Commission: Newcastle the Manning Wardle…

Not another Manning Wardle I hear you say, but perhaps I’ll be let off, as this one feels quite special with this ‘as built’ Manning Wardle livery, representing ‘Newcastle’ that currently resides at Beamish… 

Work started with the plain maroon Rapido model that was fitted with RT Models buffers and one of my etched roof conversions. The easy (!) work stopped there! With the motion masked she was primed ‘intact’ before a coat of Humbrol 131 gave a basic Manning Wardle green to work up from.

To recreate the complex lining (red, edged black with yellow pin stripe and dark green outer) was a challenge - I decided to hand paint the dark green first using Humbrol 3. This then gave me a set of panels I could measure up and create some custom artwork for my own decals. Gloss varnish gave a good foundation for these, that were fitted before further detail painting of the red, black and metalwork.

Finishing touches then included real coal and a set of custom nameplates from the usual source. Stood back the very fiddly lining is very effective but wasn’t too difficult to apply, the benefit of feeling comfortable with both real and virtual modelling methods. If you have a particular prototype you have in mind I can probably recreate it - from clapped our worn blue paint last week through to this factory paint scheme! I’ve still got a couple more of these to finish off but we’ll take a week off next Monday and take a look at something different. 

I’d you’d like to work with me on your own dream model then do get in touch via the contact form here, email via my Facebook page or the business Messenger chat. 

Until next time, more soon…

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