RMweb Premium James Makin Posted September 23, 2015 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted September 23, 2015 (edited) Four new MHA wagons join the fleet this week, two more late-builds and excitingly, the first two early-builds: MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr From left rear we have 394190, 394146, and in front are MHAs 396049 and 394653. MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr Forming the last of my current batch of the late-build MHAs, I couldn't resist modelling some of the interesting 'tagged' wagons, in this case two wagons tackled by the same 'artist'! The wagons were weathered in the same process as the last ones featured, with the handpainted graffiti being the only variation. MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr Starting with the background colours first, I built up the graffiti image light-to-dark using '00000' paintbrushes and a bit of patience! It's always good to allow each coat to dry overnight, so it can take a while to build up a multi-colour mural! Once finished, the graffiti was then weathered into the wagon. MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr More interestingly, we have the first versions of the early-build MHA rolling off the production line! These two are completely standard-livery, merely being renumbered from the Hornby release, and the given a thorough dirtying! As with all the other wagons, buffers were substituted for S-Kits versions, Colin Craig brake discs on one wheel per axle and Smiths Instanters added as well. TOPS panels were also made up in Coreldraw. Note that some MHAs had the classic 'on brand' EWS Gill Sans lettering/numbering, while others had to make do with the no-frills Helvetica! MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr The starting point was the prototype photographs - both wagons were of a sandy-appearance, but with 394190 being notably more whitened around the base. I layered on Humbrol 119 and 113 to build up the colours, using the paint-on-wipe-off technique as employed on the late-build MHAs as well. MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr It was then time to move on to the underframe, with a collection of Humbrols 32, 33, 62 and 186 applied in various places, all 'mottled' on with a medium size paintbrush. MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr I would recommend Lana Del Rey's new Honeymoon album when tackling early-build MHA wagons. Eagle-eyed viewers will notice that the wagon interior is very different to my previous wagons - these seem to have more of a completely plated appearance, without any distinctive panel lines gathering rust or dirt. They are also a largely sandy/stoney colour, with elements of darker tones in certain places. MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr The inside was painted in the sandy Humbrol 119, and then drybrushed with varying Light Stone shades, phasing up to very gradual rust brown shades as well, it took a while to get the desired appearance! MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr 394190 then received extra drybrushing around the bottom of the body with Light Stone shade paint as well, before being varnished and set back on the loose! Here's a comparison of the early and late-build bodies - they look similar from a distance, but when you compare them, there are actually quite a lot of differences! MHAs by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr I'm really liking these wagons as they are small and quick to revamp, you get that feel-good project completion feeling a little bit sooner! Plenty more to follow... Finally, a quick plug for my club's show in Worthing this weekend - including the rare chance to see Loftus Road and Wells Green TMD, side by side! This is the first and probably only time that this will ever happen! Some of the new breed of my Loftus Road motive power will also be visiting the Cheshire depot, so hopefully there will be some interesting pictures to follow! Do come along if you can, more details can be found here. Edited July 6, 2016 by James Makin 19 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
sdw7300 Posted September 24, 2015 Share Posted September 24, 2015 Yet more stunning modelling. Thanks for sharing Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Graffiti realy brings them to life like... Ive done fer few of my EWS hta wagons.. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium James Makin Posted October 4, 2015 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 4, 2015 Four more early-build MHAs join the fleet today... MHAs 01 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr Among the new entrants are 394048, 394087, 394107 and 394193, all based on prototype photos from Flickr. As before, these use the standard Hornby model with a new set of buffers, couplings and Colin Craig brake discs on one wheel per axle. MHA 394107 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr Each wagon has received a standard 'sandy' base coat of weathering, with different top shades depending on how bad the prototype looks! MHA 394193 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr MHA 394087 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr Some have had the handrails or footsteps moved or removed as per the prototype, there's a few interesting variations out there between the batches! MHA 394048 by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr The last MHA here seems to have had a particularly dirty load, covered in dusty grey gunge all down the sides and underframe - all good variation to model in a long train. Plenty more wagons to come though! Finally, here's a shot of my old Wells Green TMD layout out on the circuit once again! It made a one-off appearance at our Worthing MRC annual exhibition last week, and despite being a 10-year old layout with awful trackwork, it ran pretty well considering! Wells Green TMD by James Makin by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr It's quite a palava digging out the layout and getting it all going again so I've no intention for any future shows in the medium-term (unless some big arm twisting!) but it was good fun nevertheless, and even more exciting to be next to our Loftus Road which was truly dwarfing the little 5' depot! 14 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobster Posted October 4, 2015 Share Posted October 4, 2015 Still a first class layout in my eyes James Cheers, Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Just cant beat some EWS!!!! Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitbull1845 Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Its up there with Dyserth Road, both cracking depot layouts. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Wayne 37901 Posted October 5, 2015 Share Posted October 5, 2015 Indeed, nice to see Wells Green again. Does anyone know happened to Dyserth Road? Cheers, Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted October 5, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 5, 2015 Indeed, nice to see Wells Green again. Does anyone know happened to Dyserth Road? Cheers, Originally sold to a club member at Blackburn, rewired by me (Thanks Nick, I weighed in the excess copper for a few quid.........Nick's wiring wasn't the most efficient) to full DCC. A few scenic enhancements were added and it was exhibited a couple of times. Then sold on again to (I think) somewhere in Kent. Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
GarrettTheThief Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Just to point out that those ElectroStars are absolutely fab. I wish I had your time, money, patience and expertise to make one myself (not that I can justify runniong it on any of my layout plans anyway). Chopping the reconnecting the motor drive is a wholly adventurous feat for someone like me. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rs4 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Ahhhh.....errrrr.......it maybe time for me to "cough" now ??? Maybe one day it will make a return to a show like Wells Green ? 8 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
pitbull1845 Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Where's the envy icon? Glad to see its still going. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
class"66" Posted October 11, 2015 Share Posted October 11, 2015 Looking rather good stil.. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melangoose Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Dyserth Road (and Wells Green of course), set new standards for Depot layouts. Nick Gurney it's creator put his heart and soul into this layout, and it shows. Last weekend Nick took delivery of 3 new baseboards for his new Depot layout (a DRS refuelling point). I look forward to seeing it when it's finnished (think he has already had an enquiry for an exhibition). 3 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 Ahhhh.....errrrr.......it maybe time for me to "cough" now ??? Nice to see it again, it hasn't changed much since i built it in 2001 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium newbryford Posted October 12, 2015 RMweb Premium Share Posted October 12, 2015 Nice to see it again, it hasn't changed much since i built it in 2001 There's less wiring on it - and it's a lot tidier................... Cheers, Mick Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 I look forward to seeing it when it's finnished (think he has already had an enquiry for an exhibition). I am working on it, nice to be building a small layout again. 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick G Posted October 12, 2015 Share Posted October 12, 2015 There's less wiring on it - and it's a lot tidier................... But it was built and was operated on DC and even operated at its first exhibition on DC. Wiring is much better these days, John does it. 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
Removed a/c Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 A great thread, lots of inspiration. Great weathering and love that HST. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
37403 Posted October 13, 2015 Share Posted October 13, 2015 Excellent work as usual. Im always curious about what people have in terms of projects.....do you have a definitive list of locos you plan to model? Any clues? Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium James Makin Posted October 13, 2015 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 13, 2015 Fantastic to see these updates and Dyserth Road in all its glory! I've said to Nick before but for me (and no doubt thousands of others) Dyserth Road demonstrated that you really didn't need to have a massive layout to have fun! Dyserth Road's original 2002 Rail Express feature came along at just the right time for me, my modelling was just starting to become 'exhibitable' and I was looking to move away from my childhood Hornby-catalogue-style oval first layout, and what great inspiration to see that you could have just as good a layout in a small space as a large one! 2 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
rob D2 Posted October 14, 2015 Share Posted October 14, 2015 I agree. It was and is one of the most authentic depot layouts. A trailblazer really. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium James Makin Posted October 25, 2015 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 25, 2015 Excellent work as usual. Im always curious about what people have in terms of projects.....do you have a definitive list of locos you plan to model? Any clues? Thanks! I do have a general list of locos I'd 'like to model' based on my Didcot trainspotting days, though like many others I'm sure there are far more locos than I'd ever realistically get the time to tackle! It's just a case of prioritising the ones I like the most, and there are other factors such as having a certain donor model 'in stock' as it were, or maybe as in forward planning and painting up a set of locomotives to match a certain type of coaching stock being released next year, for example. I sometimes give away little clues on the posts but generally I love keeping projects a surprise until they're finished, for me that's a bit like miniature trainspotting also as you never know just what's around the corner! 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
RMweb Premium James Makin Posted October 25, 2015 Author RMweb Premium Share Posted October 25, 2015 Here's the latest two wagons to roll out the works - VGAs 210500 and 210530 - VGA 210500 210530 by James maKIN by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr These become the final two VGAs for my growing Didcot MOD train - just need a few PFAs and the odd OCA as well. Traction upfront has got to be a classic vulnerable no-heat '37' or a cheeky Railfreight Distribution 'Duff'! VGA 210530 by James Makin 04 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr The starting point is of course the Bachmann model, this pair was the last from a batch of new EWS maroon versions bought from Hattons many years back, and finally put to work. Both models were repainted with faded silver and yellow base colours, and then out came the weathering paints! 210500 by James Makin 04 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr 210500 was coated in Humbrol 11 Silver, decalled, varnished and then light grey applied in the paint-on/wipe-off manner, before being treated with Humbrol 32 dark grey. Here we can see inbetween the layer of dark grey being added, and the difference it makes with just one simple coating! I also started on the second wagon, 210530, which received the same undercoating, followed by several coats of dark browns and dark greys, to obtain the following look. This wagon jumped on to my modelling 'to do' list by virtue of some interesting graffiti markings which looked a fun challenge! VGA 210530 by James Makin 06 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr I started off by painting the outside borders, before infilling with the colour, fine 00000-size brushes make this an easy, if time-consuming task - therefore some great Swedish chillout electro from Fever Ray makes a perfect accompaniment! VGA 210530 by James Makin 06 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr The layers of paint just get built up gradually, and what at first looks a tricky piece of artwork soon comes together! Later on, both wagons were detailed with the Hazchem scars exactly as found on each prototype (while searching Flickr for the TOPS number for the prototype pic to repeatedly check!) and underframe weathering completed as well, using my mottling technique of lots of grim browns! VGA 210500 by James Makin 01 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr As with previous VGAs, I decided to add a tiny bit more roof texture by applying a small amount of talcum powder to the wet roof paint, and streaking back across the roof. VGA 210500 by James Makin 03 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr VGA 210500 by James Makin 02 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr VGA 210530 by James Makin 01 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr Here's the reverse of 210530 - will probably be a rarity as I will ensure the graffiti side is orientated towards the public when running on Worthing MRC's Loftus Road! VGA 210530 by James Makin 03 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr The wagons were treated to some Colin Craig brake disc inserts, and received a final varnish with the Humbrol enamel aerosol sprays. VGA 210530 by James Makin 05 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr VGA 210530 by James Makin 02 by jamesmakin2002, on Flickr Ironically, these two VGAs had hung around on my workbench since the early Summer months, I had tackled all the ones earlier in this thread, and just couldn't face doing another two! The extra time in between really helped come back with fresh enthusiasm to push these ahead! Glad they're all finished, but no more of this type for a while now me thinks! I'm tackling quite a few new longer-term loco projects and big scenic pieces for Loftus Road which will take a while, so there will definitely be more infill wagon projects like this coming over the next few weeks I promise! 13 1 Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobster Posted October 25, 2015 Share Posted October 25, 2015 Very nice work there James as always. Cheers, Bob. Link to post Share on other sites More sharing options...
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