Happy Christmas.

A Very Happy Christmas to all visitors. Hope you all have a peaceful time.

Southern Brake Van

 The chassis is slightly different on this model. Unlike the Parkside kits of Brake Vans, this one has the axleboxes already mouded to the W hanger.
The pin-point bearings just need to be inserted in the moulded hole, I secured it with a smear of Mek which seems to hold it.
The outer side is shown below- this is from the sprue and I haven't read the instructions further to see if anything else needs attaching!

Southern Brake Van

 A better picture of the uneven planking of the van is shown on the right. The instructions suggest building the body and then attaching to the floor. However, as the floor is slightly bent, I have tried to make it withe the two being joined at the same time.
This has straightened out the floor to an extent, it remains to be seen whether this will bring it all square.
I must say that the detail is superb, just need to do a bit of distressing to the planking before I paint it, maybe it will bring out a little more detail.
By the way, I have visited Games Workshop and obtained the weathering paint in readyness for Tom Rayers visit to the Group in April.

Drewry 04 Diesel Shunter

If you were paying attention, I mentioned that this Worsley Works kit had been purchased at West Byfleet.
As luck would have it, this chassis in the photo has been prised from Nigel Cullimores hands to provide the wheels and motor/gearbox. The Worsley kit has a chassis and these wheels etc. will be transferred to the new build to provide the necessary power.
So have everything to proceed-all I want is the time!!

New Post on Teignford Today!

see:- 3mmscalestocklist.blogspot.com/

The Bachrus Saddle

 This piece of equipment is an absolute boon to those of us not able to have a continuous run layout.
Available from Finney and Smith-see link, this particular set can be used for 'n' Gauge up to '0' Gauge (Just). The basic set comprises of three saddles designed to attach between the rails of your chosen track- I have made a couple of plinths, one with 12mm track and the other with 16.5mm  00 gauge track.
The saddles come with a designated allen key and a couple of spare grub screws. Simplicity itself to install and use, the lower photo shows a Pannier being run in, I can keep an eye on it should it stall whilst running in front of me on the workbench. Highly Recommended!

Ten Thousanth Visitor

Over the last couple of days the 10,000th viewing of the blog occurred.
Thank you all for visiting, it is gratifying to know that there is interest in 3mm Scale. Also, I must be posting articles that interest you so please let me have feedback so I can continue with interesting themes.
Interest seems global, I have had viewings from Australia, America, Argentina, India, China and even Iraq- plus many others, the list is endless.
From a casual beginning, the blog has grown and thank you to all those who have taken the time to mail me with encouragement.

Atlas Edition Models

Atlas Editions at some time made several models which appear to scale out as 3mm models. There has been six or seven British outline locos including Flying Scotsman, Schools Class, Rememberance Class, West Country/Battle of Britain being the ones I can remember.
Of course Gresleys A4 Mallard is also one of the series as shown here. It is mounted on a plinth with a brass coloured nameplate and what appears to be 14.2mm track.
I have tried to take the thing apart with no sucess. The loco and tender are separate items, screwed to the base with four screws. However, when the screws holding the chassis together, apparently, are removed there the excitement ends. The chassis is stuck firm within the body and, not wishing to destroy what is a nice modelthe dismantaling process is stalled. A pity really as this would make an easy conversion, just having to make the chassis and attach the body.

Zvezda Soviet Truck ZIS-5.

 The third of the useable offering from Zvezda arrived recently. To 1:100 scale, this is a 4 wheel light truck reminiscent of an old Bedford.
Interestingly this kit comes with two sprues, one includes the six wheel chassis used on the Katyush-A kit described recently. So there is the possibility of modification already. Together with an exploded assembly diagram, this seems to be as easily put together as the previous two.
So when I have another few minutes to spare this can be made, and I have three of them-just plain greedy!

Southern Brake Van.

 A Cambrian moulding is used in this Society kit. I don't know whether it is me but the plastic seems a lot softer than that on the Parkside ones.
However, the sprues are well moulded with only a little flash. The Baseplate on this one is a little warped but hopefully this can be put right when assembling.
A couple of options are available to the builder, an early van with even planking or a later build with uneven timbers.
The (poor) shot below, cruelly enlarged, shows the difference. So choices to be made before assembly begins- Decisions, Decisions!

Dorset Group Meeting

Don't forget that our next meeting is tomorrow 10th December.
Had news that tom Rayer, The Weatherman who visited us at Westfest will show us how to weather our models sometime in April. Please visit the Dorset Group page- click on pages on the left.

Plate Wagon build continued.

 Carrying on from previously having assembled the body, we now turn our attention to the chassis.
The W irons have been opened out slightly for a snug fit of the pinpoint axle bearings. I used those available from Finney and Smith in this instance. Once these have been inserted, the spring and axle box moulding is attached on the outside of the W iron. The whole assembly is then glued in place onto the chassis. This one is very easy as there are numerous points to add Mek and make sure it is in the right position.

 The body and chassis are now securely stuck to each other- I have used MEK throughout, applied with a small paintbrush, you dont need much as the excess will run everywhere and there is a danger of permanently adding a fingerprint impression somewher-Yes I have done it!
The lower shot shows the brakegear in place-wrongly in this case as I didn't read the instructions before applying adhesive and letting set.
However-you wont be able to see it when its moving so it stays as it is.

Zvezda BM 13, Katyash A 1:100 kit.

 These kits are addictive! They are easily assembled in 20 or so minutes with little or no cleaning up of components needed.
The bonnet on this one can be modelled as open or closed- this will eventually have the hinged part in the open position allowing sight of the engine. The e3ngine moulding is somewhat rudimentary but it will make for something different.
The lower picture shows the rear of the truck, this will have to be thought about to find its purpose.
The other vehicle in the range is on it's way to me-that makes three useful additions to the vehicle stock.

Ex-LMS Plate & Double Bolster Wagon.

 Something a bit different. Hennock has few LWB wagons and I didn't posess this offering made by Parkside Dundas.
As can be seen, the kit comprises of five sprues and some excellent instructions, again by Paul Furner.
The history is quite detailed and references to building problems and possible modification are discussed.
Firstly, the two halves of the wagon floor and chassis are butt joined- this needs time for hardening to ensure a rigid structure.
The chassis is handed enabling the headstocks to fit correctly- get it wrong and they won't fit!

As seen on the left is the chassis joined and the headstocks in place. Once these are adhered the sides will be found to fit in recesses on the body part of the headstock assembly, These fit very neatly and parallel to the floor.
Next installment see's the chassis assembled.

Zvezda Opel Blitz 1:100 kit.

 About 20 minutes work was all it took to assemble this Zvezda kit.
Simply part the components from the sprue, all fourteen of them (the fifteenth is for the war game-so not needed). They are extremely well moulded and the detail is very fine. A word of warning, the parts press together and I exerted too much resulting in me breaking the rear axle whilst fitting the wheels.
All is not lost however as the part was just pushed back into position!
The windows are not for glazing, they are moulded onto the bodywork, they will look OK after they get the same treatment as the solid mouldings described recently.
I must say that for the money, these kits are worth every penny, those nice people at Shrewsbury Model Centre offer them for sale on e-bay and I would assume through their shop.
Several other retailers have them on sale so it is worth while spending a few minutes searching the retailers out.
Well, I won't be making the Rocket Launcher yet, I want to see how this one takes paint before embarking on the construction of that one.

Zvezda 1:100 Opel Blitz.

 Another aquisition from Shrewsbury Model Centre, in the same package is this kit, an Opel Blitz. Also a snap together kit, this one is moulded in grey plastic and produced to a very high quality.
Again the instructions are in Russian, although the exploded diagram is universal. This will easily be converted into something a bit more British.
I have one more kit to come which will be usable from this range. That is unless you want an army of tanks which are also made in this scale.
Zvezda have a Facebook site which gives details of forthcoming releases so I have asked that more of this type of truck or indeed any civilian subject be considered.
Recommended without hesitation, will be interesting to hear any others building these kits and to what they converted them.
Since writing this, I have found out that these vehicles are available from Finney and Smith- try the related sites link on the left.

People

This set of Railway workers is L9 in the Society range. Four workers and a barrow are all cast in white metal.
Needing a bit of work before painting, they are also a bargain at the same price of the set seen a few days ago.

Zvezda 1;100 kits.

 I dicovered these kits by chance on, I believe, Hattons website. I posted on the 3mm Society e-group about them and whether any others were available. At West Byfleet, Dave Finney showed me samples of them so I obtained some for myself.
Those very nice people at Shrewsbury Model Centre had some on e-bay, cheque sent and they landed on the mat two days later. Excellent service from SMCand they are to be applauded for their attention.
So, what do we have? This set of pictures shows a six wheel Rocket Launcher BM-I3 'Katyush A'. I got it to look at the possibilities for Anglisisation-Spellcheck anyone?
Two sprues of well moulded components, an exploded assembly diagram and a game card for the expandable game system Art of Tactic ' Operation Barbarossa 1941'.
As can be seen, most writing is in ,I believe, Russian. The whole catalogue seems to be available through an Austrian Company.
However, I digress. I think this could be adapted into an acceptable British prototype.
I also obtained another kit from Shrewsbury Model Centre but will tell more about this at a later date.

People

Set L9 in the 3mm Society range is this set of Drivers and Firemen.
They will need a bit of work doing to them before painting but at £1.50 for the set of six, three drivers and three firemen they have to be a bargain.

Worsley Works Drewry 04 Diesel Shunter

Looking to add another layout, I have been looking
at a small single board effort which would be ideal for
one day shows.
As a result, I think a change in motive power may be in order so, with a Hymek already in assembly, I looked for a small shunter to complement .
Having aquired some small wheels and a motor/gearbox this seems to be the answer.
Etched in Nickle Silver, these two sheets are extremely well produced. There are numerous fold lines etched on the rear to aid bending the curved bonnet.
Shown below and cruelly enlarged is the rear of the cab choices- the one I will use is the one with the chevron lines already etched.

West Byfleet and Square Wheels

 West byfleet was an excellent day out. Reached in just under 90 minutes, bonus was that parking was free a short walk away from the venue, a Methodist Church Hall. This year more space was available to enable a couple of layouts, from Peter Bossum and the Solent group, to be displayed.
The usual Society Shops and Traders attended which made an interesting meeting, and relieved me of some hard earned!
I had to see what the fuss about the square holed wheels was all about so obtained a set of 13.5 Dia. for use on yet another Pannier.
You get two wheels, an axle and two bolts and four nuts for securing coupling rods.
They look well made and I will hopefully be able to
give a blow by blow account of making a chassis
with these.
I already have a motor and gearbox to complete, so all I need now is some time.

West Byfleet Today.

No pictures today as we're off to the 3mm Society meeting at West Byfleet. There will be self quartering wheels/ axles available plus we are promised a sample of a new coach side from Andy Shillito!
This is the pre-Christmas meeting which gives us all a chance to stock up on those bits we need for the winter Modelling Season.
Undecided yet on what I need, mostly done on impulse or a good bargain may be had.
Hope to report on a sucessful meeting-

Regauging wheels.

 Another member, Peter,  is experimenting with 14.2mm. To regauge is fairly simple, pull the wheels out on the axle. To make sure they are the correct space apart, a wheel gauge is needed. Shown here is the one supplied by 3SMR, made of brass with a handle. A slot in the length for the axle to drop into, all you have to do is get the same amount of pinpoint axle protruding at each end!

Narrow Gauge in 3MM Scale

 Worsley Works are very useful if you want something out of  the ordinary, In 3mm they have produced a scratch aid kit of a Donegall Railcar. Designed to run on 9mm track it has been motorised with a Farish motor bogie.
Built by Dave Westall, one of the group members, he is also slowly making progress on a section of Irish Narrow gauge as a layout.
As Alan of Worsley Works says- if you want it then tell me. Recommended.

Coupling Rods

The coupling rods on one of my 45XX Prarie Tanks broke. So, what to do? Try and fabricate some new ones from bullhead rail?
No- appeal to the membership of the 3mm Society and there is usually a solution. Very coincidenally, George Mitcheson was about to etch some rods for one of his projects, he asked for the measurements and a couple of days ago these excellent replacements arrived.
Just a matter of fitting them, will post the result.

Hennock Cider Company

A close up picture of this log lived building which has had some updating. The original windows have been replaced with some that are more realistic.
One of the mechanical Horse Trailers is parked in the lading bay with a fresh consignment of the  product.
Also visible is the entrance to one of the fiddle yards, this shows the method of aligning the tracks and the conduction of electricity.
The crossing gates are those produced by Peco, not glaringly overscale and just the right sive to span a single line crossing.

Unashamed Theft-Well with Permission!

 At Weymouth MRE I met Stu and Steve, fellow RMWebbers. Stu had a lovely 4mm small layout, Drury Lane. I have been looking for some time to make a small, single board shunting layout and I think I have finally found what I am looking for.
Stu has kindly agreed to my copying his ideas- permissable bare faced theft is what it's all about.
Honestly, I can truthfully say that most ideas have been copied from others and most layout owners will have at least a small part that has been 'borrowed'.
So, not 3mm this time but a good idea for a small layout.

New coaches get a run.

 The first opportunity to run the completed Collet coaches was at last Saturday and Sunday's Weymouth Model Railway Exhibition.
They ran well with no wobble or crabbing.
The effort seems worthwhile and some positive comments were recieved.
I couldn't resist a few new pictures of 'Hennock' and one is below.
Several new exhibition bookings were made and now 2012 is fully booked- just have to send off the forms.