No lines...No problem

This is one of those things that takes less time to fix than it does to complaint about. The Auscision Models N cars are very nice but for those who have the sets which feature the silver stripes there was one issue that caught the attention of many; the lack of stripes over the window 'plugs' in the BRN Snack Bar car. When the prototype cars were built the shells were pretty much all the same in regards to the windows. So when they fitted the Snack Bar in the BRN they simply fitted 'plugs' into the window spaces behind the serving area. In the Teacup and early V/line era these cars had silver stripes which passed through the window area and on the BRN they were panted through the 'plugs'. On the model this detail was unfortunately missed:

As you can see the fix to the problem is easy thanks to Bills Billboards who make a decal set to cover up the mistake. The decals are best applied in sections (in other words, cut the decal into 4 stripes and apply individually). The results speak for themselves:

Another small job I did some time ago was to paint the wheels on all the cars and the D van. You can't see it very well in the picture and in some way that is part of the point. Even when new the prototype didn't have chrome wheels. Again it is easier to fix with paint rather than complain about it.

A BCE, but no D

I have been waiting on a BCE carriage for some time, plenty of kits or RTR models have been sold on ebay over the years but have always been outside my price range. Thus when an opportunity came up to get one in return for building some SEM sheep wagons I jumped at it:

The model itself is a Northern Models kit which for it's time was quite good. However I want this model to be a close representation of 2BCE as it appeared in the VGR in the late 1980s. That meant the paint had to be stripped so a new coat of Crimson Lake paint could be applied:

As you can see, the paint was removed using Methylated Spirits and an old toothbrush. The underframe will simply receive a new coat of black after the under-gear is added.

The next update on this project should see the model painted and finished.

Another J-class? You are Joking right?

Seems not. I'm taking a break from building my oil-burning J-class so I can tackle some other projects. I did decide that if I could get a coal burning version I would get one. About a month ago an opportunity came up to purchase one at a good price. Money was saved and a couple of days ago I picked it up:

The model itself is quite well built and runs nicely. There are a couple of things that will change in time. Things like repainting the engine to represent J515 as it was running on the VGR up until recently (so the red flutes on the rods will remain and new numbers sourced). The cab interior will be picked out in the appropriate colours and a crew installed. A working coupler will be fitted to the front so it can be used with other locos and for shunting. It will fit in with my aim of having rollingstock that runs on the VGR while also filling a gap in my normal roster. Once the changes are made I can hopefully resume work on the oil version.

Looking a bit sheepish Part 2

After working on these wagons for a month, they have finally been completed:

They are now ready for delivery to the client. And the workshop is ready to tackle another project.

Looking a bit sheepish Part 1

I seldom build things for other people, most things I build are for me and replaced if I do a better job the second time round. However the opportunity to obtain a missing item of rollingstock in the collection in return for building some wagons is too good to pass up.

The wagons I'm building for the 'client' is some Steam Era Models L type sheep wagons. Released by SEM just over a decade ago, this kit is a challenge and is sure to put the builder in the nuthouse if they intend on building more than 5 of them. As I need to build 3 of them it was obvious the best way to tackle them is a staged production line. Each wagon is built to a certain stage and then the next one to the same stage and so on. Common sense to many I'm sure.

Here is a couple of progress photos to date. It has taken about a week to get to this stage as other life commitments take precedence:

As you can see 3 underframes have been built and 2 bodies built awaiting installation of the upper floor. Work will begin on the 3rd body and then all 3 can have the upper floors installed.

The Overdue, a tale of a long-winded project

Modellers in Australia have got used to RTR items taking a long time from inception to delivery. Some recent examples include the Eureka R-class and TrainOrama GM-class locomotives which took the best part of 8 years to be delivered. Things are somewhat different when you have more control over when a model is completed.

That has been the case with the latest model I have completed. The model was originally a prize at a social night swindle for the local model railway club Easter exhibition back in 2006. It was in black black plastic as it was obviously a sample for the importer who later went on to sell the same carriages in silver and only requiring decals. I decided plain black was not how it was going to stay and after comparing various other cars I decided to turn it into a Overland sleeper car. The paint went on pretty quick and at least one side received its decals and then the project stopped. Why? Well I put it down to a few things; in the time between when I last worked on it to now I have moved house twice and other projects took my interest so I was more into building items.

Last week I decided that it was time to get this car finished. The decals for the other side were fitted and finally sealed in with dullcote, and here is the result:

The model is a Frateschi sleeping car, painted and decaled with BGB Overland decals to make a near-enough sleeping car as they operated from the 1950s till 2000 when the livery changed to plain stainless steel. It now joins the carriage fleet as a fully finished item of rollingstock.

You rang for a U van? The sequel

With Easter coming up in a few weeks and the need to have some projects finished in time to run at the local model railway exhibition I have been pushing some easy jobs through. Painting the U van was one of these and it has now been completed:

As you can see the use of the Humbrol #100 red/brown is pretty close to VR wagon red. Funnily enough I got the tip from the SEM instructions for the FQX container flats, although at the time those instructions were printed it was actually Humbrol #110. It lends itself better to brush painting than other paints so it will probably be my paint of choice from now on now I have a colour that represents VR wagon red nicely. Focus will now turn to finishing the FQX containers flats and maybe a surprise carriage project.