Peckett Body Build - First Attempt - NOW FINISHED Pictures page 6

[IanC]

I can only agree with Peter. Simply superb. Take your time with weathering and less is often more. I used "The Art of Weathering" by Martin Welch" to get me started. Other books are available. Most weathering materials can be washed off these days if you're not happy with the results. Use pictures for reference to see the shades and where rust and dirt accumulate.

[philipy]

What a lovely looking loco. You should be very proud, and personally I'd be tempted to leave it as it is, not weather it.

[ge_rik]

Wow! What a beaut! Even the lamp brackets have been modelled. Great stuff!

Rik

[BertieB]

It’s turned out really well, hasn’t it. Congratulations

[FWLR]

It's a very nice build Steve. Take your time with the weathering and it will turn out great just like the loco, your skill in building it is just fantastic.

[FWLR]

By the way Steve, you don't need to read or buy any books on weathering. Just look on Youtube and you will get so much more info for free. Weathering is a simple art really, just take you time, there is no rush.

[-steves-]

Firstly, let me say a big thank you to everyone on here, you have been a huge influence in this build and more so with keeping up moral and making me feel like it's all worthwhile.

Secondly............it's actually finished!

The weathering I have gone for is very subtle and purposely so. It kinda just looks mucky and a little bit of tiny rust coming through in places, but barely noticeable in the pictures, a little more so when it's in your hand in daylight. To quote a phrase, I am chuffed to bits with it, very very much so. I should also point out that the weathering was my first go with an airbrush (picture below) which my wife bought me 5 years ago now and I had ever grown a pair to use it until now. I pretty much went straight in for it, just using some newspaper as a test before applying. There are actually many layers of dark brown, light brown dirt, red rust and top coated with black and a matt lacquer, the end result is in my opinion quite a believable working loco.

[philipy]

To quote a phrase, I am chuffed to bits with it, very very much so.

As you have every right to be. It looks superb, very many congrats!

[tom_tom_go]

Well done, any video of it running?

[-steves-]

Well done, any video of it running?

Yes, just a little one.

[Peter Butler]

Now that's just showing off, expecting us to believe that is your first attempt at airbrushing too!......

[-steves-]

Now that's just showing off, expecting us to believe that is your first attempt at airbrushing too!......

Ha ha, there you go Peter, sometimes you just have to push the limits and see what happens. The backup plan was to respray the entire loco back to black again if it all went wrong. I have worked with Halfords spray paint up till now and used a normal brush for finer work. I could not believe just how easy it made the job. One of the airbrushes I found good for small work, like putting rust on one rivet and putting a fine mist of dirt colours on, the other one was good for the final matt top coat as the finer one would not push the thicker paint through it and gave a pretty rough finish when trying to cover a larger area. This build has probably been my biggest learning curve as it's all been a case of give it a go and see what happens, but I have seriously loved it.

With today's experience taken into account, I doubt I will ever buy a Halfords spray tin again for a loco. The airbrush was so easy to spray, so accurate and used so so little paint, I would say long term this will save me bucket loads, as I was getting through 2 tins of paint per loco, 1/2 a tin of primer, 1/2 tin of lacquer and a tin of the main colour, approximately £15 to £20 per loco!! (ok there may have been bits left in the bottom of each can, but not enough to do another loco that's for sure)

[ge_rik]

Another first, for you. This loco sure has been a learning experience. The outcome is excellent in many respects, but not least the sense of accomplishment it must give you. You have every right to feel proud of your achievements. My first efforts were certainly nowhere near as good.

Rik
PS why not pen an article for Garden Rail?

[GTB]

Well done. You've every right to be delighted with the result of this project.

I'm glad to see you summoned up the courage to try the airbrush. As you've now found, it can give results that are hard to get with brushes and close to impossible with spray cans.

I noticed you are upgrading your lathe, what are you planning to get?

Regards,
Graeme

[-steves-]

Well done. You've every right to be delighted with the result of this project.

I'm glad to see you summoned up the courage to try the airbrush. As you've now found, it can give results that are hard to get with brushes and close to impossible with spray cans.

I noticed you are upgrading your lathe, what are you planning to get?

Regards,
Graeme

Thank you Grame

The lathe that I plan to get is from Amadeal, the same as my mini lathe was (which has been sold today, I am now lathe-less until the new ones come into the country) Its called a AMA250AVF-550 Lathe (10x22) Variable Speed - with 2-axis DRO. The link to it is here, but the picture is not the exact one as it has 2 axis DRO on it. It has a separate leadscrew and feed rod, powered cross feed, tail stock can be offset plus a few more extra features.
https://www.amadeal.co.uk/acatalog/AMA2 ... html#SID=5

[-steves-]

Another first, for you. This loco sure has been a learning experience. The outcome is excellent in many respects, but not least the sense of accomplishment it must give you. You have every right to feel proud of your achievements. My first efforts were certainly nowhere near as good.

Rik
PS why not pen an article for Garden Rail?

Thank you Rik, the sense of achievement is amazing to be fair, anyone that comes to the house gets the loco shoved in their hands to look at

Funny you should mention doing a write up on it, but it was also suggested I do that by someone on facebook. With that in mind, I may well sit down and write something up at some point soon as I hope it will inspire someone else who really wants to try building in metal or even try airbrushing but is worried about what may be involved and give them the inspiration to just give it a go as most things are reversible.

[-steves-]

A bit of cab detailing now it's all done and working

[philipy]

Nice finishing touches.

[Peter Butler]

Nice finishing touches.

..... and having a driver in the cab make all the difference...... I can't stand runaway trains!

[-steves-]

Nice finishing touches.

Thank you. Just waiting on the wife making me a pack to go on the shelf, she is quite crafty so I guess a sponge sandwich or similar will be on the way at some point