Darius43

Second kit assembled this morning and primed. First van painted. Cheers Darius

Parkside van kit assembled this afternoon. As with most Parkside kits the brake rodding needs to be modified as, if installed as moulded, the wheels won’t turn. Plasticard ribbing added to the roof. Cheers Darius

Not an issue for me at West Worthing at 6.50 am but more so for those alighting at at Hove and Haywards Heath… Cheers Darius

I used to travel in 4-VEP units every day between West Worthing and East Croydon in the mid noughties. Cold wind blowing through the door gaps in winter and struggling to fit in the middle of the three seat benches were a constant pain. I much preferred the 4-CIGS - more comfortable and warmer. Cheers Darius

Almost finished - just three more interiors to sort out. Cheers Darius

Hornby 4-VEP to 4-VEG I started this project several years ago based on the discovery of the Railtec decals for the 4-VEG and memories of these units at Gatwick and Victoria in the late ‘70s and early 80’s. I modified three of the four coaches but never proceeded with the fourth - until today. The existing BR arrow and coach numbers were removed and the Railtec decals applied. I decided to improve the interior by painting the walls and floor and by applying blue moquette upholstery decals to the seating using homemade decals based on swatches that someone posted on RMWeb. I’m now going to have to give the interiors of the other three coaches the same treatment. The bogies had been modified previously to include pinpoint axle wheels in brass bearings in place of the original “draggy” wheels. The coaches are now much more free running. Here’s one I did earlier… Cheers Darius

Wagons in action on the layout today. Cheers Darius

It does sit a bit high on the bogies. Apparently there are plastic shims that are fitted between the bogies and the chassis - presumably to enable transit around R2 curves. Removing the shims is supposed to improve things a tad height-wise. Cheers Darius

Arrived this morning Cheers Darius

If I tap the wheel with this hammer and the wheel goes clang, then I know that the wheel’s there. But supposing that the wheel doesn’t go clang? Well then, I know that the train’s gone!

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Finished Cheers Darius

Painted, using a mix of Phoenix Irish Cement Wagon Blue and NIR Blue enamels airbrushed on. NEM coupling pockets fitted. Decals and weathering next. Cheers Darius

Chained. Cheers Darius

Wagon assembly completed and ready for priming. The door chains will be added after priming so no as not to clog up the chain links with repeated spray paint coats. Cheers Darius

More progress on the cement wagons. Cheers Darius

Next project Cheers Darius

Both the Wexford and Tipperary books arrived today. Now happily immersed in the Wexford one Cheers Darius

Modified Bachmann 14 Ton tank wagons with homemade decals applied and a spot of weathering. Cheers Darius

I built these MIR kits a few years ago, however the resin axle boxes started to spread apart, which caused the wheels to drop out. Fixed today by inserting plasticard horseshoe shims between the bearings and the axle boxes. Cheers Darius

From an old album of photos from an Interail trip that I did with some friends from Belfast between school and university. Berlin ‘83 Looks a bit different now… Cheers Darius