Pffft - A Powell Duffryn PFA in N (Part 2)…

Last month I shared the first part in this new scratch-building adventure, recreating the Powell Duffryn PFA. The chassis, converted from a Farish TEA (as per the prototype) was finished last time and we closed with pictures of the CAD for the containers…

Special thanks to modelling friend Will who printed these for me alongside the myriad of alumina wagon kits he is producing as part of his Kickstarter project! The prototypes arrived for testing (below) and here you can see they were basically sound but because I had made them hollow there was a little warping (corrected for the production ones, above). However this shows the CAD rendered in reality (left) and how the thin paper tarpaulin created the distinctive shape of the prototype (right). If you’re not familiar with them, do go back to Part 1 to see photos and description.

They have been painted in Humbrol enamel 25, given a gloss coat and the custom Isis Link decals I designed were applied and then sealed with satin lacquer. The wagon chassis has a series of modified Fox decals applied - which look the part and will disappear somewhat under the still to come weathering. N scale needs to be neat, but also, there is an even greater degree of modellers finesse. Knowing what to simplify, what to pick out and hi-light and what will work in miniature. It is this process and challenge that I enjoy more than anything.

I’ve really enjoyed creating this model - it has rekindled my enjoyment of making things, and in the process given me a unique and unusual steel carrier for the layout. Part 3 will cover the weathering and a hint of what is coming next as I’ve already started on another N gauge wagon project! Until next time, more soon…

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