"From a B12 to a D16..."

This is a Hornby B12. This was a life expired model that appeared as "Stephen the Holden B12" in my youtube series The British Railway Series on several occasions. The motor was dead, the model battered, and it was time for a change. It was replaced by a newer, but similar tooling Hornby B12 model.

This model has been the subject of some severe bashing, to turn it into this at time of writing:



When I get back from my BUCS pentathlon meet this sunday, I will edit this post to show how the project progressed from the 4-6-0 life expired model to the fresh faced and decidedly familiar, but different Edwardian 4-4-0.

Until then! Enjoy the weekend.

"One more project...!"

Strange looking thing isn't it? Definitely not from the Eastern region.

This is a Bullied Tender for a "Battle of Britain" Dapol kit I picked up cheaply - I am building it for a friend on his instructions. It will have several modifications from the real-life prototype.

Again, I have mixed the paints for it up myself - I find that really rewarding and relaxing in this hobby. The shade of blue I call "NWR Purple" - as in different lights it looks more purple coloured. The red is from the Gamesworkshops range ("Blood Red") and needs to be a lot neater!!!

Wait until you see what I've done to the engine, though...!

"Projects on the go"

Modelling wise, there have been a least three projects at any one time I have been working on for Copley Hill.

There's of course, Tornado:



Now finished externally, with the cab roof painted cream, "named by" plaques fitted and an A4 chime whistle attached to the inside of the smoke deflector. The next modifications to be made are going to be things like a high intensity light and a smoke unit.

Then there is this project, also nearing completion:



I am just awaiting transfers for the cab and tender, and for a nameplate manufacturer to get back to me with a quote for 8009's plates. Then it will be finished!

Then there is this build, which appeared from nowhere last week and will be the subject of an indepth post next time:



It's going to be an approximation of a D16/3, which has been built from an old B12 model, and a donor locomotive who has given up its motor/gearbox, wheel pickups and DCC chip and board. it's getting there...

Finally, there is this sorry state of affairs:



I was almost at the last hurdle with Great Northern...and then some problems with the footplate (again) reared their head.

I have two options - leave it, and fit the valve gear - or take it apart and rebuild it so that it becomes more than it is.

I have already decided on option two, but it will have to wait. I am going to do a small job on the valve gear, which is fitting a scrap set of Brittania valve gear for the moment. The locomotive is required for filming an episode of The British Railway Series at Easter, and as such needs to be able to run reasonably, and look reasonable for that. After that, I will dismantle it for rebuilding - and get my vision of an "A1/1 from an A1" finished. Many thanks to Tony Gee for the copies of some Isinglass A1/1 drawings which will help immensely with the rebuild.

That's my first update for March. Let's hope by the end of March, I get at least one of these projects finished!

Until next time.

"Copley Hill Works Open Day"

Well ladies and gentlemen, we had our first annual open day at the Copley Hill works today! A couple of friends, eight ex-LNER pacifics and some DCC shunting went on. First, the exhibition, staring the pacifics of Copley Hill.

And here they are on the small works layout: Can you name them all? Numbers provided below:



60114, 60119, 60163, 60130, 60139 and 60145.

The exhibition was declared a success, with the promise of some visiting engines at the next open day. The rest of the afternoon was spent running the brakevan rides and demonstration freight, as well as 60163 Tornado being put through her paces in the yard:

"Royal Tornado"

It was very exciting to see 60163, Tornado, named by the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall - I am delighted I got to see it, and many thanks to Tony Gee for the lift, there and back, to the event.

I can't help but wonder what will happen next - something pointed out to by several people: lots of the A1 Trust members are getting on in years, and if a new locomotive new build was announced, most would never see the day it would steam.

Perhaps a few younger members might like to take up the reins. I would certainly like to get involved in recreating a piece of British history.

Here's a link to my Tornado videos on Youtube, for the time being:

http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=36C48ED1E8ED204E

Until next time - which will be more modelling, I hope!

"Storm Warning..."

I'm off to York today for a very special event tomorrow. I have been cordially invited (as a member of the A1 Locomotive Trust) to attend the naming ceremony of 60163 Tornado at 9.30am tomorrow, where his royal highness, the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall will name her.

Until Friday, then - have a good week, and watch the BBC News on thursday!

"Digital Revolution"

I have bought a digital starter set recently, which includes a Bachmann E-Z command controller. I have bought some decoders, and a few DCC fitted models, and have been having fun with my new desk railway layout in my room at university:



I took the two models, "Digby" and "Charlie" and made them into a pseudo ex-London and North Eastern Railway J94 (numbered 68025), and "D2" (a pseudo Wisbech and Upwell Tramway diesel).



Basic disassmble and re-spray with black acrylic paint - followed by transfers and varnish. The diesel had plasticard side plates and front cow catcher added using poly cement onto the plastic body.

I've also had a lot of fun with some diesels and their light functions:



Buying that starter set has convinced me that Copley Hill, when built, MUST be a digital layout. It's actually very simple to set up - and with the DCC ready models, it really is plug in and play - the models also have very realistic motions:



The main thing has been that the DCC hangeover has been quite easy so far - I've only chipped the relatively new models, which all have either 8pin or 21pin sockets for specialist Digital Command Decoders.

I've managed to fit quite a few DCC chips in the last three weeks - most of my Pacifics have them, the 08 shunter ("Gronk") has a special slow running one, and I've also got a Bachmann class 25 to complement the Bachmann class 47 (seen in the above video). I've even started chipping a split chassis Bachmann V2 model, but more on that next time I do a DCC related post.

Next week, it's back to finishing the Great Northern model.

Until next time!