On hire - RMS Locotec 08 in N…

This is an accident. A casual encounter, a single photo in a book about the railways of South Wales in the last decade or so of British Rail. Now 08598 exists in miniature…

Cwmbach doesn’t need a third era. I already have the 03s and 16t minerals and the cut-down 08 and HEAs… but somehow, equally, it does… because collecting models for our layouts is a process of creating unique and personal miniatures - that creativity is an energy, an inspiring force to drive motivation, to push us from pen and paper to wood and track and wiring and scenery. Oh, and it’s a great way for me to find some solace at the end of the day, a peaceful, mindful retreat. I love making models, I love N gauge, I love Class 08s…

And so just as 08710 leaves for pastures new, HO16 arrives - and with it some fresh challenges. The usual bare shell respray that allows removal of excess marker lights and filling spurious remaining holes - this time, removal of one of the equipment cabinets at the front.

The Farish 08 is a diecast body - the cab, top handrail, radiator and side cabinets are plastic parts that press into pre-formed holes. Removing the front box reveals two large holes and the fact the doors just stop in mid air. I have a Class 09 I’m planning on doing next, and that requires the same modification, so considered this a dry run. 

Checking my supplies, 10 thou styrene was too thick, yet the thinnest material I had so it would have to do! Cut carefully to shape and glued in position any gaps were filled with filler. Once dry I sanded these smooth, and also tried to thin them at the join to the body… hinges were added with some brass rod, and primer showed I needed more work on the smoothing - but even after several attempts their not perfect, as these cruel enlargements will show. I think the lesson here is to smooth and thin these ‘panels’ off the model, before adding them - which I’ll try on the next one!

Painting in Humbrol enamels, gloss lacquer and then the small markings drew up and had made into decals were applied. The telephone number is less than 0.7mm tall! Other markings are from Fox, including overhead flashes and wasp striping. Buffer beam pipework added and DGs fitted, along with a styrene strip across between the front steps.

Weathering followed the usual wet on wet approach, and just two shades 98 and 33 - and finally a dry brush of gunmetal on the cab steps. 

The result is a characterful (gosh what else, with an 08) stalwart. It’s mid 1990s period doesn’t really fit with much else I have, apart from, I suppose D2112. There is potential then for them to share duties on a Boston Docks inspired micro at some stage - though home will more typically be Cwmbach’s yard, sorting HEAs for loading, being too tall to run down the branch to Coedmawr washery… oh the stories we tell…

Until next time, more soon…

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