The Garden Railway Workbench

[Martin Shaw]

Well, the promised imminent arrival was delayed, in the best traditions of used goods salesmen, but it happened eventually and the GW will now have to bow down to a proper railway engine which arrived today. A trial trip has been arranged.


In the real world this is an Accucraft Lyn, serial no 039 so an earlyish one, which apparently was bought by a gentleman who then never ran it, he had a collection of which several have never been used, unfortunately I wasn't quick enough to buy an IoM Mannin in similar condition. It is in mint condition, not a mark on it and the patina of steaming is missing so to all intents showroom condition, to further extend the already weak analogy. Of course the downside is that noboody knows whether it works but when all said and done it isn't complicated. Currently a manual control version I am looking at fitting RC, not too much spare space in the cab.

I have also bought the other brake composite for the Welshpool rake, again for a secondhand model previously well looked after, maybe a pic tomorrow if the weather plays ball after raking the lawn, and hedge trimming are completed.
Regards
Martin

 

[Martin Shaw]

I wrote this a month or so back,

I wasn't quick enough to buy an IoM Mannin

and then this happened.


An opporchancity that had to be taken and very pretty it is too. What I had overlooked is the large driving wheels and the relatively coarse control the regulator provides. It took off like a scared thing and nimble is no longer my middle name so there was a horrible noise as it left the rails. Fortunately the damage is limited to scratches in the paintwork however I'd appreciate some opinions as to a matching shade of green. The photo above is taken with flash which has bleached the colour somewhat so below is a pic in daylight.



I invite any thoughts, I will refrain from giving what I believe to be the name so as not to prejudice thinking.
Regards
Martin

 

[simond]

How deeply frustrating. My sympathy.

I can’t see the scratches but if they’re not too obvious, perhaps a wipe with the archetypal oily rag and treat it as a working loco?

best
Simon

 

[Martin Shaw]

Ah well Simon, I did photo the unscratched side for wanting not to embarass myself too much. It actually looks worse than it is and having to dismantle it for touching up means the R/c eqpt can get fitted tout suit rather than waiting for the winter. What's your thought on the shade of green?
Martin

 

[simond]

Ah, sorry to hear that.

I don’t think I can help with the shade. It might be something LNER-ish, but not my field at all.

In a previous employment, I needed to get an accurate colour match for a printed label which we fitted to our products (LiIon batteries) and which had to look good with the customer’s product (an eBike). We worked with a couple of graphics companies locally, and they had some clever apparatus that would analyse colours quite accurately, and allow them to match their inks to it.

This might be a way forward for you?

I’d happily give you the company name but a) I can’t remember it, and b) they’re in Poland, so probably not that helpful!

but a good car body shop might be able to do the same thing?

 

[Allen M]

Martin
An automotive paint supplier (a specialist not part of an all purpose chain) will have colour matching equipment and may be able to help. There is one in Dudley, name on request if it is near you.

Regards
Allen

 

[Paul Tomlinson]

Martin, Commiserations. Googling "Isle of Man loco green" gives some suggestions. Personally, I don't think it's "Spring Green", sometimes mentioned (with locos bearing black-and-white lining) which is similar to LNER green. To me, it looks like Malachite.

But as suggested, I would also try first with the paint-matching service, and if "I" wasn't then satisfied, I'd paint the **** thing Indian Red to show it who's boss.

 

[Martin Shaw]

My thanks all, useful suggestions however I have a tin of green paint which is a tad light and rather than waste it I thought to darken it down with a touch of black, it'll end up somewhere near. I'll take some before and after pics so you can all laugh.. If I had been a bit quicker off the mark an Indian Red one could have been mine, sometimes caution doesn't benefit, got to get this one sorted though before any decisions.
Martin

 

[David B]

I’ve always found Accucraft very helpful whenever I’ve had any questions - might be worth asking them for their holly green paint code?

 

[Martin Shaw]

David
I can only agree with you, Accucraft have been most helpful, except with a recognised shade number for "Holly Green", which I don't believe it is. I suspect it is a marketing name, much like the utterly appalling and overpriced Farrow & Ball. My decorator has some choice phrases about them, well marketed distemper is perhaps not too far from the truth. Since I am only touching in scratches I can live with a slight variation but I think a mid chrome green or perhaps the darker SR buildings green might be nearer. Some playing around might be sensible before committing myself.
Regards
Martin