Sunday, 11 January 2009
Service Suspended
I am suspending this Blog for the time being due to lack of interest. May return to the subject when the weather is sunnier and/or I am less busy with other things.
Sunday, 30 November 2008
A right useful new product from MMP
MMP (who generally focus on diesels and other modern stuff) have introduced internal detailing kits for the various Slater's PO wagon kits. They are also going to produce brake gear in due course. Apart from being useful for detailing the legions of PO wagons that GC modellers need, readers of this blog will be aware that the Slater's kits can also be used to make GC hired coal wagons.
Being etched brass these kits should also add a bit of useful extra weight!
(Edit - although they are made of etched brass, the amount of weight added is marginal as the etches are (correctly) extremely thin. This should have been obvious to me, but wasn't.)
Being etched brass these kits should also add a bit of useful extra weight!
(Edit - although they are made of etched brass, the amount of weight added is marginal as the etches are (correctly) extremely thin. This should have been obvious to me, but wasn't.)
Wednesday, 5 November 2008
Painting Spec for a 9K (C13) 1903
This may be of interest to some:-
Tank, cab, clothing and wheels to receive two coats lead colour filled up with white lead mixed with gold size, rubbed down, followed up with two other coats lead colour, sand-papered, after which two coats brunswick green in oil.
Outside frames, main frames above platform near smokebox, buffers, footstep plates, same as tank etc., except two coats crimson lake in oil instead of green
Outside frames, wheels, sandboxes, buffers, footstep plates, tank, cab, and clothing to receive one coat under varnish, picked out with black and lined with white (n.b. not vermillion!), afterwards to receive one more coat under varnish, and two coats best finishing body varnish. To be flatted down with pumice stone and horse hair between each coat.
Numbers, in gold leaf, to be placed on buffer beam and back of tank (sic. - presumably means bunker) after first coat of varnish.
A brass number plate to be fixed on either side of coal bunker, to be painted vermillion between the numbers. (n.b. my understanding is that this later changed to black.)
Inside of main frames, frame stay and sidebar bracket to have two coats lead colour, filled up with white lead mixed with gold size, rubbed down, one coat flesh colour, sand-papered, two coats vermillion, and three coats hard drying body varnish.
Outside of mainframes, frame stay, and slide bar bracket to receive two coats lead colour, filled up, rubbed down, one coat ivory black, and then one coat ivory black mixed with varnish and one coat hard-drying body varnish.
Inside tanks and coal space to have two coats red lead, finished with black.
Webs of crank axle and body of straight axles, one coat white lead and one coat varnish.
Ends of axles black, lined with white, and varnished.
Smoke box, bogie, back of firebox, platform and brake hangers, one coat black and one coat japan.
Chimney to have two coats lead colour, filled up with white lead, mixed with gold size, rubbed down, then one coat black and one japan.
Inside cab, one coat lead colour, filled up, rubbed down, sand-papered, two coats stone colour (to sample) one coat under varnish, and one coat finishing body varnish. To be lined as per sample panel. (Not available)
Two days to intervene between each of the last three coats of varnish.
Buffer beams same as inside frames with the addition of being lined to sample panel, and finished same as clothing.
Brake pipes to have two coats of approved rubber varnish.
The above should not not be taken as an absolute guide for all green GC engines. For example, Robinson tender engines plus the 9N class (A5) had vermillion lining on the crimson lake areas. In addition, the early GC green livery was based on the old MS&L livery and was very different, not least in the use of a much paler green as the main livery colour. Brunswick green was one of Mr Robinson's changes.
Tank, cab, clothing and wheels to receive two coats lead colour filled up with white lead mixed with gold size, rubbed down, followed up with two other coats lead colour, sand-papered, after which two coats brunswick green in oil.
Outside frames, main frames above platform near smokebox, buffers, footstep plates, same as tank etc., except two coats crimson lake in oil instead of green
Outside frames, wheels, sandboxes, buffers, footstep plates, tank, cab, and clothing to receive one coat under varnish, picked out with black and lined with white (n.b. not vermillion!), afterwards to receive one more coat under varnish, and two coats best finishing body varnish. To be flatted down with pumice stone and horse hair between each coat.
Numbers, in gold leaf, to be placed on buffer beam and back of tank (sic. - presumably means bunker) after first coat of varnish.
A brass number plate to be fixed on either side of coal bunker, to be painted vermillion between the numbers. (n.b. my understanding is that this later changed to black.)
Inside of main frames, frame stay and sidebar bracket to have two coats lead colour, filled up with white lead mixed with gold size, rubbed down, one coat flesh colour, sand-papered, two coats vermillion, and three coats hard drying body varnish.
Outside of mainframes, frame stay, and slide bar bracket to receive two coats lead colour, filled up, rubbed down, one coat ivory black, and then one coat ivory black mixed with varnish and one coat hard-drying body varnish.
Inside tanks and coal space to have two coats red lead, finished with black.
Webs of crank axle and body of straight axles, one coat white lead and one coat varnish.
Ends of axles black, lined with white, and varnished.
Smoke box, bogie, back of firebox, platform and brake hangers, one coat black and one coat japan.
Chimney to have two coats lead colour, filled up with white lead, mixed with gold size, rubbed down, then one coat black and one japan.
Inside cab, one coat lead colour, filled up, rubbed down, sand-papered, two coats stone colour (to sample) one coat under varnish, and one coat finishing body varnish. To be lined as per sample panel. (Not available)
Two days to intervene between each of the last three coats of varnish.
Buffer beams same as inside frames with the addition of being lined to sample panel, and finished same as clothing.
Brake pipes to have two coats of approved rubber varnish.
The above should not not be taken as an absolute guide for all green GC engines. For example, Robinson tender engines plus the 9N class (A5) had vermillion lining on the crimson lake areas. In addition, the early GC green livery was based on the old MS&L livery and was very different, not least in the use of a much paler green as the main livery colour. Brunswick green was one of Mr Robinson's changes.
Friday, 31 October 2008
New Wagon Kit
A new wagon kit is available for the LDEC 5 planker, a vehicle which ran on a steel frame. It comes from Furness Railway Wagon Co, 10 Duke Street, Dalton-in Furness, Cumbria LA15 8HH. A welcome addition.
I think I am right in saying that some of these were marked for coal traffic by the GC, others for goods traffic. However I'm too lazy to check right now.
The kit costs £30 plus £3 p&p. The first batch is sold out but Marc at Furness Railway Wagon Co says there should be some more in late January.
Meanwhile, Gladiator have announced a re-tooled 8K/04 kit for £275. While David Andrews offers his version of the same engine for £279 and promises an improved Director for £259.
I'm sure Mr Robinson would be gratified, though he might wonder at a market where some of his locos are duplicated while others are not offered at all... But that's a petty quibble, in loco matters at least GC modellers are blessed.
I think I am right in saying that some of these were marked for coal traffic by the GC, others for goods traffic. However I'm too lazy to check right now.
The kit costs £30 plus £3 p&p. The first batch is sold out but Marc at Furness Railway Wagon Co says there should be some more in late January.
Meanwhile, Gladiator have announced a re-tooled 8K/04 kit for £275. While David Andrews offers his version of the same engine for £279 and promises an improved Director for £259.
I'm sure Mr Robinson would be gratified, though he might wonder at a market where some of his locos are duplicated while others are not offered at all... But that's a petty quibble, in loco matters at least GC modellers are blessed.
Sunday, 26 October 2008
Heroes of the Footplate
I've had a link to Heroes of the Footplate on here for some time, but I think they deserve a special mention for the quality of their railway staff figures. Very reasonably priced too. Do have a look at the excellent web site - you will be impressed.
Friday, 24 October 2008
Slater's Printed PO Wagons
I notice from the Slater's Site that several of the pre-printed PO wagons are 'currently unavailable' including the iconic Manvers Main.
Aaagh! Could it be back to hand lettering PO wagons? Ah well at least the Round Green wagon is still available and it's ideal for the GCR up to around World War I. Better buy some while they're to be had...
POSTSCRIPT (October 2015) You can now get Manvers Main from Powsides. The bad news is you can no longer get Round Green from Slaters!
Aaagh! Could it be back to hand lettering PO wagons? Ah well at least the Round Green wagon is still available and it's ideal for the GCR up to around World War I. Better buy some while they're to be had...
POSTSCRIPT (October 2015) You can now get Manvers Main from Powsides. The bad news is you can no longer get Round Green from Slaters!
Saturday, 4 October 2008
6C etches.
I understand from Tony West that he has arranged with Bill Bedford for the etches for the 6C (LNER J12) to be made available in 7mm scale.
Certain parts such as framespacers may need altering for 7mm as this was originally intended as a 4mm kit. What comes will be a set of etched brass components for the basic structure including a piece of brass for the boiler (to be rolled by you) , etched nickel silver rods and the tender. This leaves all the usual castings to be sourced (or home made if you are an engineer) to say nothing of wheels, motor and gears and working inside valve gear to do a complete job.
This kit is for the belpaire rebuild version. Almost the whole class was rebuilt in GC days but if you are modelling the earlier years you'll need to get your RCTS Green Book out to be sure that you pick a suitable number. In late GC days these locos were mainly shedded at Trafford Park (with a lot sub-shedded to Wigan where they were the mainstay of the stud) and at Mexborough. So ideal for those, like me, whose main interest lies with the GC in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Particularly ideal for anyone wanting to work trains into dodgy colliery sidings where that 2-8-0 will not penetrate!
I stand to be corrected - please tell me if you know better - but I believe these engines (certainly in this condition) were always turned out in plain black, with GREAT CENTRAL on the tender side and a nice, standard issue oval brass numberplate.
There's some notes on these locos here but please note the photo shows one prior to the Robinson-era rebuild. A couple of unrebuilt engines lasted into LNER days but they were simple vacuum brake only and could only be used on goods trains. The Robinson rebuilds, like nearly all modern GC engines, were fully fitted and could be used on passenger services.
Certain parts such as framespacers may need altering for 7mm as this was originally intended as a 4mm kit. What comes will be a set of etched brass components for the basic structure including a piece of brass for the boiler (to be rolled by you) , etched nickel silver rods and the tender. This leaves all the usual castings to be sourced (or home made if you are an engineer) to say nothing of wheels, motor and gears and working inside valve gear to do a complete job.
This kit is for the belpaire rebuild version. Almost the whole class was rebuilt in GC days but if you are modelling the earlier years you'll need to get your RCTS Green Book out to be sure that you pick a suitable number. In late GC days these locos were mainly shedded at Trafford Park (with a lot sub-shedded to Wigan where they were the mainstay of the stud) and at Mexborough. So ideal for those, like me, whose main interest lies with the GC in Lancashire and Yorkshire. Particularly ideal for anyone wanting to work trains into dodgy colliery sidings where that 2-8-0 will not penetrate!
I stand to be corrected - please tell me if you know better - but I believe these engines (certainly in this condition) were always turned out in plain black, with GREAT CENTRAL on the tender side and a nice, standard issue oval brass numberplate.
There's some notes on these locos here but please note the photo shows one prior to the Robinson-era rebuild. A couple of unrebuilt engines lasted into LNER days but they were simple vacuum brake only and could only be used on goods trains. The Robinson rebuilds, like nearly all modern GC engines, were fully fitted and could be used on passenger services.
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