Progress has been slow of late, holidays, dog sitting for friends, and a top secret project all eating into my modelling time. A couple of Parkside 16T mineral wagons await painting, and one of the new Hornby AA15 brake vans is currently being modified. Not that much work needs doing to it, so far I've removed the couplings, and thinned down the chimney, which as you can see from these photos is rather chunky, the moulded lamp irons on the van sides will be removed, and replaced with 'Frogmore' etched ones, then the numbering, and lettering will be changed to suit a Hereford, or Leominster van. Last of all a spot of weathering will be carried out, and then my old Airfix Toad, which date back to the 70's will be retired.
I'm hoping the grab rails will look finer once they've been toned down, there's no denying that Hornby have produced a lovely model.
The Oxford Rail AA13 is due out by the end of this month so it will be interesting to see how it compares.
Conversion to 'EM' has not yet been carried out as Hornby still use 24.5 mm axles rather than the standard 26 mm variety. I had hoped to remove the Hornby wheels from the axles, and fit Gibson's in place, alas the diameter of the Hornby axle is slightly less than 2 mm which scuppered that idea. Fortunately the 'EMGS' produces a 24.5 / 2 mm axle which should solve the problem, once the postman delivers them that is.
A little more work has been done on the layout, in the way of weed, and grass growth. The goods yard, and loop now becoming rather overgrown in places. Still plenty of fibres to add yet, but I'm just adding a little at a time, then sitting back to take the scene in rather than go over the top with things. As a matter of interest the fibres are by Mininatur which have a very subtle and realistic colouring.
A start has also been made on the point wire pulleys along the platform face. The pulleys are Brassmasters etches, the brackets and guides being made from styrene, and .33 wire. I admit they are on the large side, but the MSE pulleys were too fiddly and small for me to handle, damn difficult to see as well once in situ on the layout.
The etch on the left is by MSE, see what I mean about the size of the pulleys. On the right is the Brassmaster's offering of baseplates, brackets, and pulleys. Only 14 to solder up and lay between the signal box and signals, I can hardly wait
Once the excess static fibres had been vacuumed up, and the rail tops cleaned 4678 was sent to check that no stray fibres fouled its progress.
Job completed she then departed light engine in the direction of Titley Junction.