Hi Guys! I'm back...have you missed me?
It's been a very busy first few weeks of the year for me work wise so I've hardly been home to the Fens and I've not seen much of the layout. I have however been busying myself constructing kits and working on small projects so this will be more of a workbench based update. I keep scribbling down and mulling over possible future plans for the layout and some of my latest ideas are very exciting and different. I'll keep them in my head for now but if you think the current layout is bonkers then "you ain't seen nothing yet!"
Big news first...Becky bought me some official RUSH socks for Christmas! footwear by the ultimate masters of Canadian Rock. It simply doesn't get any better than this...Oh Yeah! - Hellfire!
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| RUSH Socks - The perfect gift! |
On My Workbench
I'll start with the workbench in Alton. Those randy armoured cars have been at it again. I turn my back for a few minutes and another one comes along! I now have 7 Saladin and Saracen models going through the paint-shops with another few kits still to finish. The military train project has been an ideal way to just spend a few hours messing about with glues and paints. It's just like rediscovering your childhood...marvellous!
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| Kits n' Bits awaiting painting and deployment to their Units! |
And of course if these vehicles are to be part of a train then I'll need some wagons for them. I have assembled and started painting a small batch of Dapol Lowmac wagons. I will need something more substantial for the heavier armour so I will be purchasing some Warwell kits to add to the ever expanding rake. Don't worry, there will be full details in future updates you lucky, lucky people ...Dreadful!
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| Dapol Lowmac assembly |
PROJECT TAT
Answer me this... If the 1960s transition era of the railways is such an ever popular time period for modellers, why has no manufacturer produced a die-cast or plastic kit of the iconic British army truck for the period? We have numerous versions of the classic WW2 AEC Matador and Bedford QL but no model of the classic late 50s Bedford RL 3 ton covered truck despite them being manufactured in their tens of thousands (74,000 to be precise) and being the standard military truck for well over a decade. Its scandalous I tell thee! So what am I to do? I need some army trucks which look right for the period.
"What a load of old tat"
I decided I would have to be creative if I was to have a TAT - Typical Army Truck. I purchased an Airfix model of the Bedford MK which was the vehicle which replaced the RL in front line service during the 1970s, with a view to doing a conversion and possible cab swap. The rear body of the MK is superb and together with the typical raised chassis and chunky 4x4 stance all it needed was the RL cab. There was the option of purchasing the RTI (Road Transport Images) resin casting but at £8.00 each this was going to get too expensive. Then it dawned on me. What if I could find a cab from another British truck manufacturer of the period which would look acceptable grafted onto the MK chassis but would be cheap to purchase.
I grew up in Basingstoke...it's sad I know but I don't expect your pity! One of the great names in British commercial vehicle manufacturing and indeed British military vehicle manufacturing was Thornycroft who just so happened to have their factory in...you've guessed it, Basingstoke. In fact, I lived in a house just a stones throw from where the factory once stood. It wouldn't be too far a stretch of the imagination to envisage a scenario where Thornycroft, through previous connections, also had a large slice of the standard British army truck orders and manufactured a vehicle with the standard GS style rear canvas body as used on the Bedford RL.
A quick check on the Hattons site showed they were selling the original releases of the Base-Toys 1950/1960 Thornycroft truck with the tanker body at only £2.50 each. I placed an order for one to use as a guinea pig. Then I noticed the Airfix Bedford MK kit was available on line for only £3.99 so a plan started to formulate. My initial dabbling at creating a hybrid look very promising. The Thornycroft cab even resembles the bulbous nature of the Bedford RL. Once the prototype is finished I'll show you how I got on. In the meantime I have placed bulk orders for Thornycroft and Airfix kits and another production line is about to start.
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| The ingredients for Project TAT |
Being the efficient ever resourceful type of chap that I am...yeah right! I find myself with 2 workbenches. Forget 2 Jags! 2 workbenches is where it's at! The Jones-Towers workbench hasn't seen a lot of use so far this year although I did do some weathering work on some wagons on New Years day. Having received some of the newly released Humbrol weathering powders I thought I'd give it a go with some bog standard 4 wheel box vans. For a first attempt I was quite happy...they are filthy - just as they should be...Dreadful!
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| First attempt at weathering using powders |
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| First attempt at weathering using powders |
Traction Action!
Nothing new to report here I'm afraid so I thought I'd add the links to the new clips on my YouTube page featuring the Class 37 in all it's glory. If you are not sure how the Corkscrew-Lines is laid out then these 2 clips will show you everything you need to know. Now be warned...these clips are about 9 minutes long each so only really suitable to connoisseurs of Tractor action. They are shot in stereo and high definition so enjoy!
And just for fun, have a look at Corky in the Helix!
There are now 9 videos on the YouTube page which can also be accessed via the Video-Vault page on this site.
New Arrivals on the Corkscrew-Lines
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| Christmas arrivals! |
Sarah (with a little guidance from me) bought me a large collection of Mk1 coaches for Christmas. I noticed a few retailers were obviously clearing old stock and some coaches were available for only £12.00 so I compiled a list and now have almost 2 complete rakes of SR green stock ready for the start of SR passenger services on The Corkscrew-Lines. Hellfire!
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| Mk1 coaches |
Full Sized Railway Adventures
I'm not sure if any of you have noticed but it has been snowing recently! Just to finish off I've included a few snaps of the action on the Alton line this past week. Fortunately the Signal Box central heating and kettle have been working just fine!
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| Farnham Station |
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| Alton Station |
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| From Farnham Signal Box |
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| Alton Station |
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| From Farnham Signal Box |
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| More RUSH socks in the Box! |
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| 66 025 with the Fawley to Holybourne Tanks - Farnham |
That's all for now folks.
Next time I will probably be moving on from armoured cars to army trucks and finishing some of the wagons needed to transport them. I'll show you how I fit the kadee couplings and add some additional weight to the lightweight Dapol Lowmac wagons.
Until next time,
Corky
