What's rollin' off the shop workbench.

I've been able to get quite a bit of modelling done recently. It's good to keep moving as it helps keep the motivation level at it's peak. It's reducing the amount of half started projects, the down side is you start more.....a vicious cycle. If you are a watcher of eBay you will see that I have been selling a few things, that's to keep the funds coming in so I can continue to model. You will also note that my posts are not as regular as some others, that's because when I sit down to post, I figure if there is time to post, there is time to model. So I guess it's about time to put up a new post on a snippet of what has been completed between my PC build and now.

I have been going through my collection of AMRM's to scan all of the articles of interest and keep them as a data base on my computer for easy reference. I came across a series of articles on the MLE and it derivatives. This is one such, NHFH slab steel wagon. The VR bought some MLE's from the SRA and converted them for steel traffic, I've never been a fan of the MLE until now. For more info read the article and see the conversion process.

Opposite side of the same wagon. I am very pleased with the out come of this project, so I will go on and build several more for my VR fleet of steel wagons.

The underframe of the same wagon. Quite a lot of extra styrene is added to build this wagon.

Another derivative of the MLE is the NCMF coil steel wagon for the SRA. Again refer to article of the info, but another good use for a MLE if you are a fan of interstate steel traffic.

Opposite side of the same wagon.

Top view showing the tie down chains.

In my hunt for new ideas I found a picture of L803. A LLV converted to departmental use for electricians. I used a AR Kits GLV that was laying around made a few mods to it and here is the end result. I know the ends aren't correct but I'm not that anal in getting things perfect. Sometimes near enough is good enough.

Note the white box on the end, I presume it is for a power connection similar to a caravan inlet or outlet not sure which.

Last one for this post is a standard NLGX nothing special about this van, but I did use it to try a few new techniques with colours and shading. I used some artists pens to give the illusion of the different shades of colour and repairs that were possibly made to van throughout it's life.

A fine paint pen was used for the white high lites on the bogie's and the 'Albury' and 'Wagga' writing on the lower section of the van. Another thing I saw in a photo and thought I would imitate.

PC 1

After my bridge building success I decided to have a shot at building a PC1. Again I choose to use styrene as it is readily available and easy to use. I went with the 15 inch precast slabs for my first attempt. I want to put a little end to end layout in my shed one day and loosely base it on the Rand line where all stations are of the PC 1 construction. Most of them had no awnings, but as I said, loosely.

The finished product. The colour scheme and weathering were mimicked from a photo of the Milguy PC1 on the Boggabilla line. The grey is where the blue paint has chipped off exposing the cement panels.

The rear of the building. I am modelling them as abandoned/derelict. Hence no doors and windows.

The rain water tank side of the station. Once the platform is made I will do the Legs.

Not perhaps the same standard as Casula's but I am happy with the outcome.

A shot of the building after paint and prior to roofing. The shade of blue is a little darker than I had hoped but weathering will knock it back.

One of the failed attempts to chamfer the wall panels. I glued them in first and waited for them to dry, then filed the chamfer. Too slow and fiddly.

Another failed attempt. I glued the panels in the building then add the chamfer. Another slow process. The fastest way I finally worked out was to chamfer the entire length prior to cutting the individual panels.

All the wall panels are finally completed.

Front awning has been put on.

Completed unit ready for paint.

Styrene Railway overpass.

I've decided to put the trains on the back burner for a while and have a shot at some scratch building. Now that I have put travel with work on hold till next year, it has given me more time to do some modelling. So here here is my first attempt, a timber railway overpass. There were two options for materials to use for this build, styrene and scale timber. I know a timber one would look realistic, but I felt styrene would be more durable and easier to work with. Hopefully paint will create the timber effect?

The outsides of the bridge were assembled first.

The outsides and piers assembled.

The main structure assembled.

Handrails now attached.

The completed model with decking and side rails now attached.
I decided to go with Balsa which I scribed for the timber decking. I didn't really feel like cutting a hundred or so planks which would use up about 3 or 4 packs of styrene, plus it looks better.

Look hard enough or click on the photo and you will see the wire strung through the handrails.

A coat of brown paint to begin with.

Next I added some grimey black and rust in a few different areas with a dry brush to give the styrene a weathered timber and rusty look. I also streaked the timber posts to give the look of having a grain.

Next some grey and weathered black added from the airbrush. This is to dull down the brown of the timber. Also a streak of black in the centre for the smoke/diesel fumes from the locos. After that another pass with a dry brush in a few areas to show up some fresh timber weathering. I think it looks the part.

Improving 3507

As mentioned in the last post I would do a solo post on the 35 class showing the modifications I had made. I found a photo of 3507 in the Alco DL531 book, this was my motivation. The AR Kits model is a generic version, or perhaps an as delivered version of the 45 class, so there were a few changes to be made.

The original 35 (45) class straight from the box.

After disassembling the model and close study of the picture, it was noticed that it had twin marker lights. This was easily achieved by removing the moulding of the single light box (right) with a sharp hobby knife and attaching the supplied twin marker light and touching up with paint.

The same was done to the front. Unfortunately I didn't take as many photos of the process as I thought I had. I also glued in the number board lights and headlights at this time. Another problem I found with the model is it doesn't have directional lighting. This was easily fixed by removing the old bulbs and adding a led light fitting. Another problem for me was the amount of light coming through the shell/body. This was an easy fix by simply painting the interior of the shell with black paint.

The amount of clearance between the side frames and wheels was another mod I wanted to make. This was found in the AMRM article on how to improve the 45 class. A very time consuming but easy and noticeable improvement. Just disassemble the bogie's and remove the area shown above. This amendment requires you to also move the wires soldered to the pickups, because if you don't the wheels don't move freely.

The bogie on the left is the result and the one on the right the original. I think it looks much better and gets the brake shoes a lot closer to the wheels.

The end result. Brass hoses were added to the pilots along with Kadee 25 couplers. With the cab I removed the piece of plastic and two centre window glass to more represent sliding glass windows. They were also touched up with black paint around the edges and the windows tinted with a nikko pen from the inside. Crew were also added for realism. Before putting on the hand rails around the roof I touched them up red paint where they are fixed to the body. You may also notice the QR logo on the hood. This is clearly show in the photo from the book.

The view from the long end. They weren't the hardest or most technical mods ever done but they were very effective for creating a more representative model.

Everything is made to be broken!

Some friends of mine were driving from Toowoomba to Sydney for the Annual modellers convention. They always like to stop at various train locations along the way. One such location is Werris Creek. I had received an email from one of the men a week or so earlier saying that a list of 48's had been towed from Narrabri to Werris Creek ready for scrapping. Well this was to be correct. The following is some images of the beloved 48's being eaten by the scrappers excavator.

The heart out of an unknown 48.

The cabs of 4855 and 4879.

Another unknown cab.

The hungry excavator making lite work of destroying our beloved 48.

4885 awaiting the same fate. Also the heart from a sister unit and what looks like a container flat at front of picture.

The cab of 4879.

48149 watching it's sister being eaten up. 4876 in the line of destruction.

More 48's wait their turn in line.

Last but not least my favourite 4869. Their are at least 13 48's in total receiving the same treatment. 4855, 4860, 4861, 4869, 4866, 4873, 4874, 4876, 4879, 4880, 4882, 4883, 4885.

I guess there is a good modelling idea for all those who own powerline 48 class and don't know what to do with them once their TrainOrama 48 have arrived!

More Free Time!

After finishing my chores around the house today I was allowed to have some play time! So what better thing to do than duck into the shed, fire up the air compressor and get into some long overdue weathering. Today's goal was to try and get the bunch of Tuscan locos I had waiting around weathered so I can put them on eBay. These were some locos I picked up from a deceased estate, they are not my era, but were too good a price to refuse. I haven't weathered much in the way of the Tuscan era so it was a learning curve for me. Also very easy as there are heaps of photos around to use for inspiration.

The end result of a couple hours weathering. Unfortunately the photos don't do them much justice.

3507 is an AR kits loco in Marlboro. It is the only loco I will keep as I have wanted one of these for some time and you don't see too many others with them. I plan on doing a post on this loco as I have made quite a lot of little modifications to make it look more like a 35 and less like the as delivered 45.










4705 is from the TrainOrama family. As we all know high in detail, it just needed to look more like a model and less like a toy.

44203 is a DJH kit that I picked up for an absolute steal. It was built and painted all I had to do was give it a light touch of weathering and that finished this model nicely.





4856 from the Powerline family. Just fitting the couplings as I write this blog.

4912, again from the Trainorama family.

Half Days!

Fridays are Great! I only need to work half a day which means I get home after 1pm.

If it is sunny this can mean a good afternoon in the shed with the airbrush, painting or weathering some models.(Depending on the family)

Today I decided on some weathering. This was to try and reduce the amount of projects I have on the go. A very productive afternoon today meant that I got about 15 wagons and 2 locos weathered. This post will feature a couple of the wagons. I have saved up one of the locos for a post of its own which is soon to come. Here is a brief glimpse of today's out come.

(Remember to click on pictures for a bigger view.)

NPJH 35611 Limestone hopper. You may remember it from a previous post.

The graffiti was done by me with a paint pen from the art shop.

Same hopper, other side. The graffiti art came from photos of other limestone hoppers I have.

NPJH 35604. The dark patches on the hopper represent repairs and repaint.
This was done with a blue nikko, also purchased from the art shop.

Same hopper other side.
The white streaks are from the previous L7 decals, which have now been covered by the new owners, freight corp. A very common theme on these wagons in service.

NPJH 35653. SRA red with heavier graffiti. Again done by hand from photos of limestone hoppers.

The other side, looking like it may have spent quite some time in a siding to have copped this amount of abuse.

NPJH 35689. SRA red again with repair patches on its sides.

Opposite side with similar repairs. Again done with a red nikko from the art shop.

FBW 1185. Another blast for the past. Finally complete!