Wright writes.....

[John Isherwood]

3 hours ago, t-b-g said:

For a plastic van or carriage roof I use two layers of thinner plasticard (10 or 15 thou depending on how thick I want the edge to appear).

 

The first layer is cut with a scalpel at 1mm intervals along its length on the top surface. That causes it to curve naturally. That is then stuck to a false flat roof with two or more curved formers depending on the length of the vehicle.

 

The second layer is then stuck to the first with a light application of solvent around the edges. That covers up all the cut marks on the first layer.

 

I haven't got any photos of the process but here is a snap of a roof done that way.

 

 

How do you induce the curve into the second, upper layer?

 

...... or do you simply clamp the longitudinal edges together and rely on the strength of the solvent joint?

 

Whatever, your photo shows a very neat roof indeed.

 

CJI.

[t-b-g]

1 hour ago, cctransuk said:

 

How do you induce the curve into the second, upper layer?

 

...... or do you simply clamp the longitudinal edges together and rely on the strength of the solvent joint?

 

Whatever, your photo shows a very neat roof indeed.

 

CJI.

 

Thanks. 10 thou will go round the bend very easily. I glue it at one side with solvent and let it dry properly. Then I turn it upside down, so the curved surface is underneath and apply a little solvent at the ends, working the upper layer of roof round as I go. I then put solvent along the second side and hold that edge flat down on a surface like a cutting mat until it has stuck. The upper roof can be made oversized and trimmed back after the solvent has set. I find that easier than getting it exactly the right size and glueing it in exactly the right place.

 

It is easier to do than to explain!

[billbedford]

8 hours ago, Compound2632 said:

Not rolled, but heat formed. Here the plasticard is taped to a piece of brass tube; this is then plunged in a vat of hot water - just off the boil - for a few minutes.

 

A hot-air paint stripper/gun will also work, if the heat is kept down. 

[Clive Mortimore]

8 hours ago, rodent279 said:

Can Plastikward be rolled, in the same way as brass?

Cold rolled as per the Geoff Kent method.

 

Boiler for a standard class 3

The three components, smokebox and parallel part of the boiler, taper part, and firebox.

 

Cold rolled 14 ton anchor mounted tank wagon.

 

Cold rolled ER 25,000 gallon diesel storage tanks.

[MJI]

Ooh i have a plastic welder.

 

I used an empty wine bottle and placed in oven while cooling after a roast.

 

I will try the scribe method with 20 thou. But first hunt the plastic welder.

 

I need 2 more van roofs.

 

My DMUs use Triang roofs slightly modified.

 

The Early WR IC uses cameo 4 cut sides and cab ends overlays for intermediate cabs, interior partitions.

 

Resin and 3d printed underframe components.

 

Triang chassis and roof MJT bogies, Gibson wheels, and 2 lowriders.

 

One day i will finish it

[ScRSG]

11 hours ago, Clive Mortimore said:

Cold rolled as per the Geoff Kent method.

Remind us, please.

Chas

[Clive Mortimore]

55 minutes ago, ScRSG said:

Remind us, please.

Chas

Hi Chas

 

I cut two or three depending on the length circular disc about 1.5mm less in diameter to the cylinder I want. I use 1mm thick plastic card. I cut three (or six if using three disc) rectangles of plastic card, one the length of the cylinder minus thickness of the disc by a width the same as the diameter. The other two are the same length by half the diameter and half the thickness of the other rectangle. I assemble the three rectangles to make an X and cement the disc on the ends.

 

Next stage, work out how much 0.5mm plastic card is needed to make the cylinder. I use 3x2πr = length required. I cut out rectangle cylinder length by the length of 0.5mm plastic card required. Place this rectangle on a soft surface with a firm backing, small cylinders I use my thigh. The fuel tanks was a folded shirt laid on the kitchen table. Using a round object of slightly smaller diameter than the cylinder I run it backwards and the other way  until the plastic card curls up.

 

Glue one end of the curly rectangle to edge of one the rectangles making the X, pulling tight work the curly rectangle around the disc applying solvent to each of the X edges as I go around it and the disc on the ends. Once it starts to over lap I then apply solvent along the working edge, pulling the plastic card tight as I can, not leaving any air bubbles or pools of solvent. If my maths is right it will go around 3 times. I wait about a day to allow the plastic card and solvent to settle down. I take a file to the edge of of the plastic card wrap, blending it in with the rest of the cylinder.

 

Like a cylinder rolled from brass it will not be 100% as there is a slight overlap, I put that at the bottom of things like boilers and tank wagons where it won't show. The fuel tanks, the seam is on the edge facing the adjacent tank. 

 

To write this took longer than making a cylinder for a tank wagon.

Edited July 19, 2022 by Clive Mortimore

[thegreenhowards]

Yesterday’s hot weather allowed me to spend the afternoon under a sun shade in the garden finishing off another project. Here is my 7mm Maunsell Q. 
 

 

 

 

I bought this part built at the Kettering O gauge show in March for a bargain £100 ( including wheels but no motor). it’s somewhat out of region for my normal interests but as I work as part of the Maunsell Locomotive Society at the Bluebell it picqued my interest and I can’t resist a bargain! The tender was built and the chassis for the loco was well under way. I’ve built most of the rest. It initially went together quickly but it’s taken some time identifying the last few parts and one or two small bits seem to be missing. In particular the ‘turret’ which fits in front of the cab is missing - hopefully a friend is going to 3D print this for me but it can wait until after painting. Plus I’ve spent a lot of time on ‘wiggly pipes’. 
 

This has joined the paint queue and will be sprayed with my GCR milk van as soon as the weather cools a little.

 

Andy

 

 

[Tony Wright]

And now for something completely different!

 

 

An Ane Models Ali-Shan narrow gauge diesel.

 

No, I don't know anything about it, either.

[John Isherwood]

25 minutes ago, Tony Wright said:

And now for something completely different!

 

 

An Ane Models Ali-Shan narrow gauge diesel.

 

No, I don't know anything about it, either.

 

I'm sure that I read that one of these is to be 'borrowed' by the Welshpool & Llanfair Light Railway.

 

John Isherwood.

[46444]

Hi Tony,

 

There is some information on the ane model website about the Ali-Shan Railway.

 

https://www.anemodel.com/ecommerce/model/hoe規-阿里山第六代dl內燃車頭-dl-39.html

 

It comes as a downloadable link in English. Very informative it is as well.

 

Look forwards to seeing your review.

 

Regards,

 

Mark 

Edited July 19, 2022 by 46444

[grob1234]

With regards to tumblehomes (is that correct?), I use these:

 

 

 

Simply a wooden bit of wood (!) with a rounded edge. Its then clamped on the top, then you use a hard straight edge like a worktop and gradually bend. There's zero risk of kink, and it is very repeatable. I have 2 different radii, however I just use one of them as I don't find it makes much difference.

 

 

---

[Tony Wright]

Despite the record-breaking temperatures, I've managed to do some modelling today (well, at least until late-morning). 

 

 

In response to my request, someone is sending me some old-style Romford fly-cranks for the Armstrong Goods. 

 

I did investigate using the etched ones supplied in the Nu-Cast kit, lining them up with some appropriate diameter steel rod, but the Romford cranks will be easier. 

 

So, until they arrive (many thanks, Stuart), I've started on another loco for Retford.......

 

 

I've built one B17 for Retford already (from a Crownline kit), but Sandra Orpen asked me to make another from this; an old Hornby tender-drive B17. In 'classic car' circles, might it be described as a 'barn find'? Natural weathering, really!

 

After a few minutes with the circular saw in the trusty Expo mini-drill, there's now an aperture for the mechanism. Which will be a Comet set of frames, which (it would seem) were designed to fit the older Hornby B17 perfectly. 

 

I'd like to do more on Retford (the layout itself), but time is always at a premium. However, if I can contribute by providing locos (which are needed), then I'll have 'done my bit', at least to some extent. 

 

 

Edited July 20, 2022 by Tony Wright
to add something

[Jamiel]

Thank you to everyone for the various methods of making tumblehomes. I will re-read the various posts and try out some ideas.
 

No sooner did I post than I was offered a new job that I really wanted, which is wonderful, but did distract me from modelling, so sorry if I haven’t responded before now.
 

Lots to plan for both the new job and the modelling, but thank you to everyone for posting your methods, for both brass and plasticard.
 

Jamie

Edited July 20, 2022 by Jamiel

[grahame]

On 16/07/2022 at 01:01, St Enodoc said:

Photos when finished please!

 

It's the golden emperor dalek as featured in the TV Century 21 magazine/comic from the mid 60s. Probably many are unaware of it. Here's a pic of the kit (main parts just held together with tape and rubber band) before proper assembly. It's supplied with LEDs for the seven dome lights which I presume will need resistors added.

 

 

[Coach bogie]

12 hours ago, Tony Wright said:

Despite the record-breaking temperatures, I've managed to do some modelling today (well, at least until late-morning). 

 

 

In response to my request, someone is sending me some old-style Romford fly-cranks for the Barnum. 

 

Is this not an Armstrong Goods? A Barnum is a 2-4-0 with curved frames, a nightmare to shape based on memories of building mine.

 

Looks good

 

Mike Wiltshire (18 degrees and raining down under)

[Compound2632]

6 minutes ago, Coach bogie said:

Is this not an Armstrong Goods? A Barnum is a 2-4-0 with curved frames, a nightmare to shape based on memories of building mine.

 

It was an Armstrong Goods in earlier posts! Maybe the whitemetal has changed shape in the heat...

[Tony Wright]

20 minutes ago, Coach bogie said:

 

Is this not an Armstrong Goods? A Barnum is a 2-4-0 with curved frames, a nightmare to shape based on memories of building mine.

 

Looks good

 

Mike Wiltshire (18 degrees and raining down under)

You're quite right Mike,

 

Now altered. 

 

It's because I'm building a GC Barnum carriage as well that I got the nomenclature wrong. The faculties crumble!

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Barry Ten]

6 hours ago, grahame said:

 

It's the golden emperor dalek as featured in the TV Century 21 magazine/comic from the mid 60s. P

 

 

 

 

 

The emperor dalek used to show up in Dalek annuals in the 70s, too, which I imagine may have been

reprinted stories from TV21?

 

Here's another thing that featured in TV21. It was from the film Thunderbirds Are Go, but had its own regular

strip in the magazine. This was from a large resin kit with a lot of extra details and reworking.

 

 

Very different from railway modelling but a good way of learning new techniques and dodges.

 

Al

 

[Tony Wright]

Just three new books for review next month in BRM..........

 

 

One of many from Pen and Sword.

 

 

And also one of many from Key.

 

 

And the latest in the brilliant 'Celebration' series from Irwell.

 

I'm acknowledged in this, since I helped with some of the captions, proof reading it and offering 'corrections'.

 

Now, in view of the 'criticism' of some of my book reviews of late, I wonder - is it wrong of me to point out 'errors' in an otherwise marvellous new work? 

 

On page 34, POCHARD is clearly leaving Grantham on a DOWN service, not the Up 'Flying Scotsman'. 

 

And, how can WALTER K. WHIGHAM be arriving at Kings cross with 'The Elizabethan' in MARCH 1961? 

 

Finally, on page 143, KINGFISHER is highly-unlikely to be departing from Aberdeen in SEPTEMBER 1966, because she's still got a corridor tender. The opposite picture confirms this (taken in the August, where she tows a streamlined non-corridor tender. She had the non-corridor type for the last few weeks of her life, in August/September 1966). 

 

I suppose I could be described as 'irritated', since I did intercept these bloopers on the proof, but they weren't incorporated (most of my 'corrections'/'suggestions' have been inserted, to be fair). My name is in this work, and if folk think Wrighty doesn't know his Up from his Down, thinks the non-stop ran during the winter timetable and doesn't know his A4 tenders, then I'm doomed as a reviewer!

 

 

[Clan Mcadder]

I would be very intrigued in the celebration of the A4s , especially if its got some Lner era images inside . 

[Tony Wright]

5 hours ago, Clan Mcadder said:

I would be very intrigued in the celebration of the A4s , especially if its got some Lner era images inside . 

Out of the 144 pages, 64 show the class in LNER ownership, including wartime. If you count those in Garter Blue, but with BR numbers, there are several more.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Clan Mcadder]

1 minute ago, Tony Wright said:

Out of the 144 pages, 64 show the class in LNER ownership, including wartime. If you count those in Garter Blue, but with BR numbers, there are several more.

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Oh that's Excellent Tony ,thank you for letting me know.

 

especially  the war time images , a purchase is definitely happening .

 

Many thanks 

 

James 

[Tony Wright]

3 hours ago, Clan Mcadder said:

Oh that's Excellent Tony ,thank you for letting me know.

 

especially  the war time images , a purchase is definitely happening .

 

Many thanks 

 

James 

Good evening James,

 

I've been disingenuous with my first reply to you. There are no actual wartime images of A4s in the latest book (for obvious reasons), but there are several taken immediate post-War, with valances removed and with some in very shabby condition, still in LNER ownership. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

[Clan Mcadder]

1 hour ago, Tony Wright said:

Good evening James,

 

I've been disingenuous with my first reply to you. There are no actual wartime images of A4s in the latest book (for obvious reasons), but there are several taken immediate post-War, with valances removed and with some in very shabby condition, still in LNER ownership. 

 

Regards,

 

Tony. 

Hi Tony , 

 

Even better , I find that for obvious reasons they are the harder images to track down of post war stock . 

 

most exhilarating  . 

 

Kind regards 

 

James