A third gathering of gronks…
Whilst the Class 08/09 collection has become a little out of hand recently, today just a trio of Scottish 90s examples, a third gathering of gronks, grace the rails of Paxton Road…
I recently sold on my BR blue repainted example, 08655. Created at the birth of my N gauge adventure she featured an original Farish chassis that ran well, but not quite the same as the more recent coreless motored examples. Last week a replacement ‘Kernow’ edition arrived to create 08710, a third Haymarket machine that is shown in period photos at Thornton and on the Auchmuty trip working - as with the Star Wars and Indiana Jones of my youth, all good things come in threes…
A relatively straightforward repaint - removing of the high level marker lights at each end and filling holes, removal of NEM pockets on the keeper plate, replacement front buffers (slightly turned down Oleo’s from West Coast) and fitting pipes and detail.
Lined up too, it makes me smile. Smile at the ninth N gauge example sitting at the back of the bench waiting on its turn to be transformed… I love N gauge, and the 08 is the perfect model for us space starved modellers. Until next time, more soon…
As a trio it is interesting to compare them to the ‘out of the box’ weathered examples from previous gatherings… left to right we have full repaint / partial repaint / weathered out of the box. When I started ‘playing’ with N it was a ready to run adventure, a solace from the day job. Over time my confidence has grown, I’ve built kits, structures, track and turnouts - and now routinely detail, modify and repaint ready to run items. This hasn’t jaded the subject, or moved it closer to ‘work’, instead it has brought me more of what I need, personalised and heartfelt modelling that tells stories, my stories.
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They do look good, out of interest, I presume you mask off the wasp stripes front and rear, do you just spray a primer over the Kernow black livery?
ReplyDeleteThe blue is a bare shell resprays, the Farish paint is very thick. I use Fox wasp stripe decals on the ends and hand paint the bonnet side ones.
DeleteThat's impressive stuff, I always shied away from wasp stripes in 4mm. Now you mention the Farish paint thickness you can really tell from your image that the blue does look thinner and makes the panels and vents much more subtle and realistic.
DeleteThanks David. If you look at the 08 in Penpont it’s even more obvious - that’s one with door hinges and these are beautifully fine below the Farish paint.
DeleteSuperb! The rail freight general one is still my favourite. Your Dym Bid plan from yesterday inspired me to drag my O gauge module out and get it set up. I spent a merry half hour shunting some vans and a 16ton mineral with my Ruston DS48. Just what I needed. Take care.
ReplyDeleteWonderful stuff Tom - always happy to oblige.
DeleteExcellent work on the 08s James. These locos are ideal for micro layouts. Have a good weekend.
ReplyDeleteThanks Kevin
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