A sneak peak
I thought I'd model something a bit different( for me) this Christmas. Years ago I brought a Bachmann class 46 when it was first upgraded. The intention was to use the bogies and motor in a class 40 but that never happened. The Bachmann class 46 languished on a shelf until earlier this year when I decided to resurrect it. I bought a Craftsman conversion kit to convert it to a class 44, and some Fox etched nameplates.
I followed the Craftsman instructions for the conversion. When it came to the ends I found that the etched nose doors as supplied didn't look right if they were fitted flat as per the instructions. I therefore slightly curved the very top of them before fitting,which greatly improves the appearance. I also substituted some spare headcode discs from a Bachmann class 24 for the etched ones in the kit as the Bachmann ones were easier to fit.
The model was finished apart from glazing and small details such as nose handrails and windscreen wipers.
The body was airbrushed Railmatch BR green. The grey roof and yellow ends are Tamiya Acrylics. When dry the green areas were polished with T-cut, and Fox transfers applied.
The model was then weathered, first with a very dilute mixture of Tamiya flat earth NATO black and IJN deck brown. ( I Think flat earth and NATO black are my favouriteTamiya colours- I certainly go through a lot of them) Rather than use Tamiya thinners, I make my own from Isopropyl Alcohol (ask a friendly chemist) diluted 50/50 with distilled water. The grey/earth mixture was applied to areas about the size of a postage stamp at a time, and immediately wiped off with a cotton bud. One of the reasons for a heavily thinned mix is it retards the drying time so that the wiping off will be properly effective. Some may feel safer using a similar mix of enamels, which will have a longer drying time than acrylics.
Once the thinned mix was dry the body had a toned down matt finish. I applied more T-cut to the green areas to remove more of the mix.
Once satisfied I dry brshed flat earth along the bottom of the body sides. Pictures show some staining below the small grille on the body side, and this was represented by dry brushed Tamiya dark grey XF 24. Silver was lightly drybrushed on the roof access steps and below the cab doors.
I have noticed that the tops of the noses on green diesels escaped the attentions of the cleaners even when an attempt was made to clean the rest of the loco so weathering was applied to these areas using Carrs and Tamiya powders.
The roof had awash of a heavily thinned mix of Tamiya dark grey and flat earth. This was wiped off as on the body sides. Once this was dry the roof area was sprayed lightly with Tamiya flat black XF1, with a heavier coating round the exhausts.
Once all this was done the nameplates were fitted.
The model still needs glazing,and some small details such as windscreen wipers and nose handrails, but I am currently recovering from a detatched retina, and at the moment my distance perception is insufficient for the accurate cutting and drilling involved.
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