Tales from the carriage shops

[Mayner]

Managed to find the remains of the decal set I used when I originally "completed" G617 (goodknows when) complete with replacements for the obliterated/damaged numbers and CIE, I also found a 'stash' of 6pin 1-2amp decoders I bought from the States several years ago but never used, when I had a problem with 0.7 amp decoders blowing on kit built locos.

I am using "Gun Blue" as a blackening agent in areas where paint damaged/chipped exposing brass before touching up paintwork

So at this stage a case of paint touch-ups and clear varnish to seal the decals and protect the paintwork.

Another un-finished job from several years ago was to fit the fuel tanks and gangway covers to a Tin Van I assembled about 5 years ago

Tanks (3D Printed) are both fixed to the floor of the van using 10BA bolts, originally intending to use a Kadee #36 couper, I have not fitted couplers at this stage (no Kadee #36 in stock and looking possibly at using smaller/more discrete B&B couplings (I have a fret of B&Bs somewhere)

While I used to represent the flexible part of the gangway in the traditional manner using (soft) foam rubber wrapped in crept paper, I mounted the Gangway end/cover on a piece of dense foam ground sheet which I think looks reasonably convincing. I usually represent the gangway hanger with a piece of 0.45 phosphor bronze wire with the bottom section wrapped in small dia brass wire to represent the suspension spring, but that's another day or so's work.

Once I get this 'modern' stuff out of the way I have a pair of J15s I started about 7-8 years ago to complete.