Questions-Questions!

It's nice to be asked a question every now and then. Jim Barry, a fellow 3mm Society member asked for directions to the posts about 54/64/74XX Pannier Tanks.
Jim- i'm happy to oblige.
Some pictures to refresh first.

The basic shape.

Basic body added to footplate and society parts added.

The finished article.

Jim -search for rapid prototyping and all will be revealed.Plus search in the locos section.

Push-Pull coaches.

This shows how far I have gotten with the Driving Trailer.
As previously said, the joints are not as good as I had wished but some judicious filling should cure this.
The front of this unit is particularly difficult due to having the bow end with steps to align.
Possibly I should add the mountings after attaching the sides-Ho Hum!

Dorset Meeting June 2013.

Group members ahve other interests and here are a couple of examples.
Both to'O' Gauge they will form part of the Purbeck Modelling Groups layout of the Swanage Branch.
DAS clay is being used for the overbridge- each stone being carved out individually.
The lower picture shows the use of hand towels being used to cover the contour formers.
Whilst our group is 3mm focused, ther are things to be learnt which apply to all scales.

St. Agnes.

 I present today, some more pictures of Nigels rendition of t. Agnes in 3mm Scale.
Peco Hom track-12mm Gauge is used throughout.
The signal box has needed some modification due to more information being provided.
I am never ceased to be amazed by the helpfulness of the odelling fraternity in giving information to assist the building of a model.I know the amount of research made before St. Agnes was started but since that additional views have come to light.

Push -Pull set.

 Continuing on from the last piece about the Maunsell conversion, I submit a couple more pictures of the build.
This illustrates the way in which the waisting of the drivers/guards area is formed.
I had been filled with trepidation about this but the reality is somewhat easier.
Cleanliness is the key, give the brass a good scrub with the glassfibre brush, a smear of flux and add hot solder- simples!

DAS clay.

Whilst on the subject of buildings, I post a picture of a farm building that has been covered in DAS clay.
Colin has made this building to 4mm scale but I think it illustrates a point about the realistic finish that can be had by using this medium.
I have a chunk of this aloft and had been considering the way in which i could use it.
This small building has convinced me to have a go so the next structure for the farm will be a rendered building.

Static Grass.

 I have been interested in this medium for some time. Indeed I am looking forward to an exhibition where I can buy one of the FMR static grass applicators. Why? Well I don't have the time to build one which Colin, one of our group members, has produced. Basically he has bought an electric fly swatter from Maplins, a metal tea strainer from Sainsbury's ( other supermarkets are available), married the two together and hey presto.
The thatched roof on this cottage, albeit 4mm scale has been produced this way, and, I think it looks pretty good. Perhaps the photos don't do it justice because it did raise a few very complimentary comments at our recent meeting. Other points are the use of DAS clay for the walls- more of which anon.

Push Pull set.

Jumping on a bit- I usually forget to take photos as I go along-the Driving end has had the sides added. The sides are in two pieces, replicating the waisting of the brake ends. These were soldered together using a straight edge-metal rule-and the square cut outs provided in the etch to enable the difference in top width.
This was fiddly- asbestos fingers were worn at all timesand blue tack proved particularly useful.
Not particularly happy with the fit-my fault- but will hopefully look better when filled.

Worsley Works Maunsell Push Pull Driving Trailer.

Finally got round to making a start on this one of a pair of coaches to go with the M7 which has been relayed on earlier posts.
Once all has been released from the frets and cleaned up, the first thing is to attach the end steps.
This needs to be carried out first due to the fact that once the montings have been fitted, these would be impossible to fit. Simply folded up, the steps fit neatly into the etched slots.As can beseen, I have just added enough solder to retain them meaning less cleaning up before the next step.

Dorset Group Meeting June 2013.

 This months meeting produced quite a range of models being built.
These will be revealed during the coming few days but as a taster I include the front and rear shots of the station building on  Nigel Cullimores St. Agnes.
Instantly recognisable as the prototype, Nigel has successfully compressed the layout to manageable proportions but in so doing has lost none of the atmosphere of the prototype.
More pictures of this and other projects in later posts.