYpe 3

After a bit of fiddling about the side frames have been fitted to both motor bogies.

Rather pleased with the result and very pleased with Lennies side frame castings.

The flywheels on the Halling motor bogies ensure good running, the only downside is that the wheels are only 9mm in diameter.

The 10ft compensated frames for the rear bogie arrived and have been assembled and height checked- these have 10.5mm wheels.

This shows the testing of height using some spare 8ft 6 inch wheelbase frames.

I had to modify the chassis to allow for swing of the sideframes and now it all fits.

The steps could do to be a bit further forward but that compromises the buffer beams but I can live with that.

KATO N-Gauge 11-109 Power Bogie.

The replacement for the KATO 11-103 the 11-109 arrived by post recently.

A very quick turnaround by Top Slots and Trains which were the best value in my opinion. Yes, they can be obtained from Japan direct but that can take a while to arrive. Top Slots took 2 days from order.

The outward appearance is changed, the chassis side frames look very similar but the motor housing is now black and of a different design.

The way the assembly is held together has also changed. Previously the 11-103 had a couple of screws, one at each end which, on unscrewing enabled the unit to be dismantled easily. I haven't attempted dismantling yet! Mustfind a suitable candidate for fitting this one to.

https://www.topslotsntrains.com/topslotsntrains/final.asp?ref=Kato-11-109-Ex-11-103-N-Gauge-4-WHEEL-POWERED-MOTORISED-CHASSIS-54mm-&id=10681&manufacturer=%27KATO%20N%20Gauge%27

No association except as a very satisfied customer.

 

12MM Gauge tram chassis.

This is one I obtained through the 009 Secondhand Sales. It is awell engineered chassis and runs beautifully.

However, I have been unable find out where it comes from or who the manufacturer is.

The letters PMt are etched into the bogie baseplate and despite frequent searches have been unable to find more information. If anyone can supply more information I would be very grateful.

3MM BR&CW Type 3.

The pair of Type 3's or Class 33's will both be powered by Halling 12mm gauge power bogies.

Halling bogies have adjustable wheel bases and the only real drawback is that the wheels are only 9mm in diameter- slightly too small for 3mm diesels.

A U shaped carrier has been made with mounting screw soldered into the predrilled hole. The mounting has been Epoxy Resin bonded to the motor.

Once the glue has dried, how to mount into the body? A length of brass (freebe from Worsley Works)
has been formed to shape as below but I have made it too long so will have to shorten. The upright is to provide rigidity

3MM Scale Hymek.

Time to change scale for a while. I have many unmade kits.  Locos both steam and diesel, Coaches both Southern and Western Region examples and lastly wagons which will all have Fencehouses etched Nickel Silver chassis.

First to escape from the box is a Bruce Smetham Hymek which will be powered by a Hollywood Foundry power bogie. These are no longer available unfortunately due to the owners retirement.

The chassis is scratch built with scrap brass. Already primed, the Sherwood Green stripe needs applying and the window surrounds painted white before the BR Green.

00 Gauge Class 04 DM and Hymek.

The Class 04 0-6-0 Diesel Mechanical were built by Drewry. Introduced from 1958,this number- D2282, was a 3'7'' loco- largest wheel size.
 
No 04 apparently worked in Cornwall, the nearest was a handfull allocated on Southern metals at Plymouth Friary.

However, several Class 03 locos were shedded at St Blazey so that is another I must aquire!

 Lastly today is the Hymek. Apparently no Hymek worked beyond the Tamar so theoretically can't be used on St Mewan. However, it's my railway and this one will deputise for a failed Class 22!

00 Gauge BR Hawsworth Auto-trailer and 64XX Pannier Tank.

The last type of  purpose built Push pull trailers introduced on the Western Region was the Hawksworth Diagram A38 

Built in 1951 these used GWR practises but after nationalisation.

Below is  6417 0-6-0 Pannier Tank as the motive power for this service. The prototype 6417 was shedded for many years at Laira, the final shed being Aberdare before being scrapped in June 1959. A better identity would be 6420 that was allocated to St Blazey at one point.

00 Gauge stock for St Mewan. AC Cars railbus.

This Heljan AC Cars railcar was an impulse buy a couple of years ago.

A type that was used in Cornwall around the Bodmin area. Latterly the whole class of 4 was exiled to Scotland to replace Park Royal railcars

00 Gauge Somerset & Dorset Joint Railway stock.

 It sometimes occurs that you come across something that you had forgotten you owned.

So it was that I discovered this S&DJR 8F a Bachmann wooden boxed example of this lovely loco.

Also found were the three Hornby Clerestory coaches which I repainted into S&DJR blue. The paint was a Halfords rattle can, the actual colour I forget.

Will show other stock for St Mewan in the next few posts.

00 Gauge Class 22 ready for service.

The class 22 has had its side skirts added- not particularly even though.

However, whilst waiting for paint, glue and filler to cure I took the time to run in the Class 22 on my Bachrus rolling road. This , as I have mentioned ,is adjustable to run any of the gauges, 009, 3mm 12mm, OO 16.5 and O gauge that I model in rather than having to buy one for each gauge.

The headcode discs have been fitted using canopy glue- inconspicuous when dry.

I have been looking at the Hornby Class 25 and need to find out whether the later ones made in China had finer wheels than the originals.

600th Post- Clay Dries Completed.

Yes- this is the 600th  post of this blog- can't remember how many were on Dorset 3mm.

After an eternity waiting for paint, glue and filler to dry the Dries are just about complete. They just need permanently fixing to the baseboard once I am sure the glue securing the figures has cured.

Quite pleased with the result although if it had been better times I would have carried out more research.