I'm in Trouble!

nevard_100613_coal-steam_DSC_7863_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

At last construction has started on my coal mine project with a bit of kack handed carpentry this morning moving this project on from 'arm-chair' firmly into 'cuts-and-bruises' territory. As with most of my recent projects, this one will be housed in a diorama style box with built in lighting and a curved corner-less backscene (missing here) as with Catcott Burtle, Cement Quay and Arne Wharf.

The size of the module here which is being checked out by Fleur is 4ft long x 20 inches deep x 2 ft high. Why so high? Because there'll be a chimney and I want a backdrop to be seen behind it all the way to the top as well as protecting the highest part of the layout when in storage and in transit.

I've decided to use conventional materials this time too - simply because of what the previous owner of my house left in the garage and an offer on some ends of 6mm ply at B&Q. I don't need to build any fiddle yards this time for I'll be using Catcott Burtle's ones, I'll also be able to use Catcott's trestles and drapes.

The trouble bit is that I have yet to get planning permission for this project - but because I won't be making extra fiddle yards, legs and so on the amount of space it will take up is marginal.

A Step in the Right Direction

nevard_100610_hornby-8f_IMG_7202_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

The ongoing Hornby 8F project was missing some front steps, so rather than wait what could be a whole month for Brassmasters to get their act together I decided to fabricate some new ones from brass sheet and solder using photographs and the the rear ones on the loco as a template. They may lack rivet detail, but seeing I'm not bothered by such and that they'll be covered in rust and grime these will do the job fine, they're nice and strong too!

Next I'll be taking a big file to the pony truck and removing the big coupling block that won't be required.New wheels will help too!

Colliery Test Arrangements....

Test arrangements...., originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

A little more progress with the Coal and Steam project; I had a few spare moments earlier so had a play with possible arrangements based on various prototype colliery photographs of what goes where. The joy with the real thing is that it varies enormously thankfully! I must apologise for the photo quality, it being simply grabbed on my mobile phone!

The various buildings, once selected will then be customised extensively to take on the regional look of the North Somerset area, with much of the brick being replaced with a stone veneer and the rather heavyweight slates replaced with corrugated iron. The chimney, which will be scratchbuilt in due course has simply been borrowed from Cement Quay. Loading screens not seen here will be scratchbuilt using various plastic sheets over a foamboard base.

Buildings here from left to right; a Bachmann Scenecraft smithy, Skaledale pit head (with a few mods started), a Scenecraft 'stone engine shed' which will turn into a boiler house, and to the far right a Scenecraft winding house which will be stone clad and gain a corrugated roof.

The layout floating in the sky above is Catcott Burtle, my little bit of the 'Somerset & Dorset' on the 'Levels'.

Delivery from Bachmann...

Delivery from Bachmann..., originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

I'd been promised a few Bachmann Scenecraft seconds to play around with, though I must admit it as quite a surprise to find this giant box stood in our hallway earlier this afternoon! My wife was a little concerned thinking that I'd blown what looked at least 5 years railway modelling budget on toy trains - not so I assured her!

Those who know me know I'm not too much of a fan of 'out of the box' railway modelling, but these 'ready to plonk' buildings (various colliery buildings from Bachmann Scenecraft) make an ideal bases to modify and personalise which in this case is likely to be for my semi moribund colliery project which needs a well overdue a kick to get it properly off the ground......

I'll post more as this progresses.....

A Bit of Silliness

091205_promo-03a_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Let me just say that this is just a bit of silliness with Photoshop, about 20 layers and too much spare time!

I also must apologise to those who don't like soap, those people who constantly whack me at shows with their rucksacks and to those who never left the nest.

Comments please!

On the Workbench

nevard_100602_hornby-8f_DSC_7670_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

After meddling about with 009 and Arne Wharf at weekend at RAILEX, I'm quite pleased to put the narrow gauge stuff away for a while. I'm sure as we get older many of us have less patience for the tiny stuff.

So, as a relief on the workbench I have a second hand Hornby LMS Stanier 8F 2-8-0 which is going to be detailed up to represent one of Bath Green Park's finest which were allocated to the old S&DJR to replace the ageing S&DJR 7F 2-8-0s between 1963-1966. I'm still undecided which engine to go for, the choice being 48309, 48660, 49706 and 48760. Saying that, I'm warming toward 48660 - it appearing to be allocated to Bath the longest.

This loco was sold to me recently as a half finished project for an excellent price - perfect, because it was cheap and much of the tidying up of mould lines already done.

The downside was that the loco didn't run too well, the reason being a dry joint off one set of pick-ups meaning that the loco was only picking up from one side and the tender. A quick dismantle and dab of the soldering iron has fixed that. The loco is now a really super runner - steady and smooth - perfect for an engine that will spend much of its time shunting 16 tonners around.

Next, the detailing needs to begin, probably with the aid of the Brassmasters' detail pack. I also need to source some front steps - Brassmasters should take care of that too.....

Ready to Railex!

At last the little trainset is ready for Railex you'll be pleased to know. Shortly the house will return to normal as tools are put away (well for a few days anyway) and the floors made free of all the usual detritus that follows model railways around. Smudgie on the right will also be pleased to get 'her' room back too.

Improvements this year for those who might have seen the layout before are improved brighter lighting, rejuvenated scenery, a traverser fiddle yard to replace the scary cassettes (scary because I could see a whole train becoming airborne all too easily) and a couple of extra items of rolling stock.

Oh yes, and before I pack it all into the car, I managed to do one more carriage, this time in RED, Ford Rosso Red to be precise which I gather is a dead ringer for BR carmine. Job done!

• LINK: Railex
• LINK: Arne Wharf

Swedish Stunner ends up more like a dusty old Aunty

I didn't think I'd have time to do this; a Bachmann Zillertalbahn carriage which has been stripped of its gawdy fairground livery and replaced with that of tired old varnished wood.
Much use was made of the technique of 'working' the almost set enamel used for weathering when it's slightly putty like as in a recent article in Model Rail by resident model maker extaordinaire George Dent.

The carriage here started off with an all over coat of cream (Halford's Peugeot Antelope Beige), various brown enamels were then applied with a small stiff brush working vertically until the paint almost set to give a streaky effect. Finally Ronseal Satin Black (water soluble when wet) was then applied and then brushed off with a 2 inch decorator's brush. All was sealed in with Railmatch Matt Varnish from an aerosol.

Having a Fiddle

nevard_100525_arnewharf_IMG_6980_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

With just under 3 days to RAILEX, thoughts turned to Arne Wharf's cassette fiddle yard which was a right pain in the wotsit to operate. Operating something properly with rails just 9mm apart all weekend is going to be enough of a headache with stock potentially ending up on the floor.

After much though its replacement is a new traverser yard which allows 4 complete trains to be stored, access to each road being a simple sliding action.

Moving Image

090106cement-quay_clip, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Above: 08630 departs from a rather run down Cement Quay with a short rake of PCA cement wagons.

Most digital still cameras now have the option of being able to record video, with some of the very latest cameras being potentially capable of outperforming conventional video cameras. Indeed, some of the new breed of DSLRs are used in commercial HDTV production, with the large sensor giving a narrow depth of field much like a 35mm motion pictures camera like an Arri - something that is very much favoured by drama producers.

The above short clip however doesn't get anywhere near HD or even low definition VHS, it simply being just a bit of fun to see if I can get a bit of movement onto the web.

Today's Snap....

nevard_100513_arnewharf_IMG_6893_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Captured in the midday sun, 'Hercules' a Kerr Stuart 0-4-0T rescued from Hampton Waterworks trundles across the wharf at Arne on the Isle of Purbeck with a short rake of gravel trucks. Shortly after this photo was taken the summer skies turned into a thunderstorm.

Future Swedish Stunner?

nevard_100509_zillertal_IMG_6873_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Following on from yesterday’s BLOG post ‘The Austrian with the English Accent’, also with the loco came 3 'Zillertalbahn' carriages in various gaudy liveries. Whilst they may or may not be authentic I have no idea, either way they currently have no place on Arne Wharf. So I have 2 options, either to sell them or to have a bit of fun and modify them into something a little more interesting even though they’ll still be rather alien in style for running on a Dorset mineral railway.

I’ve always rather liked the look of Swedish varnished wooden passenger stock, and looking at the design of these Bachmann Zillertalbahn carriages suggests that with a bit of work such a wooden finish would suit them rather well. I love that rose tinted parallel universe!

Watch this space...........

The Austrian with the English Accent

071012_arnewharf_zil_DSC9169_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

This conversion has been loitering within the depths of my website for some time; I however thought it worth elevating to my BLOG - if only for the fact that I haven't posted anything for a couple of days! Here goes.....

Having thoroughly enjoyed a feature in an old 009 Society newsletter on how to anglicise the Bachmann Liliput HO Zillertal Bahn 2-6-2, it reminded me that I had one of these locomotives hidden in the garage collecting dust. It was from one of those spur of the moment purchases a couple of years before, probably because I feared it was going out of production.

Anyway, back to the conversion, I followed the instructions as in 009 News closely as possible as my spare parts box allowed, using plasticard to deepen the body and to revise the cab windows to something more British is style.

I then had to improvise, not having a suitable smokebox door, I removed the flat head from a drawing pin, this becoming the door! A hole was drilled into the middle to take and old handrail knob from a Kays kit (there must be hundreds of these dreadful kits never finished?) and a pin head to act the lever for opening it.

Further handrail knobs and bits of brass wire were used for the cabside handrails. British locos have less in the way of steam spaghetti than their foreign counterparts, so some of those bits were removed (I’m non technical, I know steam locos use coal, fire and water, that’s about it!). Some thin beading was added along the edges of the side tank tops from fine plastic strip. Then, some coal rails were added at the cab end of the tanks, after seeing a picture of the Former Welsh Highland Railway loco ‘Russell’ in a book of ‘The Railways of Purbeck’ by the late R.W. Kidner. The little loco then had a couple of ‘buffer beams’ added out of some spare girder section from a Walther’s Cornerstone building kit for that real DIY bodged repair often seen on industrial loco’s. I’ve always liked industrial grot over twee pretty engines, I think it would be true to say that it has been achieved here!

That’s just about it, the loco was then sprayed matt black from an aerosol, had brass elliptical maker’s plate from a Class 52 Western of all things! It was then weathered up in my usual fashion using matt colour washes and dry brushing, until it started to look suitably decrepit.

The loco, after a good couple of hours running round and round Arne Wharf it runs beautifully. The only problem is that due to the large overhang and my tight curves, non-bogie stock, irrespective of which way around the loco is facing, tends to get pulled off the rails on the bends so it's likely to only be seen on passenger trains for the time being.

Whilst I’m not sure it looks totally British in style, it maybe could pass as something UK built for export to the colonies. My story is that it came back from war torn France after the Great War.

Back to Blighty

nevard_100509_arnewharf_IMG_6851_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

A Roxey Mouldings 'Famagusta' Cyprus Govt Rly 2-6-2T built by Nasmyth, Gaskell and Company of Salford, pulls a short passenger train of second hand european origin through Arne Wharf (009) in 1962. Built in 1904 for mixed traffic on the 2ft 6in gauge Cyprus Government Railway, when the railway closed in 1959 it was repatriated to the UK and ended up in Dorset. Somewhere on the way the UK the handrails were mislaid!

Pic of the Day

nevard_100407_arnewharf_IMG_6796_STEAM_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

A short gravel train arrives at Arne Wharf. Its load will eventually find its way onto the barge on the left.

Getting Arne Wharf ready for RAILEX

nevard_100407_arnewharf_IMG_6777_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

With the excellent RAILEX being just a few short weeks away, attention has turned to Arne Wharf as I listen to the Election results coming in.

The little 3ft x 2ft 009 gauge micro has not been out for a couple of years, and what's more it's the only layout of mine that had until today not received a facelift with static grass and Noch Grasmaster.

In addition to new grass, I've updated the built in lighting, the 2 clear blue tinted 100w bulbs being replaced with a 2 ft 18w fluorescent strip and a single 100 incandescent bulb. Why? Well, the 2 clear blue bulbs were very harsh and created double shadows on everything, and more importantly as the expire it's going to be increasingly difficult to replace them.

The new mix of strip lighting gives me an even cool base, and the new single 100w providing a slightly warmer 'sun' with just one shadow. The close up shot here was taken under the new lighting - no studio lights! The static grass is also highlighted well here too - so much better than the popular ground foam ground cover which look nothing like grass!

Heck, Helicon - you're good!

nevard_100502_combwich_by_IMG_6730_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Above: Ex Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 'Pug' No. 51202 shunts the wharf sidings at Combwich in early October 1955.

Over the last couple of weeks I've been messing about with Helicon Focus, the inexpensive layer stacking software, which when combined with photographs specifically taken for it can extend depth of field enourmously - in fact pretty well as much as you'd like!

The shot above was taken on a 'point and shoot' Canon G9, one of the more recent relatively inexpensive small cameras aimed at the enthusiast photographer - of course any camera could be used, but I want to highlight the fact that you didn't need anything big and posh, because technique is the all important thing rather than kit.

At this level of closeup the loco is probably bigger on your screen here than in real life if you click on the image then select 'all sizes' to reveal a decent sized view. It's not going to be possible to get everything in focus; so by shooting a few identical frames, but focussed on key spots, and then with the aid of Helicon Focus to combine the images one can create a greater depth of field. For this particular shot, three identical photographs were taken, the first focussed on the buffers, the second on the cab, and the final on the rear of the red van. The software then takes care of the rest on the computer - simple!

The sky however was added in post production, it's far prettier than the wardrobe that was behind the section layout which was on the floor simply bathed in natural window light!

Pic of the day

nevard_100502_combwich_by_IMG_6741_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

An ex Lancashire & Yorkshire Railway 'Pug' No 51202 shunts the wharf sidings at Combwich in early October 1955.

The loco is a repainted a detailed up Hornby, the van a Chivers Finelines LNER Dia 120 4W BY Pigeon Brake Van kit.

The photograph is 3 identically composed shots, but focussed on different key points. The images were then combined with 'Helicon Focus' to extend the depth of field. Natural window light was used. The sky has been added as an extra layer to hide the spare bedroom wall.

Final Touches

nevard_100501_lner-pigeon_IMG_6724_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Chivers Finelines LNER Dia 120 4W BY Pigeon Brake Van after painting, numbering and weathering.

Microscale Kristal Klear used for the upper window lights rather than trying to cut out clear plastic sheet and insert into the recesses on the rear of the side mouldings.

To get the patina, after painting with Railmatch BR Crimson (aka carmine), the van was numbered with HMRS Pressfix transfers and then sealed under a thin coat of Railmatch aerosol Matt Varnish. Then, a water based mix of matt black and brown matt emulsion, diluted 70/30 with water and a dash of washing up liquid was slopped over and hastily wiped off with kitchen towel to leave the pigment in the groves. To get the slightly orange faded effect so often seen, some matt Humbrol signal red was drybrushed very lightly onto the raised surfaces.

The roof was treated in a similar fashion, using Humbrol matt enamels - initially dark grey, and then drybrush on with a lighter grey leaving the darker grey exposed around the torpedo vents and rainstrip.

Aerosol matt varnish was again misted on very lightly to seal the water based paint in and to produce a haze over the windows.

All that's needed now are brake and presumedly steam heating pipes on the ends.

Paint it Red

nevard_100429_lner-pigeon_IMG_6708_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Some more progress with my rather long winded Chivers Finelines LNER Dia 120 4W BY Pigeon Brake Van. Long winded, not because it's a bad kit, but quite the opposite, long winded because there are simply not enough hours in the day, or days in the week!

Here the little van after 4 coats of Railmatch BR Crimson aka Carmine aka blood. If this van was not going to be weathered I would have added just one more coat, the undercoat just showing a little. It's numbered up as the penultimate one in the batch produced of the van design and finished off with a coat of Railmatch Matt Varnish to seal everything in before weathering.

It's interesting when seeing old photographs that BR Carmine looks quite orange rather than the pinky tone here. Of course these colours did fade very quickly in real life, going matt and pale within months. I imagine early colour emulsions tended to record colours differently to how the eye saw them too - adding to the mystery. Also different paint shops I'm sure had their own take on things, so it's quite reasonable to have plenty of colour variations.

PS, it's still to be glazed and the roof glued into place...

LNER 'Pigeon' Brakevan update

nevard_100411_lner-pigeon_IMG_6593_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

A little more progress with the Chivers Finelines LNER Dia 120 4W Gresley Panelled Full Brake (Pigeon Van).

I like to blast rolling stock with a coat of matt black, especially the underframe area which can be tedious if done by brush, in this case I used an aerosol one from Halfords. These car paints are super tough and make a great base for further painting.

Since taking the photo, a 2nd coat BR Carmine is drying; I was going to use a dead ringer car colour from Halfords (Ford Rosso Red) but have discovered a fresh tin of Railmatch BR Carmine (aka 'Railmatch : 311 : Crimson') in my paint collection which is doing just fine......
Actually as I look at the photo here, I'm very tempted to do another in finished in departmental black livery as part of an engineering train. How accurate this would be I have no idea, but it think it would look the part.

Lead Weight

nevard_100409_lner-pigeon_IMG_6577_web, originally uploaded by nevardmedia.

Progress has been slow with this wagon, not for any other reason that I've been very busy after the recent house move and photography of other people's model making.

Some 'Liquid Lead' suspended in PVA has been used to give the Chivers Finelines' LNER Gresley Full Brake some much needed extra weight. I'm not very technical on this front other that if in doubt add a little more. My trains are only short so any excess is hardly an issue.

Beware of using this weighting technique for enclosed areas like engine boilers - there have been several reported incidents of the PVA/Lead mixed expanding a little - resulting in pop! It's unlikely to be an issue here when the concoction has room to expand a little.

The little lengths of sprue are to reduce the risk of the sides bowing in which they do tend to do with age.

Model Rail Magazine May 2010 (143)

May 2010 Model Rail is dedicated to micro layouts, with plenty to illustrate that you can create something even in the tiniest of spaces. By contrast, the delightful Nettlebridge Valley Railway also featured is by total contrast around 35 feet long.

Below; a rundown of this month's highlights - oh yes, and there's a little about me and my latest trainset....

• Heljan Class 15 and 86
• Dapol Class 86
• Hornby Mk3 DVT
• Ixion 'Manor' 4-6-0
• Nettlebridge Valley Railway - Somerset freelance
• Lima Class 59 upgrade with Bachmann parts
• Meet Chris Nevard
• Class 37 sound
• Urban backdrop
• Aerosols supertest
• Grove Street Yard - small space small budget
• George Dent makes a pond
• Pilot Road - N in a box file
• Little Boxley - shoebox layout
• Whatlington - 3mm:1ft from Peter Bossom
• Fitting ViTrains mech to a Lima 47
• Masterplan - micro layouts
• Micro advice - Chris Nevard
• Plus all the regulars (except Backscene)

Links

• Model Rail's new website
• Model Rail resident model maker George Dent's BLOG
• Model Rail on Facebook
• Model Rail on Twitter

The First Bit of Model Making in Months

Left - click to enlarge.

The first bit of model making this year in the form of a Chivers Finelines LNER Dia 120 4W Gresley Panelled Full Brake (Pigeon Van).
Lots more to do, but a start at remembering what glue, a craft knife and fingers do.....

The plan is to finish it in early BR Carmine which always looks good in a faded weathered condition. Much detail still to add in the underframe area and ends.

I've not constructed too many Chivers Finelines kits before, but something that does always impress me is just how crisp and well finished the mouldings are with little in the way of flash or badly fitting elements. They are also very good value too with this vehicle retailing at £8 minus wheels.

I'll post more progress in due course.......