3mm S.R. 10 Ton GUV etched brass kit.

I have a couple of these etches for some time. They were bought without the castings but these could be obtained from the 3mm Society shop.

A diagram 3101 van which was produced, according to the instructions, by Stewart Hine in 1973.

I like building etched kits especially well thought out , and scaled, ones. This, although nearly 50 years old, is a lovely etch and fits extremely well.

The instructions are somewhat scant but simple enough for even me to understand.

 

One godsend for assembling etched brass kits is solder paint.

Easy to fix those small pieces which are nigh impossible to attach using multicore or low melt with acid flux.

This I purchased at Warley from Squires if my memory serves me correctly. A good stir and its ready for use. A thin coat on the part to be attached, lay in place and apply heat. The resultant sizzle tells you it is working and remove heat- fixed!

 

 

The hinge etch is attached to the door and needs folding in- east to fix with solder paint and, because there is little overspill, easy to clean up.

The completed door attached to one side, there are cut outs once the vent etches are removed so the doors are secured from the back.

The ends were tacked with solder paint then a fillet of multicore applied at the back of the joint.

Next onto the framing , which, would need to be attached with superglue normally but, yes you've guessed- solder paint.

The small parts were tricky to bend but a true, smoothed jaw vice made this a little easier.

 

One side completed and awaiting cleaning up. The roof I am using is the 3mm Society roof for their Southern PMV.

This is rather than try and shape the etch and really is the easy way out. 

After a bit of scraping at the roof edges it fits quite well.

Onwards to the other side. I have another of these and a GW Toad to make so will keep me busy for a bit.

3mm wagons completed.

The four wagons with Fencehouses chassis have been completed.

They all have had weight added and my usual 3mm scale West Harptree couplings, from Worsley Works etches, added.

They make a nice unfitted rake which roll superbly.

Maybe, once we are back exhibiting, I will find a local show to give them a run- but not this year!

 

3mm Scale wagon kits and Fencehouses chassis.

Time to turn attention to some 3mm scale kits. These I have had for some time having bought some body only kits and relevant Fencehouses etched chassis.

Easily folded up and a small fillet of solder on the joints makes a strong freely rolling chassis.

Next the solebars, from spare chassis sprues and not necessarily right for the wagon, were attached after removal of the axlebox mountings.

 The chassis was test fitted prior to fitting the springs.

This van is an ex-Midland railway example which I found without a chassis but included buffers.

Once all was set, a coat of primer was applied- ideal for grey liveried rolling stock- and, again, when dry the transfers were applied. Again, these may be spurious markings but saves buying yet more transfers for just a few wagons.

 

 

One of the wagon bodies completed- minus transfers. The sheet rail is .45mm nickel silver rod superglued in place for strength.

The buffers have been substituted for some whitemetal castings which are more robust than the plastic examples supplied with the kit.

A 7 plank wagon ready for painting, the floor mouldings have been removed to provide a nice flat surface for attaching the etched chassis.

Below are the 3 open wagons completed ready to be united with the chassis and couplings attached.

The Midland van will wait until the next batch of chassis are soldered together.

Some 3mm scale diesels.

At long last a return to where it all started-3mm scale!

A rare meeting saw several scales running on our host, Nigel's, test track.

These included Nigels own class 33 and 08 plus Roberts two class 47@s, one a white metal kit, the other a resin casting. The 47's had Tri-ang TT adapted class 31 bogies.

The Brutes in the lower photo are to 0 gauge.

 

700 Posts- Layouts over the years in 3mm & 4mm scale, 009 Narrow Gauge, HO Trams and 0 Gauge.

               3mm scale Teignford- has appeared in Railway Modeller and at Warley- shows station.

                Quarry Siding is a minimum space 009 layout built by Paul Levy on a cable drum.

Hillbrow is my first 009 build. This one also appeared in the Railway Modeller but the ticket collector     was still upright!

      RAF St Misrah is 21 x 24 inches and this one appeared in both Railway Modeller and 009 News.

My only foray into 0 Gauge is Cringle Street Goods. Imagined in South London it is an exercise in how small I could make a workable 0 Gauge layout. Since relocated to a new home.

This is Woody lane. It is a continuous circuit 009 layout based on nowhere in particular but uses the smaller stock in my collection.

Gwartha Vellan Tramway ( Cornish for Higher Mill) is the latest 009 layout. Based in Cornwall it is really an excuse to run my Lynton and Barnstable Manning Wardles. Baseboards are from Norfolk Heath Works and is in five fifteen inch modules

Two pics of St Mewan a Cornish layout in 4mm. The layout is 7ft long by 8inches deep with a 10inch extension to the fiddle yard. This is still under construction as is Gwartha Vellan.

Cody Street is a simple oval operating motorised Atlas Editions HO trams. Petite Properties low relief building kits have been used throughout- named after my youngest grandson.

Lastly is Hennock which was my first 3mm scale layout. This one has also been published in Railway Modeller and also appeared at Warley. This picture appeared in Railway Modeller in an article about portable layouts.

Worsley Works Coach vents- for 3mm scale but ideal for 009 coaches.

 Some newly etched door vents dropped onto the mat a couple of days agofrom Worsley Works.

www.worsleyworks.co.uk

Although these are for 3mm scale they are perfect for 009 coaches. They will be fitted to the Brynkits Lynton and Barnstable bogie coaches that came without mouldings.

As usual Allen has done an excellent job and it almost seems a shame to paint them!

Railtec Transfers- Excellent products!

A really swift delivery from Railtec- Thanks Steve!

This time some numbering for the 3mm scale Hymek and 4mm scale destinations for the stock to be used on St Mewan.

Because the transfers are fresh they are  very easy to apply. About half a minute in water then they easily slide into position.

Being custom made you don't have to buy a large sheet , most of which you won't use.

No association just a very satisfied repeat customer-https://www.railtec-models.com/

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

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.

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.