Today I have fitted most of my Class 33’s with snowploughs. I researched each loco to ensure it was carrying ploughs in the exact condition I am modelling them in. The only Loco that will remain without ploughs will be 33035 in NSE as I can not trace a photo of it in my modelled condition. Anyway leaving one without ploughs just gives that different look.

33050 and 33002 still to be weathered, and no plough 33035.

This is 33050 Isle of Grain that ran in this condition in the early 90’s. The nameplates are Fox, the depot plate and arrows are Protoneo and the transfers are Railtec. It will now join the list of locos still to be weathered.

This Loco ran in this condition in 2019/20 before being modified and then repainted into Colas livery. It was purchased out of preservation and used in ‘as preserved’ condition for some time on Network Rail test trains.

I have given the model a light weathering as it was kept in very good condition, abeit a bit faded towards the end.

This is a loco that I detailed, numbered and named about six months ago. It was one of a number of 37’s that were dispatched by DRS to Stowmarket for the RHTT season in 2020. I have given the loco a light weathering that is more akin to the condition it arrived in and not after a week or two on RHTT trains.

There was great variety of liveries during the RHTT season and I have decided to do as many as I can or should it be afford. It is likely that we will have a few 37’s from DRS again this year on RHTT – fingers crossed.

Today I weathered my Dapol Class 122 DMU. This had to be done carefully as there is a lot of glazing that had to be treated with respect. Using a very small brush and dilute matt black paint, I carefully painted all the door creases and then with a cotton bud soaked in a little white spirit, I then cleaned up the sides. I was a little more free with the roof, using a larger brush and cleaning the surplus off with a clean cotton rag.

After finishing all the delicate work, I then airbrushed the underframe and bogies using Railmatch and Humbrol paints as usual, Other than some exhaust on the roof I did not airbrush any roof dirt, assuming that the sides, ends and roof would be cleaned regularly in the early diesel days.

Overall quite pleased with the outcome.

This is the last 31 from the latest batch. Although it is modelled as a Crewe based engine, I did record it a couple of times in East Anglia.

I have to say that I am very happy with Heljans latest Class 31 and look forward to a potential second run.

The usual Railmatch and Humbrol paints are used with Railtec transfers and Protoneo etches.

Another recent purchase here. This is a very light weathering just to take away the plastic look and to make it look a bit more 3D.

I have used no Roof Dirt, Frame Dirt or Brake Dust, my usual go to colours. I have used a dilute Humbrol Black only and done what I call shadowing, just putting a little dirt/shadow in the door crevices etc and a dab and wipe on the buffer beam equipment.

This hopefully gives the impression of a well kept ‘pet’ loco.

This time we have a Construction liveried 31155, this was a Stratford (SF) Loco in the late 80’s before moving on. I have modelled it as I remember photographing it, I have given it a light weathering.

I used Railmatch and Humbrol Paints and the transfers are Railtec. The arrows and depot plates are Protoneo.

Here is another of my recent purchases, 31219 in Railfreight livery around 1987 – 88. I have to say this was my favourite livery on Class 31’s and I can remember them in East Anglia around this time. I chose this number as it was the only Class 31 in this livery to have a ‘Cockney Sparrow’ on the side, thanks to Kevin Lee for his help.

This is a light to medium weathering created by airbrush and dry brushing of Railmatch and Humbrol paints, Transfers are Railtec. The headcode modifications are still to be done.

After studying the fronts of my new Heljan Class 31’s, I felt that something just did not look right. I looked on a couple of Modern Image Facebook sites to see if anybody else felt as I did, and yes a couple of others had remarked that the Roof mounted marker lights looked a bit vague, nothing wrong with the position and Heljan had done nothing wrong in manufacture, they just needed defining better.

After looking through my Photos from the late 80’s, I hatched a plan of improvement. I picked a punch that was in scale with what I wanted and punched out some very light grey transfers that I had in my left over box. I then attached them to roof mounted marker lights, fixing them with matt varnish. After adding the transfers I gave them a quick run and as the transfers are so thin, I was still quite happy with the working lights in daylight – I will try in darkness later.

Below is a photo of a weathered 31 and lastly a 31 with my modification.