Northroader

Thanks to everyone for the kind messages, it makes me realise what a great set of human beings are populating this web. For now we’re busy trying to get the clutter of a three bedroomed house downsized ready to go into a small bungalow. In connection with this if anyone is living near Wiltshire and fancies some none too good 7mm Irish models and some Irish railway books, all free to collect, they’re very welcome to call. Thanks again, Bob.

I’m afraid I haven’t done a post for a while, and what I was thinking about a couple of posts ago has moved forward. In March I had an Aortic aneurism, which has slowed me down some more. (Myself and my my daughter think that the surgeon leading the team that saved me, Mr. Wilson, had an Ulster accent, by the by) Anyhow, my wife and myself are downsizing to a small bungalow near my daughters in Cheltenham, and my modelling attempts sprawling in the loft are having to be drastically slimmed, as well as my book collection, which is my main job at present.

I did a MGWR mail coach in blue and white. Just a guess, I made a mix of Humbrol medium (French) blue 14 and midnight blue 15 This gives a decent shade, not too dark, not too light. (Goldilocks blue)

I’d be inclined to advise fitting the footplate to the chassis as soon as it’s formed, and checking the slots clear the wheels all round, the siderods clear on rotation, then adding splashers and getting them clear of the wheels. Then go on to spectacle plate, tanks, etc.

I think you have to be careful to put a date on the horror stories you get about Shapeways, David, Something like 10 - 12 years back I was looking round the yearly Gauge 0 do at Telford, and there was a 3D printer on display. It was busily building up something or other all on its own, and I was fascinated by it. Later on I was seeing the results, and it was a bit of a let down, they were looking like 50 ply cowpats. That was then, this is now, the machines have been improved, print materials are better, know how and techniques are better. My own experience with Shapeways within the last two years has been a happy one. I bought one of the Rue d’Etropol’s range from them, he does a nice line in coaches for Colonel Stephens Lines, and I got a WCPR four wheel brake van, a GER cast off, in 7mm scale.(picture from the website) It came as a greyish white, slightly translucent finish, and a dusty sort of look. Reading up on threads about these jobs, they say wash it in warm soapy water, and rub the surface where there’s any banding with emery paper. I did a little bit of this on the roof, but none on the sides where it was barely visible. The recesses at the back of the axleguards were cleared out, and tophat bearings put in to take some Slaters wheelsets, and drawgear fitted. The lower footboards look vulnerable, and I took these off, and fitted brass strip replacements. The buffers were left, but this another thing which could become hors de combat. I wanted to put it back to GER condition, so I did new duckets in brass strip. Then undercoat, bodge a teak finish, and put some plastic sheet glazing. Here’s a couple of photos of the finished job, one taken from under which might give a good idea. in the 7mm size, so you may think it’s dear, but then, look at the clock on the wall. How long would it take to make a fully assembled coach with such detailed moudings on the panels?

Aahhh... the Chippenham show with the Irish theme, I had the good fortune to be there, Sunday I think i went, 29th October, 1995, taking totally rubbish photos, so if you’ll indulge me... “Castle Rackrent” of course, then... Tony Miles & co. “Adavoyle” P4. I reckon this layout was just about the smoothest running I’ve ever seen. Andy Cundick’s “Castlefinn” CDRJC 4mm scale. The Lepper families “Passage West”, 10mm scale, 32mm gauge, selection of Irish N.G. Locos. and stock. Paul Greene’s “Corcadoragha” S scale 63/64” gauge. There was some other stuff, like 0 gauge GWR, but you can see that all the time.

I was lucky enough to catch up with Castle Rackrent a long time back, on one of the rare times it came down from Scotland. Was it one of the first layout designs for the BLT/ fiddle yard format, and with a kickback to mask the fiddle yard? Then was Allendenac, with that huge viaduct. You had to marvel at the audacity of anyone building something that large, and bringing it to a show. I saw it at Telford, and thought it must have required a furniture van to shift it? There’s a nice write up with some good pictures here: https://highlandmiscellany.com/tag/richard-chown/

Here’s a scratchbuilt MGWR one in 7mm

Following up, here’s a MGWR horsebox, with a distinctive projecting end for the dogbox. There’s a good drawing in Ernie Shepherds book for this.

When the British army had cavalry exercises pre WW1, the officers horses tended to get proper horseboxes, and other ranks had cattle wagons. The other thing is I have heard it said that horses in cattle boxes tended to get discompooperated unless they were sheeted over, due to the country whizzing past. Proper horseboxes never had open spaces or windows in the horse compartments.

I’m just putting in a link to a site running on the “Western Thunder” thread, as I expect it will interest several of you on this forum. The site is shewing photographs of steam in Britain taken in the 1950s and 60s, but recently a sequence is appearing of Belfast area. https://www.westernthunder.co.uk/threads/tim-mills-photos.9122/page-93#post-264338

A model full of character, looking great. A couple of wagons and a van, a cassette each end, and you’ve got a really nice layout. “Keep it simple” is the best motto going.

Looking through the Midland Publications “LMS in Ireland” and “Rails around Belfast” there’s pictures of flats, lowsides, and opens with containers on Donegal Quay, and an NCC goods with two containers in opens, so “fair enough for a model” I think.

Here’s a recent beer van, and I think if you paint a wagon white, and stick it in a goods train, you’re asking for trouble. Anyway, being white, you can pick up what’s been done easier. Mainly a wash with very diluted Matt black, far more white spirit than paint, then some black and brown chalk, more on the ends. A bit of mainly brown brushed crosswise on the roof, and a bit of brown on the axleguards. Looking at my Irish pregroup, it’s a bit too clean for a weathering thread!

For weathering powders I go to an artists shop, and buy sticks of pastel chalk. Rub one on some emery paper and you get some fine powder. Scatter this lightly over where you want, then brush it over with a dry fine hair paintbrush. Usually I go for umber, burnt sienna, orange, tan brown, and black. More on the undercart and ends. It can be washed off with soapy water if you dont like it.

What are you using for bait?

I used to make model aircraft for my son, most having an “aluminium” finish. I used Humbrol “silver” paint, with a metallic finish. However, I found with handling, the finish wore badly (“A” class diesels comes to mind!) So, to do better, I do a 50/50 mix of the silver paint with a Humbrol flat light grey, and I find this works quite well.

Usually you’d get a chimney towards the rear, over the boiler. The nature of the intermittent working is such that you couldn’t rely on the blast from the cylinders to create a draught, so you’d have a fairly tall stovepipe, hinged for loading gauge clearance, and the steam exhaust would be from a plain pipe on the back corner of the cab. Before each lift you’d want the cylinders warmed up, so the crankshaft would be run before getting engaged, and a shower of hot water coming out of the exhaust.

Best wishes to everyone, have a great time with your folks, and good progress with your modelling in the new year. bob

I think if certain security forces were present at that exercise, they don’t like having pictures taken which may show their identity.

I use their “premium” service, which is to me quite reasonably priced, certainly cheaper than getting an “ad-blocker” app. It gives you a reasonably clear screen, although some home site ads still appear, and that repetitive movie in the lower RHS corner has gone. As it does not need all the ads refreshing, it seems to me to be much faster response as well.

The NCC had a go with one of them, there’s a picture with it teamed up with a pair of sixwheeler coaches, though I fancy the idea didn’t get much further, pity, it would make a nice little branch line set. my Model is a plastikard body on top of a motor bogie from an old Lima class 33 diesel, and I might have missed some louvres off the end. I fancy a new Dapol one would perform much better.

Glad you’ve done the planking.

There’s a nice collection of four wheelers in the old photo of Castlebar, MGWR:

Looking good, the only item I would question is the rubbing strake(?) low down on the bow disappearing under the waterline. Wouldn’t it look better if that was removed?