Painting and Weathering Service

[Mountain Goat]

Very nice work. A real tallent there.

[Brian]

The owner has the same hopes.
Glad you are still happy with yours Brian. Did you ever fix the lights?
I noticed Hornby had a 71 in the visitor centre for only £80 a week ago!

Yes. I had to get a new PCB from Hornby. Apparently there is/was a known fault with the original batch of Class 71 loco's PCBs ------ Guess what? Yes it caused the lights to fail!! Hornby were excellent and sent a new PCB free of charge and it is now installed and all working correctly

[Steve M]

Glad you got that bit sorted, just hope you didn’t scratch the paint getting the body off.

As I mentioned, the next project arrived yesterday. A Hornby Black 5 for renumbering and lining.
Checking the model over, I can see that a previous owner has given it a dusting of weathering powder and, I think, matt varnish on the smokebox.
Shame I can’t just pop it in the dishwasher - some gentle washing will be the first step after dismantling.

20191109_102844 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

Hopefully we can get it to look a little like this one I photographed a few years ago.
Fortunately, I have photos that show lined versions with both the late and early crests so I won’t need to change that.

9926AD36-2FB5-44F5-98BB-1E0AF46E9E9E by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[Steve M]

It took three attempts to get the weathering powder off the body shell - every time it dried, I found a bit I’d missed. The transfers from Fox Transfers arrived this morning but the granddaughter got in the way of any progress - maybe tomorrow.
In the meantime I did give the running gear a quick clean and lube.

20191112_201850 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[Postman Prat]

Hi Steve
Looks good, in particular the coal level in the tender.
The FOX transfers appear to be good although I've never used them. I got some Change Identity packs from Modelmasters a couple of years ago - haven't used them yet, but they look good..
SWMBO is in the middle of a 'purge' in the loft, brought about by having to put all of the EFE/Original Omnibus models out of the lounge up there so the floor can be refurbished. She wasn't best pleased when she found all of those magazines. In trouble again.

Does anyone want almost all Railway Modellers 1961 to about 2015 (?) and Model Railway Constructor from 1961 to about 1980

[Walkingthedog]

I think the coal level in the tender is a work of art.

[Steve M]

I think the coal level in the tender is a work of art.

I have to agree with you Brian. At some point I will put up a clearer photo as it is definitely a good example of how it should be done.

[Walkingthedog]

Sorry about the weathering powder, I only applied it dry.

[Steve M]

The coal level in the bunker.

20191113_113842 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

I made a start by removing the old numbers with a drop of IPA and a cotton bud then resprayed the cab sides. I had to mask the small ‘5’ as I didn’t order any from Fox Transfers. Then added the first of the lining but I’m not looking forward to the ones on the edge of the running plate.

20191113_114603 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

[Steve M]

Two steps forward, one step back. Struggling to get the lining on the running plate right - not helped by the transfers being slightly wider than the space they need to fit in. I have some more on order from Modelmaster to see if they are any different from the Fox version.

Boiler bands have gone on ok for the front four bands - slight confusion though as the only photo I have found of 44773 doesn’t show the banding while other photo shows of the class show the front band missing while others have bands on the firebox. PP, I can take one off or add more - your choice.

20191114_102901 by Steve Mumford, on Flickr

The cab numbering was also annoying - the transfer sheet has the first three numbers as a preformed block leaving you to add the last two numbers individually. But when you soak the first three it turns out that they are individual numbers that separate and float off. And there’s i was hoping that alignment would be easy.