Weathering bench

[JasonB]

5 hours ago, Dempsey said:

I was looking at a ditch lighting kit to add, which is inexpensive the shipping and customs charge is ridiculous. 

I'm a fan of the SD40 myself but not the current livery so have a few ideas to change it.

Pity about the shipping costs, the ditch lighting would look the business. 

I wouldn't be a fan of the Santa Fe livery myself. I always liked Southern Pacific. It was simple, but effective. Grey body, with red ends, and always heavily weathered. 

[Dempsey]

2 hours ago, JasonB said:

Pity about the shipping costs, the ditch lighting would look the business. 

I wouldn't be a fan of the Santa Fe livery myself. I always liked Southern Pacific. It was simple, but effective. Grey body, with red ends, and always heavily weathered. 

I'll shop around some more and see if i can find better. I'm in no rush to finish it anyway right now until I decide what livery. 

Maybe NS or one of the other big five. Maybe a small regional line or maybe make one up for that classic "my railway, my rules" vide.

[Mayner]

19 hours ago, Dempsey said:

 

The only real draw back is the detailing parts have to come from the states. I was looking at a ditch lighting kit to add, which is inexpensive the shipping and customs charge is ridiculous. 

I'm a fan of the SD40 myself but not the current livery so have a few ideas to change it.

Some locos retained their Santa Fe freight scheme into the 2000s both in BNSF ownership or on lease to Shortlines/Regional Railroads.

 

6202 in use as a remotely controlled switcher at Moorhead Yard MN 2004 (one of the main yards on the BNSF northern transcontinental route from Chicago to the Pacific. The RR worker in the photo is wearing a harness with the radio controller for the loco.

3043 is a ATSF rebuilt GP20 on lease to regional Dakota Missouri Valley and Western in 2004, at the time the DMVWR used a motley collection of 2nd Generation EMD Bo Bos including ex-CN, SP and ATSF power to work freights over its undulating trackage. 

These days Regionals in the grain growing regions are increasingly using 6 axle units like SD40s and even SD70 to move unit grain trains between the Elevators and the Interchange with Class 1 Roads such as the BNSF, UP, CN & CP

 

[Dempsey]

Nice little quick project repainting and weathering these three old Hornby and bachmann wagons I about 20 years ago.

Having got rid of those old massive couplers can anyone suggest a good chain coupling option?

Cheers in advance 

Chris

[David Holman]

If they are still available, Smiths three links were a good option. They have a slightly larger than scale hook to ease operation.

[Tullygrainey]

 

Brassmasters have some offerings which might suit.

https://www.brassmasters.co.uk/3-link_couplings.htm

https://www.brassmasters.co.uk/screw_couplings.htm

[Dempsey]

Rake of repainted Dapol Vans and a number of 5 plank wagons.

[DJ Dangerous]

Dugort-bound?

[Dempsey]

1 minute ago, DJ Dangerous said:

Dugort-bound?

No no these were my own project. 

Also to build up a catalogue of work available through my services page at the same time.

[DJ Dangerous]

On 5/4/2025 at 9:00 PM, Dempsey said:

No no these were my own project. 

Also to build up a catalogue of work available through my services page at the same time.

They look excellent!

[Dempsey]

7 minutes ago, DJ Dangerous said:

They look excellent!

Appreciate it. That's the cleanest you'll ever see them. The aging process has begun 

[Dempsey]

Continuing on with my dapol repaints the first stages of weathering have begun. Beginning with the roofs, the first layers of colour to give it a sun bleached look. These are just the starting layers.

Moving onto the body sides, applying a dark brown filter layer. To give the panels a sort of ingrained dirty look. 

Next will be the actual weathering. 

Your thoughts as always are appreciated. 

Chris

[Tullygrainey]

Speaking as someone who never feels quite in control of weathering, I’m watching this with interest. Thanks Chris

Alan

[Dempsey]

10 minutes ago, Tullygrainey said:

Speaking as someone who never feels quite in control of weathering, I’m watching this with interest. Thanks Chris

Alan

That's fair, I get like that too something, especially when I trying something new or trying to get a certain effect. 

There is always my weathering service if you wish.

[Galteemore]

1 hour ago, Tullygrainey said:

Speaking as someone who never feels quite in control of weathering, I’m watching this with interest. Thanks Chris

Alan

Somehow I think you always nail it in the end Alan….;)

[Dempsey]

Love the detailing on the wagons. Scratch. Built?

[Tullygrainey]

4 hours ago, Dempsey said:

Love the detailing on the wagons. Scratch. Built?

Yes, recycled timber from the Costa Coffee Company

[Dempsey]

Just now, Tullygrainey said:

Yes, recycled timber from the Costa Coffee Company

Oh I like that. It's ingenious.

[Tullygrainey]

Correction- the open wagon in the first pic is a resin kit. The second one is the coffee stirrer special

[Dempsey]

With the frame untouched so far. The effects of the washes really add to the run down appearance of the vans.

Your thoughts as always are appreciated. 

Chris

[Dempsey]

H vans from IRM next to receive the weathering treatment. 

Chris 

[Dempsey]

Moving back to my SD40 build I suppose I can call it. 

Having biten the bullet I order a set of ditch lights for the front and installed them and have put down the first layer of primer for the livery change. 

Your thoughts are appreciated. 

Chris

 

[Dempsey]

While long gone from service when my own begun I do remember the bedford TCVs driving through the town. 

The recent release from Oxford finding a home on Barrack Street. Suitably faded of course and waiting for its unit markings.

Chris

Edited March 25 by Dempsey

[dropshort105]

On 25/3/2026 at 5:04 PM, Dempsey said:

While long gone from service when my own begun I do remember the bedford TCVs driving through the town. 

The recent release from Oxford finding a home on Barrack Street. Suitably faded of course and waiting for its unit markings.

Chris

Oooh, I'm looking for four of them to tow four airfix 25 pounders, wanna do an FCA gun battery in transit.

Edited March 26 by dropshort105

[Dempsey]

2 minutes ago, dropshort105 said:

Oooh, I'm looking for four of them to tow four airfix 25 pounders, wanna do an FCA gun battery in transit.

I know a guy who does repaints

[dropshort105]

2 hours ago, Dempsey said:

I know a guy who does repaints

That's half the fun  

[Dempsey]

Landrover defender FFR on escort duties. Unfortunately no one seems to make a diecast nissan patrol so looks like the defender was kept in service a bit longer.

[Dempsey]

Another bedford showing signs of age and hard work.

[Mol_PMB]

7 minutes ago, Dempsey said:

Another bedford showing signs of age and hard work.

Super weathering! I didn't realise Bus Eireann operated third class buses.