*********************************************************************************************************************************************
MARCH 2025 UPDATE
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
KARL CROWTHER
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
ANDY LEE
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
GREG BROOKES
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
MATT OWEN
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
JONNY DUFFETT
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
KIER HARDY
*********************************************************************************************************************************************
The weighbridge hut is now completed, seen here in its approximate location on the layout.
I thought it would look effective with an interior LED (hence the two wires), so have
included some very basic interior detail and a figure looking out of a window. Like the
waiting shelter, a most attractive structure, even if for a humble purpose, and very
typical of Furness architecture.
A close up of the weighbridge hut, showing the Slaters Plastikard brickwork detailing to good effect.
A few months ago, I mentioned the proposed approach to making the very characteristic
limestone walling that the FR used extensively in this locality, so a start has at last
been made on this. Actually, it isn’t working out to be as slow a process as I’d imagined.
Basically, two back to back strips of Wills Coarse Stone sheet, with a layer of 40-thou
styrene in between. The irregular coping stones are made up from individual ‘blocks’ of
Evergreen .125 x .188 strip. The key here being to get all the sizes a little different
and then once glued and secure they’re ‘attacked’ with knives and scraping tools to work
them into an acceptable shape. Walls like this I’ve made in the past have been found to be
quite brittle many years later, so I’ve worked any required curve into the sections as I
go, to hopefully avoid adding any stress/cracking once fixed in place.
One problem though, despite taking great care with longer lengths to ensure the thing stayed
horizontally true, I discovered later that they had curled up along this axis to quite a degree.
To avoid this, I’ll probably make shorter lengths in future and make good the joins once fixed
to the layout. There’s a lot of stone walling to be done around the layout!...
Over now to Kendal and these mock-ups of the water tower and loco shed have been worked up.
The water tower is again another exquisitely detailed FR structure – the proportions being
worked out via a scaled ground plan and reference to various photographs. Originally, I’d
intended to have a vacant area where the shed had been, with demolition rubble and remains
of the inspection pit being visible. However, I now feel that to include the shed itself
will help to create scenic interest against the backscene, the only problem being there
isn’t an obvious prototype, so the detailed design hasn’t yet been worked out.
Another view across Kendal Castle station – lots of planning needed here as to how the
backdrop will be modelled – Castle Hill itself though, will need to feature on the skyline….
Hot off the workbench is a Cavalex Class 56 Romanian built version. The EM gauge wheels
take 5 minutes to swap out and nothing gets broken off. I spotted many of these in the
late 70s early 80s around Doncaster and I always preferred the cab look of these early
examples. I copied the weathering from some pictures and did the usual IPA washes in
layers and added some airbrush grime on the roof exhaust area. Bogies are lots of browns
from Tamiya, Archive X. Next up is adding Smiths Couplings and the pipe work.
Another Cavalex Class 56 - a Doncaster built version with EM wheels added. I used to see
these later built 56s around the back of Doncaster works coming out the paint shop looking
very shiny and new. This one I did a lighter weathering and a patchy roof grime with washes
of Tamiya black, dark grey and nato black. I mix equal parts of these in 50% IPA and use
that as my go to grime colour. Bogies are done the same as the other 56 but this time not
totally covering the white pipework. Pipes and Couplings to be added next.
Following on from the Hornby TTA tank wagons recently, this is a rake of 4 Bachmann TTAs.
I found some great reference pictures of TTAs on the West Highland line in the late 70s,
so I weathered then to look similar using layers of Tamiya IPA grimey washes. Archive X rust
was used to get the patchy orange look in places. Vallejo gloss varnish for the oil spills
over a grimy black. Browns on the underframes as usual and 3 link couplings and pipes added.
Now for something different - I thought I'd share my collection of British Railways
uniforms and caps as worn by the footplate crew. Starting off, this is a Driver's
Serge jacket issued from the 1950s onwards.
A Driver's lightweight diesel jacket - 1959 onwards.
A winter Driver's waistcoat C1959 on.
Green Driver's coat to go with the waistcoat 1959. Most definitely 1950s, despite the
later fitted buttons. It was acquired from a long retired Hereford driver Pete Davies,
transferred from Brecon in 1963.
1950s steam footplate crew jacket.
Driver & Second Man lightweight jacket from 1965 onwards.
Driver's jacket from 1967 onwards - silver buttons for a Second Man, gold for Driver.
1960s Driver & Second Man Girtex mackintosh.
Drivers overcoat 1968 - buttons could be gold, silver, or later black.
Driver's bag C1967 onwards.
Guard's bag C1967 onwards, with lamp bracket.
Driver & Fire Man grease top cap from 1948 onwards.
Motorman & Diesel Driver cap, issued from the late 1950s.
Leatherette trial in 1965, at just a small selection of depots.
Another Leatherette trial cap from 1965 / 1966.
Driver cap issued from 1966 onwards.
1968 corporate Second Man cap with silver badge.
For Driver and Passed Second Man - a gold badge 1968.
Driver's cap from 1984.
The corporate cap issued around 1986 / 1987.
New into the Shenston Road fleet is a Bachmann Class 25 - 25221.
25221 stops at the station with a short rake of mark 1 coaches, bringing back fond
memories for me as a driver on them on the Cardiff - Crewe services.
Locomotives are one area - surprisingly - where I've never focussed much time or attention.
I've always been more interested in wagons and buildings than the things that pull them or
stop by them. The fleet for my planned layout will largely comprise Class 26s and 37s
(which might give a clue about the location)!. I've recently sold several older Bachmann
Class 37s and replaced them with 4 X 'new tool' locos as the basis for half the fleet.
Despite this, I have retained one older model. This one was in poor external condition -
no lights, missing half the windows and the previous owner had been very keen to make
sure nothing came loose by being very generous with the super glue and it wasn't worth
selling. It also happens to be a very nice runner despite the external condition. I've
stripped the factory applied paintwork - it used to be 37514 in Metals Sector livery
to give a nice blank canvas for the work ahead.
Over the years, I've accumulated quite a stock of Class 37 detailing parts, many of which
will be redundant on the new tool locos. This loco gives me the opportunity to use some
of these up and also utilise a Penbits sprung bogie. As I'm intending on upgrading the 26s
with these, this will serve as a nice test bed as I've never attempted this type of work
before. I've not decided which loco this will be yet - and in all likelihood this isn't going
to feature on the aforementioned layout - but I'm leaning towards something in Red Stripe livery.
I'm always looking for new ways to make useful models, and having never been able to easily
produce organic shapes using CAD, I was tipped off to the new range of 2D image to 3D model
software. This enables a 2D image to be uploaded (or from a text description) to use
artificial intelligence to create a full 3D file which can be manipulated for use in a 3D
printer. Having access to the 'Greg Brookes Spring Collection' of railway uniforms from his
five decade career on the rails, Greg, Kier and myself delved into the dressing up box and
took some photos of various poses which might make useful models for our layouts.
Once an image is captured it can be uploaded and the software set to work to produce a 3D file.
It takes about a minute for the AI to come up with some options based on the image. These can
be selected or discarded or the AI can be asked to think again. I have used a program called
Meshy AI 3D although there are others available some of which are free. The AI uses its
knowledge and access to other images to create the files. Sometimes these are slightly cartoon
like with dress and hat styles a little transatlantic, but can be used as a starting point.
The files produced are then imported into CAD software and manipulated to make the clothes and
pose more suitable or add items such as this Bardic which was scanned from a 2D image allowing
it to be added to the hands of the scanned figures.
I have produced a variety of figures in various poses including seated figures with and without
legs enabling them to fit into driving positions in locomotives and units. The new technology
opens up a lot of possibilities for creation of individualistic model subjects. All the models
will be available on Thingiverse for free download.
Brush type 2 number 5610 was a Finsbury Park allocated locomotive, being dual braked and
trip cock fitted for working over the Widened Lines. Used mainly on suburban workings and
empty stock movements in and out of Kings Cross.
5610 is an Accurascale model and there's not really much in the way of customisation apart
from sticking a few bits on, and making sure existing fittings are secure before they fall
off (and of course getting the wheels out and back in). A change of number and valence,
followed by weathering to a picture of it in 1970.
Allocated to D02 Birmingham Division, rare blue Class 47/3, a dual braked no boiler
freight locomotive. An original Heljan Class 47 model which has spent many years on
the shelf half finished. New drive shaft couplings and a basic DCC chip fitted.
Please click on the above image to view the latest video.
