On The Workbench Today...

The End of The Line…

Well for the current MGR project anyways. I've really enjoyed putting this rake of wagons together and have to say I'm pretty pleased with how they've turned out considering they are based around Hornby's original hopper design. I'm sure that their newer versions are far more accurate, but they are also far more expensive - commanding ridiculous prices on some of the popular bidding/buying websites - so the fact I used what I already had and have detailed and painted them myself has meant I've saved a heap of money (even taking into account the bits n bobs I've purchased) and also a rake of wagons that no one else will have.

So the final 6 have gone through the Cradley Bridge Works, been weathered and couplings fitted - all that remains is to fit the real coal loads and that'll be another long term project finished and put to bed.

I'm in the process of building of building a photo plank so as to have somewhere a little less cluttered than my workbench to photograph my finished projects on. Once its ready, this rake and a weather worn Heljan Class 58 should look the business!

On The Workbench Today...

Going Retro contd.,

A quick update on one of my more recent projects - The Bachmann Bogie Bolsters continue to go thru the workshop, although progress has been hampered a little by another urgent project, work and a house move!! Still I'd rather take my time and do a decent job rather than rush it through just for the sake of saying its done. All the transfers have been applied and really make a difference to the look and feel of the model. 

Now that they have had time to dry out the next stage will be to seal them with another coat of Johnson's Klear before starting to weather the main bodies. Once this is done I will move on to the decks of the bolsters themselves which should hopefully bring out the detail on them and really lift them to the next level.

I've also been working a little more on the loads for them - the girders/rail will be finished in a quite rusty and untreated way and once attached will be finished off with fine scale chain and shackles securing them on to the wagons.

Fingers crossed that when finished this little rake will look great as a local heritage freight working. I've also found an old BR brake van that I'm going to repaint/renumber which should finish these off a treat - just have to decide what loco will haul the train - Answers and ideas gratefully received!! So, short and sweet this posting, but hopefully once all the above is finished (I'm thinking end of next week sometime) I'll post up the results and start the next project which will be on far more up-to-date stock.