Snapper Bar

Today I have started scratch building the interior for the snapper bar.

I have made the floor in 2 pieces, mainly because 1 piece was not long enough.

I have started with the bar end. The longer worktop.

The storage rack alongside the longer worktop.

Storage rack on the opposite side.

The shorter worktop.

Placed inside the carriage. 

Keith

6 Wheel Guards Van Part 3

This morning I finished the 6' 6 wheel brake van by adding the roof and stove chimney and painting them, and added a guards lamp and vacuum pipes.

Closeup of the 6 wheel configuration and the full length running board rather than the individual steps.

Pictured with the 6' 4 wheel brake van.

I have also added vacuum pipes to the other 5 brake vans.

Keith

6 Wheel Guards Van Part 2

Yesterday I started converting a 4 wheel guards van kit into a 6 wheel guards van by adding an extra pair of springs and axle boxes from another kit (the body of which I will make into a static van). 

Today I finished constructing it, added glazing, metal wheels and couplings, then painted it. 

I will add its roof, chimney and guards lamp tomorrow.

Keith

3 Compartment 4 Wheeler Part 3

This morning I finished off the 3 compartment carriage by adding the glazing to the windows, added some passengers. 

I attached a roof, and used some of the buffers I removed from the TT gauge tank wagons as ventilators on the roof.

I also added a pair of vacuum pipes.

Painted the roof and ventilators, and added the transfers.

Now added to the 4 wheeler set.

Keith

6 Wheel Guards Van

I have successfully added an extra pair of springs and axle boxes to the chassis of a 4 wheel guards van to convert it to a 6 wheel.
The advantage of the extra set of wheels increases the braking capacity for heavier freight trains.

Keith

Bolster Wagon with Rail Load

Today I lashed the lengths of rail onto the bolster wagon.

Keith

3 Compartment 4 Wheeler Part 2

Today I scratch built the interior of the 3 compartment carriage, and painted the interior.

Keith

4 Converted Tanker Wagons

These Triang TT gauge wagons and the 009 bogies and metal wheels arrived this morning. 

The wagons had no couplings on them so I got them at a very reasonable price.

The finished wagons with the one I converted in January. 

New bogies with metal wheels, and vacuum pipes fitted, and buffers removed.

Keith

3 Compartment 4 Wheeler

Another of the carriages from the job lot, and to think I was going to bin it.
Exterior painted, couplings and metal wheels added to this 3 compartment 4 wheeler, just needs some vacuum brake pipes fitting.
New metal wheels and couplings added.

This was its original livery, almost crimson and cream.

Repainted.

Added to the 4 wheeler set.

I will tackle the interior tomorrow before I fit a roof.

Keith

Stock Storage Boxes Part 2

Getting Some minor but none the less important jobs done, labels on the stock boxes.

My wife Jo hemmed the green cotton liners for each tray, and I stapled them in.

Keith

Works Train Part 3

Busy day today rebuilding this carriage which was part of a job-lot of steam road vehicles, assorted carriages and wagons I bought for the steam road vehicles. The original white-metal chassis, apart from not being lined up so that the wheel sets were at an angle, it didn't look too brilliant.

I have replaced it with an N gauge wagon chassis also from the job-lot , added some metal wheels, couplings, vacuum pipes, a new roof, and repainted it

I have added it to the works train.

Keith

Carriage Numbers

Today I added the transfers to the carriage I painted one side of yesterday.

I also numbered the other side of the carriage, its work train side.

Just one of the 4 wheelers with its numbers added.

I also added numbers to the other sides of the two 4 wheelers I have  left in their Indian red livery on the other side.

The completed 4 wheeler set.

I also numbered the bogie carriages.

I  recently purchased a Snapper bar, which I have repainted, added transfers and numbered. Each carriage has a unique number, even those with different liveries have different numbers for each side.

Keith.

Double Use Carriage

This afternoon I painted one side of this brown carriage, so its brown side is seen when it is in the works train.

It now has a crimson/cream side for addition to my 4 wheeler set.

I think it fits in with the other 4 wheelers rather nicely. 

It still needs its transfers, but I have left them for tomorrow to allow the paint to harden fully. 

Seeing as it is slightly longer than the other 4 wheelers, I am going to make it first class.

Painting each side differently can cut down on costs of buying lots of rolling stock and having space to store them, and if your rolling stock is viewed from one side on the layout.

Keith

Cill Markers and Signs

Today I added the "Keep boat forward of cill marker" warning signs on the top lock gate beams and the cill markers on the lock-side. 

It has taken me 12 years to find a decent one to photograph!

Keith.

Mushroom Vents

Yesterday I was wondering how to make 4 mushroom vents. 

Searching through my bits box I found this sprue with 4 suitable nodules.

I cut them off, glued them to the roof and painted them and the 2 cross-members fitted yesterday.

Keith.

2nd Barbecue Part 2

Today I made the barbecue grill and charcoal tray. 

I then painted the brickwork with the mortar colour. 

Once dried I then painted the individual bricks. 

Once that was dry I glued in place the 2 side slabs, the grill and charcoal tray. 

The finished barbecue is now in it's place at Hadarford Lodge.

Keith.

Cross Beams

Yesterday I added the 2 cross beams on Hadar's roof which the original builder of the model had left off. 

I had to remove the 2 mushroom vents he had fitted as they were where one of the beams had to go. 

I need to make 4 mushroom vents somehow, need some thought about that. 

I have given the roof an initial coat of paint, a tad difficult with everything stuck on the roof!

Might need a few more coats to bring it to the standard that Jo paints the real roof!

Keith.

2nd Barbecue

Today I started to build a 2nd large barbecue (the 1st was for the Boat Inn) and is for 

Hadarford Lodge.

Keith.

Solar Panel.

I have added a temporary solar panel on the model of Hadar.

I need to print it on photographic paper, but I have run out.

Keith.

Pigeon Box.

New pigeon box for the model of Hadar, the colour isn't quite right. 

I will have to do some work on that.

Keith.

Life Belts Part 5

Today I fixed in place the 2 posts and 4 brackets at various locations around the canal and attached the new life belts.

Keith.

Life Belts Part 3

This evening I have started to create hanks of rope for the new life belts.

I started to pushing 2 headless pins into a piece of wood, space 6mm apart.

Then I tied a loop in the end of a length of cotton and looped this loop around one of the pins.

I then carried on wrapping the cotton around the 2 pins 10 times.

I then tied a half hitch around the loops.

I then wound the cotton around the loops to the other end and tied a further 2 half hitches..

Removed from the pins.

Attached to the life belt. I have done 6 of them, I have 3 more to do.

I have also created various hangers to hang the life belts on.

Keith.