Kirley

Finally got to the primer stage. Test run to see what the problems were. After the test run I went to spray the first orange coat but discovered the 2 tins of MIR CIE Golden Brown I had were already opened and what paint was left had thinners added. Painting is now on hold until I can get new paint.

Looking forward to seeing the final photographs. In regards to a diner, what would a kit entail?

That was a bit scary, a rake of bubbles and No Safety net – you must like living on the edge Wiggie!!! Fantastic layout.

That must be why there is no demand for them -I know the UTA/NIR Railcars has lifting rings.

An Silverfox A Class just sold on ebay for £183 + postage! http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/200855538700?ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1423.l2649

Thanks Ger, I've made lifting rings in the past but it's surprising that none of the English Suppliers stock Lifting Rings, I've tried the following A1 Models, Craftsman, Comet, Dart, Eileen’s Emporium, Hursts, Southern Pride, Squires, Replica Railways and many others, all without success. Surely Lifting Rings are used on British Diesels?

Here’s a challenge for any Modeller: Dr. Geoff Bunza demonstrates the HO scale Athearn steam railroad crane model he brought to life using a DCC sound decoder, micro motors and relays. Here’s the video – it’s very good if you can get it to play for you. I see this month’s Model Rail has an article on updating a Hornby Breakdown Train

Thanks Guys, I've gone with Warbonnets suggestion

Thanks Schalane for your suggestion, scribing the panel lines makes such a difference. However I have tried and failed to locate any lifting rings - any suggestions on where I can source them -ANYONE please?

Warbonnet: the bogie is a copy from an old whitemetal kit that looks good but is so out of scale it is useless, when you match it up with the wheels it is so far out. See a comparison with the Silverfox below.

What a great collection, I make it: 121’s 121 in silver, black & orange, plus 130 & 135, A Class in green A20 & in black A20 C Class in silver C230 & black C205. not to mention 141’s in abundance. Thanks for the photos Eamonn and to Gerry for allowing his great layout and models to be shown.

Thanks for the advice Shahalane, that’s what makes this Site so worthwhile, getting advice on how to do things better. I will defiantly have a go at the panel lines.

I thought you told me after the Sulzer you were taking it easy for a while?

A Class –SilverFox Kit I’m using a cut down Hornby Class 52 chassis, however this model has a built in metal weight at either end which I wanted to keep. I had to hack them to get them to fit but knocked on the head my idea of using fibre optics for the marker lights. Plan B. I’m now using mini LED’s which I got from Express Models who supply them already fitted on leads. All you have to do is fit resistors to each LED and I can do that in the middle of the body of the model where I have more space. The picture below shows how small they are and fragile. . Now to get on with fitting Weshty’s bits and pieces before painting. Thanks to Scahalane for giving me a ‘gee up’ on this project by posting his A Class.

I got another Forest in a Box for my layout. It’s just a box of dried Seamoss plants which you have to cut into trees, bushes, small shrubs. Then the fun bit – dip them individually in scatter material, the blend colours you use will help to add realism to the trees. Then you hang them up to dry and spray with hair spray – job done except for planting them of course.

The alcohol certainly makes a difference in allowing the PVA to evenly penetrate the ballast.

Will the numbers be sufficent to supply all who requested a model? (PM sent.)

As long as you don't mind it been HO gauge it could have possibilities.

The most detailed picture yet giving lots of colour detail to anyone who wishes to model it -great find.

"I want to portray the loco as if she ain't to long out of the paint shop" -I hope this is not the start of mid life crises Anthony?

Yes that's what I thought too!!!!!!! Glad somebody knows how it works.

Some people miss nothing

Watched Great Continental Railway Journeys on the BBC in the UK, presented by Michael Portillo. Tonight he was in Switzerland, fantastic trains and scenery. The main station in Zurich has 3000 trains a day!

Excellent work Scahalane, I wish I was as far on with my A Class, your paint job has turned out really well. I'm using a Class 52 chassis and there is a metal weight at each end which is great until you go to put in marker lights. I've had to re think my approach and after seeing your results it will spur me on to work on it again. I didn't know about Weshty's lighting kit, looking forward to seeing how it works.

Well it’s been a long time waiting for these sound chips but first impressions are they were worth the wait. It’s my first time with sound so I’m only feeling my way around this wonderful addition to modelling. I’ve had a go at another video but still the resulting techniques are not very good. The ability to use the camera in one hand and the controller in the other is a skill I’ve yet to master so please ignore the picture quality and tune into the sound. There are lots of different ‘sounds’ you can get on this sound chip but I’ve only shown a fraction –hope you were not waiting for the station announcements etc. Thanks to Gareth for all the research and sounds he gathered for this chip – I think he gets a mention in this month’s Model Rail.