Take the model of the CLAM for instance ( released at the same time as the RUDD and TOPE as they all came from the same 21T hopper prototype ). It looks great and matches the other wagons excellently, but it’s silly niggle is that Hornby have made it’s body over 2mm too wide, which is such a shame.

At the time of release, I decided to partake of a bulk buy deal from a well known NW Box shifter, before I realised that there was an issue over the width.

The main reason for the purchase was to try to get a rake of well detailed models with out having to spend ages painting a yellow stripe around all the bodyside uprights on the excellent Parkside kits.

I took to a “sackcloth and ashes despondancy” once I realised I had a dozen ‘pups’ sitting on my project shelf, and returned to adding coat after coat of yellow to my Parkside kits.

A discussion at one of the model railway shows about ways of ‘Frankestiening’ a decent model from the Hornby and Parkside parts resulted in another single wagon purchase and it’s dismemberment at the show and the combined groups ‘grey matter’ was applied and an idea formed to cut off the Hornby side and mount it on a Parkside kit to try to mitigate the width and painting issues.

This again stalled when the Blue biased Engineers Grey colour that Hornby have used was found to be way off from any other manufacturers colour and model paint supplier and proved impossible to match.

Then the annoucement that the Humbrol Authentic Railway Colour paint range would be rejuvinanted and include matches with the colours that Hornby had recently be appling to it’s latest models.
“Yes! Forward movement at last” I thought, so out came the saw and the sides chopped off.

I then decided to have a look at using just the Horby parts to get a correct model.
The chassis tub was sanded down equally on both sides and the side re-attached, the end detailing frame that had been removed to enable the side to be cut off had the outher end posts removed and the outer horizontal frames shortened on each side and then re-attached.

Original Hornby model on the left, Parkside kit on the right with the 'thinned' Hornby model upside down on the top showing the overwidth of the original base model.

 
Out came the Humbrol Authentic Railway Colour Engineers Grey, shaken, stirred and shaken yet again, the pot opened and the brush dipped to touch up the cut marks.

“Hmm this looks a little light”, I thought “but hey, acrylics do dry a little darker”
Unfortunately – Not this time!

Original Hornby Model on the right and 'thinned' Hornby model on the left with the 'alledged' Colour matching paint from Humbrol applied.

So All I have to show is a thinner Hornby model, but still a long journey on the painting front as I have re-paint the whole damn model again ………..

More soon ………………….

The CRABs are starting to get the end foot steps which will allow this rake to be finally finished off.

The DRS 37 Project has rolled out it’s first loco, 37259.  I’ve just noticed that we have forgotten the nose antenna, so back she will go to gain this in the next day or so. Some White plastic rod is also needed in the roof mounted light over the cab, but that needs to be sourced as nothing suitable is currently in stock.

The other 4 in this first batch of 5 are all just bubbling under and should all be completed in the next week or so.

More soon ……

First up will be glazing and screwing the roofs down the GLV conversions I did in 2010 … Might hack off the masive Lima Tension lock too at the outer ends ..

Sort out the decaling of this model of SATLINK LM liveried KDB 950155, it’s converted from a Hornby model and has had a wieght box added to the Underframe, over panelled bodysides and replacement handrails added. Looking at the Picture, those molded Buffers and draw hook will have to go too …

My Chivers “CRABs” need to have the lower ‘Stirrup’ style foot steps added .. complete with joggle !

I still have another DACE to build too ……..  

And I may have a crack at sorting out the 8 shoe braked conversions of the Chivers CRAB too .. or maybe not !

Happy modelling, More Soon ……….

09022 is just out of the works and Bert is being busy shunting a rake of ‘Crab’ spoil wagons ( I must sort out that tie rod !! ) with Her at Crosby Street Yard.

The LaserGlaze in this model really makes a major difference to the finished model, well worth the addition.

Some weathering is due to be added with light road dirt and small oiling stains due to be applied soon.

I’m pleased with the result and look forward to doing another one in the near future.

More soon ………………….

On my side of the workbench, thoughts have turned to finishing off a few simple jobs that have been hanging about.

This Bachmann PNA conversion using a Chassis from Bachmanns POA/SSA Scrap wagon, suitably shortened and trimed of excess plastic in the wrong places along with new scratch built lever handbrakes and supports.

Just needs the levers and brake actuators to be added and it will be done.

Just another 9, all different version, to go

I also came home during the week to find a card through the door to say that Postie had been and I had a parcel waiting to collect …………

Which contained this wee beastie, a very fine Athearn model of the Illinois Terminal liveried SD40-2, [ RRC ( ex C&NW ) 3086 of the Respondek Railroad Corp, Granite City, Illinois ] running as IT2301.

Painted in 2011 For the Illinois Traction Societies Annual meet, it pays homage to the IT fleet of SD39′s ( for a pic of the real thing follow this .. http://www.railpictures.net/viewphoto.php?id=355846&nseq=16 ).

All in all a real Bitsa week, but enjoyable!

More very soon …………

The Above were not needed I am lead to belive .

More soon ………..

My MoJo is flowing thick and fast ATM and the various outstanding projects on the work bench are seeing major movement … the long overdue completion of the 09 and 73′s from 2011 are coming to an end and the fitment of LaserGlaze to the 09′s cab really does make a huge difference to the model with all prismatic effects disapearing fron the model.

The DRS 37′s are the first of a large batch of 10 resprays from Bachmann models and all feature Correct replacement noses from PH Designs ( http://www.phd-design.co.uk/Products/Class%2037_6%20Replacement%20Noses/Class%2037_6%20Replacement%20Noses.htm ).

These are a direct replacement for the Bachmann nose and some can even re-use the Bachmann LED arrangement to add lights to them.

The DCKits 17 has been kicking around for a looooong time and has been replaced by the Heljan offering and most likelywill be Ebay bound very soon.

The Chiver’s Lamprey Wagon is currently acting as a parts bin for the Limby 73′s whilst waiting some new brake gear that hopefully is being planed in the near future !?! 

Also of note is the latest DEFine item of self promotion – seen here on the middle right, loaded with a compound found on all work benches !! 

Work Bench Overload 2012??

more soon ……….

Following on from a week in Northern Spain earlier in the year, PTG offered a interesting trip to sample Estonias railways in late summer .. here the hook was former Iron Curtain style motive power and a selction of ex GE US railroad power.

Billed as a trip aimed at using the GE C30-7i & C36-7i locos along with a selection of Estonian motive power and all the track that was possible  … it stood up to the billing well, including the weather, knocking high 20′s – mid 30′s Centegrade! good job that the beer was tasty and cheap ….

 The first day allowed a trip out to Lagedi station to watch the freight traffic from the docks at Muuga, here the first train was headed by one of the Ex GE C36-7i’s and this kicked off the afternoon rather well ….

ERS as 2TE116-778 starts a 100+ tank trailing load and heads past towards the Docks, Lagedi 25th June 2011

The second train rolled up with a 2TE116 from the ERS es fleet. These huge twin loco monsters are used on the lenghty export oil trains between Muuga Docks and the Russian border and are the only loco’s allowed to cross into Russia from Estonia – albet for only a mile or so.

The First day was a jaunt out and back from Tallin with one of GoRail’s TEP70 passenger loco’s, used on the first leg of the Tallin to Moscow Sleepers as far as Narva, the border station.

Certainly not GreenRail .. GoRail's TEP70 0238 runs round the train at Turi, 26th June 2011

 The Second day we had a pair of ChME3 Loco’s, this type is now a endangered machine, and if the numbering System is to be belived the last of over 7,450 loco’s produced resides in Estonia !

Operated by the Company that runs the DMU services around Estonia, Edelaraudtee Railways, the last ChME3T is seen here acting as station pilot at Tallin.

Is this the last ChME3T ever Built ?? Edelaraudtee # 7459 at Tallin 26th June 2011

 A great week continued with Visits to both the Major EVR depots at Maardu and Tartu and across  country to the Gulf of Finland coast and the border station with Russia at Narva.

The last day was to end in Riga, Latvia and  LVR supplied a M62 and the coaching stock mirrored the 3 x sleeper and buffet combination supplied by GoRail … And although the Livery is Green, the Loco’s emmisions ain’t!

LVR M65-1247 restarts her engine after awaiting the regular DMU service from Riga to the Latvian/Estonian boarder at Laiga to pass at Brenguli 1st July 2011

 All to soon another fine week was over.

Hmmm this should be a modelling Blog you know ……… .

A superb trip was had and I was very taken by the FEVE Version of  Electro Diesel, their 1900 class locomotives.

FEVE Class 1900 Electro-Diesel seen at Santanders 'Puerto de Raos' on the 4th May 2011

The other locomotive that made the visit a worth while trip were the pair of Class 1500 locomotive 1501 & 1510 on the last day, with the excellent trash out of Balmaseda up through the mountains in the Burgos and Palencia regions on the line to Leon.

I admit that they look a bit like BR’s Class 20, But they go and sound nothing like them at all!

FEVE Class 1500's 1501 & 1510 on the Termina de Velilla Line, 6th May 2011.

All in all a superb trip and one I would recomend to anyone who is interested in locomotive haulage, sunshine, good food and great country side views.

More soon ….

Another DEMU Showcase is over and who would have thought it would have been a show that just keeps getting better and better.

A return to the Town Hall at Burton, due to the venue at Bretby going bust, brought back some happy memories and a feeling that this year would be a watershed year.

In the end the show was great and the entertainment top class, so what more could you want !!

Friday was a long day with an Alarm call at 03:00 for work and then a drive up country to assist Bill and Pete with the arrivals in the afternoon. A fish supper and a few beers with more old friends after arrival at the Hotel made the long day completely worthwhile.

Saturday started as abit of a blur with the setting up and running the DEMU members 2nd hand Stall, I would like to say that the team seems to be balanced and we all understand the system – well done Chaps, you know who you are!

Phil and Bryn had a ‘difficult’ month or so looking for a great venue for an evening meal and they turned up trumps with “The Alfred” We had heard good things in the revue and what a meal it was – deffinately worth a second visit in the future! All this good food was washed down with a few pints of  Burton Bridge Brewerys “Porter”, Lurrrvely !

A lay in on the Sunday, ( 07:30 instead of 06:00 ), meant that a leisurely start to the morning, and a chance to look around the show and have a catch up with some more old friends and a good chin wag.

All too soon it was all over for yet another year and we were all wending our way home.

A few items were purchased and will feture on these pages in the near future.

Well done to Bill, Pete & Mike W. for a great show, Phil E and Bryn for such a great deal of hard work for the meal, Carrie and Sylvia for the hard work on the door and with the Raffle Tickets and I look forward to the next great DEFine meet up.

Ta for now..

Now back to the modelling……