Mike 84C

Thanks for all the positive comments guys, glad you like the van. Nelson, the weathering is Carrs rust and mud dry powders; another first for me! and I also used Micro Marks Window glaze, it looks very much like pva adhesive when wet but dries clear. But it worked very well. What I didnt say, was that I glued the roof to the Evergreen strip that was Acc"d to the curve of the roof. Mike

Hope I have done the attachments correctly! I deviated from Wheshtys Instuctions a little by makeing the roof from a ply lamination of 2x20thou; plastic sheet;this was curved by taping the sheet to a curved biscuit tin and gentle heat from the SWIMBO"s hair drier. The chimney is a piece of brass tube into a hole drilled in the roof with a chimney collar punched from the plastic sheet. I then covered the roof with a single ply of handkerchief tissue to represent felt fixed with a wash of Di-Limonene solvent. But! before doing all that I glued with acc Ever Green strip to the curve of the roof at the balcony ends and just above the doors into the cabin. My van is all soldered, I did try acc on the running boards but would recommend solder,glue didnt work for me! I also put extra bracing on the back of the hanging brackets before accing them in position. The other extra was to sloder an 8BA nut to the veranda floor then attatch the chassis with a short 8BA nut. This trapped the running boards and has made the whole van seem stronger. I also put a very basic representation of the brake pull rods underneath. I am pleased with the way the kit has turned out, having never built an etched kit before and my soldering skills have been improved. My only dissapointment was the lines around some of the transfers. I did use solvaset and have not had this happen before;advise please?

Nearly finished mine,when i have a photo or two I"ll post them. The battery was flat in the camera! Weshty, would you mind if I wrote a few words to show where I deviated from your Instructions? Mike

Thanks Richie, you have answered all my questions! and another I have just thought about. If the van has a full length foot board is it supported in the middle? answer is yes! I did not feel supports at the ends was a very elegant engineering solution! And your model has shell type vents on the roof. Thanks again Mike

I am also building one of Whesty"s brake vans; three questions, were they running in the latter steam period and if they had the snail totem where would it have been placed? Were they always painted oxide red or is grey an option? I am thinking of putting vacuum brake gear underneath as it looks a bit naked! Thanks in anticipation, Mike

Thanks for posting, Snapper, that looks like good news . Mike

There was a post on one of the US groups I"m on that Carstens publications ceased trading back in May. Could one our American contributors confirm this? If its true,its rather a shame, I enjoyed the Craftman magazine and the narrow gauge annual was a very good buy.

My niece is a BTC police officer,a quite new recruit! from what she tells me John has got it about right but where she is based lots of drugs stuff happens. When she is in uniform you would struggle to tell her apart from a 'normal' police officer

Well done Nelson, your work is to the highest standards and getting commissons is recognition of your standards. Getting paid to pursue your hobby how cool is that! Mike

I tried the Johnsons Kleer as a base coat for applying waterslide transfers, works a treat! I used a wide flat soft brush to apply the Kleer and it does dry in 20 minutes,even on the kitchen floor. Mike

David, all those invites for Arigna wow!! you deserve the plaudits, look forward to to seeing Arigna at York maybe.

Check this guys website; http://www.goldenarrow.me.uk , talked to him at Chatham show he could be interested in doing an Irish prototype if enough of us show an interest. His kits look to be of good quality and not overly expensive, the SECR O1 with Stirling tender looks nice for£55. And he will sell the tender separately for about £20. Just to say I have no connection except as a prospective customer. Mike

Congratulations David, Arigna Town looks good and ran well. Truly launched on the exhibition circuit. I also enjoyed the chatting about Irish Railways and learned a few things. Mike

Thank you Mayner and Weshty for producing the info; so quickly! The wealth of info on this group is amazing and so freely given. Regards Mike

Has anyone got a drawing/ general arrangement with some dimensions please? I would like to do a loco/kit bash of one. Got lots of photos but a drawing would be helpful. mike

Brilliant modelling, you must have the patience of Jobe to make all those kegs individually. And the unpainted replacement planking looks spot on. thanks for posting.

Brilliant stuff David, looking forward to the next installment.

Thanks guys, I best email Dez! & Dunluce I will look at Railtecs lists, I enjoyed your weathering and shall copy your methods. Keep up the good work. Mike

Advice please, I"m doing some wagon kits to represent Irish freight vehicles. I have no particular time frame its more a thats a possible conversion/bodge from that! So my wagons at the moment range from the CBSC to NCC/UTA with GS/CIE in the middle. What transfers/decals do you guys use? I would really like others experience/advice. I"m in 4mm scale; look forward to your comments. Mike

I use lead flashing sheet attached with Evostick. Used it for years with no problems even on plastic. And i just love the smell!! Cheers Mike

Heirflick, my box has a reference no. DEMDVD1307 and a website http://www.demanddvd.co.uk Irish Railways Miscellany Irish Railways vol 1 The Swansong of Steam in Ulster vol 3 The Irish Narrow Gauge 1939-59 vol 3 The Twiglight of Steam in Ulster vol 4

Mother in Law is in my good books, bought me a boxed set of 4 Irish Steamrailway dvd"s lots of steam action from the 1950 to end of steam on NIR. Good shots in colour of freight stock, answered a few questions for me! But what surprised me although, I dont know why is the composition of freight trains. Mainly box vans and hardly an open or coal wagon in sight. And the length of the trains, those GN UG 0-6-0"s must have been mighty strong engines!! I also found this website http://www.ottgallery.com ages ago amd thought you guys might enjoy. I"m not sure if he is an inspiratiion or a reason to take up gardening!

I missed a good show but theres always next year! But I have not finished the tunnel yet and the lights came on from the watch tower!! Thanks for posting. Glenderg you are right, many Brits just dont realize how lucky they are with high quality shows almost every weekend. And I dont moan about the damn soap dodgers. My good lady thinks there should be a smellometer at the entrance and all who fail the smellometer should pass through a sheep dip. Be a lot of soggy people at some shows!

I did not enjoy soldering underneath the base board and blade splices worked for me. I did find I could use a thin dropper wire by twisting it gently before splicing. Very important to test every splice/joint as you make them;I did"nt, what a waste of time looking for a dead section.

About 15yrs ago I did the Wolscteyn steam experience, pretty rough track hiding in the deep weeds. But we also hired the narrow gauge railway at Zanymiesel for the day, also the driver training tram in Poznan they both put rough track into a hole new perspective. Great experience though.