Model Railway Forum banner

An odd model or two

3334 Views 20 Replies 13 Participants Last post by  Richard Johnson
*** Having had a few spare moments I've at last taken a couple of photo's of my brass kitbuilt MR 47 foot Clayton Push Pull composite Coach in Period 2 fully lined Livery.

This one was done completely by pen (a mixture of Bow pen and Pentel Gold pens + Superfine black "CD writing" pens in places.) Paint is my own mixture of Humbrol for the Crimson lake, and Scalecoat for the blacks.

The lining was a fair cow to get right and motivated me to create some fine transfer lettering for future Period 2 coaches... Hopefully I'll have several Ratio coaches done using this (as a test) soon, and if successful, it'll be used to line several of Comet large window LMS period 2 coaches which have been waiting for a burst of enthusiasm. If my own transfers don't work, then I will probably revert to Pressfix for much of their lining - I really don't enjoy the Bowpen except for simpler tasks.







I thought I'd also show some of my Loco's - All are brass / Nickel silver or WM kits, most fairly severely kitbashed - the exception is the Jinty which is a very much reworked Hornby, with daylighted boiler and a lot of new detail - I really like this little loc - it captures the "jinty look" if anything a wee bit better than the bachmann for some reason!.



The Boweb Cooke tender hidden partly behind the Jinty is a spare for my Claughton, which has been (for now) coupled to a ROD tender for use on the "water-trough-less" Midland Division.



The Jubilee is there for a reason - (Sorry I just shot it within the cabinet - if anyone is interest in a closer look at the lining I can photograph it properly). I included it as for this one I experimented with using Testors striping tape for the "stainless steel" look bands and lining - I think it worked OK, and its a nice easy way to get good looking lining without tearing out your hair. A little wasteful though, as I only used the narrowest of the linings and the others, all much wider, are still tucke in the drawer...



The 999 class is there just because I really like that loco - elegant and realy looks like a pedigree beast - perfect for my S&C layout, which is where they roamed mostly. The loco is pretty bog standard but Its one of Gibsons earlier kits - the outside brake gear was horribly over-etched and there wre no castings for the brake cylinders to that is all 100% scratch built as is much of the other detail. I have 3 more of them to build. Again if anyone would like I can photograph it properly out of the cabinet at a later date.

I keep the loco's in the cabinet at the office as I enjoy looking a them each day - They also get the odd day out on my test track when I'm bored with other things.... and anyway, it gives customers confidence that when I'm disassembling and working on their loco's for DCC etc, they are in safe hands.

Kind regards

Richard
See less See more
6
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
Superb work Richard - thanks for showing it to us.
Nice work Richard,

I rather liked the Jubilee.

Regards
Amazing! Thanks for showing us your fine models!
Thomas
Richard .-
What can one say - pure magic. Thanks for showing us.

Tony Overton.
See less See more
hello richard

Some great work there.

If that turbomotive gets nicked it was probably me!!
Thats an interesting coach. I know what you mean about the lining. i have found that i really dont mind lining the pannelled stock but flush sided stuff s a real chore. What gas lamps did you use? i have 4 Ratio LNWR coaches sitting on my bench that have been sitting there for months because the gas lamps are rubish and i cant find any decent replacements. the yellow does seem on the heavy side but that could just be the photo. i would love to see it in the flesh.
what kit is it?

i like the pariot (or is it a scott?? i have never been able to tell the difference...) what wheels did you use on it? it looks like you have managed to represent the little pip in the centre of the axle? has the testors tape stayed put? i saw it when i visited america and i thought about using it on my W1 but i have had some poor results using testors paint and worried about the quality of the tape. i have never seen it in the UK.

The 999 looks very bare at the front end (not the model but the prototype) i think it needs some GWR style outside cylinders and perhaps an air pump or 2!... i can fit them for you if you like....!!!

i look forward to seeing the results of your lining transfer trials. if the transfers are P2 then i think you would be much better off trying it with a flush sided coach rather than a ratio model as they are of the earlier midland design and are panelled (a pain in the neck to do but probably easier with a pen than messing about with transfers.)

Peter
See less See more
Hi Richard

Nice Models and a very good way to display them , it great to be able to see all round

I bet there is a few 1000 hrs worth of modelling in that cabinet

Regards

Zmil
Hi Peter

Its a mixture of parts from several surces - I have a drawer full of coach parts, enough for probably 50 coaches. The Gas lamps were turned up from brass Rod.. scratchbuilt. I think London Road may do an OK gas lamp, but I haven't looked at their website for ages.

The "Yellow" is actually both yellow and gold - it tends to stand out a lot in the images, particularly as I have left this coach gloss.

The Silver lined Loco is a Jubilee :).

It has markits wheels. I am doing several more of them in crimson lake at the moment, they all have the newer tooling wheels which are a little finer. The silver lining has not given any trouble at all - I actually like Testors paints - I use their clear coats over all my models - a mixture of semigloss and satin to make a softish satin finish.

To be honest I think that if a UK company ever made paint to the quality of Scalecoat/testors/floquil and transfers to the quality of Microscale then all our work would be easier.

(I think we take quite a different approach to painting - I only ever use cold thinners like White spirit on humbrol/precision/floquil/testors and scalecoat and will never use anything else - whilst I see from a thread I just read that you dislike it.... )

We should compare techiques sometime - its interesting when we both use different tools and materials to get the same sorts of result.

The 999 looks just fine as is - GWR cylinders - wash your mouth out :).

I have a couple of Midland compounds done and more to build and line which I will photograph and post - those should satisfy your need for cylinders on a 4-4-0. No nasty pumps though - both the 999 class and the compound were elegant beasts unencumbered by such nasty things.

No.... I'll trial the transfers on the panelled coaches as well as smooth sides - its not a real test otherwise - they also include the super ultra-fine scarlet line so it'll be a bit of a victory if they work! (not that it can be seen more than a few inches away - its about 1 pixel wide :) :)

Regards

Richard

QUOTE (pedromorgan @ 7 Jan 2009, 17:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>hello richard

Some great work there.

If that turbomotive gets nicked it was probably me!!
Thats an interesting coach. I know what you mean about the lining. i have found that i really dont mind lining the pannelled stock but flush sided stuff s a real chore. What gas lamps did you use? i have 4 Ratio LNWR coaches sitting on my bench that have been sitting there for months because the gas lamps are rubish and i cant find any decent replacements. the yellow does seem on the heavy side but that could just be the photo. i would love to see it in the flesh.
what kit is it?

i like the pariot (or is it a scott?? i have never been able to tell the difference...) what wheels did you use on it? it looks like you have managed to represent the little pip in the centre of the axle? has the testors tape stayed put? i saw it when i visited america and i thought about using it on my W1 but i have had some poor results using testors paint and worried about the quality of the tape. i have never seen it in the UK.

The 999 looks very bare at the front end (not the model but the prototype) i think it needs some GWR style outside cylinders and perhaps an air pump or 2!... i can fit them for you if you like....!!!

i look forward to seeing the results of your lining transfer trials. if the transfers are P2 then i think you would be much better off trying it with a flush sided coach rather than a ratio model as they are of the earlier midland design and are panelled (a pain in the neck to do but probably easier with a pen than messing about with transfers.)

Peter
See less See more
Hi Richard

I saw on a website somewhere (might have been on the MRF) about some mild solvent
to use with Decals to aid in softening them to go over uneven surfaces or difficult shaped surfaces and even to restore old Decals to be flexible

I think upnick may have mentioned them

Regards

Zmil
Very nice Richard.

So where does the BrassMasters Scot "British Legion" (Fury in disguise!) live? Is it in a safe under your desk?


Rob
See less See more
***Yes, I have them - micro-set and micro-sol are both made by microscale and are very effective. I also have the tamiya, gunze sangyo and humbrol versions, which are nowhere near as good. The two-step Microscale process is by far the best.

The issue with relative quality is actually very real - Microscale are far finer than fox but actually better print density and much tougher - the film they use is a better quality. Fox tend to be very brittle, overly thick on occasion and have far too much visible clear edge around their decals - with microscale its very, very fine and flexible film everywhere so conforms to detail / dissolves into the model far better than Fox etc...

Richard

QUOTE (zmil @ 7 Jan 2009, 18:51) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Hi Richard

I saw on a website somewhere (might have been on the MRF) about some mild solvent
to use with Decals to aid in softening them to go over uneven surfaces or difficult shaped surfaces and even to restore old Decals to be flexible

I think upnick may have mentioned them

Regards

Zmil
See less See more
QUOTE (80class @ 7 Jan 2009, 19:01) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>Very nice Richard.

So where does the BrassMasters Scot "British Legion" (Fury in disguise!) live? Is it in a safe under your desk?


Rob

***Its at the bottom rhs of the cabinet - not sure if its all that clear in any of the images. If I get time this week I'll haul it out and photograph it separately.

Richard
See less See more
QUOTE (Richard Johnson @ 7 Jan 2009, 20:19) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>***Yes, I have them - micro-set and micro-sol are both made by microscale and are very effective. I also have the tamiya, gunze sangyo and humbrol versions, which are nowhere near as good. The two-step Microscale process is by far the best.

The issue with relative quality is actually very real - Microscale are far finer than fox but actually better print density and much tougher - the film they use is a better quality. Fox tend to be very brittle, overly thick on occasion and have far too much visible clear edge around their decals - with microscale its very, very fine and flexible film everywhere so conforms to detail / dissolves into the model far better than Fox etc...

Richard

Thanks Richard

That would be ideal for ribbed surfaces like containers etc. I think

Regards

Zmil
See less See more
***Yep - and Microscale do a nice range of container decals too...

Richard
QUOTE (pedromorgan @ 7 Jan 2009, 18:17) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>hello richard

Some great work there.

If that turbomotive gets nicked it was probably me!!Peter

You really should put up a photo or two of the Turbomotive on its lonesome, Richard - it's a credit to your skills.

Just out of curiosity, can you tell me anything about the display cabinet? It looks like a great way for a loco-centric modeller to have his (or her!) gods on show (as it were).

Cheers

Scott
See less See more
*** The glass cabinet is Ikea. about $A200 from memory but they are having a sale now so it may be cheaper if you are quick.

When I bought it I had extra glass rails added (just welded on some 1/4" steel rod which is all they are made of and painted) to double the # of shelves and had extra glass cut. The glass buffers between glass and metal rails are short bits of clear car fuel line split and placed on the 1/4" rod. Very good value/low cost overall.

Thanks for the kind words on Turbomotive. I'll try to find some more photo time soon

Richard
I've had a bottle of Microsol since around 1989.......I haven't had to use it much recently...does it 'go off?''
1 - 20 of 21 Posts
This is an older thread, you may not receive a response, and could be reviving an old thread. Please consider creating a new thread.
Top