Over the past month I've been busy modelling the A44 driving trailer and sourcing the various parts for converting my Bachmann 64XX pannier tank into 7416. The A44 has now been detailed inside and out and awaits a coat of paint, it might be a rather long wait though, what with the damp weather and a unheated garage.
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So 4678 towed the coach off to Llanbister Road storage sidings and any would be passengers will have to make do with a clapped out E147, unless the operating department can find something a little better.
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Like this Hawksworth Brake third for instance, which were a common sight on secondary routes as the BR Mk1's began to appear.
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More from Modelu
Anyway with the coach out of the way I will soon be starting work on 7416, which will eventually need a loco crew, so towards the end of last week I had a pleasant exchange of emails with Alan Buttler of Modelu. and ended up ordering a couple of figures. They arrived by first class post a few days later and I must say that I'm very impressed with Alan's mail order service, and with the detail and quality of these two chaps who I've named Dai and Owen. Unlike cast metal figures, 3D prints have no flash or parting lines to clean up and are ready for painting. Keenly priced at around the same mark as the best quality castings I can recommend these figures and think the days of the metal castings might well be numbered as the range expands.
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Alan was down at Llangollen doing some more body scans last weekend, which included some signalmen and more personnel from the MPD and here they are.......
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Its hard to chose a favourite from this superb selection, the signalman on the phone and the other relaxing in the chair are marvellous, I also like the seated drivers, decisions, decisions, but pleasant ones :-)
7416
Moving on, though Bachmanns 64XX pannier tank is a nice little model I feel its let down by the chimney and oversized wheel splashers. To be honest most people will be happy with things as they are and I hate to sound as if I'm a rivet counter because I'm not, but I've long wanted a decent model of a 74XX so have decided to see if I can improve the model to my satisfaction. If it all goes wrong then at the worst I will need a new body moulding. The 54/64/74 panniers were developed from the 2021 class panniers and shared the same chimney with those listed on the drawing..............
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The finecast chimney versus the Bachmann, obviously the casting needs to be filed flat and carefully bedded into the pannier tank top. The question is, is it worth the trouble? I happen to think so, as long as I can make a neat job of it
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This is the first batch of wheel splashers, I formed the curved top by wrapping and securing a strip of styrene around a piece of brass tubing of slightly less diameter than required. The whole lot was then plunged into some boiling water and allowed to cool. The number.plates are from the excellent and ever expanding Coast Line Model range, trust me to have chosen one of the first 74XX panniers to be withdrawn!
Have a great weekend......
So 4678 towed the coach off to Llanbister Road storage sidings and any would be passengers will have to make do with a clapped out E147, unless the operating department can find something a little better.
Like this Hawksworth Brake third for instance, which were a common sight on secondary routes as the BR Mk1's began to appear.
More from Modelu
Anyway with the coach out of the way I will soon be starting work on 7416, which will eventually need a loco crew, so towards the end of last week I had a pleasant exchange of emails with Alan Buttler of Modelu. and ended up ordering a couple of figures. They arrived by first class post a few days later and I must say that I'm very impressed with Alan's mail order service, and with the detail and quality of these two chaps who I've named Dai and Owen. Unlike cast metal figures, 3D prints have no flash or parting lines to clean up and are ready for painting. Keenly priced at around the same mark as the best quality castings I can recommend these figures and think the days of the metal castings might well be numbered as the range expands.
Alan was down at Llangollen doing some more body scans last weekend, which included some signalmen and more personnel from the MPD and here they are.......
Its hard to chose a favourite from this superb selection, the signalman on the phone and the other relaxing in the chair are marvellous, I also like the seated drivers, decisions, decisions, but pleasant ones :-)
7416
Moving on, though Bachmanns 64XX pannier tank is a nice little model I feel its let down by the chimney and oversized wheel splashers. To be honest most people will be happy with things as they are and I hate to sound as if I'm a rivet counter because I'm not, but I've long wanted a decent model of a 74XX so have decided to see if I can improve the model to my satisfaction. If it all goes wrong then at the worst I will need a new body moulding. The 54/64/74 panniers were developed from the 2021 class panniers and shared the same chimney with those listed on the drawing..............
Fortunately Alan Gibson, Brassmasters (Finney), and SEF Finescale produce kits for the 517 and Metro class tanks and are happy to sell their chimneys as a spare part. So I gave the ever helpful Dave Ellis of SEF a call and for the sum of £2.25 plus postage I received a rather nice casting.
The finecast chimney versus the Bachmann, obviously the casting needs to be filed flat and carefully bedded into the pannier tank top. The question is, is it worth the trouble? I happen to think so, as long as I can make a neat job of it
This is the first batch of wheel splashers, I formed the curved top by wrapping and securing a strip of styrene around a piece of brass tubing of slightly less diameter than required. The whole lot was then plunged into some boiling water and allowed to cool. The number.plates are from the excellent and ever expanding Coast Line Model range, trust me to have chosen one of the first 74XX panniers to be withdrawn!
Have a great weekend......