Slater's 4 Wheel Coach Build Finished

  It has been a long long time since the last update,  however I have not been unproductive.  There has been some good progress on both the railway,  and an important new piece of rolling stock.  Railway updates will be coming soon when I have more photogenic progress to show.

 I have now finished a project which took much longer then anticipated,  but I'm happy it's finished.  The first coach for the BBR is complete and ready for revenue service.  Okay it does need a bit of weathering,  but otherwise it is complete.   I decided to go with 2 different liveries,  as the coach is almost exclusively viewed from one side at a time.  It was a complex kit to build,  but overall very enjoyable.   Last point,  praise for Slater's,  as the kit was missing 1 of the roof lamp castings,  and they supplied the missing part to me super quick,  and for no charge.  

 Overall I would recommend this kit.   Well designed,  fit of all parts was excellent,  instructions well written with helpful diagrams,  price is very reasonable.  Made in the UK  :) 

Vintage Thursday

For Vintage Thursday this week we have 2 beautiful O gauge models built by C. G. Wright.  From the November 1961 issue of Model Railway News.  The Caption reads " From an era when "O" gauge was king and things smaller were slightly infra dig,  we bring you pictures of two locomotives that will remind the younger readers that good modelling is nothing new and,  perhaps,  instil a little nostalgia into the thoughts of older ones."   And that was in 1961 !   Stunning models out of the past.  LSWR Drummond  T14, and LSWR Adams  G6.  I wonder where they are now ?

Christmas in May !

  After a long hard day at work,  what could be a better welcome home then the following sight ?

My Minerva 57xx Riveted Pannier Tank,  a GWR Iron Mink van,  plus  the G0G May Gazette,  and Niki guarding it until my arrival :) 

 The 57xx is another super model from Minerva,  had a quick test run on the railway.  It runs super smooth, and is very quiet.

 So what is a Col Stephens line doing with a 57xx ? Well that's a good question. There has been an extension added to the railway, which was planned. The line now cuts through a wall and into an adjacent closet to form a fiddle / storage area. That will represent a connection with the GWR, or S&D depending on what mood I'm in. The Boxer Bay Railway commences at "Windrush Junction" and curves off heading for Boxer Bay docks. At least that's the story I'm sticking with.  Now I need to get up my courage and have a go at weathering a loco or two,  wagons I enjoy,  locos make me nervous !

Slater's 4 Wheel Coach Build Update

 Quick update on my Slater's 4 wheel coach build,  chassis is all complete except a few minor details to be added after painting.  I substituted the supplied brass steps with my own made from Evergreen styrene plastic,  which made it easier to fit onto the supports.  Chassis will now be primed & painted black,  then I can start work on the coach body.  Overall it's a nice kit that has gone together well,  but it has taken awhile and I'm happy I only need to build 2 of these,  along with a MR bogie coach for my coaching stock.  Layout updates coming soon !

Vintage Thursday

 I know it's been a long time since an update,  and there has been a lot of progress on both some layout related projects and rolling stock,  so updates will be coming shortly.   

 For now,  I had to share this beautiful magazine cover art,  from Model Railway News  August 1960,  artwork by George Heiron.  How exciting is that for a cover,  makes you want to buy the magazine just for the cover,  unlike most of today's rather bland and uninteresting covers where the image is mostly obscured with lots of headlines about RTR reviews and exhibition reports.   

 What I would give to be able to paint like that !

Slater's 4 Wheel Coach Build 1

  Operating the railway over the Holidays,  there occurred to me something obvious was missing from the Time Table !  Ah yes,  we've got the station and platforms built at Windrush Junction,  but we haven't any Coaches to form the 9:15 to Boxer Bay !   The Railway has been officially opened to traffic now for over a year !   Col. Stephens to the rescue !    He has secured for the B.B.R., 2 nice 4 wheel coaches,  in good condition,  and not badly priced.  They're a bit old,  built in the 1890s.  but no matter,  a quick spruce up (build up) and they'll be as good as we need.

  This is my first coach kit,  a Slater's GWR 3rd Class Diagram S9  # 7C04.   GWR constructed most of these from 1891 to 1902.    This coach is destined to be painted and lettered for the B.B.R.,   GWR enthusiasts just turn your heads away and don't look !   I like the style of these coaches,  and I think they'll fit in with my free lance light railway.  The Kit is multimedia, plastic body and details,  brass details and chassis parts,  Lost wax brass fittings.   So far construction has been fairly straightforward and I'm enjoying it very much.  Directions are okay,  a few more photos or diagrams would have been useful.   For £79 or about $100 USD,  I believe it good value,  as Mansell wheels are included.  Still deciding on a paint scheme,  but I'm close to a nice dark blue with black chassis,  very similar to the S&D livery.  When in doubt,  copy the best !

A quick look at some of the main components of the kit

Construction so far,  going together better then I thought it would,  approx 1 hour into the build