Building an MMP RMB - a box of delights

[Heather Kay]

Here's the roof, in Rail Executive Grey. The Precision tinlet said "dull" on the label. I originally sprayed this, then felt the appearance was a bit too uniform. Roofs are usually anything but, so I used a flat brush to paint another coat, imparting a little texture. I think a little weathering for water runs, patch repairs and so on, and a dose of flat varnish, and the roof is done.

A quick question to the Mk1 experts out there - @Bob-65B I'm looking in your direction! - what would be a suitable colour for the outer door colour in the gangways in the late 1970s-early 1980s?

 

[Heather Kay]

It's odd how the digital camera won't render the blue hue correctly. Ready for masking now.

 

[Heather Kay]

Fingers crossed. Grey paint has been applied. I'll give it until tomorrow morning before if risk taking the masking off.

 

[Heather Kay]

Lookin' good. I plan to brush in the end corners, and there's a fair amount of retouching needed around the door furniture, but not bad at all. I'll let it air for a couple of days and then tackle the retouching and sort out the red catering stripe.

 

[simond]

Heather

For what it's worth, I reckon celly is easier than acrylics. Apart from the cleaning up afterwards, of course.

Best
Simon

 

[Bob Reid]

View attachment 55634
A quick question to the Mk1 experts out there - @Bob-65B I'm looking in your direction! - what would be a suitable colour for the outer door colour in the gangways in the late 1970s-early 1980s?

Rail Grey Heather - let down with a bit of white (some looked almost white in real life - for a short while ex-works anyway)!

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

red catering stripe

I remember travelling in these buffet cars but what I cannot recall is whether the blue/grey Mk1's had a white demarcation stripe similar to the Mk2's between the blue and grey or was this a later addition?

 

[Heather Kay]

The official livery should have the white line, and this coach will definitely have it! (If for no other reason it'll match the rest of Richard's fleet. )

Simon, I feel I'm too old to change my ways now. If a job needs celly, as some do, I defer to a professional.

 

[Heather Kay]

Letting the paint dry before I tackle the white lining. There have been some issues with parts coming apart, which is frustrating me a little, but not insurmountable. I've also tweaked the roof a bit so hopefully it'll sit better at the ends.

Now, to find out if I have suitable lettering for the ends of the coach! There's a fair amount of data tucked in above the bottom step, telling anyone who cares about the speed rating, heating systems and so on.

 

[Heather Kay]

I spent some time trying to bow pen line this critter. Part of the problem I was encountering was due to a mix of dull and gloss surfaces. I like to use a white gouache for the line, as it's easy to tidy up if you make a horlicks of things, but the gloss just didn't want to take the pigment. Another problem is the proximity of the window frames. If one is even a gnat's crotchet away from square the pen clips it. The answer is to subtly shift the white line further away from the frames, and hope any base colours can be covered later.

So, Plan B…



Apply the lettering (HMRS Methfix) to the sides, then get a nice evening coat of satin varnish on things. With luck and a fair wind the uniform finish will allow me to line the coach later this week.

It's been agreed I shall approach Railtec for the busy lettering at the ends. I need to confirm the catering end carries a note about the toilet tank fillers being t'other end, like the toilet end carries a note regarding the catering tank fillers. I think that made sense.

 

[simond]

Heather

Your call, of course, but new tricks keeps one on one's toes! (But it is a pita to clean up afterwards.). That said, I did my Toplights in rattle-can...

Have you got the new cat yet? We need photos. (Apologies if I missed them)

Best
Simon

 

[Heather Kay]

This is Billy. He is four years old, and as is our usual way was homed from our local Cats Protection shelter. He's been with us a fortnight, and is settling in really well. Loud noises spook him, although he is getting used to the front door bell now. He has adopted my work chair as a nice place to kip and watch what we hoomins are up to, and is allowed to carefully pick his way across the bench under supervision.

Being a longish haired domestic moggie, he does like cuddles and grooming quite a bit.

 

[mth]

I spent some time trying to bow pen line this critter. Part of the problem I was encountering was due to a mix of dull and gloss surfaces. I like to use a white gouache for the line, as it's easy to tidy up if you make a horlicks of things, but the gloss just didn't want to take the pigment. Another problem is the proximity of the window frames. If one is even a gnat's crotchet away from square the pen clips it. The answer is to subtly shift the white line further away from the frames, and hope any base colours can be covered later.

So, Plan B…

Apply the lettering (HMRS Methfix) to the sides, then get a nice evening coat of satin varnish on things.

Heather have you tryed the HMRS lining sheet 23?

 

[Heather Kay]

I haven't, I have to admit. I'm not a fan of transfer lining this days, though I don't think it was HMRS that caused that!

EDIT: I have ordered some HMRS lining.

 

[Yorkshire Dave]

I haven't, I have to admit. I'm not a fan of transfer lining this days, though I don't think it was HMRS that caused that!

How about a white paint pen if one is fine enough.

 

[Heather Kay]

I did consider one. I have one here. The same issue of avoiding frames and door furniture arises as the bow pen.

Anyway, an order to HMRS is ready to go. It won't hurt to leave things for a spell, as other builds are now calling to me.

 

[The Penguin Of Doom]

I used the Fox lining recently and found it was easy to use and very convincing for my needs.

Cheers.

Sean.

 

[Heather Kay]

I've used Fox in the past. After the last effort, where adjacent lines on the sheet were different thicknesses, I decided I was better off lining myself. For black and gold lining, that's just what I shall do. For white lining I've usually managed it with a bow pen, but this coach is proving a challenge and I've decide to try the HMRS sheets this time.

 

[markjj]

Years ago I used to use a Rotring draughtsmans drawing pen they are a bit hard to find today but they are still around and a lot cheaper than they were back then.
They used to come with a refillable cartridge that you could fill with paint and get perfect lines using a stepped ruler. If you use acrylic or ename paints in them you can wash them out straight away a bit like you do with an airbrush and using similar techniques to clean them. In the old days they came in a range of width sizes from 0.1mm up if I remember rightly..

Mark J

 

[warren haywood]

Heather, what's the problem with using good old white humbrol through your lining pen? It will go on any surface.
Failing that I can always line it at Telford if you wish.