A few bits & pieces

Hi Guy's

Got a few things to talk about, hope I don't bore anyone? I just finished working on an Austrain's X class for my mate Dave. I did a bit of work on it to make improvements. Probably the biggest one was replacing the side frames with that of a Trainorama S class. I mounted the side bogie steps to the frame of the loco, I used bent up staples to form a strong base to glue the steps on. I also formed a AC unit from styrene, added Brass Air Hoses and Air Horns from the Mains West Range and used an ILM's pilot in fill to add the KD Couplers. The aim was to present the loco as running in the Mid 90's. Dave says it will look great running with his 930's on a Jet.

 

Here is a shot before I started the paint work

I also used some fine electrical wire for the Mu Hose.s

 

I don't know why I haven't mentioned this before on my Blog, but my Train Room is now complete, it maybe a while before I start building my layout that will incorporate Killawarra. But the room is available. I am working on a Diorama for photographic purpose which will be finished soon. This next series of photo's shows the room and the planning stage of the diorama.

 

 

 

 

 

The Diorama, is being built around a small diorama that I swapped some stuff for with Andy Burge from Victoria. It will be unfortunate that the rest will not be done with a nice hand laid point and track work that I have on this diorama.

 

What else do I have to talk about, I have a couple of Casula RTR NCPF Hoppers. They are quite nice and well detailed. All I have done to mine as yet is replace the bogies. The only reason for this is to make them standard with the rest of my fleet. The only thing that I am disappointed with these hoppers is the lack of weld lines on the body. I feel that to make the weathering look right, the weld lines need to be there. I will get around the fixing this soon I hope.

 

This series is out of the box

 

 

This is after I replaced the Bogies, I have placed the appropriate bogies these the individual wagons based on photo's I have of them in service.

 

These prototype shots were taken by Steve McElroy

 

On one of the wagons I will also modify the top hand rails as they been changed at some point in the wagons life. They will be a good weathering project when I get to them.

 

Here is another little project. With all the new updated 40 foot Victoria Vans coming out by On Track Models and soon Auscision Models, I was left with an Trainorama ALGX that just doesn't cut it when compared. Now the Prototype ALGX carries many similar build character traits as the Victorian Van. The Roof Profile is the same and the second series of vans has the same under floor as the second series of VLCX vans. Therefore the based this ALGX on the second series of Van. The first series of ALGX Van has a timber floor like the first series of VLCX but the brake gear is ass about with the hand brake lever on the other end. The 3rd series of ALGX has the welded floor but the brake detail is in a different location with a Brake Wheel instead of a Ratchet.

 

Anyway enough about the prototype, The model has involved replacing the roof with a spare OTM's VLEX roof that I had. Originally I was building a VLCX to match in with me OTM's VLEX's. I gave up on them after the model was announced by OTM and Auscision. I want this model to look like it could be out an OTM's box or Auscision Box. I have replaced the floor with Styrene but used the left over parts from the VLEX such as the Bolster and coupler pockets. I also used the brake gear. I have added any little details that I could find missing from prototype photo's to make it look more accurate.

 

 

This is as it stands atm. Soon to head into the paint shop

 

I received this PHA power van from Casula Hobbies recently. It is an Hawksmoor Casting. Still plenty of work to do to it.

 

 

 I have been working on a few Candy Jumbo's. To show you some of the trouble I can go to. Not having matching Font decals for the Job, I get 44201 from 44216 took some masking and fine air brush work to get a result. I use a fine razer blade to clean up. Anyway Photo's tell the story.

 

 

Lastly I have completed another 8013. Here is the shots

 

 

and this is an 8040 that I am working on

 

 

Happy Modelling

 

Cheers Justin Moy

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few more off the bench

Hi Guy's

Been very busy finishing off a bit of stuff. Here is some photo's. Not much to be said. Hopefully I may start to fit a bit more of my own stuff onto my modelling bench soon.

 

Just this shot to finish off.  I got my hands on a couple of Auscision RKWF's the other day, so it gave me the chance to sit a clean out of the box one next to a weathered one.

 

Cheers Justin Moy

 

 

 

15 years of change

Hi Guy's

Just a Quick Blog. When the Austrain's 80 class come out into the market, I weathered up these 3x 80's for my mate Dave Porter. It must of been 15 years ago since the 80's were released. I would have to go back through my Issues of the AMRM to be sure I guess. Anyway the purpose of this Blog is to show the different in the way I now weather stuff. I have just finished up grading these loco's for Dave so they now match in a bit better with most of the newer RTR loco's and rolling stock that is now available.

So here is some before and after shots.

 

8040

This is 8040 after the work. I also up graded the detail on all loco's

Before hand

 

8019

 

After

The detailing includes Brass Air Horns and Air Hoses

 

Before

 

8041

 

After 

More detailing includes new staff exchangers and main air tank

 

Before

 

As you can see from the photo's there has been plenty of little paint detailing done as well. Things like the hand rails and door handles have been painted. I have completely resprayed the Tuscan with a faded coat of paint. I masked all the strips on the side panels, they didn't really fade that much compared to the panels. In the case of 8041 I redid the whiskers on the noseand made them a bit thinner as the Austrain's model has them way too thick.

 

Anyway it just goes to show 15 years of change.

 

Cheers Justin Moy

 

 

 

 

 

AR Kit's 4522

Hi Guy's

A few years back I bought an un-finished Brasstic 45 class project from a friend. It has been sitting here for a while and with Auscision's announcement of their 45 class project, I questioned whether to go ahead and finish it off. Well I am glad that I did as it finished up looking the part. Mostly this model follows the (A "Brasstic" 45 class) article that featured in the February 1990 issue of the Australian Model Railway Magazine by Graeme Pantin and Steve McElroy. It is inspiring work and I have tried to live up to it with my project.

Anyway I am not going to repeat what is written in the article. I haven't gone to the detail that was featured on their 45's. I have simply worked on bringing my 45 up to a standard that can match some of the new generation of RTR stuff that is coming out by companies such as Auscision and On Track Models. As this model will be running as a 2nd unit only I have made it unpowered. I think with any future ones that get they will need to be powered just for the Horse Power as the trains that I hope to run will be prototype lengths. Maybe this will be the case for any Auscision ones that I may get in the future. In any case I have enough parts here to build two more AR Kit 45's. I guess in the end time will be the issue.

 

earlier days

 

Here is a few other projects that have been passing over my work bench of late

 

 

Cheers Justin Moy