Author: Kelvin Barnes

MOYS – O Gauge Coal Wagon

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

I have just completed a MOYS wagon for a friend, It came to me in a rather tatty condition, but was solidly built and ran well. After cleaning all the dust and debris away it looked even better – so weathering commenced.

Being very old, I can remember MOYS Coal office and Staithes at my local station in the early 50’s. My Dad worked in the Goods Depot. I think I saw a lettered wagon, but can not be sure, certainly saw wooden coal wagons. what a pity photography wasn’t as easy as it is today!

I believe the other Coal Merchant on site was ‘Colliers’, and I think they outlived MOYS at our home Station.

By the way the wagons were Shunted by Horses, Charlie and Mary, I used to help groom them, very gentle giants. Charlie went on to Newmarket and was the last Shunting Horse taken out of service.

Johnson 2F in O Gauge

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Here we have a recent purchase from a trader. I do model a little BR(M) and this loco looked something just a bit different from the normal RTR Locos available and popular kit builds.

It came with a very good specification, with a Buhler motor and a multi cog gearbox. both the Loco and Tender were compensated chassis. The paintwork was tired and in LMS with a little doubtful weathering, that did not worry me as a partial re-paint and a new BR identity was required.

The Loco duly arrived on the stated day, and I was eager to open the package. Oh dear it had had a very rough journey, despite being quite well packed. Sadly the package did not have any ‘Fragile’ or ‘Handle with Care’ stickers to indicate its contents were delicate!!!! The carrier obviously treated it badly and evidence of one nasty bash or drop appeared on one of the ends.

I decided to keep the loco and repair it as it was a rare model not often offered for sale. It took me about six hours to put it back together. repaint and re-number.

It is an unfitted loco that spent some time allocated to the southern end of the Midland Mainline in the early 50’s – so may have visited Cambridge or March in my area, but no proof of that at all.

Below is the finished loco and I have to say I am very happy with the results – its in line for weathering, but sadly that will be a while, as I am way behind.

PHOTO AS PURCHASED BELOW

BR(M) Push Pull?

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized , ,

This is sadly not really a success story. I have been looking for a Stanier Suburban Brake Coach for a while and when I saw exactly what I wanted – I went for it. It was very well built apart from the bogies, with a slightly ‘iffy’ paint job!

The Coach duly arrived and I was going to turn the coach into a Push/Pull variety. I spoke to a friend that helped with what was needed to be changed and it was noted for action – then – No! I could not get the roof off or the body off the chassis, this has made the conversion impossible as lots of cutting and shutting was needed!

So here we now have a reworked standard Stanier Suburban Brake.

I have photographed it with a push/pull fitted Loco. They could have appeared together, but sadly not in Push/Pull mode.

The loco in the photo is a Somerset and Dorset 1P P/P fitted variety, Both loco and coach have been weathered.

Bressingham O Gauge 2026 Exhibition

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized

Below is the flyer for the Bressingham O Gauge Exhibition 2026. There will be approx. 20 layouts representing many types of 7mm modelling including Steam and Diesel standard gauge and a mix of narrow gauge types. There will also be Traders, Demonstrations and Society/Local Club stands.

The entrance fee is £10.75 and for that you get into the Exhibition, Steam Museum and the Gardens. This will be a great family day out.

O Gauge Q6 0-8-0

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

This is my first post for over 2 months. This hiatus was because of a fall and then recouperation which took longer than expected! I did no modelling at all during this time due to pain caused by the fall. I hope to get back into the routine soon and do the work I love.

I have not purchased very much recently, but I spotted this loco on a selling website several weeks ago and thought about purchasing it. A couple of weeks passed and the price was significantly dropped. I purchased it straight away and awaited delivery.

On arrival I test run the loco and I am pleased to say, it ran very well, smooth and controllable. After research I realised just how many differences there were between a LNER variety and a BR version and the purchased loco was in LNER. Again research taught me that the change of boiler from a type 500 to a 500A boiler changed a few things and they would need to be addressed to model a BR version.. The loco has a bit of paint flaking, but a partial repaint is required anyway. The back-head is fine, but will be re-done.

I have purchased a snifter valve, a new dome, stand alone safety valves and a new loco whistle. I will also need to make drain cock pipes. From photographs it shows that some tenders were changed or modified, but some remained as in LNER days – a case of pick the right engine with the correct tender.

This is a medium term project,

Black 5 in O Gauge

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Last Sunday we attended the Whitwell and Reepham O Gauge Day with our layout ‘Dark Lane’, it was a very enjoyable day, so friendly and with excellent demonstrations.

I had no intention of buying anything, but at the end of the day I found myself making an offer for a Black 5 that was for sale on a Demo stand, we agreed a very reasonable price.

I already have a Black 5 that was allocated to the Midland Region and had always wanted a Scottish variety with a different dome and top feed arrangement. This purchase gave me this wish, but a number change and an early BR logo was required as I model Scottish Steam from 1948 – 54. I researched all possibilities and the number change decided was from 45042 to 45116, a St Rollox Loco until 1957, when it moved south.

I also did a few touch up jobs and then a full varnish, when the varnish is dry it will receive a light-Medium weathering as the Loco lining could be better. I was not happy with the coal load in the tender, so this was replaced with real coal. The first photo is of the original loco before I did the conversion.

More work O gauge Bridge

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

Over the last two days, I have done some more work on the small bridge carrying a pipeline across the lines. I have painted the concrete parts, then added the pipeline on concrete blocks, and finally I have added the embossed Brick Card. Still to be blended and weathered.

O Gauge- Ballast Test weathered

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

This is the follow up to my recent O Gauge Ballast post. I have now weathered the three test samples, with the basics. I have not added any oil patches, grime or filth, they can be added as a separate application on Depots, near Station Buffer-stops and even at signals on the main line. I would treat the goods yard scenario slightly differently, depending on the products being loaded/unloaded, noting different parts of a Yard can handle different products.

I always use enamel Railmatch Paints and have hand painted the sample, although I would use airbrushing on larger areas. I have dry brushed the sleepers to make original Peco sleepers look a bit more accurate.

Also note that the colours I have used for the rail sides, they differ as well as the ballast. Again the merging of different areas need to be seamless. I have in the past treated the chairs with a little dark rust as Cast Iron and Steel weather differently – this is dry brushed, but I guess it could be done with powders. This is a very time consuming job, OK on smaller layouts, but would be soul destroying on really large layouts.

The colours I used were, Sleeper Grime, Frame Dirt and Roof Dirt. For the grime etc. I would use all sorts of colours from Black to White and everything in between, bearing in mind that its not a ‘matt’ world. Some liberal use of Satin or Gloss is acceptable. In Steam Days, remember, the effects of water, ash and emulsified oils, lovely!!!!

Ballast in O Gauge

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

I have agreed to help a friend start to ballast his large layout. I think using actual O Gauge ballast all over the layout in all positions does not look realistic. I have therefore done a trial board of the three ballasts I use for all my O Gauge layouts. I intend to paint them and the track sides later and then post again.

The number of Exhibition layouts that take a one size does all is amazing, even in these days when all sizes are available at reasonable prices. Remember some goods yards and terminus station areas have not been re-ballasted or had new track for 50 years as all speeds are low in these areas. I would treat through Stations with no goods or sidings completely different, using virtually all O Gauge ballast.

I use O Gauge Ballast on Mainlines and Secondary Lines – I use N gauge Ballast for Terminus Station areas and fine sand for well trod areas like engine sheds and goods yards. These could have been laid on ash anyway! – When I do this, I do a transition length by mixing two types together, with different percentages of each at least three times, so that the transition is seamless and realistic. Abrupt changes do not work!

More Work on New Layout

Kelvin Barnes Uncategorized ,

I worked this morning doing some further work on the O Gauge Layout. I cut the plastic girder that goes in the gap under the bridge, this is a strengthening system that a lot of bridges use. I added the shelf in the fiddle yard and then corked it. Finally I made the pipe holders and glued the dowel to represent the pipe.

Neither the Girder or Pipeline are glued down – needs the bridge to be ‘clad’ first.

I now need to order a few items for the next step, so it may be a little time before another post on this subject.