Been busy! The Rokuhan Shorty powered Class 158 (CMAC on Shapeways) now runs really nicely. Abandoned the magnetic coupler idea on this one. used the Short Rokuhan Rapido coupler in the original pockets to get them closed up. undeframe detail scratchbuilt. Tinted windows as per prototype The class 87 up and running. Again, another of CMACs, mounted on stretched Shorty chassis . Pantograph from Marklin BR 120. Finished as 87 008 'Royal Scot' but waiting for nameplates to arrive and the truck sideframes need painting. The EM1 Class 76 1500 v D,C Bo-Bo. as seen on the Woodhead thread, CMAC again and a stretched Shorty. Sandboxes added to the sideframes to hide the big gap. Two big brass ballast weights underneath Pantographs ex Marklin E44. Seen running a rake of empty MGR Coal wagons Don't feel as quilty now so I'm going to get the next two Class 37s finished. These have the modified nose end with the blanked off headcode panel. The Class 175 dmu will have a Shorty cut and shut and will have tinted windows (This hides a lot inside!) More soon Kev
So I have been having a dialogue with some of my U.K modelling chums and keeping them up to date on what I'm up too. " Er, Kev" one of them said " why are you building all these AC 25Kv electrics when none of your layouts have OHL Catenary on ?!" "Might want to model Norton Bridge in the Summer of 1978 when a gang of us from Chesterfield used to go over on Friday nights, railfanning, in Z, in the Future" Kev
Another productive evening yesterday This is one of Network rail's Class 37s converted to carry the new ERTMS onboard signalling system. Originally 37 178, it works on the Cambrian line which is now fully worked by the "European Railway Traffic management system". This is one of Ivan's second Class 37s design with the blanked off headcode panel in the nose. Brooklyn was 'Arranging' stock in the yard earlier and I need to point out the ladle cars, well and truly derailed. It was Brooks who suggested I did the colour scheme This 37 is back on the workbench tonight. I wasn't happy with the orange Cant rail stripe so I'm tidying it up a bit Republic Steel is going to be pitched to Railway Modeller magazine in its British guise so I'm trying out some scenarios for photographs The WD 2-10-0 on a semi-fitted freight (Vacuum braked) passes the British rail Green liveried 37. I have had to do some buffer repairs on the 37. the 3D printed ones are too fragile for show running The other Class 37 bodyshell with the blanked panel was sat, painted in blue with yellow ends, in a box. I had dithered about what to finish it as until I remembered the Anniversary train we ran to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of saving the Settle to Carlisle railway line. My word, the crowds were out for this one when we arrved at Citadel station! So 37 259 it had to be Seen doing what it normally did, Hauling an FNA-D Nuclear flask wagon this has caused me more work ! The flask trains are Always Double headed. My earlier attempts to do DRS locos are fairly crude and need updating to my standard today This is a resin cast Class 57 (Basically a Class 47 fitted with an GM 12 645 E3 Engine) and looks as horrible in real life as it does in the photo While I'm at it I might fit it with the Retractable Delner couplings to make it into a 57/3 Thunderbird. Still used to this day to rescue 25Kv AC trains on the west cCoast main line when the wires go down Here's one I polished earlier ( Last year's Open day at Crewe Gresty Bridge) more soon Kev
Tonights pic of the office light desk six variations of a class 37, A DRS Class 47 (upgrade required) a DRS class 57 (Upgrade and Mods)and two Class 47s need the red centres of the Marklin wheelsets painting black. No wonder my eyes keep going squilrly!
Thanks John for those of you who may be interested The British stuff has been on the backburner for a while due to other projects but getting a layout fit for a magazine concentrates the mind wonderfully! And.... All these locos and Rolling stock are destined to run on Tapton Junction, My last big layout project. Show organisers are waiting for it and once we get the wife's health sorted I really need to crack on Kev
An original Elmar Class 47 on a set of 3D printed HAA 'Merry go round' Coal hoppers pass the newly completed Class 158 DMU The steelworks yard is busy with Shorty powered Bo-Bo Switchers (stoneysmiths on Shapeways) and a Thomas Hill 'Steeelman' 0-6-0DH (Converted Marklin V60) as 25 319 (Ivan on Shapeways) on the afternoon Parcels I'm having fun doing this, The problem will be choosing the Pics for the magazin, there will be so many! I think a lot of British Z modellers will be astonished when they see what you can achieve in British Z. We always get a great reception when we take Republic to shows. So..resin cast clone of the Elmar 47 finished as 47 302 waits with the Steel coil train as 37 008 and 37 025 (Ivans design on Shapeways) pass with the Afternoon 'Enterprise'. The 158 DMU goes past on a local stopping train Back to the 47s and 57s I wasn't happy with. I discovered that even though the number decals had a finishing coat of Matt Lacquer applied if I applied Micro Sol and then Lightly, really lightly, worked it I with a Fibre glass pencil they came off without damaging the paint. The cabs are suspended one at a time into warm soapy water so that the main decals aren't touched (Really rare to get hold of since Steve from Lancaster models passed away) to soften up the Kristal Klear glazing and get it out More soon Kev
More from the photo session I had turned the entire layout 180 degrees to photograph it from the other end and get the natural light from the window 56 031 on a short train of four wheel tank wagons passes 47 170 on the Freightliner. The GWR King 4-6-0 escaped the cutting torch and waits to be restored 'Test coach Iris', a modified Derby Lightweight railcar passes 47 676 'Northamptonshire'. The coaches are 3D printed designed by Ivan on Shapeways with the lead vehicle, a BG parcel van acting as a translator coach. It has a Marklin coupler on one end and one of my magnetic couplers on the other. All of the other coaches have my home made magnetic Neodynium couplers. The same set of MkIIF coaches running behind 47 822 'Pride of Shrewsbury' as 47 170 heads the other way with a set of empty PNA wagons. These were built to carry breeze blocks (Cinder blocks) and were a set formation I've been in touch with Rokuhan recently about some spares and sent them some pictures of Hakuho which they were very impressed with. I don't think they have seen their rolling stock running on a full blown scenic layout quite like that. Tomorrow I'll set Republic out in Japanese form and do some uodated pictures of it with all the latest JNR stuff on it and send them a few of those as well More soon kev
That is such an awesome scene. Magnetic couplers sound like the would couple easy but can they be uncoupled with a magnetic pick or other means, or do you just have to pull them apart?
Just pull them apart. The only issue I have had is sometimes if you shake the layout and the most free rolling stock starts moving together and couplig up Obviously you need the magnets set with different polarities at either end so I have painted one polarity red and the other black. So the train is coupled up Red-Black, Red-Black etc The train of four wheel wagons is going to be fitted with magnetics next. My plan to use scale etched 3 link couplings just doesn't work reliably enough Kev
I wanted to keep the original decals intact on the 47 and 57 so I carefully removed the too large numbers with Micro-sol and a fibre glass pencil before softening the Krystal Klear windows with warm soapy water and picking ithem out with a cocktail stick. Tidied up the paint line between the yellow ends and the main blue colour. Tidied up the red buffer beams and put more accurate numbers on (From an N scale BN sheet) Painted the stainless steel kick panels below the doors. Had a nightmare with the railtec orange cantrail stripes and abandoned them in the end. . The 57 was converted to a 57/3 with the retractable Delner coupler. I didn't go nuts on it but it looks the part Finally each widow was flush glazed with thin Polycarbonate sheeet. God, it was fiddly! The 37s handrails still need painting white and they all need windshield wipers fitted This week I ordered Charlies EM2 Class 77 Not sure what chassis I'll fit under that yet Definite candidates for stretched shorty chassis are.. The Metro Cammell Class 101 railcar And the ugly Class 71 750V D.C Class 71. I don't personally like these but Charlie's done one so hey, why not. I had forgotten they had pantographs as well as third rail collector shoes until I uploaded this picture We had the preserved one at Barrow Hill for a while More soon
Kev, Really nice job tidying-up those locos! I can't believe you put wipers on these. Do you make them or are the from shape ways? I'd like to see your technique for mounting them. Scott
They were etched ones on a diesel detailing photoetched sheet I've had for years It included Sun shades, Grab rails, Wipers metc. I can't remember who did it but I know a lots of lads on this forum who will remember. Thin smear of Contact adhesive near the pivot paint suffices
“They were etched ones on a diesel detailing photoetched sheet I've had for years It included Sun shades, Grab rails, Wipers metc. I can't remember who did it but I know a lots of lads on this forum who will remember….” Kevin, I think the parts you used were from the BLMA “Diesel Details Parts.”
BLMA made a detail fret with various grab irons, lift rings, sunshades, and windshield wipers. Sold off to Atlas and discontinued due to the low volume of Z Scale detail part sales, someone else needs step up and make some more. I can't remember what all was included with Micron Art's GP38 detail set.
Rob, I have dozens of Micron Arts GP38 railing sets. My dad contacted Raynard and bought a whole bunch for the GP38. There are only railing and fan details included. I am going to sell these as soon as I get a chance to list them. Scott
Just arrived plenty to go at next week. Six Rokuhan Shorty chassis arrived from Osaka the day before Kev
Unless things change Republic Steel will feature in Railway Modeller magazine in the November issue and will be a revalation to many of its readers who are totally unaware that British Z exists. RM is the biggest circulation Rail modelling magazine in the U.K so it will be very good exposure for our favourite Gauge. The article will tie in nicely with its appearance at the Workington and Barrow in Furness model railway shows that month Kev
Congratulations indeed!!! It's also interesting to see and hear about the affection the British have for their rail system, history of their railroads, as well as model railroading. "The force is strong there....." Keep up the good work Kev!
