Chas's workbench
- Thread starter Chas Levin
- Start date
Chas Levin
Western Thunderer
Thanks, and totally agree about the look of it unpainted! Someone said the same thing on another forum too, where I put some pics. It's the black and brass thing, isn't it? I have to paint it though, otherwise it would always look unfinished to me.
I'll take great care not to use too thick a coat anywhere and obscure detail - those walkways on top of the tank, for instance: they'll be a challenge!
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Chas Levin
Western Thunderer
Happy New Year everyone - I hope everyone had a good break and plenty of whatever they wanted - turkey, telly, modelling...
My Airfix-Masokits Esso build is almost ready for final assembly now:
I say 'almost' because I'm not happy with the slightly off-centre positioning of the oval' Esso' transfers and I'm going to strip and re-do them, though they can be fixed on last of all, so I'll start of assembling the rest of the wagon.
I found all the transfers for this vehicle a little more problematic than usual: the tiny lettering for the solebars I had to make up from bits and pieces on a 3mm Methfix sheet and cutting and fixing individual letters in that scale and into a solebar recess was a little tricky, though I managed most of it in one go, with only a couple of sections needing re-doing.
The large 'Esso Petroleum' with symbols and running number was less troublesome than expected - as you can see though, I took the easier option of using the complete piece with '3300', rather than cutting off that number and using one of the other numbers provided, which would have made it a little more varied than other models but also involved more alignment issues!
The oval 'Esso' was the most troublesome of all, in term of getting it central on the oval 'shield' shape: I managed to tear one of the pieces, trying to move it round and although I hid the tear fairly well, neither transfer is really central. The transfers are slightly larger than the brass piece, so they need to be really properly central and then trimmed... but without being able to move them around from the front, it's difficult assessing placement from the rear.
I probably should have given the black painted ovals a few coats of Klear first, which might make the transfers easier to manoeuvre, but does anyone have any tips for positioning oval transfers like this?
My Airfix-Masokits Esso build is almost ready for final assembly now:
I say 'almost' because I'm not happy with the slightly off-centre positioning of the oval' Esso' transfers and I'm going to strip and re-do them, though they can be fixed on last of all, so I'll start of assembling the rest of the wagon.
I found all the transfers for this vehicle a little more problematic than usual: the tiny lettering for the solebars I had to make up from bits and pieces on a 3mm Methfix sheet and cutting and fixing individual letters in that scale and into a solebar recess was a little tricky, though I managed most of it in one go, with only a couple of sections needing re-doing.
The large 'Esso Petroleum' with symbols and running number was less troublesome than expected - as you can see though, I took the easier option of using the complete piece with '3300', rather than cutting off that number and using one of the other numbers provided, which would have made it a little more varied than other models but also involved more alignment issues!
The oval 'Esso' was the most troublesome of all, in term of getting it central on the oval 'shield' shape: I managed to tear one of the pieces, trying to move it round and although I hid the tear fairly well, neither transfer is really central. The transfers are slightly larger than the brass piece, so they need to be really properly central and then trimmed... but without being able to move them around from the front, it's difficult assessing placement from the rear.
I probably should have given the black painted ovals a few coats of Klear first, which might make the transfers easier to manoeuvre, but does anyone have any tips for positioning oval transfers like this?
Chas Levin
Western Thunderer
At long last the Airfix-Masokits Esso tanker is finished:
Delayed by various things as usual, lastly through difficulties with those large oval Esso logos! got tyhere in the end though.
Here's a sequence showing tank fittings appearing on the body:
And here are a few more of the finished wagon:
Lastly, a quick question about spring maintenance: do people usually oil the springs and bearing carriers in sprung wagons? This is my first sprung build and I've always (sparingly) oiled all moving parts, so it seems natural to me, but I wondered whether particular rules apply in 4mm springing techniques...
Delayed by various things as usual, lastly through difficulties with those large oval Esso logos! got tyhere in the end though.
Here's a sequence showing tank fittings appearing on the body:
And here are a few more of the finished wagon:
Lastly, a quick question about spring maintenance: do people usually oil the springs and bearing carriers in sprung wagons? This is my first sprung build and I've always (sparingly) oiled all moving parts, so it seems natural to me, but I wondered whether particular rules apply in 4mm springing techniques...
Chas Levin
Western Thunderer
Thanks Matt!
Chas Levin
Western Thunderer
Thanks Adam; I haven't applied any yet, thought I'd wait and see what other do. I hadn't thought of graphite, interesting idea. What about the type of very light teflon grease sold for model gears, or would that gum it up? Part of the reason I'm considering it is fear of the steel spring pieces rusting over time...