Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

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FWLR
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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by FWLR » Tue Feb 07, 2023 12:31 pm

Agree :thumbright: That's a nice look loco. Great job on the surgery too. :thumbright:

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by Sylvian Tennant » Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:25 pm

I've been looking forward to seeing one of these done up. Great work.

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by Sylvian Tennant » Tue Feb 07, 2023 10:26 pm

I've been looking forward to seeing one of these done up. Great work.

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by Phil.P » Wed Feb 08, 2023 10:24 am

Forgive my ignorance, but what/how have you altered the proportions?

Thanks,
PhilP.

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by BertieB » Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:36 am

Thank you kindly!

I did have a look at the real, cut down Class 08/9 versions, as Andrew suggests (there’s a picture on the BR class 08 Wikipedia page). Ironically, their rebuild would have been constrained by the full-sized wheels and higher running plate — the lack of which I was complaining about regarding Diesel.

I also had to reduce the width of the loco (see below) and build a new cab to fit, so my roof is not quite so ‘flattened’. I’m kind of surprised that I was able to get away with it.

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by BertieB » Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:49 am

Phil.P wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 10:24 am “…how have you altered the proportions?”
As delivered, Diesel measured (in mm) 168H x 115W x 324L but its wheels appeared to be undersized and the running plate too low, which also appeared to exaggerate the length of the overhangs at each end. I thought it looked a bit weird.

To sit comfortably with my existing rolling stock (and track) I needed to cut 20mm off the height and 12mm from the width (from the centre of the body and 6mm plus from each side of the supporting chassis moulding). To adjust the proportions to more like a Class 08, I then needed to lose a fair bit of the length too; say 20mm plus, off both the front and rear overhangs. Helpfully, the original cab appeared too long anyway, so building a new, shorter cab wasn’t a problem.

I was limited in where I could remove ‘featureless space’ from the body sides, so the front overhang wasn’t touched (and the wheels are still too small, of course) which makes the revised version look, perhaps, a little long in proportion, with roof sides that aren’t as steeply pitched as you’d expect from an 08 (see above).

I’m sorry, this answer is probably unnecessarily long, detailed and tedious (but I’m not writing it again).

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by Andrew » Wed Feb 08, 2023 1:00 pm

BertieB wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 11:49 am I’m sorry, this answer is probably unnecessarily long, detailed and tedious (but I’m not writing it again).
We're railway enthusiasts! "Long and detailed" definitely isn't the same thing as tedious!

Personally, I really enjoy getting a glimpse into the minds of fellow modellers. As long as the train of thought I find there are in the correct livery and displaying appropriate headcodes, of course...

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by Phil.P » Wed Feb 08, 2023 2:06 pm

Not tedious, at all.. After all, I did ask!

The shiny-black model looks 'wrong' to me, but I don't know why..
A waft of matt-black, and rail-dirt, from a couple of feet away, would probably help?

I mainly asked, as I don't see the joins! - Which is the point, I assume? :lol:


If I can get over my 'fear of failure' I would love to have a go..
PhilP.

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by BertieB » Wed Feb 08, 2023 6:14 pm

Andrew wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 1:00 pm "...a glimpse into the minds of fellow modellers"
I feel suitably chastened. So, just to illustrate just how off-the-scale nerdy I can be, here’s the amended, annotated plan / cheat sheet / mood board / user guide, I assembled as the rebuild began.

Not followed exactly, of course, for all the usual reasons (too hard and/or mistakes). I’m not pretending to be making any sort of accurate model here, just something that looks the part and fits in with the rest of the stuff.

shunter_v2_spreads.jpg
shunter_v2_spreads.jpg (170 KiB) Viewed 7063 times
The drawings are hardly altered, it was about establishing the differences between the original and Diesel at the size I wanted it to be

Phil.P wrote: Wed Feb 08, 2023 2:06 pm "...matt-black, and rail-dirt, from a couple of feet away, would probably help?"
Well, I agree. If you’re not constrained by the dimensions of existing rolling stock, tight clearances on garden railway bridges or whatever, you can as you say, embellish and repaint or weather Diesel as it is. It doesn’t have to be chopped up and resized.

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by BertieB » Sat Feb 18, 2023 10:17 pm

09_1593_800.jpg
09_1593_800.jpg (435.34 KiB) Viewed 6960 times
I’ve seen a photo of a real one actually with a yellow cab

09_1615_800.jpg
09_1615_800.jpg (507.17 KiB) Viewed 6960 times
Not glazed yet, run out of Canopy Glue

Here it is in vivid, disruptive camouflage — sorry, I mean ‘a fanciful, late development of’ the Rail Blue scheme. That bit in front of the cab in yellow is (partly) an attempt to disguise the length of the bodywork in front of it. Not sure it’s really worked.

The loco will be trundling slowly, with the odd wagon or two, to and from the ‘Semi-scale BR dockside sidings’ which, I suppose, are hidden behind the shrubs at the bottom of the garden. And Wikipedia says that Class 09s were geared to run fast enough (27mph) to be able to do branch line goods. Excellent.

09-33_1627_800.jpg
09-33_1627_800.jpg (249.79 KiB) Viewed 6960 times
It’s kind of a companion piece to the previous Class 33 effort. Neither are wired up so far — but I do have the bits

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by FWLR » Sun Feb 19, 2023 9:11 am

I really really like these. Superb colours Bertie. Well done. :thumbright:

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by ge_rik » Sun Feb 19, 2023 5:40 pm

Spot on!!

Rik
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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by BertieB » Mon Feb 20, 2023 8:33 am

Thanks very much! I’m plotting what else can be painted blue…

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by Andrew » Mon Feb 20, 2023 9:08 am

BertieB wrote: Mon Feb 20, 2023 8:33 am Thanks very much! I’m plotting what else can be painted blue…
The Bulleid "Spam Can" - would look rather nice in "large logo" blue livery... Or the earlier variant of Network South East, with the swooping stripes at each end???

The shunter looks great - I look forward to seeing it and the 33 in action. With the 73 and the Thumper, you've got the makings of a Southern Region diesel gala...

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by BertieB » Tue Feb 21, 2023 9:22 am

Andrew wrote: Mon Feb 20, 2023 9:08 am “…you've got the makings of a Southern Region diesel gala”
My thoughts exactly, thank you.

However, I’m afraid I can’t agree that “the Bulleid ‘Spam Can’ would look rather nice in ‘large logo’ blue livery” — not to mention, in the hopelessly naff “Network South East, with the swooping stripes at each end” scheme.

I remember being extremely disappointed when the then fairly new and sensible, Class 455 EMUs (let alone elderly slam-door stock) started to appear in the ghastly NSE livery, rather than BR blue and grey. Late 80s, I suppose. It turned me into the cynical, table-thumping critic of crap corporate identity I am today.

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by Andrew » Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:49 am

BertieB wrote: Tue Feb 21, 2023 9:22 am However, I’m afraid I can’t agree that “the Bulleid ‘Spam Can’ would look rather nice in ‘large logo’ blue livery” — not to mention, in the hopelessly naff “Network South East, with the swooping stripes at each end” scheme.

I remember being extremely disappointed when the then fairly new and sensible, Class 455 EMUs (let alone elderly slam-door stock) started to appear in the ghastly NSE livery, rather than BR blue and grey. Late 80s, I suppose. It turned me into the cynical, table-thumping critic of crap corporate identity I am today.
Well, I guess those suggestions were a little tongue in cheek...

But... I do recall being quite excited by the launch of NSE - I remember the the press launch (presumably from the evening news?), featuring a newly re-liveried 455 and a loco-hauled set gliding into Waterloo in parallel, and thinking that was pretty cool. After a lifetime of blue and grey (or just plain blue, ugh!) EPBs, I was ready for a change, and NSE livery certainly made them easier to spot in the distance from the D floor classrooms art school, but I will concede that, in retrospect, it wasn't a great look for the older units. If I had insane amounts of money, enough to buy and restore an EPB (probably in the top 20, maybe top 10, of my unwritten fantasy restoration list), I'd paint it blue and grey...

If I had enough change to own and restore a Spam Can (top 100 on the list, maybe, there are a lot of 'em already), I think I'd go for malachite green...

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by Sylvian Tennant » Wed Feb 22, 2023 5:14 pm

I love it.

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by BertieB » Mon Feb 27, 2023 2:00 pm

Andrew wrote: Tue Feb 21, 2023 10:49 am "... those suggestions were a little tongue in cheek..."
Me too. Well, a bit.

The Lymington branch (for a ferry to the Isle of Wight), continued using two mid-60s, 3CIG, slam-door EMUs, as a kind of ‘official’ heritage railway, long after they had disappeared elsewhere — one in green and the other in blue and grey — neither in NSE (or SWT) livery you’ll note. Both looked great, in my view. Here’s some pictures (not mine):

https://bobfostersrailgallery.weebly.co ... ranch.html

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by Tropic Blunder » Thu Mar 02, 2023 6:05 am

Fantastic work Bertie. It really does make you wonder though why Bachmann couldn't release theirs looking like yours to begin with! The "as delivered" model is so out of proportion its not even funny which is a bit disappointing because I was contemplating buying one at least to make a "near enough" Victorian Railways F class. At least you've proved with some careful cutting it is at least feasible
Jake

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Re: Semi-scale BR: The Modernisation Plan

Post by BertieB » Thu Mar 02, 2023 10:53 pm

Tropic Blunder wrote: Thu Mar 02, 2023 6:05 am “The ‘as delivered’ model is so out of proportion it’s not even funny…”
Thanks. Bachmann, presumably deliberately, chose not to follow the proportions of the original. It seems perverse. They don’t appear to have been limited by any obvious practical or manufacturing issues. But I suppose their intended customers aren’t you or me or members of this forum.

The same applies, of course, to the other locos in their Thomas range, usually to an even greater extent. Makes an interesting comparison with the Hornby approach, where they stuck faces on generally recognisable or plausible locomotives. Weird.

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