D&RGW narrow gauge: Back to scenics.

[JZ]

The P-47D hit the buffers. The decals are hopeless. Despite applying to a gloss surface and copious amounts of Micro-set and sol, they refused to stay on. So I purchased this set from and firm called Kits-World.

Then I bought another Academy P-47D. The kit itself goes together very well. After my problems with the decals, I joined a 1:72 aircraft model group. The general consensus was that Academy decals are among he worst out there. So, after a bit of repainting, I am almost ready to try the new decals. Fingers crossed.

Edited February 20, 2023 by JZ

[JZ]

Doing the Helen Jo one first. The Kits-World decals going on very well. No pics yet as I have a 03:30 alarm tomorrow and rest of the week. Also picked up an old Heller Spitfire Mk XVI-E, a Hasegawa P-38 J/L and a Tamiya Zero. For the time being that is as far as I will be going with the aircraft kits, Also found a couple of Micro-Trains data panel only reefers,

 

I'm aware I am in danger of hijacking my own thread with this sidetrack, but I expect to be back on the rails very shortly.

[JZ]

P-47D finished, well, just a bit of touching up of the anti dazzle panel and drop tank.

P-51D next, then back to getting a few more building done.

[JZ]

Picture of the month.

495 on a southbound Farmington run, three miles north of Aztec, NM. September 28 1960. 21 cars is a very short train, 50 or more would be the usual at this time.

I believe this photo was taken from this bit of higher ground. https://goo.gl/maps/6areFf1VpGx8RetYA

 

Edited March 4, 2023 by JZ

[JZ]

Back to he railway.

Needing lots of trees, and good ones being pricey, it was time to start making my own. In one of the FB groups I am in, someone posted a step-by-step guide to making Ponderosa Pines. So, with some dowels I already had, I made a start.

The trunk is coated in texture paste and using a stiff brush, the bark is formed. Branches are 28SWG flower arranging wire. Next will be to add some 12mm static grass to the ends. Further posts will show more of the process. Now ordered some different thicknesses of dowel.

The aim is to get something looking like this, though he didn't describe how he did the roots.

Edited March 3, 2023 by JZ

[JZ]

Airfix P-51D Mustang. 1st Lt Spurgeon Ellington, "Tuskegee Airmen", 100th Fighter Squadron, Italy, December 1944.

Edited March 7, 2023 by JZ

[JZ]

I'll give it 3/10 Maybe the static needs to be added by hand, more branches are needed, but have to start somewhere. I won't be binning it, maybe force a little more growth on the limbs.

 

It occurred to me that Woodland Scenics pines make excellent snag trees.

Edited March 8, 2023 by JZ

[JZ]

This time I added the static by hand.

[JZ]

I was fairly happy with the modified version of the tree, so have decided to press on with making them, of course, it's a damned sight cheaper. Some dowels turned up in the post this morning, good on my postie for getting up the road this morning, more than that **** Simon Thompson would do. I have got 60 in sizes from 4mm to 10mm, all 300mm long. The shorter ones can be cut to make two or more, while the 10mm ones will be single trees. While 300mm may seem tall for a model, it only represents 85'9" with a 3' trunk in HO. Trees are one of those things that are selectively compressed on most layouts, rarely are they seen more than 6" to 8" tall. FWIW, the tallest trees on Network Rail property are the Coast Redwoods in the Avenue, Bradford-on-Avon, at about 112' tall, 448mm in OO, 392mm in HO.

[Keith Addenbrooke]

I had a good chat with the chair of the Slim Gauge Circle at yesterday’s Narrow Gauge North Exhibition.  Some interesting thoughts on why HOn3 (as here) became much more popular than HOn2 1/2 (now HOn30).  First time I’ve come across Sn3 too.  Reason for commenting is that I was given the opportunity to inspect an HOn3 Blackstone K-27 in the flesh for the first time.  What struck me was actually how much smaller it is than I’d expected - I’d imagined HOn3 models to be quite a bit larger dimensionally - based mainly on @JZ’s close-up photos.  Seeing them in person however shows just how good the standard of the modelling is (eg: detailing / weathering), given they’re smaller than I thought.  Goes without saying the model looked fantastic, Keith.

Edited March 12, 2023 by Keith Addenbrooke

[JZ]

Working on trees again and things are looking better. I'll get some photo's up in a day or so.

 In between trees, I have been working on a couple of aircraft. Another P-47D is nearly done, just waiting for some black stripe decals. Also doing a P-39Q Airacobra. This is an old Heller kit, probably dating from the early 1970s, or maybe earlier. To think I used to do one of these a day in the school holidays, leaves me questioning the quality of my modelling back then. "It fits where it touches" is how a certain model railway kit manufacturers products were described to me by a fellow modeller, it is certainly how I would describe this kit. Much filling and filing required, but a reminder of how far things have come in recent years, with all types of models. I have a couple more Heller ones of similar vintage, a Spitfire Mk XVII and a DH Vampire. Hoping they go together a bit better.

[JZ]

Colour registration on the decals isn't much good either, though they di conform to the surface very well, without the need for MicroSol.

Fine brush and a steady hand was called for.

Still a bit of touching up required, but this really is making a silk purse from a sow's ear. I remember the Revell one from years ago and it was a pig of a kit and still hasn't been retooled. I've just seen a review of the Arma Hobbies kit and it looks superb. One now on the way from Jadlam. I also ordered a second P-38 to use up the decals from Kits World. Amazon have sent me a 1:48 scale one instead of the 1:72 one. I don't think Mr Bezos will lose much sleep over it, so I'm keeping it for a later date.

Edited March 15, 2023 by JZ

[JZ]

A bit more fibre added to the trees.

Gradually getting there with the appearance.

 And a second P-47D finished.

[JZ]

I feel the woodyard will need a sawdust burner. The type often seen was the 'wigwam' style.

Sometimes seen a little more squat, sometimes with steeper sides. There is a kit available from Shapeways, but it's $145, which I think is a bit steep. So I was wondering what I could used for the cone shape. First thoughts was making a cone of plasticard, but would thin plasticard be rigid enough? A hunt on ebay found me this.

It's a mould for making candles. Not sure of what type of plastic it is, as it is just described as 'rigid'. Ribs could be added with Evergreen/Plastruct strip and the other fittings are to be found in my spares box.

[JZ]

After five days enjoying the sights of the East Midlands, Nottingham, Derby, Sheffield and Lincoln, it is back to modelling today. The parts for the sawdust burner arrived while I was away, so after looking at it all last night, this morning I took the plunge. This is what I came up with.

Apart from the cone, everything was from my scrap box. I did buy some gauze for the spark arrester, but it was too fine, so a piece of something a little more coarse is on the way. It scale out at about 30' high, in real life they were often 60-80' high, but I don't want it to dominate the scene.

[pH]

On 19/03/2023 at 06:13, JZ said:

I feel the woodyard will need a sawdust burner. The type often seen was the 'wigwam' style.

 

Known around here as a beehive burner. Now banned, I believe.

[cnw6847]

I wonder if a small sieve could be used for the mesh top?

May not find one tall enough though.

[JZ]

1 hour ago, cnw6847 said:

I wonder if a small sieve could be used for the mesh top?

May not find one tall enough though.

The shape varied a lot. Some were quite flat, others were quite bulbous. Finding a sieve with a fine enough mesh and only 20mm across is the problem. I did order some mesh, but it turned out to be too fine, but it will find use fly screens on my buildings. Some coarser stuff is on the way and I plan to shape it using a ball peen hammer on some firm foam.

[JZ]

Some weathering has taken place on the burner. Initially sprayed with Halford's red primer, it was given an all over coat of AK crusted rust-dark, then lighter washes of medium, then light. Further washes will go on later, once the gauze has arrived, been shaped and fitted.

 The woodyard has been place in situ, though not fixed. Warmer weather will see me out in the shed more and more regularly now and shortly I will commence the rest of the structures for the rest of the yard.

 

Edited March 26, 2023 by JZ

[cnw6847]

On 26/03/2023 at 13:18, JZ said:

The shape varied a lot. Some were quite flat, others were quite bulbous. Finding a sieve with a fine enough mesh and only 20mm across is the problem. I did order some mesh, but it turned out to be too fine, but it will find use fly screens on my buildings. Some coarser stuff is on the way and I plan to shape it using a ball peen hammer on some firm foam.

My wife suggests a tea strainer but a very quick look found 50mm but whether theres smaller i'm not sure.

[JZ]

1 hour ago, cnw6847 said:

My wife suggests a tea strainer but a very quick look found 50mm but whether there's smaller I'm not sure.

You got me thinking, so I had a look for a tea infuser. Smallest I could find is 1.77" overall diameter, so the mesh part would be about 1". Only £2.99. I it's too big, my daughter is a tea drinker.

[JZ]

Some reading matter just turned up in the post.

[JZ]

I may, at long last, have got my hands on a K-28. A C-21 is also on the cards.

Edited March 29, 2023 by JZ

[JZ]

The K-28 will need re-motoring and painting, plus DCC, light and sound, but I have got it for about half of the going ebay rate. I have seen 473 & 476 in the flesh, so it will be done as one of these.

 

The C-21 will also need re-motoring and the paintwork has been damaged by the foam in the box, so it will need stripping and repainting, but this is reflected in the price I paid.

This completes my stud of loco's.. The K-28 was the one I wanted from the outset, more recently I have wanted a C-21 or the lone C-25. 

Now the milder weather seems to be here, work will very soon restart on the layout.

[JZ]

And this folks is what happens when a painted loco is left lying in foam and not protected.

The other side is better, but obviously the whole thing needs stripping back to bare metal. Though I may get away with leaving the frames.

 

The D&RGW owned two C-21s. Both were purchased from the Crystal River RR in 1916. Numbered 430 & 431 as D&RG class 93. When it became the D&RGW, they became C-21 class and renumbered 360 & 361. The loco's were scrapped in 1950/1. Another 2-8-0 was purchased from the CRRR and this was the sole C-25 class, 375. This was scrapped in 1949.

Of course on my fictitious line, they all survived into preservation.

Edited March 29, 2023 by JZ