RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 1, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 1, 2022 That's enough for this evening, I think. Not sure how long the various steps will survive contact with the real world... The roof is just lying in place at the moment. I'm planning to paint everything before I put the glazing in, then glue the roof on. I've added a partition as suggested by @Barclay to stiffen the bodywork, and also popped a couple of weights inside. The only other additions have been couplings and vacuum pipes. Hopefully I'll be able to get some primer on it tomorrow. It's a long way from a perfect build, but has been a learning process and is just about good enough for government work! As my grandmother would have said, a blind man on a galloping horse would be glad to see it 🥸 14 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWsTrains Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 The Beetle was my first kit build as well; we travel many similar paths it seems! One thing I found was that the tiny PS steps at the corners are fragile beyond all belief and I ended up replacing them all with home build items fabricated out of very thin aluminium (old soft drink can I recall). Then in my situation at the time I was always taking stock on and off, not the best. Park it at the end of a little used siding and it'll be fine. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 1, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 1, 2022 I think it will be fine - until I get comfortable with the van and forget about the steps... Then it will no doubt be time to come up with a sturdier replacement! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWsTrains Posted November 1, 2022 Share Posted November 1, 2022 PS in case you don't know the topic, I find it an excellent resource and inspiration regarding Kit builds. @jwealleansWest End Workbench - most helpfully it has an index and from a quick check, Jonathan has replaced the lost photos. There are others but sadly without photos reinstated much of the topic value has been lost if you can't see the outcome. 1 1 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 1, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 1, 2022 I hadn't seen that thread before - thanks! I suspect I'll spend quite a lot of time browsing through there. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium Andy Keane Posted November 2, 2022 RMweb Premium Share Posted November 2, 2022 10 hours ago, Graham T said: I hadn't seen that thread before - thanks! I suspect I'll spend quite a lot of time browsing through there. New to me too - it’s going to swallow a lot of time digesting it all. Brilliant. 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aardvark Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Hats off to @jwealleans: a thing of great beauty, especially the index. 1 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 2, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2022 Yes, a lot of work went into that, never mind the modelling. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 2, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2022 The Beetle has now been primed, and had a couple of coats of Vallejo chocolate brown splashed on, with dark grey for the chassis. The roof was sprayed with Tamiya German grey (and is still just plonked on until I do the glazing). Once the roof is on I'll leave the paint to cure for a few days, and then make a start on the varnish and transfers. I have another one of these to build, which hopefully will come out better... 12 4 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
aardvark Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Looks pretty good to me. 2 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 2, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2022 In that case I won't tell you about all the errors that I know I've made 🥸 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold longchap Posted November 2, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2022 Well done, it looks like a Beetle, just needs the running number 53 in big digits on the sides! Oh, and go faster stripes! 7 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 9 minutes ago, longchap said: Well done, it looks like a Beetle, just needs the running number 53 in big digits on the sides! Oh, and go faster stripes! Beep Beep. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 12 minutes ago, Graham T said: In that case I won't tell you about all the errors that I know I've made 🥸 It's been said before. The man who made no mistakes never made anything. 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWsTrains Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 14 minutes ago, Graham T said: The Beetle has now been primed, and had a couple of coats of Vallejo chocolate brown splashed on....... If "splashed on" = brushed, have you discovered the Vallejo Retarder medium? You pre-wet the surface with the diluted medium and it retards the drying of the hand painted acrylic, allowing for a very fine finish to be achieved. As I can't use sprays here (domestic reasons) I've had to make do with hand painting my kits and am very happy with the results when using the medium as a preparation step 6 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 2, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2022 1 minute ago, BWsTrains said: If "splashed on" = brushed, have you discovered the Vallejo Retarder medium? You pre-wet the surface with the diluted medium and it retards the drying of the hand painted acrylic, allowing for a very fine finish to be achieved. As I can't use sprays here (domestic reasons) I've had to make do with hand painting my kits and am very happy with the results when using the medium as a preparation step I hadn't heard of the retarder Colin, thanks for the tip. I'll have to see if I can get some, as I do like Vallejo paints. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 2, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2022 4 minutes ago, MrWolf said: Beep Beep. Did you know that the coyote can, in real life, run faster than a roadrunner? Interesting fact of the day, brought to you by the bluffers at Chuffnell R 🙂 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 2 minutes ago, Graham T said: Did you know that the coyote can, in real life, run faster than a roadrunner? Interesting fact of the day, brought to you by the bluffers at Chuffnell R 🙂 I was thinking of the daft horn on Herbie. A coyote is about 5mph faster than a wolf, but we can shoot straighter... Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold longchap Posted November 2, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2022 1 minute ago, MrWolf said: A coyote is about 5mph faster than a wolf, but we can shoot straighter... Bang Bang. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 The Beetle is looking good BTW, it's also something that I don't have in the kit mountain and I'm going to resist temptation! I do have some Mink D and an F somewhere though. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Graham T Posted November 2, 2022 Author RMweb Gold Share Posted November 2, 2022 I don't actually have that many at all, perhaps a dozen at a guess. But at the rate I can build them that will keep me busy for a fair while! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWsTrains Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 Regarding NPCCS colour, maybe this post was my inspiration? https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/26195-gwr-brown-livery/?do=findComment&comment=3600601 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
MrWolf Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 You're well ahead of me Graham, I still have unbuilt kits I bought when I was at school. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
BWsTrains Posted November 2, 2022 Share Posted November 2, 2022 (edited) and more interesting material regarding NPCCS here https://www.rmweb.co.uk/topic/104961-brownstock-prototype-questiion/?do=findComment&comment=2090453 Lots of helpful info on how and where these stock were used. Edited November 2, 2022 by BWsTrains 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Gold Nick C Posted November 3, 2022 RMweb Gold Share Posted November 3, 2022 12 hours ago, Graham T said: Did you know that the coyote can, in real life, run faster than a roadrunner? Interesting fact of the day, brought to you by the bluffers at Chuffnell R 🙂 Until it reaches a precariously positioned ACME 10T weight, or a cliff face with a painted-on tunnel... 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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