Garden Railway Forum

Phil.P wrote: ↑Sun Jul 10, 2022 6:19 pm With all these kits now using laser-cut acrylic:

Is it worth giving the faces a very fine rubbing down before assembly?
I am thinking it will 'key' the surface, for when you come to paint?

Hi Phil,

Yes, that's the plan -I think it's recommended it the kit instructions. I've resisted much rubbing down up until now, because I'm quite enjoying the novelty of a see through loco!

Once I've finished the basic bodyshell (I'm nearly there!) I plan to prime it to see if any further filling is required, then work on all the details before more priming and painting.

I'm not sure yet, but I might pause for a bit when the first phase is complete - there are several projects I put to one side to focus on the loco, which I possibly ought to get back to. Then I could detail the new body as opportunities arises me over the coming months, and put the old RH body back on the chassis in the meantime. Of course, all of my planning is pointless really, whatever happens will do so because it suits the mood that I happen to be in...

Cheers,

Andrew.

Hi all!

Been on holiday (Mallorca, but the wrong side for the lovely trains and trams), so slowly catching up with GRF posts.

I spent a little time yesterday fiddling about with a little gizmo to hold the on/off switch and charging socket in place on the KS diesel.

Here's the finished thing, which I'm quite pleased with - it's not beautiful, but it appears to do the job...


Here it is bolted to the floor through the hole which accommodated the driver's seat on the Hercules, and with the switch and socket in place:


And with the body in place, demonstrating how the switch and socket are accessed through the front hatch...


That's all for now!

Cheers,

Andrew.

Andrew wrote: ↑Fri Jul 22, 2022 11:34 am

And with the body in place, demonstrating how the switch and socket are accessed through the front hatch...

Very neat and workmanlike. Well done.
How will you hold the cover in place?

philipy wrote: ↑Fri Jul 22, 2022 12:52 pm Very neat and workmanlike. Well done.
How will you hold the cover in place?

Thanks! It's unusually well designed for me...

The cover has a chunk of 5mm foam board on the back, the same size as the hole, so it kind of plugs in. Seems to work pretty well...

Room under the bonnet for a tiny magnet if required?

Peter Butler wrote: ↑Fri Jul 22, 2022 2:25 pm Room under the bonnet for a tiny magnet if required?

Good thinking!

I've got some, somewhere, so will bear that in mind as the build progresses...

Morning all!

Here's the latest progress on the diesel, with some filling, sanding, and priming done, and some more to come. I think I've got away with my "cut and shut" operation to shorten the body...


I rather like the yellow primer livery!

Once it's all tidied up I think I'll put it away for a while and carry on with some other projects, then add the details over the winter and paint in the spring - although there's a good chance I'll change my mind!

Cheers,

Andrew

Andrew wrote: ↑Sat Aug 06, 2022 12:44 pm Here's the latest progress on the diesel, with some filling, sanding, and priming done, and some more to come. I think I've got away with my "cut and shut" operation to shorten the body....

I can't see any evidence of the cutting and shutting and it looks like a 30HP Kerr Stuart. You've done pretty well I think.


I'm sorry, but I'm a Melburnian and with it painted yellow, it inescapably reminds me of the 'Yellow Peril'.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vault_(sculpture)

Graeme

Looks like a wedge of cheese at the moment!

Tons of character already.

Old Man Aaron wrote: ↑Tue Aug 09, 2022 9:47 am Looks like a wedge of cheese at the moment!

Given that I had to turn the chassis round to get the body to fit, there's probably an "Edam/Made backwards" joke in there somewhere, but I don't think I'll go looking for it...

A brief update, and probably the last for a month or two, because I've put the KS body aside to carry on with some other projects...

I filled another couple of areas, sanded again and primed once more, this time in grey. The finished thing will probably be grey, so it's quite nice to see roughly what it will look like...

I'll add detail over the winter and add the final coats of paint in the spring. For now though, I've reassembled the RH Hercules that will be donating its chassis to the newcomer...

Here they are together yesterday afternoon...


Cheers,

Andrew

What a grey day....
Sorry, I'll get my coat.!

HI a

Finally, over a year after I last put it down, some progress on the KS diesel - I've made the shutters!


I'm quite pleased with how those turned out, and hope they'll provide the momentum to crack on with the detailing - the next step will involve millions of rivets, which I think I'll have to take pretty slowly to avoid going insane...

Cheers,

Andrew.

Wow Andrew. Those shutters look so good! Are they staying varnished or are you painting them?

Rik

Work of art, them!

Thank you!

I am pleased with them. Usually, when I varnish wooden parts (like carriage droplight frames), I use it undiluted, need several coats to get the colour I want, and end it with it looking a little thick and stodgy, with gloopy build ups in the corners. This time, I stained the wood first (before construction), then added two coats of varnish thinned with white spirit, and I think it looks much better. I like how the slight differences in tone between the wood strips I used persist beneath the varnish - a bit like the different coloured teak panels on an LNER coach.

Anyway, they'll remain varnished, probably avoid the worst of the weathering the rest of the body receives, but will probably end up under a coat of matt varnish that I'll spray the whole body with. Maybe satin, if I'm feeling particularly bold...

They do look really good and well thought out to get the best finish. I think you should be quite safe with a spray coat of matt or satin lacquer on both sides to seal them against the weather.