Garden Railway Forum

One of your best yet, but I'm biased. A big fan of the 73's, I was unaware that they had gone North. Your model captures the simple elegance of these machines perfectly. Hats off indeed!

invicta280 wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 10:52 pm “A big fan of the 73's, I was unaware that they had gone North...”

Thanks. I was amazed when I first read about the Caledonian Sleeper rebuilds. As CSL (above) explains, no doubt it makes perfect sense, practically and economically but I still think it’s a terrific story — and they look really good, too.

Andrew wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:43 pm

RobRossington wrote: ↑Tue Jan 12, 2021 3:22 pm Superb!

It is, isn't it? How's the painting coming on Bertie?

Nice to hear from you Rob - don't know if you've seen these, but they made me think of you? https://www.ebay.com/itm/Exclusive-Ffes ... 4587609038

Cheers,

Andrew.

Thanks Andrew, I have indeed seen those. There is one proudly adorning my work bag for all of Manchester to see

That's looking splendid Bertie, the colour's great!

Another absolute cracker from yourself.

You lending yourself to be our prime 'eye scale' modeller.

Thank you again for the kind comments.

It’s still coming along, slowly. Having to wait, each time I realise I need something, of course, for it to arrive in the post. Windows and lights to do next. I’ll have to ‘populate’ the cab(s) too.

Daylight and it’s looking ‘more blue’... (see above).

50s Japanese, printed-tin-toy-influenced decals for grills

The quality of your builds improves with each new model. Stunning!!

Rik

The painting and decorating just looks so crisp. Beautifully done.

That really is an absolute beauty, I love your work.

This is a stunning model. The curves on the bodywork are quite subtle but you have absolutely nailed it.

Thank you all, that’s very gratifying.


Oh deary me. Rule 17B (amended): Make sure all wires are cut, oh, twice as long as you think they’ll need to be. I didn’t do a separate chassis and bolt-on bodywork: the bogies are just attached to screw-in, rigid ‘floors’ at each end. I was feeling pretty smug about this, until it came to fiddling with the wiring. Next time...

That’s it though. A couple of minor repairs and it’s done.

And – it goes!

Thought for the day: It’s crossed my mind (and not specifically related to this loco really) to do, say, a battery-powered R/C goods van or brake coach (or both). You could then just build simpler, unpowered and much less expensive ‘locomotives’. Hmmm... [strokes chin, stares into distance]

BertieB wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 10:33 am ..... a battery-powered R/C goods van or brake coach (or both).

Here's one (or two) I made earlier......

In my case these were needed to power motorised locomotive models which were previously track powered having no internal space for battery packs. Each wagon houses a rechargeable power pack and Deltang receiver. There are on/off/charge switches and power input plug on the underside and output socket on the end facing the loco. Each locomotive has a trailing lead and plug. The system works very well

Brilliant, I love it. Squint, and your pre-spring garden could just about be Rannoch Moor or wherever it is the Sleeper goes.

I travelled on the Sleeper once, but got kicked out of the bar car because too many first class passengers wanted to use it. The guard hadn't checked my ticket, so I asked how he knew I wasn't one of them. "Well mate," he replied, "you don't exactly exude class"...

Your model, however, exudes class by the bucketful...

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 11:23 am “Here's one (or two) I made earlier...”

Ah, right... Very neat. I may well have seen those and it’s slipped into my subconscious. Lovely.

Andrew wrote: ↑Sun Feb 28, 2021 1:37 pm “...Rannoch Moor or wherever it is the Sleeper goes”

Thank you. Yes, the neighbours’ gardens look like the Chelsea Flower Show but ours authentically evokes bleak, windswept moorland most of the year.

BertieB wrote: ↑Mon Mar 01, 2021 8:49 am Thank you. Yes, the neighbours’ gardens look like the Chelsea Flower Show but ours authentically looks like bleak, windswept moorland most of the year.

I'm sure I've seen bluebells in previous videos? Not to scale, I guess, but they'll complement the 73's livery beautifully!