O Gauge Thornycroft Van.

I picked this Corgi 1/43 model from an exhibition for a pound- will do just right for the O Gauge layout (still un-named) I thought.

First job was to dismantle and rub down before applying undercoat .

Not wanting to spend any extra I had a look through the transfers that I had. The only ones large enough were these Royal Mail ones from a HMRS sheet for GW coaches.

These will do I thought but no Royal Mail red spray can was in stock so a maroon coat with black roof and chassis cab was applied.

So- a nice cheap addition for the O Gauge layout with no name!

009 Heljan Lynton and Barnstable Locos.

 These two, both named Taw have been trundling up and down the test track for some time with no problem- I must be lucky !

Thing is that they both have the same name.

The last time I bumped into 248 Developments I bought various nameplates. Two were Wizard and Witch.

This is the new identities of these two, I just have to get a pair of Manning Wardel makers plates from Narrow Planet to complete

 By the way, the latest release by Heljan is above- recognised by the red smokebox lamp whilst the original release, on theleft has a black smokebox lamp.

Below are the pair side by side for comparison.

Rail Zip for all scales.

I happened to pick up some Rail Zip from Model Railway Solutions reently. More out of curiosity really.

Woody Lane is being readied for the Compton Dundon exhibition this coming Saturday. So I thought I would try cleaning the rails with Rail Zip rather than the usual track rubber.

What to use to apply? I tried some foam rubber that was packing from stock storage boxes- bits everywhere!

So I looked for something else and came across the Proses Easy Clean applicator shown.
Whilst it does the job it does pick off and end up like a piece of rubberised horsehair which means that it catches on rail joins and turnouts- so the jury is out. I will see how the Rail Zip and applicator perform on Saturday.

3mm Scale 94XX Tank.

I have had another 94XX body for some time plus an etched footplate and chassis.

So I thought , with Westfest looming in September I had better get something new to run as, for the life of me, I cannot find the BR(Southern) Q1 0-6-0 that I have been building.

So, etched footplate first. Firstly the whole etch was cleaned with a fibreglass brush and the relevant pieces removed from the carrier. The result is shown on the right.

 The whitemetal body has been stripped of the old paint and handrail mouldings removed ready to be replaced with wire handrails.

I used the Expo paint stripper as Modelstrip no longer seems to be available. The Expo product is applied for about an hour then scraped off, reapplying where necessary- I also scrubbed with a toothbrush then cleaned with Shiny Sinks.

  The roof moulding, which includes the coal bunker load moulding, has been loosely fitted  with the original glue removed and the fit improved.

Below, the body has been placed on the footplate to check fitment which appears ok.

Next to make the chassis from a Brynkits kit which comes with axle bushes and brake hanger wire.

I am goingto use 3mm Society square axles on this one so more anon!

Dorset Modellers Meeting. 23rd February 2019.

The next meeting of our intrepid band , at The Pullman Coach, The Avon Causeway Hotel, Hurn, Christchurch, BH23 6AS, is this Saturday from about 1pm- there is a small charge which can be offset with purchase of chips or beverages- you don't get something for nothing these days!

Various scales will be there- I am taking Quarry Sidings to show how not a lot of room is needed for a Model Railway.

There will also be other scales and modelling!

009 GVT Loco fleet.

Sorry about the dark photo but was taken in a rush. This shows the whole GVT fleet including the 4-6-0 Baldwin which is a ready to run Bachmann offering whereas the Beyer Peacocks are all PECO kits.  These all have Graham Farish (Poole) chassis which have all had the brushes squared off which has improved running no end.

The Baldwin needs to have the number removed and detailed as a GVT loco.

009 GVT Beyer Peacock- GLYN.

 Third addition to the GVT fleet is the finished GLYN.

Finished in plain black with etched plates which came with the body as purchased.

A coat of matt varnish and all done.

The top photo has distorted the chimney which is a random brass turning- it is square however as per the lower photo.