This is my recently purchased E4 in O Gauge, I have serviced, repainted, renumbered and detailed the Loco, it will be lightly weathered later. The Loco now represents 62797 in the correct condition, with tender and cab types as running in the mid 50’s.
The last time we were out with my Sons new N Gauge layout, all the stock was in the original boxes and it took ages to get everything ready and put it away. A decision was taken that we look for alternatives and look at stock boxes.
After looking on various sites we found N Gauge was not well catered for, OO and even O had plenty of options. A self manufacture seemed to be the best way out and several options were looked at. I had some old ‘Bachmann’ OO Stock boxes that have become redundant since my move to O Gauge, so an extra cardboard spacer was made to half the size of the OO gaps. It worked very well and the two layers now hold a total of 43 wagons and coaches. I used foam cubes to hold the stock in position. That’s saved some money!
I have now named my O Gauge Industrial Terrier, it is now called ‘Sofia’ after my grand daughter. The engine was a recent purchase for £125 in a box shifter sale. After a little research I discovered there was a couple that made it into Industrial service although not the era I model, so a little modellers licence took over. Sofia’s brother Charlie already has an 08 named after him, so this balances things up.
The Plates were custom made, and from time of order to delivery was about eight weeks. The plates came from CNS, Custom Nameplate Studio, and I cannot recommend them enough – superb service.
This is going to be one to watch over the next few weeks. This is a Bachmann Brass Loco from several years ago, it was stored and was only test run.
There is a lot of work to be done on this Loco, thankfully it has been factory painted already, so the biggest job is done already. I have already purchased the transfers, from Fox and HMRS.
I have researched the Loco already and chosen a Loco that was used on three different regions, the Southern, Eastern (LTS) and Midland region. The number will be 80069.
This recent purchase has ticked another item of my ‘wanted list’ and leaves just two! The E4 was a bit of a gamble as nobody was bidding on it! I thought I must have been missing something, but just did not know what, so it was mine on the opening bid of £320 !
At the price, this has turned out well, yes it is not perfect, but for the price its just what I wanted. It needs a complete repaint and a few bits upgraded, but it is very well made and runs OK after a quick cleaning of the wheels and pick-ups. I hope a full service will follow soon.
I intend to renumber it 62797, a Norwich Loco. This gives me the right cab and tender type combination, this Loco was withdrawn in 1958, one of the last. I saw this loco in 1956 at Lowestoft – great memories!
This is the second batch of my sons weathering requirement. I must say that N gauge weathering is not as easy as it may seem, at least I find it so. A least they will now look better on his layout?
PNA Railtrack – 3 in rake
Salmon – 1 in Rake
Limpets – 3 in rake
RMC Bogies – 4 in rake
Seacows – 5 in Rake
RES BG’s – 6 in rake
I have been doing this project for nearly six weeks on and off and today its almost finished, just varnishing then weathering to be done.
Greyfriars Bobby, 47711 in Scotrail variation of Inter City livery. The conversion is by an etched brass kit from ‘Protoneo’ to turn a 47/4 to a 47/7.
This is a recent purchase, and fills a gap in my collection of Anglian locos. It is a well made loco with a few problems that should be fixable. It is at the moment numbered 68211 which was one of two taken into BR(E) service and renumbered in 1948. 68211 was withdrawn in 1953, 68214 lasted until 1956, so a number change is in order. To bring it to the correct spec. I will need to purchase some Ross-Pop safety valves.
At the recent Stowmarket MRC Exhibition at Elmswell, my son debuted our new N Gauge layout ‘Coopers Common’. When I made the layout it was completely weathered, but on the day much of the stock was out of the box. Over the next few months I intend to weather all the stock and locos, I am fairly sure I can finish every thing before the next Exhibition in the Autumn, but other work will have to take a back seat!
Network Rail Ballast/Spoil Wagons (11 in rake)
Ketton Cement (10 in Rake)
Carless Tanks- Gas Condensate (9 in Rake)
EWS Large Boxes (6 in Rake)
I have already added these Locos to my Face Book Page, but I forgot to put them on here! These started off as three new Locos all being ‘The Round Tabler’! I have renumbered, renamed and weathered all three as I remembered them in 1998-2002. Sad to say that these locos do not feature in any future plans and as such are surplus to my requirements.
