00 Gauge Railtec 3D Numberplate transfers.

The Railtec plates are slightly smaller than those that have been printed onto the loco.

A quick brush over with BR Green acrylic paint- slightly differing from that applied by Bachmann- prepared the surface for the transfers.

The transfers are floated from the backing, dried, then secured with a spot of varnish as directed in the instructions.

The smokebox number and shed plate are secured in the same way.

 

I brush a thin coat of varnish around the transfer edge and, to date, there have been no loss or lifting.

As the complete loco numbering set, and complete loco set, can be supplied there is no need to purchase separate packs of plates, shed plates.

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

Just need some suitable lamps to complete.

 

00 Gauge Prairie Tank re-numbered.

Steve at Railtec Transfers has excelled himself again!

Belying the fact that these are transfers they arrived extremely promptly and are a work of art.

These will transform my 4575 Class 5500 into 5502 during its time shedded at 83E-St Blazey,

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

 

00 Gauge Watershoot Bay- now electrified.

 

With Watershoot Bay now up and running- thanks mainly to my good friend Nigel-work can now progress on the scenic side.

This post shows the rolling stock that will be used on the layout. Motive power will mostly be 0-6-0 ex LB&SCR Terriers. Most are in Maunsell Olive livery but there are also a couple of others, one in Sunshine Malachite and one, as yet ,devoid of markings.

The Olive coaches are now 4 wheelers- the centre axle having been removed. The teak 4 wheelers are re-branded GNR stock.

The wagons are a fair mixture. One of each Hornby and a Smallbrook Studios Brake vans together with a Smallbrook van converted from a redundant brake are the correct replicas whilst the others , both vans and opens, are modified and repainted Hornby with a solitary Oxford ex-GN van.

The first picture shows the station building sat atop the platform base- this needs some work before it can be glued to rest- hopefully in the right place!

00 Gauge Dapol A1X Terrier Conversion.

 By chance I aquired a Dapol Terrier at a very reasonable price. Usually these are fairly noisy but this one hadn't been  used. A good run in on the rolling road and it is really quiet.

I had a bunker conversion from Golden Arrow which is basically a resin casting that slides on to the existing body after removal of some plastic.

It fits really well needing the minimum of filling. This one will, hopefully be in Red which was one of the islands railway liveries before the grouping.

New toy- Zeller rolling road for 00 -16.5mm gauge.

Although I already have an adjustable Rolling Road by Bachrus which caters for all of my gauges, 9mm 009,12mm 3mm, 16.5 00 and 7mm I have always thought that an 00 fixed road would be useful.

As luck would have it one was advertised on a chat site and duly purchased.

This is a lovely engineered piece of kit and, once thoroughly cleaned, performs superbly. I was unaware of two different lengths- this being the longest at 60mm which means it will cater for the longest of my stock.

 

00 gauge S&DJR loco addition.

 Being able to visit the Frome Model Railway exhibition meant that I could find another loco for the S&DJR collection bringing the total to five.

I haven't had a Jinty since my Tri-ang one some sixty five years ago- this time the offering from Bachmann.

Needs some work on the pickups but otherwise a good rarely used example.

Couldn't resist a few images with 23attached to a few appropriate wagons.

I was dreaming of a Wight Christmas!

And I wasn't disappointed!

If you have been paying attention, you will have noticed my intention to build an Isle of Wight themed 00 gauge layout.

A couple of books plus  a map or two have been used as research. From the Ordnance Survey map 180 of 1945 a location has been chosen, but more of that anon!

 

 I was very fortunate that Secret Santa (with a few nudges) delivered a fascinating book and the Hornby Isle of Wight loco Number 14-Bembridge.

This has moved the project forward by some measure and, as a result, nameboards have been ordered from Sankey Scenics and, once received, all will be revealed.

So, the wider baseboards will be retrieved from storage and the track swapped over.

 

Isle of Wight Southern Terrier.

 

The Isle of Wight project has aquired it's second loco- Number 10 Cowes.

This is the third loco for use on the layout which is, as yet, unnamed.

The plates have been supplied by Narrow Planet together with Fishbourne which will be the next conversion.

The track has been laid but I feel that it is too cramped so will be transferred to a pair of boards giving a 7ft scenic section together with a 2ft 6inch sector plate fiddle yard.

For once I have actually found a projected line which I will detail in future posts.

I have also found a couple of inexpensive Tri-ang Hornby ex Hull and Barnsley vans- the two of three- which have had outside framing added and painted Southern Railway freight stock brown. Transfers have been sourced from Modelmaster and Old Time Workshop.

Both are excellent but I wish OTW would print on a darker background as it is extremely difficult to identify individual items.

00 Adams 02 0-4-4T returned to mainland pull-push condition.

 I bought this 02 from a friend. He had converted it to an Isle of Wight version without the modified bunker.

Wanting a mainland pull-push version meant a repaint which was covered in a previous post.

The different tanks were eventually found and replaced in the models original position. 

So now I have a loco to go with the BR (Southern) auto coaches.

00 Gauge GWR 4575 class 2-6-2Tank.

 This is actually the first Bachmann 4575 class Prairie tank I have owned.

5531 was ,in BR days, shedded at Plymouth Laira/Launceston- thats as far back as my locoshed books go!

After a quick service, the loco runs faultlessly.

After removing the body a crew has been fitted together with a lamp indicating a goods duty.

The roster for St Mewan is now complete- GWR wise anyway!

Golden Arrow Isle of Wight Terrier Bunker conversion.

 My efforts at modifying the Terrier bunker were not to my satisfaction. So, the resin moulding from Golden Arrow was ordered and arrived in quick time.

The moulding requires minimal cleaning up and awaits the removal of the rear of a mainland terrier.

The casting comes with full instructions and appears to be fairly straightforward- mind you the lining and paint match are something I am not looking forward to- but I know a man who can!!!

Just waiting- patiently for the nameplates from Modelmaster!

Hornby Terriers for the Isle of Wight.

I bought this nicely converted Hornby Terrier from a friend.

Finished as Isle of Wight number 8- this one will be renumbered to number 10- Cowes.

The reason being that I have a number 8 named Freshwater already.

The bunker has been converted (not as good as the one to the left) but once matt varnished most of the defects will be hidden-famous last words!
 

 

 

00 Gauge Isle of Wight 4 wheel carriages.

As a result of the Isle of Wight trip, I now have a rake of 3 4 wheel carriages to pair with my Hornby Terrier, Number 2 'Ventnor'.

The set number is wrong and should really be a 4 carriage set.

Also I purchased the Oakwood Press 'Isle of Wight Steam Passenger Rolling Stock'.

So I have no reason to get the rake and individual coach numbers wrong!

The couplings have also been shortened as to make them closer coupled.

Mating a Mainline Warship body to a Lima Chassis.

Finally- thank god I hear you say- the Warship saga is complete with the completion of the Maroon Warship.

The transfers and nameplates received from Rail-Tec have been applied and are superb.

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

The lower buffer skirts have been added plus a goal post for Sprat & Winkle couplings has been added. A couple of hoses each end allowing for coupling movement have also been fitted. OK, the colour match isn't the best but will have to do!

 

Isle of Wight visit Part 2.

The Oldbury Coach was restored as part of a TV series and the resultsare stunning.

The magazine detailing the restoration is a fascinating read.

Also in the museum are the Ryde Tramcar , Petrol railcar still under restoration and the Terrier. The recently retired ex London Transport Tube Train is also on show having been extensively restored.

By the entrance to haven Street was Calbourne- alas not in steam.

A Maroon 00 gauge warship!

 

 Another body and chassis have arrived, this time in BR Maroon. This one has had handrails replaced and lamp irons fitted. The fit isn't too bad and once the area below the bufferbeam is filled in improves the appearance somewhat.

Buffers are by Bachmann and a loop fitted for Sprat and Winkle couplings.

The match of maroons isn't satisfactory so needs to be redone.

The two face up to each other- the Bachmann buffers are larger than the Mainline originals.