big jim's workbench...onto figures and buildings

[virginhst539]

That looks amazing!

[big jim]

Both cabs almost finished, cantrail stripes numbers and logos to add

 

 

 

Really need to sort out the roof on the module this end!

 

And a pic of the UTU in its train, decals en route from realtec for that one, going to have to have a decal day soon, NMT, mentor, UTU and MPV to decal up!

 

And finally I have stripped the TRC back down but this time used dilute IPA which has taken it back to the bare plastic, going to fill the dodgy windows better once it's completely stripped, I've also put a 2nd MK2 in the solution which will become something else, not sure what yet as it is a 7 window version so I'll have to see what NE coaches are based in that configuration

[big jim]

A quick google search shows that PLP coach 1256 is a 7 window variety so I'll turn the other coach into that, it also appears to run with the TRC quite a lot as well as a generator van, I also have a MK2 brake end to strip down which could become part of the rake too as 9481

[Jack374]

Great work Jim, you're beginning to rival Mick in terms of amount of yellow stock!

 

*ducks for cover*

 

Just a quick query about the IPA, what ratio of water to spirit do you use? I've got a couple of bits of rolling stock that need to be stripped, one of which (like yourself) I need to redo because I'm not happy with the job I did.

Where did you get the IPA from?

 

Also, for NR yellow (or warning panel yellow)*, I use Halford's Rover Inca Yellow, which is a nice rich shade and is in a handy rattle can, giving a gloss finish which takes transfers really well.

 

Thanks,

Jack.

 

*I think they're the same, but some gurus may disagree...

[big jim]

I've diluted the IPA to about 90% strength

 

I got it off Amazon, a 1L bottle to start with but now I know it works I may invest in a 5L tub but in all fairness as mick says it can be sieved and reused and I've put it in a sealed container so it shouldn't evaporate

Edited September 18, 2017 by big jim

[newbryford]

 I've also put a 2nd MK2 in the solution which will become something else, not sure what yet as it is a 7 window version so I'll have to see what NE coaches are based in that configuration

 

PLPR 1256, EMV 977983 and SGT brake runners 99666 and 977986 are FO/7 window based. I think that's it for ex-FO coaches in IM use.

 

1256 has an odd "half window" when it was converted to PLPR use.

977983 has the cutout in the roof and a couple of window blanks.

 

Cheers,

Mick

Edited September 18, 2017 by newbryford

[big jim]

Quite tempted to do the EMV now!

[big jim]

Got the coaches from the paint stripper

 

Cleaned them up a touch more before reapplying the etch window blanks again and filling with large amounts of putty ready to be rubbed down

 

They will end up as 999550 track recording coach (bottom) and PLP coach 1256 (top)

 

Leaving them overnight to set before rubbing down with very fine wet and dry

 

Next up to visit the paint stripper will be a class 150 unit that will become the TRU 9500001

 

Finally got on top of all the odds and end projects, decals arrived today for mentor and the UTU so I'm hoping to have a 'decal day' very soon, oh and a wiring day to get the MPV up and running again

Edited September 19, 2017 by big jim

[big jim]

Rubbed back and a coat of primer to see where needs futher attention

 

 

Just a couple of spots to refill, the primer has reacted with something on the roof, once dry I'll rub it down a touch and redo

[Robert Shrives]

Hi Jim looks like it has reacted to the IPA - it is very good at finding micro holes to hide in - I guess it tries to bond with the plastic a bit, I use jif / cif cleaner when cleaning bodies after having found the same as you have.

 

All looking good and thanks for Jack for inca yellow!

 

Robert 

[big jim]

Hi Jim looks like it has reacted to the IPA - it is very good at finding micro holes to hide in - I guess it tries to bond with the plastic a bit, I use jif / cif cleaner when cleaning bodies after having found the same as you have.

 

All looking good and thanks for Jack for inca yellow!

 

Robert

TBH it's only reacted where I've not fully got the original black paint off back to bare plastic, only looked to be a couple of patches after scrubbing it with a toothbrush so I never bothered to get it all off

 

it was the same when it reacted on the sides before I stripped the body completely down, a quick rub down with wet and dry should be ok, I'll be painting the roof with acrylic paint which seems to go on ok over the dodgy primer on another coach I did recently

[big jim]

Put a coat of yellow on the PLP and TRC, need touching up a bit but looking alright so far

 

[big jim]

2nd coat of paint on the MK2s, also painted the ends and cantrail stripes on them

 

 

TRC

 

PLP

 

And with the genny van and 67

 

Need to get some laserglaze for them both next

[big jim]

Just realised I've dropped a slight ball on the PLP coach, I've put the small 1/2 window too close to the full length windows, the etch should be the other way round so the window is the opposite side of the existing window hole, oh well not too much of a problem, I'm not going to bother changing it at this late stage

[luke the train spotter]

Wow! Just looks great!

[big jim]

The rest of the etches arrived courtesy of wolf27 so I got the UTU finished, glazing and decals to go on that one

 

 

Also ordered the laserglaze for the TRC and PLP from Peter spares so hopefully I can get them done next week too, 2 pretty much prototypical test trains now, really should have asked mick to do me 2 67s though!

 

Now I feel like I'm on top of the 'building' part of my workbench I decided to strip down the next project ready for conversion

 

This is going to become the TRU 950001, removed the body from the chassis, stripped out the glazing etc and it's currently having a bath in the dilute IPA to give me a blank canvas to start from

 

Psyching myself up for a decal day very soon!

 

I'm also in 2 minds whether to model the interior of the NMT too, as I walked down the platform last night in Paddington I was looking in it thinking it would look so good in miniature!

[sdw7300]

Looking good Jim. I’m half way through 950001 myself.

 

Happy modelling!

[luke the train spotter]

Well I certainly look forward to see how this turns out.

[big jim]

Well you won't have to wait long, I don't get much modelling time so when i do I crack on/rush in/rush/make a mess of, you choose

 

Armed with a copy of BRM detailing the conversion and a load of prototype pics on Flickr I made a start on the TRU

 

One side is nice and easy

 

But the other side is a bit more involved

 

And there are 2 of them, slightly different too!

 

 

Then gave a few of the joints a skim of putty which I'll rub down tomorrow and get a coat of primer on, going to mask the yellow ends off as it will save me a lot of painting and masking

 

Still a few more little bits of brass to attach to the shell but I'll do that after rubbing down the putty

[sdw7300]

Well you won't have to wait long, I don't get much modelling time so when i do I crack on

Blimey Jim, you don’t hang around. It’s taken me three weeks to get to that stage! Which BRM was that artical in?

 

Cheers

[big jim]

Cracked on with the TRU again, masked the ends

 

Added some gubbins to the roof, NRN pod, genny exhaust and gps ariels

 

And primed, it's a bit rough and ready but I'm pretty happy with it on the whole

 

And top coated, used fiat broom yellow but its come out a little bit too light

 

Once dry added a black stripe

 

And a grey roof, this is the rougher of the 2 sides

 

And added the etched window frames

 

 

 

There is the end cameras and light units to add, the unit is missing its snowploughs and fake coupling if anyone has any spare they want to part with

Edited September 24, 2017 by big jim

[luke the train spotter]

Judging by the amount of network rail stock you've got, saying that you are a big fan is an understatement.

[big jim]

only really just started modelling them, being as i drive the real thing almost every day it seems rude not to have models of them!

 

i'm very tempted to change the engineers yard on the layout to a network rail depot to house them all now save having them parked up in the hidden sidings out of view

[big jim]

The TRU has been bugging me all day, the shade of yellow is just enough out to get on my nerves so I decided to strip the windows back out (not glued back in place luckily), mask off the roof and black line and handpaint the sides with proper network rail yellow, again used my best brush and am fairly happy with the result

 

Ideally I should have stripped it back down to the bare plastic and redone all the window blanks as it's a bit rough and ready but that's a major redo!

 

 

First coach repainted, looking far brighter than the rest one that's awaiting the same treatment

 

And both done

 

Also a couple of other bits arrived in the post today, Hornby spares pack for a 153 with snowploughs and bsi couplings which will find their way into the TRU in due course

 

And some laserglaze for the airfix coaches

 

Which I fitted to the latest conversions as well as changing the old pizza cutter airfix wheels for metal Hornby ones

 

So now it's literally a case of waiting for paint to dry!

[big jim]

Snuck back in the shed again, first up was making a rigid bar for between the coaches of the SGT, had a pack of class 150 coupling bars so cut one in half and glued each end to a piece of plasticard channel

 

Which pushes into the nem sockets on the coaches

 

Added the laser 'barrel' , drilled holes in it for when I stick a red led in it

 

And a lick of paint

 

Next up I had a look at the TRU again, got the 153 plough and cut the mounting part off then reglued it at 90 degrees to its original position

 

Which I glued to the chassis

 

And added 'light modules' to it

 

 

Then added loads of lights, camera etc to the front

 

Only downside is I've got to do it all again on the other coach!