7mm On Heather's Workbench - North Eastern Workhorse

[Martin Field]

Ah, right...for those rare examples of NE 7 footers. Excellent!<G>

 

[Heather Kay]

This build lumbers back into life. After quite an extended enamel hardening period, I masked things up to paint the buffer beams today. I shall shortly get red paint on them, then I can think about lettering and final details.

More soon, I hope.

 

[Heather Kay]

My dear departed Nan would never leave the house without a dab of powder and some lipstick, even if it was just to nip to the corner shop for a box of leaf tea. I couldn't help thinking of her while applying the lippy here!

Obviously, a little touching in here and there will be required, but a splash of colour on a plain black engine starts to bring it to life.

 

[7mmMick]

That looks great Heather and as you say really does bring the thing to life. Could I please ask which paint you used for the buffer beams and I take it you airbrushed it on?

Cheers Mick

 

[Heather Kay]

It's Precision P993 Buffer Beam Red (Gloss), airbrushed on mixed 50/50 with Precision PQ9 Quick Air Drying Thinners. I primed with straight rattle can grey acrylic stuff.

 

[Heather Kay]

Nearly there!







Transfers and plates done. I'll let 64253 sit for a day or three before I get a satin varnish on things. Then it's just detailing the cab and painting the crew.

 

[Heather Kay]

Retrieved, rather briskly, from a rather nippy Paint Shop just now. I shall leave it acclimatising to room temperature before I set about detail painting the backhead and cab.

 

[Heather Kay]

Not a bad morning's work, if I do say so myself. The cast whitemetal backhead actually scrubs up quite well with a dab of suitably coloured paint here and there. I'm waiting on the paint to dry on the regulator handle. The cab dials are some ancient Blacksmith Models ones. I was pleased to be able to achieve a flush-glazed set of spectacles, too.

Now, time for the crew…

 

[Heather Kay]

Fireman Pat needs a bit of TLC round his fizzog. Driver Cecil seems to have lost his jacket, but I reckon it's safely stashed in one of the commodious lockers on the tender.

I generally prefer to pin crews into their locos, but as I left this selection a bit late for that I shall attach them to small styrene plates so they will stand neatly in place. All that's left is blackening the buffer heads, dropping a little coal in the tender, and knocking up some temporary screw links and hooks for the official photographer (the client will be fitting Dingham couplings in due course, but it would look odd with just slots in the buffer planks).

 

[Heather Kay]

Yesterday was a wipeout. I had one of those days where I felt to attempt any actual work would have been a disaster, so I took the day off to feel sorry for myself. Today, I feel much better, thanks for asking.





Almost there. Some coal - just checking with the client about how much he would like - and a couple of tools arrayed about the place, and then an appointment with the proper camera.

 

[7mmMick]

Very nice indeed Heather, right up my street

I wish I'd taken a leaf out of your book yesterday. I was so determined to actually do some modelling as recently i've had no time at all, I decided to cut out some frames for my J25. I knew it was a bad idea as I felt crap, over tired etc but I had a go. As I got to the final cut with the saw, the blade snapped, I stumbled forward, knocked the vice onto the floor and bent the frames beyond saving Never again shall I model whilst feeling so crap

Mick

 

[Heather Kay]

All completed, ready for delivery.

You can see the official portraits on this link.

As ever, thank you to all the WTers for the help and support during this build.