Adam

Kevin/Kenny/Rivercider, Thank you so much for those pictures, they're excellent and full of model-able detail, particularly the large range of different ground levels which are very appealing. The loaders all appear to be later hydraulic machines rather then the Pelican, which was far less sophisticated and based on the ubiquitous Fordson Major. This is not entirely surprising since your pictures are 14 years later than those I linked to. The bag loading hoppers are a detail I really wanted to be there too. I have quite a hankering for the hydraulic front loaders that Chaseside built (more Fordson tractor parts... https://www.flickr.com/photos/k_garrett/8726702930) but in the spirit of less is more, I reckon that I'll stick to the Pelican for the moment. Thanks again, Adam

Thank you Mark - I hadn't come across this particular error. Bother. The additional information is, unfortunately, of no use at all for this model: the cylinder is very firmly secured and is going nowhere. Next time, however... Adam

A bit more coaching stock action. This SK was picked up second hand the other week. It had been weathered, but in the 'overall filth' school of airbrushing so I cleaned most of it off using a cotton bud or three and T-Cut. This gives the happy benefit of muck where it is supposed to be, clinging around the hinges, commode handles and so on and a nice hard glossy sheen to the paintwork. The underframe weathering is quite nice, so I left that alone but the roof, being typically Bachmann, required its ribs removing and has been repainted (Humbrol matt 'Tank Grey' spray can). The SK has also been treated to a set of sprung corridor connections in the manner described here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/37002-adams-em-workbench-a-weighbridge-from-merthyr-vale/?p=2017705 The underframe has also been treated to a modicum of additional detailing. The linkage is from Masokits; the vac' cylinder (for some reason, none of the RTR manufacturers seem to get this right) is from ABS and the rest from scraps of plastic sheet and brass wire, 0.7mm for the cross shaft and 0.45 for the linkage. Adam

Thanks Kevin - this one is rather good: https://www.flickr.com/photos/rivercider/8394449811/ Any model will be of the 'inspired by' rather than a faithful replica of the site but all grist to the mill is welcome. Adam

No, not the pit head, or the screens, since both are rather space-hungry and a bit of a pig to operate in the way that I'd want to do it. So yes, something smallish with a couple of sidings is the kind of thing I had in mind - the layout of Merthyr Vale colliery was such that I can see the landsale sidings being employed as a headshunt for the colliery stores yard which would add a bit of interest; there's the issue of a scenic break, but collieries can provide all sorts of things that would serve... Adam

Ha! When I have the space (some time next year, hopefully) there is the basis of something here I think: https://www.flickr.com/photos/52467480@N08/6454453527/ The track layout offers something I think and there are some nice scenic features: the rather natty concrete lamp post and the Pelican loader in the background, for example. I have plans in the direction of the latter using a couple of sacrificial Oxford Diecast tractors... It's not hugely demanding in terms of stock though! Maybe to odd highfit with pit props or bogie bolster with steel beams? Adam

Cor - my parents had a sky blue Chevette estate (PMH 167R), vinyl seats, inset headlamps, so earlier than yours but 'classic' might be stretching a point. Nice to see that the lorry is coming on, looks better with the scenics than when I last saw it back at EXPO EM. Adam

Just for a change, something not on wheels. Ok, so it arrived at the state in which you see it about a year ago, but there you are; a very, very small step towards an eventual layout (don't get too excited Andrew) in the form of a weighbridge hut based on an original that once existed in the landsale yard at Merthyr Vale colliery. It's an unassuming little structure of brick and corrugated asbestos and there are a couple of pictures of the original here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/60790501@N04/5685120678/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/52467480@N08/6454453527/ And here: http://www.alangeorge.co.uk/Images_I-M/MerthyrValeColliery_1-Cropped_K-Shabby.jpg This also provides an excuse to pass on my absolute favourite south Wales colliery shot of Merthyr Vale no. 1 beautifully framed by concrete fences, lattice footbridge and some rather interesting road vehicles by George Woods. Nice Ford D tipper there. https://www.flickr.com/photos/52467480@N08/6454462447/ The construction is quite straightforward with dimensions being guestimated by counting bricks, transferred to Slater's brick sheets - Flemish bond on a carcass of 60 thou'. The roof is Will's asbestos sheets and the guttering/downpipes are, extravagantly, knocked up from brass tube. Yes, I know the concrete lintels need picking out again but I'm pleased with the brickwork. Inside, we have evidence of colliery modernisation in the form of a new weighing machine (I think it was Avery that supplied red ones and Pooley green, but I might have that the wrong way about. The screen is probably an unprototypical luxury! Adam

Very nice - especially the coaches; my all third is back in one piece with paint but, since I've decided that it will form the front end of the rake it will go with, it needs couplings and steam heat/vac' pipes, as well as the corridor connections finishing, lining, lettering, etc. Then there's the newly acquired Mk 1 SK to go in the middle... Coaches are such a lot of faff! Adam Edit - I can see that I will also need to paint the gutters on my Hawksworth black. More work!

Excellent transfers by Railtec: http://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=2028 Converted bogie bolster E model from scratch and mediocre picture by me, more details on my workbench thread (link in signature, below). Adam

I had a nice email from Steve at Railtec last week saying that a commission I made (a little while ago) for lettering for my pair of Coil Rs had come to fruition. If you want some, you can buy some too: http://www.railtec-models.com/showitem.php?id=2028 The lettering is very closely based on Paul Bartlett's pictures and serves both for the TOPS coded vehicles illustrated and our best guess for what they originally looked like, with type brandings instead of TOPS codes and without the TOPS pool numbers. There are sufficient for three wagons, but no, I'm not building any more: I have 10% of all that were ever built as it is! I'm very well pleased with these and can recommend them without reservation. Adam

Rob, the N2 is currently in working order and visiting the Nene Valley (we travelled behind it on the North Norfolk last year), and as this picture taken 18 October shows, it's currently in GNR livery, which looks good: https://www.flickr.com/photos/alanhughes/22219704889/ Adam

And here, complete with lettering, courtesy of Cambridge Custom Transfers (BL135) and a data panel from Railtec, the latest vehicle off the bench and ready for traffic, weathering and a load. It's a real beast of a wagon this. Adam EDIT: after some delay, better pictures now added.

One, certainly, found itself at Yeovil Pen Mill; it appears in the back ground of a couple of Paul Bartlett shots albeit, in the case of the only one that comes readily to hand, very, very briefly: http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/bropenmerchandiseowvcorrugated/h4eae184#h4eae184 EDIT: in fact, it can just be made out here, as well: https://www.flickr.com/photos/elmtreephotos/8386558387/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/justinfoulger/5411640746/ https://www.flickr.com/photos/invader1009/14664462249/in/album-72157646709291985/ Dad, I know, has a selection of record shots of Pen Mill on slides, I wonder whether this machine appears in those... Adam

No problem Mike; didn't take as long as I'd feared. Now all I have to do is to keep it up to date... Anyhow, the Trestrol has now received a coat of paint and is, temporarily, back on its bogies. One thing that I hadn't spotted until now is that the wagon displays a list towards the trestle side bit I daresay a bit of lead under the other side should balance it up (there is some space, believe it or not!). It is nonetheless impressive. Adam

Don't hold your breath on that, but t EDIT - now indexed. The Herring starts here: http://www.rmweb.co.uk/community/index.php?/topic/37002-adams-em-workbench-trestrol-part-4/?p=1823530 Adam

And now, we actually reach the disticntive bits, the trestles. These are, inevitably, fiddly, but the end result will be good (they require some wooden packing - I have the coffee stirrers in stock... http://paulbartlett.zenfolio.com/brtrestrolao/h488f5dfe#h488f6442). The unseen stuff is the easing of the drawhook holes to allow for springing and all those shackle lugs, ten natty little fold-ups. The shckles themselves are quite nifty, but I'll come to those later. Getting there. Adam

So here we go, next phase along the road, the end frames look a bit like this and were a bit of a fiddle. The small holes just visible behind the headstock are for springs for the couplings - such a long wagon with three links will probably benefit for these but not until after painting. It is also now on its bogies which are fitted to little pivot arrangements so as to ensure all wheels are on the track - the pivoting cradles are arranged at right angles - and I've added a short length of tube to the pivot screw as this pretty ordinary picture shows: It should be noted that I have the bogies the wrong way around - the levers should be at the ends of the wagon. This is easy to change and will be done on final assembly. Otherwise, the Palbrick project also inches forward and the chassis are almost done. Adam

Yes please Chris. Though as Porcy says, wheels might be an issue - Pecketts were quite distinctive in style. Adam

It's still big, about 10" over headstocks, or will be, once the headstocks are actually added. Mercifully, the parts get a bit smaller from now on and won't need so much heat from the iron. Adam

We've (well, dad) has one of the MO etches as well. As I said, thus far, everything has fitted correctly and located very tightly and positively. The only real challenge has been handling a vehicle of its size. Lots of tack soldering, lots of flux. I did the bogies a while back and those were a bit of a fiddle, but that's largely a function of their being quite small. Thus far, I haven't actually consulted the instructions... Adam

Interesting Chris, but the question must be asked: how 'wrong' (if it is?) is the Bachmann BCK? Is is worth a full scale rebuild? It's quite possible, of course - I have a half a 4TC done in precisely that fashion - but would require a total repaint and in maroon in particular you'd struggle to notice. Similarly, I've had the thing in bits several times and not noticed the interior dimensions at all. The fact between dad and I we have three of these (and the same number of TSOs which is rather unbalanced) is more of a problem! Anyhow, further work on the coaches will have to wait until the final bits turn up. Apart from anything else, most observers will see the rake rather than the detailed effort and I'm resigned to what I call 'drawhook blindness'. Even the most loco-centric would struggle to miss this, however because it's huge: TRESTROL. Even the name sounds big. This is a Trestrol AD from the kit designed by "macgeordie" and marketed in penny numbers I guess through this forum [thread here] as well as the similar, but vac-piped, Trestrol MO. You get a great big brass etch and some smaller Nickel Silver ones for the trestles and the bogies. Anyhow, I can report that so far, so good. There aren't nearly so many rivets as one might expect, but all that should be there are there, so far as I can tell, and everything fits with a modicum of tidying up. There's an awful lot of wagon, but the advantage of building something this size is that you can get a long way quite quickly. The first side has gone on in the shot above - the tabs locate the sides neatly and spigot all the way through which means that there's a nice tight, positive location holding the floor overlay in place Below, you can see that the second side has gone on and that the first of the two intermediate beams has been assembled but not yet installed. The heavily riveted top flange took on a distinctly banana-like bend prior to assembly but it's straightened out ok. At this rate of progress, given a clear run, I should have a wagon by the end of the week. Adam

Thanks Andrew - Warley's a way off isn't it? Shame your check rails are so close to the running rails or you could borrow my rake, assuming I manage to get the bits to finish it before the weather turns. Adam

Thanks - just Modelstrip in the usual way - the damage was caused by heavy handed scrubbing so my fault. On the original livery, the cream was applied over the red so I judged that the layers would show under the maroon - in your position I'd probably just take the lining off and spray over the top. Much easier. I'd want to do the roof anyway since I'd like it matt. Adam

After what seems like an age, some modelling. Just bits and pieces really, but some appreciable progress. The most basic is slapping a coat of paint on the hoods of my pair of Coil R which really gives a good impression of how it will look when done. I think the hoods now give an excellent impression. From the coaching stock end of the bench more progress has been achieved though I have come to halt in both instances through lack of parts. The reworked Bachmann BCK wants for a set of buffers (one pair retracted, one extended) and couplings. End detail includes a lamp, alarm gear, dropped knuckle coupling and a couple of steps - the hanging step is anchored through the headstock so should be durable enough. I've rejigged the brakegear too using parts from Masokits and replaced the brake cylinders: every 4mm Mk 1 I've ever seen has massively undersize vacuum cylinders so this one has ABS examples, along with vac' pipes and steam heat bags. The second vehicle for my WR rake, a Hawksworth, is no longer carmine and cream but there have been a handful of casualties - a commode handle some nicely moulded gutters and a handful of vents. Now the handle is easy and the gutters fairly manageable (tiny bits of 0.8mm angle) but the vents will have to be ordered in before I can paint the thing maroon. Would it have been easier to buy a maroon one? Um. Perhaps. Other details - lamp irons and corridor connections - are from Masokits, as is the brake gear which makes a difference. Even better, there are lots of spares for future coaches. Adam