Year: 2026

Strange Purchase

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

I purchased four very tired and tatty O Gauge LNER Suburban Coaches at a recent Exhibition at a very reasonable price. They were sturdy, and a nice long term project I thought. But when I got home I started to wonder why I purchased them – I don’t even model LNER !!!

I decided to spend my Mayday Holiday bringing them up to a better standard. I removed the bogies and completely refurbished them, I made up new buffer beams to replace someone else’s attempted refurbishment, fitted new buffers, internal fixed (solid) but working (sprung) on the outer coaches. I also added Vacuum pipes, Steam pipes and screw couplings to the outer ends. I used ‘fixed’ Sprat and Winkle hook and loop as all inner couplings to achieve a nice close gap between coaches.

I touched up all the paintwork and repaired and repainted the roofs on all the coaches as best as I could, not perfect, but as best as I could. They will need varnishing and light weathering to make them better. Whilst on the subject of weathering, I intend to give the bogies a light dusting later. The bodies will remain more or less pristine.

There was two different types of Brake Coaches, one Composite Coach and one all third Coach. I have made them into two rakes of two, but inter changeable.

When finished, whether keep or sell, I have no idea!

Always room for extra Detail

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Here are two locos I deemed finished a couple of weeks ago. but after more researching I decided to add more detailing!

Firstly the O Gauge B1, I was happy with the results of my last attempt, but, as they say ‘an improvement is always possible’. I have added fire irons to the tender holders, added a shovel and some more coal, I have added extra weathering to the cylinders and draincocks and finally, further weathering to the smokebox and door.

The other loco was the recently completed Q6, I have added more weathering, to the cylinders, the smokebox and door after seeing a photo, I have tried to copy it! The tender has had more water (Gloss Varnish) added.

Shelby Yard HO – USA – BNSF

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

On Thursday I will say goodbye to this layout. It was one of three I made during the covid lockdown. Sadly I never got around to even offering it to Exhibition Managers and as such it has never been ‘on the circuit’.

Attached are my last batch of photos that I took this afternoon as a memory of those weird lockdown months. After three years storage it ran very well straight away and still looks the part.

The layout is based on the edge of an Arizona desert and is a simple ‘shunting puzzle’. The era is approximately 1995-6 after/during the BN and SF merger. Most stock is weathered and detailed

If any Exhibition Managers or Organisers would like to have the layout attend any Exhibitions in East Anglia, I would pass the details on to the new owner who has indicated his desire to Exhibit the layout.

B1 weathered

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Before going any further, I have to admit that the B1 has turned out weathered a bit more than I actually wanted! This is the last loco of the recent batch of detailing and upgrading certain items with better quality products.

So here we are with a medium weathering created by airbrushing, dry brushing and a few powders. During taking the photos of the loco, I realised that there was a couple of other things that would improve things a bit, adding some overspilt coal in the back of the tender and adding some tools on the tender rack.

BR (M) 4F finished

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

After several attempts to make my Bachmann Brass 4F more realistic, I declare it finished! This has been a long project over a couple of years that had to fit in amongst lots of other jobs. It is now crewed, lamps fitted and final weathering blended to match original medium coating.

Dapol TTV tanks

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Another two of the fantastic Dapol Fuel Tanks weathered. The Esso is Light to Medium and the Shell/BP is Medium weathered. This must make at least 25-30 I have done over the years and its always a pleasure.

Q6 Weathered

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

My Q6 is now weathered after an extensive rebuilding program as stated in a previous post. I have given it a medium standard that reflects a really hard worked engine. A crew has now been added, but oil lamps still needed.

There seems to be several Q6’s for sale at the moment in O Gauge. They all seem very expensive and have been lettered and numbered as BR, which does not look right as they do not have the upgraded type 300A boiler amendment done!

Was it worth doing all those amendment? Yes, I am not a rivet counter, but the amendments are very obvious!

L1 Weathered

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

This is another Loco recently updated with a better chimney and fitting of drain cock piping. This was followed by patch painting and lining touch up.

The loco has now been lightly weathered with airbrushing only to a state I would say was about a month after a works visit! Any overspray on the tanks and lower bunker has been wiped away.

Oil lamps and crew need to be added.

J71 weathered

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

After a complete refurbishment of the J71, I have eventually got around to weathering and almost finishing! I still have to fit ‘Oil Lamps’ and do a little powder weathering, but that is a quick fix.

This is a Medium weathering application, airbrushed and dry brushed.

3 more Locos amended

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

These three locos have only had one replacement part each, two chimneys and one dome. As I said in a previous post, all new items were purchased from LG Miniatures. Partial repaints were then done and varnishing completed the jobs. All Locos to be weathered and/or re-weathered

B1 – new Chimney

L1 – new Chimney

4F – new Dome (Chimney already done)