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

[James]

Despite many 7mm items for the NRM and a good few unfinished projects of my own over the last ten years this the first model for my own personal use I have finished! Wagon by Dapol, filth and load by me.



I've modelled in P4 since my teens, I'm 41 now, but I find handling larger scale stock much easier now - I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's in July 2023 so thinking very much for the long term.



I have something GCR in mind when we move in a years time.

My attitude is F*** Parkinson's so I'm very determined with this long term project.

 

[James]

RCH mineral wagon taking shape but I see (literal?) shortcomings with Parkside's brake gear.

 

[James]

My wife Kerry is taking part in Walk for Parkinson's 100 Mile Challenge to help fund specialist care for people with Parkinson’s, uniting with thousands of others, all passionate about improving life for people with Parkinson’s.



I was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson's in the summer of 2023 aged just 39 - this is a cause very close to us.

Please do consider sponsoring Kerry.

https://events.parkinsons.org.uk/s/25185/42977/w

 

[James]

The Family Wells popped up to New Bridge SB on the NYMR this afternoon. One of my best friends was working the box today.

We didn't travel this year, we can't justify £130 for two adults and two children for one day's travel.

Class 33



Class 55



The token exchange



NER Railcar



ALYCIDON returns



New Bridge SB and the signalman's transport!

 

[James]

Wigtown is one town we always visit when we're up this way Kirkcudbright is likely on the way back - there's a good record shop there! The plan had been to call there on the way up on Saturday but my leave was declined Thursday so we came straight from work - a twelve hour shift then five hours travelling! But we got here and in the morning greeted with lovely views



Yesterday was a trip to the Doon Valley Railway - absolutely fantastic drive there and back along the coast too!



It's a very friendly railway too.

 

[James]

We needed food shopping today and headed for Stranraer, popping in a at the Harbour station. If ever any location was a shadow of its former self then it's Stranraer Harbour.



The box is switched out for the majority of the time, so a look inside wasn't possible.



Even switched out there's a decent selection of mechanical signalling on display.

 

[James]

A nice little bargain - second hand Dapol BR van, as new, £30.



Even my wife comments how 0 gauge seems much better value for money than 4mm for items like this.

 

[James]

Interested to see what you do with the tarp, James. I wasn't really satisfied with my own efforts on a china clay wagon.

First step wrap the wagon in cling film a la Gravett. My wife helped me today as I'm having a bit of a wobbly day today



Apply PVA soaked newspaper strips; four 40mm x 140mm strips and one 30mm x 140mm strip for the top.



Leave to sit for a little while and then the ends can manipulated to shape.



Now to leave it a few days to dry.

 

[James]

First Iron Ore Tippler just about ready for painting. It's from the Peco kit but with few extras. The brake lever guards are Ambis but the levers are as supplied as they're really rather nice and fine. Brass strip was used for the tie bar (which need tidying at the ends) and brake safety loops.

The mouldings are really nice but the body sides being in multiple pieces seems a bit of a faff! It all goes together very well.

And it started raining as I was taking the photo!

 

[James]

Starting off 2026 with a trip to the GCR

 

[James]

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



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 -



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.




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



A decent start, moving to buffer beams next.

 

[James]

Two completed ex-LMS opens, both from ABS kits, the fitted one came from @adrian and the other was a nicely built eBay bargain (£10!) which I've repainted.

 

[James]

I hope I haven't done anything too silly with this one.



Latest eBay purchase, Steve Beattie class 24 kit, the later etched brass one. From what I can see it looks like a nice kit but I've never actually seen one of the brass ones completed only the earlier resin ones. I've seen part built ones but nothing actually finished.

The plan is to model D5000 as it was on the 3rd of September 1966. This was the final day of through services on the Great Central's London Extension. It deputies for a failed Black 5 on the final day of these workings, much to the disappointment of some photographers I suspect!

https://flic.kr/p/bSP1cp

I recall company called Highlander we're supposed to be taking on the Steve Beattie etched kips I can't find anything beyond what seems like the statement of good intentions.

 

[James]

I've been fitting Dapol screw couplings to various things recently and they look rather well.



However when coupled...



The gap is rather big.

Three links give a better gap.



And with the instanter link upright the gap is pretty much correct.



I just need a screw couplings option which doesn't break the bank!