This is a re-weathering job as they came factory weathered. I have to say that Bachmann did a very good job – but they looked very ‘flat’ and a bit ‘light’. I did my usual wash and wipe with Matt Black and then re-sprayed the underframe using four colours rather than the original one colour spray.
Getting the Matt Black in the boarding gaps really brings their appearance to life.
These Brake Vans have been sprat and winkle fitted and weathered. They are to be added to the stock of Lowe St, my recently sold layout which is now owned by Nick.
After selling Lowe St to Nick he has added to his stock – I have spent the last couple of days adding Sprat & winkle couplings to nine wagons and loops to two locos. I have then weathered the lot.
Here are the locos, the wagons will follow in batches of three over the next few days.
Class 05
Class 27
Heljan Class 25/1 numbered and weathered in a medium condition.
This was a purchase from a big online auction site by one of my friends. It was said to be Very Good and Boxed – in truth it was less than that – in fact a lot less. There was missing bits – there was broken bits – and after a couple of initial good running session – the motor stopped and would not work.
When I took the body off to check the wiring – five bits dropped out of the chassis – this included two bits that were originally missing. How did a sand box get inside the body!
After I attached two wires that had come adrift – it ran again. I would say it took at least four hours to get most things re-attached, or duplicates made. Sadly, even now there are still a couple of things missing.
I then had to strip off the original transfers as none were level and then I removed the makers plates that had been added in the wrong position with overzealous amounts of super glue.
I resprayed the mended areas, added new transfers and varnished the rehashed areas. I then gave the loco a medium to heavy weathering.
And the moral of the story – buyer beware.
These wagons were made by Ian Hammond, I have only weathered them as they were running just before withdrawal in the 1990’s. These wagons were very run down by then and many had lost their numbers, extra ones being painted or chalked crudely on the sides. I have used chinagraph pencil to add the numbers, so could be changed if required. This batch of five wagons differ in many ways, many converted from existing wagons.
This is a kit-built Thompson Full Brake in BR Maroon – as running late 50’s. It was given a wash/wipe with matt black and airbrushed with frame dirt, brake dust, roof dirt and matt black to give it a medium weathering. It will look good in a parcels train or milk train.
Here are two Heljan Dogfish from the second batch recently delivered. I have given both a light to medium weathering with special attention to the inside of the hopper and the ballast shutes.
I felt I needed to make the interior much ‘grittier’ than I normally do, to add more realism – I hope it is a step forward.
This is a loco I purchased a long time ago. I super detailed it and used it on my steam depot layout of the time ‘Alex Bridge’. When I sold the layout and most of its stock, this Loco was overlooked and not sold. I have now given the loco a light weathering before moving on to its new owner.
Here is a OO Class 20 D8015. I have weathered it as a ‘living with steam engines’ diesel in the late 50’s. I have left the headcode discs off so that my friend Ian can chose his own display to suit its duty of the day.
