https://www.dartcastings.co.uk/
The superb casting- no flash evident and fitted together perfectly was given a coat of grey primer and a rough coat of grey to represent weathered concrete .
When dry the nameboard from Sankey Scenics was glued in place.
https://www.sankeyscenics.co.uk/
Some wait until The layout can be worked on after a couple of exhibitions.
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.
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.
Firstly it was dismantled which identified that, without major surgery, the cab detail couldn't be used with the Lima chassis.
A driver had been added which saved me painting another one. The cab moulding simply slides off a couple of lugs so is easily removed.
The removal of the lower skirt from the mainline body is aided by a moulded line and makes a snug fit.
To aid fitment a small countersunk screw has been fitted at the lower edge of the body securing it to the chassis.
A new identity was obtained from Rail-Tec,- D816 Eclipse in this case. Steves nameplates are superb and a complete set of transfers for the loco is supplied for the price of an etched pair of plates.
Some spare headcodes have been applied (probably wrong!). And yes the crests are wrong but I happen to like this combination and it's my railway etc etc.
Turning attention to the bogies, as luck would have it there was a review of replacement wheelsets from Peter's Spares. A set was obtained- did consider the Ultrascale products but as this is for use on a 7ft long layout felt to be un-necessary.
The trailing set is simply a slot in excercise whereas the driving bogie needs a wheel removed to fit.
Below is a comparison of the originals with the replacements- removes the adhesion tyres also!
Original set bottom and replacement top.
Certainly improves appearance.
https://www.railtec-models.com/index.php
As usual they are from Narrow Planet and well worth the wait. They are in Peckett style.
Apart from a crew this one is complete and ready to join the S&D fleet.
They were mounted on L shaped plasicard first and then affixed to the footplate.
Unfortunately this meant that they were destroyed so a set of, incorrect, springs were fitted.
Luckily the van is still even without any rock so I seem to have got away with the engineering refinements (butchery)!
Next to tackle is the etched brake gear so I may be some time!
Fully legible and embossed even down to the fixing bolts these are the best I have ever had the pleasure to apply to one of my models.
Once the atmosphere is a little drier I will give them a waft of Testors Dulcote as recommended- glad I bought a batch!
Below are the cab and tender transfers plus the Railcar arriving at St Mewan.
https://www.railtec-models.com/index.php
