A different Ixion Fowler...

flexible_coupling

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
After the pain of this project - I'd advise anything other than salt.... it may have just been the rattle-can paint but it's not been a fun ride!
 
daifly

daifly

Western Thunderer
Simon said:
but I'd go with the roof and foot plating painted in body colour rather than black. Probably the wheels and frames too but then very let down into earth tones by weathering.
I think that is more typical of actual practice on industrial locos, but I stand to be shot down in flames as others prove otherwise!
Click to expand...
I hadn't noticed that before. It's possible to find exceptions of course, particularly among the preserved/restored locos but as a general rule, colour photographic evidence of in-service locos bears out Simon's observation.
 
Overseer

Overseer

Western Thunderer
Just a thought, if the Fowler was still in industrial service through the 1960s into the 1970s there is a fair chance that an electric starter motor would have been fitted and the separate starting engine on the footplate removed. Whether the batteries would have fitted within the bonnet would probably depend on whether a newer, smaller engine had replaced the original, so possibly a battery box on the footplate. It would make it look a bit different.
 
flexible_coupling

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
Overseer said:
Just a thought, if the Fowler was still in industrial service through the 1960s into the 1970s there is a fair chance that an electric starter motor would have been fitted and the separate starting engine on the footplate removed. Whether the batteries would have fitted within the bonnet would probably depend on whether a newer, smaller engine had replaced the original, so possibly a battery box on the footplate. It would make it look a bit different.
Click to expand...


That is an interesting consideration... the presumption there would be that they'd tuck the electric starter inside the main bonnet, thus removing the protruding belt guard as well as that auxiliary motor? I could fabricate a battery box to tuck in and obscure the area left bare by having chopped that belt guard away from the main bonnet casting. I shall ponder that idea though - as I mentioned to you, I'm toying with the idea of retrofitting electric (LED - and directional) lighting to the model with deliberately placed electrical conduits... seems like a good tie-in with an electric starter upgrade. I'd love to find an example of early 1970's 'bolt on' electrical lighting on a real locomotive to mimic...
 
Simon

Simon

Flying Squad
Kerr-Ching.....

What a fantastic picture, and it's even in the right shade of blue!

Well done indeed for finding that Tony and thanks for flagging it up.

I wonder if Martin ("Pugsley") knew about it?

Another sale for Ixion perhaps?

Simon
 
flexible_coupling

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
They're all ganging up on me... but I'm not going to change the roof colour now :p I'm actually really quite taken by it as it is... and rule #1 rules.....

Quite tempted by the yellow rods...... that might come after I do the S7 conversion - but that's a month or so off, after I've made my big interstate move.
 
flexible_coupling

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
20140804_232831_zpsbzb8rev2.jpg

So it happened.... we have migrated to electric starting. I couldn't think of a reason not to do it. I've fabricated a basic top-hatch battery box and snipped the belt cover and support brackets for the old starter motor. That will get painted up and attacked in similar fashion to the rest of the body. This pic captures the 'worse' side of the loco cab... it is a cruelly lit view but it was a bad time. At arm's length, it actually looks exactly the way I was hoping it would.... but that panel is significantly more affected than the rest of the loco.

Odd question - as I haven't been able to figure it out.... what is the... thing on the right-hand-side of the running board, by the sandbox? It looks as though it's some kind of elbow joint/outlet valve but I just can't quite figure it out......
 

Attachments

  • 20140804_232831_zpsbzb8rev2.jpg
    20140804_232831_zpsbzb8rev2.jpg
    88.6 KB · Views: 0
AJC

AJC

Western Thunderer
For what it's worth, my view is that there's rather too much texture and, if it were mine, I'd be looking to strip and start again but that's just my opinion. Maybe some finer salt next time?

flexible_coupling said:
Odd question - as I haven't been able to figure it out.... what is the... thing on the right-hand-side of the running board, by the sandbox? It looks as though it's some kind of elbow joint/outlet valve but I just can't quite figure it out......
Click to expand...


I reckon that it's a jack, re-railing for the use of.

Adam
 
Simon

Simon

Flying Squad
I hesitate to say this, but I don't think the salt business has worked out at all well. There looks to me to be too much texture and surely the blue ought to be a faded matt finish rather than your gloss?

And the bright motion and the wheel rims look fantastic but not like any prototype that I've ever seen.

Sorry to sound negative but this is all headed into some strange "Emperor's new shunter" territory as far as I can see.

But rule 1 applies, so if you are happy with it....:confused:

Simon
 
flexible_coupling

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
I'm planning to convert it to S7 running with replacement rims in a few weeks time when I've moved and built a new workbench - I haven't touched anything on the chassis just yet, hence the stark shinyness - that will all be worked on at a later point. The gloss is present (and is to be addressed), but exaggerated with the artificial light. It has had one initial, very light and diluted, application of a black wash and it took a tiny little bit of edge off. I'll be spending some more time on the finish after the S7 mods - it really does look less stark in the flesh.

I think a part of me is more accustomed to seeing careworn, surface-rust-protruding relics in my part of the world and things did get a little out of hand...
 
BrushType4

BrushType4

Western Thunderer
Looking good though I think I would be tempted to flatten the texture a little with a fibreglass brush and retouch up the weathering.

I guess it's about knowing when to stop fiddling!
 
flexible_coupling

flexible_coupling

Western Thunderer
So.... in two sessions, I've returned to tidying up the little Fowler - and today, completed the S7 alterations. It had been very daunting - despite the relatively simple process and encouragement from Overseer - but I dove in and made it happen without a huge amount of hassle. Following the Fowler Power thread, I used a dremel - knowing that I'd be up for a tidbit of filling on the wheel rims anyway (and lacking a good jewellers saw) and ended up with only one tiny stray nick in a visible spot. The factory tyres are pressed with a W-shape groove on the plastic rim - a bit of care is required in getting the tyres off. A little bit of cleanup and painting/weathering below the chassis will come tomorrow - repainting the cab interior and carefully "working" on the weathered exterior paint that didn't completely come off the way I wanted.


I couldn't help myself but to run the first train on the two feet of test-track I have. Ignore the white on the wheels - filler still to be completely cleaned up and then painted over! Also - track and wheels aren't clean at present - but the silky Ixion mech with sprung front-axle is a gem. The itch to seriously model is returning... once a few other tasks are taken care of, I'll put my MMP 16t wagon back on the table.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
What's New?
Top