Ballyfin and Danielstown

[jhb171achill]

Absolutely top class stuff. CIE carriages in the guise of West Cork (double "snail", pre-1955 green and no lining - first time I've seen that in model form).. The wagons look amazing.

 

The maroon is right for both NCC and GSR. If the latter, they would be ex-WLWR, as this was the only Irish railway to have curved-ended coaches. Ends maroon in GSR days, black in CIE days.

Edited April 24, 2014 by jhb171achill

[cg-antrim]

Thanks gents - I really appreciate the encouragement. And for not mentioning that all those 6 wheelers are two wheels short! As I said, it's all a work in progress.

[Glenderg]

Lovely work indeed, and a tasty start on the brake van. The reference to mice and men - is it the goods wagon that concerns you somehow? Richie.

[cg-antrim]

Yes, that's right - bent buffer and damaged transfer. Part of the broken "N" is squint too. It's a shame because I really enjoyed doing the kit.

[murrayec]

Hi cg

 

No, No- Broken 'N', Squinty 'N', & Bent Buffer- classic. Some chaps go to great lengths to do that!

 

Love them all

 

murrayec

[jhb171achill]

A lot of cattle trucks, when in traffic, were decidedly shook looking!

[cg-antrim]

Some rainy bank holiday fun ... transfers for my Ratio NCC 6 wheeler look-a-like. This one was inspired by something I saw in O gauge - layout called Stanfording.

 

 

Granted, it's only got 4 wheels ... but I use low lighting on my layout. Does anyone have any ideas what I should do with the interior? Thanks!

Edited July 14, 2014 by cg-antrim

[Dunluce Castle]

Looks fantastic, where'd you get the NCC transfers please?

[cg-antrim]

Looks fantastic, where'd you get the NCC transfers please?

 

They're not NCC transfers, but come from the HMRS LMS yellow loco and coach insignia sheet 2 - I chopped up some of the other lettering sequences to get the NCC letters. Cost £6.50 from eBay.

 

Should I spray the transfers with something like clear varnish? Thanks!

[73.River.Roe.]

Brush over your transfers with yacht varnish that will protect them..... Nelson that's how I got the ncc letters I done the same as cg-antrim..

[Dunluce Castle]

It does look rather good but my only concern is what to do with the rest of the sheet and having to buy loads of sheets to make up a rake.

 

HMRS transfers I find don't need varnish and stay on happy without, but do as you wish, watersides are another matter they really need varnish to protect them.

[irishmail]

You may like to try this for your transfers, http://georgedentmodelmaker.blogspot.ie/2013/01/klear-ing-things-up.html

The original is no longer available , but according to George Dent, the latest replacement is not too bad. It is ideal for brushing on and does not leave any brush marks.

Hope this helps.

 

Regards

[jhb171achill]

Cg, many congratulations. That's superb stuff all round.

[heirflick]

Does anyone have any ideas what I should do with the interior? Thanks!

 

i would remove the roof, divide the interior into compartments as on the real thing, using plasticard. make bench seating and spray the interior a dark colour, presumably it was red, and stick a few people on the seats and bobs your uncle! great job so far=D

[cg-antrim]

i would remove the roof, divide the interior into compartments as on the real thing, using plasticard. make bench seating and spray the interior a dark colour, presumably it was red, and stick a few people on the seats and bobs your uncle! great job so far=D

 

Thanks for the advice, everyone - I know it doesn't begin to compare with some of the really excellent projects on display on the forum, but something like this is great for building up a little bit of experience and some confidence too.

 

I'll follow the advice above. And Nelson - I can get 4 sets of NCC lettering out of one of those transfer sheets (so enough for 2 coaches) if I modify the Gs for Cs. It's still pricey enough at £6.50 and I've got all those other LMS transfers to dispose of! My second coach is a LMS Hornby 57' NCC look-a-like.

 

My next step may be to emulate Nelson's wonderful NCC van but using balsa wood to see if that works.

[heirflick]

keep us posted of the progress as you go.

[cg-antrim]

Not progress so much as work in progress!

 

 

 

 

Edited July 16, 2014 by cg-antrim

[cg-antrim]

[heirflick]

 

...a secret military base?

[Mike 84C]

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

[cg-antrim]

Thanks, everyone.

 

May I ask a very basic question? I've been pinning track down today and testing the wiring. It's all very basic, and I've just got a simple analog controller wired up to the single line which lies just beyond the signal box on the photo above. This single line breaks into a passing loop, which has a siding coming off it. But I've hit a problem.

 

I bought 3 insulfrog points a couple of months ago, but hadn't tested them. I find today that each of these points conducts to both lines on the passing loop. I've tried all 3 points with the same results. Is it possible that I would have bought 3 electrofrog points units even though they came in insulfrog boxes? Or am I missing something?

 

Thanks for your patience - I realise this is very basic - but I am perplexed.

[Broithe]

Difference should be clearly visible.

 

 

Plastic frog - or metal frog.....?

[cg-antrim]

Difference should be clearly visible.

 

[ATTACH=CONFIG]14018[/ATTACH]

 

Plastic frog - or metal frog.....?

 

They're insulfrog, all right. What could be going on?

[Dunluce Castle]

Hornby or peco, second hand or brand new?

[cg-antrim]

n

Hornby or peco, second hand or brand new?

 

Peco, and brand new - at least they were a few months back when I bought them.

[Dunluce Castle]

Ahhh then I can't see any problems, I was only wondering that If they were second hand then probably they would have been modified, have you made sure that there's no other way electricity can access the siding?

[cg-antrim]

Lots of modelling happening these days, for a change! Can't say it's of consistent quality though!

 

I made some of the changes to the goods shed that were recommended earlier on this thread:

 

The painting is irregular, I know - what else could I do to improve these?

 

I'm also beginning a bridge section to pull the stations together, and other bits and pieces.

[Glenderg]

I was bursting to respond with a comment about how well the stone work looked and then you say you're not happy with it!

 

If you're unhappy with the finish - I can't see why personally - seal the walls with matt varnish etc., get some gouache watercolour - a mid grey, mix it with water and wash the whole building with it. When it dries, use a big chisel brush and draw off the excess. It'll cool down any bursts of colour and make the joints pop. Or charcoal dust on a knackered brush? All reversible .....

[cg-antrim]

 

Edited December 6, 2014 by cg-antrim

[cg-antrim]

 

[cg-antrim]

It has been a long time since I have reported any progress, but it is made being made, subject to the usual limits of time and energy. I'm running stock suitable to my southwest Scotland interests at the moment, while working on two GNR brake vans, one plastic and the other brass. I'm a slow improver! Glenderg - thanks for the advice above - I just haven't had a moment to follow up on your suggestions, but I will!

[cg-antrim]

 

This is a bit of a status update on those 2 GNR brake vans I've been working on. I started both at different times in the year - the SSM one back around Easter - but am only now getting time to pull them together. It's interesting working on the SSM and Provincial Wagons kits at the same time - but I find it frustrating that I can let two so different but such great kits down at the last minute by poor painting and decorating! This afternoon's frustrations included transfers ... Is there a good way to work with transfers without making them look too big?

 

I'm not finished yet with either painting (cream verandas for the GNR version) or final bits of assembly (inc handrails)!

Edited December 29, 2014 by cg-antrim

[Dunluce Castle]

Lovely job on those brake vans they really look the part.

[cg-antrim]

Lovely job on those brake vans they really look the part.

 

Thanks, Nelson. I've been comparing my photos of the PW GNR brake van with yours on your workbench thread (which looks fantastic). Could you give me any advice about how you painted yours? I have been spraying with the Halfords undercoat grey (on Leslie's recommendation) which does match the stock I'll be running this with but also collects at the bottom of each side. Thanks!

[Dave]

They look great! Well done. The only problem using aerosols is the paint is too thick and the volume of paint can be too much for small details. I would recommend using an airbrush, you would be amazed at the finish you can get. They are quite easy to use.