On Heather's Workbench - Premier Line Backwaters

[Heather Kay]

Things are progressing quickly now.

The roofs have been primed. The underframes have had their first coats of black, and the bogies have had a coat of paint brushed over them. Once things have hardened off nicely, I'll refit the bogies and get a weathering coat on them.



I mentioned before I planned to follow the lead of the real thing during painting. To that end, the bodies have also had a coat of matt black applied. This will hopefully give the carmine lake a good deep colour without needing too many coats. Once the top coat has dried, then I'll brush paint the upper panels, over a matt white undercoat. This may take some time.

John Lewsey has kindly lent me two of his LNWR coach models so I can study how the lining has been done. I may sneak some photos of them while they're here.

I have a feeling that in between bouts of painting I shall make a start on preparing the next builds on the bench.

 

[taliesin]

That looks stunning Heather LNWR lining is not for the faint hearted and the roofs just look so good the way you have done them, regards Rob

 

[Heather Kay]

That looks stunning Heather LNWR lining is not for the faint hearted and the roofs just look so good the way you have done them, regards Rob

Thanks Rob! I did some LNWR stuff some years ago, a couple of 6-wheeled coaches for a friend of ours. They were the old PC Models etched kits, but turned out not too bad in the end.





They're on coarse O wheels, as our friend was mainly a coarse scale modeller. We learned later he'd had them converted to FS wheels so they could run on his club's layout. I have a feeling I misinterpreted the words by Mr Nelson regarding the lining on the lower panels, and it was one heck of a fiddle lining around the waist panels. Hopefully I can do better this time.

 

[Heather Kay]

I bit the bullet and got carmine lake on both bodyshells today, two coats' worth. Things are now under cover and will dry thoroughly overnight. The underframes have been given a quick coat of rattlecan matt enamel varnish. I've reattached the bogies temporarily, and might venture back into the paint shop to apply a light coat of grime over things tonight.

I had a fun hour or so, trying to work out why the letters A and S were applied to solebars in the LNWR period. None of my references, um, refer to the letters, so some educated guesswork has been applied. It's all very well applying the letters to the models, but I like to know what they mean, and why they are where they are. Here's my reasoning…

Looking at photos of coaches before the application of electric lighting, it's pretty obvious the S is missing. If you go back far enough, even the A is missing, which implies the latter letter has something to do with automatic vacuum brake. This seems to fit with the photographic evidence where you can see vacuum cylinders beginning to appear as the automatic braking system is adopted over the previous non-automatic system. At the same time, aligned with the vac cylinders, on the sole bar appears the capital A.

The S seems more enigmatic. It's obviously something to do with the introduction of electrical lighting, as it only appears with battery boxes and dynamos. Anything with gas lighting doesn't have the S. It may indicate the use of the Stone's patent electrical system, but that's purely conjecture on my part.

 

[Mike W]

Good guess Heather about the solebar letters. The A does indeed indicate the location of the release cord for the automatic vacuum brake. The S is the shut-off for steam heating. In the period of your models you need both - on both sides of course. For the 30ft 1in 6-wheelers above, they had neither when built, but in the condition modelled they are correct in having both. I don't think either of your carriages will have been dual fitted (Westinghouse and vacuum), but if they had been there would also have been an arrow pointing downwards.

Best of luck with the lining. Should consist of a 3/8in wide yellow line on the edge of the beads, with a 1/8in white on either side. Personally I think attempts to include the white on small scale models makes it look too heavy, so some people lighten the yellow a tad and leave out the white. Even so, 3/8in is not much in 7mm. There should also be a 1/8in white down the very end of each side and along the very bottom bead of the side, and another around the edge of every door, but again, if you can't get anywhere near a scale 1/8, it might be best to leave them off, or at least those around the doors.

I know my limitations and don't attempt LNWR lining myself at all, so hats off to you for attempting it.

Mike

 

[Heather Kay]

I know my limitations and don't attempt LNWR lining myself at all, so hats off to you for attempting it.

Ha! Thanks Mike. I'm only slightly mad.

Work is currently progressing on undercoating the upper panels. I was rightly concerned about the door ventilator hoods. If you don't fix them exactly in the right place, or leave a mess of glue or solder round them, they end up looking very untidy. Probably best, if attempting this in future, to add painted ventilators after painting the body sides. I think I'll end up leaving the vents marooned in a sea of carmine lake, rather than a mess of spilt milk.

I know what you mean about lightening the yellow line, but I think it tends to look too bright. I'm considering my options, but I'd like to get a colour closer to the ochre in the photos further up the thread. For fine white lines, I dusted off and spent an hour cleaning up one of my old Rötring Rapidographs. It must be nearly 20 years since they were last used in anger!

 

[Heather Kay]

Here's the state of play right now.



I'm going to have to be patient and let the white undercoat dry thoroughly before I attempt a second coat, or the top coat. Inevitably, there is some tidying up on the lake I'll need to do, no matter how careful or steady I think I am.

At least they're both beginning to look like LNWR coaches now.

 

[Heather Kay]

While paint was drying I set about the passengers for this little train.



Apart from the Tommies (ABS) and the driver (Bits Box), this motley bunch of tiddley peeps is from S&D Models' Phoenix range. The three characters on the left had to have their arms fixed on, holding their reading matter. One of the soldiers had a choice of heads, so I went with the "battle bowler" one, and the driver had positionable left arm and head. He's to stand in the driving cab, so his odd stance would fit with him peering out of a window.

I'll get some primer on them today, and begin painting them later, while paint - and possibly gloss varnish - dries on the body shells.

 

[Mike W]

Heather,

"Middle chrome yellow" has been mentioned to me as the correct prototype colour, but don't ask me what model colours match that!

Mike

 

[Heather Kay]

Middle chrome yellow. I'll have to see if I can find a match, although I am referring to Graham's photos for the most part.

Here's how things are with the bodyside painting. Splodgenessabounds. (I think you have to be a certain age to get that. YouTube link if you feel brave. )



As you can see, I went over the lines a few times. I can't even blame festive spirit. The lighter panels have been undercoated with matt white, then a couple of coats of thinned "spilt milk" from Phoenix Precision. Comparing this colour with the sample on the tin lid, the latter is a fair deal bluer than the finished result, but I prefer this colour. (Bear in mind the camera's own idea of what a colour should be, but this isn't a million miles away.)

To overpaint the lake, I've carefully painted matt black as an undercoat over the worst excesses of my splodginess. While I let that go nice and dry for a day or three, I set about the motley crew (oh no, is that another 1980s pop music reference?) in readiness for their comfy seats.



Two City gents, Lesley Masterson and Eustace Farquar, study their morning papers, while a Miss Emily Brownlow catches up on some light reading. Charles Timpson looks a bit the worse for wear, probably after a night out on the town with his old school chums.



Sir Christopher Beardsmore-Lewisham, a well-known eccentric landowner on this line, seems intent on being very naughty with Mrs Agatha Frensham, widow, intent on a day in London with her oldest friends - and not Sir Christopher. Mr and Mrs The Hon St John Singleton-Featherstone appear to be on their way to the city for an evening at the theatre.



Private Arnold Crump and Lance Corporal James Trent, of the 42nd Light Foot & Mouth, are making their way back to barracks, having completed their mission escorting a military prisoner to Colchester. The other two escorts have gone off on a 48-hour pass for some well-earned time with their sweethearts. Driver Albert Barnes is a regular on this branch, working on lighter driving duties after nearly forty years on the Nor' Western, man and boy.

One or two little details to finish up, like the driver's jacket buttons, but these merry folk are ready to fit once I have the interior parts done.

 

[john lewsey]

just to show the different techniques show in the finish I did check with Heather before posting this

 

[Heather Kay]

That's smart, John. Thanks for posting that.

 

[john lewsey]

 

[Mike W]

For me, John Petcher's work is something to aspire to, and copying his lining should be accurate, like this:
http://www.modelmaker.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/
click on the "for sale" tab and then any of the carriages.

Note the white line around the doors does show up well, and the vertical down the corner of the carriage.

Mike

 

[john lewsey]

We can only do our best

 

[oldravendale]

I sent an order in for some CPL brake telltale castings on Monday. They arrived today. Another prompt service.

No piccies, so far, today. I've been out in the great outdoors today, on the semi-regular trip to Wisley Gardens for photographicating plants.

I have a question, though. Well, more of a conundrum, really. I've pored over the few motor train photos of LNWR vintage I can lay my mitts on, and I can't work out whether the driving trailer ever had the brake telltale fitted externally. On the model in question, the non-driving end is the end with the handrails and steps, and I am pretty certain telltales were not fitted to that end. So, it could be deduced that lack of evidence is not evidence of a lack. Alternatively, the telltale could well be fitted internally to the guard's compartment/driver's position.

What does the team think?

Hi Heather.

I'm catching up with your postings now I have an hour or two. (Bread making going on in the kitchen and Mark Lanegan on the CD player. The half full glass of St Peter's Golden Ale by my side. Bliss!) Please forgive my comments on yours which passed by several months ago but as I wasn't a member then I couldn't ask the question.

I have bought CPL parts for some while now. I like their couplings and detailing parts and have used the brake tell tales on three or four projects. Very well detailed parts too. However, regrettably, in all these cases the tell tale flags at the top edges of the coaches have broken off over time due to handling - they catch on any stray material easily. This decided me, in the case of the Maunsell push pull set, to build the brake tell tales from scratch which has proven to be much stronger. Granted it takes a bit longer but there is the benefit of the rod work being circular and in some cases my modelling ability means that the detail is less but overall the result is, IMHO, a lot more robust. I'm pleased to post some detail pics if it helps to demonstrate. (And if my camera equipment is up to it - won't compare with your pics I'm afraid).

I'm interested in your thoughts and comments, and the last thing I want to do is take business away from Pat Legg - in fact I used her purchased etched tell tale as the pattern from which I made my scratch built version. Of course, my time is my own and I don't cost it and there's no doubt that doing it my way took longer than fitting the ready made version.

I hope you can bear with me on this. I'm only this far through your postings so you can anticipate some more questions as I go through them. Super photos though and very easily understood descriptions. Thank you.

Brian

 

[oldravendale]

Today, I finally managed to make some progress on the trailing coach underframe. By some point tomorrow, all the pipework will be complete, the couplings in and both underframes should be set for a coat or two of paint.

I need to brake the trailer bogies, and then I shall have to figure out how to fit the roofs. I've got cartridge paper on the driving trailer roof moulding, but there are some fit issues with matching roof profiles to etch profiles I can't quite work out at the moment.

As for the interiors, I've decided there's little point in printing out and fitting the door and window areas. You can't really see far enough inside the coach to tell anything's there, so I shall simply paint in a suitable colour. The partitions and seats, however, will be visible. I've got a nice selection of cast seated figures to populate the coaches, too.

I'm glad to see the idea of printing seat covers is catching on. Those 121 seats look suitably loud! There might well be mileage in trying to get good, clean photos of most of the various kinds of seat cover patterns from all the various railways so more accurate representations can be made.

Here I am again, Heather!

Actually, not a question or comment on this super build - and I've learned a lot - but a thought (and since I don't have them very often I must write it down NOW!) Do you think someone might produce prints of these seat covers of different types? Now, I have a scientific background, but PC's really elude me apart from e-mail. In fact, I was well nown for the use of Tippex on the screen and slinging the things across the room when they didn't work. (Ask Steph - it's true. Well the last bit. I didn't actually use the Tippex). However, CAD eludes me. As far as the inside of the Maunsells is concerned they are a plastic insert, painted in approximate and blocks of colour. They look OK to me but will not satisfy anyone else. I even have the mirrors and photos to go in to the compartments but as the interiors were never going to be as detailed as the exterior they were never fitted. The same applies to a pair of LMS suburbans built a while ago. If there were printed versions of coachj interiors available I, for one, would use them.

Does anyone else have the same problems (modelling problems only, please) and see a similar answer?

Brian

 

[oldravendale]

A little while ago, Mr Dog Star Beare was on a visit to the NRM in York. Being the thoughtful bod he is, he remembered some discussion hereabouts concerning LNWR liveries, and made a point of taking photos of the various painted bits of Royal Train the museum has on display. Not only that, he allowed for the vagaries of the lighting in the museum and had the foresight to hold a sheet of A4 plain copier paper in the field of view so a colour balance might be achieved later.

Graham's kindly agreed to let me reproduce the images here, with the proviso that I outline how I went about balancing the colour.

Now, how did I do the colour matching?

 

[oldravendale]

You can't get rid of me that easily!

This is wonderfiul stuff to me. I spent a lifetime in film and baled out when it became obvious that film was dead on it's feet and digits were the way forward. I was probably the very last person on earth using a film camera. Anyway, even I have now gone digital and your description here of using colour balancing is masterful. I don't have the same software as you but will be looking at how to do this on Photoshop - I think it's possible although maybe not with the same degree of refinement.

Best regards.

Brian

 

[oldravendale]

Sorry about the attachment of the full text of Heather's post here. You note what I said earlier about my skills with electronic media! However, I can get my head around how to edit back the text on which I want to concentrate so it won't happen again. Well, not often.

Anyway, at the end of the day these vehicles look superb, Heather. Thanks for taking me through the building expeience.

Once again, sincere apologies.

Brian