Friday Update: Six Twelve Twenty-four…

Welcome to the workbench and another Friday Update. If it's your first time here, sit back, grab a coffee and enjoy what is to come - and if you're a regular, pull up a chair, lean in and I'll take you on a tour once more...

BIG news this week is this! Literally big as well... a monster in 009, the NGG16 is a Michael Tucker print on a pair of Graham Farish 08s. I've just about finished lining and painting it now, and what a difference, it has brought what I considered to be quite a poor 3D print to life - Michael has really captured the look of these beasts well. The kit is basically just 3 parts - the two tenders and a cab/boiler/cradle section - with some seperate parts allowing you to paint the cab controls and backhead before fitting. I've fitted RT Models valvegear which has lifted the otherwise basic Farish 08s quite nicely. Lining is all Fox bar the WHR which is a custom decal I've designed and had printed. I CANNOT WAIT to get this one in satin lacquer, it will transform her, just waiting on the etched plates from Light Railway Stores now! If you've got one of these and want a price on the work, do get in touch and I can discuss this with you with confidence having now undertaken this first commission.

BIG on the bench in other ways, the Ruston 44/48 project continues to move forwards - albeit perhaps a little slower as there is always an element of reflection and thought in these design projects - working out the best way to do something. 

A distinctive element of the Ruston's are the louvred bonnet doors - I had these etched in brass to my own design with a recess half etched and a cut line - with the intent of forming the louvre in the brass by creating a press tool - sadly this didn't work out but the recesses proved the perfect shape to help align the insertion of plastic 1.5mm (60thou) quarter round styrene. I created a simple jig to allow me to cut the 20 per bonnet door to length. The ends were cut on an angle and then this smoothed, and then the front corner was also rounded off - a process which perhaps wasn't quite tedious but I was certainly taking regular breaks! I've done 4 of the 6 doors required now - so just a few more to cut and prepare next week.

I like to be able to use parts from existing suppliers in these commissions when possible - as it is important for me that we recognise the great trade support we have through cottage industries... I hope Model Earth and Dean Goods take offence at being called cottage industries, but their products are well priced and it is meant with warmth and heart. The tractor seats are from Si at Model Earth - the gearbox casting worked up from rough 3D prints from Dean Goods. The bonnet front is my design, featuring laser cut parts, 3D printed parts and etched parts - all prepped and hand assembled - here all given a waft of primer to see what further work may be required. Next up is the control systems, these are being ordered next week - more on that a another time no doubt...

Another commission in the workshop this week is this etched brass 'Taff Vale Models' kit of an L&Y bogie goods van. Well written instructions, generally well etched parts and some nifty 3D printed details mean it hasn't been too tricky to put together - but I've tried to solder as much as I can for strength and that has certainly caused a few blue air moments - especially the lock bars on the doors!! I wanted to share the nuts and bolts, the 'under the covers' look of an etched model before clean up and priming - there is a lot of work that goes into creating models in this material, the results are an equal blend of patience and skill! More brass kits on the bench in the new year (a couple of industrial locomotive kits actually)...

I'll wrap things up with a shot of Coalbridge Street and a 'fail'. The GE45t switcher has been repainted green and looks lovely. However the WTC was a little 'heavier' than I had planned - so I've stripped the cab and repainted it - and re-ordered the custom decals I designed with less 'weight' in the text - not a simple change mind, as its hand drawn artwork to ape the sign written style of the Wantage Tramway prototype! Here of course it's Wantage Terminal... I also think I will paint the roof a dark grey, to offset the green - and a nod of course to a more typical 'British' finish on locomotives. 

This week saw my Bachmann C&C GE44t leave for a new home - but number 16, its replacement is now 'finished' bar weathering. A lot more work on this layout to come, but it's nice to have had such a successful clear out this week making mental space and financial capacity to finish what I have started.

The weekend should bring a chance for personal modelling, books and reflection - the puppy situation here is slowly improving, and being able to take her for walks certainly makes a difference. Still - as I type this WW3 is about to break out between the new and old dogs of the house! I do hope things calm down in the long run... I guess we'll have to see just how much relaxation can happen... it's certainly still very distracting when trying to write a daily blog... Wherever you are I hope you have a good weekend too - and find some space for this wonderful hobby - perhaps a chance to tick off a small job on your latest project, run a train on the layout, go and see a show or do a spot of trainspotting. I am with you all in spirit - until next time, more soon...

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