7mm F*** Parkinson's - Occasional 7mm Workbench

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James

James

Western Thunderer
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Progress with the LMS fitted open. All the white metal components have been soldered in place, it gives me peace of mind knowing they're less likely to fall off!

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It's all coming together quite nicely - it rolls along very nicely on the Ambis units. Having a proper pivot for the compensated end makes it feel much more solid. I've never liked compensation units which ride on etched knife edges, they often feel 'floppy'.

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James

James

Western Thunderer
Kevin Johnson said:
James i applaud your approach to your parkinsons and the building of your 7mm kits. You have done some nice work on your kits.
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Thank you Keith :)

I'm stubborn which is helps no end - since July I've returned to working on my own, I was accompanied for around fifteen months while my medication was sorted - I was the first safety critical member of staff Network Rail had had with Parkinson's.

The lovely thing about modelling is that I forget I have Parkinson's :)
 
Class 27
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    • James

    James

    Western Thunderer
    Earlier this week I began to look at my Heljan class 27.

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    Overall it is pretty decent but there are various things I want address. I'm taking the same approach as I have in P4 for years when it comes to details. If I'm not entirely happy, it's improved or replaced - keeping the existing paint constrains this to a degree.

    The paint isn't as sharp as £650 should bring -

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    I like Heljan's diesels for the most part, the run very well but the level of detail is really no better than 00 gauge ready to run of twenty years ago - look at Cavalex's 4mm locos and you'll notice they're way ahead of Heljan.

    The roof on a model is seen far more than we ever look at the real thing so I'm replacing the fan grille with a Shawplan etch and fitting Modelu ventilators.

    To fit the new grille the hole in the roof needs reducing, by 3mm! I used three strips of 20 thou Plastikard for this.


    IMG_20260209_224111.jpg

    Once it was set I cut it down (and inside to allow fan unit to be reused) and smoothed and filled as required.

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    A decent start, moving to buffer beams next.

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    • T

    Terry

    Western Thunderer
    My elder brother was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years ago. Like you James he is determined to continue with his hobbies. Despite a pronounced shake in his right hand, he still plays his guitar in a rock band and, on those brief occasions when the shake stops, he grabs his paintbrush and paints his 20mm high wargaming figures. Good luck to you James. Keep at it.

    Terry
     
    James

    James

    Western Thunderer
    Terry said:
    My elder brother was diagnosed with Parkinson's a few years ago. Like you James he is determined to continue with his hobbies. Despite a pronounced shake in his right hand, he still plays his guitar in a rock band and, on those brief occasions when the shake stops, he grabs his paintbrush and paints his 20mm high wargaming figures. Good luck to you James. Keep at it.

    Terry
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    Thank you Terry :)

    My meds are certainly helping and keeping my tremor at bay most of the time.
     
    Heacham

    Heacham

    Active Member
    James said:
    View attachment 257438

    Progress with the LMS fitted open. All the white metal components have been soldered in place, it gives me peace of mind knowing they're less likely to fall off!

    View attachment 257437

    It's all coming together quite nicely - it rolls along very nicely on the Ambis units. Having a proper pivot for the compensated end makes it feel much more solid. I've never liked compensation units which ride on etched knife edges, they often feel 'floppy'.

    View attachment 257439
    Click to expand...
    There's something satisfying about building these ABS white metal wagon kits. It must be about 30 years ago that I built the LNER steel open and the LNER brake van which is just so heavy it seems to just glide along the track.
     
    James

    James

    Western Thunderer
    Heacham said:
    There's something satisfying about building these ABS white metal wagon kits. It must be about 30 years ago that I built the LNER steel open and the LNER brake van which is just so heavy it seems to just glide along the track.
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    Definitely!

    It's why I pack plastic wagons to match white metal wagons for weight, it improves the performance no end :)
     
    James

    James

    Western Thunderer
    The LMS fitted open is now complete and has received a coat of black primer - it's from 'The Colour Forge' which Boyes are now stocking. It seems to be very good.

    IMG_20260216_221028.jpg

    I've added safety loops which finish off eight shoe clasp underframes rather nicely.

    IMG_20260216_223134.jpg

    I gave it an initial coat of body colour - brushed on so I'll give it a second coat tomorrow. I'd normally have airbrushed it.but it's late and I didn't fancy having to clean the airbrush just before bed!

    And going to bed smelling of paint thinners might not be welcomed! :D
     
    paulc

    paulc

    Western Thunderer
    James said:
    The LMS fitted open is now complete and has received a coat of black primer - it's from 'The Colour Forge' which Boyes are now stocking. It seems to be very good.

    View attachment 257778

    I've added safety loops which finish off eight shoe clasp underframes rather nicely.

    View attachment 257779

    I gave it an initial coat of body colour - brushed on so I'll give it a second coat tomorrow. I'd normally have airbrushed it.but it's late and I didn't fancy having to clean the airbrush just before bed!

    And going to bed smelling of paint thinners might not be welcomed! :D
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    That's what the spare bed is for :)
     
    James

    James

    Western Thunderer
    paulc said:
    That's what the spare bed is for :)
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    Seems unfair for Mrs James to have to sleep elsewhere.


    Jim smith-wright said:
    Is that an etching primer? I looked but it wasn't very clear
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    Hi Jim,

    It doesn't state it's an etching primer anywhere -


    However it is intended for pewter/white metal type war game figures which are generally handled a lot.
     
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